The union market

The registration went smoothly. After paying a hundred coins as entrance fee, they received a small badge with a number etched on it.

Hex looked at the number 33 etched on his badge. The person helping him disclosed that they expected to end with forty participants in the Squire tournament. They were also told that the final list of participants would be announced the next night.

"Hey Hex, we know of a few massage tents. I guarantee complete satisfaction," Vitor asked in a hushed voice, after leaving the gambling den. The others grinned knowingly.

It certainly sounded good, but Hex wouldn't be able to join them. He promised Hestia to visit the Union market with her. It would conclude her lessons on resources needed by Squires.

They parted ways. The tents of relaxations were at the back, whilst the Union market was at the center of the plaza.

He met Hestia at the agreed place and entered the market. The Union market was inside a wooden multistoried building. The Merchant Union had set up the building for business purposes and would break it after the festivities were concluded.

Inside the building Hex noticed rows and rows of stands, selling different things. The Union was not a single entity. It was the alliance of hundreds of merchants.

"The first level is where you can find things at the Squire level. The second is for Knights and so on." Hestia walked Hex through the set up of the market.

"We will first check the weapons and armors. At the end we will check the potions and pills. Okay?" Hex didn't have a particular preference. He would need all three.

They went to the counter on the left. A man clad in shining armor received them. On top of his armor he wore a blue silk robe with silver linings. On the right side of his chest a symbol of a golden canary was sown into the robe. "How can I help you guys?"

"Give me the swords of Squire rank. All three grades. And do you have an unembedded sword of the Knight rank?" Hex listened with interest as Hestia listed the types of weapon they needed.

When the man went to retrieve the weapons from inside Hestia turned towards Hex and explained. "Weapons have different ranks and grades. To keep things easy people just named them after the rank a person was required to be to wield the respective weapon."

"All the swords you have trained with so far have been Squire ranked. Those are good to improve your control over your strength. But, sometimes you need to go all out. I don't think at that point a Squire rank sword would suffice."

"But wouldn't that cost too much?" Hex agreed with having more weapons but he worried about coins. If there was one resource that always seemed necessary then that would be coins. They were always needed.

"It will cost five hundred or else," Hestia said with a shrug. The shop assistant had returned with a few weapons.

"All the Squire rank swords are comparable to each other. So just pick one of each grade."

She then signaled the assistant to explain the three other swords he had placed on the counter. Hex knew at a glance that those three were Knight rank. They exerted a subtle pressure on their surroundings.

"These three are Knight grade but without an elemental stone embedded in them," the assistant said. "They are all made by master smiths. They can hold an elemental stone, but will break if too much elemental energy is inserted. But in the hands of a Squire it will rarely get damaged."

Hex understood the gist of the explanation but he heard some terms he wasn't familiar with. Luckily Hestia understood his confused stare and compounded on the explanation.

"Hex, look at my sword," she said, drawing out her sword. She pointed at a green gem placed at the bottom of the hilt. "See this? This is an emerald crystal, containing wood elements. That is my innate element."

"A knight's weapon is enhanced by connecting the innate element with their weapon's element. That way their attack can be imbued with those elements."

"A Squire is unable to tap into their innate elemental affinity. So they use weapons without the element crystals. Usually the Squire rank weapons suffice. But now and then we get freaks like you who just are too strong. So, the smiths use their failed products to make weapons which still have some use."

There was much to process but Hex understood the main points of the explanation. He also learned to judge by the weapon of the user whether they were Knights or not.

In the end he paid two thousand coins for the four swords. He chose the heaviest weapon of the Knight rank, which was also the most expensive one out of the three.

Hex consoled himself with the thought that he would quickly earn that money back.

After choosing the swords, they looked at the armors and boots. Hex chose Knight rank armors but Squire rank boots.

He didn't foresee needing a strong pair of boots without getting an additional boost of speed.

This brought his coins to four thousand coins.

Underway to the alchemy department, they stopped to look at the techniques on display. Although Hex didn't buy anything - they were too expensive - he still learned a lot from browsing through them.

There were techniques that strengthened or accelerated the user. Other techniques let the user tame beasts and even control humans. The prices however ranged from fifty thousand to a couple of hundred thousand coins.

'I need to find a way to get some more techniques through Wallen. In the worst case I will just owe some coins to rent them.'

The alchemy department was their final stop. Hex noticed rows and rows of vials and boxes behind the counter. Despite the fact that everything was closed the air at this counter had a medicinal aroma.

At Hestia's request a cute girl took various boxes and vials from the shelves. She lined them side by side on the counter.

"This one is a strengthening pill. It increases the user's strength for a limited time."

"This one is an agility pill. It increases the agility of the user for a limited time."

"This one…."

The girl droned on and on about the pills and the vials. Apparently they had all been Squire rank pills and potions.

"From Knight rank onwards the pills and potions have permanent effects on the user. It may not be too great, but it still strengthens them."

Hex's interest peaked. These were the resources he required. "How much are these?"

"It depends on the quality you wish to purchase," the cute girl behind the counter replied. "We have three grades of Knight rank strengthening pills available here. They are E, D and C."

"C costs five thousand coins, D costs two thousand coins and E costs five hundred coins."

Hestia knew Hex didn't have a lot of coins left. She was unwilling to let Hex choose the lower grades.

"Hex, although you can get more E quality, you shouldn't buy them. Lower quality means they have a lot of chaotic energy."

'Wait. Isn't that what I actually need? More chaotic energy?' Hex wanted to jump in the air. He started to notice the advantages of the world stone.

Chaotic energy was volatile and could harm a human. But Hex could use them without too much worry.

"Hestia, I think I need to consider them more before deciding. For now the weapon and gear will suffice."

Hex didn't want to expose his advantage to anyone. He would have to return to the market without being seen.

'I need to prepare a disguise.'