"Oh—Kip. I nearly forgot."
Riley snapped his fingers, dumping a heavy cloth bundle onto the table with a dull thud. As the Rare Glowroot and Verdant Silk spilled out, Mossling stiffened and face-planted onto the floor in a dead faint.
"R–Riley… is that Spirit Moss?" Kipp's voice hit a frequency only dogs could hear. "Do you know what I can do with this? I can reinforce talismans! I can make threads that—"
"He does this every time, doesn't he?" Aria asked, leaning against a bubbling cauldron.
"Every. Single. Time," Hayley confirmed, popping a piece of dried fruit into her mouth. "Usually, there's more foaming at the mouth, though. He's showing restraint today."
Riley didn't stop there. He pulled out the walnut-sized Essence Crystal. The room went silent. Kipp looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
"Is that… for me?" Kipp whispered.
"Kipp deserves it," Riley said, flashing a diplomatic smile that masked his cold, tactical thought: Les is a starter spirit; Mossling is a business investment. "And Mossling needs the boost if he's going to keep up with your ego."
The little plant spirit immediately revived, did a celebratory backflip, and began a victory dance that involved a lot of aggressive leaf-waggling.
"Just keep making the potions," Riley teased as Kipp cradled the crystal like a holy relic.
"I'll brew until the cauldrons melt!" Kipp shouted.
They stepped out into the violet twilight of Dawnview Square, thirty silver coins richer per person. Aria was vibrating so hard she looked like she might glitch out of the game world.
"WE'RE RICH," she screamed, clutching her coin bag. "I am going to buy so many potions. Hayes, stop me. Be the boring adult. Save me from myself."
Hayes didn't even look at her. "I can't stop you, Aria. No one can. I've accepted my fate as the chaperone of a circus."
"W–we can really… shop?" Jonathan whispered, looking at his coins as if they might vanish.
Aria practically teleported behind him, throwing her arms over his shoulders. "YES, TIGER BOY. We are going to buy things that make us look terrifying. Rezion, stop looking like you're at a funeral! Your husky is more excited than you are!"
Rezion's husky barked in agreement, while Kalyani just wiped her eyes. "I've never had more than five silver at once," she sniffled.
"Basics first," Riley commanded, trying to keep the herd together. "Then fashion."
"Fashion IS a basic!" Aria countered. "Sofia, back me up! Tell him that looking like a hobo is a stat debuff!"
Sofia giggled, her eyes sparkling. "Well, a little color matching wouldn't hurt, Riley. We do look a bit… mismatched."
They hit the armor shop like a localized hurricane. When the shopkeeper saw the mountain of silver, he started bowing so low his forehead nearly hit the counter. Ten minutes later, the party was decked out in Rare-tier gear. Aria was admiring her Stormweave, which let out little sparks every time she moved.
"Aria, stop shocking yourself," Hayes muttered, adjusting his massive new shield.
"I'm not shocking myself, I'm charging," she shot back. She then poked Riley's arm. "Your bow is mythical, isn't it? Try not to brag, Oh Great Archer."
"I'm not bragging," Riley whispered, glancing around nervously. "And shut up! I don't want people knowing what tier that is."
Luna chirped smugly from his arms, her silver scales catching the light. Lumi, floating above his shoulder, let out a rhythmic gold pulse.
"He's definitely bragging," Aria translated with a grin.
"TEAM COLORS!" Aria suddenly yelled, spotting the dye packs. "We need a theme! Hayes, if you suggest 'practical brown' I will scream."
"I was going to suggest grey," Hayes sighed. "It hides the dirt."
"BOO. BORING. DISCARDED," Aria chanted.
Riley looked at Luna, who was shimmering white-gold and soft forest green. "White, gold, and green," he suggested.
Aria let out a squeal that definitely cost someone their hearing. "YES. THE VIBE. THE AESTHETIC."
An hour later, they stepped back into the square. They didn't look like the 'misfit squad' anymore. They looked like an elite unit. The white and gold made them pop against the navy-blue sky, and the green accents made them look like they owned the forest they had just conquered.
"We look… actually professional," Rezion said, looking at his Frostline coat.
"We look like we're about to be accused of hacking again," Riley noted, seeing a group of players whispering and pointing.
"Let them whisper," Aria said, flipping her hair and flashing a smug grin at a group of Level 6 players. "Your tears sustain me! Buy our potions at the auction!"
"Aria, stop provoking the locals," Hayes groaned, tugging her toward the Storage Hall.
Riley checked his messages as they reached the vaults. Kipp's latest update made his smirk grow. 30 potions sold. 25 silver each.
"Start making more," Riley typed back. He looked at his team—his coordinated, well-geared, slightly-too-loud family.
"Alright, Cartel," Riley said. "Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow, the world wakes up to our prices."