Chapter 49: The Slums
The floating window remained in front of him. It was an invitation, seducing his desire.
A quest wrapped in mystery. Gabriel didn’t know where it would lead him. But he understood that every quest started from a foundation.
And his Order ring was fundamental to this quest.
It was the lesson experience had taught him... Coincidences didn’t exist. Danger was what separated them from reality and mere desire.
He finally accepted the quest, and the window disappeared.
His mind began to work mechanically on autopilot. He guided his gaze to the old man, who was still staring at the ring. His interest was palpable.
This was information of enormous value. Gabriel instantly knew he needed a story.
He was only looking for a suitable lie. One that would be interesting without being impossible to believe.
Slowly, he removed the ring and held it between his fingers. The shop’s dim lighting caused small metallic reflections on its surface.
The smell of dried herbs filled the air. In his imagination, it was the perfect setting.
"This ring is, indeed, a masterful piece. For the first time, we agree, sir."
The old man raised an eyebrow at his words.
"It might interest you."
Gabriel turned the piece slightly.
The result was immediate — uncontrolled emotion appeared on the old man’s face, followed by greed that was difficult to hide.
The ring shone in the old man’s eyes like an old friend returning home.
"Leave your shit for someone else and give it to me. I’ll pay you satisfactorily."
He had to suppress the urge to twist his face.
That was probably the most shameless negotiation he had witnessed in a long time.
"I can’t do that."
The old man slammed the counter.
"Boy, stop acting like an idiot!"
Gabriel had to improvise.
"It’s a family heirloom. It will belong to me until I die."
For a moment the old man remained motionless. Then he reached under the counter and pulled out a curved sword.
"Fine. Let’s finish this quickly."
The blade gleamed.
He reacted instantly on pure instinct.
The two daggers appeared in his hands. He didn’t even try to draw them.
The situation grew tense and both men held their breath.
For the first time, he gave the vendor a truly cold look.
The old man observed him carefully and then smiled.
"Well, you’re not a coward. I would have sworn you were an effeminate weakling."
He slowly sheathed the sword.
"I suppose first impressions can be wrong."
Then he pointed at the daggers.
"Now put those two pieces of scrap away before I open a new gash in your damn neck. You won’t like it, I assure you."
Gabriel hesitated, but finally stored the weapons.
Even so, he kept one hand near the small axe hidden beneath his coat. The old man seemed to notice that precaution but said nothing.
He simply turned and started walking.
"I swear I’ve seen it!"
He disappeared toward the back room.
Sounds of banging, objects moving, and curses could be heard.
Finally the old man reappeared, his expression looking even worse.
"What are you doing there? Follow me, you fool!"
***
The back of the shop was completely different. A thick curtain separated the two spaces.
When he crossed it, Gabriel felt as if he had entered another world. The place was packed.
With tables, shelves, books, and alchemical instruments.
Herbs hung from the ceiling to dry.
There were also unknown liquids stored in glass containers.
It was messy, but that aesthetic denoted hard work.
"I’ve seen many things in this life, boy!"
The old man walked ahead of him.
"But few objects manage to remain unknown to me."
His tone overflowed with pride.
Gabriel was suspicious of that claim, but he said nothing.
The old man reached a smaller room and opened a door.
"Wait here. And don’t touch anything!"
The old accusatory finger remained in the air.
With those words, he finally disappeared.
Gabriel watched the place and decided to completely ignore that instruction. His curiosity was already awake.
He began to examine the contents of the room. It contained various materials he had never seen before.
There were roots that twisted into almost human shapes, which caught his attention.
Vials full of fluorescent liquids were the main material.
He even found the shell of a turtle that emitted a soft glow. It had a strange mysticism.
Even an inexperienced eye could see the value of those materials. A very strange phenomenon for such a small shop in Bersáic.
While examining a blackened horn, he heard footsteps approaching.
He quickly returned to his original position, acting as if he had never touched anything.
The old man had returned holding a huge book, finally dropping it onto a table.
A cloud of dust exploded immediately and when it cleared amid coughing, he opened the tome.
The yellowish pages revealed drawings, symbols, and ancient texts. It was similar to an old encyclopedia.
The old man began turning pages with surprising speed.
He muttered constantly as he advanced.
"No... No... This one neither... Lies... Wrong."
Suddenly he slammed a page with excitement and shouted: "Eureka!"
Gabriel approached, watching as the old man smiled triumphantly.
"Look, fool, I knew I wasn’t wrong."
He said while pointing at the yellowish paper.
There was a drawing of a ring very similar to the one he was holding now.
At least it was an extremely similar representation.
The old man placed both hands on the table and said with satisfaction:
"This ring is not a simple ornament. Are you sure it’s only a family heirloom?"
His eyes had narrowed.
"Of course." Gabriel replied immediately, without hesitation.
"My great-great-grandfather was its original owner. Then it passed to my grandfather, that shameless old man. And finally it came to my mother."
The old man looked at his nails with indifference.
"You seem more like a skilled liar to me."
Gabriel maintained an innocent expression. Years of experience helped.
The old man snorted.
"It doesn’t matter. Either way..."
He read the text again. He ran a finger over several lines.
"You’re fucked."
The monotone expression returned to Gabriel’s face.
"Why?"
"Because these symbols are usually wrapped in bloody stories."
Those words didn’t sound like an exaggeration; they were carefully woven into the observation.
He remembered the end of the Order and how, for inexplicable reasons, he was the new Regent.
"I know this part of the truth."
"Oh?" the old man replied softly.
"That’s why I need information about Blood Crystals."
The alchemist fell silent again. He read the text once more, then again. Finally he closed the book.
The thud echoed throughout the room.
"Go to the slums."
That answer confused Gabriel. It was the conclusion he least expected.
"What?"
"The poor districts."
"Why?"
The old man settled into his chair.
"Because that’s where stories survive. Scholars are usually the ones who frame and prepare them, while nobles commission them."
He looked directly at Gabriel.
"But someone who was extremely miserable remembers. They don’t need to understand letters."
The silence stretched.
"Previously I have heard absurd stories and dangerous stories. If someone knows anything concrete about Blood Crystals... you will find it there."
His fingers tapped gently on the book’s cover.
Gabriel looked him directly in the eyes.
The old man’s words were more reasonable as a clue than as an answer.
But right now it was his anchor in this situation.
He nodded slowly: "Thank you."
The old man made a slight gesture of rejection.
As if words of gratitude produced nothing positive for him specifically.
Gabriel began to head toward the exit. He had a direction, a new objective, and problems as well, probably.
But before leaving the room, he heard the old man’s voice again.
"Boy, I’ll try to investigate a little more."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
The old man pointed at the ring.
"Because now I’m curious. If you discover anything, keep me informed."
In his words, it seemed like a completely valid reason.
And Gabriel finally nodded.
"I will."
The old man opened the book again, completely ignoring Gabriel’s presence.
Their exchange had ended at that very moment.
***
When he left the shop, the cold air of Bersáic struck his face once again. The streets remained permanently focused on their activities.
But now he had a clue.
The quest continued to float discreetly in his interface.
And a new notification appeared before him.
______________
[Special Quest: Rumors of the Past]
[Current Objective: Investigate the slums of Bersáic]
____________
Gabriel closed the window.
The slums were a curious destination. But it also felt strangely familiar. After all, he had grown up in similar places.
He understood how they worked, what kind of people could be found there.
But above all, he understood that voices truly survived where official history died.
He began walking through the cobblestone streets. The wind gently stirred his coat.
Somewhere in that forgotten city there was an answer, a clue about the mysterious Blood Crystals.
Or something bigger.
His focus was on pursuing that clue, until he discovered its secrets.
The old man had already fulfilled a fundamental part. Now it depended entirely on his skill.
He recognized that, in the slums, he needed to be careful. Probably in their depths hid dangers that surpassed steel.
And if it was really related to the mystery... Everything he knew about the city could change.
For now, Bersáic was still Bersáic.
