Master Of None

There were plenty of new sights that Walker had not noticed when they had been here previously. Then again, the reasons for being within the fire elemental planes were a lot more pressing than right now. He also hadn’t been bothered with absorbing knowledge.

Let alone the fact that one could most likely spend years exploring the elemental planes only to find that they were still full of mystery. They were also growing after all.

In just the past hour, Midnightbhad brought a few interesting things that she and Onyc had managed to find with their sharper senses.

There were a few bones from something called a charred earth slider, a snake like lizard from the earth elemental plane which would move in to the fire elemental plane so that it could awaken its second affinity or perish. An interesting species of monster that he was certain he would see at some point. While small they could be fairly unique.

There were small fruits that Onyx managed to smell while slithering passed a small indent in the ground. What was found was a very tiny bush called a fire cage cranberry. It was an adapted cranberry that should be a water affinity fruit.

Over the years of being too close to the fire elemental plane it had adapted and changed affinities. Instead of relying on the water mana it used fire mana to grow a dense cage around itself to defend from being touched until the berries fell off and were swept away by moving flows of fire mana from larger monsters.

The berries held some fire mana soothing to the body and Remey along with three of the healers thought they were ideal for treating hypothermia. They could safely and calmly warm the inside of the body without harm. They had told Walker that they would handle the seeds and found berries leaving Onyx with a decent amount of praise.

The last thing that Midnight had found were scratch marks. Something that would have appeared to be territorial markings until they all realized that the flame swallowing turtles were checking these marks periodically.

This entire time they had been following a trail that they couldn’t notice because they lacked the knowledge and understanding of the elemental plane of fire.

It led Su to examine them every time she saw the flame swallowing turtles stop. She began to notice patterns that were similar to how the merchant guilds had symbols on their maps. Locations to rest, locations to set up full overnight camps, and even places that could mention danger and not to rest.

While she had seen their symbols, associating these symbols would take some time with the right meanings. That was just a lack of knowledge of the fire elemental planes and their races. But if these were carved and known trails, then it was most likely that this part of the fire elemental plane was stable enough not to shift and change often.

That alone put many at ease. They all understood that the elemental planes shifted and changed often. Becoming lost was a major issue that could take months, if not years added in to their journey and away from their time returning home. Knowing it was less possible that would change was good to say the least.

When the flame swallowing turtles stopped, everyone believed they were resting. That wasn’t the case though. Ahead there were some darker figures along with larger figures carrying what seemed to be boxes made from various materials.

”Is that a caravan?” Since Gil and the best eyesight he could see formations of guards walking alongside the larger figures with the items carried.

”They also see us and are heading our way faster. We’ll have two or three of them here in a few moments” Gil took a few squads to the edges of their groups to act as defensive long ranged attackers if necessary. Yet, it didn’t look like it would be.

The figures stopped in front do the flame swallowing turtles passing pure mana back and forth. Walker easily felt and began to understand it as language. This was similar to the ways that the spirit race and elemental spirits used to speak before the world and existence made languages translated for every race.

The others soon began to catch on as well…

”Traveling has been perfect. You are the second group we are finding here. Our black smoke merchants have plenty of goods to sell you and trade with you. Would you like to view our wares?” The figure asking was clearly a merchant with his personal guards.

What stood out was the fact that he looked like talking charcoal in the shape of a human. Defined features but glimmering embers as eyes and when his mouth opened. ”So these are the coal people I was told about,” Walker mumbles as he stepped forward.

”We are willing to trade. We have many exotic items you may have never seen so we would like to see what we can find to bring back. We are traveling to the embarking city of coal or I believe it has other names that could define it. We will be looking for items and knowledge there as well.” The figures were somewhat shocked hearing Walker speak out loud.

The oddity of how everyone looked in their armor and how Walker moved the fire mana to speak exactly as they did was out of the ordinary. Then again, a merchant in any world was a merchant, the glowing coals that were the merchant’s mouth glowed brightened in a smile.

”Then why don’t we set up two spots just ahead there?” Walker spoke and pointed out the open space between him. He also glanced ahead and saw the larger figures that were carrying things.

They were like larger golems, made of coal but definitely not intelligent since they seemed to move according to the will of a few leading them. ”Do you like them? They are first generation coal golems built by our main caravan. We will be selling them come the start of next year.”

A merchant had quick eyes and Walker couldn’t say he wasn’t impressed that he noticed him looking. ”Not just yet, but they are new to me and I’ll remember them.”

This seemed to make the merchant happy since Walker was acknowledging a potential future product. Regardless of that, both sides set up some items. Walker always had extra things in his high spatial storage. It was easy for him to remove items that would not degrade too quickly within the fire elemental plane.

The metals and fire resistant items were enough to garner a large amount of attention. The same could be said when Walker noticed the bountiful items that held high amounts of fire mana. Some were entirely pure fire elemental metals, monster hides, and even herbs potted and ready to be stuck in to the ground.

Her herbs that were fried or being set as just root for planting kept Remey’s attention since she knew they would be unique and require specific care. What Gil noticed was that any materials he could take would need to be highly manipulated so that he could turn them in to arrows.

What Midnight and Onyc saw though were scales the size of Walker’s head. Scales that came from something with draconic qualities but not quite a dragon. That could mean there were partial dragon blooded monsters and races across the fire elemental planes the same way that the Sigil continent had monsters with a slight amount of dragon lineage as well.

Quickly negotiations started. The merchants only spoke to Walker who was clearly the leader while the others realized that Walker was able to appraise everything and make better trades.

Things like potions were entirely ignored by the coal people, they couldn’t care less about anything that had water mana or seemed like it could have water mana in it. But the fire elemental mana crystals and fire rune carved mana gems made their eyes glow with more fire.

It was clearly something valuable to them, while Walker knew that the fire elemental planes must have many mana crystals, those with lesser purity might be extremely rare meaning they very perfect for the youngest of any fire attuned race.

This was what won him a large number of ores that were pure fire affinity which would shock many blacksmiths who knew that any ore had ties to earth mana in general. It would also shown some light in the research in to the elemental planes.

However, a change in the flow of fire mana around them made the merchant caravan halt and begin packing up. Their hurry brought Walker to ask what they were doing.

”You need to move on quickly. There is a large group of fireling screeches coming. They are annoying and will ruin your herbs if they see them.” The disdain proved that to any merchant with herbs they were a pest, but Walker hadn’t heard of the monster before, but they were enough of a reason to move ahead faster now that he knew of them.

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Please say no to piracy! Don’t take part in crime! Don’t patronize thieves!

Drop those golden tickets!