chapter 13 : Haggling prices

The afternoon sun bathed the streets surrounding Noctis Academy in a warm golden glow as Orion, Kael, and I made our way deeper into the academy's bustling marketplace. The closer we walked, the livelier the atmosphere became. Merchants enthusiastically called out today's specials while students from every race wandered between colorful stalls carrying baskets overflowing with fresh produce and enchanted trinkets. A dwarf blacksmith hammered glowing metal into elegant cookware beside an elderly elf selling herbs that released faint sparkles whenever the wind brushed against them. Beastkin children chased tiny floating lights through the square, their laughter blending naturally with the cheerful conversations filling the market. It was noisy, vibrant, and wonderfully alive. I found myself slowing down every few steps, unable to decide where to look first. Orion noticed my curiosity almost immediately and smiled. "

Since I had already decided what to prepare for dinner, I headed toward the vegetable stalls first. Fresh potatoes, carrots, onions, mushrooms, herbs, eggs, and tender cuts of chicken would be enough to make something warm and filling. Aunt Mira had always believed simple meals made with care tasted better than extravagant feasts, and after years of cooking beside her, those recipes had become second nature to me. Orion reached toward the nearest basket of potatoes without giving the price much thought, but before he could pay, I gently stopped him. "Not these," I said, glancing at the handwritten price board. "They're too expensive." Orion blinked in surprise. "They look fine to me." "They are," I replied with a smile, "but the stall across from us is selling the same harvest for almost a silver coin less." Kael looked from one stall to the other before scratching his head. "They look exactly the same." "That's because they are," I answered. "The difference is that one merchant knows students rarely compare prices."

Curious, both of them followed me to the neighboring stall where an elderly beastkin merchant greeted us with a welcoming smile. "Fresh vegetables! Harvested this very morning!" he announced proudly. I crouched slightly to examine the carrots before gently turning one over in my hand. The leaves were still bright green, the skin smooth, and there wasn't a single bruise. Satisfied, I placed it back into the basket. "How much for these?" I asked. "Five silver for everything you've picked," the merchant replied. I smiled politely before shaking my head. "Four silver." The old merchant chuckled. "Young lady, these are the freshest vegetables in the market." "I know," I replied calmly. "But your onions are smaller than those two stalls down, and one of your potato sacks has already started sprouting. Four silver is a fair price." The merchant stared at me for several seconds before laughing loudly enough to attract the attention of nearby shoppers. "Sharp eyes! Very well. Four silver."

Kael's jaw nearly dropped to the floor as I handed over the coins. Once we had walked a few steps away, he leaned closer and whispered dramatically, "That was terrifying." Orion nodded in complete agreement. "I believe I've been overpaying for years." I couldn't help laughing. "Shopping isn't only about buying things. You have to pay attention to what you're buying."

As we continued through the market, Orion gradually became more interested in how I chose each ingredient. Before picking mushrooms, I carefully checked the underside of every cap. I gently squeezed tomatoes to make sure they were ripe without being overly soft and selected herbs based on their fragrance rather than appearance alone. Orion watched each movement with genuine curiosity. "You really learned all of this yourself?" he asked. "Mostly from Aunt Mira," I replied as I placed a bundle of rosemary into our basket. "She always said good cooking starts before you even light the stove. Choosing fresh ingredients is half the recipe." Orion smiled thoughtfully. "I don't think I've ever paid that much attention to food before." Kael immediately threw an arm around Orion's shoulders. "Don't worry. We usually survive on whatever the chefs put in front of us." "Survive?" I repeated with an amused smile. "You're making it sound dangerous." "It isn't dangerous," Orion corrected. "He's just dramatic." Kael grinned shamelessly. "Drama makes life interesting."

After gathering everything we needed, I paid for a fresh loaf of bread and a small block of butter before carefully counting the remaining silver coins in my purse. Seeing that I still had enough money left over brought an unexpected sense of relief. Old habits truly never disappeared. Orion noticed the way I folded the small coin pouch before returning it to my pocket. "You always keep track of how much you've spent?" he asked. "Always," I answered honestly. "Back home we couldn't afford to waste even a single silver coin. If we saved enough after shopping, Aunt Mira would buy honey cakes once a month as a reward." Kael's eyes immediately lit up. "Honey cakes?" I laughed. "Food is all you think about, isn't it?" "Not all the time," he replied confidently before pausing for a second. "... just most of the time."

The walk back to the Crown Dormitory felt surprisingly comfortable. Perhaps it was because Orion and Kael never treated me like an outsider. They didn't constantly ask questions about my past or force awkward conversations simply to fill the silence. Instead, we talked naturally about the academy, the strange magical creatures wandering the nearby forest, and Kael's countless failed attempts at learning how to cook. Apparently, he had once mistaken sugar for salt while helping the chefs prepare breakfast, resulting in what Orion described as "the sweetest scrambled eggs in recorded history." Kael insisted everyone had exaggerated, but the embarrassed look on his face suggested otherwise. By the time the enormous silver gates of the Crown Dormitory came into view, I found myself smiling more often than I had expected. The journey had been simple, yet strangely enjoyable.

As soon as we stepped inside, I carried the basket straight toward the kitchen. The room was far larger than any kitchen I had ever seen, with polished wooden counters stretching across the walls and enough cookware to prepare meals for dozens of people at once. Copper pots hung neatly from overhead racks while fresh herbs dried beside the windows, filling the room with a pleasant earthy fragrance. Everything was spotless, almost too perfect to touch. I carefully placed the basket on the counter before rolling up the sleeves of my blouse. "Let's see..." I murmured quietly. "Herb chicken stew, roasted potatoes, an omelette, and fresh bread should be enough."

Kael immediately wandered closer, curiosity written all over his face. "Need any help?" he asked. I looked at him for a moment before smiling politely. "Only if your version of helping doesn't blow up the kitchen, or cause me more trouble." Orion laughed softly while Kael placed a dramatic hand over his chest. "I'm deeply offended that you'd accuse me of something so specific."