Races: Online (VR Smartphone App)

Chapter 181: In The Market Place

When fate works its magic then disconnected events transpire together and become one. Or perhaps there isn't really anything like fate or destiny at allthe series of things that happen to one person has no meaning to it. One cannot ascribe to it at all. Those things weren't word for word what was going on to the young man's mind, but they were close enough.

Timothy Cook's steps were slow and measured as he glanced around the streets and took note of the sights. There were two to three-story apartments for residents, a lot of shops and establishments that even he couldn't recognize, the only parlor that the young man recognized was Grandma Moe's Saloon where she served beer and dinner for the residents in Rockfall Village.

The man shook his headhe needed to concentrate and stop gawking at the places.

Everyone else around him crossed the streets or drove in their carts and carriages without even a second glance at their surroundings, each one of them already had a destination in mind and couldn't spare a moment for frolicking at all. He really showed that he was some kind of backwater village boy, didn't he? 

"General Trader's Shop." He craned his neck and checked out the signs on the buildings that he passed through. He couldn't find it just yet, before the man rechecked the map he had on hand and sighed. He might have to end up visiting the Market Place if things weren't going so well for him. The young man expected some small store or shop to be available for what he needed, but most of the places nearby the academic institution were either rich housings or too expensive stores.

It was a good thing that Penelope was going to give him a pillow.

But it wasn't like he could proceed to ask her something like this, 'Do you have a spare nightgown?' That was too inappropriate to ask and it would lead to questions as to why he needed one. Perhaps the only good thing about it was that each room in the dormitory tower held their own bathrooms and suchit would be difficult if that had been the case for Iola. 

Still, it was finally time for him to head to the Market Place then.

.

.

.

Gesth wasn't exactly lost. What kind of Bodyguard would he be if a simple city was enough to get him confusedstill, it might have been better if he had taken that rugrat along. He could read the signs and perhaps ask for directions if he wanted to. But he didn't exactly want to ask directionsa certain amount of stubbornness that made him believe that he could find the Mage's Guild so he could send a [ Message ].

He passed by the Magic Shop and the Weapon Shop without much of a brief glance. There was a Tailor and Seamstress Shop. He passed by other crowds of people in the city and checked the signs. It was perhaps only a matter of time until they found the place. They passed by momentarily a Toy Maker's shop and slowed down a bit, in one of the displays was a weird looking black and white bear, but more than that was a small doll.

'Papa, will you buy me a doll please?'

It was as if he could hear the sound of her voice againGesth shook his head and carried on. He couldn't be bothered with it right now, he needed to find the Mage's Guild and send a message to that bastard. The old man needed to 

"Wares! Get your wares here!" A voice cried out and was joined in by several others. "Buy here and get a good discount, sir!" The old Bodyguard soon found himself in the Market Place, the market area to be more specific, but it only meant that he'd find the Mage's Guild soon enough. 

"Ooh, what about you boy? Miss?" Another Merchant called out to several other people in the crowd. "What do you need? You can get it here."

Gesth could probably buy some small bauble and then ask about the Mage's Guild couldn't he? Sam had always rebuked him for this, didn't she? The old man rubbed his face and stepped towards one of the nearest stalls. He glanced at the assortment of items held on sale. He had stepped underneath a food stall.

Perched on some kind of grill, numerous pieces of aromatic chunks of meat were displayed and cooked there and then. "What can I get for you, sir?" The man inclined his head. "We got some nice barbecue here for three copper"

"I'll take five." Gesth didn't realize how hungry he exactly was until he had gotten here, didn't he? He had barely touched his lunch at the inn and the day was already about to end. After paying for them, he temporarily stayed in place and ate, now all he needed to do was ask this guy around for the

"How much for one stick please?" A new customer arrived.

Gesth sighed inwardly and continued to eat. He had to wait for this guy to finish then he could finally ask his own question.

"Three copper, lad."

"That's too expensive! You can probably get four sticks for that price." The boy said.

Gesth wondered if he had been ripped off, but then again, he didn't have to think too much of his expenses. It was easy to surmise that the boy wasn't used to the expenses in the city. Still, he glanced at the stall owner to gauge their reaction and eyed them from the corner of his vision. 

The man in the stall rubbed his face, "Listen here, if you think that's expensiveI don't know from what place you came from, but this Gloria City. If you can't pay for them, get lost. Meat is expensive."

"I didn't say I wasn't going to buy." The young man grumbled and handed some coins to the Cook. After receiving the stick, he began to eat silently. He munched for a moment and then swallowed, "Where do you get your meat from? I know a good farm somewhere."

A sigh escaped the man's face, "It's not really your businessbut I get it from Mercum and that's the cheapest town and the freshest ones too, mind you." 

"...I bet Rockfall Village can get it to you for cheaper and the cows there are great too."

"Haven't heard of it."

"I came from there and I assure you that the meat there is succulentit'll melt in your mouth!"

"You talk big for someone who came from who knows where. If that thing's real, I want to see it for myself rather than just hearing someone yap about it, if it's that great then do you give samples?"

"Well"

"I guess not. Besides boy, you may not know itbut I'm a good Cook here. I've got the Skills to make some random hunted game and make it into a great dish for everyone to enjoy and buy. The ingredient isn't that important."

"...that's stupid."

"What did you say?"

"Saying that the ingredient isn't that important, just how you prepare it can change the flavormaybe that's true to some extent, but getting the people you want to serve the best ingredients that you can find and seeing them enjoy it, isn't that more important?" The boy said louder. "Especially if you can get the ingredients at a good price."

"Calm down, I didn't come here to debate with a customer. Quit making a fuss, do you need a free barbecue or something so you can shut up?"

"I don't need it." A huff escaped from the boy. "You know what, I'll contact my friend and ask them to get some meat here when they visit this citythen I'll show you that ingredient is important."

"I didn't say that it wasbut fine, if you're that insistent on that, then whatever." The stall owner was flippant. 

"...I'll send them a message then, you better not forget this. Even if it'll take awhile."

"I get my meat at Mercum every other day, if it's not going to be fresh when it comes herethat's a problem."

"Haven't you heard of preservation runes, isn't that what the other shops are doing? It's easy enough to get it on a cart that delivers it. The old man that delivers his produce here has it so the meat won't spoilif you buy in bulk, it's a lot cheaper too."

"You need to pay for a Mage to do preservation runes, that's expensive."

"...well, I just happen to be from Kraelonia Academy. I can probably find another Mage for a discount or so."

"Hah! You drive a hard bargain, boy." The stall owner finally laughed. "I don't quite like that attitude, that kind of pushiness doesn't help one make customers, but I'll bite if you can actually do it."

"Then I'll go send a message to my friend then... "

"You're quite new aren't you?" The man chuckled. "Alright, alright."

Gesth glanced at the boy and cleared his throat, "Are you going to the Mage's Guild to send a [ Message ]? I happen to be going there myself" He trailed off for a moment. There was something about them that was familiar that he couldn't quite put to words.