Suddenly with an idea in his head, Sora looked mischievously at Ideor. "What if you came with me to the barter?"

Ideor raised an eyebrow, an amused smile slowly forming on his wrinkled face. He adjusted his glasses, squinting to get a better look at Sora, as if trying to detect the real intention behind his proposal. "Me, come to the barter? Who do you think I am, kid?" he replied with a mixture of humor and incredulity. "I'm an alchemist, not a huckster."

Sora shrugged, a smirk on his face. "That's just it. Who could negotiate better than you? You know the true value of my artifact, so, thanks to you, I could sell or trade it for the right price."

Ideor scratched his cheek, looking thoughtful. His analytical mind went to work quickly, considering the possibilities. "Hmm... It's true that you run the risk of being conned like a novice if you go it alone," he grunted. "But what would I gain by helping you?"

Expecting exactly this reaction, Sora tried to hide the smirk that appeared on his face. "Well... If you ever manage to sell my artifact at a price I find satisfactory, I could give you up to 10% of its value."

Ideor's eyes lit up with an eager gleam, his interest clearly piqued. Ten percent on the sale of a rare artifact like Sora's could represent a considerable sum, especially if the negotiation was well conducted. He crossed his arms, feigning indifference, but Sora wasn't fooled.

"Um, ten percent... Not bad, for a simple outing," the alchemist replied, stroking his beard calculatingly. "But, listen carefully, kid: if I decide to come, you'll have to be prepared to be my assistant for the day; and above all just watch and do nothing."

Sora nodded, barely concealing his excitement. "That's fine by me. I'll watch and learn."

Ideor gave a satisfied grunt, although an amused smile betrayed his genuine interest in this proposal. "In that case, we'll meet tomorrow at dawn in front of my workshop. Be on time, kid, I've got no time to lose."

Satisfied with this proposal, Sora left the alchemist's store with a wave and headed for the Order. The sun had almost completely disappeared behind the horizon, but the temperature outside was still pleasant.

When he went inside, there was hardly anyone left in the main hall. Only a few mercenaries were sitting around a table sharing a pint of beer, and Nerris was working behind his desk.

Sora approached Nerris, who was bent over a register, scribbling away at full speed. The flickering torchlight accentuated the expressions on his face, giving him a more stern look. Without looking up, Nerris greeted him in a welcoming, familiar tone.

"You've just come back from Ideor's store?"

Sora nodded, slightly surprised by his question. "Emma fill you in?"

Amused, she raised her eyes to the level of Sora's pockets. "Obviously, when a mercenary, a beginner at that, finds an artifact, almost everyone knows about it within minutes. In fact, those sitting behind you were talking about it just a few minutes ago."

Sora glanced over his shoulder. The mercenaries at the table burst out laughing, no doubt amused by some joke, but one of them gave him a curious look, as if assessing the rumor at source.

"It's going faster than I thought quickly," Sora murmured, a touch uncomfortably, turning back to Nerris. "But they don't know it's me who's got it, do they?"

Nerris smirked. "Nan, rest assured, apart from us hosts and hostesses, no one knows you have it in your possession. Be glad you're still new. No one has to know your face or your name yet."

Relieved, Sora let out a slight sigh. "I suppose that's an advantage, yes. For now."

Nerris resumed his work, scribbling a few notes in his ledger, then looked up at him thoughtfully. "But it won't last forever, Sora. If you continue to stand out in the Order, people will eventually notice you, keep an eye on you. Discretion is a rare luxury here, so enjoy it while you can."

Sora nodded, pondering his words. "Thanks for the advice, Nerris. I'll try to stay as invisible as possible... at least until tomorrow."

Surprised, Nerris looked at Sora quizzically. "Until tomorrow? For what reason?"

Sora smiled mysteriously. "Let's just say I have an appointment with Ideor. He's coming with me to the merchant to barter the artifact I found."

Nerris's eyes widened slightly, surprised by this information. "With Ideor? He almost never agrees to get involved in mercenary transactions, even when he's interested in the object. How did you manage to convince him?"

Sora crossed his arms, assuming a falsely modest air. "A little agreement. Let's just say he's pretty motivated by a share of the profits."

Nerris smiled, a mixture of benevolence and amusement. "Indeed, that's a good idea. Baiting him with money is a trick that often works with him."

Sora shrugged, smiling. "You make do with what you've got, right? Besides, with an expert like him by my side, I should avoid any unpleasant surprises."

Nerris laughed softly, but a glint of seriousness passed into his eyes. "You're right, but keep your wits about you. Ideor is competent, that's for sure, but he's also a very... fastidious person. He's not particularly mean, but he's very demanding as soon as a subject talks about his work. So I'd advise you to get some rest as soon as possible."

Sora nodded and took out some ecus from his pocket, which he placed on the counter in front of Nerris. "Here, this is change for a room."

Nerris took them in his hand and counted them. "Eight écus, you didn't get the best room."

Having experienced the worst possible room, Sora was already happy to have a better quality room. "I know, but I've spent almost all my other nights on a rock-hard mattress, so I figure a room four times the price must be better."

Nerris smirked at Sora's expression. "You're not wrong. I've tested these beds myself, and my back still remembers them."

Taking the keys that Nerris had just handed him, Sora remembered that he still had one last thing to say. "By the way, you can give Emma a message for me. Tell her that tomorrow morning I won't be able to train with her."

Nerris raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "I'll pass on the message."

Sora then moved away from the reception desk, waving goodbye to Nerris, and headed for the room he'd reserved for himself.

It was bigger, more spacious and more pleasant than the one he was used to. For the first time, there was even a shower in the room.

Not a shower, as he was used to on Earth, but a shower nonetheless. In fact, as he looked at it, he realized that since his arrival, he still hadn't washed once, nor had he changed his clothes.

Sniffing his clothes, he noticed that he'd almost become accustomed to his own smell, as well as to the traces of blood, dirt, grass and gaping holes all over his clothes.

He didn't dawdle a second longer, rinsing off all his clothes and washing himself immediately afterwards.

After his shower, Sora finally felt fresher. The slightly warm water on his skin and the smell of soap melted away some of the fatigue accumulated over the last few days.

"I'm really going to need some new clothes..." he thought as he wrapped the towel around his waist.

"If everything goes well tomorrow, maybe I can buy some new ones," he thought. "That would be nice. That way, I'd look a little more like the people on this floor."

He closed his eyes and tried to relax, but the excitement of the day ahead persisted. After a while, fatigue got the better of him and he drifted off to a troubled sleep, his dreams filled with visions of treasures, negotiations and pieces of silver fluttering around him.

...

The next morning, Sora awoke at dawn. The sky was still dark, but the first light of dawn could be seen through the window curtains. He stretched for a long time before getting up, dressing quickly in his clean clothes. The idea of meeting Ideor and going to the merchant to barter the artifact had him on the alert. It was an opportunity to make a good deal, but there was still a risk that the exchange wouldn't go through and Sora would be forced to keep an artifact that was totally useless to him.

He took a deep breath, grabbed his room key and headed for the exit. The Order's lobby was deserted at this hour, the only sounds being those of torches crackling faintly in the darkness. He placed his key on the counter and left.

Arriving in front of Ideor's workshop, Sora waited a few moments, observing the surroundings. Then, at last, he caught sight of the alchemist's silhouette coming towards him. As promised, there he was, with his impassive air, dressed in his long coat, his glasses still in place.

"You're not late, that's a good start already," Ideor scolded as he walked past, heedless of his own punctuality. "Ready to get started?"

Sora nodded, his heart beating slightly faster. "Ready to go. Let's go. "

The two men set off towards the merchant's store, crossing the still sparse streets of Grimpoint as morning still struggled to break. The first rays of daylight lit up the cobblestones, and Sora could already hear the sounds of the town gradually waking up: shopkeepers setting up their stalls and the morning conversations of the few passers-by strolling through the streets.

The journey to the merchant was peaceful, although the anticipation of what was to happen in the next few moments was beginning to intensify for Sora. He didn't really know what to expect from this barter, but he was determined to make the day a success.

"So, what do you hope to get in exchange for your artifact?" asked Ideor, breaking the silence while adjusting his glasses.

Sora shrugged his shoulders in thought. "I don't really know. I've no idea what it's really worth. But I'm hoping to trade it for money or maybe another artifact or useful resources, something useful basically."

Ideor glanced at Sora, his piercing gaze studying the young man's attitude. "But remember, the art of bartering is all about knowing what you want before you know what you're willing to offer. Too many novices rush in, thinking that everything will work itself out." He chuckled, stroking his beard. "Don't be in too much of a hurry. The merchant has his own rhythm, and you'll have to be as astute as he is."

Sora nodded, mentally taking note of Ideor's advice. "I know what you mean. It's up to me to define what would be really useful, then."

The journey to the market was quick, and soon Sora found himself in front of a modest store, its sign reading "Le Comptoir de Grimpoint". The place seemed darker on the inside than on the outside, with shelves filled with a variety of items, from armor and protective gear to weapons, a few sacred weapons all on display, and mysterious artifacts scattered here and there.

Behind the counter stood a stocky merchant with greying hair and a shrewd look in his eyes. When he spotted Ideor, his face lit up with a calculated smile.

"Ah, the illustrious Ideor!" he exclaimed in a squeaky voice. "What brings you here today?"

"I haven't come for myself, old monkey," Ideor replied with a smirk. "He's the one with something for you." He pointed at Sora with his thumb.

The merchant stared at Sora, examining him up and down before straightening slightly. "Hm, what have you got there, kid?" he asked, his voice betraying growing curiosity.

Sora slowly pulled the artifact from his pocket, the mysterious glow of the luminous stone instantly capturing the merchant's attention. The latter leaned forward, his eyes shining with interest.

"What's this?" murmured the merchant, reaching out to take the object. "It's a good quality artifact... Rather rare even, it doesn't come from this region, does it?"

"Actually yes, it's from this floor," Sora replied. "I found it recently on one of my quests for the Mercenary Order."

The merchant observed the artifact more closely, his eyes scrutinizing every facet of the luminous stone, fascinated by its brilliance. "Intriguing..." he murmured. "It's unusual to find an artifact of this quality on this floor. It has a special aura. Are you sure you want to part with it?"

Sora, a little nervous under the merchant's intense gaze, flashed a confident smile, before Ideor answered for him. "Indeed, he's willing to exchange it, yes."

The merchant nodded slowly, apparently wary of Ideor's answer. "I see... So it's you, Ideor, that I'll have to haggle with."

The merchant finally straightened his gaze towards Ideor, a cunning smile playing on his lips. "Well, well... Let's see what I can offer you in exchange." He placed the artifact on the counter and turned to a shelf full of treasures, gleaming armor and mysterious vials, his finger tracing the air as if weighing each object at his disposal.

But before he had time to take a trade item in hand, he turned and looked at his two interlocutors. "By the way, what would you like in exchange for this artifact?"

As before, Ideor answered for Sora. "Ecus, if possible, or other artifacts or even armor."

The merchant rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. "Shells, armor... Now that's reasonable. But artifacts, hmm... That might be more interesting, especially considering how rare this one is." He turned back to the shelves, his fingers gliding over the neatly arranged objects.

Sora, watching intently, sensed the tension in the air. The merchant's every move seemed calculated, as if he weighed every gesture to avoid missing a good opportunity.

"Tell me, kid," began the merchant, leaning slightly towards Sora, a wry smile on his lips, "are you really aware of what you're holding in your hands? You don't want to trade this artifact for a few poor ecus, do you? It could open much more interesting doors for you."

Sora squinted, restraining himself from showing too much interest. "I'm open to proposals. But I'd like something really useful."

"Well done, kid," Ideor muttered, appreciating Sora's cautious attitude. "The art of bartering, you got that right."

Keeping an eye on the artifact, the merchant turned back to the shelves, this time with a more calculating air. "I could offer you some light armor, perfectly suited for a mercenary. Or perhaps some energy or healing potions, practical things for your next adventures."

Sora seemed to ponder, but he wasn't satisfied with the proposal. "Armor and potions are fine, but I was looking for something a little more... strategic, in fact. Something that could help me in my future battles. Perhaps an artifact or a special weapon."

The merchant gave a muffled laugh, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. "An artifact, eh? You really want to go there? These objects are rare and therefore expensive. But I'm willing to talk."

Ideor, who seemed amused by the turn of events, observed Sora with an approving glance. "Not bad, kid. You've got to know how to ask for what you want. But be careful, don't accept just anything. That old monkey likes to play on temptation."

The merchant moved away from the shelf and approached a larger chest, whose lock looked particularly old. "I've just acquired a few items. They're not on the market yet, but I could give you a price."

He opened the chest and took out a small artifact wrapped in a dark cloth. When he unfolded it, Sora could see a small, slightly pulsating, brilliant red gem. The merchant smiled, as if he'd found the rare pearl. "Here's an interesting artifact, a Moon Crystal. It enhances perception and reflexes. Very useful for a fighter like you."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.