"Chin up, Finley," Alex said, biting back a laugh at the despondent expression on the rchant's face. It was becoming increasingly apparent that Finley was not an optimist.
Then again, being a pessimist was probably much easier way of going about life when the System had you bound down and trussed like a roast pig. Alex didn't know the full extent of the restrictions that were placed on rchants — but Finley had ntioned he functionally immortal.
Sothing told him that also ant Finley wasn't going to be able to interact with the world any more than a ghost could lift a dumbbell. The System wouldn't give a boon like that unless it worked both ways. There was a good chance that Finley had the sa level of corporealness as a ghost.
"It is exceedingly difficult to be cheerful about anything when my one and only custor is about to get himself turned inside out," Finley said. "You should spend everything you have now. As quickly as you can. The Credits aren't going to do you much good when you're dead."
"I find your lack of faith disturbing."
The two of them stared at each other for a mont.
"What?" Finley asked.
"Never mind," Alex said through a sigh. He shook his head. "I can't expect you to be cultured. You aren't even from Earth."
"Count that as a good thing," Finley said crossly. "The average un-initiated planet is full of barbarian apes. There's a reason Outworlders look poorly on the Nativeworlders. The majority of a planet's natives will be slaughtered during their integration into the Infinium. It is forced evolution. That number will be even higher if the world has natives that see fit to attempt to challenge a Region Boss before they have even acquired a Domain."
Alex cleared his throat. It seed he'd struck a nerve. "Can't get anywhere sitting back and doing nothing. Now, didn't you want to fork over so Credits? Show what you've got. The good stuff. We needed to spend at least 15 Credits to get you out of here, right? So let's start there."
"I have access to my family's reserves," Finley said. "For your purposes, they will be more than sufficient… but it would take a year to list everything off. I should ntion that I won't be able to get you any direct town upgrades without physically being present at your town to see what you've got. So, what do you want?"
"What should I want?" Alex countered. He was pretty sure the System had probably put so level of restriction in over how much advice the rchants could directly give the Nativeworlders… but it didn't hurt to push the boundaries a little. "I'm looking for the most prudent thing that I can buy. I'm sure you've got so thoughts."
The narrowing of Finley's eyes told Alex that the rchant was more than aware of what he was trying to do.
"Nothing is free," Finley said. "You want advice? Buy it."
Okay. Maybe it isn't the System that's going to try to rinse . Suppose I can't bla Finley for that. I'd do the sa in his position.
"Fair enough." Alex scratched the back of his neck. "Let's talk Domains, then. I want to unlock a Partial Domain. You got anything that can help do that?"
The rchant's hands danced through the air as if he were typing on an invisible keyboard. Faint shimrs of light reflected within his eyes from a source that Alex couldn't see. Finley's gaze danced through the air, looking right through Alex, before he nodded to himself.
"Yes, that should work." His eyes refocused. "What specifically are you trying to improve? There are a great many things that go into domains. So limits will help narrow down my search."
"Do you have Aspect Gems? Rare ones?" Alex asked. There was so part of his brain — perhaps the human part — that liked rare, shiny things. Nobody wanted a normal gem when they could have a cool, deluxe one instead… even if they did the exact sa thing. It was about the spirit of things.
Unfortunately, Finley was already shaking his head by the ti Alex had finished speaking. "Aspect Gems are probably one of the most highly coveted recourses in the Infinium. That goes doubly so for any newly initiated planets. They're literally potential made manifest. I've got a few, but I can honestly say none of them are rare."
Alex pursed his lips. "Scratch that, then. I'm not looking for anything average. Especially not when it can significantly impact my growth. Let's see… hm. What about an instruction manual or sothing? I'm fed up with doing everything in the dark. If I could learn a bit more about Domains, I think it would go a really long way. Do you have sothing like that?"
Finley grinned. "That's a good one. Yes, I have what you seek, and to a great degree of variation. And I have sothing far better than re manuals. How do you feel about gambling?"
Now that was one way to get his attention.
"I've been known to partake," Alex said slowly. "Are we talking so gatcha bullshit? Because I've wasted more than enough money on those things to know just how rolling the dice tends to play out."
The rchant splayed his hands out. The air between them shimred as a dozen blue crystal gems swirled into existence amidst a shower of sparks. They were translucent and rough like clusters of quartz. Each of the gems had a faint mote of light floating within its depths. So of the lights were so weak that Alex could barely even make them out, while a few were bright enough to shine like lanterns.
"mory Crystals," Finley said, a note of eagerness in his voice. "A fragnt of a soul crystalized into a focused mory. They aren't actually all that uncommon. Whenever soone's soul takes enough damage, a few of these are occasionally to be left behind."
Stolen from its original source, this story is not ant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Alex squinted at the stones. "They've got mories in them? Like soone's whole life?"
Finley let out a burst of laughter and shook his head. "Definitely not. That would be beyond powerful. A mory Crystal that had the mories of soone's entire life would probably be thousands of Credits — though that would depend on who they were. No, these contain a few seconds to a few minutes. A fragnt of a mory at most… but certain mory fragnts are very useful."
Realization washed over Alex and his eyes widened. "You've got mories of people activating their Domains for the first ti?"
"Among other things," Finley said. He cleared his throat and waggled a hand back and forth in the air. "It's worth noting that mory Crystals are notoriously hard to examine without breaking them. They're one-ti use and divining exactly what they contain is extraordinarily difficult. It's easy to tell if they're from soone powerful — the light within them shows that. It's slightly harder to tell the general topic they cover… and it's damn near impossible to know to just what extent the mory delves."
And just like that, Alex knew exactly what Finley had ant when he'd asked about gambling. The corners of his lips pulled up.
"So you know these have sothing to do with Domains, but not if they're actually going to be useful or if they'll be a complete waste," Alex concluded.
Finley nodded. "Precisely. The choice is up to you. The weaker crystals, I'll let go for 1 Credit. The stronger ones, 3."
"And how do they work?"
"Shatter one to release the mory. Ensure you are not together with anyone when it happens. The remains of the soul will enter anyone in the imdiate area and soak into their body until they are spent. If soone else is near you, they may get portions of the mory instead of you. You will not share."
"I see." Alex scratched at his chin. Gambling probably wasn't the smartest move…
But he'd be damned if it didn't sound a little fun. He'd promised himself that he was going to enjoy the Apocalypse. Spending a little bit of coin to potentially buy himself sothing really good was a justifiable risk.
"Let's set so of those aside," Alex said. "I don't want to buy them until I know how many coins I can waste. Do you also have a manual about Domains just in case the mory Crystals end up sucking?"
"One Credit. It'll be basic. I wouldn't recomnd it if any of the Crystals have what you need… but if you're truly unlucky, it will work."
"Perfect," Alex said. "There are two other main things I want… unless you sell buildings?"
"I am a rchant, not a miracle worker. It is not impossible for to get supplies, should you know what you need, but entire buildings? No."
"Figured. I'll let Mite figure out that bit then. You have any chemical weapons?"
Finley stared at him. "What?"
"What about bombs?"
"Are you a terrorist?"
"My answer to that depends on if you identify as a Region Boss."
"I do not," Finley said, pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a sigh. "Though I must admit that would make things considerably easier. The System heavily taxes any powerful weapon sales. There is little challenge posed by porting in an imasurably powerful artifact to simply delete your opponents from existence."
"Figured," Alex said. "Didn't hurt to ask, though. In that case… let's talk Visualizations."
Finley's eyes lit up. "A wise purchase. Though they are not cheap, I have a number of—"
Alex raised a hand. "I don't want any Visualization you can sell."
"What?" Finley blinked in confusion. "They're perfectly workable, I assure you."
"I'm sure they are. But if you're selling it, then it isn't going to be too rare. You made it clear enough you couldn't sell the best ones when we last spoke. No, I don't want to buy one off you. I want a way to get one. You ntioned that powerful monsters could have a Visualization, right?"
Realization lit in Finley's eyes. A wide grin stretched across his features. "Yes. I see where you're going with this. You want a way to capture a Visualization from a monster."
"Is it possible?"
"Difficult. Difficult, but possible, yes. You would need a physical connection to an entity with a sufficiently powerful Visualization — but it must be given freely. It is the main way that powerful bloodlines pass down their Visualizations. It's possible for an outsider to get one, but if you want it from a sufficiently powerful entity, you would have to bargain."
Alex nodded thoughtfully. "What kind of connection are we talking about?"
"Any part of their body. The smaller it is, the more difficult. Heart blood would be the most efficient and painless way, but even a hair would work. The key is that it must be gifted. A Visualization cannot be stolen."
Alex's head tilted to the side. Then a slow smile started to pull at the corners of his lips. An idea was starting to form in his mind. An idea he quite liked. "I see. What if the connection is pretty weak? Like, for example, a random drop of blood that was gifted so ti ago?"
"It would be difficult. Very difficult… but possible. It has been done. A connection is a connection."
"That's perfect," Alex said. "Give sothing that can do that."
Finley's grin grew larger than Alex's. "40 credits."
Alex nearly choked on his own saliva. "40 Credits? Holy shit! That's half of what I've got! No wonder you got happy when I ntioned it."
"Visualizations are incredibly powerful. Materials that can properly contain one for long enough for you to learn it are not cheap or easy to get. I can assure you that I am not attempting to scam you. I need your Credits as badly as you need my items."
Gah. Fuck it. If this works out, then it'll be worth it. I really am a bit of a gambler, though. Aaron would be proud of .
"Fine. Give that," Alex said.
"What manner of connection will it be for? I have a few scroll variations that work better depending on what type of connection you have. Will it be blood? Hair? A limb?"
"Blood," Alex said.
Finley nodded. He waved a hand and all the mory Crystals floating in the air before him floated to the side. In their place, a silver tube tipped with black caps on either side materialized between his hands.
"This is what you seek," Finley said. "Once you have your ingredient, open this scroll and press your hand against it while focusing on the connection."
"Perfect. Let's just buy that now," Alex said.
Finley bead at him. "With pleasure. Simply shake my hand and allow my ring to draw the Credits from yours."
Alex took the rchant's hand. The mont their palms touched, there was a faint prickle against his skin. He felt the spatial ring on his finger warm. Then Finley nodded and released him. The tube floated over to arrive before Alex.
"Thanks," Alex said, grabbing his purchase. It was heavier than he'd expected. A part of him noted that it would probably make a pretty good club if he ever decided he wanted to repurpose it.
"Would you like a ritual dagger with it?" Finley asked. "They're commonly used whilst extracting blood for things like this. A surprising number of things need blood."
"No, I think it'll be okay," Alex said. "I won't need it."
"Are you sure? It can make it easier to extract blood from powerful beings so long as they're willing. It may be wise."
"I'll be fine," Alex replied. His grin expanded. There was a certain drop of blood that he'd gotten so ti ago — and he had no reason to believe it wouldn't work for this. "I've got the blood I need."
After all, it's already inside .
User Comments
0 comments from readers