Chapter 47: Shopping

Dialogue "sample"

Thoughts 'Sample'

Techniques [sample]

Author notes -sample-

Chapter 47

Shopping

"Mmm, I don't know. I feel very offended right now. Maybe I should call my father after all. Lord Sebastian does not like when people mess with his children."

If their face could go paler, at this point they would be as white as paper.

"He is the son of Lord Aston!"

"Oh no!"

"Mercy, My Lord!"

Edward rose both hands in the air.

"Very well. I will be merciful, just this once, and keep this offense to myself."

Their faces regained color and were finally able to breathe again.

"Thank you, My Lord." Said The Captain and the others did the same.

He wished them away with a gesture. "You may leave now. And remember to take those three who attacked my friend to a healing center." He pointed at the trio of boys who were still unconscious on the ground.

The guards did not need to be told twice. They picked up the boys and ran away. The onlookers soon dispersed too since there was nothing else to see.

Astoria aproached Edward and Siegfried.

"T-Thank…you." The words seem to come out of her mouth with a lot of difficulties.

"Oh, don't mention it. We are classmates after all. Is normal to help each other."

Astoria nodded. "I don't like owning debts. I will find a way to repay you someday."

"As you wish." Said Edward. "Were you going into the Emporium? We are here to buy some supplies for the class trip. Would you like to come with us?"

"I appreciate the offer, Lord Aston, but I have some private matters to discuss with one of the alchemists". Astoria then gave a soft bow that was often used as a sign of respect among nobles.

Siegfried approached her slightly and said in a soft tone so others would not hear.

"You would do well in hiding that staff and minding those manners. That is if you wanna keep pretending to be a commoner, of course."

He could feel her stare as he walked into the alchemy shop with Edward right behind him.

The inside of the Emporium was quite interesting. The seeling was extremely high and there were hundreds of shelves filled with ingredients that went all the way up.

There was a set of spiral staircases that lead to the next floor and a circular counter in the middle of the room with many attendants listing to the clients ordering ingredients.

"It is quite full of people," Siegfried observed that the central counter was completely full and were many people waiting in line for their turn to buy something.

"Of course is full. This is the most popular place to buy alchemy ingredients. This floor here has mostly common things but if you to the upper floors, you can see very rare stuff. And don't worry about standing in line." Edward rose his hand to greet someone in the distance.

Soon, an old man, wearing a dark green robe with gold decorations approached with a smile.

"Lord Edward. It is an honor having you back in our humble shop."

"Master Alfred, allow me to introduce you to my friend. This is Siegfried, we are in the same class." Edward then addressed him. "Sieg, this is Master Alfred, a rank 3 alchemist and one of the best experts in this shop."

Siegfried greeted the old alquemist. "Is an honor to meet you, Sir."

The old man scratched his long white beard as he observed Siegfried.

"Mmm, you have already started to open your mana veins. Quite the talent, indeed."

Siegfried was not surprised that the old man was able to tell. He could feel that this old man held quite a bit of power, despite his frail looks.

"Very observant, Master Alfred." Said Siegfried.

The old man gave him a satisfied nod and turned his attention back to Edward.

"And what can I do for you today, young Lord? I assume you did not have any problems with the cauldron I sold you a month ago, right?."

"Not at all, it works fine. We are going on a trip to the Varian forest in a few days and we need some supplies." Answered Edward.

"Very well, follow me to the second floor. We have…as Lord Edward likes to call it "The good stuff" there." The old man chuckled.

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Both Siegfried and Edward were sitting in one of the VIP rooms on the second floor. Master Alfred had brought before them a selection of items.

"I assume that you will be only exploring the far outskirts of that forest, but is always better to be prepared. This right here is something you may need." The old man held a red spherical object the size of a fist.

"This a very potent beast-repellant pearl, after you throw it to the ground, it will break, releasing some white smoke. Even a rank 1 beast would be compelled to flee immediately after getting a whiff of that smoke. I cannot give any guarantees with rank 2 or higher ones, but it should have some effect at least."

"Rank 1 beast?" Asked Siegfried. He of course knew about demonic beasts but he has never heard of them having ranks like the Magus use.

"It measures the level of strength of demonic beasts. Unranked beasts are around the level of a Magus apprentice, rank 1 beast could be comparable to a rank 1 Magus." Answered Edward.

"I assume you haven't been taught this at the academy yet. But what Lord Edward said is correct, although very generic." Said Master Alfred.

"The method for measurement for demonic beasts and Magus are not the same. Some tools allow us to get an estimated measurement of the amount and intensity of mana possessed by a demonic beast. Based on this measurement, we give them a rank."

The alchemist then continued.

"But…numbers are not everything. Many rank 1 beasts could be defeated by a skilled apprentice, while there are other rank 1 beasts that even a rank 2 Magus would not want to approach. The individual skills of the beasts themselves also play a big role in determining how dangerous it is. But this is not taken into account in our current measurement system. That is why I always said that the system is dangerously flawed and too generic."