Early the next morning, Bastion and the girls arrived at their very first stop, Mushvale. It was a heavily guarded, walled village similar in nature to the Shadow Wolfkin Village, specializing in hunting and gathering within the Great Forest before selling their goods to the kingdom. As such, there were plenty of Rank 1 and Rank 2 combatants guarding the settlement at all times, ensuring the village's safety against the dangers of the wilderness. Right away, however, Bastion could tell that these people had different classes from their own.
The guards here wore garments made of moss and wood and carried weapons crafted from wood as well. Most held a staff, indicating they were mages of one form or another.
Not a single human could be seen; the village was inhabited entirely by Leshies and Dryads, druidic races with a closer connection to plant life than even the Elves. Compared to humans, they differed mainly in their green hair and brown, bark-colored skin, along with abilities that allowed Leshies to shapeshift and Dryads to inhabit and travel through trees. Most Leshies also had antlers of some kind or root-like body parts, depending on their ancestry.
As magical species that specialized in plant warfare, they were undoubtedly at their strongest near ancient forests such as the Great Forest. No doubt their calm demeanor, despite the intimidating approach of the black metal carriages, came from having detected it long before it became visible.
The carriage slowed to a stop just outside the village gate, waiting for entry, as Bastion, clad in heavy Rank 2 black armor, stepped out to speak with the guards.
"Reason for visit?" the guard, a Rank 2 Leshy, shouted from atop the wooden walls.
"Merchant caravan just passing by, looking to sell our wares and perhaps gather information."
"We do not welcome anything made of metal."
That made sense, considering Leshies and Dryads were naturally weak to metal of all kinds. Forged iron in particular burned their skin on contact. They basically had no need for anything Bastion personally made.
"We also sell potions, Rank 1 and Rank 2 resources from the Great Forest, and skill scrolls."
The guard's eyes widened when skill scrolls were mentioned. Those could easily be bought from the Mages Guild, but they were prohibitively expensive, so encountering a traveling Scribe was one of the best ways to purchase them for cheap and obtain unique skills not commonly found in the kingdom.
"Open the gates, and let the Chief know we have merchants visiting," the guard shouted.
Soon, the gates swung open, allowing them passage, and a guard eagerly stepped forward to lead them to the open market where they could sell their goods during their stay.
Inside, the village opened into a wide clearing with neatly arranged homes and sprawling gardens. Most homes were made from shaped wood and living material, with smooth walls, carved windows, and sturdy roofs. The layout of the village was open and spacious, with wide paths, small bridges over streams, and plenty of greenery woven naturally between buildings.
Despite their connection to plant life, the village felt organized and developed. There were proper workshops, storage buildings, alchemy spaces, and even a tavern built from reinforced timber and living wood. It was a proper working settlement that used nature as its foundation instead of replacing it.
The market stretched across a central square, organized with stalls, carpets piled with goods, and designated trading spaces. Hunters brought their resources to trade for their own needs before selling the rest to the village for sale in the kingdom. Dryads moved easily between buildings, occasionally slipping through nearby trees for convenience, while Leshies carried bundles of herbs, cultivated mushrooms, and crafted wooden tools. Stalls displayed fruits and vegetables, fresh meat, mushrooms of every kind, and even special enchanted wooden weapons and armor.
The carriage was parked in a relatively open space before Bastion locked the wheels and unsummoned Steve, his diamond steed. Elyra, dressed in her maid outfit, stepped out and cast Clean, removing all the dirt, grime, mud, and sap that clung to the carriages. She was followed by Ariel, who headed for the local tavern to gather information. Finally, Seraphina and Lilia stepped out, wearing luxurious red and blue dresses, and moved to the back of the rear carriage.
Lilia stepped inside to prepare their goods for sale, while Seraphina set out a sign that read "Wanderer's Trove." Below it was a list of goods with prices far higher than anyone in the Kingdom of Brilliance would reasonably pay. They didn't know the standard prices in this kingdom, so it was better to ensure they profited, even if no one bought anything.
Bastion then stood outside the rear carriage's open door, taking up a position on guard, while Seraphina made her way back inside to help Lilia with the preparations. As expected, not a single person was brave enough to enter the intimidating, metal-clad carriage. They stayed away, not even bothering to ask questions, which was fine for now, given the caravan's lack of information about the area.
Soon, a much older Rank 2 Leshy approached. He had a long green beard, a hunched back, and an impressively long walking staff. A dozen guards flanked him on each side as he made his way to the carriages. Clearly, he was the village chief, and the caravan's real customer.
"I am Mossgar, the Chief of Mushvale Village," the old man introduced himself.
"I am Bastion, the leader of the Wanderer's Trove merchant caravan."
"I was told you sell skill scrolls. What are the rates?"
"Fifty percent of Mages Guild prices."
"A bit expensive, no?"
"We haven't managed to build up a significant inventory yet, and the prices reflect that. Maybe when we have tens of thousands of skill scrolls, we'll consider selling them cheaper."
Mossgar nodded and examined the signage, specifically the prices attached to each product.
"These prices are too high. No one in their right mind would pay, even in the kingdom."
"This village is our first stop, so we don't have a sense of the appropriate prices yet. We set them to ensure we cover our expenses during the trip."
"Kingdom of Brilliance?"
"Yes."
"You have just started, then. I have met many merchant caravans, and their prices are much cheaper than even the kingdom's own."
"That's because they have experience. I'm sure the prices will go down once we reach the capital and gain a better understanding of the market."
Mossgar nodded again, noting it was a pity they were the first stop. Otherwise, the prices would be more realistic if this caravan had come from the capital.
"Very well, show me what you have," Mossgar said.
"Step inside," Bastion said, stepping aside.
Mossgar looked at the steps made of blood iron and frowned before tapping his staff on the ground. Vines erupted, wrapping around the metal surface and creating a mat of soft leaves. He then stepped up and entered, his guards following after him.
Once he entered, Mossgar found himself in a spacious, well-lit area of roughly 100 sqm (1,076 sq ft). The interior was surprisingly luxurious for a traveling caravan, with polished wooden floors and finely woven rugs that softened their footsteps. Everything was immaculately clean, and the air carried a faint scent of incense and herbs.
Goods were carefully arranged in gleaming glass display cases, each item showcased with care. Mannequins wore heavy metal, leather, and cloth armors, polished and free of any dirt or wear. Weapons, swords, staves, and enchanted wooden implements rested on padded racks, while delicate jewelry and curious oddities sparkled behind the glass. Alongside them, neatly arranged shelves held potions of every hue, from deep crimson healing elixirs to glowing green concoctions of mysterious magical properties.
The space felt both opulent and functional, allowing customers to move freely while appreciating the caravan's rare and carefully curated treasures.
Mossgar wasn't impressed in the slightest, instead zeroing in on a woman in red who sat in front of a bookcase, the likely spot where skill scrolls were being sold. Ignoring everything else, he made his way over and addressed her.
"You must be the Scribe."
"Seraphina, at your service," she said with a light bow.
"Mossgar, Chief of Mushvale Village. Now, show me your skills."
Seraphina reached behind her and handed over the largest book she owned, a tome binding all the skill scrolls she had ever created, easily numbering over a thousand. The scrolls ranged from the most basic skills any adventurer would need in a fight, such as Slash, Dash, and Block, to more complex ones like Mage Hand, Magic Armor, Magic Missile, and Magic Shield. There were even some of their more recent acquisitions, including Wind Barrier, Earth Rampart, and Mystic Mend.
Mossgar's eyes widened slightly when he read the effects of Mystic Mend, but he quickly recovered his composure. It wasn't enough, however; Seraphina noticed immediately. Even without Lilia's Healing Water Attribute to enhance them, there was still undeniable value in weak healing skills.
"How much for everything?" Mossgar asked.
"With over a thousand scrolls in total, at 50% of the Mages Guild prices, around 20 magic crystals," Seraphina replied.
"Hissss," Mossgar recoiled at the price.
Even for him, it was an exorbitant sum, equivalent to the village's revenue for two centuries. Fortunately, he had been saving for an occasion just like this, though there was a small complication.
"Are you willing to accept trade?" he asked.
"Only if there are enough materials to match the skill's worth, along with detailed notes on all the resources you're offering," Seraphina answered.
"So… blood, skin, and magic stones between Apprentice and Rank 2?"
"Yes," she confirmed with a nod.
"Very well, we can pay as much."
"Excellent," Seraphina said with a smile.
She may have already had a stockpile of scroll materials she hadn't yet used, but having more was always better. Her real target for this deal, however, was information on new resources that could elevate her Alchemy. Just because she found the work tedious didn't mean she had stopped studying; it was still an excellent source of funds, after all.
While Bastion and Seraphina were busy selling their goods, Ariel entered a tavern to gather information. She wanted to learn the latest news in the kingdom as well as the shortest path ahead.
After spending a few coins to loosen tongues, she managed to get everything she needed. First, their route would continue through deep tunnels that wound around the kingdom like a maze, all the way to the capital and out on the other side. Second, tensions were high due to the mounting pressure of the war with the kobolds deep underground.
And lastly, perhaps most importantly, taxes had been raised to support the war effort, making it clear that passing through the kingdom would cost them far more than it was worth.
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