⊹ The Research Guild ⊹

⊹ - 3 - a single faecoin - 3 - ⊹

The transition from the metropolis to the market was actually very easy to catch. If you actually cared.

If you looked behind you, you'd see people jollying around and hanging clothes on a small drooping line. If you looked ahead of you, then you'd find yourself stuck as there was no path before you.

As Lian quickly came to realize, High Elf Market was all market and no...anything else. It was hard for any elf to dodge past the buckets of fruits and vendors yelling at people to take their goods. O

"BUY THEM! 20% FREE!"

But you still had to pay the other 80%...

"FRESHEST FRUIT IN THE SOUTHWEST!"

"PLANTED, HARVESTED AND MILLED RIGHT HERE IN OUR VERY OWN VILLAGE!"

"A REGULAR SUGARLIGHT COMMODITY! ENJOY IT NOW!"

"GUARANTEED TO WARD OF ALL EVIL!"

Lian turned to Flurrian, "I don't think we'll find what we need here. I've calculated that we need at least 18 things but we only have 13 faecoins." The boy held up his hand to reveal the money. "We also need to change our clothes."

The two glanced at each other through a nearby mirror on sale. Well, the Guild never really provided clothes...

After ten minutes of walking, Lian was shocked to suddenly turn around and see the blue-haired elf pressed against the window of a shop. She was ogling at a very fancy and very expensive looking outfit.

"Don't get attached," he groaned.

"But it's perfect!"

"It's impractical. And you're being impulsive."

"I'm sure it's not even that expensive."

The price tag, heeding the words of the girl whose expectations were a bit too high, fluttered into view. 26 faecoins. Double what they had.

"UGH! Come on!" She whined, slowly marching forward.

"Look who was right, huh?" He said triumphantly. He had both of his arms crossed.

Lian had to pry Flurrian away from anywhere they went because she was too nosy and too 'materialistic', as he dubbed it.

When they finally made it to the part of the market that had less food and more supplies, Lian got to work on completing the list. Flurrian, as expected, was barely of any help. Nevertheless, he ran into a slight issue halfway through his mission.

"We're out of money," he sighed.

"We what?" The blue-haired girl asked, stuffing free bread samples into her mouth.

"Just look at what I got," he sighed, laying it out on a clean table.

The 13 faecoins had tried its best. It bought them a matchbox, roll of bandages, and a blanket. Well maybe it didn't do its best. Along with that Flurrian sneakily pulled some moonshine leaves off the plant, which was said to have restorative properties when chewed and Lian found a bundle of string.