Reunion

As he stepped through the Adventurers' Guild's ornate oak doors and back into Orlando's morning sunshine, the golden thing weighed heavily in his hand. It was like a red-hot brand, making his heart burn with excitement.

Gold coins!

How long had it been since he'd seen one? Ever since House Toremo's mountain of gold had come crashing down, he'd been pinching every copper coin until it practically split in half.

Now, a genuine gold coin lay in his Space Bag.

"Heh..." Xia Lin couldn't help grinning like an idiot. His fingers instinctively traced the coin's shape through the bag.

"Wipe the drool off your face, human." Sera's icy voice doused him like a bucket of cold water. "I'm more concerned with when we can turn those 'relics' into actual money than with you staring at a piece of metal. I want my twenty percent, every last coin."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. What's the rush?" Xia Lin tucked away his smugness and regained some of his usual sharpness. "There are plenty of markets in the city. We'll find somewhere to sell everything. But speaking of which, Orlando's a lot bigger than that little place, Changhe City. This is your first time here, right?"

Before Sera could answer, Xia Lin was already pointing things out as they walked from the Upper City, where the guild was located, toward the Lower City near the harbor.

The smooth marble beneath their feet gave way to worn paving stones. The air's delicate incense was replaced by a mix of fish, leather, and food smells. The well-dressed townsfolk and haughty merchants gave way to sailors, artisans, peddlers, and more dust-covered adventurers like them.

"Look over there," Xia Lin said, pointing into the distance. "That's Greyport, the largest inland port in the eastern province. More cargo passes through there every day than Changhe City sees in a year. Follow the river upstream, through the Artisan District, and you'll see the golden domes of the great temples in the Temple District. The God of Light, the Goddess of Wealth, the God of Knowledge, the Goddess of Magic... Every god you can think of has a shrine there."

He paused and pointed toward the faint outline of a white spire in the city center. "And of course, there's that—the Orlando Mage Tower. They say it's older than Orlando City itself, and that it holds countless secrets... Not to mention a bunch of old mages with tempers worse than dragons."

"Sounds like either a money pit or a place to get into trouble," Sera remarked, her tone flat.

"Hey, you never know," Xia Lin said, unconcerned.

As they passed, a paperboy waved a newspaper and shouted, "Horn Herald! Horn Herald! Latest news! The Duke's new favorite griffin had diarrhea yesterday! Mage Tower apprentice's experiment went out of control and blew up the toilet! The Dwarf kingdom and the subterranean gnomes are locked in a heated debate over whether 'beard length affects digging efficiency'!"

"One, please." Xia Lin handed over two coppers and took the oil-scented Orlando Horn Herald.

He skimmed the trivial gossip and couldn't help laughing. "Ha! A Knight of Mithril Hall nearly got into a bar fight over a dancer? Those guys haven't changed a bit."

Sera leaned over to look, her gaze landing on an inconspicuous corner of the fourth page.

"Orc activity intensifies along the kingdom's eastern border. Multiple merchant caravans attacked. Officials urge vigilance, claiming 'the situation is under control.'"

She read the small print aloud, her voice tinged with scorn. "'The situation is under control'? Just like the 'under control' situation we ran into? Those officials sitting by their warm fireplaces probably think Orcs only steal a few sacks of wheat, instead of splitting people in half."

"All right, stop complaining," Xia Lin said, folding the newspaper and tucking it into his coat. "Complaining won't solve anything. Money will. Come on, let's go to the Hundred Merchants Market."

The Hundred Merchants Market was a vast open-air square in the Lower City, near the harbor.

At the Hundred Merchants Market, used equipment usually fetched only forty to sixty percent of its value, unless it was magical. But hey, at least they bought just about anything.

Stalls crowded together, and the air was thick with the smells of spices, leather, cheap ale, and all manner of unidentified droppings.

The cries of vendors, the haggling, the clang of the blacksmiths' hammers, and the off-key songs of the bards blended into a lively, chaotic symphony.

Xia Lin led Sera through the packed crowds with practiced ease, finding several weapon shops and secondhand stores that seemed reasonably trustworthy.

After some haggling, they sold Gorgash's great axe, Kyle's greatsword, Captain Marcus's standard-issue longsword and Kite Shield, Pip's dagger, and all their other assorted gear.

In the end, Xia Lin's Space Bag held ninety-one silver coins and a pile of loose copper coins.

The two of them found a relatively quiet corner.

Xia Lin counted out eighteen silver coins and about sixty-five coppers, then handed them to Sera. "Here, your twenty percent. Count it."

Sera took the money and slipped it into the inside pocket of her robe without even looking at it, quick as a seasoned pickpocket. "No need. I trust your professional integrity as a 'Relic Organizer.'" Her tone was teasing.

Xia Lin pursed his lips and put away the remaining silver and copper coins.

Including what he had left before and the proceeds from selling the gear, he now had one gold coin, nearly eighty silver coins, and more than four hundred coppers.

It wasn't a fortune in Orlando, but it was enough to upgrade his equipment and buy some necessary scrolls or potions.

"All right, money and goods exchanged." Xia Lin clapped his hands. "Shall we go our separate ways, then? Enjoy your time in Orlando... I guess?"

Sera didn't leave right away.

Her dark red eyes fixed on Xia Lin. After a moment of silence, she suddenly asked, "Human, what are your plans now?"

"Me?" Xia Lin blinked. "What else? Find a place to stay, get a decent meal, then see if I can find some work that'll make money."

"Orlando is large and complicated," Sera said. "You seem to know it better than I do. And for now, I don't want to draw too much attention. Perhaps we could team up for a while?"

She paused, then added, "I need a guide who knows the lay of the land. In return, I can offer some help when necessary. You know, sometimes a warlock's 'little tricks' are more useful than a sword."

Xia Lin looked at her, surprised.

Team up?

With this mysterious, sharp-tongued Tiefling?

But when he thought it over, having a companion didn't seem like such a bad idea.

Sera might be odd, but her strength was the real deal. That Eldritch Blast packed a punch.

"Sure." Xia Lin shrugged, looking unconcerned. "Let's team up for now. But just so you know, I can't afford to put you up in a fancy inn."

"I have no particular requirements for accommodations," Sera replied calmly.

"Good." Xia Lin nodded. "Then, your 'guide' has some personal business to attend to. Come on, partner."

He straightened his collar and headed toward the towering white spire in the city center.

"Where are we going?" Sera asked, following him.

"The Mage Tower." Xia Lin glanced back, his expression a complicated mix of anticipation and dread. "I'm going to see my cheap little sister."