Cost
Jiang Yu frowned as she studied the inkstone cupped in her hand.
The inkstone was only the size of a palm. Made of Luowen Stone, it had been polished fine and smooth, its base color a warm bluish gray. Rippling patterns covered it densely, and with a single glance, one could pick out traces of many Magic Scripts such as "calm the heart," "settle the breath," and "focus the mind."
The entire inkstone had been carved into a little fox curled up asleep, its four paws pressed close to the stone surface. They were not shaped like ordinary beast claws, but simplified into four round little stone stumps that served perfectly as the four feet beneath the inkstone. Its pointed muzzle rested against its forepaws, the grinding surface opened along the fox's back, the edge transitioning naturally and merging with the curve of the fox's body. The ink reservoir cleverly made use of the fox's fluffy, curled tail: the tail tip curled back, forming a natural little hollow between it and the haunch, about a finger deep, able to hold ink, with a capacity of roughly two or three milliliters. At a glance, it looked as if the Little Fox had relieved itself into a tiny puddle.
Perhaps only Qingqiu in all the world would make such an undignified inkstone for a child.
Jiang Yu thought this with a bit of pent-up irritation.
While she was examining the inkstone, the fox head lying on its forepaws atop it was also furtively watching her. Its slanted, upright ears turned very slowly in the Witch's direction, and its two eyeballs rolled about beneath its eyelids, as if it thought that with its lids covering them, no one else could see its little movements.
"—Open your eyes! Spit it out!"
Jiang Yu