Rhea's halo faded beneath Nervaal's serene glow.
A colossal tree grew from its heart. Wooden bridges branched from it into elevated homes, other trees, and structures built within them.
A drawn-out sigh escaped her; her body relaxed.
I hope they took the bait long enough... Slowing her pace, her chest felt lighter, despite her grubby appearance. for now though—
For a second time, the vastness of Nervaal came like a gush of wind.
Banners hung, suspended from bridges and branches, swaying with ease.
"We've been aimlessly walking ever since we left that place." The tusk in the cloth bag barely contained its heat. "And we need to find somewhere to sell this thing."
NGH!! Ragged hot breath mixed with the air. This has to be worth something... so all I need to do is sell it.
His eyes committed Nervaal's details to memory, as a gentle thump persisted in his ears with the rising headache.
Get some cash so I can actually survive in this place while I look for Mori—
"That hall we came in through," Rhea's voice interrupted his chain of thoughts. "There's a good chance you could sell it there."
"Would've been a great idea if we knew where it was."
His palm loosened around the cloth bag as the left one grasped just below his chest.
"We'll find it okay." Having specific details in mind, she scrutinized every Harpy they passed. "Just, don't wander off, we're still not welcomed here."
He's not an Enforcer...brown feathers. Her gaze landed on another harpy. She's not one. Then another. Neither is he. And another. Driving across her features, Rhea's eyes landed on the sword mounted on the harpy's waist, then the purple-tipped feathers.
"Daichi!"
"What?!"
"Don't look, but coming toward us, on the left, an Enforcer."
Ducking slightly, Daichi glanced ahead, trying to spot the Enforcer.
"How do you even know what they all look like—"
A firm hold on his right arm dragged him down another street.
"Ah ah ahh!!" Pain surged from the right side of his neck down to his fingers. "Careful!"
Rhea continued picking out Enforcers, those on foot and in the air.
"These stupid birds are everywhere!" Glancing down at herself and at Daichi soon after, she couldn't ignore just how much they stuck out.
Torn clothes contrast with the clean, put-together inhabitants of Nervaal; dirt covered their faces down to their feet.
She stopped, finding the Colossal tree even further away.
It was that far away when we left the big hall. But I don't remember seeing so many bridges from where we were. Turning slightly, she looked as far as the brick roads led.
"Daichi! I think I know where it is—" Cutting herself off, her eyes lingered on his left hand. "You're...still hurt?"
"No, no, I'm okay—NGH!!" Daichi's eyes tightened, his hand hovered just above his tender skin.
"You're obviously not!" Pulling away his hand, her brow furrowed slightly, seeing the swollen, yellow skin through a hole in his shirt.
"Just... find the hall we're looking for. I'll be okay, Rhea." An Insistent tone, barely hiding the shallow heave beneath.
Her gaze flickered between the swollen patch of skin, the cloth bag, and his eyes.
"Fine." Her lips pressed together.
Neglecting your own survival for what, huh...
Releasing him, her search continued. Avoiding enforcers above and below, with Daichi dragging himself behind her.
Gem lanterns stretched out on the brick roads, but even so, much brighter ones are lined perfectly against the curb of the main streets.
And sure enough, the hall was right ahead on the main street.
"This way." She ushered him toward the building just ahead; its cylindrical columns towered above, and wide, perfectly carved, polished stairs led to the hall's wide entrance.
As they made their way inside, the hall was near vacant, a drastic contrast to the pressure they had met when they first arrived.
"There are far fewer people here..." Rhea murmured, scanning the hall from outside.
Unbothered by her odd behavior, a few people walked by, exiting the hall, while others inside were either by the front desk, or with other by a table of their own.
"Alright, so there's one sword guy right there, but no uniform. Another harpy right up there, no uniform either." Thinking aloud, her voice maintained a whisper as her gaze found a single merchant inside. "There! We sell it to that..." Her eyes squinted faintly, "Thing? Guy? What even is that—"
Ignoring her, Daichi's already making his way inside; the cloth bag barely held by his right hand, paying no mind to the heat bleeding through it.
Sell this and leave… before anything bad happens. Simple, Daichi.
"Daichi!!" Rhea rushed in after him, catching up, but keeping her eyes peeled for the uniform or any signs of danger. "You can't just storm in like that!"
"What other choice do we have?" He argued back, begrudgingly approaching the only so-called "merchant" in sight.
What even is that thing… He clicked his tongue and continued forward.
As he reached the medium-sized stall by the wall, a loud thump echoed as the blue tusk slammed against the hollow wood of the stall.
Just beyond it stood a smaller frame shadowed by his silhouette;
About 5'3.Luscious silver hair fell to its toes, hiding its body.Behind it, three thread-thin tails swayed—each tipped with soft, silver fur.
"Oh oh oh!! How can I help you... Fine, fine travelers."
Daichi's tense body eased under the soft, rhythmic melody of its voice.
"We're here to sell this, a single tusk of the blue tusk animal."
"Daichi," Rhea tugged at his shirt. "Something's not right with this one." Her tone almost a breath.
"Oh, but no, no, I couldn't ever leave you hurting like this. You must be in dire and unspeakable pain."
Its bright green eyes have a shallow glow through the curtains of its hair. Yet, they were more than only two.
"Now now, take one of these, would you?" Its hair parted, revealing a slender hand holding the stem of a glass bottle containing red fluids under a gentle green glow of its palm. "Ten gold coins a bottle, yes, yes."
"Gold coins?" Looking down at the blue tusk in the cloth bag, he looked back up at the odd creature before him. "I'll buy them if this costs enough."
Feeling multiple eyes at once, a shiver crawled up their spine. Another green glow caught Rhea's eye along its forearm.
"That's..." Tracing back up to its hidden face to confirm. Something within her clenched. An eye...
It has more than just two. Eugh.
"Ah, yes, yes, a single blue tusk. A pair goes for eighty gold coins, so one singular tusk is forty gold coins." The bottle clanked lightly against the shallow wood.
Counting on its fingers, it looked back at Daichi.
Another eye—on its palm?! That's four eyes.
Rhea's brow furrowed watching it prepare three more bottles and set them next to each other beside the cloth bag emanating heat.
"Here, here are your four bottles, yes!"
"Thank you for the trade." Daichi extended his hand—
A slap rang out. The back of his hand growing redder by the second.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Rhea glared at the thing, then at Daichi. "We need GOLD COINS, not whatever that is!"
"And what are you doing to him!" Her palm slammed against the hollow wood, echoing through the hall. "You thief—"
"Rhea!!" Nudging her with his elbow, Daichi's head turned, making eye contact with those watching the brewing chaos. "You're making a scene!"
"You were about to accept something I doubt you even know the use of!" She scowled, staring daggers at the creature. "Admit it!—"
"Predawn is always the best time of day to soak in some drama." A voice cut her off, followed by a gentle, metallic thud on the hollow wood.
Gold trims traced the light silver chestplate, as gloved forearm armor pieces touched his elbows. And an empty sheath solemnly resting on the waist of his Celtic knight pants.
Frightened, Rhea pulled back, dragging Daichi's arm as he groaned under his breath.
"Can't you wait until we're finished, you overgrown idiot?"
"Rhea!!"
"I could have, but this Quileth would've easily had his way with you two." Throwing his ponytail over his shoulder, he nodded toward the harpy female standing several feet away. "Think of this more as a favor rather than me interrupting your trade."
"A Quileth?" Daichi whispered, looking at the small figure behind the stall.
Feeling the subtle heat from the cloth bag, the lightly armored man glanced inside, seeing the blue tusk.
"And knowing this particular Quileth, I bet he was offering something around thirty to forty gold for a material worth fifty." A chuckle escaped him as he sorted gems of various colors and armor pieces along the surface of the stall, "Subtle extortion at its finest."
Rhea's almost growling at him. Her grip tightened around her bow.
Dark blue hair and a ponytail? Seriously?