Julien was sat at Le Retailer in the merchant's district of West Lormon't, his usual spot during the day.
He spent his time selling relatively common items such as iron and wheat to suckers for ridiculously high prices. All it took was a forced smile here and a made up story there and boom! Business.
"Just a few more hours until closing," Julien mumbled to himself as he picked at his fingernails.
The sun hadn't even started to set, but that didn't stop him from wanting to crawl back up in bed for some well deserved beauty sleep. Working was hard, especially now when business was slow.
Julien sighed and kicked his feet up onto the glass display case. The store was completely barren; not a single soul (other than Julien himself) had been inside for hours.
"They don't know what they're missing," He whispered, expression scrunching up in bitterness as he glared at the heavy wooden door.
Le Retailer was one of the few shops in the district that was inside an actual building. The competition couldn't ever keep up with their little stalls and cheap items- or at least, in the past they couldn't.
Upstairs from the shop was Julien's home. It was nice, spacious enough for one person. Plus, he could decorate it however he pleased and actually had a kitchen, unlike some less fortunate people.
However, if business kept follow its current pattern, Le Retailer would have to join the others as a meek little stall on the corner.
"This shop is in such a sorry state. I really need to do a deep cleaning sometime this month," Julien thought out loud. His gaze had wandered to a cobweb in the corner of one of the rafters. It was unsightly.
As he thought about how far he'd let things slip, the sound of a horse galloping outside reached his ears. It was followed by a general sort of commotion.
This wasn't anything uncommon, but it did give him a sliver of hope that a customer would come in within the next few hours.
With a grin, Julien took his feet down from the counter and eyed the front window.
"Jules!" A voice called, then the door swung open. Instantly, the merchant's face fell.
"Welcome to Le- oh. Hello Mels," He said, visibly deflating back into his seat as she slinked right up to the register. The grin on her freckled face couldn't mean anything good.
"Are you actually going to purchase something for once? Or have you come to torture me?" Julien asked, looking up at her with displeasure blatantly written across his features.
Mels cackled and leaned against the counter, "No, but I do have a letter for ya, ya big hunk of lard."
Julien sighed and stood. He straightened out his vest and came over to his so-called friend. He found that acquaintance was closer, but she always insisted on the prior term.
"Let me see it," He said, putting his elbows into the display case and presenting his hand to her.
Mels slapped the letter into his palm, "It's from Rynoka. Some Willy sent it, and uh, don't pay any mind to how the top is ripped open. Curious minds got impatient."
Julien glanced at her, the hints of a smile curling at his lips as he opened the letter. His long fingers unfolded the paper and his free hand coming up to tuck a strand of long brown locks behind his ear.
Greetings Mr Chambers,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing on behalf of the town to request that you open shop here in Rynoka. As you are probably aware, our town has dungeons- ancient passages to other worlds. They attract merchants and heros alike.
Townsfolk are interested in items from within these dungeons, and while our town already has one shop which sells such wares, we are always looking for a wider range of business in that regard.
There is already a property available for your shop, Le Retailer, and you will be given 5,500 coin both for the journey and to get you onto your feet during the first few weeks here.
Thank you for taking time to consider my request, Rynoka hopes you accept.
I will be in touch soon, Zenon
Julien hummed and set the letter down onto the counter. His gaze locked with Mel's as she looked at him, eyes wide in curiosity.
"They," he paused, pressing his lips together into a thin line, "They want me to move to Rynoka. To, uhm, open Le Retailer there."
Mels tilted her head to the side, her long ponytail poking out from the shaved part of her head and falling over her tanned shoulder.
"Well what are your thoughts, Jules?" She asked.
Julien looked to the side. He bent down to rest his chin against the backs of his hands and hummed again. "As much as I love West Lormon't, business has been slow. Zenon- the, um, uh, uh, the man who wrote the letter on behalf of Rynoka- said he would give me five and a half thousand coin to move there."
"Aye, I read it," Mels agreed, "But dontcha think those dungeons dangerous? I've heard stories of people dying in them. For what? Money?"
"It's all us merchants think of, after all." Julien shrugged and walked towards the back of the counter. He put his hands on his hips and took a deep breath, staring out the small side window. "But... I'm going to do it."
"You're what?"
Julien looked over his shoulder at her, "It will be good for me. For the shop. To start fresh with new customers and new people to sell my finely priced goods to."
Mels pinched the bridge of her nose, "Jules... I know you used to enjoy traveling, but I thought you finally settled down here. In West Lormon't."
"Oh, never." He turned on his heels and pointed a finger into the air, "I know the perfect way to do business!" Julien walked over and slammed his hands onto the counter with an energized grin, "How many people could have gone into those dungeons? Not many, yes? So I can set the prices as high as I want and those buffoons won't know the difference!"
"Jules, you and I both enjoy a good con, but I don't think Rynoka is as big as this town. Are you really going to scam those people?" Mels asked, eyebrows pinching together in concern.
"Of course! You can come visit, too. Bring some old fish to sell and we can continue things like normal." Julien chuckled, searching for a sheet of paper and a pen. "Hell, I'll sell two of my own fingers for six thousand coin!"
Mels took a step back, eyes wide, "I mean, yes, I'll be sure to visit some time, but I don't think I'll stay." She glanced at the letter then back at her friends face, "Who knows if some of those creatures can come out of their danger doorways!"
Julien rolled his eyes, "You're always the same." He began to write a letter in response, happily accepting Zenon's offer. As he finished, he folded it up into an envelope and pointed at Mels, "One moment."
He walked out from behind the counter and rushed out the door. The mailer shouldn't have left their stall yet, but probably would soon. His shoes pounded against the gravel pathway as he raced down the street, hoping to make it in time.
Other shopkeepers eyed him as he raced past. Their looks fell somewhere between worry and curiosity, as Julien running around wasn't common.
When he arrived, the mailer was packing letters and small packages into the saddle bag of their mule. They looked up, hearing him come to a stop.
"Oh, Mr. Chambers, what can I do for you today? I was just about to head down to the docks and send these on their marry little way." Rainer, the mailer, said and gave their steed a firm pat on the side.
Julien took a deep inhale and brushed the hair out of his face. "Yes, yes, um... I have a letter I need you to send out immediately. It's going to Zenon in Rynoka," he said, handing the envelope over.
Rainer looked at it, then back up at him. They didn't take the letter, just eyed it. "Sure, I can do that for you, but uh, you will need to write down something to tell others where it's goin'."
They began to pat their person and outturn their pockets, searching for a pen of some sort for Julien to use.
"Hey, Stu, could I borrow your feather pen? I'll give it right back, promise." Rainer asked their neighboring shop. The merchant handed over a pen and a jar of ink with a grumble, then went back to work.
Rainer handed them over to Julien,
"I don't have any control over it after it leaves my hand and goes to whoever is bringin' it where it's headed."
He just sighed and leaned against the stall table, beginning to write. The tip of the feather pen disappeared into onyx colored ink, then was brought against the back of the envelope.
"How much is it?" Julien asked, looking up at the other as he finished his scrawling of to Zenon in the dungeon town of Rynoka.
Rainer raised their eyebrows, "Well, lets just say we're even. You gave my Jed a nice carrot the last time you were here." The mule stuck it's nose against their shoulder with a snort, "Yeah, he's still happy about that."
Julien chuckled and gave them the letter, "Alright, here you go." He brushed his hands together, dusting them off. "Stop by Le Retailer sometime during the week, I'll give you something as a going away present."
"Going away? Where are you off to now? Are you heading back to your hometown?" Rainer asked, sitting back against their stall table with crossed legs.
"As much as I would love to go visit my parent's estate, no." Julien tugged against the cuffs of his undershirt, "I was given an offer to open shop in Rynoka, and it seems like a good opportunity for change. That was the acceptance letter I just gave you, actually."
Blue eyes flickered up and down the merchant, then away, "Oh... well, if I ever end up traveling in that direction I'll make sure to stop by. Does Melina know?"
Julien chuckled, "Yes, she's back at the shop right now actually." His expression fell as his imagination painted vivid pictures of whatever chaos Mels could be getting into there, "So, I'll, well you know, be uhm, heading back now."
Rainer nodded, "I see. Well, I'll make sure to come by before you go. Have, uhm, have a good evening, Chambers."
He flashed them a smile before turning around and beginning to walk back. Once he was out of the mailer's sight, his pace quickened. Julien just hoped that Le Retailer hadn't been somehow set ablaze by a certain clumsy fisherwoman.
When he opened the front door, Mels was still just leaning against the display case. In her hands was the letter Zenon had sent.
"Oh, thought you'd left already..." she mumbled, eyes scanning over words that had already been read.
Julien walked up and took back the letter. He tucked it into the blue bag which rested on his hip, "I had to pay Rainer a little visit. Now, either run along back to the docks or help me pack. I'll be seeing you and your fishy friends down by the water soon enough anyways, so..."
Mels sighed and swung one leg over the counter, "Y're lucky I like you, Chambers," she said, hopping over to the other side.
"I'll close up shop for the day and we can get right to work." Julien hummed, turning around. He strolled on over to the front window and flipped the sign to read closed. Then, nodded and walked back towards Mels with a, "Well, lets go."
She smirked, "Race you upstairs."
"No, I'm not-"
It was too late, Mels had already began to run up, her tangerine tinted ponytail flailing in the air behind her as she took it two steps at a time.
Julien sighed and lifted up the trap door that led to behind the counter. He looked up the stairs, then began to trudge up after his chaotic acquaintance.
The next few days waiting for a letter giving him the full go ahead to move would be torturous.
West Lormon't had already seen more than enough of Julien Chambers. It was time to journey out to a fresh place once more.