Bargaining

"Hmmm, these mace and hammer looks quite worn out. Though it's made from good quality steel so it can be salvaged."

An old but muscular blacksmith said as he scrutinized the two weapons one by one.

"Hmmm, okay. I'll offer you 10 silver coins for both of them." He then continued after a few moments.

Hearing him, a vein popped on Regis's temple as his lips twitched.

"Sir, I can see that the weapons made by you with the very same material costs more than a hundred silver coins."

He then leaned at the table, "Now, even with the damages, pricing these items at about 10% of the original market price is surely a stretch, isn't it?"

"Hmmm, from what I've seen, you're quite a good blacksmith. So the one hundred silver pricing of your weapons can be said to be justified."

"O-Of course!" The old blacksmith smiled proudly.

Though his lips could be seen twitching.

He looked at the boy in front of him, 'I thought these kids are ignorant, tsk…'

Raising three of his fingers, Regis said, "30 silver coins. I'll sell them for 30 silver coins."

"B-But…"

"What but? Even with this, you can make these weapons into something that will let you gain more profit. So even then, you're not losing anything at all…"

"Or… do you really want to complete this transaction the hard way?"

A strange light flashed in Regis's eyes as he showed his finger that was emitting a small flame.

"M-Mag–"

"Shhh."

Regis placed his index finger over his lips.

The old blacksmith sighed, "Haaa, you got me you brat."

He then put silver coins onto a small pouch before handing it to the white-haired boy in front of him.

Regis happily grabbed the pouch as he smiled, "Pleasure doing business with you."

"Argh! Just go and don't come back here anymore!"

The old blacksmith said as he watched their backs.

A few seconds after they were nowhere to be seen, he looked at the mace and hammer in front of him, 'This… they killed people, huh?'

It wasn't strange for them to kill as they were travellers and anything could happen outside.

However, the two of them looked too young.

Shaking his head, the old blacksmith coughed, "They're not my problem anyways…"

***

"You're amazing, Brother! How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"You bargained with the blacksmith like you've done it countless times!"

Regis and Pandora conversed as the two of them walked in the streets of the village.

"Well, I don't really know…"

Hearing his response, she tilted her head slightly, "But you even used a strange word!"

"Strange word?"

"Yes! The marrt prayyys was it?"

Regis giggled, "Oh, market price?"

"Yes!" Pandora answered with a pout.

It was clear to her that he was making fun of her.

"Ehem." Regis coughed and said, "I don't know that word. I just heard some merchants use it on our way there."

"I just used it after getting an idea of what it meant. But, most importantly, I was able to read."

"Can you teach me?"

"What? You don't know how to read??"

Pandora only responded by shaking her head.

"Hmmm… then let's start with that."

Pandora looked over to where he was pointing, "Isn't that our inn?"

"Yes." Answered Regis as he nodded.

"Now, you see the symbols that are engraved at that wooden sign?"

"Mhm!"

"Those are called letters."

"Letters?"

"Yes, now try copying me as I pronounced it, okay?"

"Okay!"

Regis then opened his mouth, "Now, for the first letter. Bah! B-Bah!"

"Hehe…" Pandora giggled as she watched him.

He noticed this and smiled, "Your turn."

"Puh! P-Puh! Bah!"

"Very good. You're really a quick learner, huh?" Regis said as he patted her head.

Pandora smiled shyly at his praise.

He then proceeded to teach her how to pronounce the rest of the letter on the sign.

Then after a couple of tries…

"Now, try reading it in one go."

Pandora obediently nodded her head before opening her mouth, "B… Bardana's Inn."

Regis chuckled, "Very good!"

"Yay! Teach me more!!" Pandora replied happily, feeling good about herself.

"Sure, sure! But it's getting late now. Let's have dinner at the inn first and I'll teach you more in our room, okay?"

"Okay!" She answered as she smiled widely.

As they walked, Pandora didn't notice that Regis's expression turned serious.

'That old woman back at the chapel… She's strange.' He thought as he remembered the old woman's actions earlier.

She stared at his palm for a few minutes before letting go of his hand.

Then before they left, she asked him to come back some other time.

Regis couldn't help but feel that she must've found something.

However, there's something bothering him.

'If she found out that I'm a demonic human, then why didn't she say so?'

'Just what is she planning?'

Thoughts swirled inside his mind as they walked to the inn.

The two of them then had their dinner before going upstairs inside their room.

To save money and upon Pandora's discretion, they decided to just rent one room for the two of them.

Of course, Regis requested for another bed to be placed in the room.

In the room, the bright illumination of the lamps helped the two read the books that they rented from the inn.

Time went on peacefully just like this.

With the sound of Regis and Pandora trying to pronounce each word in the books.

They practiced reading until Pandora fell asleep.

Seeing her peaceful expression, Regis smiled gently as he stood up and carried her to her bed.

Fuuu~ Fuuu~

He then blew the lamp off one by one, shrouding the room in darkness.

The soft moonlight that entered the window was the only thing that illuminated the interiors of the room.

Regis walked near the window and looked outside, 'Time sure passes by quickly…'

He couldn't quite believe that just a few days ago, they were in a life and death situation against the bandits that ambushed them.

He couldn't believe that just a few weeks ago, he had been a demonic human who killed countless people everyday.

Shaking his head, Regis smiled.

"I need to focus on my future–"

Glancing at Pandora on the side, he corrected himself, "–our future now…"

He felt excited at the journey that awaited him.