Arvium [I.L.S. Beta Game #1]

19: Merchant Square

Aella stumbled back into a hard surface, her head swinging from side to side as she took in the sudden jump. She was on the far side of a massive square, pressed against a wall that stretched twenty stories high. There seemed to be a single building that wrapped around the square, with it's center doorway to her right, standing two-stories high and made out of chrome metal, tipped with aquamarine.

The building was massive, with spires and towers soaring high into the sky, connected by covered bridges. Around the sides, hanging from the banisters, were dozens of flags with symbols that looked like crests. She recognized one, a black flag with a scarlet wolf's head and silver crossed sabers as the flag of Mortia, one of the Alpha Game's top guilds. Bringer of Death came from that one. She searched the flags, stepping away from the wall to look above her. She recognized another flag, this one light aqua with a silver trident crossing the center of a silver circle, with white and silver waves spilling out of the bottom of the circle.

"Sell your catch and purchase items. Any profit or items you gain in this challenge will be added to your account" the mechanical voice said.

Aella turned her attention in front of her, watching a timer with an hour on it appeared in her vision, then minimized to the top right of her view.

Okay. That sounds pretty easy. She glanced around her at the dozens of brightly colored stalls and vendors, the air filled with a hum of voices. Players milled around in groups around vendors, or walked between the aisles. So this is a market.

She felt a weight on her hip and she looked down, seeing the bag she had gained in the Ocean challenge. She pulled it open and her eyes widened at how many of the small fish were in her bag. A meter appeared above the bag with a small icon of a fish and the number 52. She closed the flap, and looked back up as a metallic ding filled her ears.

"You have 52 fish in all," the mechanical voice said.

She nodded and looked around. Players stood at each of the vendors directly in front of her, bartering for different items. She stepped out and began to walk to her right, making her way through the crowd. There were stalls of fresh food, the aroma appetizing, and stalls with weapons, others with clothing. A few stalls held jewelry and small objects. She stopped, trying to get a better look when she stumbled as someone ran into her.

She twisted, catching a glimpse of tall player in scarlet and black armor moving away from her through the crowd, a twisting black helmet with a tinted visor covering his entire face. Two massive swords crisscrossed on his back, and the crowd parted as he hurried past them.

He's in a hurry. She shook her head. No time for wondering, you've got a job to do.

"Welcome," a female voice called to her.

Aella turned to the vendor, who was smiling at her, and waving a hand.

"Come, come; see what I have to offer, Beta."

Aella groaned. It's that obvious?

She stepped forward, between two other players, each in impressive suits of armor, with massive weapons on their backs and hips. She glanced down at the velvet-covered table, a wide variety of necklaces, rings, and cuffs spread out on its surface.

The player to her left, a tall man with golden skin and ashy, light-blue hair smiled at her.

She smiled back, and turned her attention to the vendor.

"I am Elyla," the vendor said. "I work for Charon, the great blacksmith of the Alpha Game. He takes orders, and we have a two-week guarantee--if you don't have it in two weeks, you get it free. As a Beta, you are not authorized to by amulets or weapons yet, but I can answer whatever questions you have."