Chapter 36: Coins
Aurora blinked in surprise.
"Oh, you already want to learn about money?" She laughed, a soft and affectionate laugh, running a hand through his hair.
"That’s good. It shows you’re growing up. Money is very important."
She sat down beside him on the sofa, pulling him closer. Judite, who had been jumping on the bed, stopped and came to sit on the floor at her mother’s feet, curious as well.
"There are three main types of coins." Aurora began, raising three fingers.
"Actually, four, but platinum coins are practically never used by common people. The coins are copper coins, silver coins, and gold coins."
She paused, making sure Lukas was following.
"Ten copper coins are equal to one silver coin. And ten silver coins are equal to one gold coin."
Lukas nodded, processing the information.
He still didn’t know exactly what purchasing power those coins had, how much a farmer earned per day, or a craftsman, or a merchant, but it was a start.
’I need to learn more about the economy of this world.’ He thought.
’The value of things. Prices. What’s expensive and what’s cheap.’
"And the One-Horned Tiger?" He asked, his eyes shining.
"How much is Father going to sell it for tomorrow?"
Aurora smiled and shook her head.
"That, I can’t say. The price depends on the quality of the hide, the size of the horn, and the condition of the bones. But don’t worry, your father understands these things. He’ll get a good price."
Lukas nodded, storing the information away.
’I’ll find out tomorrow.’
About an hour later, Clavor entered the room.
He was no longer wearing the dirty, torn shirt from the battle. Instead, he wore a clean, dark-blue linen tunic that was open at the arms. His wounds had already been cleaned and bandaged by Aurora, and he looked more rested, though there was still fatigue in his eyes.
In his hands, he carried two large baskets filled with food and drinks.
"The restaurant nearby does deliveries." He explained, placing the baskets on the table.
"I thought I’d bring something special. I made it in time."
The smell coming from the baskets was irresistible.
"Let’s eat!" Judite announced, jumping off the bed and running to the table.
Clavor opened the baskets, revealing a variety of dishes Lukas had never seen before.
Roasted meats with herbs, juicy cuts of meat from some animal Lukas didn’t recognize, seasoned with rosemary, thyme, and something that smelled like garlic, but milder.
Warm bread, still steaming, with a crispy crust and a soft interior. Lukas broke off a piece and felt the steam escape, the scent of fresh yeast filling his nostrils.
Creamy mushroom and herb soup, served in a clay bowl, with pieces of bread floating on the surface.
Caramelized fruits, apples and pears coated in a crunchy layer of burnt sugar, shining like jewels.
And for the adults, a glass pitcher filled with smooth wine, dark ruby in color, which Clavor poured into metal goblets.
Lukas’s stomach growled loudly.
"Easy there." Aurora laughed when she heard the sound.
"You’re going to eat, my love."
Lukas had stopped nursing some time ago. His baby teeth had already come in, and he now ate normal food with enthusiasm. He grabbed a piece of meat with his hands, the utensils still too large for his small fingers, and took a hearty bite.
The meat was tender, juicy, with a smoky flavor that reminded him of barbecue, yet different. He chewed slowly, savoring every bite, his eyes closed in pleasure.
They ate dinner together, chatting happily.
Clavor talked about how many people had stared at the carriage during the journey because of the One-Horned Tiger’s corpse strapped to the roof.
"A merchant offered eight or ten silver coins for it on the spot without even examining it properly." Clavor said, laughing.
"He said he wanted the hide to make a cloak."
"Eight coins?" Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"That’s a good price."
"It is, but I refused. I know I can get more tomorrow at the beast market."
"Tomorrow we’ll sell it together, if you’d like to come." Clavor said, looking at Lukas with a smile.
"You can help carry it. It’s not that heavy."
Lukas knew it wasn’t a joke. Even though the tiger weighed hundreds of kilograms, he could probably try to lift it with his abnormal strength. He answered immediately.
"I want to!" His eyes sparkled.
"I want to see the beast market. I want to see how it works."
"It’s an interesting business." Clavor said, cutting another piece of meat.
"Hunters bring beasts from all over the region. Some sell the entire bodies, others sell parts separately, hides, bones, horns, teeth, and claws. Everything has a price."
Lukas felt a mixture of fascination and discomfort.
’On Earth, I would be against this.’ He thought.
’Except when it came to hunting invasive animals that only caused problems.’
’Here... it’s different. Beasts actively attack humans, not just to protect themselves. They kill travelers. They invade villages. They’re not helpless animals.’
Even so, the dream of a zoo, a sanctuary, a place of protection and study, still burned in his chest.
After a few more light conversations about the city, Clavor mentioned that he wanted to buy new tools for the manor. Aurora said she needed fabrics for new clothes. Judite insisted that she wanted a porcelain doll she had seen in a shop window on the way there. Eventually, the fatigue from the journey caught up with them.
Lukas felt his eyelids grow heavy. The warm food, the soft sofa, and the quiet sound of his family’s voices, all of it conspired to pull him toward sleep.
Aurora noticed his eyes closing and smiled.
"Time for bed, little one."
She carried him to one of the large beds and laid him down on the soft sheets. She pulled the wool blanket up to his chin, covering his small body.
Clavor went to the other bed with Judite, who was already nearly asleep on her feet. Aurora would sleep on the sofa, insisting that it was comfortable enough and that she didn’t want to leave Lukas alone in bed.
Before falling asleep, Lukas whispered to Tilbo, who had crawled out of his pocket and was nestled on his pillow, her metallic body glowing faintly under the moonlight streaming through the window.
"Tomorrow we’re going to see a lot of new things, Tilbo. The city. The market."
The ant moved her antennae slowly, once, twice, three times, as if she were answering.
Lukas smiled.
"You’re excited too, aren’t you?"
Tilbo moved her antennae again.
He closed his eyes, exhaustion finally winning.
Outside, Great Rock City remained alive. People walked through the streets, lights glowed in the windows, laughter echoed from the taverns. But inside room twelve, the Dmond family slept peacefully.
