Afterward, Lux and Lia left the stall and made their way toward the village market.
The market was small and modest, with only a handful of stalls and shops lining the central square. Yet, it brimmed with life.
Villagers bustle about their daily routines. Some were bargaining over produce, others chatted with familiar vendors and children ran between stalls with laughter in their wake.
The aroma of fresh bread, dried herbs and smoked meat filled the air. Wooden carts display seasonal vegetables and fruits.
Lia walked beside Lux in quiet, nibbling the last of her fried milk. Her eyes swept over the market scene.
Lux turned to her with a smile.
"Let's get what we need for the trip before noon."
He led her to a corner shop made of stone and timber, one that looked more rugged than the others. Above the door, a weathered wooden sign hung loosely, faintly etched with the symbol of a hammer and anvil. It was the village's blacksmith.
Inside, the air was warm and heavy with the scent of iron and coal. The interior was simple, with rows of farming tools, spare weaponry, and travel equipment neatly lined up at the front.
Behind the counter, an elderly man with a thick grey beard sat dozing in his chair, arms crossed, and head tilted back, his snores light but steady.
Lux stepped forward and gently tapped the counter.
"Old man Chris, you awake?"
The blacksmith stirred and blinked his eyes open, muttering.
"Huh? Lux, are you here to pay me back?"
Lux let out a nervous laugh.
"Hahaha… very funny, old man."
"I'm serious."
Chris leaned forward, squinting one eye.
"I promised I'll pay you back for the sword! I'm just... short on money right now!"
Chris gave him a long, sceptical look before waving a hand dismissively.
"...Never mind. You're lucky I've got a soft spot for kids like you."
"That's right! No one in this village is a better craftsman than old man Chris!"
Lux quickly fired back with a grin, laying the flattery on him.
Chris let out a chuckle and scratched his nose with the back of his finger.
"You sure know how to flatter, lad."
Then his eyes shifted toward the girl standing quietly beside Lux.
"…And who's this lady you're with? Never seen her before."
Lux stepped aside slightly, gesturing to her.
"This is Lia. She's part of an adventuring party from the nearby town. They're here on a quest, and I'm guiding them to Nightfall Dungeon."
Chris's bushy eyebrow rose sharply as he turned back to Lux.
"…What? You? An E-rank adventurer going into Nightfall? Are you out of your damn mind?!"
His voice rose in a mix of concern and disbelief, startling even Lia a little.
"I'm not going in the dungeon!"
Lux quickly waved his hands.
"I'm just guiding them there. Once we reach the entrance, I'll head back."
Chris scowled.
"Hmph… You better. Dungeon crawling's no place for someone without a class. You think guts alone can save you in there?"
"I've got more than guts!"
Lux said, puffing out his chest.
"I've got experience. I've trained with sword every day, remember?"
Chris folded his arms and gave Lux a long, heavy sigh.
"You're gonna be the death of me, boy."
"Anyway, we need some equipment for the dungeon exploration,"
Lux said, getting straight to the point.
Chris let out a small sigh and stood up with a grunt.
"Ah, don't worry. I've got exactly what you're looking for."
The old blacksmith then reached under his workbench and pulled out a large leather bag. He began packing it with various essentials, first, a frying pan and a small iron pot, followed by two large cloth sheets for building tents.
Next came two waterskins, a flint and steel kit, a sturdy coil of rope, and a handful of torches wrapped in cloth to keep them dry.
"This should cover your basics,"
Chris said, carefully placing each item into the bag.
"Just don't go setting the woods on fire and try not to burn yourselves either."
"I'm not a kid, old man,"
Lux groaned with a roll of his eyes.
Chris snorted.
"Then you better not pay like one."
He folded his arms and gave Lux a stern look.
"That'll be fifteen silver coins. Five for the bag, three for the iron pot, two for the frying pan, two more for the waterskins, fifty copper for the flint and steel kit, two silver for the rope, and another fifty copper for the torches. I even threw in a few extras for you!"
Lux winced at the total.
"You sure you're not robbing me, old man?"
Chris gave him a toothy grin.
"Call it a friend's discount."
The currency used throughout the kingdom was coin-based, ranging from copper to gold.
Ten copper coins could buy a loaf of bread, while a night in the cheapest inn, with a meal include, typically cost around two silver coins.
For reference:
100 copper coins equal 1 silver coin, and 100 silver coins made up 1 gold coin.
"Don't worry!!"
Lux said proudly as he pulled out the pouch of coins Blake had given him.
"Oi... You've got money? Then why haven't you paid me back yet!?"
Chris barked, glaring at him.
"Calm down! It's not mine, it's for the party!"
Lux waved his hands defensively.
As the two argued again, Lia, who had been quietly observing, couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a soft giggle.
"Hehe…"
The two looked at each other, then blinked in unison.
"What can I say? I'm his best, and only, customer in this whole village!"
Lux said with a smug grin.
"..."
Chris was momentarily speechless, but his blank stare said it all.
"Just pay up and get out of here already."
Chris muttered with a tired look, waving them off.
Lux chuckled, handed over the money, and slung the packed bag over his shoulder. He gave a playful salute.
"We'll visit again!"
He called out as he and Lia stepped out of the shop and back onto the sunlit road.
The two then stopped at another shop just beside the blacksmith's, it was a small clinic, marked by a wooden sign with a red plus symbol hanging above the entrance.
Inside, the space was modest and neat. Four chairs lined the wall near a counter, and the scent of dried herbs filled the air. Rows of medicinal herbs and salves were carefully arranged on the counter, while potions of various colours were neatly displayed in a glass cabinet behind it.
"Good morning, granny Abi !"
As Lux stepped into the shop, he greeted an elderly woman wearing a black robe and a pointed hat, her appearance gave off the uncanny vibe of a witch
"Ah, Lux,"
she said in a raspy but warm voice, her sharp eyes twinkling as she looked up from behind the counter.
"What brings you here today?"
Lux replied.
"I'm here to buy some potions and herbs for the trip."
"I see…"
The old woman murmured, nodding slowly.
"Give me a moment, then. I'll prepare a few things for you."
Unlike Chris, Abi was older and far more reserved. She didn't talk much and always got straight to the point.
The wait didn't take long. Just as Lux and Lia were about to sit down, Abi called out sharply.
"Done."
"Eh? That was fast!"
Lux muttered in surprise, quickly walking up to the counter with Lia following behind.
Abi neatly laid out the items she had prepared for them: two healing potions, two mana potions, two stamina potions, and two small pouches filled with healing herbs.
"That'll be six silver coins,"
She said plainly.
"One silver coin for each healing potion, one for each mana potion,"
she continued, tapping each vial gently.
"Fifty copper coins each for the stamina potions, and the same for the healing herbs."
Lux nodded as he listened, already reaching into his coin pouch.
"Got it. Thanks, Granny Abi."
Abi gave a small nod, her expression calm as ever.
With their supplies nearly complete, Lux noted they had about four silver coins left, just enough for food.
Lux and Lia bid Abi farewell and stepped back into the bright midday sun. The market was still lively, but the sun's position told Lux it was nearly noon. Time was running short.
"We should hurry and grab the food before heading back," He said.
They moved quickly, picking up dry meats, loaves of bread, a few blocks of cheese, and some fresh fruit. With their bags now full, they made their way back to the Adventurers' Guild, where the rest of the party was already waiting.
Lux returned to the guild and immediately reported the purchases to Blake, listing each item and confirming their readiness. Blake gave a nod of approval after checking the supplies, satisfied with the preparations.
With everything in order, the six of them, Blake, Lowel, Will, Vox, Lia, and Lux, gathered their belongings and set out from the guild. Their journey to the Nightfall Dungeon had officially begun.