Chương 16: The Trading Hall

"But that arrangement also creates its own problems." As they walked, Bev continued explaining.

"The Guild's Commission Office charges a pretty hefty commission fee, so only jobs that absolutely require a mage are posted there."

"And missions like that are usually high-level."

"Apprentice Mages are practically useless on them, and even Lower-tier Mages don't get many opportunities."

"To solve the problem of junior mages struggling to make a living, the Mage Guild introduced its stipend system. Every certified mage can claim a monthly allowance based on their rank."

"The Mage Guild's history has really been... eventful." Zelier couldn't help sighing. No wonder the adventurers at the Adventurers' Association had been surprised to see a mage accepting missions. By then, the two of them had arrived at the Trading Hall. It turned out that even a prestigious place like the Mage Guild became lively the moment money was involved. Long display counters stretched across the spacious hall, showcasing every magical commodity imaginable. Mana crystals gleaming in every color.

Rare dried herbs. Magic cores radiating faint energy. Potions with all sorts of mysterious effects. Ancient tomes bound in weathered leather. Robed mages bustled between the stalls with the shrewd instincts of seasoned merchants. Haggling filled the air, punctuated by the constant clinking of coins. Copper coins? They were almost nonexistent here. Silver was the minimum. With a quick glance, Zelier even spotted transactions worth dozens of gold coins. Yeah...

you really can't afford to be poor if you want to become a mage.

"Everything from blank parchment scrolls to Upper-tier spell scrolls, mana crystals that restore magical power, and all kinds of rare materials." Bev sounded more than a little proud.

"As long as you have enough money, you can buy anything a mage could possibly need here." She wasn't exaggerating. One sweep of the hall was enough to leave Zelier dazzled. Everywhere he looked... Treasures.

"So many..." He almost forgot why he'd come.

"Come on." Bev tugged at his sleeve.

"You can browse another day. Let's deal with your staff first." The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"There are lots of wand and staff shops in here. First-timers usually get overwhelmed."

"But I know a good one."

"Follow me." Reluctantly tearing his eyes away from the displays, Zelier followed her through the crowd. At the very end of the hall stood several doors, each decorated in a completely different style. Bev pushed open one made of glowing redwood. The moment they stepped inside, the bustling noise outside vanished. An invisible barrier sealed the sounds away. The atmosphere became quiet and peaceful, broken only by the gentle chime of a wind bell hanging over the entrance. The shop was much smaller than expected.

Instead of shelves packed with merchandise, there were only two rows of vertical display racks, each holding dozens of beautifully crafted staves of every imaginable design. Behind the counter sat an elderly woman with silver hair. Her face was warm and kind. Unlike an eager salesperson, she simply smiled and gestured toward the displays.

"Take your time."

"The prices are listed beneath each one." Choosing a mage's staff wasn't something another person could do for you. No matter how persuasive the shopkeeper was, nothing mattered more than trying it yourself. Only the staff that suited you best was worth buying. A magic staff consisted of three essential components: The shaft, the fittings, and the core. The shaft determined how smoothly mana flowed through the staff. The core decided which school of magic the staff amplified.

For example, a staff built around the magic core of a Flame Lizard greatly enhanced fire spells. A staff using the rare mineral Heart of Earth as its core dramatically increased the power of earth magic. The fittings were usually conductive magical metals—materials similar to mithril or adamant—that bound the shaft and core together while improving mana transmission. As Zelier slowly browsed the racks, his eyes widened. Not... A single one of these staves cost less than one hundred gold coins.

He even spotted one crafted from ancient oak with a Natural Crystal core. Price: 600 Gold Coins.

"..." He instinctively took a step backward. I'd never be able to pay for that if I accidentally broke it.

"What's your budget?" Bev asked quietly.

"Three gold..." Zelier hesitated before gritting his teeth.

"Three gold and fifty silver. That's my absolute limit." After receiving the Guild stipend, he possessed a grand total of four gold and three silver. He still needed enough left over for everyday expenses. Bev stared at him.

"... That's... oddly specific." Then she looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. You came shopping for a staff with only four gold in your pocket?

"In that case..." She made her decision immediately.

"Forget finished staves."

"Go pick out a shaft instead."

"It obviously won't be as good as a completed staff, but it's much cheaper."

"And it'll still provide some mana amplification."

"It's certainly better than casting with your bare hands." So the two of them wandered toward a quiet corner of the shop. Stacks of unfinished staff shafts rested there. Each had only undergone rough shaping, waiting to be fitted with magical metals and a core. They were still expensive... But at least they were within Zelier's reach. After comparing dozens of options, he finally settled on one. An ash wood staff shaft. Price: 3 Gold Coins. It was nothing special.

Just the most basic mana amplification and a slight improvement to casting speed. The definition of beginner equipment. But just as Bev had said— Better than nothing. Handing over three precious gold coins hurt far more than he'd expected. That... was painfully expensive. His eyes drifted toward the crimson staff hanging from Bev's waist. The material. The polish. The craftsmanship. That thing has to be worth a few hundred gold coins... No wonder mages attract robbers.

After purchasing the unfinished shaft, the pair left the Trading Hall. On their way back, however, a thunderous roar echoed across the guild grounds. Zelier stopped in his tracks. Following the sound, he spotted an enormous circular stone structure. Its exterior resembled an ancient Roman coliseum.

"What's that?"

"Oh." Bev barely glanced over.

"The Training Arena."

"The Guild uses it for sparring and magical duels."

"Sometimes members preparing for the Lower-tier Mage examination also take their practical tests there." A training arena... The moment he heard those words, Zelier's eyes lit up. Not because he wanted to fight. Because... Free spells.

"I want to go watch!" He answered almost instantly.

"... Do you really have to look that excited?" Seeing the eager expression on his face, Bev couldn't help laughing.

"Come on, then."

"Judging by all that noise, it's probably pretty lively today." The two climbed a broad spiral staircase leading to the spectator stands. From above, the entire arena unfolded before them. At its center stood a massive dueling platform over fifty meters across. The floor and surrounding walls were all constructed from solid granite, built to withstand the devastating power of combat magic.