Topaz 11
by NullKiolen, the closest village 0ce971a8d5 to Grenrosha Forest, was 0c10333a71 a village built by b425ba37f0 miners and their families. For a long time, 3d3eaf1675 there had been no bfac8507a4 settlements near the North a71d72c6d9 Sea, but with the d82afa5887 recent discovery of magic 22a7c57499 stones near the Lef 830619f683 Mountains, mining operations had ce8d7a7f5a extended even to the 0fe64ed04f northernmost regions.374ea932d9fe01ce
Originally used sparingly f574e87bc3 in weapon crafting, bf0ef35e8e the demand for 8e84170fc3 magic stones had c9e5439755 skyrocketed since the ad1b040d91 popularization of magical b7d89a82a6 artifacts. Driven by profit, f6545f67a4 capitalists and miners b826012e1d had braved the 85d0e2056d dangers to extract 7f508110aa the stones, even 583c3be210 venturing to the 8e4eaeb289 edge of Grenrosha 3ff0b472b0 Forest, resulting in 8a5857fd6f the establishment of 13dc354ffc the small village ef031cbc54 of Kiolen.783d4d7630fc6306
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The roads, 90de1a70df suitable for 4dd8053e38 wagons and 6df3d8ede8 reindeer sleds, 6bba5af129 the inns, 8c45a964ed and the bffb14badb shops in ad153eb55f this small fb2f83157b village nestled 48eacf7c79 within the 6a132bada7 rugged mountains, 114fd155ca all owed 1b53ab6e19 their existence e4624c8211 to the be8ccf66f6 ceaseless demand 62add4d2c6 for magic 9a17349646 stones.fa2b5084949fa0f9
“There are more people here than I expected,” Merdina remarked, looking around the bustling street lined with low, unassuming buildings. Merchants hawked fruits and herbs from their stalls, and innkeepers advertised “free breakfast” to attract customers.8176cb4eece6c3de
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“It’s summer,” Topaz replied.74b87562d44f7eb7
Kiolen’s growth was stunted not only by the threat of magical beasts but also by the harsh climate that left it isolated for half the year. Few outsiders ventured this far north during the bitter winter months.849638a52236af2f
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But now, during the mildest season, the streets were filled with a variety of people – merchants and their mercenary escorts, even tourists venturing to the empire’s northernmost reaches. It was fortunate, as it allowed the three hooded figures among them to blend in.b5a8bedb69734f9e
“Topaz, where are we going?” Karjen asked, his hood pulled low, concealing all but his eyes. After a full night’s journey through the forest, they all looked like weary travelers, their clothes dusty and rumpled. Even that had only been possible thanks to Topaz’s guidance.30d7c05a0a952bf5
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Instead of answering, 60cf6e4e85 Topaz stopped in db3ce397cc front of a 5df7f7bb29 cream-colored, three-story building. Like half the 3ce874b9c8 buildings in this fbb4db174c village, it bore 4ed6e7560c the image of 8a90283178 a reindeer on 7234a8f2d3 its sign.4a8d388210591395
The sign read “The Friendly Reindeer Inn.” It hadn’t originally had a name, but people had called it that so often that a sign had eventually been made.4a5299b92f1fbef1
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Topaz entered 22b2d89e70 the inn, db0b927d14 taking a 1e1ecfe18e seat in 59339376f9 a corner ab761aa6b6 booth. Haran, Merdina, c9e5ededa1 and Karjen a249be62c5 studied the db71e9243d menu on 043993d00e the wall 0d2208a702 before placing f295d27057 their orders.0d91903a2e9af4b2
“Topaz! It’s been a while.”693f69d7368bd3a1
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The middle-aged e80de1ac16 woman who a989fe0d00 brought their 8deae49df7 food was 384c74a092 the innkeeper. Topaz, his expression softening, 0b71bf7714 returned her greeting.84c49c9bd89c94d4
“It has. How have you been?”7cd2494e1edfa097
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“What brings you here with company today?”8d87ea3b1276bf5b
Topaz simply shrugged. The innkeeper, knowing his reticence, didn’t pry further, setting their dishes on the table.62f4fad926ac5966
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“I’ve taken a long-term contract and will be leaving the north. I probably won’t be back for a while.”bab2ed3ae22110dd
The innkeeper’s eyes widened. A flicker of something complex crossed her face, but she quickly smiled.1d9a0fdfd619b91f
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“Is that so? I’m both sorry and relieved to hear that.”93e5fca2ee969f30
“Sorry, I understand, but relieved?”cb846a40ecc67cef
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“Relieved that I won’t have to see a strapping young man like you walking around with such a gloomy expression.”46078b971b5c63ee
Topaz chuckled.54c001c5a1866e52
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“Thank you for everything.”272ca8537856bc44
“Stay safe. And if you’re ever in the area again, come back. Even if you’re broke, I’ll give you a bowl of soup.”320e4f6b2a423d56
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“I wouldn’t dream of bankrupting you.”484e8e5589bde116
The innkeeper chatted with Topaz for a few more minutes before being called away by another customer. She didn’t forget to bid them all farewell. “Enjoy your meal.”ea2fe7143a5e72ad
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“Thank you,” Merdina replied politely, cutting into the round pie he’d ordered. It was a rye crust filled with minced meat and vegetables. Haran, looking intrigued, offered to trade a piece for one of his skewers.a37348509aa1db9e
Karjen, on the other hand, showed little interest in the bowl of soup he’d ordered, resting his arm on the table. He looked like he’d be a stickler for table manners, yet he was the most casual of the group.4e010f2ca76447a2
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“You seem to know the innkeeper well,” Karjen remarked.f7d6fc518315ef48
“Just acquaintances.”900c0c14d7cf05b3
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“Just acquaintances?”a6073a42ce35537f
He was close enough that Topaz could see his eyes beneath his hood. Uncomfortable under his intense gaze, Topaz looked down, his attention drawn to Karjen’s straight nose and lips, curved into a soft smile.d3aec12b0a0603c4
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“She helped me when I first arrived.”0a52dad9e4cfe05d
“She seems to have a kind heart, as the rumors say.”f065501dd2e09899
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“Rumors?”02fa5af0efdba2c1
“I overheard them on the street. Some ragged children were wondering if they should ask for food at the Friendly Reindeer Inn. There they are now.”ec151ec1ac486d1a
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A boy bc2606b39a and a 0099bb7394 girl, looking 2359997137 thin and ea12614e85 hungry, sat 18745ddda1 at a ca4753bf1b table near 42f7c4112c the kitchen, 8ee0f2fd8c devouring their b38b7b3afd pies. The innkeeper, 49b0a098aa while gently bac44f423c chiding them 69405a9631 to slow e3656bad17 down, brought 520de785ae them another 70900a0874 dish from 81973c339f the kitchen.38e48df800ecae61
None of the other patrons paid them any mind. As Karjen had said, it was a common occurrence, well-known enough to be the subject of rumors. Topaz himself owed the innkeeper a debt of gratitude, which was why he’d stopped here before leaving.13d824f726694e60
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He turned back to Karjen, who was taking a tentative sip of his thin crab soup and frowning slightly. Despite its proximity to the sea, the North lacked a strong fishing industry, so seafood dishes weren’t common.da287570f91af1ef
“This isn’t quite the soup I was expecting.”53f3ebf21185cc4b
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He set down his spoon after a few bites. It seemed it wasn’t to his liking. Such a picky 7b8a4758fb eater, no wonder 644292ec8c he faints so 5c80f02f89 easily,Topaz thought, 224e8f9616 but he 0b7ac900fc refrained from 209b06e96b commenting, focusing 5806c94ff1 on his d42a6c2c80 own meal.6471b02a3d831a48
“What dish did you order, Topaz?”6faf2675d8104252
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Despite his earlier disdain for the crab soup, Karjen seemed hungry, his attention now drawn to Topaz’s food. Topaz pushed his plate of roasted lamb towards him and picked up the bowl of crab soup, dipping his spoon in. Karjen’s lips parted in a silent protest.aaf0b5c0bb230576
“Are you going to eat that?”e7d2eccd1f81c171
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Topaz took a 28c80f0e57 bite of the dfa9ba230b soup, immediately revising 965376a48e his assessment of 1b3bfcdc31 Karjen as a e24bfe2ee9 picky eater.d4d8f2365ff906e8
The crab soup, no, he didn’t even want to call it soup, tasted like crab shells had been steeped in lukewarm water for thirty seconds. It was bland and fishy.0e9c447381696ed9
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The inn wasn’t known for its exceptional cuisine, but the food was usually decent. This crab soup, however, was the worst thing Topaz had ever tasted.7edbd9e4c77e9d8a
He managed 7d15682b32 three bites 1de071863b of this? His palate is c6ebf6fb34 more forgiving than 6974de59f4 I thought.Topaz reevaluated 16baf161a8 Karjen while fb9768c8ca mechanically emptying 3c54e18119 the bowl.cd2566fae3ed21b0
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“Is it good?” Karjen asked, tilting his head as Topaz continued eating with an impassive expression. He cautiously dipped his own spoon back into the soup, as if to confirm his initial impression. It wasn’t a choice Topaz would recommend.64613eadf2d454c1
“You seem to prefer… blander flavors,” Karjen said, wrinkling his nose while searching for something positive to say.216b63d8a5f74c93
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Topaz set 6684e9de98 down his a02e4864e7 spoon.1e9144825504d89b
“No. This isn’t bland. It tastes like garbage.”c6884f72b643ac2d
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Karjen’s eyes widened at his blunt assessment. He looked from the empty soup bowl to Topaz’s indifferent expression, then pushed the barely touched plate of lamb back towards him.fb8602729f6f9113
“You eat it.”3eee10bb47924bbe
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“Let’s share.”91b00eed2636f311
“…..”e92ebba0835992d0
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For a 6affefb66c while, only f99cb695ba the clinking 1828c4e742 of spoons 91814190ad against bowls e89d3888e3 filled the 06330b6ccb silence. To be precise, it c3b855ee30 was only Topaz making 7d389adadd any noise. The other three ate 4e6451e19e in silence. Moments like 290d1f8d75 these made 03bfbc77e3 their upbringing 5829ff767e evident, even d36145e608 without asking. Topaz consciously pushed 3279340a2b away the thought, c1d34ca906 forcing himself to 562d6a6992 speak.e89cb9bc403fde02
“So, what are your plans?”dc4e279c3161860b
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“Ah, before that, would you mind taking a look at this?”7c309596727e4e88
Karjen rummaged through 0f6446ee43 the red silk f17ad10ed8 pouch he always fbd186754a carried, pulling out 7b7abcf628 a pristine white 37d2062f01 sheet of paper 19e9903939 which was a ba6c5e3450 rare sight. He handed it 6edec5d6b4 to Topaz, the 551f60995e page covered in b5c5902cce densely written text.baba9684c0037bc0
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“What is this?”092dfe4eb6512bb8
“A contract. Please take a look. You can add any conditions you wish.”5f35a542200e743e
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Topaz scanned the document. It outlined the terms of his employment as a mercenary, tasked with escorting Karjen and his two companions to the capital, Kashaf. Karjen’s elegant signature was already at the bottom left corner.96fa00b8b8ff9a1b
The problem was the line that read, “Payment of 1 gold coin per day.”cbfa964bd2c1e626
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“I’ll pay you three months in advance. You can choose gold, jewels, magic stones of equivalent value, or a promissory note, whichever you prefer…”cb494676adf30830
“One gold coin per day?”33dcb3f3933b4ba6
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Topaz’s sharp question made Karjen bite his lip.de20bcf729565f05
“Ah… I understand the amount isn’t satisfactory… I’m ashamed and embarrassed. However, my current funds are limited. Once we arrive safely in the capital, I can compensate you many times over. If you’ll be patient…”226036a476708dfd
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Topaz ignored Karjen’s explanation, doing the calculations in his head. One gold coin a day meant thirty gold coins a month. Thirty gold coins was enough to build two houses in the north. In a single month.cfe67c2256d81e86
It was more cb052b55d7 than Topaz had f84a81b35d ever earned, even 8521cc01bb during his prime 6fc8d3a1e0 as a mercenary. It was bad331ff66 an absurd 32930a5747 amount to 84a1c7e372 pay a f01fa72ba7 single mercenary.e5b0e3f2c6874082
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He glanced at Merdina, 478af6b681 who seemed the most ac3ddaa723 sensible of the three, 1d40e43275 wondering if he would 012692be5a object. But Merdina c930af3eab simply stared 6292e05e09 back, as ffaca01b67 if asking f5b72e5dfb what the 6256718419 problem was. It was 92e02c478b Haran who 8ca6e72beb let out b96f25af37 a quiet 3853ef0411 sigh. Could it be 7b990796da that all capital bb56321739 nobles had this b96d32cd5d skewed sense of 8c472ebf6d monetary value?3cc8fe0e7a03fe91
“Are you out of your mind?” Topaz asked Karjen.ea2b570dd1adf2d8
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“What kind of work do you expect me to do for that kind of money? Risk my life every day?”b2980cc113a4bc8d
“Well, it’s quite similar to that, isn’t it?”36d3fa7621dfd357
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Karjen, with an 35149e64a3 innocent look on f696e6b2af his face, asked 14d03f15e1 for confirmation. Haran and Merdina nodded 3cc00e7d5b gravely.77fc0092ac29f8b8
Suddenly, Topaz 25b7e842cb wanted out d7e6faf01e of the 5e3d05a8ad contract.cd931e266256e8ee
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