36 The Masked Vendor

"Where are you going again", Vita asked as Virgil's voice got swallowed up by the last explosive sound that came from her test tubes. She still managed to look dignified as she crouched down behind her greatest barrier of a desk, her head tilted to the open door where Virgil stood.

"I said I was going out to check for grocery", Virgil said louder this second time around. "Honestly, how do you even make herbal medicine explode like that every single time? I think this is a miraculous talent."

"Of course!" Vita smugly looked over, taking Virgil's comment as a compliment instead.

Though slightly exasperated, Virgil couldn't help but chuckle a bit to himself as he headed out. He waved at Tarruk just as he exited from the shop, a sturdy woven basket dangling among one of his arms.

Since it was a bit early in the morning, Virgil decided to take the path to buy from the fresh hunts. The meat from the newly caught and skinned prey were always the first to be sold out. Not to mention, that he wanted to buy a few horned rabbit's horn for his experiment. Having arrived at the stall near the edges of the Circ, he was trying to decide on what recipe to use for the horned rabbit's meat, so as not to waste the food.

Should he have the vendor skin the rabbit for him already? Or should he just buy the whole thing and skin it himself? Quite frankly, nobody did want to do the extra dirty work if there was someone else to do it, but he was reluctant to let others do it. He didn't want any damage done to one of his ingredients.

Silently debating with his hands on his mouth, Virgil ignored the few customers beside him were haggling with the vendor.

"Oh come on, old chap! I've buying from since ages ago, the least you could give me is a discount this one time", a person complained, as she shook the meat in her hands in the face of the annoyed vendor.

"If it was one time, I would have let ya' but to think you say this, every single morning. You're bad for business! What will happen if the other customers take on your example? I'd be losing all my profits!" The vendor bickered back.

"You're gonna lose me at this rate", she warned back. "I'll have you know I'm one of the most loyal customers out there!"

"Like heck you are", the vender countered. "I just saw you yesterday buying from that new small stall at the end."

"What, that stall with the masked kid?"

"That's right." The vendor huffed, his bulky arms placed on his hips, like a demanding wife interrogating her husband, though it seemed to be the other way around this time.

The customer placed her hand on her chin, not the least bit bothered that she was caught 'cheating'.

"But you know, there are seldom sensible kids like that who try so hard to support themselves. It made me want to cheer for him even a little bit." She sighed.

The vendor's mood seemed to simmer down a tad bit.

"Isn't that kid Halvalt took in? It's not like he won't have anyone to rely on. If you ask me, he could afford to play around a bit more."

The lady customer took a piece of fur from the display and threw it at the vendor, to which the vendor timely dodged.

"Hey—", the vendor's yell got cut off.

"Don't lump him in with you and your wild lot", she huffed. "How many sensible kids stay at home to help and earn for the family at that age? Take a look at Virgil over there. It's quite rare to have young sensible kids these days."

Having heard his name, Virgil looked up to see two people suddenly smiling at him. He sweetly smiled back, bowed, quickly paid for the horned rabbit's meat, and then left in a hurry.

"See, you've done it again—You made me lose another customer!"

Virgil's smile immediately turned into a confused expression as he turned his back, ignoring the banter between the two. It seemed as if he was an occupational hazard he had picked up by now with all the practice he had at their own shop and home.

Checking in a few more shops and stalls to buy a few more fruits and vegetables, and a bag of rice, Virgil sighed. He didn't get to buy any horns for his experiment, or ask the vendor if he had a whole horned rabbit prey that he could skin himself.

He passed by stalls with his head wrapped in the never ending cycle of thoughts and checklists that he knew he had to finish today. A small instinct in his guts made him stop walking. He turned his head to the left and saw a small stall, the items neatly arranged in display.

By the time he realized it himself, he was already in front of the stall, eyeing the beautifully skinned fur, polished horns, and tender meat being sold. Once he looked to the polished horns, his eyes never strayed away again until he was sure that they weren't damage. Not only that, put they could immediately be used as they were already treated and polished beforehand! This saves him a lot of time and work for his experiments!

Having decided, Virgil waited for the vendor to say the price, as he grabbed one of the polished horns.

Hearing the vendor say nothing, Virgil looked to the vendor and was surprised to see that it was a masked young masked man. He was just as unresponsive as him, not asking for the price, and thus not saying the price.

The awkward silence lasted for bit, making Virgil scrunch up his nose a bit, undecided. The other person wasn't even trying to convince him to buy anything, not to mention, there was no price mentioned. Was the horn even on sale? Virgil doubted himself all of the sudden. If the horns weren't for sale, how does he convince the other person? He really wanted the horns!

"..How much", Virgil asked, unsure. And yet, he was met with silence.

Virgil had put down the horn and was just about ready to leave when he saw a familiar person coming over.

"Obrecht", he breathed in relief.

"Virgil", Obrecht greeted back, flashing a business smile he had just learned from Mortimer, a very experienced and professional trader that handles other traders. "What can I do for you today?"

"Oh, are these your kills?" Virgil was surprised that there were other people willing to let others sell their own kills.

"Not really", Obrecht waved a hand.

Honestly, the first time they hunted together, Vera and Krael tagged along. Obrecht was afraid that he'd scare Videre off with the blood when he was cleaning up the kills.

What gave him a big surprise was that Videre didn't even flinch or hesitate on copying his actions. He sliced the belly of the caught prey. The blood enveloped his hands as he reached out inside the belly to pull at the intestines and unwanted internal organs, the thick-scented red blood dripping down from his wrists and to his elbow.

Videre's bracelet, to which Evelyn gave, was so disgusted with the prey's blood, that it ran back up higher and attached itself to the upper part of Videre's shoulder. Its tiny leaf blade fiercely patted Videre on the neck as if complaining that he should have used the other hand! If he did, then it wouldn't be that miserable right now!

In the end, it was only Vera and the tiny leaf bracelet that had a dissatisfied green face upon coming home. Even now, she was still trying hard to imitate the steel of nerves that Videre had.

"We hunted them together while practicing, but Vid mostly did the skinning and treatment", Obrecht proudly gazed at the said masked person.

Realizing something, Obrecht's hand stretched slowly towards under the mask and was about to pinch a cheek when his wrist got caught.

"…"

Usually, Videre had radar for anything around him, but having been tired with training, hunting and helping out Odeti with the chores, he was more exhausted than he was with the Nymphs.

With that being said, he still had his guard up even when asleep. It was just that he was so used to having Obrecht around, that just now, he got caught off-guard and Obrecht managed to bypass his mask to touch his cheek.

Sooner or later, he might as well be able to remove his mask while he's asleep. Videre felt a bit troubled by this, but at the same time glad that it was just Obrecht who could do this.

At least the culprit was someone he could trust.

On the other hand, the said culprit complained like a child, "How are we going to sell anything if you end up sleeping like that?"

Oh no, it was too funny. Virgil couldn't help but laugh aloud in front of the two.

So that's what it was! I thought for sure he didn't like me, Virgil thought to himself, feeling relieved.

"I wanted to buy the polished rabbit's horn. How much for three pieces?" Virgil relaxed and smiled.

Obrecht directed a dissatisfied look at Videre once more, as if to say "See? A customer? What would you do if I didn't wake you up?"

Guiltily, Videre bowed a bit and looked down to apologize to both. Virgil waved and said it was alright, no harm done. It took some time to acquaint the Videre and Virgil, but Obrecht was glad to have another possible loyal customer.

The polished horns were sold for a cheaper price than Virgil had expected. Close to finishing the transaction, he spoke up delightedly to Videre, "You should come to our shop too. I'd give you a discount for the first five healing potions you buy for a bundle."

"…Thank you", a soft response was said, barely above a whisper. Videre bowed at Virgil, which made the latter feel shy and a bit embarrassed.

"You don't need to bow", Virgil said, scratching his nose. "You and Obrecht are older than me, I think. I haven't reached the age for ceremony yet."

Videre nodded shyly.

Bidding farewell, Virgil thanked them once more and set to head back to the shop and prepare for a few neglected chores. A few steps away, he had the impulse to look back, as if to check that he had not forgotten any of his purchases.

Unexpectedly, he only saw Obrecht leaning towards Videre, teasing the other by trying to lift the mask, to which Videre stopped by catching his wrists. The unscrupulous bratt kissed the fingers around his wrists and smiled unrestrainedly.

Virgil turned back, expressionless and continued to walk away again. It seemed that he did not forget anything after all. The horns and the meat are in the basket and the—

Taking another five steps, he stopped altogether, and whipped his head back to look at the couple once more. It looked comedic to other people, but Virgil's face looked a lot more serious than before, his eyes shining a gleam that other people may have found creepy.

Videre was busy smacking Obrecht on the shoulder as the latter laughed and laughed, but still managed to stealthily snake his arms around the former.

A sense of happiness unique to researchers bubbled up in his heart.

A new set of test subject! Virgil swore on his luck today. He got a good few polished horns, another potential client for their shop, and a new couple he could ask to test the potion!

Ah, but, he had to find ways to find out the relationship between the two. He had to make sure, and not make groundless guesses. He hurried back home, scheming all the way, and almost bumped into someone as he had his head down.

"Raguk!" Virgil greeted abruptly. "What are you doing here?"

Glancing at Virgil to the side, he said, "Nothing. Just went for a stroll after our night patrol."

"You're on night duty? Isn't that tough for beginners?"

Raguk said nothing as he stared at the direction that Virgil had just come from. Virgil couldn't help but glance back as well. Wasn't he looking at Obrecht's stall? Was there something happening?

"It's not that hard. It's just that you have to shift your sleeping schedule, and change your habits", Raguk nonchalantly answered before heading a different a way. "I'll be a regular soon anyway, and take the morning duty with my apa." He waved his hand at Virgil, never glancing at the small stall again.

Baffled, Virgil could only head back to the shop. Sooner than later, he forgot about that small encounter with Raguk as he got immersed in his experiments again.