Aaron counted the gold coins carefully. There were sixty in total his earnings from selling the loot he had collected from the goblin cave.
He took twenty gold coins each and handed them to Auriel and David. They hesitated for a moment before accepting them.
Nearby, Fiona watched, feeling jealous. She crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on the gold in their hands.
"Next time, I'll go on the mission too," she muttered to herself. "Then I'll make sure to get my share."
Auriel tucked her gold away and said, "Let's get some fire and lightning scrolls. They'll make dealing with the Mud Golem boss much easier."
David nodded, arms crossed. "I'm buying an enchanted crossbow this time. That way, I can support you guys from a distance."
Fiona stepped forward, a confident glint in her eyes. "As you all know, my side profession is Alchemist, so you won't have to worry about potions. I've already introduced my three types before, but I'll name them again Antidote, Hemostatic, and Light Weight."
She paused, then added, "If there's anything else you want to prepare, feel free to let me know."
Aaron stood still for a moment, deep in thought. Then, with a sudden realization, he reached into his pouch and pulled out the Berserker Potion Recipe, its parchment shimmering faintly with white light.
The trio froze in shock. Even nearby adventurers cast greedy glances their way, eyes lingering on the valuable scroll.
"Here, Fiona," Aaron said, extending it toward her. "Since you're our Alchemist, it makes sense that you have it."
Fiona stared at the glowing parchment, hesitation flickering in her eyes. "Are you sure?" she asked. "Potion recipes are incredibly expensive. This one alone could sell for at least 100, maybe even 300 gold coins."
Aaron didn't waver. He pressed the scroll into her hands, his voice firm. "You're the Alchemist. You should use it not sell it. Besides, look around. Those adventurers are watching us like hungry wolves."
Auriel crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "Fiona, this is a rare opportunity. You should take it."
David gave a nod, adjusting his quiver. "And once you've mastered the recipe, maybe you could brew a few potions for us? They'd be a huge help in battle."
Fiona took the scroll and activated it without hesitation. As she did, it dissolved into shimmering white light, merging with her body in a brilliant flash.
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes, her expression filled with gratitude. "Aaron, if you ever need potions, just come to me. I'll give them to you for free."
Aaron simply nodded, his expression indifferent. He had never used potions before, so their value meant little to him.
Meanwhile, Auriel and David exchanged glances, envy flickering in their eyes. Auriel's veil concealed her reaction, but her posture stiffened slightly, betraying her thoughts.
David cleared his throat and said with a grin, "Miss Fiona, please don't forget about us."
Fiona chuckled, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Don't worry. If you need potions, I'll sell them to you for a very low price."
Auriel's cold voice cut through the air. She adjusted the strap of her pouch and said, "It's time to buy supplies."
David rolled his shoulders and glanced toward the market stalls. "Shall we split up?"
Auriel scanned the adventurers around them, her gaze sharp beneath her veil. "Not now. We'll stay together."
Aaron, still clueless, simply tagged along. As they walked, a thought struck him his inventory was still packed with barbecue.
With a casual motion, he reached into his pouch, pretending to dig around before pulling out a slab of honey-glazed meat. The rich aroma wafted through the air as he took a slow, deliberate bite.
Fiona stiffened, her eyes fixed on the food. Auriel shifted ever so slightly, though her expression remained unreadable beneath the veil.
David, less subtle, rubbed his stomach and sighed. "Aaron… you could have warned us before making us hungry."
Noticing their expressions, Aaron paused, then reached into his pouch, pulling out a few more skewers. The rich scent of roasted meat and honeyed spices filled the warm afternoon air as he handed them over.
Auriel brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, glancing at the crowd before speaking. "Now that we have four members, we need to buy tents. It'll be necessary for camping in the wild."
David nodded, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Agreed. Miss Auriel and Miss Fiona can share one tent, and Aaron and I will take the other."
A soft breeze stirred the fabric of merchant stalls, carrying the earthy aroma of dust and baked goods from a nearby bread stand.
The bustling marketplace hummed with life as Aaron, Auriel, Fiona, and David navigated through the maze of stalls. The warm afternoon sun cast golden light over the stone paths, where merchants called out their wares potions, armor, enchanted trinkets. The air was thick with the scent of baked bread, scorched metal from the blacksmith's forge, and parchment freshly inked with magic sigils.
They approached a rugged-looking merchant, his stall stacked with canvas rolls and sturdy wooden frames.
"Four tents," Auriel said in a firm tone, scanning the options. She ran her fingers over the fabric, testing its thickness. "Something durable for rough terrain."
The merchant striked his beard and gestured to a set of reinforced tents. "This will withstand heavy rain and strong winds," he assured.
With a nod, Auriel exchanged coins, securing the purchase. Fiona inspected the tent stakes, ensuring they were firm, while Aaron absently studied the flickering lanterns strung along the stall's edge.
Next, they arrived at a weapon shop, where David's eyes immediately locked onto an enchanted crossbow mounted on the display wall. The polished wood gleamed, runes pulsing faintly along its frame.
"This one," David said, gripping it. A merchant stepped forward, explaining, "Its enchantment enhances precision and piercing power. Perfect for long-range support."
David tested the weight before handing over a pouch of gold. He also selected a bundle of arrows, their tips glinting under the light of glowing runestones scattered across the counter.
Finally, they stopped at a magic stall, where Fiona browsed scrolls lined neatly in wooden cases, their enchanted script pulsing with energy. Aaron, hands in his pockets, eyed a lightning scroll, curiosity flickering in his expression.
"These will do," Auriel said as she selected fire and lightning scrolls, handing them over to the merchant.
The team stood by as the merchant rolled up the scrolls, binding them in protective silk before passing them over.
With supplies in hand, they stepped away from the marketplace, their bags heavier but their strategy more secure.