Note to the reader: *.......* means he's saying that in his head.

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Chapter 30

The sapphire district was full of shady looking people, but the stores were of high quality.

Becket:"No matter the world crime always pays well."

This was likely where the cities underground leaders could be found. Every city no matter the world had a shadow group that usually held a lot of power. I could tell the sapphire district was the headquarters of this cities shadow group due to the experience I gained as a merc.

Becket:"Maybe it's the assassins guild Gene mentioned?"

Assassins were always an important asset in a shadow group so the guild was at least connected to whoever ran the seedier side of the city. I had been on many assassination missions myself, but mine were all handled from a distance with my sniper. I quickly put these thoughts aside since I wasn't here to bother whatever criminal organization was currently in control. After talking to a few store clerks I quickly found the alchemist shop. It was wooden with no display window unlike the other shops around it.

Becket:"Well lets check it out."

As I pushed the door open I heard the creak of the hinges. The shop was small with only a counter and a man behind it. He was an elderly man with a short white beard and circular glasses sitting on his nose. Behind his glasses was a pair of green eyes. He wore a dust covered black robe with a pointy hat on top of his head. When he saw me his eyes opened wide for a few seconds.

Man:"Hello and welcome to Arnie's Alchemist shop. What do ya need?"

Becket:"Are you Arine?"

Arnie:"Thats me. So what can I get for you?"

Becket:"I think it's called efren. My friend was with a woman and thinks she might of left him a surprise the next morning."

Arnie:"Oh yes it's efren you need just give me a minute."

Arnie disappeared into a door behind the counter. After a few minutes he returned.

Arnie:"Here you go. That'll be 5 sapphire."

*That's more expensive than Alexa.*

Since Gene told me efren wasn't that expensive and that all working girls had to use it I could tell this guy must be over charging me.

Becket:"That's a little high. Did you raise the price just for me?"

Arnie:"Oh! You're right that's too high. I must be going senile."

The man set a vial of grey liquid onto the counter.

Arnie:"Then that'll be 30 amethyst."

Becket:"Sounds better."

I pulled out the pouch of money Gene gave me and paid for the efren.

Becket:"Are there any healing potions?"

I hadn't thought to ask about them so far or seen any so I was curious.

Arnie:"Well I've got some, but you know healing potions are very expensive and they can't heal major wounds like severed limbs. For stuff like that you need an elf mage that's proficient at healing."

Becket:"Then could you look into something for me?"

I pulled out a vial of what appeared to be water that I had been carrying around for a while. Learning of an alchemist was lucky since I didn't know how effective my vial would be.

Becket:"I want this kept secret. Inside this vial is a liquid with healing properties. I want to know how it compares to other healing potions."

Arnie took the vial into both hands and held it up to the light examining it.

Arnie:"Where'd you get it?"

Becket:"I made it myself. I still haven't tested it yet so I'm not sure how it will react when applied to a person."

Arnie:"I'll look into it, but that'll cost you 3 sapphire."

Becket:"Sure."

I dumped out the rest of the money I got from Gene and added a few of my own coins. Arnie swept up all the coins and pocketed them. Then I took the efren and placed it in Gene's money pouch.

Arnie:"Give me three days and I'll know everything about this healing liquid you've given me."

I had high hopes since what I gave him was my own saliva. To add a little extra punch I infused my mana into it which made it turn clear as purified water. Since I hadn't tested it I wasn't sure how effective it would be. So far everything I injected with my mana changed in some way. My hope was that my mana would further increase the healing properties of the saliva.

Becket:"Then I'll be back in three days. Also do you know of where I can find a slave merchant."

Arnie leaned in close.

Arnie:"That depends. What do need em for?"

Becket:"Obviously I want to buy a slave."

Arnie smiled.

Arnie:"Very interesting. Elves are usually against slavery."

Becket:"I don't really care. I just need a virgin."

Arnie:"Oh. Well then step this way."

Arnie gestured for me to step around the counter and when I did he opened the door behind him.

Arnie:"Let me show you the wares I keep in the back."

*So he's also a slave trader. Convenient.*

I followed Arnie into the back of his shop. The room I entered was filled with crates. Arnie guided me through to another door. This one opened up to a long narrow hallway. At the end of the hallway was a square door in the floor with an iron ring used to open it.

When Arnie opened it there was a set of stairs leading down. We took those stairs down to a dark room. Torches lined the walls, but only provided a dim light due to their weak flames. Arnie mumbled to himself then multiple tiny fire balls shot out of his hand relighting each torch.

Becket:"You're a mage?"

Arnie:"Of course I am."

With the extra light the torches now gave off I could see cell bars.

*This must be where he keeps the slaves.*

We passed by many people sitting inside the cells. They all looked in good shape.

Arnie:"I wouldn't usually keep them down here. We've just had some trouble recently so they needed to be put in a safe place."

We didn't stop at any of the cells and instead entered another door. Inside was a sofa with a wooden table in front and a single chair across from it. Arnie gestured for me to sit on the sofa so I did and he sat in the chair. He took off his pointy hat and placed it on the table. I was surprised to see he had a pair of elven ears hidden under that hat.

Becket:"You're an elf?"

Arnie:"Yes. Been one my whole life."

Becket:"I thought elves were against slavery?"

Arnie:"They usually are. I was raised by humans so I never really understood the elven way. Doesn't look like you do either."

Becket:"Well I don't really care if you're an elf I just came to get a virgin."

His face now had a serious expression and his voice lowered.

Arnie:"Actually I already knew why you were here the moment I saw you, but I was told to let things play out the way they did."

Becket:"You already knew? How?"

Arnie:"Ya know, I've been alive for a long time. Seen many different people, but this is the second time I've seen you."

Becket:"Second?"

Arnie:"I saw you in a dream a few days ago."

*A dream? Is it the gods again? What are they up to?*

Arnie:"It was a very strange dream. I was trapped in total darkness until I heard a voice. For the life of me I can't remember what it sounded like, but I still remember what it said."

He stopped for a second before leaning in closer.

Arnie:"It said that it needed my help then suddenly the darkness was gone and I was back in my shop. That was when I first saw you. The two of us were talking to each other. It was the very same conversation we had before coming down here."

Becket:"So you already knew everything we were going to say to each other. Why have the conversation if you've already heard it once."

Arnie:"The voice told me to. It said if I changed anything you would have never gone down here to talk, but he was wrong. I changed the efrens price and you still came down here."

Becket:"That explains the price."

Arnie:"In my dream after our conversation ended I was pulled back into the darkness. The voice told me it wanted to give me something."

Arnie stretched his right hand out in front of himself. On his middle finger was a ring.

(The ring.)

Spoiler :

Arnie:"The voice told me this is called the ring of Solomon. From what it said this ring is quite powerful. Honestly I couldn't believe what I was told, but when I woke up the ring was on my finger."

He put his hand down into his lap.

Arnie:"Apparently this ring is used for binding people. Infuse it with mana then press it against your targets skin. The mark on the ring will be branded onto the targets skin and they will follow any order given to them by their master."

I gazed at the ring on his finger.

Arnie:"The voice also explained the details on the ring. The people who're bound maintain their personalities, but follow any order issued by the one with the master mark."

Becket:"So why was I in the dream?"

Arnie:"The voice told me my fate was tied to yours. From this day forward the two of us will form a partnership. It also told me that you should be given the master mark."

Becket:"What exactly is the master mark?"

Arnie:"The master of the ring isn't allowed to have the master mark. The ring binds while the mark controls. The voice told me to be the rings master while you are the marks master."

Becket:"So you're saying you'll brand people and I'll become their master. Why not just give me the ring."

Arnie tugged on the ring.

Arnie:"Can't give it to you even if I wanted to. The thing seems to be fused to me, but the voice did tell me the rings master can't give himself the master mark anyway so if you had the ring someone else would have to be the master."

*It must be some kind of safety measure. Splits the rings power between two people. Both are needed for the ring to be useful.*

Becket:"Once someone has been bound is there anyway to remove the rings hold over them?"

Arnie:"Repeat the process used to bind the person and the symbol on their skin will vanish along with your control over them. It's quite ironic that this ring would be given to a slave trader."

Arnie chuckled.

*So the rings master binds and unbinds while the marks master only controls the people bound.*

Arnie:"I was also told to deliver a message to you. It said don't let 'them' know about this ring."

Becket:"Who?"

Arnie:"I don't know. That's all the message said."

*Could this be another god or just one of the seven I haven't met yet?*

Becket:"So how are you suppose to give me the master mark?"

Arnie:"Thats easy, but first you need to pick where you want the mark on your body."

I thought for a minute before deciding.

Becket:"Does the location matter at all?"

Arnie:"No. Just as long as you have the mark."

Becket:"All right then."

I pulled off one of my boots.

Becket:"Put the mark on the sole of my foot. I doubt anyone will see it if it's there."

I decided to hide the mark since it could be used to identify me. Being an elf in human territory made me stand out enough already. Arnie nodded.

Arnie:"All right."

I propped my foot up on the desk.

Arnie:"I'll need you to put some of your blood on the ring."

I had my armor form a small blade to prick my finger then dropped it onto the ring.

Becket:"There you go."

He pressed the ring against the sole of my foot and I felt a surge of heat before he pulled the ring back.

Arnie:"It's done."

I took a look at my foot and saw an imprint of the ring in red. It looked like a tattoo. I shoved that foot back into my boot.

Arnie:"Now that you have the master mark you can issue orders to anyone else branded by this ring."

Becket:"But I need you to do the branding right?"

Arnie:"And I will gladly brand anyone you want."

A devious smile spread across his face.

Becket:"Ok now I want to know why you decided to listen to the voice and why you're so willing to help me?"

Arnie sat back in his chair.

Arnie:"Like I said I've lived a long time and I know that was some kind of god that visited me in my dream. I don't know if it was Ofhena or not, but maybe if it was I'll get the chance to meet her."

Arnie smiled agian, but for some reason the smile felt even more sinister. Since I couldn't remember I had to ask.

Becket:"Who's Ofhena again?"

Arnie nearly fell out of his chair.

Arnie:"You're an elf and you don't even know who Ofhena is? She's the goddess worshiped by all elves and aknowledged as the most beautiful of the seven gods."

Thinking about the gods annoyed me. So I huffed before I commented to myself.

*Sorry if I don't remember all their names. I've only met one of them.*

Becket:"Oh. So you're only doing this in the hope that you'll meet this beautiful goddess. You're a simple person to please."

Arnie chuckled.

Arnie:"I've learned it's the simple things in life that matter the most."

*Well because of their plans he might actually meet her, but if he does won't she kind of be my daughter? No way am I letting this old man near my daughter!*

Arnie:"So is there anyone you want me to brand? You came for a virgin right? I'll get you one."

Before I could say anything Arnie stood up and left the room. When he returned there was a man following him. He looked to be around 18 with shaggy brown hair and eyes.

Arnie:"This one is defiantly a virgin. I'm pretty sure. If we use the ring on him you can just ask him to tell you and he won't be able to lie."

Becket:"Actually I don't think I'll need any slaves now. Feel like taking a walk with me?"

Arnie:"I'm always up for a walk. Where are we going?"

Whoever it was that sent Arnie that ring must've been on the same level as those annoying gods. My guess was that one of the gods must have a plan of their own that they don't want the other gods to find out about, but what was it that they wanted from me and why give me the master mark?

*Well I'm not gonna find any answers by questioning myself. Might as well get some use out of this ring.*

Since my meeting with Carmilla I've felt a tad bit pissed off.

*I'm over due for a good knitting session.*

Becket:"We're gonna visit an inn run by a friend of mine. He's got a pair of siblings staying there that I'd like to introduce you to."

It was a good thing this god didn't leave any specific instructions like who I can and can't use the ring on.

*Arnie and that ring are going to make the whole vampire situation a lot easier.*

Arnie:"Give me a minute."

Arnie's left with that man he showed me and when he came back there was a different man. He looked a little older with the same brown hair and eyes. His face was rather plain looking so I probably wouldn't even notice him if we passed on the streets. He was wearing the exact same outfit the old elf had on.

Arnie:"This is my personal slave. He'll be watching my shop while we take our walk."

I nodded.

Becket:"Then lets go. I'm feeling eager to see those two again."

I smiled as we left the alchemist shop.

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