Chapter 3: That Badge...

As time passed by in the space of an incense stick, Ara and Isabelle were walking around stalls one by one checking the stalls customers and gazing around them, suddenly Ara found himself dazed staring off into the distance as he saw what looked like a gold plated badge on a small wooden box on a merchant stall.

Ara cautiously approached the merchants stall with his feelings tightly grasped to his chest, he felt odd but yet familiar with this wooden box in front of him and yet he doesn't know where it came from.

"Urm... Excuse me Sir.. could you tell me what's in this wooden box?" asked Ara as he picked up the box and rubs his finger over the gold plated badge, as he was rubbing the badge he looked closer and saw a faint feather engraved lightly onto it.

"Ahh, Young master, this here is a sealed box made from an ancient tree called Willowed Blossom, it's a high-grade material that the ancients used as a storage box of a special and rare gift, it would show the person that they're gifting it to that whatever Item is inside it is very precious and really rare." Smiled the merchant "This box is 350 jade stones".

"Whaaaat... Are you pulling my leg?" Ara's face went pale white as if he became ill and was seriously sick, "Hehehehe" quietly sniggered Isabella.

Ara turned his head towards Isabella and stared at her with an emotionless face "And what are you laughing at? Don't you start, you paid 90 jade stones for a plant".

"Hmph! Meanie" Isabella turned her head and looked away from Ara

"Young master if you don't have enough you could always do a task to trade for this Item?" insisted the merchant.

"Oh? And what's this task that a Physical Aroma stage can complete without being put into danger?" Questioned Ara.

"Hahaha... Well, young master, there is only one that you're able to do but it would be better if your little girlfriend went with you as she's already at Bone Morph stage" Giggled the merchant.

"Ehhh! Watch your mouth, old man, who would want to be this idiot's girlfriend!" Isabelle slammed her hand on the table and poked Ara on the arm as her face went bright red, Isabella has never told Ara how she really feels about him so she found this situation a little embarrassing.

"I'm sorry young lady I didn't mean to overstep, I'm just a lowly merchant that took a stab in the dark, I apologize for my wild guess" Panicked the merchant as he started to sweat and get flustered not knowing how to handle the situation he put himself in.

"The task isn't simple but it's not as difficult as you might think, just outside of Alimo Village you'll come to see Willows Edge Forest, within the forest you'll need to get the Blood Moon Crystal, there's little danger within but it's nothing the young lady can't handle most of the beast that roams around the forest are at least stage 2 beasts that equals bone foundation to cultivators" Explained the merchant.

"Are you kidding me? Hey old man.. That means I'm useless and have to rely on others.. Are you trying to get me killed?" Ara frantically and quickly jumped out of his skin and hid behind Isabella.

"Heheheh Ara, are you scared? Do you need me to protect you?" Isabella joked around as she looked at Ara deeply and longingly into his eyes.

"Me? Need protection from others? Just remember who would beat those bullies who decided to mess with you when you were younger Isabella" Ara Jumped from behind Isabella with his hands on his side holding his waist and his head held high full of pride.