"Welcome, sir, to our shop."
The attendant greeted warmly.
The customer who had just entered wore a black cloak, his face hidden behind a mask.
In his hand, he carried a long staff, the gloved fingers concealing his grip.
On modern Earth, such a suspicious figure would have triggered alarms immediately. But here, such an appearance only heightened the aura of mystery—a hallmark of Mages, the primary clientele of this store.
This was one of the largest magical item shops in the city.
Attendant: "What kind of item are you seeking?"
From behind the mask, the Mage's voice rasped, sounding aged:
"Do you sell garments that can adjust their size to fit the wearer?"
Attendant: "Yes, please follow me."
She presented several such outfits.
Masked Mage: "The enhancements are too weak. Do you have anything stronger, perhaps something with the protection of armor?"
Attendant: "There are only a few such items. Please wait."
Another clerk brought out three more expensive garments:
- A scarf imbued with Wind magic, able to deflect arrows and ordinary attacks.
- A leather armor reinforced with Iron magic, light yet as sturdy as true metal.
- A blue Mage's robe infused with Water magic, slightly boosting spiritual energy recovery and capable of casting a minor healing spell.
Tris—disguised as the masked, elderly Mage—could not hide his disappointment.
All three items sounded decent, but none were things he truly needed. Even if Rin were to use them, their effects would not be significant.
For example, the first item could only defend against ordinary attacks that did not carry spiritual energy. Such a thing was completely useless at the level of combat Tris usually faced. As for Rin, it might help her at her current stage, but given the speed of her progress, it would soon become redundant.
As for the second item, its defensive ability was even lower than the leather armor that Tris and Rin already wore. With only the knowledge of magical puppetry he had learned in the village, Tris could already enhance weapons and armor to a certain degree. In addition, with the Space magic he had secretly acquired from dreams, Tris was already capable of turning even the most ordinary clothing into garments with defenses stronger than true metal armor
Regarding the third item, its ability to accelerate the recovery of spiritual energy was quite valuable. However, Tris worried that it would overlap with the combat technique he already knew, which also sped up spiritual energy recovery.
In addition, the robe was rather cumbersome, making it unsuitable for the close‑combat style Tris often used. It could only be worn when he was in disguise, as now, or perhaps during rest after a battle.
For all these reasons, spending a large sum of money just to buy the robe would be an unnecessary waste.
Tris: "Do you have garments with stronger enhancements?"
Attendant: "Regrettably, sir, these are the finest adjustable‑size garments we have. If you are willing to consider fixed‑size clothing, we have many with far greater defenses. Would you like to see them?"
Tris: "Never mind. Show me some auxiliary magical items instead."
Attendant: "This way, please."
Tris purchased a variety of magic potions and simple charms—healing, recovery, insect repellents, smoke bombs, fragrances, cleansers, dyes, and more. Buying such a large assortment cost him over a hundred gold.
After completing a purchase, the attendant's attitude seemed even more cheerful and enthusiastic. She kept introducing Tris to many other magical items available in the shop. Unfortunately, none of them truly caught his eye or were worth spending money on
Tris: "Does your shop sell 'Ice Stones'?"
Attendant: "I'm sorry, sir. We haven't been able to acquire any this year."
Tris: "That is unfortunate."
'Ice Stones' were rare materials that emitted cold for long periods, often used to preserve food. Tris wanted one to craft a miniature refrigerator.
Of course, if one had Ice magic, it would be entirely possible to create the same effect. Unfortunately, Tris had not yet been able to find any book that taught this type of magic.
He had even tried using Space magic to slow the movement of atoms in order to produce a freezing effect, but the attempt failed because the operation was far too delicate and complex.
'Winter has come. Perhaps I can harvest 'Ice Stones' myself rather than buy them,' he thought.
At that moment, the attendant asked:
"Sir, have you heard about the upcoming auction?"
Tris: "I've only just arrived here, so I haven't. Could you tell me more?"
Attendant: "In two weeks, there will be a public auction featuring many items, including magical ones. I thought you might be interested."
Tris: "Indeed, I am."
Attendant: "Here are the details."
She handed him a paper. Reading it, Tris nodded with satisfaction and thanked her before leaving.
Attendant: "We look forward to your next visit."
She bid farewell with professional courtesy.
And then, after the masked customer had left, the shop received a second visitor that afternoon.
The one who stepped inside was a young girl dressed in a cloak as white as silk.
Though hooded, her angelic face shone through, radiating the aura of a noble lady. Her beauty was so striking that men and women alike were captivated at first glance.
Her hair was uniquely divided into two halves—black and white—symmetrically cut with elegant precision, unforgettable to anyone who saw it.
Unfortunately, the young girl seemed to be blind. She kept her eyes tightly shut and never opened them even once.
'If only we could see that face with bright, living eyes—it would be breathtaking,' thought the attendant and other clerks, all sharing the same wistful sentiment.