Chapter 17: Pearl Rim

Peerze watched the procession carefully but was more interested in Trace. We both must be of same age, Peerze tried to guess from the unhidden part of Trace's face. If he is only a Level 1 Truce like me then we probably are, Peerze thought taking a quick peek at Trace. His eyes returned to observe the sheet on Ergon's hand.

"Brave young man, this, in front of your deep eyes is a contract of Pearl Moon Market," Ergon stated.

The sheet and the paper were stacked as one unit and were being waved in front of Trace. Egron then slammed the sheet on the table and gave it a second thought before asking Trace to step forward.

"This contract will make you eligible to shop in the Pearl Moon Market and by signing it you swear to maintain its secrecy. Press any finger of your choice and hold it until I tell you to let go. ", Peerze said indicating the spots with his fingers.

"You may remove the glove and your mask for this ceremony", Ergon said.

Trace nodded in a solemn expression. He removed the glove of his right hand before placing his index finger on the spot. With the other hand, Trace also removed the mask. At the same time, Ergon's finger also arrived at a spot near Trace's fingers. Seeing the force behind Ergon's finger, Trace also pressed on.

"This will be enough", Peerze said after giving Trace a deep look.

Trace lifted his hand and surprisingly there was a red mark of his finger was printed on the paper. Surely, he felt no pain so it must not be blood? Trace carefully examined the tip of his index finger but no tear was found.

However, Ergon was still pressing on the paper. To answer this, Peerze forcefully lifted Ergon's hand and took the sheet back. Giving Ergon an annoyed look, Peerze began scribbling on the paper.

"What is your name"? Peerze asked, without looking up.

"Tra-"

"YAAA", Ergon raised his voice to interrupted Trace.

"No names!" Ergon slammed his hand on the table.

After glaring at Ergon for a while, Peerze put his head down to scribble again. The name on the paper said Purple Gris, and a sketch of Trace emerged at the top. After finishing up, Peerze carefully separated the paper from the sheet. And placed them inside different drawers.

A new moon shell of Angelite was handed over to Trace. The corners gave off deep oceanic hue but, being a shell, it was black on the front. Ergon patted Trace shoulder and they walked outside. Before crossing the door, Trace turned around giving Peerze a light nod, extending his thanks.

When the two figures disappeared from Peerze's sight, he pulled out the drawer. Inked portrait displayed the face of Trace clearly. After looking it for long, Peerze closed the drawer. Curiosity was visible in his eyes because as far as he could remember, Ergon only vouched for new shopkeepers.

…

All the shops at the corners were bigger than the stalls. It was just like Ergon claimed in the beginning. This place might even have more variety of items than the Koyoko Shopping Center. Trace was walking along Ergon aimlessly, looking around, he saw a crowd gathered at a corner.

Ergon walked towards the direction, Trace followed. Their faces were covered with mask again. Quite a few people were gathered around a shop. One of them even barely touched the ceiling above. It was difficult to catch a glimpse of what interested these people.

"Don't tell me it's real, I will laugh."

"Why the hell you stand here, if not this thing is real."

"Could this start of a new era bro, impossible isn't it?"

"Even if it is fake, Pearl Moon Market's name will spread far and wide."

Trace picked out a few sentences from the muffle murmurs. What could be this thing? Trace got on his toes but still the item of attraction was not visible. When his struggle ended Ergon put his hand on Trace's shoulder.

"Young man, do you wish to lay your eyes upon the sun that is sucking these moths?", Ergon asked.

"Yes, I am curious", Trace said, his eyes eluding hope.

"One day you will be the sun even if not as bright."

Ergon held Trace's hand and slipped inside the crowd. A space suddenly opened up for Trace to squeeze in. Just as he took a step to fill the small space, the way out behind him closed. This is even more scary than the time when people surrounded Miss Swirls and me, Trace thought.

With every slow step he took a space opened up in front and the space behind closed behind. Soon Trace saw light in front, just as he took the step, a glass greeted his face. His hand was still being held by Ergon who was at his left.

"Ergon you bastard. Why did you bring you bag", a few curses were said out loud.

Trace's body was stuck between the glass sheet and push of a person from behind. He barely managed to look towards his side. Ergon's puffed bag was in front of Ergon's stomach, making his body looked like a crescent moon.

Trace couldn't help but laugh lightly, Ergon also smiled back at him. This place was truly unruly at the moment. With difficulty Trace straightened his head and looked at the object of attraction.

A big sphere made of glass seemed to be floating in the air. The black background behind sphere made it look like the moon from Peerze's place. However, the object of attraction was inside the round transparent ball.

Exactly in between the big sphere was a stone about the size of a fist. Trace's tried to make out the exact color of the stone. But it looked like the stone was turning back and forth between corporal and illusion.

I cannot see it clearly, Trace complained in his heart. It was just like the time at Swirls house. A true Level 2 Sentinel would be able to hear her words but I was unable. Not wanting to give up Trace spread his senses towards the stone.

This feeling used to make him wobbly at the beginnings but now he could do it without any after affects. Trace took a deep breath and concentrated. He could not describe this feeling, it was a will, or just a manifestation of senses? Trace was unsure.

The sphere grew clearer in his mind and Trace could feel the black strings that were keeping the big sphere afloat. He closed his eyes, to get a more proper feel of the sphere before diving inside it.

A misty air filled his mind, Trace thought his senses were not working and panicked. This broke his concentration and he had to start over again. The back strings, glass sphere and... mist again? But this time Trace was calm, he extended his senses and soon saw a cyan colored stone appeared.

This normal looking stone was the attraction of all these people? Trace tried to feel the stone with his senses. Suddenly, he experienced a push from behind, breaking his concentration again.

"Boy, get out if you want to close your eyes", a voice came from behind.

Apparently, Trace's closed eyes were faintly reflected by the thick glass that separated the object at display from the onlookers. He got worried but felt a grip tighten around the hand Ergon was holding.

Young man, look ahead and walk, a path will follow," Ergon shouted.

Trace unconsciously also tightened his grip around Ergon's hands and looked forward with open eyes. The reflections on Trace's left eye changed repetitively - a black string, glass of sphere, mist and the cyan stone!

Trace's breathing increased as he saw the cyan stone in his mind. He tried to look inside the stone. Just as he made the effort, the pupils of his eye reflected cyan again. There was another cyan stone inside the stone?!

Unsure, Trace increased his focus. Sweat drops appeared on his left face. His eye reflected cyan again! Another stone inside the stone? Trace forcefully tired to explore further inside but his left hand was pulled and he was dragged out of the crowd.

A stinging pain filled his left eye and a thick blood colored tear manifested. After being stuck between his mask and the face, the red drop flowed down the white mask. Trace's shaking hand was covering his left eye. When he opened his eyes, Trace was unsure how much time had passed.

"Health of a Level 1 Truce is that of a mortal man. Work with diligence to step on the second sequence for a healthy lifespan", Ergon said.

Trace nodded weakly, the pain in his eyes were gone but a feeling of weakness enveloped his body. He got up with the help of Ergon. A feeling of energy draining made him stagger.

"Young man, let's rejuvenate ourselves with flavory delicacies," Ergon called.

…

The crowd in the complex lessened, it seemed like slowly the population was dissipating. Some shops were shut down while others maintained lesser customers. At the eastern corner, the glass window barricading the giant sphere was also shut.

In Peerze's office, a silhouette slowly walked out of the stairs in the room. The stairs were connect to an unknown room below. The silhouette saw Peerze's bent on the register at the table and walked closer to lightly tap on the table.

"Thank you, Renl."

Peerze said after a while. He looked up to see a figure of a man with round pearl rimmed glasses. A half pearl moon shaped buckle was hanging on the man's belt. The man nodded and Peerze walked towards the door.

"Renl, you know Ergon vouched for a new moon today", Peerze said.

"Angelite?"

Peerze nodded and walked out of the store. New Moon, or the Black Moon badge was given to new members of the Pearl Moon Market. It was mandatory for everyone in the market to have a badge. And similar to many other things in the world, three was number of types of material that these badges were made of - Angelite, Amethyst and Pearl.

Peerze raised both his hands in the air and looked towards the ceiling. A slight pain emerged from his neck and shoulders but he held this posture for a while. After adjusting his badge, Peerze walked towards the only restaurant in the Pearl Moon Market.