Chapter Sixteen: Directly Stones

  The shopping district was a labyrinth of opulent storefronts, each vying for attention with gilded signs and ornate displays. The smell of fresh flowers and coffee filled the air, along with the subtle hum of enchantment. Cobblestone paths wound through the marketplace with an elegance that suggested both history and wealth. Here, students with money to spare moved about with practiced ease, their robes and attire reflecting a rank of luxury that was both beautiful and bizarre. As Jace looked, students seemed to shift in and out of existence, like walking through a hazy mirage, only to appear somewhere entirely different.

  “Let’s see. Ah, there it is.” Ell made a beeline for a stand in the center of the plaza. A sign hung above it, reading “Directly.”

  A case sat below the sign, brimming with green glowing stones inscribed with runes, each one emitting a soft, bluish light. Jace eyed it skeptically.

  “Shouldn’t that say ‘Directory’?” Jace asked.

  “Why would it say that? It’s a Directly.” Ell picked up a stone and held it in front of her. “You just picture what you need,” she explained. “Then start walking, and the shops will find you.” She closed her eyes, and the stone glowed brighter. She then latched arms with Jace, Dex and Alice, and strode confidently forward.

  The storefronts seemed to shift and shimmer, adjusting their positions to guide them toward their desired destination. It was a whirlwind of motion and lights and then they stopped. Jace thought he was going to be sick. That -1 to Constitution was terrible.

  When he could gather himself, he discovered they were now standing in front of a line of stores that hadn’t been there before. Etched names adorned the shop fronts, each sign morphing between ancient Greek and their English translations.

  Would someone with a different native language see a different sign? He wondered.

  As they moved through the winding paths, Jace couldn’t help but be captivated by the shops they passed. Shields and armor glinted in the windows of Athena’s Armory, each piece radiating strength and protection. Just beyond, Hermes’ Haberdashery displayed enchanted hats and cloaks that shifted colors and whispered secrets to their would-be wearers.

  Ell tugged him forward, giving him an overview of the shops he would need to visit first. At The Papyrus Scroll, shelves lined with ancient texts and mystical scrolls, their covers alive with shifting symbols. Next, Apollo’s Apparel dazzled with robes and tunics in every conceivable color and fabric, each more luxurious than the last.

  Hephaestus’ Forge caught his eye with sparks flying as magical weapons were crafted by unseen hands. Nearby, Artemis’ Arrows showcased bows and arrows with intricate designs and enchantments that pulsed with power.

  The scent of freshly baked goods drew him to Dionysus’ Delicacies, where a bakery displayed an array of enchanted sweets and pastries. Finally, they passed Hestia’s Hearth, a cozy shop filled with home goods and charms that exuded a warm, inviting glow.

  Dex and Ell treated the shopping spree like a game, their laughter and banter echoing through the rooms. They moved with the certainty of seasoned veterans, piling their arms with robes, shoes, and various other items. Jace, on the other hand, approached each transaction with caution, carefully selecting only what he needed.

  Each shop was a marvel. One specialized in enchanted garments that shimmered with hidden runes, another in rare potions whose vibrant colors danced within their glass containers.

  Dex and Ell made sure to do all the haggling for him, as his current debuff could cost him greatly.

  The first thing they purchased was a Waist Satchel that looked suspiciously like a fanny pack. “You’ll need to upgrade later, but this will do for now,” Ell said.

  He looked it over closely, and a notification appeared.

  Item

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Waist Satchel

  Description: Minor Pocket Dimension. Capable of holding up to 200 lbs. and 20 item slots. Refer to individual item descriptions to determine how many slots they require.

  Caution: Overfilling the satchel may have undesirable consequences.

  Definitely not a fanny pack.

  They went on to pick up “the essentials”, storing each in Jace’s new “satchel”.

  Ell included a Cleansing Stone in her assortment of tools. It was a blue marble stone adorned with intricate, shimmering inscriptions. Without a word, she activated it and tossed it at Jace. As soon as he caught it, a burst of water erupted around him, practically tearing the dirt from his body. He had to grip his robes tightly to keep them from being swept away, the stone’s magic unable to distinguish which parts of his robes were cloth and which were dirt. Jace didn’t blame the magic, he couldn’t really tell either.

  They bought new robes, sandals, paper, and a list of items Alice deemed necessary.

  The robes, lined with black accents and intricate designs, matched his deity. Finding the robes with Hades’ symbols wasn’t easy. They had to go to the back of the shop and ask the shopkeeper, who looked at them as if they were pulling a prank. “No one has bought one of these in many years,” he muttered, disappearing into the back room and returning with a dusty box. “And no returns.”

  Everyone had specific color accents and symbols to represent their patron god. It wasn’t exactly a uniform but more like personalized touches that showed their allegiance.

  “You don’t need to go crazy with it,” Dex advised as they browsed through the selections. “Some of the Zeus boys do, but they’re super into themselves. You want something understated, but still acknowledging your god. It’s a balance between personal style and patronage. Don’t want them thinking you’re trying to hide your affiliation, but also, don’t go prancing around all, ‘look at me, look at me.’”

  They ended up choosing a series of dark-colored robes with rich golden and black accent sashes, each laced with the symbols of Hades: a scepter and keys, snakes, a horn of plenty, white leaves, an owl, and a chariot. “We’ve got them all.” The shopkeeper said. “Can’t say I’ve had much use for them.” They mostly opted for the scepter and keys. “Less is more,” Dex commented, and Ell agreed. Could always buy more later, after he made some money in game.

  Jace felt a mixture of pride and apprehension as he donned the robes, the weight of his new identity settling on his shoulders. These were the nicest things that he had ever owned and he enjoyed it, despite the fact that they were all virtual.

  As they left the shop, he couldn’t help but notice the curious and wary glances from other students, their eyes flicking to the symbols on his robes.

  “Oh, before we forget. Here!” Ell popped up in front of Jace, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Dex and I got you something. Consider it a welcome gift.”

  She handed him a cloth tote bag with “Spellbound - Scrolls & Tomes” written across it in elegant, swirling letters. Jace took the bag, feeling a mix of curiosity and gratitude.

  “Thanks,” he said, pulling out a book from the tote. The cover was brightly colored, featuring an animated character waving a wand. The title read: “The Verse for the Informed: A Primer on Game Mechanics. Ages 3 and Up.”

  Jace chuckled, flipping through the pages. “Ages three and up, huh? You think I need to start that basic?”

  Alice grinned. “Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. This book is actually really helpful. It breaks down all the game mechanics in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Plus, it’s kinda fun.”

  Alice pointed to a section in the book. “Check this part out - explains how to rank up your skills and what to look out for. And this,” she flipped a few pages, “shows you how to maximize your EXP gains. And here, it talks about the basics of Societies.”

  Jace nodded, appreciating their thoughtfulness. “Thanks, guys. This will definitely come in handy. I’ll make time to read it soon.”

  They stared at him for a moment. “Read it?” Dex said. “My man, you don’t need to ‘read it’. Give it a quick INSPECT.”

  Jace did.

  Item

  The Verse for the Uninformed: A Primer on Universal Mechanics

  A brightly colored tome designed to simplify the complexities of the Terra Mythica. Topics include such things as basic game mechanics, skill ranking, EXP usage, and other fundamentals.

  Would you like to activate this book?

  Yes | No

  Jace chose yes. A flash of light erupted from the book, bathing him in a blinding glow. He squinted against the brightness, a sudden headache splitting through his temples, only to vanish as quickly as it came. Then a notification appeared.

  You have used Skill: Absorb Knowledge

  You might not read too good, but now you can skip the reading and go straight to knowing. Increase ABSORB KNOWLEDGE to improve retention from absorbed books and tackle higher-ranked subjects.

  Item Consumed

  The Verse for the Uninformed: A Primer on Universal Mechanics.

  Ages 3 and up. Good on you for absorbing a fairly advanced tome, from your point of view.

  Skill Increase

  Absorb Knowledge +1

  Universal Lore +1

  Congratulations! You know some stuff.