074

Adam woke up early this morning, so he could head to the middle floor market 3 of 5, hex 9 of 18.

As it was very early, the streets were a bit empty, but not as empty as when Adam was 10 years old. Since Ascension: The Market and other hexes on Floors 3 and 5 were used as clearinghouses for new secrets discovered on Floor 4.

However, the situation in terms of robberies and disappearances was not so bad in these apartments. Especially in the market, where order reigned with a firm hand.

Adam was heading towards the eyeglass store. There was only one eyewear store in the entire market, for some reason Adam didn't know about, and it was located in one of the inner hexagons of the maze of painted walls.

Adam went to the box of the store and after a while he was able to arrive. Below the painting there was a badge that said: 'Oculist'. He reached out for the painting and was sucked into the painting.

—Welcome to the Merchant's shop on the middle floor 3 of 5, hex 9 of 18—someone said immediately when Adam entered the room.

Adam turned to see who had spoken to him: to his surprise, he looked like a very cute stuffed white rabbit and had a heart hugged on his chest with the inscription: 'Abel'.

The stuffed rabbit noticed Adam's look and said:

—What service do you want?

—Some glasses—Adam answered, looking around the store.

It seemed that the store was not too big: its walls seemed to be made of tree bark and the floor was made of very small stones scattered all over the surface. The floor was a bit uncomfortable to walk on and probably torture if someone didn't have shoes. In the store there were several strange gadgets, a stretcher and a desk full of tools and drawers.

—If you're looking for glasses, just sit on the stretcher, and you'll be taken care of—answered the stuffed rabbit.

Adam walked over and sat on the gurney, immediately after doing so a man made of stone pebbles formed on the floor. The pebble man had no clothes at all, only an eye in the middle of his face and a mouth.

When the pebble man finished forming, he asked:

—Aren't you too young to need glasses

—I see well, I'm just looking for something that I hid my eyes—Adam replied, looking curiously at the merchant, it seemed that this store was owned by the market shelf, so he had to be careful.

—Do you want to hide your karma? I can't do that—answered the shelf, looking at Adam's silver eyes.

—I just want to hide it from the librarians—Adam answered carefully with his words.

—That's possible. Shall we proceed?—asked the merchant with a smile on his face.

Adam didn't like the smile at all, so the redhead asked:

—How much is paid?

—Depends on what things you want to put on your glasses—answered the merchant very briefly.

—No puzzles and just characters: How many things can I put on it?—Adam asked.

The merchant looked at him for a few minutes and replied happily:

—Everything. Each well-answered question is 1 character pages less.

—What kind of character pages and how much are some glasses worth to get me what I want?— Adam asked carefully.

—Pages of clean characters—Answered the merchant looking at him in a macabre way— Glasses are worth 10 pages, 100 pages per added magical attribute

Adam stared at it for a few minutes and ended up taking his godfather out to ask him why the prices were so cheap, there had to be something strange, he didn't come across so many people with magic glasses.

His godfather replied:

'Remember that the shelf mentality is adjusted to other times where a measly sheet of clean characters cost a life: Like in my time.

Why people do not use these glasses can be due to several reasons: This may be a secret. There could be discounts for your karma, or you're just richer than the average person on this floor (Which is very likely, Adam)'

Adam was scared, he didn't want to be thrown off guard with a bookshelf, and he asked forcefully: 'I buy them, or I don't buy them, what's your advice?'

His godfather replied: 'I know the shopkeeper never lies about his dealings: so rob him of his shop, boy! Ask him if he sells magic books too!'

Adam listened to the advice, especially the part about him not lying, and asked,:

—How many magical attributes can be put on my glasses, and you sell something else?

—You're a relevant, I see, that explains the eyes—the merchant answered with a smile, preparing the questions in his head —How strange that you haven't gone to get your black robe yet. You should, or people will suspect that you lost your memories. The baron's vassals must be looking at you fondly right now, hero.

Adam wasn't bothered by the merchant's confusion. Right now, the boy was impatient to steal the shop from this shelf.

The merchant went to the instrument cabinet, took out a wooden board and handed it to Adam, saying:

—I only sell glasses. Only one per person. Only once in life. Only 3 enchantments from this table can be placed on a goggle. The costs for each enchantment is 100 character pages, and I'll tell you the total at checkout before I start work. If you fail one of my questions: it will be one more painting on the walls of my hexagon.

Adam lost emotion, but he supposed he made sense. Ultimately this was one more service offered on his path to ascension, if he had good odds and answered the questions the glasses were free. If there was no need to trade: fulfilling the whim of the shelf and the conditions of service.

Adam looked at the list for a long time; he consulted with his godfather that he was more experienced and indicated that he could serve him in the future. Although the list was not long, it had 30 enchantments inscribed on the wood, the possible combinations were not few, so Adam felt somewhat overwhelmed.