Chapter 23: Saphir

Merchants.

Merchants are humans that originated from the southern continent: the land of everlasting snow. Their most notable features are their blue eyes and pale skin. However, I thought when one spoke about Merchants, they were referring to someone involved in a business or trade. Perhaps because I’m Caucasian I fit the bill myself.

This explains Rosalia’s reaction when we first met. So if Merchants are people that originated from the Mercantile Continent, then what do we call those people working in the trade department? It’s confusing to think about but I’ll remember to refer a Peddler different from a Merchant from now on.

* * *

I wake up hugging Fia from behind, my face buried into her silver hair. I hug her even tighter so I won’t fall off the horse. In response, Fia’s hand starts to stroke my head. Such a comfortable feeling. It’s not an understatement to say that this is one of the most enjoyable mornings I’ve had lately.

Since it was simple enough to read a map here, with the names of the roads and signboards to guide our way, I overcame my biggest weakness of following maps. I’m the type of guy who gets lost in his own neighborhood. That’s how bad I am with directions. So with the growing river on our left and an open field on the other side, our horse continues to traverse through this road like we’re married to it for weeks.

“Master, we’re almost there.”

“Eh?”

I lift my head and look. From a distance, I can see the overview of a large city built on top of this river delta and behind it is the big blue sea. The pavement continues to expand as we get closer and so does my growing excitement.

* * *

We get off the horse and stand in line to cross the main road that bridges the city. There’s a small barracks stationed on our left and various peddlers had already settled down on their spots to bring in business. As we wait for our turn to get inspected, a cute girly type of voice calls out to me.

“Mister, mister! How would you like to get a present for your lovely companion?” A young girl with long pink hair and bright smile leaning on her signboard says as she gestures me to view her goods.

Headbands with a flower sticking out on top, cotton mittens, mirrors, and a wooden hairpin with an intricate design of a leaf — wait. I step out of the line for a moment to closely check the hairpin. “How much is it for this hairpin, Miss?”

“Huhuhu, you have a pair of intelligent eyes, Mister. That hairpin was carved from a branch of a grownup Kukre Tree.”

Her fake laughter creeps me out. “So, does that mean anything?”

“Not entirely. But having one with you on your travels is supposed to bring you good luck. So if you want good fortune to come your way, I suggest you buy it, Mister.”

“Alright, enough of the sales talk, you got me. How much is it?”

The girl crosses her arms and puffs her chest out. Her breasts are even smaller than Rosalia’s I almost feel sorry for her. But unlike Rosalia, I’m sure she still got some time left to grow.

“Just because you’re my first customer for the day, I’ll give you a discount, Mister. That’d be a total of a single gold coin for the Kukre hairpin.”

I don’t trust someone who says they’d give me a discount. “Now you’re pulling my leg. Why so expensive?”

The girl shakes her index finger at me. “Believe me, Mister, I would never lie to my dear customers. It’s expensive because the materials are hard to come by. Even your Demi-Human friend over there could testify I’m not lying.”

I glance at Fia, who’s quiet on the line. It doesn’t seem like she heard what this girl had said as she’s standing still with our horse and waiting for our turn to come. The guards are about to inspect us too. I can’t waste anymore time with this girl.

“Fine, I’ll buy it, but only if you include this mirror on our deal.” I won’t need the mirror, but Fia might.

“Deal!” She opens her palms to me while tilting her head and showing me a fake smile.

Though her smile is fake, it doesn’t seem too bad to accept a girl’s smile like this. It’s quite refreshing after the long journey. Reaching inside my robe, I fish out a single gold coin from the abyss and drop it on her small hands.

“Thank you for the business! May you have a pleasant visit in Saphir!” the girl says as I slide the items in my robe.

After that small business, I jog back to Fia and take the rein from her hands.

“Did Master found anything interesting?”

“Yes. Remember that hairpin I promised to get you before we entered the labyrinth? I found a similar one over here.” I hand her the hairpin. “Here, check it for yourself.”

Hopefully, it’s the same one to what she was looking at before. And her expression tells me I hit the jackpot. Fia makes a face of delight as the corner of her lips curls adorably into a smile.

I wonder if there’s a certain semblance to it that only she knows. It makes me curious.

“You can thank me later, it’s almost our turn. So just keep it with you for now.”

“Yes.”

When our turn arrives, a pair of a man and a woman wearing silver breastplates approaches us. The woman with swaying blonde hair and blue eyes hangs a thin rapier on her hips while the man with almost the same features carries a sword on his back.

“You two don’t carry any luggage?” the woman asks.

“No, we don’t. We came from Freyrun and caught some disturbance on the way. That’s when we lost most of our belongings.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you still have your identification card with you?”

“Unfortunately, that’s one of the things I lost.”

“That’s no problem. As long as you pay the fine of fifteen copper coins, you can enter the city.”

“Sure, I have the money.”

Right after I hand her the fees, the woman guides us inside this building and asks me to perform the same requirements I did in Freyrun to register my information. The woman takes out a card with the information glyph drawn on the bottom and hands me a small knife. I cut my finger with the knife and drop my blood on the information glyph before announcing my name. The woman then jots down my information on their log book and put a stamp of approval on the bottom.

“Level 1 for a grown up man; what kind of lazing have you done in your life?”

I smile. “The one that sleeps all day.”

The woman laughs at that. “Well, it’s none of my business. Here’s your card. It’s still the 7th of Meriel, so please don’t forget to have it renewed on any guard station before the end of the month.”

“I won’t. Thank you.”

After taking my new card from her hands, the woman checks the glyph on Fia’s back. Perhaps she sees my name, as she nods in satisfaction. As soon as she finishes, I ask her another question. “Also, this is our first time entering Saphir. Do you know where we could get a map of the city?”

“A map? I’m sure one of the peddlers inside could provide you with that. Anything else?”

“Well, we’re planning to leave the continent, so I have no need for our horse. You know of a place where we could sell it?”

“You could try the stables. It’s the second shop to your left as soon as you pass the bridge.”

That’s too much of a hassle. “What about the knights? Are you not taking horse donations?”

“You sure? It seems like a good steed.”

More like that horse is Pitas-spoiled. “It’s grown attached to me, you see. That’s exactly why I want to leave it to the knights since I feel like it’ll have a better life in your hands.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “You’re weird, but okay then. We’ll take it from you. Is that all?”

“I would also ask for your name, but I don’t think it’s part of your job to give it to strangers.”

Her mouth drops, perhaps in astonishment, but quickly closes it. “Silly. You better leave though, you don’t want to anger my brother.”

She points her chin to the man leaning on the wall behind me, I concede.

“You know what? You’re right. Let’s go Fia.” I take Fia’s hand and escape the station.

Outside, we bid our farewells to the horse. Goodbye Pitas, I will miss you in the next few days. I’ve spent more time with you than most other people here. With that, Fia and I walk through the stone bridge that’s at least ten meters wide. I can see some sailboats leaving the docks and there’s a giant slim building that seems like a lighthouse on a tiny island.

“Have you been on a ship, Fia?”

“No, why?”

“Me too. So let’s go!” My excitement overwhelms me and I start sprinting, dragging Fia behind me.