The café sat just off the main street, tucked between two larger buildings that muted most of the noise from the market outside. It wasn't silent, but the sound never rose high enough to draw attention. Conversations stayed low, and no one looked at anyone else for longer than necessary.
Riven sat near the back, positioned so he could see the entrance without turning his head. A cup rested in front of him, untouched for long enough that the heat had already faded from it, though he hadn't noticed when that happened.
People came and went in a steady flow. A few glanced at the empty seat across from him before moving on, more out of habit than curiosity. Riven didn't check the time. Daris wasn't the type to be late without reason, and waiting wasn't something that bothered him.
When the door opened again, his attention shifted.
Daris stepped inside, brushing a hand lightly over his sleeve as he scanned the room. His gaze found Riven almost immediately, and he made his way over without any change in pace.
"Been a while since you picked a place like this," Daris said as he took the seat across from him.
"Closer than the district," Riven replied.
"Fair enough."
Daris leaned back slightly, settling in with the ease of someone who treated most places the same. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke, and then Daris reached into his coat and placed a small device on the table.
"It sold," he said.
Riven's eyes moved to it. "How much?"
"Nine."
Riven picked up the device and checked the transfer details. Eight thousand had been credited to him, the remaining amount already accounted for without needing to ask.
"Your cut?" he said anyway.
"Specialized service," Daris replied, the faint hint of a smile forming. "Took a bit more effort to place."
Riven set the device back down without reacting. The numbers spoke for themselves, and there was nothing unclear about the outcome.
Daris watched him for a moment. "No complaints?"
"It sold," Riven said. "That's enough."
Daris gave a small nod, as if that confirmed something he already expected. "It moved clean," he added. "No issues on the buyer's side."
Riven leaned back slightly, his focus shifting away from the device. "What moves fastest at F-rank?"
Daris didn't answer immediately. He reached for the cup in front of him, took a slow sip, and set it back down before speaking.
"Depends on the buyer, but some things always move quicker," he said. "Movement skills, anything that gives an edge in positioning or escape. Even small boosts tend to sell."
Riven listened without interrupting.
"Stamina-related skills come next. Efficiency, recovery, anything that lets someone last longer when it matters. Not flashy, but reliable."
He tapped the table lightly once before continuing.
"Perception skills as well. People who know what they're doing look for those, even if they don't stand out at first glance."
Riven let the information settle. Movement, stamina, and perception weren't complicated categories, but the consistency in demand made them valuable in a different way.
"For F-rank, that's most of it," Daris finished with a small shrug.
Riven nodded once. That was enough.
Daris leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. "If you've got more like the last one, I can keep moving them," he said. "They won't sit long."
"I'll let you know," Riven replied.
That seemed to satisfy him. Daris stood after a moment, adjusting his coat as he did. "Send word when you have something ready," he said. "No point holding onto it."
"I won't."
Daris gave a brief wave before leaving, blending back into the street outside without drawing any attention.
Riven remained seated for a short while after he left, his thoughts settling into place without needing to be forced. Eight thousand for a single modified skill wasn't just a good result; it was a clear indication of what was possible if the process could be repeated consistently.
He picked up the cup in front of him and took a small sip before setting it down again. The taste barely registered.
The number itself didn't matter as much as the pattern behind it.
He stood, left the payment on the table without a second thought, and stepped out into the street.
The market was already active. Stalls lined the pathways in uneven rows, voices blending into a constant hum as deals were made and dismissed just as quickly. Nothing about it had changed since the last time he walked through it, but the way he looked at it had.
Riven moved through the crowd at a steady pace, his attention shifting from general observation to specific selection. He no longer scanned for anything useful or rare in the usual sense; instead, he focused on what fit the criteria he had just narrowed down.
At the first stall, he picked up a stone and activated the display briefly before setting it back down when it didn't match what he needed. The next one offered a similar result.
Movement. Stamina. Perception.
He moved on without hesitation.
A few stalls later, he stopped again, this time in front of a small cluster of lower-tier stones with a steady, faint glow that suggested stable formation.
He picked one up.
[Skill: Quick Step]
[Tier: F]
[Status: Stored]
He turned it once in his hand, considering it, then set it aside for the moment.
Another stone followed.
[Skill: Minor Endurance]
[Tier: F]
[Status: Stored]
This one held his attention slightly longer.
Riven glanced over the rest of the table, his choices narrowing with each pass as he filtered out anything that didn't align with what he was aiming for.
He wasn't searching anymore.
He was choosing with intent, and that difference was already shaping the outcome.