At first, Ruvian felt a bit of regret. He hadn’t considered the price of anything on the nu, be it the drinks, the pastries, or even the simplest plate of buttered bread.
Money was tight at the mont, painfully so, and the reality of it stung like winter air slapping his cheeks.
He definitely couldn’t afford to waste what little he had on a single cup of coffee, no matter how heavenly it slled in here.
He also regretted, briefly. What if even the plain water cost money? What if they are charged by the glass?
The thought of it made his mood turn sour.
But the attendant returned with a gentle smile and reassured him, "By the way, sir, plain water is on the house. Only refills are charged. Enjoy."
"Thanks."
He nearly sagged in relief.
Hence, at the mont, what sat before him was not a drink crafted with any pleasant bitterness, but a simple wooden cup of plain water.
’Well... at least the sll of coffee is pleasant in this shop.’
Even if he couldn’t taste it now, he could still savor the sll of other custors’ coffee.
Then, suddenly, the door of the café opened with a soft chi.
Ding!
Soone else had entered.
Ruvian’s head lifted instinctively, eyes drawn to the source.
’They’re here?’
A woman stepped inside, brushing off the lingering cold from her cloak as the warmth of the café embraced her.
She looked to be in her early thirties.
Her ensemble suggested she was a travelling rchant. The wool tunic and weathered coat still dusted with the faint white of recent snow, as though she had only just stepped in from the road.
From her belt hung a satchel of well-worn leather, its buckles clinking like a tiny bell, hinted at coins inside. Slung over her shoulder, a wooden display box revealed trinkets behind the glass.
A few whispers rose among the custors, but she paid them no mind and approached the counter.
"Good morning," one of the attendants said, bowing with professional courtesy.
"Welco to Café Delaciel. Table for—"
The woman raised her hand with a small, respectful gesture.
"Oh, no need for a table today," she replied with a polite bow of her own.
"I won’t be staying long. I’m only here to promote my wares. Just for a mont, if I may?"
She tapped the lid of her wooden case lightly, the sound crisp like a knock of invitation.
"I am Vible Venselle, a humble rchant of charms and blessings," she continued.
"My amulets are said to carry the favor of Althea, The Goddess of Blessings and Fortune, The Matron of the Remaining Dawn. With her guidance, luck may follow one’s steps. Whether on the road, in business, or in the quiet corners of one’s daily life."
She bowed again, lower this ti, a gesture of respect to both staff and patrons.
"I will not disturb your guests beyond a few words," she said. "I only ask for permission to speak briefly. If anyone wishes to listen, may they do so of their own will."
The attendant seed taken aback at first, rchants rarely entered cafés to sell, after all, but after a short pause, she nodded.
"I-I see. You may speak then. So long as you do not trouble the custors."
Vible smiled, gratitude softening her features.
"You honor . May Althea’s light guide your day."
She stepped aside, gently opening her case. The amulets inside shimred faintly.
Ruvian watched her quietly from his seat.
The rchant woman stepped away from the counter. She lifted her display case in both hands and began moving from table to table.
"Good morning to you both," she greeted the two n seated near the exit.
She set two amulets on the table before them, each one a polished stone wrapped in silver thread.
"You look like n who have walked many roads. Althea smiles upon those who endure the winters of life. This charm is said to grant clarity of mind and safe passage, especially for travellers and those who still have places to reach."
One of the n peered down at the amulet with a raised brow.
"A stone with ribbon?" he grumbled. "Ha! If luck were so easy to buy, I’d have retired wealthy by now."
His companion snorted, crossing his arms. "If a goddess wants to bless , she can do it without charging bronze for the courtesy."
Vible did not flinch. Instead, she offered a patient smile, bowing her head just slightly.
"Ah, to clarify, the gods ask for our faith. The paynt is rely for the craft, the labor of mortal hands. While the blessing cos freely with belief."
Despite her gentle phrasing, the two n pushed the amulets back toward her.
"No, thank you," the first said.
Vible gathered the charms with both hands, treating them with care even in rejection.
"Of course. May fortune still find you, whether invited or not."
She moved along, approaching the next table: the young woman in the shawl by the window.
The young woman hesitated, fingertips brushing the charm, then shook her head, an apologetic smile on her lips.
"It’s lovely... but not today."
Vible bowed again, retrieving the charm. She stepped to the academy scholars next, and she was also t with the sa result.
Until, at last, she reached Ruvian’s table.
She drew to a stop before him and slowly opened her case once more.
From within, she selected a charm woven with thread the color of dawnlight, and placed it gently on the table, just beyond the edge of his wooden cup of water.
"For you," she said, looking at him with eyes that held neither expectation nor pressure.
"May Althea light the path ahead of you."
Ruvian reached out, lifting the amulet between his fingers as though he were genuinely considering it.
The threads were softer than he expected, warm even, perhaps from her hands, or perhaps from sothing else entirely.
He turned it slowly, inspecting the polished stone, letting his expression remain unreadable.
’Let’s just play along.’
"It’s well-made," he murmured, as though appraising the craftsmanship.
His gaze flicked up to her.
"How much would sothing like this cost?"
"For a traveler seeking safe passage? 2 bronze. 3, if the journey ahead is long and the purse is light."
She dipped her head slightly.
"I am not here to weigh my pockets. If fortune is needed more than coins, then the price may bend for it."
Ruvian caressed the amulet, his expression remained neutral, but behind that calm facade, his mind began to turn.
’She’s definitely part of the criminal group. If so then... how did they drug their victims through these amulets?’
’Perhaps...’
Ruvian slightly observed her, speculated that she might use this mont to put sothing in his drink.
But her hands remained silent at her sides.
’No, this is a totally different world. I can’t assu that they’re using the sa thod as in my world. In other words, could it be through the enchantnt of this amulet?’
There was only one way to test this.
If she declined, then, she was hiding sothing.
"Before I decide..."
"Would you permit to inspect this amulet more closely? I have a spell that allows for basic appraisal."
Vible blinked, then smiled calmly.
"Of course," she said, folding her hands over her display case. "If my product is false, then let the truth sha ."
Ruvian nodded slowly. "Then... I’ll proceed."
He shifted in his seat, positioning the amulet in both hands as though centering it. A faint breath escaped him, and his voice lowered to a whisper ant only for the amulet itself.
"By reason and record, I invoke the law of knowing. Thus, answer and na yourself."
"[Identify]."
He casted OG Ruvian’s first ever spell that he had learned from a random adventurer. Since he had inherited his mory and his mastery over this spell, he managed to cast it without much trouble.
A thin ripple of mana slipped from his fingertips, threading through the charm as the Rune words rearranged before his eyes.
==========
[Item]: Dawnlight Amulet
[Types]: Accessories
[Properties]: An enchantnt intended to soothe the wearer.
[Primary Effect]: Instills a gentle calm in the mind, easing intrusive thoughts and emotional strain.
==========
Ruvian’s eyes narrowed.
’They’re legit!?’
Vible watched him quietly, then inclined her head just slightly.
"Well? How was it? Did the spell confirm its nature?"
Ruvian lowered the amulet, laying it across his palm as though weighing its truth. He nodded calmly.
"It’s real enough. The enchantnt does what you claim."
He spoke evenly, but his thoughts churned, despite his calmness.
’If the amulets are genuine... then how were those people drugged? If not through magic, then what?’
Vible’s voice interrupted his chain of thought, light and confident.
"By the way, young man, to activate the charm more fully, you need only channel a little mana through it. Enough to awaken the threads. Seeing as you can cast [Identify], I doubt you’ll struggle with that."
"Channel my mana?"
"Yes," she replied.
He ran his thumb across the amulet again.
This ti, slower.
’Could it be that there is a hidden chanism related to that?’
That was when he felt sothing extrely thin, barely noticeable by the naked eyes.
There was a layer lacquered over the surface of the thread and stone. It wasn’t wax, and it wasn’t oil either. It was... sothing else.
’This layer...’
Just when he was about to inspect it in more detail, he heard soone scrapping his chair. Ruvian glanced up to see a man stepping toward their table.
"That’s enough of your little show. I have seen your face a lot of tis around this town!" the man growled, eyes narrowing at the woman.
"Pack it up and get the fuck out!"
──────── ✦ ────────
[Chapter 15: Mysterious Wandering rchant]
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