As Vael went over his profits, a flicker of excitement lit up his face.
Two gold coins.
Never in his life had he held so much money at once.
Now, after the purchase, he had one gold and thirty silvers left.
A gold coin was worth fifty silvers. A single silver, about a hundred coppers. And five copper coins? Just enough for a loaf of bread.
He grinned to himself, tucking the coins safely into his Space Pocket. He wasn't rich—not even close—but he was no longer broke. For once, he could breathe.
His thoughts drifted back to the strange items he'd just bought.
The bracelet was plain at first glance, but the carved wooden snake was cracked, worn by time. Still, it faintly pulled in mana—he could feel it. Subtle, but definitely there.
The ship-in-a-bottle was expertly crafted, almost too detailed. He couldn't imagine how they'd gotten it inside without breaking the glass. A trick? A spell?
And the seed… looked like any other seed.
Unimpressive.
He tucked them back into the box and continued walking, lost in thought, until he arrived at the stable.
Inside, a weathered man was brushing down one of the horses. The stable smelled of hay, leather, and old sweat.
Without looking up, the man muttered, "Fifty coppers per day. One silver per week."
"I'm here to buy," Vael said.
That got a reaction.
The stable master straightened up slowly, turning to look at him for the first time. His eyes narrowed as they landed on Vael's cloak, boots, and finally, his confident posture.
"Buy, huh?" the man said, wiping his hands on a rag. "Well then. Let's see what kind of horse you're after."
He gestured for Vael to follow, leading him down the stable aisle. The scent of hay and old wood lingered in the air. Horses flicked their ears, some turning their heads curiously as the two passed.
"I'm looking for two," Vael said. "Nothing fancy. Just reliable."
The stable master raised an eyebrow. "Two, huh? Not many your age buy in pairs."
Vael didn't answer.
After a moment, the man stopped at a side stall. "This one's steady. Forest stock. Not the fastest, but he'll get you where you need to go."
A chestnut gelding stood inside, thick-legged and calm-eyed. Its mane was trimmed short, and despite the dust, it looked well-fed and healthy.
"And the second?"
The man walked further down, then pointed at a leaner horse with a darker coat — almost black, with faint white around the hooves. It looked more restless than the first but not wild, just alert.
"She's sharp. Had her since she was a foal. Carries light packs or riders without complaint. Doesn't bite. Much."
Vael gave both animals a quick once-over. Neither was anything special — not from a noble's perspective, anyway. But to him, they looked perfect.
"I'll take them."
The stable master blinked. "Don't want to know the price?"
"How much?"
"Ten silvers each. Saddle included."
Vael didn't flinch. He reached into his Space Pocket and handed over twenty silvers.
"While we're at it, how about I get my horses some food for the road?"
He spent another 1 silver worth of food, which should last them about a few weeks
The man counted it, then gave a small nod of approval. "You got a good deal, kid."
Vael led the horses out one by one, tying the leaner mare to the other's saddle. He patted them each once, not quite sure how to treat them yet, but instinctively gentle.
"You take care of them," the stable master called after him. "They'll take care of you."
Vael didn't reply — just raised a hand in silent thanks as he guided the horses toward the edge of the village.
The sun was starting to sink. The road ahead would be long, but they had enough food, enough rest, and now, good mounts.
Taking advantage of the unique properties of his Spatial Pocket, Vael stored the two horses away.
It was a bit draining to force a living creature into his Pocket — more taxing than storing objects — but it was well worth the mana. The convenience far outweighed the cost.
With that done, he made his way back to the old barn where they were staying.
Kiera was already up. She sat beside Ash, who was still asleep, gently adjusting the girl's blanket while something sizzled over a makeshift fire nearby — breakfast, or more accurately, lunch. The sun was already high in the sky.
She looked up as Vael entered. "Where'd you go?"
"Oh, I just got us a small fortune and two horses. Nothing too crazy," he said with a grin.
Kiera blinked. "What? Where are the horses?"
Vael smirked and reached into his Pocket. With a soft hum of mana, he released both horses into the clearing just outside the barn.
"This brown one is yours," he said, nodding to the calm chestnut. "Name it whatever you want."
Kiera didn't hesitate. "Sundance."
"Ooh, nice name," Vael said, then looked toward the darker mare. "And mine will be… Eclipse."
With that settled, he finally sat down next to the fire, letting the smell of cooked food pull him back to the present. They still had a long journey ahead — but for now, it was enough to share a quiet meal in peace.