The afternoon market thrummed with life. Vendors shouted their prices over the chatter of the crowd while shoppers wove between the stalls, woven baskets swinging from their arms. Wooden carts overflowed with greens still damp with morning dew, earthy potatoes, bright carrots, and fruit that carried the sweet scent of the fields.
Kiara slowed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It's much livelier than I expected."
Zion walked quietly beside her, a steady shadow in the chaos. The cries of the merchants blended into a constant, almost musical rhythm.
She eventually stopped at a vegetable stall run by a middle-aged woman whose apron was stained with soil and sunlight. Bundles of fresh greens, long beans, carrots, onions, and a few unfamiliar roots were neatly arranged on the wooden shelves.
Kiara picked through them carefully, testing leaves between her fingers. "These are fresh."
The woman beamed. "My husband pulled them before sunrise."
Kiara made her selections while Zion silently took the growing basket from her. When she was done, the vendor tallied the total with quick fingers.
"Four silver and sixty copper."
Kiara offered a polite smile. "Would you take four silver?"
The woman laughed, warm but firm. "If I sold at that price, my children would starve by next week."
"Four silver and twenty?"
"Four and fifty."
"Four and twenty-five. Last."
The vendor hesitated, lips pursed in thought.
Right on cue, a richly dressed man stepped up beside Kiara, reeking of expensive cologne and impatience. *Perfect.*
She shifted half a step closer without drawing attention. The copper ring on her finger grew warm against her skin.
[Target locked.]
[Target possesses 3 Luck points.]
[Proceed with absorption?]
"Yes," she thought.
[Verbal confirmation required.]
"Yes."
[Maximum absorbable amount: 2 Luck points.]
[Beginning transfer.]
[30 seconds remaining.]
She kept bargaining as if nothing had changed. "Four silver and twenty-five. Yes or No?"
The woman shook her head. "Sorry, but not less than four and forty."
Before Kiara could reply, the wealthy customer cut in. "I'll take ten bundles of spinach and twenty kilos of potatoes."
The vendor's face lit up. "Right away, sir!"
She bustled off to gather the order while the invisible countdown continued.
*Twenty seconds.*
*Fifteen.*
*Ten.*
The man's expression suddenly shifted. He patted his coat, then his belt, growing more frantic with each pocket. Finally, he let out an awkward chuckle.
"It seems I left my coin pouch at home. My apologies." He gave a shallow bow. "I'll return shortly."
He hurried off, leaving the carefully piled vegetables behind. The vendor stared at the abandoned order and sighed.
"So close…"
[Transfer complete.]
[Successfully absorbed 1 Luck Point.]
She turned back to Kiara and waved a hand in defeat. "Fine. Four silver and thirty. I've had enough surprises for one day."
Kiara paid the coins without comment. As Zion lifted the basket onto his shoulder, she glanced down at the unassuming copper ring. A faint, satisfied smile touched her lips.
*Interesting…*
---
The vegetable stalls slowly gave way to the meat section of the bazaar. The clean, earthy smell of fresh produce was replaced by the rich, savory aroma of roasted meats, warm spices, and smoking grills. The steady *thwack-thwack* of cleavers on thick wooden blocks rang out from every other stall.
Rows of butchers lined both sides of the lane. Some offered pork and lamb, while others displayed stranger game—beasts with curved horns and unfamiliar hides that clearly didn't come from Earth.
Kiara stopped in front of one of the larger stalls. Behind the counter, a broad-shouldered butcher worked with calm confidence, his knife moving in smooth, practiced strokes. A simple wooden sign hung overhead: Harlan's Butchery.
After a quick look over the display, she pointed at a thick, marbled slab. "Two kilos of that one."
The butcher glanced up and gave an approving nod. "Good eye. River Boar. Caught yesterday."
His knife flashed a few times, and two generous cuts landed cleanly on the scale. As he began wrapping the meat in paper, a middle-aged woman carrying two baskets stepped up beside Kiara.
The copper ring on Kiara's finger grew warm.
[Target locked.]
[Target possesses 4 Luck points.]
[Proceed with absorption?]
*Yes.*
[Verbal confirmation required.]
"Yes."
[Maximum absorbable amount: 2 Luck points.]
[Beginning transfer.]
[30 seconds remaining.]
Kiara waited quietly, watching the butcher tie the string around her package.
Twenty seconds.
Fifteen.
[Transfer complete.]
[Successfully absorbed 2 Luck Points.]
Just ten seconds after the notification came, a young apprentice came rushing over.
"Master! The smoked ham in the back fell off the rack and smashed everything."
The butcher sighed. "Just a moment." He wiped his hands and disappeared into the storage room.
Left alone at the counter, the apprentice looked down at Kiara's wrapped parcel. His face suddenly changed.
"Master wrapped the wrong cut."
He carefully peeked inside the paper. "That's the prime loin. The order was supposed to be shoulder."
He was reaching to redo the package when the butcher returned.
"What is it?"
"The wrong cut," the apprentice said, pointing.
The butcher looked once, then shrugged with a grin. "It's already wrapped nicely. No point wasting time." He slid the parcel toward Kiara. "Every now and then, someone gets lucky. Looks like today's your day. Same price."
The warmth around Kiara's finger faded.
"Thank you," she said simply, accepting the package.
She and Zion had only walked a short distance when he glanced down at the neatly wrapped meat.
"Big Sister… while the Ring's function is indeed good, wouldn't you waste so much time to spend on grocery shopping?"
Kiara shook her head. "No. I only wanted to see what the Ring would do. I didn't plan on using it to profit a mere few silver coins through the bazaar..."
Her fingers brushed the plain copper band as they continued through the bustling market. Nothing around them had changed. The butcher had already gone back to chopping. Customers kept bargaining. Children still ran laughing between the stalls. Just ordinary accidents. The kind that could happen any day.
Except this time… chance had quietly leaned in her favor.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Now, where should we go..."
***
The market shifted again as they left the meat section.
The heavy scent of roasted boar faded, replaced by the cleaner smells of fresh linen, oiled leather, and polished wood.
Colorful bolts of cloth fluttered under wooden awnings while tailors worked in open storefronts, measuring customers and discussing patterns.
Kiara stopped in front of a modest but well-kept shop. A carved wooden sign read Silver Thread Tailoring.
"This looks promising," she murmured.
She stepped inside with Zion close behind. The shop was surprisingly spacious. Finished garments hung neatly along one wall, and several apprentices sat at long tables, stitching quietly.
A middle-aged man behind the counter greeted them with a warm smile. "Welcome to Silver Thread Tailoring. What type of outfit would you like to order?"
Kiara immediately answered, "A long gown."
He turned to a woman arranging fabric nearby. "Helen, could you take the young lady's measurements?"
"Of course."
Helen led Kiara behind a folding screen and worked quickly, measuring her shoulders, chest, waist, hips, arms, and height before noting everything in a small book.
"You have a lovely figure," she said with a kind smile. "Most designs will suit you nicely."
"I'll leave that judgment to the tailor," Kiara replied lightly.
Helen chuckled and led her back out.
By then, the shopkeeper had already spread several design books across the counter. He patiently guided her through fabrics, collars, sleeves, and stitching, bringing out samples for her to feel. Kiara rejected anything too flashy or restrictive, eventually settling on six practical everyday outfits and two formal sets in premium linen with reinforced seams.
The tailor tallied the cost. "4 gold and 34 silver coins for the material cost and 1 gold and 80 silver coins for the tailoring cost. A total of 6 gold and 14 silver coins. We can round it off to 6 gold coins, what to say?"