Chapter 17 [Shop | Kyle]

Kyle looked on with interest as his Grimoire flipped to the communication page and began to pen in a veritable wall of text. While waiting for Iroh to finish, he watched the little Slime burrow itself into one of the piles before coming back out with an old bicycle horn inside it. He felt… uneasy. It wasn’t the Slime or the cave that had him feeling off, however. It was Iroh…

Ain’t even been a day an’ it feels somethin’ awful not to have Iroh floatin’ around. Can’t say I like it. Feels like leavin’ the house knowin’ I done forgot somethin’. Nah… it’s worse’n that. More like somethin’s missin’ that’s s’posed to be there. Like shavin’ my beard an’ tryin’ to get used to it again.

He rubbed his hand across his upper cheek and felt the prickly growth that had built up over the last couple of days. It was hard to feel through the thick layer of filth that covered his fingers, but there was no mistaking it.

Speakin’ o’ shavin’, today was Monday, won’t it? End o’ the world getting’ in the way o’ my routine. Damned stubble feels somethin’ awful… Ha. Monday. Reckon’ this gives a new meanin’ to it bein’ the worst day o’ the week.

His musings went on until he noticed the paragraph his Grimoire had been penning was finished. After glancing back at his family to make sure they were fine, he turned to the page and began to read.

[Welcome, Host, to the Tier 1 Domain Shop, Unnamed.]

[I have everything the budding adventurer could possibly need. Camping gear for your nights out? A sharp stick to skewer your enemies? A steaming, gourmet Hot Pocket to keep your taste buds happy? Perhaps you have a hot date? I’ve got blankets, wine, and yes… I even have condoms. Whatever it is, I’ve got your back, traveler! As this is the first time that this location has been accessed, I’ve included a basic information packet free of charge!]

Kyle’s eye twitched slightly as he read the brief introduction. The hell is this? Reads like a pamphlet from a car lot. This here can’t be the System’s doin’.

[Basic Shop Information Packet]

[To interact with the Domain Shop’s Patron, the Host must insert their Grimoire into the Shop’s drive. Once connected, the Host’s Grimoire will form a temporary link with the Shop’s Patron and will translate any and all communications between the Patron and Host. The Patron can answer most questions about their own shop or shops in general. Shop Patrons, prices, and access may vary between Domains. Hosts may direct their queries and wishes though their Grimoires through voice, thought, or will.]

Alright… He investigated the cluttered space and looked for some door or passage. Based on the introduction, he half expected he’d missed a glass room with a shady businessman staring through its blinds. Uhh… so who’s the Patron o’ this fine establishment?

[A Humanoid with manners. Now there’s something you don’t see every day. Still an odd question. You’ve been watching me since you arrived.]

“I been watchin’…” Kyle’s head snapped up and he quickly found the Slime that had been toiling away in the stone room. It was sitting still, and when his eyes stopped on it, the creature shuddered, and a thin tendril stretched from its membrane… and waved. Taken aback, Kyle blinked. The tendril snapped back into place and the Slime went about its business. “The Slime..?”

[Righto. Though, I’m not a Slime, per se. Think of the different Patrons like you think of your Grimoire. We are similar entities with dissimilar functions. Now, enough of that. The sooner you get to spending, the sooner I can get this mess sorted out.]

“I see…” He mulled it over, then muttered, “More advanced than anythin’ Humans’ve made up to this point an’ yer in books an’ Slimes..? Whatever aliens are responsible fer all o’ this, they coulda done better.”

[You said it. Now, what is it you’re after? Just say browse, shirts, boots, armor, or the like to pull up a list.]

“Okay… browse,” he replied. Then after a second, he added, “Price low to high.”

[Name | Tier | Stage | Descriptor | Cost]

[Water | 0 | 1 | Provisions | 5]

[Bread | 0 | 1 | Provisions | 5]

[Cloth Strip | 0 | 1 | Component | 10]

[Torn Rags | 0 | 1 | Component | 10]

[Small Stone | 0 | 1 | Component | 10]

[Shaved Bark | 0 | 1 | Component | 10]

Kyle stopped reading when he saw that the next several lines contained more basic Components and focused on the first of the two Provisions. The other lines vanished, and the information for the Water took their place.

[Name | Water]

[Tier | 0]

[Stage | 1]

[Description | Basic liquid vital for the survival of most Races. Purchase requires a container that can hold at least eight ounces.]

[Cost | 5]

“Look at that.” Kyle heaved a sigh of relief. He’d been worried that they’d have to venture to the river to find water, and with the distance being ten times farther… it would have been a struggle. “Yer usin’ Cores as currency, right?”

[Essence, which can be found in Cores. Cores can be exchanged for currency which will be accepted at all Domain Shops across this greater world. The current exchange rate is 1 Essence for 1 Minor Ethos. Ethos can be broken down into four categories: Minor, Lesser, Greater, and Prime. You currently have 14,846 Essence stored in the form of Cores. Do you wish to exchange your Cores?]

“Iroh, what’s my count after takin’ out Leah’s?”

[8,478]

Kyle scratched his beard. “I reckon I’ll swap five thousand of ‘em an’ save the rest.”

A circle to the right of his Grimoire began to glow, and five small coins shimmered into existence. They glowed slightly, much like the patterns running along the walls and counter. He picked one up to examine it. It was about the size of a half-dollar, and like the body of the Slime inside the shop, it was a translucent whitish color. Both sides featured an image of a Slime with a crown on its head.

After examining the coin, he unzipped his Sqwallet to start digging out Cores, but found that there was no need. When he reached his hand in and pictured the massive pile where the Cores were stacked, he found that its size had reduced drastically.

Convenient. He closed the absurd handbag and returned to his book, leaving the five coins on the table.

“Show me what ya got fer holdin’ liquid.” Kyle watched as a long and unorganized list spanning the length of the page phased into existence. The containers listed ranged from small bottles to hundred-gallon tanks. His eyes bulged at some of the costs, and he shook his head. “Too much. No need fer all the different types o’ bottles an’ jugs. Just gimme one o’ each Stage or somethin’. Nothin’ out o’ the way. Keep it under five hunnerd Ethos.”

[Name | Tier | Stage | Descriptor | Cost]

[Clay Bowl | 0 | 1 | Gear | 100]

[Crude Jug | 0 | 2 | Gear | 200]

[Simple Bottle | 0 | 3 | Gear | 300]

[Metal Thermos | 0 | 4 | Gear | 400]

[Large Canteen | 0 | 5 | Gear | 500]

Kyle sucked in a breath when he looked at the prices. When he’d seen the costs of the Components, he thought they’d accumulated a decent amount of wealth. Now he realized just how wrong he’d been. He focused on the Canteen until its information materialized.

[Name | Large Canteen]

[Tier | 0]

[Stage | 5]

[Description | A simple canteen made for holding liquid. Though it is poor at maintaining temperature, liquids stored in this container will remain fresh longer. Holds 64 ounces.]

[Cost | 500]

“So… a normal canteen fer five hunnerd Ethos…” He frowned. “An’ here I was hopin’ we could get some clothes an’ weapons. I hate to even ask, but I’d like to see a Tier One, Stage One container.”

[Name | Graham’s Favorite Yeti]

[Tier | 1]

[Stage | 1]

[Description | A Yeti Rambler given to Graham for Christmas. Liquid stored in this container will hold its temperature and remain forever fresh. Can only store one type of liquid at a time. Holds 2 gallons.]

[Cost | 1000]

“What…” Kyle furrowed his brow and read the description again. “I ain’t meanin’ to call ya out, but I ain’t never seen a Rambler that can hold that much. An’ I had a few o’ ‘em myself. Graham… Ain’t that the name o’ the boy who wouldn’t stop ridin’ his damned dirt bike through my yard?”

[Items above Tier 0 have additional properties. To answer your question… it could be. Many of the items you’ll find in the Domain Shops were taken from the surrounding areas.]

“Oh is tha—W-What?” As tired as he was, his mind almost failed to pick up on the implications of what had just been said. “Whatcha mean the items were taken from the surroundin’ area.”

[I’m sorry. I only have knowledge directly related to the Domain Shop or the specific items within. I know that there are many items that were repurposed, most of which were gathered from the area under this Domain’s influence.]

“I—Shit,” Kyle cursed, knowing that pushing the matter further was useless. Reckon this AI is in the same boat as Iroh. Ain’t no way fer it to know anythin’ beyond what it’s allowed to. Hmm… Come to think o’ it. Iroh won’t know somethin’ till I ask it’r interact with it. I wonder…

“Anythin’ in this here Shop that belongs to me?” he asked hopefully.

[Sure thing! Items that once belonged to the Host have a reduced Cost. Do you wish to view the items that once belonged to you? Cost of any Provisions or Components once owned are not reduced.]

“That’d be swell. Don’t bother with anythin’ that ain’t the Cost ain’t reduced,” Kyle responded swiftly, and a long list appeared on the page. He looked at the list… and sighed. With the list being in order by price, all that he could see was a Descriptor called Miscellaneous. There were figurines, trophies, and other objects that were more sentimental than useful. “Right… how’s ‘bout showin’ me a container like that other’n?”

[Name | Kyle’s Vietnam War Canteen]

[Tier | 1]

[Stage | 2]

[Description | A metal canteen from the Vietnam War. Kyle found this canteen during the demolition of an old thrift shop and held on to it. Liquid stored in this container will hold its temperature and remain forever fresh. Can only store one type of liquid at a time. Holds 4 gallons.]

[Cost | 20001000]

“I want it,” Kyle said abruptly. Not only was it cheaper than the former—which had only stored half the volume—but it was also something from home. He watched as one of the ethereal-looking coins vanished.

He waited for the canteen to pop into existence like his Sqwallet had, but it never came. Instead, he noticed the Slime moving this way and that before shoving itself through an opening in one of the larger piles.

Interested in the little creature, Kyle watched the hole closely. After nearly a minute, it emerged, knocking over several items and carrying his canteen inside its body. The Slime moved to the closest shelf, where it spat out the container. The lights around it brightened, and it vanished, only to appear a moment later in the large tray that held his coins.

“Ain’t that a daisy?” He picked it up by the strap and looked it over, glad it came with the forest green holster it had always been in. “The pockets on this may come in useful. Can ya fill it with water?”

[The Cost to fill your canteen will be 320 Ethos. If you wish to proceed, please return the item to the interaction tray.]

Kyle did as asked and another coin instantly vanished, only to be replaced with a handful of others with different designs. He couldn’t see the container being filled but assumed that it was finished when the lights died down. Once they’d dimmed to their usual luster, he picked up the canteen and shook it, then smiled when he heard the liquid sloshing around within.

After shopping around some more, he purchased and filled four Tier Zero thermos’ that had once been shoved to the back of his kitchen cabinets. One fer each o’ us an’ the big’un fer fillin’ ‘em up. Reckon equipment is next. Might oughtta talk to Leah first…

Kyle yawned and slapped his cheeks. He continued browsing the gear and miscellaneous sections, eventually coming away with a few of their throw blankets, a couple of towels, and his old tent that hadn’t been used since he and his wife had just been dating. After some consideration, he also purchased a bar of soap and a five-gallon Lowe’s bucket, which he reluctantly filled with water.

Altogether, his shopping spree had run him another one thousand seven hundred and forty Ethos, leaving him just shy of two thousand if he didn’t wish to convert any more Cores. I reckon I can always farm more o’ the damned things, but that exchange rate’s got me wonderin’. Ain’t no way to tell if it’s better to hold on to ‘em till later. S’already better fer me to crush the lil’uns rather’n kill the weaker Slimes. Cores’re givin’ a flat rate no matter how much higher my own Stage is.

He loaded all his purchases except the soap and bucket into the center of one of the blankets, then gathered it up to take to the others.

Pop

Before hefting the bundle, a loud pop resounded in the cavern, and he glanced over to the dark portal to find a Stage Two Slime had appeared from within. He stomped over and crushed the beast, collecting its Core before tossing it in his pouch and toting his prizes to the waiting women.