Chapter 294 - Fleeting Expression

Import shop? Char Char looked at Kai with a curious look.

At first she was confused why they would be visiting an import shop, but then she recalled a memory. Right around the time that she became an exalted, her grandfather had held a ball that ended up being disrupted by a monster and a blood monk.

One of the key parts of that night had been a bottle of Scarlet Ambrosia. This wine bottle had been tampered to contain some kind of blood monster, which was going to assassinate her grandfather. Thankfully, with Yuzu’s help she was able to hide the bottle and prevent it from being used.

Previously whenever Char Char had thought of this memory a sense of pride would well up in her. After all, protecting her grandfather and people from harm, this was exactly what she imagined Exalted powers were supposed to be used for.

Today though, the feeling was muted.

As for the memory’s relationship to her current situation, after the events of the ball Char Char had received a vision and a message from the White Maiden. The White Maiden instructed her to take the bottle of Scarlet Ambrosia and deliver it to an import shop.

The dingy, dimly lit shop at the edge of the Tye-Ann market left a mysterious impression on Char Char. She had delivered the bottle to a boy named Argus, who seemed to know quite a bit of information about not just the bottle, but herself as well. Most memorably, he had said he was a friend of the White Maiden and gave her messages to pass on the Her.

With Yuzu missing and the White Maiden not responding to prayers, the thought of revisiting the import shop came to Char Char’s mind often in the past months but she was unable to do so due to her house arrest.

Connecting the dots with Kai’s statement to visit an import shop, Char Char surmised that “import shops” seemed to be common places for Exalted dealings.

Firuzeh was casually patrolling around the restaurant exterior as they left the restaurant. Kai fetched their carriage and they went on their way toward their destination.

Char Char found herself reminiscing on the events of the ball and the following days. She remembered how enthusiastic she was at the time, how her imagination was full of daring adventures and the excitement of the Exalted world. Afterwards, she had met Lyssa who shared a connection to the White Maiden. Excited by being involved with a follower of the White Maiden, Char Char had followed Lyssa into the depths of the forest, where the God of Life first tried to revive.

Char Char’s hand subconsciously touched the sheathed sword at her waist as she thought of Hakuya. Her eyes darkened as she remembered that dark, humid place, where she had stopped the God of Life from resurrecting in the body of her friend.

I was naive. Her lips formed a thin line as she felt a sense of shame well up within her. Even back then, I didn’t learn.

Char Char was acutely aware of Firuzeh’s presence beside her as they sat on the top of the carriage keeping an eye on their surroundings. The chaotic battle with the mage had played over and over in her mind for the past two days. The fear and gut-wrenching feeling of responsibility from seeing Firuzeh’s crumpled form on the ground was as palpable in this moment as it was on that night.

That fight and its consequences were entirely Char Char’s fault. It wasn’t just that night, it was her entire attitude that was a problem. Char Char wanted to curl into a ball and hide from the world forever, thinking about all the stupid and dangerous situations that she had put her and those close to her in due to her cavalier naievity.

But she was only allowed to mope for one day, when she had been hidden away by Kai in that storage room after the battle. Time marched on with excruciating regularity.

Sitting atop the carriage now, the world looked different to Char Char.

Even as they traveled down the road in this peaceful, vibrant town Char Char’s eyes remained vigilant, her sixth sense activated as she kept an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious.

Never again. Char Char swore to herself.

“Now you understand.” Firuzeh’s voice interrupted Char Char from her thoughts. The elegant, tan-skinned woman smiled at her knowingly, “That’s a good look in your eye.”

“What look?” Char Char frowned.

“Remember what I said before? Recruits are always too relaxed until they gain experience.” Firuzeh said, “I can see it now in your eyes. The look of experience.”

“Firuzeh…” Rather than any sense of pride or accomplishment, Char Char was filled with guilt at her mentor’s words.

“You don’t need to say anything.” Firuzeh nodded, looking Char Char directly in the eyes, “I understand.”

In that moment Char Char saw a kindred spirit. A woman who had experienced the same pain and regret that she was now feeling. A person whose soul was heavier, who had to keep on going in spite of, or perhaps because of, her past mistakes.

“I’ll change.” Char Char said softly with determination, “I won’t let you down again.”

“I know.”

~

The carriage took a turn off the main road, rumbling down a tight but well-kept lane. Various boutique shops passed by, their wooden signs mounted on the second and third storeys, sticking out and crowding the sky.

A rut in the cobblestone made the carriage jolt suddenly, throwing Char Char off balance. She fell against Firuzeh, and was about to apologize when she saw that Firuzeh’s expression had taken on a serious, distant tone. She was so occupied in her thoughts that the older Exalted didn’t even seem to notice that Char Char had bumped into her.

Before long they stopped in front of a narrow blue door that had a small, inconspicuous sign, “Bluefin Import Shop”.

Kai turned to them, “I’ll drop you off first, then join you once I park the carriage.”

“See you soon.” Firuzeh said.

The two women dismounted and escorted Corbin into the import shop as Kai continued down the street.

A small but quaint shop greeted Char Char as she stepped through the doorway. The door was on the right side, with a wide pathway that led directly to the back of the store. There were three rows of shelving on the left, filled tastefully with various goods such as fine fabrics, ornamental trinkets, porcelain bowls and silverware. The shelves only had a few samples of each item on them, with a small placard that had a price chart and the name of the import company supplying them.

A female attendant sat behind the counter, greeting them politely as they entered. The shelves behind her were full of catalogues labeled with the names of import companies.

For all intents and purposes this looked like a respectful business for a merchant to visit.

There were no other customers in the shop as Firuzeh led the way to the counter.

“We’d like a private room, please.” Firuzeh asked, placing a silver crown on the counter, “With a price menu.”

“Certainly.” The attendant smiled, walking over to the back door, “Room three is available. Please follow me.”

She unlocked the door with a key and led the way down a well lit hallway, unlocking the third door and gesturing for them to enter. She held a scroll in her hand and presented it to Firuzeh with both hands, bowing, “Please take your time.”

“We also have a companion who will come by shortly,” Firuzeh gave a short description of Kai.

“I will send him over when he arrives.” The attendant nodded, gently shutting the door behind them.

The room was modestly decorated, with both a comfortable sitting area and a table. Corbin took a seat on the couch, looking somewhat exhausted, as he left Firuzeh to take care of things.

Char Char took a seat next to Firuzeh at the table as the latter unrolled the scroll. It contained a rather basic menu of tea, cookies and other refreshments at the top of the page. The bottom of the page was blank, but after channeling her spirituality into the page the hidden contents of the page were revealed.

“Import shops are all set up the same way, more or less. There are non-Exalted import shops as well, so typically you will need a contact to tell you which ones in a certain town are catered for Exalted dealings.” Firuzeh explained as she held the scroll such that Char Char was able to clearly see it, “The first step is to request a private room, which requires a small payment. You also need to explicitly ask for a price menu to get access to Exalted-type services.”

“The menu for this shop is written in a special ink which you can activate using your spirituality.” Firuzeh continued, “If you haven’t done it before, you just need to—“

“I know how to do it,” Char Char said, “I’ve seen this kind of ink before.”

Firuzeh nodded, “Other shops have different arrangements. Some have a secret phrase, for example.”

The secret menu was fairly sparse, listing room rental rates and reservation procedures. The lowest room rental rate was one silver crown for an hour. In addition to that there were several other services offered. Free passage, ritual materials, courier services and bounty listings.

There was also a line at the bottom, please inquire for marketplace times and locations.

“One important thing to note.” Firuzeh said, “Not all import shops are equal. Some are just regular locations with a few hidden rooms. They offer little privacy or protection for Exalted deals. Try not to do important businesses in those shops.”

“This one is one of the better ones, the owner is a Knowledge domain expert with concealment powers. This means any dealings inside these rooms or back hallways cannot be eavesdropped on from the outside.”

Upon saying these words, Firuzeh’s hand subconsciously reached up to the pendant hanging from her neck. However she caught herself before she touched it, instead letting her hand continue up to brush a stray hair behind her ear in a casual manner.

Though it was a small, easy to miss gesture, Char Char felt herself strangely on alert. Her sixth sense told her that there was something significant to Firuzeh’s action as she continued explaining the workings of import shops to Char Char.

Somewhere in that conversation their eyes met, and Char Char saw it again. The tiniest hesitation, a secret that was but a whisper away from being revealed. A flash of understanding glimmered in Firuzeh’s eyes.

The tiniest movement of Firuzeh’s pupils transmitted her intent.

There is something that I need.

Something that only you can help me with.

That only you can know about.

This intent was transmitted in the blink of an eye, so subtle and quick that Char Char almost thought she imagined it. Then Firuzeh smiled and the moment was gone.