Braxis shut the door quietly behind him and made his way to the sofa opposite Pell and Enya. This was the man Pell had waited hours for—this ragged, mismatched man with a ruined shirt and rolled-up pant legs. His eyes looked weary, and his entire expression screamed, I’m tired, and I don’t want to be here.

  “Are you okay, Mr. Bracksaw?” Enya asked, swinging her legs back and forth from the edge of the sofa.

  He cleared his throat. “It’s Mr. Braxis,” he corrected gently. “But yes, I’m fine. Just a bit fatigued today. There were a lot of... requests.” The way he lingered on the last word made it clear he considered Pell one of the reasons he looked so disheveled.

  “Pell, I presume?” Braxis asked, turning his tired gaze to the skeleton. “Are these the items you want appraised?”

  “Indeed,” Pell replied. “These are some mysterious artifacts I picked up during a dungeon raid. I could appraise some of them myself, but there’s one item here that’s probably out of my league, so I thought I’d bring everything at once.”

  “I see. Will this be upfront payment or deferred valuation?”

  “Deferred valuation. I’m confident at least one of these items will cover the fees.”

  Enya’s ears perked up, and she leaned against Pell, poking one of his ribs. “What’s deferred valuation?”

  Pell glanced down briefly at her before explaining. “It means I’m not paying him now. Instead, I’m wagering that one of these items is valuable enough to cover the cost of the appraisal and leave me with something extra.”

  Braxis cracked his neck with an audible click, then reached out. His hand blurred and disappeared in the air before retracting his arm, a blue potion now in his hand.

  Enya immediately straightened, a shiver running through her as she sensed the mana radiating from the bottle. “Is that a mana potion?”

  “Indeed,” Braxis replied. “Ocean Trail. A decent fallback in case these all turn out to be mid-platinum grade.” He shifted his gaze back to Pell. “Unless you believe one of these is higher than platinum grade?”

  Pell shook his skull. “Highly doubt it. The dungeon I got most of these from wasn't so glamorous.”

  “Very well. I always keep a spare, just in case,” Braxis replied. He leaned forward and dragged the first item across the table: the amulet.

  The piece was unimpressive at first glance—a rounded pendant dangling from a shabby, nondescript chain that looked like it had been scavenged from a scrap pile. Its centerpiece was a red amber gem, shaped like a cross with spiked tips, embedded into the main piece as though someone had hastily slapped it together to form a necklace.

  “Hm...” Braxis muttered, studying the amulet.

  Despite his ragged appearance, the man’s focused expression felt oddly professional, as though the exhaustion had momentarily melted away. He glanced at Pell. “Would you prefer I explain its effects now, or would you like a written report later?”

  “You can speak the effects now,” Pell answered.

  “Very well.” Braxis picked up the amulet, turning it over in his hands. He tapped on it once, and then began his explanation.

  Item Name: Hordespawn Charm

  Tier: Bronze

  Rank: C+

  Value: 1 gold, 28 silver

  Effect: The wearer’s first five summons of each day have 20% reduced mana cost.

  “Woah! That sounds really good, Pell!” Enya exclaimed, tugging on his arm excitedly.

  The high mana cost of her spells had always been a thorn in her side. Back in the dungeon, nearly every major problem could be traced back to the same first issue she had faced: not enough mana to cast her spells. But with this necklace, reducing the cost of her first five summons? Even a small boost like that could make a world of difference to her summoning abilities.

  Braxis placed the amulet gently on the table and slid it across. Enya hopped off the sofa, snatched the necklace up, and slipped it on. She waited, eyes wide with anticipation... but nothing happened.

  Why did I expect something to pop up in the system? she thought, deflating slightly. She shuffled back to the sofa, sitting a little closer to Pell than before. Fiddling with the bright red gem, she let out a small huff. Pell, as usual, ignored her entirely.

  “Next item,” Braxis said, pulling the crystal-shaped container forward.

  It resembled a small vial, but its design was far more intricate—a four-pointed diamond with a hollow center. Pell had considered opening it when he first found it, but caution had stayed his hand. The contents of such containers were often unpredictable; it could hold a deadly gas or be protected by a defensive spell. Better to let an appraiser handle it than risk triggering something dangerous.

  Item Name: Refining Capsule

  Tier: Silver

  Rank: D

  Value: 6 gold, 11 silver

  Effect: By placing an element, powder, or mineral within this container and imbuing it with magic, you may hasten the refinement process by 120%.

  “Hmm… definitely a sell,” Pell said. “Not much use for alchemy items. Not anymore, at least.”

  “Very well,” Braxis responded, sliding the capsule to the other side. “On to the next.” He reached for the black key, its bone-like structure smooth yet eerie.

  Now, this one could be interesting, Pell thought. Either a key to treasure or some useless closet.

  Braxis’ eyes lit up as he began to examine it.

  Item Name: Key to Mellia’s Lair

  Tier: Platinum

  Rank: A+

  Value: 5 gold

  Effect: This is a key that allows access to Mellia’s Lair.

  “Who the hell is Mellia?” Pell asked, leaning forward in interest.

  “I was hoping you knew the answer to that,” Braxis replied, brow furrowed. “This is quite peculiar. Despite being platinum tier and A+ rank, it’s only valued at 5 gold—less than the Refining Capsule. And it barely took any mana to appraise.”

  “Is it because the key itself isn’t significant, but the item’s quality is unusually high? Like, the value and ranking don’t match?” Pell asked.

  “That could be the case. Items are usually ranked based on their function, and this key does nothing by itself. Its purpose is to open something—possibly Mellia’s Lair, whatever that is. The quality must be what boosts its rank, but the value remains low since it’s so specialized. Still, it could lead to something valuable, like a treasure trove or a dungeon.” Braxis set the key down in front of him. “That’s just my theory, of course.”

  “I’ll… hold onto it for now,” Pell said. “If I figure out what Mellia’s Lair is, maybe it’ll fetch a much higher price.”

  “Smart. I’d do the same.” Braxis moved the key to the other side of the table.

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  Pell glanced down at Enya, who had tilted her head all the way back to look up at him with wide, curious eyes.

  “What?” Pell asked.

  She stared for a moment longer before Pell raised a soul flame. “Go grab it?”

  “Oh!” Enya hopped off the sofa, scampered around the table, and snatched up the key, tucking it into her pocket. She hurried back to the sofa, plopping down even closer to Pell this time.

  “Your daughter is very cute, Mr. Pell,” Braxis remarked with a faint smile.

  Pell’s soul flames tightened sharply. “She’s not my daughter. I don’t like kids.”

  Enya frowned. “You don’t like me?”

  Hesitating, he managed to sneak a quick glance at her. “Err… I can tolerate you. Anyway, onto the next item, if you would, Mr. Braxis,” Pell said quickly, hoping to shift the conversation.

  Enya ignored the deflection, a small grin spreading across her face. She leaned against Pell’s arm, getting comfortable on the sofa.

  Braxis maintained his smile. “Very well.”

  Item Name: Spirit’s Lantern

  Tier: Copper

  Rank: B+

  Value: 1 gold, 81 silver

  Effect: A lantern that imprisons fairies or pixies, using their energy to provide light, warmth, and a moderate mana regeneration aura. Duration depends on the creature’s remaining lifespan and mana pool.

  “Sell,” Pell said flatly. “One hundred percent sell. I don’t want anything to do with fairies or pixies. Vengeful little things.”

  “I share the same sentiment,” Braxis agreed. “Imprisonment items for such creatures are rare. While the appraised value is almost two gold, I’d wager you could get two or three gold pieces depending on the buyer.” He slid the lantern into the sell pile.

  “Are there even buyers here for something like this?” Pell asked, raising a brow.

  “Hmm… likely not in Talo, no. You’d have better luck in another city. This side of Karemere doesn’t have many spirit forests. The closest one is leagues away, but Yennemel has several. That’d be your best bet.”

  Pell waved his hand dismissively. “I’ll sell it to the guild at the appraised price. Too much hassle finding someone interested. Besides, I’d rather not get involved with fairies in the first place.”

  Braxis nodded in agreement. “Fair enough. Now, for the second-to-last item.” He pulled forward a piece of black cloth that, when unfurled, revealed itself as a cloak.

  Item Name: Cloak of the Dead Spectres

  Tier: Gold

  Rank: A+

  Value: 66 gold, 6 silver

  Effect: This cloak masks the wearer’s movements, making them harder to see and concealing their presence. In combat, small illusions cascade around the wearer. The cloak can also invoke the power of the dead spectres, granting increased agility, weightlessness, and intangibility for one minute. Holds 2 charges; each charge regenerates after 15 minutes.

  “Ooooh,” Enya chirped, leaning forward off the sofa, her eyes sparkling. “That sounds really cool!”

  “How the hell…” Pell muttered, his jaw practically unhinged.

  “This is… quite the item you’ve found, Mr. Pell,” Braxis remarked, his tone even yet impressed.

  Pell felt a tug on his leg and glanced down. Enya was gazing up at him with eager eyes.

  “You should keep it! It sounds awesome! Or—better yet—let me keep it! I’ll wear it!” she said enthusiastically.

  “You’re too short to wear it,” Pell replied bluntly. “That thing’s longer than your robes.” He shifted his focus back to Braxis. “Would the merchant guild actually give me 66 gold for it? I’ve never dealt with something worth that much before.”

  Truth be told, that kind of gold was staggering. His rebound talisman—a tier-matching item but a letter grade lower—had only been appraised at 26 gold. Yet here was this single black cloak, worth over double. Just selling this could nearly wipe out Elara’s debt entirely—and that was just at its base value. With the right buyer, Pell figured he could potentially negotiate up to 50% more.

  “Most likely, yes,” Braxis replied. “The guild will buy items with a base value under 100 gold directly. For anything above that threshold, you’d need to contact a registered merchant or use the guild’s trade network.” He slid the cloak toward Pell. “Are you planning to sell it?”

  “Of course I am!” Pell exclaimed, his soul flames flaring slightly. “This is a true treasure—worth more than anything I’ve ever peddled.”

  “To the guild, then?” Braxis inquired.

  “P-probably not,” Pell stammered, clutching the cloak. “An item like this, especially one useful for fighters? I can fetch a much better price on my own.”

  “Very well,” Braxis said with a knowing nod. “Let’s move on to the final item.” He reached for the black bracelet resting on the table.

  Item Name: Mana Reserves Bracelet

  Tier: Silver

  Rank: A-

  Value: 11 gold, 66 silver

  Effect: This bracelet stores excess mana of the wearer if their mana is full.

  “So that’s what it did…” Pell muttered, staring at the bracelet.

  “Sell!” Enya declared loudly.

  Pell glanced down at her. She was sprawled on the sofa again, her head rested against his side, while her finger lazily pointed at Braxis, eyes fixed on the ceiling.

  “Err… yeah. What she said,” Pell agreed. “I’ll probably sell this one too. Don’t have a big enough mana pool for it to be useful.”

  “Very well,” Braxis said, setting the bracelet aside. He gathered the other two items Pell had decided to sell and arranged them neatly.

  “All right,” Braxis continued. “You’re selling three items. The total value comes to…” He paused, muttering calculations under his breath. “19 gold and 58 silver. My appraisal fee is 2 gold, and there’s a merchant’s service fee of 10 silver. That leaves your total at 17 gold and 48 silver.”

  Pell nodded. “Sounds about right. I’ll leave these items with you, then.”

  Both men stood, and Enya followed suit, clutching her small case. Finally done with all the boring stuff, she yawned, a tiny tear welling in the corner of her eye. The late hour was clearly catching up with her.

  Pell absentmindedly reached down and patted her head.

  Wait. He what?

  He froze mid-motion, withdrawing his hand after just two gentle pats. Why the hell did I just pat her?

  Damn it, Elara, he thought. The image of her patting the head of those snot-nosed brats back in the orphanage appeared in his mind.

  Clearing his throat awkwardly, he risked a glance at her. To his relief, she didn’t seem to notice, still too drowsy to care. But when he looked up at Braxis, he was met with a wide, unmistakably smug grin.

  Ugh, Pell thought.

  “The guild will have your payment up front. Let’s head to the lobby,” Braxis said smoothly, still smiling.

  Pell nodded stiffly and gave Enya a gentle nudge on the shoulder to urge her along.

  After waiting a few minutes on the plush leather chairs in the guild lobby, a man approached them. He wore a brown suit with a feathered hat perched atop his head, his sturdy build hinting at a life of disciplined fitness despite his broader frame.

  “Thank you for using the guild’s services. It’s been a pleasure working with you, Merchant Pell,” the man said, extending a small pouch. “Here is your payment—17 gold and 48 silver.”

  Pell accepted the pouch and untied the string to take a quick peek inside. Sure enough, the gleam of gold coins greeted him, along with a hefty pile of silver. He wasn’t about to count every piece right now, but the weight felt right.

  “Been a pleasure working with the merchant’s guild,” Pell replied with a small nod.

  “Indeed,” the man said, bowing his head briefly. “If you ever need further appraisals or wish to offer your services to the guild, we’re always here.”

  With that, the man departed, leaving Pell and Enya to head out with a slightly heavier purse and newfound knowledge about their items. As they stepped outside, Pell stashed the pouch of gold in his spatial inventory with a practiced motion.

  Enya let out another yawn, her voice drawing out into a whine. “Are we going home yeeet? I’m soooo sleeeepy.”

  “Yes, yes. We’re heading back to the inn,” Pell reassured her.

  She perked up slightly, though not enough to shake off her dramatic tone. “Can you carry me, Pell? I’m too tired to waaaalk,” she said, slumping forward with her arms dangling like a limp zombie.

  Pell clicked his tongue in mild annoyance. “Fine,” he relented, crouching down. “Get on my back.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise at his uncharacteristic compliance. But her delight quickly overtook her disbelief, and she dashed around him to hop onto his back, looping her arms securely around his shoulders. The movement was familiar now, reminding her of riding on Mr. Bones in the dungeon.

  “Onwards to vict… or… y…” she murmured, her words trailing off as sleep overtook her mid-sentence.

  With a resigned sigh, Pell adjusted his hold on her arms to make sure she wouldn’t slip off. He straightened up slowly, careful not to jostle her. They still had a fair distance to the inn, but with his constitution and boundless stamina, he could carry her the entire way without any problem.

  After a near-death scare from discovering three skeletons inexplicably waiting inside their inn room, Pell finally stepped in. He carefully made his way to the bed and gave Enya’s arm a light poke.

  “Hey, kid. We’re back at the inn. Get off.”

  Enya groaned softly, her eyes fluttering open just a sliver. She was too exhausted to muster much more than a half-conscious grumble, let alone climb off on her own.

  With a sigh, Pell shifted closer to the bed, angling his back toward it. He let her slide off gently, dropping her onto the mattress with minimal effort. She barely stirred as her eyes shut again almost instantly, her soft piglet snores already filling the room.

  Pell stood there for a moment, the faint blue glow of his soul flames dimming to tiny sparks—a mimicry of closing his eyes. Then, he reached across the bed and pulled the covers over her, tucking them snugly around her small frame.

  He watched her sleep, her expression calm and unguarded. A knot of conflicting emotions twisted inside him. Contentment, maybe even a sliver of happiness, threatened to rise to the surface. But his grim expression didn’t waver.

  I don’t deserve this kind of life. Her class is beyond screwed—rare, limited, or whatever. There had to have been another way out of that dungeon… I was just too useless to figure it out.

  With a heavy sigh, Pell moved to the other side of the room. He pointed at the three other skeletons. “All of you—go to sleep.” He flicked off the lights and settled into a chair facing the bed. Crossing his arms over his chest, he let himself drift into his own version of sleep, the faint glow of his soul flames flickering faintly in the dark.