42 - An Elf And A Merchant

The streets of Tierra glimmered with an almost celestial glow.

High above the cavernous city, embedded within the vast ceiling of stone and crystal, the radiant core of the artificial sun-crystal shone brighter than it had earlier that morning.

Its golden-white light poured down through the tiers of terraces and streets, chasing away the cool hues of night that lingered in the deeper caverns.

Luna paused at the edge of a bridge that arched between two bustling platforms of the city, her silver-white hair catching the brilliance that fell from above.

The light of the artificial sun-crystal had grown stronger, sharper, as if mimicking the sun’s climb through the real sky far beyond the mountain. She tilted her head, her violet eyes narrowing with quiet curiosity.

“Does it… follow the day cycle?” she murmured under her breath.

She remembered how, last night, the luminescence had dimmed to a softer, bluish glow—an imitation of moonlight that blanketed Tierra in calm.

The thought that the entire kingdom had created something akin to an artificial sun and moon made a small thrill run through her chest.

The ingenuity of it fascinated her.

Her thoughts hummed as she began walking again, the low hum of voices and clinking footsteps filling the grand cavern avenues.

Merchants called from their stalls, children ran across the walkways, and the air carried the scent of roasted nuts and freshly forged metal.

Luna carried a small paper-wrapped sweet in her hand, the dwarven treat she had bought earlier from Atlas’s shop.

The caramelized coating cracked lightly under her teeth as she took a bite, savoring its warm, nutty taste. Her steps slowed, her gaze wandering from one unfamiliar shop to the next.

It was only her second time walking through Tierra’s streets, the city still felt new to her—alive in a way that stirred both wonder and curiosity.

The air carried the mingled scent of forgefire and spice, the rhythmic clatter of dwarven craft echoing through the stone corridors.

She found herself lingering, quietly drawn in by the kingdom’s light and sound, as though the mountain itself breathed with life.

She rounded a corner, her gaze catching on a familiar glint of crystal light reflected off glass windows—then froze.

A pair of voices—sharp, rising with frustration—broke through the din of the street.

“Lara, please, calm down,” a soft, steady voice urged.

“How can I be calm, Faye?” another voice snapped. “Everything’s ruined!”

Luna turned her head slightly.

A few paces away, near a jeweler’s stall, two women stood in heated conversation.

One was human, with auburn hair tied in a neat braid that now looked slightly undone from her agitation.

Her fine traveling cloak and merchant’s satchel marked her as someone of wealth—or at least someone who wanted to appear as such.

The other, standing beside her, was an elf with golden eyes and hair the color of autumn leaves, her composure steady despite her friend’s outburst.

Curious, Luna slowed her steps and wandered toward a nearby stall, pretending to inspect a rack of polished trinkets.

She placed another piece of sweet between her lips and listened.

“We were supposed to finalize the trade this morning!” the auburn-haired woman—Lara—continued, her tone edging toward panic. “I had the contracts ready, the documents sealed. Father trusted me with this one, Faye. And now—”

Faye exhaled softly. “The merchant explained, didn’t he? The mana ores were requisitioned by Tierra’s officials. You can’t blame him for obeying royal orders. The frontlines need the material.”

“I know that,” Lara said sharply, then lowered her voice as people began glancing their way. “I know how important the war effort is. But—this was my first commission. My first chance to prove myself. How am I supposed to tell Father I failed before I even began?”

Her voice trembled.

Faye’s expression softened. “He’ll understand. It wasn’t your fault.”

Lara shook her head violently. “No, he won’t. You don’t know him like I do. He gave me this chance because he believed I could handle it.” She pressed her palms against her face. “And I couldn’t even get a few crates of mana ore.”

Faye’s golden eyes flicked around, scanning the small crowd that had begun to glance their way.

She sighed and rested a gentle hand on Lara’s shoulder, her tone calm but firm. “Lara, you’re drawing attention. Breathe.”

But Lara didn’t hear her. “He’ll be furious,” she muttered, pacing. “We even paid the deposit, and now the ores are gone. Sold off to the officials for weapons—”

Her words stilled as emotion caught in her throat.

Luna tilted her head slightly, her curiosity deepening.

Mana ores…

She knows of them—dense crystalline materials that naturally absorbed ambient mana, used in weapon-forging and high-level enchantments. Rare, valuable, and in times of war, almost priceless.

She glanced down at her satchel, remembering the faint weight of what she carried there. Mana stones—their refined counterparts, born not from the earth but from the condensed essence within magical creatures.

Different origins. Similar uses.

Her mind began to wander as she watched the two women.

Faye rubbed Lara’s back with quiet patience, her demeanor that of someone far older than she looked.

Luna recognized that calm restraint—it was the kind that came from centuries of watching people panic over fleeting troubles.

“I know it’s difficult,” Faye said softly. “But you were compensated, weren’t you? The merchant didn’t cheat you.”

“That’s not the point!” Lara shot back. “We had a deal. He gave his word. And then—because some official waves a seal, he sells it out from under us? Even if it’s for the war, how am I supposed to explain this? Father doesn’t care about excuses. He cares about results.”

Faye let out a slow sigh. She clearly knew that arguing would be useless.

Luna, meanwhile, found herself oddly sympathetic. She understood the dread of disappointing someone who trusted you—of failing expectations you didn’t want but couldn’t escape.

For a moment, she hesitated. She didn’t know these two.

Normally, she would’ve turned away, not knowing how to approach them. But she could see the faint tremor in Lara’s shoulders, the quiet distress that even Faye’s calm couldn’t soothe.

She reached into her satchel and brushed her fingers over the small pouch nestled within. The faint hum of the mana stones pulsed against her fingertips—a gentle, dormant thrum of energy.

She had gathered them long ago, back when she’d frozen the bandit outpost in a forest. Among the stolen goods were those glittering stones, shimmering faintly beneath frost.

Now, as she listened to the two women, a thought stirred in her.

If mana ores were scarce, then perhaps the stones she carried could help. They weren’t the same—but their energy, their essence, wasn’t so different.

Her curiosity settled into quiet resolve.

Straightening, she brushed a few crumbs from her fingers, tucked the sweet’s wrapper into her satchel, and began to walk toward them.

Faye noticed first. Her head tilted slightly, golden eyes narrowing as the small figure approached.

At first, she dismissed the sight—a young girl, her steps light, expression calm, dressed in traveling clothes a bit too fine for a street urchin.

But when the girl didn’t stop walking, even as she came close enough to speak, Faye’s hand subtly shifted toward the dagger strapped at her thigh, more instinct than threat.

Then the girl spoke.

“Excuse me,” Luna said, her tone soft but clear. “I couldn’t help but overhear. You were talking about mana ores.”

Lara blinked, startled, while Faye’s posture stiffened in polite caution.

Faye recovered first, her voice smooth. “You were listening?”

Luna gave a small, apologetic smile. “Not on purpose. You were just… loud.”

Lara flushed crimson. “Oh gods—were we really that—?”

“Lara,” Faye murmured warningly.

Luna tilted her head slightly. “Why do you need the ores?”

Faye studied her for a moment, trying to decide how much to say. There was something odd about the girl—her eyes were calm, too calm, and her aura, faint though it was, carried a depth that pricked faintly at Faye’s senses.

“It’s for a trade,” Faye said finally. “Her family was supposed to procure a shipment for a noble in the Kingdom of Nero.”

“The Kingdom of Nero?” Luna repeated, her curiosity piqued. “I haven’t heard about that one.”

Faye hesitated, glancing at Lara, who now looked exhausted rather than angry. The human woman waved a hand weakly. “Just tell her. It’s not like it matters now.”

Faye sighed, then looked back at Luna. “Perhaps we should move somewhere quieter. We’ve already caused enough of a scene.”

The elf placed a gentle hand on Lara’s shoulder and guided her away from the main street. Luna followed, her light steps soundless on the stone.

They stopped at a small café tucked beside a craftsman’s guildhall, where the warm aroma of brewed tea and baked bread lingered in the air. The three of them found a table by the window.

When the server brought their drinks—steaming cups of herbal tea and cocoa and a plate of pastries—Luna thanked them softly before turning back to Faye with bright eyes.

“So,” she said, leaning forward slightly, “what’s the Kingdom of Nero like?”

Faye blinked, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. “You’re quite curious, aren’t you?”

Luna nodded. “I like learning about new places.”

The elf’s gaze softened, the tension easing from her shoulders.

“Very well,” she said, resting her chin on one hand. “Three hundred years ago, a woman from the eastern provinces rose to power. She united the coastal cities and declared them a sovereign realm. That woman became the first queen of the Kingdom of Nero. She named it after an old word meaning deep blue—a tribute to the sea she loved.”

As Faye spoke, her voice took on a gentle rhythm, her words weaving an image that filled Luna’s mind.

“She was a visionary,” Faye continued. “Before her reign, the western coasts were a collection of rival ports. Fishermen, traders, and sailors—all divided by small feuds and constant raids. But she saw what they could become. Under her rule, the cities banded together, their fleets multiplied, and their harbors turned into great centers of trade.”

Luna’s eyes sparkled with fascination. “A kingdom by the sea…”

Faye nodded. “The ocean gives Nero its wealth—pearls, coral, rare minerals from beneath the waves. Its shipwrights are unmatched, and their sails are said to gleam like silver when they catch the dawn light.”

“It sounds beautiful,” Luna said softly.

“It is,” Faye agreed. “But also fragile. The sea that gives them life also brings danger. Pirates, storms, sea beasts… and lately, the same darkness that spreads across the world.” Her tone grew quieter. “The demon worshippers have begun to stir along the coasts. That’s why Nero’s nobles have been gathering materials to strengthen their defenses. The mana ores were meant for barrier wards to protect their shores—halting the advance of the demon worshippers.”

Luna’s brows knitted slightly. “So both kingdoms are fighting together.”

“Yes,” Faye said simply. “It’s the same war. The same enemy.”

Across the table, Lara stirred, her face pale but her voice steadying. “And now I’ve failed to deliver what they need,” she murmured bitterly. “We were supposed to help protect people… and I couldn’t even complete the first step.”

Faye’s hand came to rest gently atop hers. “You couldn’t have predicted this. The ores were taken by official order. You did what you could.”

Lara only gave a weary sigh, staring down at her untouched tea.

Luna glanced between them, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her cup. For a moment, silence settled over their table, broken only by the soft clink of cups and the quiet murmur of the café.

Then, with a small, hesitant voice, Luna spoke.

“I might be able to help.”

Both women looked up.

Luna reached for her satchel and drew out a small pouch. She untied the string and tipped it slightly, revealing several faintly glowing crystals within—pale blue, each one humming softly with latent energy.

“They’re not mana ores,” she said. “But mana stones.”

The faint light of the crystals reflected in Faye’s golden eyes, and even Lara, despite her despondence, leaned closer in astonishment.

The air between them shifted—curiosity, disbelief, and the faint stirrings of hope mingling in the quiet glow.

For a long moment, the only sound was the soft hum of the mana stones resting in Luna’s palm.

The faint azure glow pulsed rhythmically, alive with gentle energy that bathed the table in ghostly light.

Faye’s golden eyes narrowed, their reflection catching every subtle glint from the stones. Lara, still hunched from defeat a moment ago, straightened suddenly as though pulled forward by some invisible thread of hope.

“Are those really—” Lara’s voice faltered, uncertain whether to trust her eyes.

“Mana stones,” Faye finished quietly.

Her tone held both surprise and careful restraint. Slowly, she leaned closer, her movements measured, studying the crystals as though they might dissolve if she breathed too hard. “You’re certain?”

Luna nodded. “Mm. I’ve had them for some time now.”

“Where did you find them?” Faye asked, curiosity threading through her voice.

Luna hesitated for only a second—a pause so brief it might have gone unnoticed. The truth came to her lips first, in a forest, from the bandits she’d froze there. But she bit the words back.

People tended to find it strange—impossible, even—that someone like her, small and unassuming, could bring down an outpost of bandits.

Instead, she smiled faintly, her tone even and untroubled. “I found them during my travels. In some old ruins,” she said, letting her eyes wander toward the light above them as if recalling distant days. “I didn’t know what they were at first, but they seemed… alive. So I kept them.”

It wasn’t a lie. Not entirely. The bandit outpost she’d frozen had, indeed, become a remnant, well not quite similar to an ancient ruin—but still it's buried within ice and forgotten in cold.

Faye regarded her with quiet scrutiny, but said nothing. Her instincts, honed by years of adventuring and a lifespan far longer than most humans’, told her there was more to the story. Still, she didn’t press.

Instead, she exhaled slowly, the faintest curve forming on her lips. “You’re quite resourceful for someone your age.”

Luna tilted her head, the movement small, curious. “Is that strange?”

“For most people? Yes,” Faye said, leaning back slightly, amusement glimmering behind her calm exterior. “Ruins aren’t exactly playgrounds. They tend to be… less than friendly to explorers, especially young ones.”

Luna’s lips quirked into a subtle smile. “I was careful.”

That earned her a quiet chuckle from the elf. Lara, meanwhile, stared between them, still caught between disbelief and the faint glimmer of possibility.

“Wait,” Lara said, finding her voice again. “Could these actually be a substitute for mana ores?”

Faye didn’t answer immediately. She reached for one of the stones, her long fingers hovering just above the surface. The hum of magic tickled her skin, delicate yet potent. She finally lifted one, holding it up to the light that spilled through the café’s window.

The crystal refracted the golden sunlight into a dance of blue and white.

“It’s not quite the same,” Faye murmured. “Mana ores are forged by the earth’s slow breathing—deep reservoirs of condensed energy born under pressure and time. Mana stones, though, are mana in its rawest form, often harvested from living or magical sources. They’re purer, but also unstable when mishandled.”

She turned the stone over in her palm. “Still… if refined correctly, they can serve the same purpose. Perhaps even better, depending on their composition.”

Lara blinked, her mouth falling open. “You mean—these could really replace the ores?”

“In theory,” Faye said. “Though the refinement process would be different. You’d need a craftsman familiar with both materials.”

Lara stared down at the stones again, wonder and relief beginning to bloom behind her exhaustion. “If this works…” she whispered. “If I could deliver these instead, Father wouldn’t have to cancel the contract.”

Her voice trembled—not with fear this time, but with hope.

But just as quickly as it came, doubt flickered in her eyes. “No,” she said softly. “No, it’s impossible. We don’t even know if they’ll function properly. And the officials will be skeptical—they’ll want proof of potency, certification…” She pressed her fingers against her temple. “Without a proper appraisal, these are just pretty stones.”

“They’re more than that,” Faye said, her voice firm but calm. “We can have them appraised. There’s a guild outpost nearby—the Enchanters’ Division. If the stones are genuine, they’ll confirm it.”

Lara looked at her friend uncertainly. “And if they’re not?”

Faye’s golden eyes softened. “Then you’ll still have tried. And that’s more than giving up.”

Luna watched them quietly, her small fingers brushing over the pouch. There was no greed in her gesture, no sign that she offered them expecting payment. It was simple, genuine—an act of someone who couldn’t ignore another’s despair.

Lara hesitated, glancing at her again. “You’d really part with these?”

Luna blinked. “If they help you, then… yes.”

“Just like that?”

Luna thought for a moment before answering. “I don’t need them. And it sounds like you do.”

The honesty in her tone caught both women off guard. There was no trace of ulterior motive, no expectation of reward. Just quiet, matter-of-fact kindness.

Faye studied her for a long moment, then smiled faintly, something warm flickering in her eyes. “You remind me of someone,” she said softly.

Luna tilted her head. “Who?”

Faye shook her head. “An old friend. Someone who used to help people simply because she could.”

Lara let out a shaky laugh, wiping at her eyes. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you—thank you so much.”

Luna smiled, the expression small but genuine. “You’re welcome.”

For a while, the three of them sat in companionable silence. The café had grown busier, the air filled with chatter and the scent of baked bread. Outside, the artificial sun-crystal continued to shine, its rays spilling down into the city’s heart like threads of liquid gold.

Luna leaned back slightly, her gaze drifting toward the ceiling far above. “It’s strange,” she murmured.

Faye glanced at her. “What is?”

“This place,” Luna said softly. “A kingdom under the mountain… with a sun that never truly sets. It’s beautiful, but it also feels… heavy. Like the air carries memories.”

Faye followed her gaze upward, nodding. “You’re not wrong. Tierra’s light may be bright, but it was born out of necessity, not peace. Every glow you see is a promise—that the darkness outside won’t reach us here.”

“The war…” Luna said quietly.

“Yes,” Faye replied. “Even here, beneath the mountain, its shadow lingers.”

Lara exhaled slowly, her hands wrapped around her teacup for warmth. “I never realized how much the war changes everything. Even simple trades become… lifelines.”

Her voice faltered again, but this time, she didn’t sound afraid—just thoughtful.

Luna looked between them both. “Do you think the war will end soon?”

Faye’s answer came after a long silence. “Wars like this rarely end quickly. But… as long as there are people who still care, who still choose to build instead of destroy, there’s hope.”

Luna’s lips curved into a small smile. “Then maybe that’s enough.”

Faye returned the smile. “Maybe it is.”

They finished their tea quietly, the conversation easing into lighter tones. Lara, for the first time since Luna had seen her, laughed—softly, awkwardly, but sincerely.

When they finally rose to leave, Lara turned to Luna, her expression earnest. “I don’t know how to repay you, but if this works, I’ll make sure you’re compensated properly.”

Luna shook her head gently. “You don’t have to. Just make good use of them.”

Faye reached into her cloak and retrieved a small, silver token etched with intricate patterns. She placed it on the table before Luna.

“Take this,” she said. “It’s a guild emblem. If you ever find yourself needing assistance—adventurers, escorts, or just information—show this to any guild outpost. They’ll help you.”

Luna blinked at it, then looked up at her. “You don’t have to—”

“I insist,” Faye interrupted gently. “Consider it a promise. If these stones truly help Lara’s trade, I owe you at least that much.”

Luna studied the emblem with curiosity for a moment, before nodding slowly. “All right.”

As they stepped outside, the city’s golden light bathed them once again. The hum of the artificial sun-crystal above filled the air with soft warmth.

Lara looked brighter now, her steps lighter as she clutched the pouch of mana stones carefully to her chest.

“Thank you again,” she said, turning to Luna.

Luna smiled. “You’re welcome. I hope everything goes well.”

Faye inclined her head, her golden hair catching the light. “If you’re staying in Tierra for a while, perhaps we’ll meet again.”

“Maybe,” Luna said softly.

The two women departed down the bustling street, their voices fading into the crowd.

Luna stood there for a moment, watching them go. Then she turned her gaze upward once more—toward the artificial sun burning high within the cavern ceiling. Its light gleamed off the white stone walls, scattering through glass and crystal until it felt almost alive.

She wondered how long that light could last.

And, quietly, beneath the hum of the city, she made a note to herself, to visit the Kingdom of Nero someday—to see the deep blue sea that inspired its name.

A faint breeze swept through the street, carrying with it the scent of metal, spice, and distant forges.

Luna smiled to herself and began walking once more, her steps light against the stone, her mind already reaching toward her next adventure.