Spirit Taming

Expecting that Solar academy city would already be full of negative rumors about them was beyond what the group knew would happen. All of their guesses had been about their hot headed attitudes and the strict mentalities that Professor Wright had told them about. Now they knew that they had been wrong.

"There are literally three inns on this road that shut their doors and locked them when they saw us coming. We should have taken the risk to go to Lunar city instead." Grace was more frustrated that people were keeping them from having a bed than anything. It was petty.

"Who cares about that, we can just get the materials we want, train, then leave." Ralph’s opinion was simple. He could care less if he slept in a bed or the forge. Whatever he needed to do to get the materials that he might need for his partner were enough.

"We can’t use a forge iof even the inns won’t have us you know? But I should be able to throw some weight around. We already have other rumors spreading about us." Isa saw that even with some small time inns shutting their door to their group, that some merchants were keeping close eyes on them.

Even the fruit merchants appeared to have some interest in the potentially golden goose that had walked in to their territories. The mentalities and what the merchants had heard limited their actions, but if they were approached and made a gain, it wasn’t an issue.

Being a merchant in Solar Academy was hard to say the least. Just from the state of some stalls, the group could see this clearly. Some merchants had rough stalls made of burnt wood instead of the tougher lava stone that was plentiful. That meant they couldn’t afford a new and lasting stall. It meant they were in need of money or materials to sell.

"That one, we will stop there." Isa spotted a stall slightly better than others. While stopping was not what Professor Wright had intended, she didn’t say a word. The group was adapting to the fact that the inns were denying them. An important flexibility to train anywhere in the world. Not everyone would like them.

Clark split off temporarily to go toward the merchant stall that Isa had pointed out. The two of them were watched closely by the group since they would not leave them far away. This was an unfamiliar city that already had a clear distaste for them.

"Customers on a day like today? Normally only a few regulars come by to sell or buy. What are you looking for?" The middle aged man in charge spoke to them but he did not show a shred of emotion. He was clearly waiting to see what his opponent would do before he made his move.

"We have gold and information. You could ask for either if you have equal goods for them. Equal materials, information, or both." Isa’s rebuttal left the man looking at the two very carefully.

"I see, then you wish to see what I have to offer. Then this little stall is not enough, please come inside and view the proper materials I have." the man opened the stall counter which led to the very small home behind it. Most would think of it to be more like an alley if they didn’t know how many storage spaces worked for stalls like this.

"So you present us with some minor goods and draw us in? I like the tactics, but you lack the audiences for that." Isa pushed a little while following the merchant inside.

"Tactics like this never work. But the regulars keep me afloat. Especially with the state of the land now." Clark felt that the merchant and Isa were just dancing around what they wanted. However, he recognized that this was a game that had to be played. That every single merchant worth their salt would do something like this.

"The storm that passed by would definitely leave a mark. Not that I think a beast that caused a storm would cause trouble here. Unless there’s more..." Isa purposefully halted her words letting the merchant pick them up as the two saw the inside of the thin alley shop.

"The usual trouble after any rain touches the lava. Cracking lava stone. Beasts looking for new territories. Not that those are unusual. The dungeon that formed at the peak of the volcano, now that would be a problem." the man tapped the empty spaces on the shelf behind him. He looked almost sad while a slight grin showed at the corner of his mouth.

"A dungeon like that? What trouble. It must be a powerful type of dungeon that many people struggle with. I would say that beast plans for a beast from that dungeon would be hard to come by. It would be good for someone to go there and bring back a plan for sale. If they did though, then they would have to sell it somewhere to someone they were friendly with."

Clark’s attention focused on the growing smile of the merchant when Isa had spoken. She was pulling information from him with the promise of beast plans. The group was already known for this. But at the same time, they had become known for beast pains that didn’t exist before. New methods that caused waves to form in every place that they went. These beast planes were extremely valuable. The white robed healers were even using them to claim greater strength overall.

"Such a friend would want their beast plan seller to know that the dungeon is a unique one. It appears to be a separate space. The usual chaos of a dungeon that is connected to other places. Flame elves venturing around while other races in theory might arrive before the dungeon disappears. But the dragon welps are the worst trouble. Young dragons that can’t be tamed or beasts with a little dragon typing. Plenty of trouble. Plenty of value."

"That’s not all though, the flourishing materials of such an isolated space influenced by fire and dragon energies. Very odd but very numerous. It was a shame to hear that only seven out of a hundred guards returned. Especially when they all returned holding a violent flame violet."

"Such an herb was found there? I would understand if they were just going to some high class dungeon. But those aren’t able to just exist in higher numbers like seven. But other races crossing paths here. Odd." Isa held back as she thought but Clark had already grasped the game they were playing.

"A great place to take a light vacation since so many inns are booked up here. Dungeons like that are open to everyone since a single city is not strong enough to resist an outbreak. Such information would be very hard to keep secret for long." Clark paused and looked calmly at the merchant. He was mimicking the style that is used when she was negotiating.

"It would be even tougher to get information about how to get there and how to avoid the areas that guards patrol. Not that it would be hard for a really good merchant that’s used for transporting goods. For a trade like that, someone might even tell that merchant about the nature of the herb they have encased in glass behind them."

The merchant’s eyes darted to the herb that was on the shelf with a glass cover over it to prevent it from absorbing moisture. It had been brought to him without any details of what it was. But it had been found and he waited to see if anyone would want to buy it. A gamble that had proved to be completely useless. However, he couldn’t throw it out. He needed the money to survive here if he could sell it.

"Such a merchant would surely accept that deal. Especially if the one appraising it was known for their unique talent to pick up good things. Some merchants have been talking about that kind of talent from a young tamer." The merchant reached down and grabbed a rolled up map along with a charcoal pen. He quickly started to write down a few things along with handing over a blank paper. Clark also began writing while making sure to keep a sharp eye on the merchant’s writings in case he showed any hesitation that might prove he was lying.

’Withered flame grass- ultra rare

The withered flame grass is the ideal material to cause a beast that suffers from lack of flame affinity the ability to grow beyond that. It will forcefully boost the earth type nature of any beast capable of living within lava.

Therefore, this herb facilitates the lowering of flame affinity to create an exceptionally powerful earth affinity beast. While most beasts are not able to handle this stress, some will perish if they can not maintain the fire affinity within this environment.

The earth affinity growth is required to survive and take the next step in its growth. The example is the magma serpent. It can not grow stronger with its flame affinity and must gain a better earth affinity to leave the area and travel to where it prefers to nest.

This herb can be found in...’