Shopping time

After running for a long time, they have finally been able to escape from the men in black.

"Hey, wait a minute, they're not chasing us anymore. We should stop for a moment to catch our breath," Leah suggests.

"Good idea," Eva says.

"Lo siento[1]. I've caused trouble," Isabel says.

"Hey, it could happen to anyone. Plus, if it wasn't for you, we'd be fighting the Shaktila and most likely Eva would already be disqualified," Leah tries to encourage her.

"I guess so," Isabel says, still upset to herself.

"And those poses in which they were paralyzed?" Leah says, as she imitates the Shaktila leader raising her arms, as if holding the wooden club with nails in it, and one of her legs as if she was running.

Everyone laughs at her imitation.

"Hey, what do you think if, instead of going to the Auction House, we go to the market that Isabel told us before?" Eva says.

"It does sound great," Leah says.

"Well, come on, let's go," Lucien says.

The group starts walking, and, fifteen minutes later, they arrive at the market.

The hustle and bustle of the streets are higher than when they left the Auction House. People shouting to attract the attention of a potential customer, or the smell of food mixed with the smell of dirtiness of the crowd, among other things, show the liveliest area of the city.

"Okay, ladies. What do you prefer to do: go straight to the stands in which you want to buy something or wander around the market?" Lucien, asks.

"I'd like to go to the herbology stalls, you know, for potions and poisons. But we can look around the market first," Leah says.

Isabel nods.

"I think it's a good idea. I want to see if there are any stands with books. You can never learn too much," Eva says.

"Yes, but if you accumulate too many books, you won't have room for anything else," Lucien jokes.

Eva comes near him and puts a hand on his arm and says, "Luckily, we have a bag with almost infinite space!" Then she takes her hand off his arm and moves away.

"So, it is decided. Come on, let's go!" she says.

The three girls start to walk, but Lucien stares at the area where Eva has touched him, and with a mischievous smile, he heads off to reach the girls.

As they wander through the market, they occasionally stop at the stalls when something catches their attention. In addition to the herbalist stands that Leah likes, and the book stalls that Eva likes, there are also stands with metal pieces that Isabel is interested in, clothes and household stalls, and there are even stands with rare weapons that Lucien is interested in, even though he prefers to fight with his bare hands.

Three hours later, they leave the market.

Our heroes have bought a lot, although, since they have Isabel's bags, they don't carry weight.

Leah has bought enough medicinal and poisonous plants to set up her own shop, as well as a couple of books about arrays since she is interested in learning about them.

Eva has bought gloves to match the Faith armor she wears and a set of knife throwers that can be worn on both legs. She also got some books about magical creatures and magical beast, so that if they end up facing an enemy, she can tell her friends what they have to do to defeat them.

Isabel has bought about a dozen technological devices that she thinks she will be able to use for some of the inventions she is working on or at least some pieces of them.

And Lucien... he hasn't bought anything, he just watched as the girls bought and then, he took the objects and put them in the bag he carries.

After leaving the market, they decide to return to the Auction House, to rest.

When they arrive at the hall of the Auction House, the receptionist calls therm.

"Mr. Arlor has received a message that says that in a month the Arena will hold the Red Fight and they want you to take part in that fight."

"What's the Red Fight?" asks Leah.

"It's one of the most famous luchas[2] of the Arena. It is held every five years," Isabel explains.

"Tell him I'll participate," Eva says.

Then they head for the elevator.

"Wow, you're learning to behave. No more growling when I mention fighting," Eva jokes.

"Gr! I still don't like it," Lucien growls.

"You can always train her to win," Leah says.