Chapter 108 – Batela

Third person POV

 The town is home to most sapphire and ruby mines in the country, and half of the town's population are miners. "Okay, we're here, everyone," Russell said to his passengers while opening the doors. "That'll be 7 gold coins, 14 silver coins, or 19 copper coins individually, please." And so, the passengers grabbed their belongings, stood up, and went to the front, paying up their individual fares according to their current ability and funds before getting off.

 After that, Russell took a look at his earned money. 5 of the 10 passengers paid in silver, 4 in copper, and 1 in gold. Yet as usual, Russell was positive on his daily earnings and opened his metal box and tossed the money into it, before closing it and locking it with its key. Once that was done, he turned towards his friends. "Okay, guys, what do you say if we want to explore this town for a while?"

 "Sure, that sounds like a good idea!" Azalea responded back positively.

 "I'm so excited to take pictures of gemstones and mines here!" Nathan added with enthusiasm.

 "We want to explore the mines, too!" Rai added as well.

 "Okay, we will leave later at 10:30 a.m. after this," Russell replied back.

And so, Russell parked his bus at a secluded spot between two buildings in town and turned off the engine, before unbuckling his seatbelt and standing up.

He then wore his body armor and grabbed his knapsack and scabbard while his group stood up, grabbed their belongings, and went to the front.

 All of them then got off and went through the streets of Halestone Town. Along the way, they explored, went around, and took a look at the gemstones on display and on sale at the town's Jewels Bazaar, which is essentially a place that is mix of a marketplace and an exhibit for gemstones that were mined recently. All of them were amazed at their quality. Most of the gemstones are very pricey, and most were even auctioned in the place as well. Then, Nathan's attention was caught by a small gemstone of sapphire for 70 gold coins, or 90 silver coins; for a price in copper coins, it's 100. Nathan knew that it was a very expensive gemstone, but he had been earning a lot from his photography and photo-taking services. But still, he couldn't decide whether he should buy it now or not, so for now, he refrained from buying it.

Russell, meanwhile, saw a nice-looking emerald gemstone for 77 gold coins, or 84 silver coins; for a price in copper coins, it's 90.

But, like Nathan, thinks that it was quite unnecessary to buy another gemstone since he had his own back at his home.

So, he refrained from buying it, being content with what he had now.

Azalea and the others are busy browsing the other gemstones in the Bazaar.

It seems that all of them are having a good time at this point.

 But, an army was coming from west of the Queva Mountain Range. That army was 4 battalions with 35-50 soldiers, some on horseback, armed and armored, each. Their general was waving the banner of Batela, which consisted of 2 horizontal stripes in red and black with a figure of a crow as its centerpiece. That 4-battalion-strong army was invading Halestone Town for its resources of mines and gemstones. And so, the horns on the town's watchtowers were blown, signaling to everyone in town that an army was coming to invade their town.