Chapter 129 - The Wrong Place
As Pao and Amukelo approached the counter, the scent of old parchment and faint traces of burnt incense filled the air. The old mage behind the counter was leaning back in his chair, deeply engrossed in a levitating grimoire that hovered just above his hand. His long, gray beard curled slightly at the ends, and his eyes, sharp and knowing despite his age, flickered toward them as they stepped forward.
Pao cleared her throat gently. "Excuse me," she said, placing the two grimoires on the counter. "How much for these?"
The old mage glanced up, his lips curling into a small smile as he recognized her. "Ah, it's you again," he mused, closing his book with a flick of his fingers and letting it float lazily onto the table beside him. He straightened slightly and reached for the grimoires, carefully inspecting them with the ease of someone who had spent a lifetime appraising magic tomes. "A bigger investment this time, I see."
He took his time, flipping through the ruby grimoire first, nodding slightly as he ran a finger along the edges of its worn but well-maintained pages. Then, he set it aside and examined the alexandrite grimoire, his expression thoughtful as he traced the luminescent gemstone embedded in its cover.
After a long pause, he finally set both books down and exhaled. "Well, you're certainly not picking from the bargain bin anymore," he said with a knowing smirk. "For the growth grimoire that will be sixty five, and for the ruby grimoire, that'll be one hundred and twenty gold coins."
Pao's eyes widened in shock. "A hundred and twenty?" she repeated, her voice nearly cracking.
Amukelo barely managed to keep his jaw from dropping. He had just spent nearly all of his money to pay for his training at the facility, and this single book cost nearly five times what he had paid.
"That's the price for a ruby spell," the mage said with a shrug. "And this one is on the stronger end of the spectrum. A spell that binds multiple targets while draining their mana isn't something you come across every day." He tapped the book lightly with his knuckles. "So, do you want it?"
Pao hesitated, gripping the edges of the book tightly. "I do," she admitted, her voice quiet, "but I don't have enough."
She sighed heavily, then glanced at the alexandrite grimoire. "I don't even have enough for this one either..." she murmured, disappointment creeping into her voice.
The mage raised an eyebrow. "And how much do you have?"
Pao hesitated for a moment before sighing and pulling out her coin pouch. "Fifty-five gold," she admitted.
The mage clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair. "I can't go that low," he said, shaking his head. "Growth grimoires usually sell well, and ten gold coins are a lot."
Pao's shoulders slumped. "I see..."
Amukelo frowned, glancing down at the pouch Bral had given him earlier. He hadn't paid for his suit, and after everything, he still had twelve gold left. He quickly counted them in his head before looking back up.
"What about sixty?" he asked.
Both Pao and the mage turned to him in surprise. Pao blinked. "What?"
"I can give five more," Amukelo explained, setting his pouch on the counter. "That would make it sixty. Would you be willing to sell it for that?"
The old mage exhaled through his nose, scratching the back of his head. "Hmm... I don't know," he admitted. "Growth grimoires are highly sought after, and I could easily get the full price for it with a bit of patience."
Pao stepped forward, clasping her hands together. "Please," she said, looking at him with an earnest expression. "You already recognize me, right? You know we've only been in Llyn for a short time, but we'll be here for a while. I promise, I'll be a regular customer after this."
The mage sighed, looking from Pao's hopeful face to the grimoire in his hands. He muttered something under his breath, then let out a gruff chuckle. "You don't leave me much choice, do you?" he grumbled. "Fine. Deal. Sixty gold."
Pao's entire face lit up. "Really? Thank you so much!" she said, practically bouncing in place.
She quickly placed her coin pouch on the counter, dumping out fifty-five gold coins with a bright, victorious grin. Amukelo followed suit, setting down five of his own gold coins beside hers.
The mage waved a hand, gathering the coins into a small, magical pouch that hovered beside him before disappearing into his robes. "Alright, then," he said, sliding the grimoire across the counter. "It's yours."
Pao carefully picked up the book, holding it as if it were the most precious thing she had ever owned. The sheer excitement on her face made Amukelo feel no regret for offering his extra gold. He smiled at her warmly.
She clutched the grimoire to her chest, grinning from ear to ear. "I can't wait to start practicing with this," she said, her voice practically vibrating with excitement.
Amukelo chuckled. "Just don't teleport yourself off a cliff or something."
Pao rolled her eyes playfully. "I'll be careful."
The old mage smirked at the exchange and leaned back into his chair. "You two remind me of my younger days," he mused. "Just don't blow yourselves up experimenting, alright?"
Pao laughed. "No promises!"
Amukelo could only shake his head, watching her enthusiasm with quiet amusement as they turned to leave.
As they stepped out of the shop, Pao held her new grimoire close, a satisfied smile lingering on her lips. Then, after a few moments of silence, she turned her head slightly toward Amukelo. "Thank you, Amukelo," she said softly. "I really appreciate what you did back there."
Amukelo glanced at her and smiled. "No problem," he replied simply, shoving his hands into his pockets. He was about to ask her about the thing she wanted to talk about—he hadn't forgotten—but seeing how happy she was, he hesitated. He didn't want to ruin the moment with something serious.
Then, as if his mind had betrayed him, he suddenly remembered what Bral and Idin had told him about the restaurant. His face heated up immediately, and he instinctively looked away, scratching his cheek as he cleared his throat. "Ehem... So, uh... what would you say about grabbing something to eat?" His voice came out awkwardly, and he regretted the way he phrased it the second the words left his mouth.
Pao turned to him, blinking in surprise. "What?" she asked, caught off guard.
But before she could even process the question, her stomach betrayed her, letting out a loud growl. Her eyes widened in embarrassment, her cheeks turning red as she quickly placed a hand over her stomach. "...Yeah," she muttered. "That's... actually a good idea."
Amukelo nodded awkwardly. "Uh, yeah. I think I might know a good place... I think." He wasn't actually sure if he should follow Bral and Idin's suggestion, but at this point, he had no idea what else to do.
Pao nodded, though she still looked a bit flustered. But then, as they continued walking, she hesitated and lowered her gaze. "...But I just spent all my money," she admitted.
Amukelo waved his hand dismissively. "No problem. I'll pay for us both."
She lowered her head further, feeling embarrassed, but murmured, "Thanks..."
The walk that followed was filled with an odd silence, the kind where both of them kept stealing glances at each other but quickly looking away whenever their eyes met. Pao would adjust her grip on her grimoire every now and then, while Amukelo kept rubbing the back of his neck as if unsure what to do with his hands.
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At one point, Pao let out a small breath and, in a quieter voice, said, "You know, Amu—"
But before she could finish, Amukelo suddenly straightened and pointed ahead. "Oh! We finally arrived!" he announced, completely missing that she was about to say something important.
Pao, who had been glancing down, looked up at the restaurant in front of them and immediately felt her stomach drop. Her expression flattened slightly. "...Are you sure this is the place?"
Amukelo turned to her with an unconvincing, slightly panicked look as he realized just how extravagant the place looked. The large building had polished marble steps leading up to towering double doors, the dark wood carved with intricate swirling patterns. Golden lanterns lined the entrance, illuminating the elegantly dressed guests who were either entering or leaving. The windows were tall and framed with deep red drapes, offering glimpses of a refined, candlelit interior. The soft sounds of live classical music drifted from inside, making it clear that this was not some casual eatery.
"...I guess?" he said, suddenly feeling very out of place.
Pao gave him a long, skeptical stare but said nothing as he hesitantly stepped forward and entered.
The moment they walked in, they were met with an air of quiet sophistication. The restaurant was grand but not overwhelming, its dark wooden floors polished to perfection, reflecting the soft glow of chandeliers overhead. The walls were decorated with elegant tapestries, and a large fireplace at the far end of the room added a warm, welcoming touch. Waiters in crisp white shirts and tailored vests moved gracefully between the tables, their movements smooth and practiced.
At the very center, a small ensemble of musicians played a gentle, enchanting melody, filling the air with a peaceful ambiance. The clinking of fine silverware against porcelain dishes could be heard as well-dressed patrons engaged in hushed conversations, their laughter soft and refined.
Pao swallowed, glancing around. "This... not what I expected."
Amukelo tugged at the collar of his jacket slightly. "Yeah... Maybe too fancy."
Before either of them could contemplate turning back, a young waiter with neatly combed hair and a charming smile approached them. "Welcome," he greeted them smoothly. "Are you looking for a seat?"
Amukelo straightened, trying not to look as lost as he felt. "Uh... yeah. Do you have anything in a corner?"
The waiter took one glance at how awkward they both looked and, to Amukelo's horror, his smile widened knowingly. "Of course," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Follow me."