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As they drew closer, Caelan finally managed to read the sign. It wasn't that his observation skills were lacking; the sign was simply tiny—no larger than a twelve-inch screen—hung casually beside the door. It stood in stark contrast to the massive, eye-catching circular pattern above the entrance.
"Aldwin's Item Shop."
The four entered a storefront that felt surprisingly intimate, perhaps only twenty square meters—similar in size to Caelan's old shop on Mare Street.
"Hey, hello, Miles," Nicole chirped, greeting the lone assistant behind the counter. "Is Grandmaster Aldwin in?"
The assistant, Miles, shook his head. "The Grandmaster left for the Lionheart Empire a few days ago to meet some old friends. I'm not sure when he'll return."
"Are there still spatial items for sale?" Nicole asked.
"The stock on the floor has all been purchased." Miles looked over Caelan and the others before looking back at Nicole. "Are your friends looking to buy?"
Nicole nodded. "The Grandmaster must have kept a few pieces back, right?"
Miles nodded and asked them to wait. He disappeared into the back. Caelan caught a glimpse of the inner room as the door swung shut; it was massive, easily over a hundred square meters.
While they waited, Caelan browsed the display cabinets. They were filled with grotesque, alien-looking objects that appeared to be the preserved remains of strange creatures.
Sensing Caelan's confusion, Cassius spoke up. "Those are the remnants of creatures from other planes."
"Other planes?" Caelan asked, leaning closer to the glass.
"Yes. When a Spatial Grandmaster works—whether casting spells or stabilizing spatial structures—it draws the attention of extra-planar entities. They feed on mental energy. If they breach our reality, the best-case scenario is permanent mental damage for the mage. The worst is death. Of course, many powerful mages actually bait these creatures, pulling them across the veil just to 'clear the air' and harvest materials."
Caelan pointed to a jar containing something that looked like a dried, oversized large intestine. "And what do they do with... that?"
"Usually, apothecaries and alchemists find them fascinating. To everyone else, they're just dangerous trophies."
Miles soon returned carrying a velvet-lined box. He set it on the counter and lifted the lid, revealing three rings and a sleek bracelet.
"The three rings share similar craftsmanship," Miles explained. "The internal dimensions are roughly the same—about four to five cubic meters each. This bracelet, however, is the Grandmaster's latest masterwork. It was intended for the auction at Imperial Dragonspire, but the Grandmaster said if he encountered a 'familiar face,' I could sell it directly."
"What are the prices?" Caelan asked, his voice tight.
"The rings are 3,600, 3,800, and 4,100 gold crowns respectively," Miles replied.
Caelan inhaled sharply. The price wasn't actually outrageous; it was fair for the market. But... he felt the familiar sting of his "insufficient financial resources."
Victor drifted closer to Caelan like a mischievous ghost. "Need a loan? Zero interest. All you have to do is give me the 'Unlimited Life' versions of Fierce Tortoise and Tank Battle."
Caelan looked at Victor with sudden, profound gratitude. He made an 'OK' gesture. "O-fucking-K!"
"What was that?" Victor blinked.
"Deal!"
"That fast? Then add an unlimited version of Elemental Contra."
"Done."
"And Salamander and Crimson Fortress."
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't push it."
"Take it or leave it?"
"Alright, fine. You win."
After a round of high-speed bartering, Caelan agreed to engrave "God Mode" versions of all seven current games for Victor. He even agreed to make Victor's version of the next game unlimited. Caelan secretly wondered if Victor would punch him later when he realized Street Fighter already technically allowed for unlimited continues.
The deal was struck. Victor produced 2,200 gold crowns, Caelan covered the remaining 1,400 from his savings, and he walked away with a spatial ring featuring 4.2 cubic meters of storage.
"Theoretically," Miles added as Caelan slid the ring on, "these rings last a thousand years. However, constant use creates wear on the spatial anchor. Realistically, you'll get three to five hundred years out of it."
Cassius then looked at the bracelet. "And the price for that one?"
"250,000 gold crowns," Miles said calmly.
The entire group gasped in unison.
Cassius smiled bitterly. "Far beyond me. Victor, are you buying a ring?"
Victor waved him off. "I'm good."
With Victor declining, Cassius stepped up. "I'll take the remaining two rings." He paid 7,900 gold crowns and pocketed the items.
As they stepped back out into the earth-yellow streets, Cassius turned to the group. "So, are we still heading to the Capital?"
"I've got what I came for," Caelan said. "But if you guys want to go, I'll tag along."
"Let's skip it," Victor said.
Cassius nodded, then looked at Nicole. He shifted awkwardly, looking between her and his friends.
Caelan and Victor exchanged a knowing glance.
"Oh, right!" Victor said, his eyes twinkling. "Caelan and I have some... private business to attend to."
Nicole didn't seem to catch the hint at first. "Oh? Then I'll head back. Cassius, go with them. Remember to write to me!"
Caelan jumped in. "No, no. It's strictly a 'me and Victor' thing. Cassius has nothing to do with it."
As the three men played a clumsy game of social chess, Nicole slowly realized what was happening. Her face flushed a deep pink. "Oh... I see. Well then."
"We'll meet you back at the inn later, Cassius," Caelan said, grabbing Victor by the arm.
"Best not to come back at all tonight!" Victor added, winking.
Caelan clamped a hand over Victor's mouth and dragged him away before he could do any more damage, leaving the two lovebirds standing alone.
Once they were out of earshot, Victor shook off Caelan's hand, looking energized.
"Hey, Caelan! Now that the 'Perfect Prince' Cassius isn't here to judge us, how about we go experience some of those Dragonspire 'special services'?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
Caelan sighed. "If you want to go, go. Leave me out of it."
Victor chuckled. "I consider you a brother, Caelan! I can't have a good time knowing you're missing out. Are you in or not?"
Caelan shook his head. "I really do have work to do this afternoon."
"What could be more important than this?"
"The Stonefist Auction House," Caelan replied. "There was a 'White Meteorite' listed yesterday. I'm going to see if it's still there. If it is, I'm buying it."
Victor looked puzzled. "The meteorite? Why? I've never even heard of that stuff being useful."
"It's an extraterrestrial fragment," Caelan said, his eyes brightening. "It's going to help me build the next generation of games."
"New games?" Victor's lewdness vanished, replaced by instant excitement. "You're already working on something new?"
Plz THROW POWER STONES.