lirvothethird

  "Don't you have your saved up coins, go, I'll handle this."

  He gave a small push, and Conner scampered off.

  "Oh, it seems that I set the price too low. Even kids don't want to bargain."

  Muttering under my breath, I hit my palm with my fist in realization. The smart kid looked down upon me again. I smiled confidently, with only a few cracks appearing.

  "Anything else catch your fancy? What about these shakers? Neat-"

  "They're ugly."

  The blunt deadpan response. He was picking his ear with his pinky.

  "What?"

  What did I just hear?

  "I said they are ugly. U. G. L. Y. Ugly."

  My shoulders slumped down. I guess I'm out of touch. A hand patted my shoulder. Looking up, the kid was trying to comfort me! When they were the one to insult me in the first pce!

  "I only said they're ugly, not that they don't have potential."

  "I'm back!"

  Conner came running with a woven basket while clutching something in his other hand. Panting, he held out the basket. Inside the basket were coarse bread, leaves, and a smelly jar. The jar had an oily and fishy smell that is an acquired taste.

  My mind calmed down at the familiar smell. Then some oddities were noticed by me. He called it ugly, then tried to comfort me with 'it has potential'. Is this the undercutting strategy? Lowering the value of my goods, hmph.

  Conner anxiously gnced at me. It seemed that I thought too long.

  "Not the whole jar, right?"

  "Yeah."

  He tensely nodded while spreading four fingers. Four what, spoonfuls? I first need to crify on another matter however. Leaning in, I ask.

  "Don't you need your mother's permission?"

  "No, no no no! It's a gift, surprises."

  At those words the smart one started whispering in Conner's ear. I don't expect a lot anyways. Highly likely he's going to back out.

  Conner came back forward. Voice trembling.

  "With all of these -

  He gestured at what he brought.

  - I want these three bowls as well as those two."

  More than expected. Guess these little kids think they know much huh. I was willing to concede more, especially for the fish I haven't eaten in a while. But, to show them I'm not that easy I should do some casual bargaining.

  "Three bowls, one jar for those. I'll even give a pair of shakers."

  The smart kid quickly hurried to whisper but it was futile.

  "Deal! Here you go!"

  "Deal."

  Shaking his small hand, I smmed the cauldron in front of me with a slight thud. Until I leave, I will use this as a temporary basket, after which I'll discard it. I cannot eat anything until their parent gives approval, as they may do something. My eyes narrowed slightly.

  After the exchange, Conner turned back towards the smart kid.

  "What?"

  "No, nothing."

  Shaking his head, he gestured over the other ones pying on the side. Unknowingly a sooty girl was rustling through my pottery. The adults also were starting to leave the fields.

  Leaving the girl alone, I closed my eyes to prepare mentally for the farmers heading my way. If only there was more people trading right now, then I can study how the other people do it.

  My breathing hitched, but I quickly calmed down again. Opening my eyes they were walking down the gravel paths. The sooty girl reluctantly teared her eyes off the pottery and trotted away. A distinct shaking sound trailed after her.

  One of the shakers got nabbed. It was originally used to curry favor with the kids. The group of kids had already gone off the side, with the smart kid showing off his shaker. Taxes. A distant term suitable here.

  Long shadows cast over my face, as I was surrounded. My eyes saw bantering, while it felt like ghosts were crawling around. My foot nervously tapped the ground, however, I suppressed it as I struggled to look into the eyes of the first buyer.

  A devilish grin adorned his face as he flipped through a few bowls. Casually knocking on them, a clear noise lightly rung out. It is unnaturally crisp sounding, a result of my magic.

  "How much for one?"

  Right after he spoke, it felt like a veil was torn. Everything returned to normal, honest farmers with bright smiles milling around to chat after a day's work. The shadows lingered at the edge of vision, dissipating when seen.

  I straightened myself. Forty copper at Terbisia is the market price for a decent standard bowl.

  "Thirty copper a bowl. These are made out of sculpted rocks, stronger than pottery.

  Oh and I accept barter. Some food would be preferred."

  Sheepishly adding what I forgot to say, I tousled my hair. The farmer nodded slowly, before opening his mouth. He pointed at a mortar and pestle.

  "How much for this one?"

  "Fifty copper. Do you need me to adjust the grip for you?"

  "What?"

  He looked slightly bewildered. Adjusting the grip on a mortar and pestle is an extremely uncommon thing to do. At most, it would be some sanding to make the pestle smaller.

  "Here, look."

  Holding the pestle, I gripped slightly, pressing parts apart like mud. After a quick scrape to get rid of the edges, I handed it to him. He held it tightly, testing the strength of the pestle after how easily I indented it.

  "Wow, magic?"

  "Yeah."

  I tensed up. I don't know how magic is perceived in other pces, but it should be better, like what the strange dy said. He casually brushed past the topic.

  "Can you just widen these parts out? The grip isn't just for me, it's for my wife."

  As I adjusted it, he grabbed another set of pottery as well.

  Smiling, he pulled a basket of fruit from behind his back, as well as rustling through a cloth bag. With a few clinks, he fanned out a silver coin with three copper coins on both sides.

  "Honestly, I don't really use money."

  "It's fine, I want to compensate you for teaching my son a little."

  "Who? Is it the smart one or Conner?"

  "He is a pretty smart boy, just that when he speaks he can hurt peoples feelings. I hope he didn't trouble you."

  "No, no, it's fine"

  Waving my hands, I reassured him. To reciprocate his thanks, I grabbed two shakers.

  "I saw your kid pying with his friend's rock. Here, take this with you."

  "Rocks?"

  "No, I call them shakers, inside, I put gravel I made of specific sizes, resulting in a different noise for each one."

  Nodding his head, we shook on a deal.