The Verdant Merchant

Rowen didn't linger on the crowd. His first goal was clear. With nearly two hundred mana stones on him, carrying them around in a simple bag felt both heavy and unsafe.

He needed a storage ring.

Rowen's steps slowed as he spotted a large signboard ahead, painted in shimmering silver letters:

"Arcane Craft."

The shop was much bigger than anything in the lower district, its wide glass windows showing rows of glowing items and neatly arranged enchanted tools. The polished stone walls and carved pillars spoke of wealth, the kind only the upper town could flaunt so casually.

Of course, that made sense. Up here, luxury and wealth were common.

Rowen shifted the bag of mana stones on his shoulder. This was the kind of place where he could actually find a proper storage ring.

Shade padded close at his heels, eyes flicking toward the glass with a curious glint.

There were people coming and going from Arcane Craft, their robes and polished gear marking them as students, merchants, or adventurers with money to spend. The steady flow alone told Rowen this was a reputable shop, one trusted by many.

He tightened his grip on the bag of mana stones, then stepped through the open doorway.

Inside, the air was cool and faintly tinged with mana. Rows of enchanted goods glowed softly on glass counters: rings, bracelets, talismans, and storage pouches, each displayed with neat little tags listing their functions and prices. The floor gleamed from regular polishing, and attendants in uniform moved quickly between customers, answering questions and fetching items.

Compared to the plain stores of the lower town, this place felt almost like another world.

Shade slinked close by his leg, earning a few curious glances, but no one stopped them.

Rowen decided to browse on his own first. He moved slowly past the glass counters, eyes widening as he took in the rows of glowing trinkets. Rings that shimmered faintly with stored mana. Talismans etched with runes that pulsed like a heartbeat. Even small boxes labeled as self-sealing storage sat neatly in rows, each humming with faint enchantment.

He tried not to stare too much, but it was impossible. He had never seen so many artifacts up close before, not in his life.

Compared to the finely dressed customers drifting between counters, Rowen knew he stood out. His simple shirt and worn trousers marked him for what he was: a country shopkeeper, a border-town nobody. A few glances lingered on him, some curious, some dismissive, before sliding away again.

Shade padded ahead, tail flicking as if unbothered, while Rowen leaned closer to a display of rings.

As Rowen leaned a little too close to the glass, staring at a row of dull metal bands etched with faint runes, a shadow fell across the counter.

"Interested in storage rings, are we?"

Rowen straightened quickly. An attendant in a neatly pressed uniform stood there, smiling politely, but there was a faint curl at the corner of his lips, the kind reserved for someone who clearly didn't look like he belonged.

"These," the attendant said, tapping the glass with a gloved finger, "are our most basic storage models. Small capacity, simple binding, very reliable. A good choice for… beginners." His eyes flicked briefly over Rowen's worn shirt and scuffed boots before returning to the rings. "Nothing extravagant, of course, but useful enough if you're just tired of lugging bags around."

Rowen shifted his weight, the bag of mana stones on his shoulder suddenly feeling heavier than ever.

Rowen's eyes drifted past the plain, dull-banded rings and toward another row further along the case. These ones gleamed faintly with silver inlay, their runes more complex, the glow steadier. Just looking at them, he could tell they held more space.

The attendant followed his gaze, then gave a polite chuckle.

"Ah, those are our advanced storage rings. Much larger capacity, enough to store equipment, crates, or even small furniture. They're very popular with merchant caravans and certified top-level adventurers. But…" His smile tightened just a little. "They're also priced for such customers."

The way he said it made it clear: in his eyes, Rowen was neither.

Rowen kept his face neutral, though inside his chest tightened. He wasn't here to gawk; he needed something that would last, not just the cheapest thing in the store.

"I want to see those," Rowen said simply, pointing to the row of advanced rings.

For a heartbeat, the attendant hesitated, as if wondering whether this poorly dressed boy had wandered in by mistake. But then, with professional smoothness, he nodded and reached for the display key.

The attendant unlocked the case and carefully lifted one of the advanced rings, setting it on a velvet cloth atop the counter. The runes along its surface shimmered faintly as it touched the light.

"This model," the attendant explained smoothly, "is among our more practical higher-capacity rings. It can easily hold several crates' worth of goods without strain."

Rowen's eyes narrowed in interest. That was exactly what he wanted.

The attendant's smile sharpened just slightly as he added, "The price is one hundred and twenty low-grade mana stones."

Rowen froze.

A hundred and twenty. That was more than half of everything he had earned so far nearly two-thirds of his savings gone in a single purchase.

The attendant tilted his head, watching carefully, as though expecting Rowen to balk and leave.

Rowen's fingers tightened on the strap of his bag. One hundred and twenty. The number echoed in his head. It wasn't impossible he had one hundred and ninety-seven stones total, but spending so much in one go made his chest feel tight.

He hesitated, staring at the ring. The glow of the runes almost seemed to whisper that this was more than just a trinket. It was freedom from lugging bags, from worrying about storage space in the shop, and from looking like a bumpkin with his stones stuffed into a sack.

Shade brushed against his leg, tail flicking as if urging him forward.

Rowen took a slow breath. "I'll take it."

The attendant's brows lifted a fraction, surprise breaking through his polished mask before the professional smile returned. "Of course. An excellent choice, sir."

The attendant nodded. "Payment can be done online through your federal bank account or offline with stones directly."

Rowen hesitated, the pouch of stones still in his hand. "Online payment… how does that even work? And what is this federal bank you mentioned?"

The attendant looked at him, a bit surprised. "You've never used it? The Federal Bank is the central system. Everyone who awakens is given an account. It keeps your mana stones stored digitally; you deposit them at official branches or through certified merchants. Then you can pay anywhere without carrying the stones around."

Rowen frowned slightly. "So… the stones just sit there? In some vault?"

"That's right. Safe, recorded, and transferable with a thought if you have your badge linked. Offline works fine too, but most prefer online once they awaken. It's harder to lose and harder to steal."

Rowen absorbed the explanation, his fingers tightening on the pouch.

Rowen nodded slowly, filing the explanation away. The Federal Bank sounded convenient, but twenty-five low-grade mana stones just to start was more than he wanted to sink into something he didn't yet understand.

"I'll keep that in mind," he said after a pause. "Maybe next time. For now, I'll pay directly."

The attendant gave a small shrug, clearly unimpressed but not pushing the matter further. "As you wish."

Rowen reached into his pouch, counting out the stones one by one. It was a steep price, but as he slid them across the counter, he felt a flicker of satisfaction. A proper storage ring was his first real step forward.

After the stones were counted and taken, the attendant fetched a velvet-lined box and placed it on the counter. Inside lay a simple silver ring etched with faint runes.

"Channel a thread of mana into it," the attendant instructed, his tone casual but his eyes watching.

Rowen slipped the ring onto his right hand's finger. The metal was cool against his skin. Focusing, he pushed a wisp of mana into it. The runes lit faintly, and in his mind's eye, a small empty space appeared neat, compact, and ready to be filled. His own storage space.

The attendant's brows rose ever so slightly. Most boys from the lower district fumbled or hesitated, but this one didn't. And the fact that he had actually paid the full amount in low-grade stones… that was more than many could casually afford.

"Well," the attendant said, his voice smoothing as his earlier condescension faded, "Arcane Craft thanks you for your patronage. Should you require any upgrades or custom work in the future, you're welcome to return."

Rowen gave a small nod, sliding the ring onto his hand properly. It wasn't just a purchase; it felt like a step forward.

Rowen lifted the bag of low-grade mana stones onto the counter, then touched it lightly while focusing on the ring. In an instant, the bag vanished, pulled neatly into the pocket space inside the artifact.

He blinked, surprised at how smooth it was. No noise, no flash of light just gone. A thought later, and he could sense the bag resting inside the ring's invisible compartment, as if floating in a tidy, separate world.

"Efficient, isn't it?" the attendant remarked with a faint smile. His tone was more neutral now, no longer carrying the same dismissive edge.

Rowen flexed his hand, looking at the ring with quiet satisfaction. This was something he had only seen before, never imagined owning himself.