(Yesterday was January 1, 2013, New Year's Day, double rewards, the first day of the year, the first day after the year of the apocalypse. On this universally celebrated and commemorative day, the most memorable thing I did was forget to ask for monthly votes... XD. So I'm asking for monthly votes today! I have to make up for yesterday's share!)
The sound of a noisy crowd came from not far ahead, mixed with a sharp, angry female voice. That slightly hissing voice was highly distinctive; there was no mistaking it. It was Sakina.
The market had grown crowded, apparently reaching the peak of trading hours. Though the two stalls were only a little over a hundred meters apart, the crowd blocked the way between them, and we had not noticed the commotion over there. By the time we squeezed through, more than a dozen people had gathered in front of Sakina's stall. More than half seemed to have come for the spectacle, while two men in short blue robes were confronting Sakina.
"That's an apprentice's outfit," Lilina said, lightly nudging my arm. "But I can't tell whether they're alchemy apprentices or scholars' assistants. Both types usually wear short blue robes."
"Sakina, what's going on?" Sona swiftly slipped through the crowd, arrived at Sakina's side, and asked quietly.
Sakina was glaring furiously at the two men. Only then did she notice that we had returned, so she curled her lip. "It looks like there was a problem with the Rhomboid Stone we sold them last month. It ruined something, and they want compensation."
Sona frowned. This clearly seemed like quite a troublesome situation for them. The taller of the two young men apparently knew Sona was the one more in charge of the pair's adventuring team, so he stopped pestering