Market

Surprised by the amount of stuff that just happened Soren quietly said, "Wow, that all happened so.. slowly."

'Makes sense as to why no abilities are allowed. That would cause much chaos very fast. A purple acid whip though? Weak. Why did the big guy not do anything to defend?' 

The small man was being dragged by the woman effortlessly into the distance. Not to the castle, but toward the larger outside walls. These were around six stories tall, and once again made out of the same dark stone material. 

'Rest in peace, random person who lost their cool. Have fun on said frontline.'

Walking to the map that was set up nearby, he saw that closer to the castle, was a market of sorts. Unfortunately, the map didn't specify anything that was there. 

'Couldn't hurt.'

With that, he looked up at the castle and started walking down the pathway.

The whole city wasn't that big to begin with, equating to just a small town. He walked past the houses that were situated near the circular dropping area and took a right turn. 

Everything here was made of the same things, dark stone and wood. From the houses to the training area, which was just a big slab of stone on the floor. 

It was all depressing feeling, but just with a bit of craziness permeating the air.

'I wonder if that's because everyone here chose a demonic ability? Weirdos.'

After walking for roughly 25 minutes, Soren started seeing two-story houses show up. 

'This must be it.'

The streets were starkly different than the other parts of this place. It had people walking around, not hurrying, but not slow. There were people outside the shops advertising what they had inside. The people buying from here also seemed to be bulkier than most. They were more equipped with weapons and armor. 

Fierce and battle-hardened expressions on their faces. These people meant business. 

'I shouldn't mess with them right now.'

Continuing to walk forward, he heard quite a few things:

"Come on everyone! Get you some cooked meat to eat right here!"

"No, come over here! We have both melee and ranged weapons. Best of quality."

"We have armor, made from even termite lizards! Get it while it lasts folks."

It was a standard market. Nothing like one would expect from a place called Skultr. It was only an illusion though, these people wanted something in return. There was no way that people who picked demonic abilities would be right in the head. 

'Speaking of, I wonder what currency they use here? It shouldn't hurt too much if I ask right?'

Walking up to the guy yelling about cooked meat, he spoke up, "What are you getting in return for selling the meat?"

The positive guy's attitude instantly dropped. Assuming the position, as if looking at someone who lost their mind. 

Seeing the guy go quiet and not answer Soren got irritated. "Hey, I asked what you get in return."

The guy's face turned from indifferent, to a subtle furrow of his brow as he looked at Soren with a mixture of disbelief and mild irritation.

"Hey small fry," the guy said in a patronizing tone, as if speaking to a child who had just asked a foolish question. "Didn't you bother to read the book when you first arrived?" 

'The book, right.' Soren's eyes slanted, not expecting the answer to be there. 

Still not liking to be talked to in such a manner, he was about to voice his discontent with the shop when a rough voice sounded from inside the shop, "Come on in, please." 

The guy out front immediately stiffened, as if he was afraid he'd die right then and there. 

Still not happy, he thought, 'Why couldn't this guy just have told me from the start? Now I can't look in the book right this moment and I have to deal with this guy's boss.' 

Walking towards the door he felt a threatening stare burn into the back of his head. 

'Oh get over yourself.'

Opening the thick door, he slowly entered, observing his surroundings. There were only small lit candles spaced around on stools. The walls were adorned with wooden carvings that spoke about past times.

Staring at the stairs leading up, wondering where he should go, the man called out again. 

"Down the hall."

These shops were about three times that of the houses he'd seen. 

Reaching the end, he saw a very big man, with a bulging belly sitting behind a wooden reinforced desk. 

'This is not someone who fights with their life. That's for sure.' 

The man saw Soren's body size and came to an understanding.

With an experienced voice, the big man started, "Welcome welcome, what seems to be the problem, strong friend?"

'Friend?' Soren's face contorted ever so slightly when he heard that, missing out on the word strong.

'How are we friends? Your guy practically just called me an idiot.'

"Oh I was just asking a question, nothing much, but your guy out front seems to like making fun of potential customers."

The big belly of a man went into an uproar noticing the slight facial change, "I've told him far too many times to be nice to our customers! Do not worry sir, I'll show him not to do that again."

"He'll know his place soon." With a quick thought, he continued, "And actually as compensation, here's a gift." Pulling something out from under the desk, he stood up and reached out his hand to give Soren a pitch-black spherical crystal. 

His massive belly flopped onto the desk causing it to creak under the pressure even though it had been reinforced from every side.

"This is one of our finest ones, please do accept."

Soren looked at the rock for just half a second before swiping it and putting it into his robe. 

'The book talks about this too I bet. Surely this big belly man wouldn't give me something worthless right?'

Feeling like this was the case, his expression visibly softened.

"I suppose this will do."

He thought for a moment and then decided to turn around and leave. 

'I need to find a place to sleep and read this book.'

"Wait sir, perhaps I can still answer the question you had earlier?" 

Soren paused for a moment without looking and said in the calmest possible way, "It's alright, it was just a test. You failed, but your.. good deeds have changed my mind. Good day."

Seeing Soren leave the shop, Belly Man heaved a sigh of relief. "So that was a test. I knew somebody wouldn't just ask something like that."

Feeling like he dodged a bullet, Belly Man took out a piece of cake and treated himself to some dessert.