Manifold Mirror Mage

Rising from the depths in a spray of water, a rickety-looking boat burst prow-first out into the dungeon. It righted itself with a splash, creating waves that caused everyone on Jean's boat to hold onto the sides. The sole inhabitant of the boat was a wooden shack that looked like it couldn't be much bigger than an outhouse.

<The Dungeon Shop invites you inside.>

The door creaked open, and a lantern with grease-coated glass flicked to life above the door, casting orange lamplight out over the water.

"Oh dear." Chandrika said.

"Ooooh, a shop? That's not what I was expecting." Hatra said, beaming with glee. She started to move forward.

"Hold on a moment, please." Chandrika interrupted.

"Not a shop. THE Shop." Jean added.

"Say what?" Hatra said, skidding to a halt.

"I've never been, but I've heard stories. It's a shop that can appear in any dungeon… but it doesn't appear often. "

"It's certainly… a rare event. I've been a couple of times." Chandrika said.

"Well, that's kind of a letdown. It only spawned an entrance to a shop that everyone already knows about?" Hatra said.

"I've never heard of it." Sapphire said.

"Same here." Gio agreed.

"Oh… so it's still… special?" Hatra said, with some small amount of hope.

"It certainly is. Some of the things for sale in the shop are… miraculous, if you can afford them. I've seen things on display worth as much as my entire country." Chandrika said.

"Like… what?" Hatra asked.

"Information, mostly. Information is actually the main trade good of the Dungeon Shop. Most of the physical items inside are far too expensive to purchase."

"What information could possibly be worth the entirety of Ujjbala Sūrya?" Gio asked.

"For one, the location of the Glass Clocktower." Chandrika confidently answered.

The whole party stopped to guffaw at Chandrika.

"As in… the legendary lost dungeon of time magic? Really?" Sapphire asked.

"The very same. The Shopkeeper is… well, I should start explaining from the beginning. We should come up with a strategy before we go inside." Chandrika stated.

"We can go inside?!" Hatra asked, jumping for joy.

"Calm down! You're shaking the boat! But… yes, we should go inside. We should just do so with a plan so that we don't get taken advantage of. There's a certain… dance of negotiation that must be done if we want to get a good deal out of the Shopkeeper. I'm… also looking forward to the food court."

"THERE IS A FOOD COURT?" Gio screamed.

_____

Gio followed Chandrika into the decrepit shack. He waited until she disappeared into the darkness beyond before stepping after her. The groaning creak of waterlogged planks underfoot was the only audible sound as he proceeded inside.

Chandrika has been… instrumental in the success of this adventure so far. If we had just walked into this shop without her preparing us beforehand, we'd have given away our advantage entirely.

After a few paces, Gio saw Chandrika's silhouette walking forward ahead of him, lit from the front by a swaying chandelier. As the remainder of the group filled into the dingy space, Chandrika came to a stop before a disheveled circular wooden desk. Chandrika reached forward, politely ringing a small silver bell.

"Why, hello there." drawled a silky smooth voice.

A fully robed figure slowly rose up from behind the desk. A gauzy white veil concealed every identifiable feature, and there was a densely packed maroon script written over a cloth talisman hanging in front of their face. Gio could not identify the language of the script, which intrigued him.

"I greet thee, O Sage. Welcome back to this humble Shop, Young Miss Chandrika Chakraverti." The Shopkeeper hummed.

"And what a… humble shop it is." Chandrika curtly replied.

"Ah… indeed. This façade does not see many customers... Perhaps a change in scenery?"

The shopkeeper lifted a fold in their robes, and four slender arms slithered out, each covered in long white gloves. The hands each began twirling about and drawing snaking lines in the dust of the desk. The floorboards began to creak and shift. Awry planks hammered themselves down, and bent shelves righted themselves. A glossy coat of wax crept across the floor, and curtains fell from the ceiling. A window flung open, revealing a panorama of softly glowing freshwater asphodels.

"There we are. A more fitting entrance." The Shopkeeper said.

Chandrika nodded, but maintained an uncomfortable silence with the Shopkeeper. Gio tried his hardest to avoid looking around nervously.

The shopkeeper mimed an exaggerated cough.

"Don't you think you should introduce me to your… friends?" The Shopkeeper slyly hinted.

"Why certainly." Chandrika began, smiling.

She pointed to Jean. "This young man is a warrior with a great future ahead of him in the Ring Guard. He's brave, devoted to his training, and the best duelist in our class. He has important ties with nobility in the Gold Ring, and his political standing is likely second only to mine in this group." She said.

Although they had gone over the strategy before entering, Gio was still surprised at the complete shift in Chandrika's demeanor.

'Political standing', huh? She must be taking this seriously.

Chandrika turned to Sapphire. "This is a talented Alchemist with a drive for invention and a knack for herbology and horticulture. I foresee a highly profitable future for her in any number of careers. She is incredibly intelligent, and her insights have been a boon to us all."

Sapphire blushed, looking down at the ground.

"This," Chandrika said, turning to Hatra. "Is a promising young Thaumaturge. Though she is not a true mage, her mastery of her class has been inspiring to watch. She aims to become an Artificer through her own efforts, and I believe in her. Her combat effectiveness has been quite frankly somewhat frightening, and I would place her as the second deadliest of our number behind Jean in terms of raw firepower."

Hatra stood up just a bit straighter.

"And last but certainly not least…" She said, turning to Gio. "Dragonslayer. Planar traveler. A fierce academic, spellwright, and a close personal friend who has saved my life. He aims to be an Archmage, and I have no doubt in my mind that he will accomplish such. He is the mentee of one of the most powerful figures in the Ringed City, and is being watched closely by several powerful forces. His capabilities are shocking, and at times worrisome. He is quite an interesting person to know. " She finished.

That… is an incredibly generous description.

Gio uncomfortably shifted in his shoes, trying and failing to project great confidence.

"Quite the party." The Shopkeeper said.

"Indeed." Chandrika returned, hands folded behind her back in an impressive regal posture.

Another uncomfortable silence stretched across moments.

"Truly, your family is forged of iron and spite. Had I known that cheating the Weaver of Bangla out of a small boon would have as many far-reaching consequences as it has, I'd have given her thrice the amount she deserved." The shopkeeper sighed.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Oh? Why complain about the nature of this game, when you are the one who made the rules?" Chandrika said, beaming with a particularly prickly kind of delight that Gio was glad not to be the target of.

"I can see you've coached your friends about my usual habits… very well. Name your price, and I'll name mine." The Shopkeeper ordered.

"In exchange for the names of my companions, and your strange test… I firstly request meal vouchers for the lot of us."

"Done."

"Secondly, the Thaumaturge is the one who earned us passage to your 'Shop'. I want her to be compensated adequately… She gets information and advice on her class." Chandrika continued.

"Hmmm… More than reasonable. Done."

"Lastly… We each get a fair question." Chandrika finished.

"...And why should I agree to that?" The Shopkeeper drawled.

"Well, have you figured them out yet? Why don't you tell me what you've got so far." Chandrika prodded.

"The tall one is a Castallane, without a shadow of a doubt. He's got the same starry look in his eyes as every other Castallane that has walked across my storefront. Astral Mana, A posture that speaks of pre-military training… You also said he has a Future in the Ring-Guard, which is a dead giveaway. The son of Javier, most likely… What was the name… Jean-Claude, Correct?"

Jean looked surprised.

"The pretty Alchemist… with beautiful azure locks on her head. One family with a history of blue hair comes to mind, but she'd need to have plant magic to fit the bill. Oh wait! She does." The Shopkeeper joked.

Sapphire startled, eyes wide.

"Sorry to hear about your mother and father, Miss Sapphire Vandross. Your mother was once a favored customer of mine."

Sapphire looked back down at the ground, her expression shifting.

"But as for you two…" The Shopkeeper said, turning to Gio and Hatra.

"Silver hair is so common in Ataraxia… but then why would Ataraxians be so close to a [Sage] of Ujjbala Sūrya? No, based on your complexions, noses, and face shape, I'd say you are both of southern Ataraxian national identity… perhaps the islands off the coast? You're clearly related, cousins perhaps. The 'Dragonslayer' smells of Mirror mana, which is absolutely titillating… but I can't get a read on the Thaumaturge. I must confess that I don't think I have any idea who you two morsels are." The Shopkeeper rambled.

"So?" Chandrika asked.

"I am interested. I will buy their names at the agreed-upon price, with the usual rules. Very well sold, Miss Chakraverti." The Shopkeeper relented.

The Shopkeeper waved a gloved arm, and a shimmering wine-red curtain parted, revealing two comfortable-looking recliners facing each other, dimly lit by lidded lanterns in a private lounge beyond. The room was accented in hues of darkened wood and warm tones.

"My policy is this: one question of commensurate worth for each of you. If I cannot answer your question, you may ask another. If you ask for something that would be too valuable for me to tell you outright, you may barter with me for it. We shall start with Miss Chakraverti. Please, make yourselves comfortable."

_____

Gio was last to meet with the Shopkeeper, because of course he was. One by one, his companions exited the sound-blocking curtain, with dreamy or contemplative expressions after having some manner of burning question answered. Hatra was still in the room, and Gio could just make out her silhouette as she took notes, likely receiving whatever advice the Shopkeeper was giving about her class.

"GUUUURGLE" Said Gio's stomach.

"Dude." Jean joked.

"What? I can't help it!" Gio replied. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

Although there was no rule against discussing what they had asked the Shopkeeper, Gio hadn't pressed his companions for details about their conversations with the enigmatic being out of respect for their privacy. The problem was, Gio didn't know what to ask for himself.

There are just… too many things I could ask. What kind of things could the Shopkeeper answer, and also, what kind of questions would be unwise to ask?

Gio's mind roiled with possibilities. He could try to be wise and ask about their current situation. It would be helpful if the Shopkeeper could tell the team about what they were about to face deeper into the dungeon, but at the same time, was that a waste of a question? They were getting into the swing of combat as a team, and Gio was confident in their ability to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

But if not that, then what? What kind of information would the Shopkeeper give me for just giving them my name and answering a weird question?

Gio's train of thought was interrupted by Hatra coming out of the curtain.

"You're up, Gio" Hatra said, clearly swimming through a sea of thoughts.

Gio stood up from the strangely rigid waiting room chair, parting the thin maroon curtain and walking inside. He sat on the recliner, which seemed almost too inviting considering his anxious state. The robed Shopkeeper waited in a state of calm repose, leaning back into their wide-backed recliner amidst a small army of cushions.

"Greetings, Dragonslayer." The shopkeeper cooed, leaning in. "Now please tell me, what is your name?"

"My name is Giorgio deGloria. I am a [Student-Mirror Mage] and I am from the Copper Ring."

A proper introduction. Don't give too many details away, but enough to truly and thoroughly state my identity. Just like Chandrika instructed.

"How thoroughly wonderful to meet you. Mister deGloria. It seems my theory about you and Miss Hatra being cousins might be correct. Do you know what I'm about to ask you?" The Shopkeeper asked.

"I believe so." Gio answered.

The Shopkeeper removed the talisman covering their face, and drew down the hood of their veil.

"What do I look like to you?" The Shopkeeper asked.

Gio studied the Shopkeeper.

"You're a handsome man, probably about… 40 years old? You've got angular symmetrical tattoos that start under your eyes and trail to your chin, and you have the bluest eyes I've ever seen." Gio described.

"Very Interesting." The Shopkeeper replied.

Chandrika had described the face under the veil as belonging to a woman with snake-like eyes and a wide, snarling mouth of fangs. Everyone saw something different, but nobody understood why the shopkeeper liked to ask this particular question.

The Shopkeeper redonned the veil and talisman. "Now… what would you like to ask me?"

"I… don't know." Gio admitted.

"How very strange. Most ask me three or four questions that I cannot answer before landing on an unsatisfying question that they don't truly care about, like your friend Jean."

"I mean… I figured that we could just skip that part. I doubt you could answer me if I asked you a question about what is inside the Scriptorium, or what the depths of the Crystal Ring were like… or why the spirits need me to cast a domain in my first year at school-"

"I could answer that one." The Shopkeeper interrupted.

"And I could afford it?" Gio asked.

"Yes. It's less of a satisfying answer than you'd want, I think."

Gio thought for a moment.

Do I want to know? Would it make any difference?

"I don't think I want to spend my one question on that." Gio stated.

"Oh? Why bring it up if you do not care?"

"I… do care, to some extent. It's just that it wouldn't change anything. I'm sure that there's some arcane reasoning for the spirits to require young mages to demonstrate their power to influence the world around them and take possession of their surroundings. Honestly, if the Crystal Ring Academy were able to just supply us with a domain spell to use, I doubt I'd even have much of an issue with the challenge. But the nobility-"

"Nobility? Do you think that the nobility is the only reason that the school will not provide you with spellforms?"

Gio stopped talking.

Surely, the nobility was the reason that someone couldn't just hand him a domain spell to use for the midterm examination.

Right?

"Is… there some other reason?" Gio asked.

"Is that your question?"

Gio bit his lip.

Why? Why else would there be such a stupid rule? Suppressing the free flow of magic throughout society only benefits the wealthy and powerful. It reeks of politics and power-grabs

But again, Gio came to the same conclusion. What would knowing do for him?

Would knowing the reason that I'm facing this problem help me solve it? If the issue is something larger and more complicated, would it comfort me, or just overwhelm me? If I find out, what then?

"There it is. The face of someone trying to figure out what the answers to their questions are worth to them." The Shopkeeper preened.

Gio flashed back to the image of Saint Baphelus, in all of his skeletal glory, burning through the fabric of his memory to talk to his mentee.

"Sometimes, knowledge has a steep price. Remember that, Giorgio." The lich had said.

"No." Gio confidently stated. "That is not my question."

"Very good. Then I ask again; If that is not your question, what is?"

Gio contemplated in quiet for a moment.

You know what? I am capable of answering a lot of my own questions. I'm a Seeker of knowledge, though exactly what that is isn't absolutely clear to me. I don't desperately need anything answered right now. I'm working through my magic at my own pace, and I've got a mentor whom I trust. I am confident in my abilities. Though the mysteries of the universe are beyond my reach, I will explore them, on my own timeframe. I do have a good question. A simple question, but a good one. Something that I won't regret asking.

Gio fished out something from his oversized backpack. He held it aloft, gingerly taking it by the bindings.

"Why did the spirits give me bug eggs for a reward?"