Spectral Regalia

Ch 94: Lotus and Phoenix

Avrin, whose eleven-year-old appearance usually had a serious, expressionless look, had suddenly turned it into a rare smile. Under his robe, Nebula Mist flooded inside and skillfully formed gold coins.

Avrin then walked over and began to wait in the small line. It had not taken long before it was Avrin's turn. The old man, who had some wrinkles and only a few white strands of hair left on his head, spoke. "Hello, young man. How may I help you today?" He happily spoke with a soft, fatherly tone.

Avrin glanced at him and smiled. "I'd like to purchase the alchemist manual in the second case." The old man's gentle smile was replaced by his mouth gaping open.

Some of the children who had stayed in this village several days before often came to visit and knew how expensive the alchemist manual was. Even they couldn't help but glance over at the person to see if he was joking or not.

"Young man... you know the price, correct?...Surely you're joking? Uhh, where are your parents?" The old man glanced around, and another child spoke out. "Ha! Like hell, you are going to buy that. What are you, some liar!?" At these words, the other nearby children began to laugh. But Avrin only spared one glance. As if he were looking at a pack of wild chimpanzees.

He reached into his enchanted sack and pulled out the result of the Nebula Mist, another enchanted sack that he purchased several of before. But inside were exactly one thousand gold coins. He placed the sack on the counter and the old man reached inside before pulling out a handful of gold coins.

"T-This..." His face turned pale before being replaced with excitement. Even his old heart began to beat as if it were young again. The children who had seen the old man's reaction suddenly turned quiet. "Young Master, thank you for your business! Of course you can purchase it!" The old man rushed from behind the counter excitedly before heading over towards the enchanted glass case.

He pulled out a small stone pendant and placed it on a wooden groove linked to the case, and the enchantment seemed to rush into the pendant. This allowed him to open the case and remove the manual which he handed to Avrin. Almost immediately, he turned the pendant clockwise and the enchantment that was absorbed flooded out again and engulfed the case as it was shut.

Avrin held the manual and gave a slight bow. "Thank you. I'll be off then." He had gotten what he wanted and didn't bother to remain. Even as he was leaving, the old man bowed continuously.

"Thank you, Young Master. Please come again. Please!" he was practically begging. He very rarely sold books worth 100 gold and had never sold a book of that amount before. Hence, dust accumulated on the expensive tomes and books.

The child that had teased Avrin before frowned in disdain, as others seemed to look at Avrin with curious eyes and envy. "-That bastard... made me look like an idiot!-" Almost immediately, he whispered something to his friends and they began to follow Avrin.

Avrin didn't take any more stops before heading towards the inn. But he knew as soon as they left the store that he was being followed. "-Little whelps. Fine. I'll play a little..-" He couldn't help but think. He turned into a small alley.

"Quick, after him!" The lead boy spoke, wanting to take advantage of the situation. Soon, the 4 of them entered, wanting to cut Avrin off, and they were indeed greeted by him as he looked coldly at them. "Surely you have a reason for following me?" He spoke to them.

The lead boy laughed with an evil expression. "You made me look like an idiot... if you give me that manual, slap yourself and then kneel, I'll think about not beating you up." Avrin looked at him as if he were an even bigger idiot than he thought.

"Huh? Not only did you fall down the ugly tree, but you hit the branches of the idiot tree as well? You want this manual? If you have the ability, try and take it from me." Avrin chuckled while provoking them.