Beneath the Dragoneye Moons

Amber was back! Hurray! What a lucky coincidence.

“Sit! Sit! We were just talking about you! Did you get my letter?” I asked, before realizing the timing didn’t work out at all. We’d just barely arrived, and we came almost directly from the School, forget a letter making it to any of its destinations.

Amber sat down with a grateful sigh, rubbing her leg. She idly flipped her coin, and it moved oddly, landing sunny side up.

“Letter? No, I didn’t get a letter. Heard Exterreri might be good for the kind of trading I do, and wow! It has not disappointed at all!”

I felt a brief moment of disappointment at that. Hope against hope, I was wondering if she’d gotten my letter and found a way to quickly make her way over. If she had, there was a strong chance that Artemis and Julius would be a day or two behind her.

I missed them. I wanted to see them again. But this wasn’t the time or the place to mention it. Now it was all about Amber!

“I hope you were only saying good things about me!” Amber finished.

I took a moment to look at my former apprentice. She was looking well. Long hair was bound into a tight braid, and I could see dozens, if not hundreds of gems woven into and hiding in her hair. Well-traveled practical clothing was hiding more gems, and her boots were thick and had seen hundreds, if not thousands of miles. Amber looked well-fed and healthy, with a face that had seen a thousand sunrises on the road.

My beanpole apprentice looked like she was accomplishing everything she wanted in life and more. I couldn’t imagine a better criteria for success.

Amber probably could, and it had to do with how many rubies away she was from a swimming pool full of them, but to each their own!

I gave her a grin at her question.

“Oh yes, only good things, like how I’d invested some money with you a few years ago for a share of your profits, and another small matter that might need your [Confidential Negotiations] skill.”

I looked at Iona with an evil grin, and she immediately got what I was thinking about. The Valkyrie leaned forward as Amber smiled.

“It’s [Totally Confidential Negotiations] now! I managed to upgrade the skill!” She said proudly.

“Brrpt! Brrpt!” Auri made a half-dozen [Mage Hands] clap for Amber, and a half-veil surrounded us.

“Elaine here has a rare and powerful skill, able to grant Immortality and make the recipient of the skill young again. It works on all elvenoids, and we haven’t found a cap on how many years it can reverse. We’re in Sanguino, the capital city of one of the major Immortal countries. Why should she use you as our preferred skill broker, over one of the more established and better connected brokers existing in the city already?”

Iona opened up by going for the throat.

Amber looked shocked at first, then quickly rallied.

“I can offer a better cut as a percentage than anyone here. See, I don’t plan on finding someone in the city to trade with. Elaine’s skills are indeed top tier, and I’ve been traveling the world a bit, deep in this market, so I know what I’m talking about. I’m going to bring the gems and skills personally to Shahrazad and get them auctioned off there. If anyone else here offers the same thing, well. They’re going to be paying for all sorts of transportation and escort costs, none of which I need. On top of that, as an investor in my business, Elaine’s also entitled to a cut of my portion of the profits, giving an additional cut above and beyond what anyone else is offering.”

Iona grinned.

“Let’s talk hard numbers and percentages…” She said, and the fierce negotiations were on.

I loved having an agent.

“Dice?” I asked Auri.

“Brrrpt!” My little fiery friend joined me as my lover and apprentice briskly haggled.

Iona struck what sounded like a fantastic deal on my behalf. I know I would’ve settled for a lot less, and while I liked Amber, I knew I was terrible with negotiations and having an agent made everything smooth.

“...80% after reasonable fees and expenses, which is defined as the costs incurred from Sanguino to Shahrazad and back, using a weighted division by revenue per gem sold.” Amber concluded. “Deal!” She held out her hand, and Iona gestured to me.

“Oh? Uh, yeah, deal!” I quickly agreed, shaking Amber’s hand.

“Excellent!” She beamed. “If we put too many gems up at once for auction, it’ll depress the value of all of them. We’d only like to put a few up at once.”

I snorted.

“You’re also forgetting I have a stupid cooldown on the skill. Stick around for two weeks and I can get you two. Any interest in my other skills, or Iona’s?”

I could see the gems whirling behind Amber’s eyes - the metaphorical ones, not the shining gems in her eyes indicating her [Merchant]-class element - as she categorized and calculated what I had and what they were worth.

“There’s nothing wrong with a few cure-alls. They’re common, but the demand for them is so high they’re guaranteed to sell. Unfortunately, I have my own cure-all skill that I sell. I don’t think it’s as potent as yours, but they’re rarely distinguishing between different high level cure-alls. I’d be unfairly shooting myself in the foot selling yours over mine. Hit me with the rest of your skills, I’ll let you know if I’d like to buy anything.”

Iona looked at me and I nodded. A quick overview of all three of our skills later, and Amber was frowning.

“[Nova Lance] and [Channeled Blink] are the only skills of yours that someone might be interested in. I think your [Nova Lance] relies a little too much on your [Solar Corona] to really be interesting as a skill. [Frost Wyvern’s Fang] could be interesting, but again, only in the small scale of things. I’d love to test Auri’s [Phoenix Rebirth] to see if it’s workable, but testing the skill is difficult.”

Iona barked a laugh at that. Auri preened herself.

“That’s that. You’ll be here for a few weeks if I need to find you?” Amber asked.

“Yes, but stay! Have dinner! Come round! Don’t be a stranger!” I said. “It’s been far too long since I’ve seen you.”

Amber laughed.

“Of course I’m sticking around! By the way, do you need any part of your profits? I have good use for them, but we did strike a deal, and the five years you’ve given me has been more than enough for me to grow my operations.”

I’d been so excited to see Amber I’d practically forgotten all about that!

I held my hand out with a wordless grin, flexing my fingers in a gimme motion.

“Business is DONE!” Iona declared. “Tell us what you’ve been up to since we last saw you! I want to know everything. What’s the best deal you’ve made?”

“Best deal? Still the one with Elaine. After that… have you heard about the fabled City of Dreams? Not such a fable as it turns out…”

We spent the rest of the day catching up, trading stories and tales. Dinner came, and we ate around our storytelling.

“No way! That was you!? I heard about that!” Amber gasped when Iona told her about the Gladiator Gauntlet. “Gave me quite a scare! One moment I’m looking at the moons, and the next they’re gone!? Thought the world was ending or I was trapped in a Mirage. Spent six skills before I realized that someone had just removed the moons. Then I spent a week convinced the moons had exploded! Don’t do that again!”

Iona and I roared with laughter, and my brain did that weird thing where it jumped from thing to thing.

Moons -> Gladiator Gauntlet -> My time at the School -> I worked at the Library -> Books! Tasty books! -> I was [The Very Hungry Bookwyrm] -> I’d gotten a ton of levels recently! Share that! -> Oh wait I still had a full [Bookwyrm’s Hoard] of loot I wanted to get rid of -> Amber was perfect for that.

“Speaking of, I’ve got some books I’m hoping you can sell for me?”

I got Stares from both Iona and Amber.

“What? I’ve got to get rid of some books. The ones from that one place. Oh! Are you interested in coordinates for a buried ruin? I think you’ll pass near it on your way to Shahrazad. That’s in Urwa, right?”

Amber facepalmed while Iona gave a sad, slow chuckle while shaking her head.

“Love you, scatterosaurus.” She gently teased.

“How you get from the moons to selling books I’ll never know, and I can actually complain to you that you make no sense as a client, instead of needing to smile and nod and pretend not to act confused.” Amber griped.

“Do you want my money or not?” I shot back.

“Yes please, and thank you!” Amber instantly replied.

“80% again?”

Amber fell out of her chair laughing.

Iona and I traded looks, and she shook her head at me. Auri hopped over to the edge of the table and looked over, making sure Amber was alright.

Amber climbed back up onto her chair.

“If it wasn’t clear - heck no. That is such a bad deal. Do you have any idea how hard books can be to sell? With questionable provenance? With such tiny amounts and margins? 20%, and that’s me being generous. Negotiate, and I’ll start from 5%.”

I thought about it. Disposing of a few hundred books, one or two at a time… yeah okay, Amber might have a point.

“Really, if you just donate them to the library or something I’d be happy… You can claim you bought them off some sketchy -” I couldn’t bring myself to call myself an [Adventurer], even as part of a plausible backstory. “[Delvers] or something. I dunno, you’re the merchant.”

“Oh, if it’s just dropping off some books, I can do that no worries.”

“Should we do the coins now?” Iona prompted.

“I need to run some calculations.” Amber’s eyes unfocused, and started to flick rapidly as she performed all manner of arcane [Merchant]-math.

After a few minutes she came back to Pallos.

“It’s close to, but not quite 500,000 arcs. Call it 50 diamonds and rubies, and I’ll round the change out for the next time we meet?”

Iona and I looked at each other, thunderstruck. That was a lot of money.

“... no way you’ll let me buy out your share, is there?” Amber asked hopefully.

I hesitated.

“Maybe. Exterreri doesn’t like these sorts of deals… I think. We’re still new here… but I’ve gotta admit that it’s very nice, and has fixed a lot of our problems.”

I thought about it a moment, and snapped my fingers.

“Wait! If you find an old vampire called Night, I’ll happily sign over my entire share, no arguments or anything.”

Amber grinned and held out her hand.

“Deal!”

We quickly shook on it, and I had a second realization. With how much our deal was worth - 500,000 arcs in 5 years was INSANE, and I had to imagine it was only going to snowball from there - combined with Amber’s lucky coin, I had a real chance at fae magic leaning in my favor.

Only right after it had screwed us over so badly in the first place. There was a sense of karmic justice to the whole thing. It would feel somewhat unsatisfying, and I wasn’t going to rely on it, but it was worth a shot. I was never above using every resource at my disposal.

Amber looked back and forth between us, then her eyes widened.

“Wait. Don’t tell me you’re worried about money?”

“I mean, we did just get here. Literally this morning. Still settling in.” I said.

“Yeah, but like. Phoenix tears are worth triple their weight in diamonds, and don’t get me started on wyvern blood and the ludicrous price people will pay. Especially since you can verify with the wyvern in question right there.” Amber punctuated the last two words by slapping the table.

We looked at each other. Iona shrugged.

“Sounds like a problem for tomorrow.” She said. “Are you going to stay here?”

“Let me see…” Amber fished her coin back out, flipping it once more. It moved oddly again, in a way I couldn’t quite understand.

[*ding!* [The World Around Me] leveled up! 73 -> 74].

It landed snowflake-side up, and Amber shook her head.

“Going to try somewhere else. I’ll swing by in the morning with a hand cart for your books, Elaine, if that’s alright?”

I nodded.

“Yeah, sure. Don’t be a stranger!”

The next day rolled around quickly enough. Iona managed to re-negotiate our rate with the [Innkeeper] - Fenrir dozing in the rear was one heck of an attraction, and the inn had never been so busy.

Amber gleefully rolled up with a hand cart after breakfast, raving about the place she’d gone to and the great deal she’d made.

Damn lucky coin. I wish I had one of those! I should make a shirt or something. ‘I got screwed by the fae and all I got was blasted through time.’ Then again, Amber had taken insane risks, and traded heavily to get the coin. Her limp wasn’t fixable, even by a powerful [Biomancer] like Marcelle.

I carefully deposited my findings from the Immortal hideout into her cart.

“Great to see you again! Dinner?” Amber asked.

“Of course! Our treat!” Iona smiled at Amber.

“Excellent! Well, time is money, I’m off.” My mercantile friend waved at us, then picked up the cart and started to limp back to the road.

“What’s the plan today?” I asked Iona.

“I want to put our money into the bank. It’s making me nervous how much we’ve got. A thief will go after our room for 500 arcs, forget 600,000. It’s too much. After that? Let’s have a date in the city, it’s been too long. I want to explore with you!”

“Woo! Date day! I love it! Also, I’m calling dibs on opening the bank account. DIBS!”

I don’t know why that struck me as THE thing to do, but I had never gotten the chance in Remus. There just hadn’t been a need to, and there was a gulf between the Emperor decreeing a new law, and all the institutions updating, then everyone changing from the existing status quo.

Now? Now I could open a bank account!

“Brrrpt?” Auri asked.

“Yeah, sure, come along! The more the merrier!” I didn’t even feel the need to warn Auri about committing minimal arson. The years at the School had matured her somewhat.

Somewhat. Enough.

We grabbed our stuff, and I threw [Mantle of the Stars] around our heavy, heavy coin purse. Between our respective skills and stats, and [Mantle] blocking sneaky indirect magic - like a [Thief] flat-out [Teleporting] our money away - I felt like we were secure enough to walk to the bank.

I slipped my hand into Iona’s, and practically skipped down the road to Sanguino.

Auri protested at each jump, as she dug her claws into my hair to try and stabilize herself against my mad skipping.

So I added a few little bumps and shakes, just to mix it up.

“BRPT! BRPT! BrrrrRPT!” Auri tried to protest, but my shakes just made her… yodel, for lack of a better word.

“Don’t bully Auri, it’s not nice.” Iona said, squeezing my hand lovingly.

“Alright, alright.” I stopped bouncing Auri around so much… but kept skipping.

We made it to the gate guard soon enough, and I reminded myself that paying them was good, that it was the proper, non-adventurer thing to do.

And that I was now a citizen, and that had to count for something.

“Name, purpose of visit, are you a citizen, resident, or foreigner, and do you have any goods to be inspected?” The automatic Sound inscription asked us.

“Dawn, Iona, and Auri, visiting for a day of fun, I’m a citizen and they’re in my household, no goods to declare.” I promptly rattled off, one of my [Parallel Thoughts] having pre-worked out the answer while I waited in line.

“Right, why don’t you-” The guard started to say, then did a double-take at Auri.

“Please step off to the side for a moment.” He asked, and I groaned.

“Half the time I don’t get into a city unmolested.” I complained as we complied.

Fortunately we weren’t waiting too long before another guard hurried over. He looked extra-fancy.

“Atlas, pleased to meet you all.” He started off with an unusual greeting. I gave Iona a small kick in the shin to get her talking.

“Iona, Dawn, and Auri. What can we help you with?” She asked.

Atlas shook his head.

“Other way around. We were told to look out for Auri. I’m your guide and escort today to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

We traded surprised looks, and Auri puffed herself out, pleased with the attention.

“Brrrrpt! Brrpt brrrrrrrpt!!” She happily flew around Atlas, then carefully, gingerly landed on his helmet.

“Brpt BRRRPT BRRRRRRRRPT!” She heralded a charge deeper into the city.

Atlas looked star-struck and tongue-tied.

“Oh don’t mind her. Auri’s a huge goofball.” I said. Iona took the initiative and started to lead us into the city.

“I’ve been blessed.” He practically whispered.

“Brrpt!” Auri agreed, then smacked his helmet with her wing. “BRPT!” She ordered, conjuring up a [Mage Hand] for Iona and I, pointing at us through the crowd as we started to move down the main lane.

Atlas got the hint and hurried through the street, quickly catching up with us. It helped that the crowds parted for him.

“We’re looking for the First Bank to open an account. Think you can guide us?” Iona asked. I was busy eyeing up all the stores, and mentally taking notes. I needed a dozen new tunics, a couple of sandals would be nice, that place looked tasty for a cute lunch with Iona, that toyshop looked like it would be fun to browse, and dozens more!

Atlas was a solid guide, knowing exactly where to go, and while we walked I asked Iona a question that was bugging me.

“Can you see the threads?” I asked her.

“Threads? The ones you were talking about?”

“Yeah, they’re everywhere. Tiny. Pretty sure I’m not going nuts, but wondering if you’ve got the ability to see them.”

“Are you seeing them with your eyes, or only your skill?”

I clicked my tongue.

“Only my skill, you’re right.”

Iona shook her head.

“Your vision’s better than mine. If you can’t see them with your eyes, no way I can.”

I did a double-take at that.

“Wait, really? Don’t you have triple vision skills, and more vitality?”

Iona nodded.

“Yes, and you have literal eagle eyes. I’ll take mine for seeing through and around things, but I can’t compete for picking out tiny details.”

“Dang.”

Atlas was as good as his word, and we made it to the First Bank.

“I’m doing it!” I called out again, stepping to the front of our little group. “Also, I’m going to have some fun with them!”

Atlas looked worried.

“Is this the sort of fun that’s going to give me a hard time?” The guard asked.

“It… shouldn’t?”

Atlas had enough bells and whistles on his minimal uniform to look very important. Regardless, he looked like he was developing an ulcer.

“Welcome to the First Bank! What’s your account?” The friendly [Banker] asked me as it was finally our turn.

“Well! Honestly, I have no idea. I had an account at the temple in Remus some 20,000 years ago or so. You’re the First Bank, I’m wondering if my account’s still active? And maybe has a little bit of interest?”

Honestly, it was a wild shot among wild shots. How would I even prove who I was? Or… anything really.

Everyone around me had an awkward look on their face. Auri slapped a wing over her eyes.

“What?” I asked.

The [Banker] coughed nervously.

“Forgive me, but it is with my deepest regret to inform you that the First Bank has a 128-year policy. If nobody touches your account in that timeframe, you’re assumed to be dead or ascended, with no heirs to claim your account. At which point, it is absorbed back into the Bank. Additionally, the history of the First Bank, while vaunted and distinguished, unfortunately does not reach back that far. Perhaps the temple where you had an account would be a better venue to pursue?”

I shrugged.

“Eh, no big deal. Right, we’d like to open a new account…”

Nearly an hour later, and our coins were safely stored and secured in the First Bank’s vault. It wasn’t impossible for thieves to get into the vault - no such thing as perfectly secure - but it was a heck of a lot better than leaving it tucked under our mattress in an inn.

It brought a literal tear to my eye when it was all done.

“Everything alright?” Iona asked. I sniffled.

“Yeah. It’s just… I don’t know, it’s stupid, I’m so happy.”

She threw an arm over my shoulders.

“May every day be happier than the last!” Iona proclaimed, steering us out of the bank.

My mental list reshuffled a bit as we exited, and I had the presence of mind to throw out a question.

“Hey Atlas! Do you know a vampire called Night? Really, REALLY old, dawn of creation sort of old. Literally older than dirt. Possibly involved with the military. Looking for him, dunno if he’s even in Sanguino… or even still alive… but I’m looking for him! You’re a guard, you seem to know things, places, and people, got any tips?” It was a WILDLY long shot. A city of… what, millions? Asking if they knew someone with a particular name and minimal other qualifiers was a loooooooong shot.

But no reason not to make the long shot.

“Let me think about that for a moment.” He said.

“Brrpt! Brrrrrrrrpt!” Auri patted the top of his helmet in an encouraging way. I gave her the side-eye.

“Are you as concerned with what a minion following Auri’s every whim is going to do to her as I am?” I stage-whispered to Iona.

“Oh yeah. Like giving Fenrir his own building to hang a shingle on.” Iona stage-whispered back.

“I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head, but I can ask some questions. Will you three be back tomorrow?” Atlas asked.

I nodded.

“Yup!”

“Hey, let’s go walk through that park!” Iona pointed to a wonderful park, filled with swaying willows and other large, flexible plants, courtesy of a small blazing ball of light hovering above the park, and the two of us were off.

It was a little awkward having Auri and Atlas follow us around on our date, but Auri saved our bacon.

“BRRPT!” She demanded Atlas go investigate the first bakery she saw, and after a brief farewell, the two of them went on their own adventure. Mostly Auri scoping out the competition.

Iona took me on the most wonderful impromptu date ever. The gardens were enchanted, the air itself practically thrumming with all the magic. From mundane protection keeping plants safe to accelerated growth letting us watch a flower bloom, wilt, then bloom again, to dazzling displays, to elemental plants burning and freezing, the garden was a treat. We visited a [Tailor] and a [Cobbler] and got new clothing for the city, to better fit in. Was it still a [Cobbler] when they made sandals?

The local [Alchemist] had some ‘just for fun’ potions, one of which had the hilarious side-effect of me hiccupping heart-shaped bubbles for an hour after. A -I didn’t even know the name of the job - was offering magic carpet rides, and we got to soar, cuddled up together.

Iona wanted to do a lot more than cuddle.

“Down, girl!” I turned her down with a laugh. “I know it’s dark with all the Ash, but people can still see us!”

Iona pulled a pouty face, and I winked at her.

“Later!”

That got a smile back on her face.

Lunch was at an underwater restaurant, skills letting us breathe like normal. Played hell with my hair, but snapping around like a fish to grab bites of food more than made up for it.

Sanguino had baths. Proper baths. I gratefully slipped into a special super-heated pool, made far hotter with a strong skill, designed for Classers with large amounts of vitality who could take the heat. Iona slowly slid in next to me, giving me a knowing look. She knew exactly what she was doing to me, and how I wouldn’t do anything in the baths.

I got some revenge of my own, and from the look on Iona’s face made it all worth it.

Regardless of the cruel tease next to me, I was able to relax, floating on my back in the boiling water, feeling properly clean for the first time in years. It wasn’t a physical thing, it was a psychological one. Baths had been my safe space in Remus, a place to unwind. The School had many things, but good, proper baths hadn’t been one of them.

I floated, letting my hair spread out around me, gently bobbing as the bubbles boiled around me. Iona floated near me, her eyes closed, one hand slipped into mine.

Too soon we’d been fully lobsterized and prunified, and Iona had more plans that didn’t involve dissolving.

We went to the amphitheater, where there was a hot new play being performed.

We got alright seats, and settled down. It started off normally enough.

“Long, long ago, before the last Immortal war, there lived an old bamboo woodcutter.”

Slowly, line after line, the story built, and with it my disbelief.

I knew this story.

I knew this story! It had a dozen minor twists to adapt it to Pallos, but I knew it!

“Iona!” I hissed, not wanting to interrupt the play.

She tilted her head, clearly listening.

“Iona! This is The Tale of Princess Kaguya!”

She tilted her head a little more, not getting what I was saying.

“It’s from Earth! My Earth!”

“Oooooh.” She was interested, but not getting it. Not like I did.

“I never told the story here! And they’re saying it’s new! There’s someone else from Earth here!”

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