The Black Iron Glory
High price
Chapters 101.High price
He turned around and saw a black table next to the door. The hurian stood behind him. He grabbed and took out a bottle of blueberry wine and two cups of silver.
"Cup?" He asked .
"No, thank you . "
For the first time in his life, he felt really uneasy from being accompanied. Who knows what the wine is? He still remembered Mary's warning; not all magi were friendly.
"My teacher told me about this place," Claude replied, bringing the conversation back to the topic.
"Your teacher? And who is it?"
Claude did not answer. As long as the man had proof that he was a magus, he didn't need to know anything else. The old man smiled consciously and took a sip of his wine.
"Just curious" he said, putting his cup on the table, "The first time I saw you, didn't know you, wanted to know if I knew your teacher."
"My teacher's in Tordesass. They'll be back in a few days, but I'm confused by their duty," Claude continued on his own steps, being careful not to reveal Maria's gender, "I thought I might find something useful here "My seniors have mentioned this place several times as well. The capital sent word of its opening. Of course, none of us have ever been here before, but I don't have much of a choice."
Claude painted an impressive and unspoken image. He was part of the best group that was not chaotic. A vast group, led by a master who could have many disciples, with connections to the capital.
"Alright," said Hurian, his gaze shifted subtly, "What material did you say you were looking for again?"
"Magic crystal."
"Yes. Which element?"
"Fire."
There were many different crystals he could ask for, but fire crystals were the key to the array. A more complex array might use another element crystal, but not the one he wanted to build.
"I have some, but it's expensive. Purchase or trade?"
"You took shaliun?"
"Shaliun?" The fat man's eyes became bright. "–I indeed. One square of fire crystals for three shaliuns. How many?"
The box is a unit of measurement used almost exclusively for crystals. One box is roughly equivalent to a mahjong tile. Maria always had a square-shaped water element crystal on her. They have a cosmetic effect, making them a favorite among young women in the right circle.
Claude looked at the water crystal before, he even sometimes toyed with it. There should probably be a more appropriate name than 'box', 'piece' perhaps.
"It sounds untrue," said Claude, staring at the old man, "the crystal of the capital is less than two shaliuns and five crowns."
One shaliun is worth 20 crowns on the magical black market, if a box is worth 45 crowns, then it is only two shaliuns and five crowns. It seems he was more of a merchant than a magus.
He only produces three thales a month, only 36 a year. It took two years for him to make enough of just one box. Now that old man is going to try to take two extra years?
Not to mention he needed six boxes, not just one.
"The city is far away" said Hurian calmly.
"The further away from the capital, the more expensive the goods. Transportation costs and scarcity, and all that. In addition, the shaliun is worth only 18 crowns here, so that's 54 crowns for a square. Not to mention I'm not technically even supposed to have these crystals. Whatever we get should be sent directly to the capital. I only have this because I sold it as a favor to a friend. And I only have eight boxes. I can't do anything about the price, well, my friend set it. I didn't even make fenny out of this.
"Price as it is. Take it or leave it. It won't be too long for me to sell it. After all, I heard from a trustworthy bird that the price will go up; the price for everything."
Claude looked at the old man. He didn't believe her, but he couldn't argue. He had no choice but to do it and pay.
"Well, six boxes," Claude snorted.
The serious face of the Hurian evolved into a warm smile.
"Is there anything else?"
"Skystar dust, white powder, and dark red dew."
Skystar dust is basically meteorite powder; whateroot powder is a kind of plant powder; but blood red dew is not something that bleeds at all. It was a mineral that catalyzed the alchemy reaction.
Hurian's brows furrowed, and he observed Claude again.
"You're setting up an array."
That's a statement, not a question. Claude was not surprised he found the answer. A person who is trusted to manage a black market branch will know his belongings.
"I messed up and ruined my teacher's order. I have to rebuild it before they come back."
Hurian laughing.
"Young people always make mistakes. It is inevitable, especially in the path of magic. Make sure you learn and don't make it again.
"Kati dust skystar is 16 crowns. White powder over seven crowns, a box. Blood red cream is 12 crowns per bottle. Two shaliuns, I'll even give you a crown cut."
Smiling warmly or not, he was a ruthless merchant. Claude didn't even try to argue this time. He raised the price of half of everything!
"Well," Claude sighed through his tightly clenched jaw.
He finally had all the materials. He had to pay more money than he expected, but he was lucky to find it all in one place. He half wished he had to go to some place to get what he needed.
"I've got some tablets too, if you want one. They increase the arrangement if you put it under it" said the old merchant.
The array can be as simple or complex as desired. The minimum value is very simple, but there are endless possibilities beyond that. An array could, for example, be set using only the materials it has bought so far, and it would work, not well, but it would work. Tablets are important mods on basic design that can improve functionality, aspect, or make it better on a particular process. They're much harder to do.
Magistone is the most common ingredient for these tablets, and they often form the foundation of a common array. They are made from industrial waste left over from the production of earth crystals.
"How big and how much?"
"Six pieces, about one square meter. One shaliun."
Enough for the array. Shit, that price! The fight was out of the boy, so he simply nodded and paid again. He sighed and wandered on the shelf.