In stark contrast to the conquerors’ building, the institute had guards. Kent counted four guards that were obviously patrolling the building or keeping watch at the doors. An impressive display.

Yet, not as impressive as their respective levels. People he couldn’t identify, placing them at least above level one hundred, were seemingly paired with ones of level thirty to sixty. There was little doubt in him that they were master-aspirant or master-apprentice pairs. Their equipment seemingly without blemish and expensive looking, and identical in each group.

All Kent could think was that there had to be better ways to pair up people, because if they truly wanted to be effective combat teams, they would not have two fighters of similar skills in the same group… Unless the stronger ones are just that strong.

Kent kept walking even though his companion had since stopped. He didn’t listen to Estes who was telling him to come back and not to risk the anger of the institute. He didn’t even turn around to see what the other man was doing.

Approaching the institute might not have been the smartest of moves. Especially since he had heard a few unpleasant things in the last couple of minutes. But he thought that the institute would at least have some interest in the cores or just turn him away. And it was justified in a way, because he needed money, and decent quantities of it. And he could only sell to the conquerors as a member which was a risk, he wasn’t willing to take just yet.

The guard he approached – one standing by the door – looked at the approaching Kent with a raised eyebrow. They did nothing else until Kent spoke to them directly. No change in posture, no change in the lazy lean against the building, and no change in how the eyes lazily observed everything else around Kent instead.

Kent wasn’t a threat. He was a supplicant at best. A beggar, vermin, at worst.

“Good evening,” Kent began, then hesitantly continued, thinking to best get it out of the way. “I’ve come across a type of spell core that apparently is quite unheard of. I was wondering if I might get it assessed for worth. I’ve been told the Royal Institute likes to buy such cores.”

“Evening. What’s the type?” the guard asked in response, still lazy. However, surprisingly cordial for how much Estes seemed to have been worried. Another point in their favor was the directness – which Kent appreciated.

Estes had warned him of various questions and such, but apparently Kent would be able to get straight to the point. He considered one last time before speaking. Once he opened his mouth and the institute was interested there was no going back.

“It’s Tranquility. No one I’ve talked to has heard about it so I thought coming here might benefit the kingdom,” he said. He left the “and me” out. Better just polish the guards up as much as possible in the hopes that he could get some bonus points that way. Yet the words sounded hollow to him, dishonest. If he didn’t believe himself, how could he make a favorable impression on the guard.

Turning his body slightly the guard seemingly looked at her partner. No words were spoken but the other – the lower leveled guard – went inside the building with hasty steps.

Is this good? Did I mess up? Thought swirled through Kent’s head and worry crept onto his face. Best distract from that.

“So, have you heard of the type before?” Kent smiled.

“I would not be so happy about his,” the guard said, only now did they sound female to him. Female and uncaring. “Next time you should head to an enchanter instead. You are going to be cooped up for hours in here if it is truly a unique type and you are not gonna be able to decide whether you want to sell. You are going to have to tell you all about how you got it and where. No running away now.”

With the last words she placed a firm hand on Kent’s shoulder and there truly was no more turning away.

After a few minutes of silence, the younger guard returned with an envelope. He handed it off to the elder guard, looking almost bored. A stark contrast to Kent’s tensed body.

“Minor interest… hmm… One mancus for a lesser, four for a common, and I don’t think I have to go further than that with your level,” she mumbled as she glanced over the paper. “I have decided to be kind. Next time go somewhere else. The right person might even give you double or triple what we are paying here if you have more than a single core.”

A mancus?? That was plenty of money to live for a season in Blueleaf, and plenty of money to buy some equipment he thoroughly needed. He didn’t need more.

“So, you are saying I don’t need to sell all to you?” Kent asked tentatively.

“So, you have more than one?”

“Uhm, not on me?” Kent lied. If any of the people here couldn’t tell it was a lie, he would be thoroughly disappointed. The guard though didn’t care and told him to confer with his friend for a moment if he wanted to – saying that he would have to sell every core he had on him when they would make the exchange.

“If you don’t know an enchanter you might as well sell it here,” the guard finished. “They are tough to find at the best of time and you don’t strike me as someone particularly resourceful.”

Estes has enchanted items, so he has to know where I can sell it.

Kent turned around and faced the now unbuttoned clothed chest of an older man. Estes had apparently kept up after all.

“I can’t help you with that kid,” Estes said. “We didn’t buy any of it from an enchanter; they are too secretive. The vender won’t give you the enchanter’s address either. Not worth the trouble. You could sell them for a two to ten sceat a piece at the conquerors though. Most likely ten, which is flat rate for all the seldomly occurring cores – which this one is since there is minor interest from the institute. If there was greater interest you’d want to sell here for sure, because the alternative would be treason. I would probably sell here as well. But,” he leaned in closer and whispered the rest.

“I’d also ask for an attestation. They tend to give those out sometimes and an attestation grants access to all sorts of knowledge available, once.”

There wasn’t really a lot to think about. Kent needed money to effectively live and thrive. Maybe, with another few windfalls of this sort he would be able to gather enough money to get himself a house in a village somewhere. But thinking that was dangerous, with each passing day Kent realized that his strength was not much compared to others. With time that could change, but for now he shouldn’t dream about too grand of a future.

Not only because of his relative strength, but also due to how the quest system seemed to interact with the presence of a traitless. There were quests for ‘getting rid of the traitless problem’, just because he hadn’t flat out been attacked didn’t mean it he was an exception.

“Thank you so much,” Kent said with a smile addressing the guard again. “I’ll gladly take your offer. I would like to receive an attestation as well though, if possible.”

“We can do that.”

It sounded like a good deal. Previously he had been told that he could gain about a third to half of that, so this certainly was a greater windfall that what he had expected.

He shook hands with the guard before showing his three lesser cores and one common core. The guard sent their companion away and waited until the other returned with a small pouch clinking pouch.

A quick inspection revealed what he had expected. He tried identifying one and was surprised when he received a result.

Mancus (Common) – A piece of metal that has been minted by the kingdom of Issar.

Just to make sure he checked half the coins all returning the same information. He hadn’t really expected the identify to work – since it didn’t work on styca – which was a welcome surprise. He was glad he now knew that he was at least somewhat protected from forgery when dealing in large enough currencies.

They exchanged the respective goods and with a piece of paper in his hand he was sent away.

Imagining what sort of equipment, he could get for himself he walked away grinning. Estes walking besides him was also seemingly in a good mood.

“Made a fortune today boy. Might even be able to get yourself an enchanted pair of daggers if you keep it up. But first you should probably get yourself some better base equipment.

“Say Estes, do you happen to know where either ‘The Broken Shovel’ or ‘Hyamdal’s Hammer and Forge’ are. I’ve been told they can do good repairs.”

“With your sort of money now I’d go to Hyamdal’s. Vastly improved quality and fair prices. Though I guess you could get some free stuff from the Shovel.”

“They have free stuff?” Kent’s eyes bulged at the mention of that.

But just as they exited the main area of the institute Kent’s system chimed, confusing him.

Quest Alert (Two Eyes for an Eye):

You have been cheated out of the real worth of your possessions. There can only be one consequence to theft. Revenge.

Allotted Time: Sixteen days

Static Reward: Level Progress

Variable Failure: Experience Penalty for the next three months

Complete Failure: Loss of System Concealment

Kent wasn’t even surprised. He just sighed.

This was a trouble and a half. Who has even cheated me in the first place. I sure hope it wasn’t the Royal Institute itself because there was no way I could ever remotely take ‘Revenge’ on an institution like that.

He hoped that wasn’t it. The other options weren’t better though.

But there was another question to be answered. How have I been cheated? Was the money fake or has someone just lied about the value of the cores. Quickly Kent identified all the coins again, all seemed real enough so that probably wasn’t it. It couldn’t have been the guards, could it? Unless they were working together it’s unlikely. And Issar’s soldiers wouldn’t do such a thing. So, maybe the estimation of whoever had deigned them to be a ‘minor interest’ been an intentional undervaluation? But it was just an estimation, right so it couldn’t be a lie?

But that wasn’t the most important part either. Not even the variable failure condition that worried him. Thirty days now were next to nothing to him. With a stable job – one he was currently considering to quit – he would suffice with his skill. It was the consequence of complete failure that worried him.

What is System Concealment? Does that mean I’ve already been somewhat protected by the system? Could that make it, so I get identified as a traitless?

That’s not good.

When Estes said a word with more emphasis than the others Kent realized that his companion was still talking. It took a moment to figure out what the man was talking about. By context he was able to determine some of the things the man had said. Something along the lines of everyone being supplied with the tools for their trait.

“… by Heron, the first emperor. A man whose kindness knew no bounds. Either way, supposedly it does a bunch of good for the empires growth and helps people to get the feet under them. You’d have to speak to a scholar if you want to know more.”

“That sounds nice. But I think I’m good. It doesn’t matter much to me right now.”

“Just wish they had something like that for combatants as well,” Kent said.

“They do didn’t you listen? But as I’ve said, you need to sign up to serve the Conquerors for two seasons,” Estes replied. “But you won’t have to worry about that. The equipment they supply you with usually is only worth a half a mancus, depending on build. And you have plenty more than that.”

Kent sighed. Just one more thing to deal with or consider. The only thing he was sure of was that he wanted his thaumic dagger repaired. He should really get some armor and additional weapons though.

“Could you lead me to Hyamdal’s, please. I just want to do one last thing before heading back to the workshop.”

“Sure, we can do that. You want to take the scenic route?” the older man chuckled and didn’t leave any time for Kent to respond. “Of course, you don’t. We are gonna take it anyway, because if you ever find a lass, she would love to go there with you, I’m sure.”

“And it might even help you to calm down a bit and adjust to your new wealth, before spending it all.”