He slowed near Rovan's stall again, watching the flow of customers for a moment before stepping closer. The pace there had not eased, orders moving in a constant stream, hands exchanging coin and food without pause. Evan waited at the side until there was a brief opening, then caught Rovan's attention with a small gesture.
"I wanted to ask something," he said when Rovan looked over. "Do you know if there's any work around here?" His tone stayed even, direct. The thought had been forming since earlier, and now that it had settled, it felt like the next step to take.
Rovan glanced at him while continuing to work, his hands moving through the motions of preparing another order. He gave the question a moment before answering, eyes shifting briefly across the nearby stalls as if weighing something. "Might be," he said. "I can ask around. Some stalls take extra help when things get busy."
He slid a finished plate across to a waiting customer, then looked back at Evan. "Come by tomorrow," he added. "I'll have an answer by then." His tone carried no promise beyond that, just a straightforward response. Evan nodded once, accepting it.
Evan gave a brief nod. "Alright. I'll come by tomorrow." He stepped back to clear the space as another customer moved in. The answer was simple, though it gave him direction. It was enough for now. He turned away from the stall, his attention shifting toward what he could do with the rest of the time.
His thoughts moved back to the gaps he had already noticed. Currency. Earnings. How people sustained themselves beyond daily purchases. The library came to mind again, the quiet space offering answers he did not yet have. Evan adjusted his path toward it, moving with purpose through the streets, the earlier energy from the arena giving way to a more focused intent.
The streets between the arena and the library carried a different pace at this hour. Fewer clusters stood still, more people moved with clear destinations in mind. Shops had opened fully, goods laid out in front, voices carrying in short exchanges between vendors and buyers. Evan passed through it without slowing, his attention fixed ahead as he followed the route to the library.
The library building came into view soon after, its presence quieter compared to the surrounding activity. He stepped inside, the shift in sound immediate, the noise of the street fading behind him. The interior held the same calm as before, a place meant for focus. Evan moved toward the reception desk, his steps measured as he prepared to ask for what he needed next.
Marin looked up as he approached, recognition showing almost immediately. "Back again," she said, a small smile forming as she set aside the ledger in front of her. "Making good use of the place, I see."
Evan inclined his head slightly. "It's been helpful." His gaze shifted briefly toward the shelves before returning to her. "I had some time, so I thought I'd come back."
Marin rested her hands lightly on the desk, her posture relaxed. "That's usually how it starts," she said. "People come in for one thing, then realize how much they don't know yet." There was a hint of familiarity in her tone, as if she had seen the same pattern repeat often. "How was the morning?"
"Training," Evan replied. "Evaluation and some practice after."
Marin paused, her smile widening slightly. She leaned back just a little. "So, what are you looking for this time?"
Evan rested his hand lightly against the edge of the desk. "I need to understand how things work here. Currency, mainly. How people earn, what's considered stable." His tone remained even. "I have enough for now, but that won't last."
Marin nodded once. "That's a good place to start," she said. "People wait until they're already short before asking." She reached beneath the desk and pulled out a thin stack of catalog slips, flipping through them with practiced ease. "You'll want a few sections. Basic currency structure, trade practices, and a general overview of income sources tied to tier and occupation."
She selected a few slips and placed them on the desk, tapping them lightly into alignment. "There's a short introductory text that explains coin denominations and how value shifts between regions. After that, look into localized earning methods. Towns like Dornhaven rely on a mix of trade, services, and dungeon-linked income." Her gaze lifted back to him. "You might've already seen part of it around the arena and stalls."
Evan picked up the slips and glanced over them, committing the sections to memory. "That should be enough to start," he said.
Marin gave a small nod. "It will give you a foundation. After that, you can narrow down what applies to you." She paused for a moment, then added, "If you're already training, dungeon income will matter eventually. You don't need to rush into it, but understanding how it works early will save you trouble later."
Evan shifted the slips in his hand, then looked back up. "There's one more thing," he said. "I saw devices being used around the city. Lattice interfaces." He paused briefly, choosing his words with care. "I don't know how they work yet. I'd like something that explains their use. Basic functions, advantages, limitations."
Marin's expression showed a hint of recognition. "Those," she said, nodding once. "Useful, once you understand them." She reached for another set of slips, scanning through them before selecting a couple and placing them beside the others. "You don't need anything too advanced yet. Start with an introductory guide. It will cover what they connect to, how they're used day to day, and what to expect from different models."
She tapped the additional slips lightly. "Don't try to learn everything about them at once. They're tied into a lot of systems. Focus on how they fit into daily use first. Transactions, communication, basic access." Her gaze lifted back to him. "Once that makes sense, the rest becomes easier to follow."
Evan nodded and thanked her before gathering the slips together, organizing them as he turned toward the shelves. The direction was clear now. Currency, earning, and the tools people relied on to navigate both. Enough to build a better understanding of where he stood and what he needed to do next.
Evan moved through the shelves with the slips in hand, following the catalog markings until he reached the sections Marin had indicated. The first book he pulled was titled "Foundations of Coin and Value — A Dornhaven Standard Guide." Its cover was plain, the edges worn from repeated use. Beside it, he found another: "Earning Paths in Mid-Tier Towns: Trade, Service, and Dungeon Income." He added a third after a brief search through the adjacent shelf, a slimmer volume labeled "Lattice Interfaces — Practical Introduction for Daily Use." He gathered them carefully, holding them close as he turned back toward the reading area.
Before sitting, he made a brief stop and got himself a cup of brinroot brew. He carried both the books and the drink to the same table he had used earlier, setting them down in a neat arrangement before taking his seat. His attention moved across the covers once, then he opened the first book.
The opening pages of "Foundations of Coin and Value" were structured clearly, beginning with a simple breakdown of denominations. Evan read slowly, absorbing each line rather than skimming through.
"The standard currency across Varethis operates on a three-tier coin system: Copper, Silver, and Gold. Ten Copper equals one Silver. Ten Silver equals one Gold. While variations exist across regions, the Empire enforces a stable exchange baseline to ensure consistency in trade."
He turned the page, his focus narrowing as the text shifted from structure to application.
"...Value is not fixed solely by coin, but by location, demand, and access. A single Silver may sustain a worker for days in a rural settlement, while the same amount may pass quickly in a trade-heavy town. Understanding value requires observing how coin moves, not just how it is counted."
Evan paused after reading, letting the lines settle in his mind before taking a sip of the brinroot brew. The familiar taste grounded him as he turned the page and continued. The next section moved into practical examples, showing how coin translated into daily living across different environments.
"...In towns such as Dornhaven, a modest meal ranges between 2 to 5 Copper depending on ingredients and preparation. Basic lodging, when not provided by an authority or guild, may cost between 3 to 7 Silver per week. Equipment, training access, and specialized services increase sharply in cost as they tie into awakened progression."
He leaned back slightly, thinking through what he had already spent and what he still had. The numbers aligned with what he had seen so far. Enough for now, though without a steady source, that would change quickly. He turned another page, his attention sharpening as the text shifted toward earning.
"...Income at lower tiers is commonly derived from labor, service roles, and basic trade. However, for the awakened, dungeon-related activity forms a significant portion of long-term earning potential. This includes direct material extraction, contract clearing, and participation in regulated dungeon expeditions."
Evan's fingers rested lightly on the page as he read that line again. Dungeon income. It had been mentioned more than once now, both in the books and by others. He did not linger on it yet. There were still gaps to fill before that step made sense. He took another sip of the brew and continued, his focus steady as he worked through the remaining pages of the section.
He turned toward the next section, where the tone shifted toward risk and consistency. The text laid out the difference between steady earnings and variable gains, drawing a clear line between them.
"...Labor and service roles provide predictable income with limited variation. Dungeon-related income, while often higher, carries fluctuation based on success, injury, and access. Early-tier individuals are advised to maintain at least one stable source of coin before relying on dungeon activity as primary income."
Evan read that line twice, his thoughts moving back to the brief conversation with Rovan. A steady source first. Then expansion. It aligned with what he had already begun considering. He continued reading, turning to the final section of the book.
"...Financial stability at lower tiers is not measured by accumulation, but by continuity. The ability to sustain daily needs without interruption forms the base upon which all further growth depends."
He closed the book after finishing the section, his hand resting on the cover for a moment as he took another sip of the brinroot brew. The information had been straightforward, though it carried weight in its application. He set it aside and reached for the second book.