“Alright! We made it back!” Haiko exclaims to Mimir floating by his side, as they exit the stone path back to the dirt road, the sun barely visible as night arrives.

Mimir replies with a prompt, “(￣ー￣)ｂ”

Felice follows through, “And so we have!” she says with a smirk while a projection, being created by Silfy who was on top of her huge backpack, is in front of her.

The projection shows data information from the temple and during the fight with both the Thunder Viper and the corrupted Lindworm. Haiko couldn’t understand what was written so he left her alone as they continue to return to the dirt road. Mimir on the other hand looked at it as if he was recording it.

Haiko looks at Felice, “You done reading?”

Felice sighs, “I’m not really getting anywhere at the moment…” as she says, she snaps her fingers and as she does, the projection gets sucked into Felice’s bracelet on her left arm.

“Thanks as always Silfy!” she says with a smile, which Silfy nods in reply. Felice then holds onto the straps of her bag.

“Follow me now,” Felice walks onward taking the lead.

Haiko and Mimir follow as instructed. As Haiko catches up to Felice and walks with her, he asks “So, about us… having no money?”

“Ah! Yes, thank you for reminding me!” Felice smiles, “Just making sure, but you really have no knowledge of anything in this world?”

Haiko shrugs, “Not a wink, unless you count knowing a few flowers, bugs, some lizards, and whatever we just saw earlier”

Felice sighs, “I’ve searched through my records, but I really couldn’t find what you are. I know you look like a shadow, but no shadow has ever been seen to have as much power as you do” she ponders.

“I did say I wasn’t from here, right?” Haiko says while putting his hands on the back of his head.

Felice sighs again, “That just makes things more puzzling…”

“If you want to know something, ask Mimir” Haiko points to Mimir with his thumb, “He knows me more than I know myself”

Mimir sighs, “Sadly so…”

Haiko looks at Mimir annoyed, “What does that mean?!”

Felice and Silfy look at Mimir and Haiko’s banter. “Quite a strange duo” Silfy comments, Felice chuckles at the comment, “Indeed”

“So!” Felice raises her voice, getting Haiko and Mimir’s attention, “I’ll ask Mimir later, for now let me teach you the basics of trade in Niviru” Felice exclaims.

Haiko and Mimir listens as they continue to walk towards the Village.

“Silfy sweety, can you grab three Aetho and three Tenzal coins, varying in strength please” she says with a smile looking at Silfy.

Silfy replies with small nod, “Certainly” and as she says, the gem on her forehead glows. Three pebble like gems, and three shiny metallic coins float in front of Felice.

Felice separates the gems and the coins, “Basically there are two currencies in Niviru,” she then points a finger at the metallic coins, “These are called Tenzal coins. Their value is dependent on their strength which is shown by their colour”

Felice points one by one to the Tenzal coins, “The golden coloured Tenzal coin has the lowest value. The silver one is equivalent to ten golden Tenzal coins. Now the black coloured one is the highest grade of Tenzal metal and is equivalent to a hundred silver Tenzal coins, this is rarely used by common folk though so don’t expect seeing it as much” Felice shrugs.

Haiko nods, “Do… you have one?”

Felice looks at Haiko confused, “Yes? This here,” Felice points at the floating black Tenzal coin. “I assure you this is real” she states flicking the black Tenzal coin making it spin in its place.

Haiko is amazed and chuckles at his disbelief, “My bad, I thought those were just another projection. I guess, you’re quite rich?”

Felice’s nose figuratively became pointy, “hmph! But of course, I’m the famous adventuring witch all across Niviru!” she boasts, “A few people still remember me as one of the apprentices of the grate sage in the olden days!” she delightedly says with a wink.

“Huh… So, how old are you?” Haiko asks.

Felice looks at Haiko with an eerie smile, “Do I look young?”

Haiko flinches, “Y-yes?” he replies as sweat drops on the side of his face in fear.

Felice smiles brightly, “Then I’m young! Let’s leave it at that!”

Mimir floats partially in Haiko’s frontview, “She’s five hundred and-“ Mimir tries to say, but gets cut off as an ice spear barely misses him and hits a tree.

Haiko looks at it in horror, while Mimir has no reaction.

Felice smiles devilishly at Mimir.

Mimir doesn’t flinch and prompts, “( _ _)人”

“Where were we again?” Felice smiles at Haiko.

“Currency?” Haiko states nervously.

“Ah, yes, Tenzal and Aetho coins! Silfy,” Felice calls onto Silfy for assistance, Silfy nods and returns the Tenzal and Aetho coins in front of Felice.

Felice points a finger at the pebble like gems, “Now, these are called Aetho coins, these coins are a bit more complex. But similar to Tenzal coins, their value is dependent on their strength. Only difference is the strength being measured in Aetho coins is its magical purity. These can be seen by their transparency”

“The colour of Aetho coins doesn’t really matter right now, you’ll understand at some point. But you should know the barely transparent Aetho coins has the lowest magical value and are called Hos, next to them which look like coloured glass are called Eth worth ten Hos, and finally the clear Aetho coins are called Aeo which similarly to Dark Tenzal are worth a hundred Eth” Felice explains.

Haiko ponders for a brief second, “Let me guess this straight. Aetho coins are separated by transparency and are grouped as; Hos being the barely transparent, Eth being in the middle, and Aeo who looks like clear diamonds. Correct?”

Felice nods, “Correct!”

Haiko crosses his arms as he ponders, “How about Tenzal coins, do those have weird callings per value?”

Felice shook her hand side to side, “Don’t worry only Aetho coins have that weird calling, blame the old Aétherians,” she chuckles, “Tenzal coins are more direct; Dark, Silver, and Gold” Felice point to each Tenzal coin she mentions. “Simple as that!”

Haiko nods in reply, “Understood”.

“Lastly, you should know that depending on where you are. The value of Aetho and Tenzal coins can change” Felice explains.

“How so?” Haiko asks.

Felice calls Silfy to put away the Tenzal and Aetho coins, Silfy nods and do as she was told. Felice then projects a simple map with her bracelet, showing three large islands and one smaller size island bellow the larger middle one and right island.

“Niviru has 4 main ruling lands,” Felice points to each land starting from the left, “The west lies Ri’lvelia, the east has Aéthea, the middle which is the largest of the bunch is where we are, called Midora. Lastly the relatively small land is Civel just below and in between Midora and Aéthea. If you want to know more, ask the stubborn old fool later” Felice states with a smile.

Haiko nods and Mimir gives a thumbs up projection.

Felice smiles and continues, “The main thing to know is these big three, Ri’lvelia, Aéthea, and Midora,” Felice points to each one as she says their names.

“How about Civel?” Haiko asks.

Felice sighs and shrugs, “Let’s leave that for a later time, Civel has a… complex system, among the rest”

Haiko nods, “Go on”

Felice then pops up a pointing stick, using it to point at the map, “Keeping this simple, Tenzal coins originates from Ri’lvelia and therefore only use Tenzal coins as their currency, trying to pay with Aetho coins is like paying with stones on the road.” Felice shrugs, “On the other a hand Aetho coins come from Aéthea. Similarly, to them Tenzal means nothing but a building material or for some of them, treats it as if it where animal fesces!” Felice laughs as she reminiscence of a familiar event.

Haiko grimace, “That’s… harsh…”

“Don’t worry, it was way worse before! But sadly yes, some people do still hate on other races. Some areas even separate or ignore serving other races other than their own.” Felice solemnly says.

“But again, it was way worse before! now everyone just either bad mouth other races or just avoid interacting with them in any way. But, a tip for you! don’t place a Ri’lvelian next to a Aétherian unless you want a blood bath” Felice winks at Haiko and chuckles.

“Noted!” Haiko replies with a sigh.

Felice smiles as she continues, “Alright! Lastly, Midora!” Felice enlarges Midora on the map, removing the other lands. “Depending on where you are in Midora, you can either pay with Tenzal or Aetho, and sometimes you can with either!” Felice puts away the projection back into her bracelet.

Felice holds onto her backpack straps as everything clears, “That’s it! If you want to know more, just get a map and ask Vilo” Felice exclaims.

Haiko looks at Felice confuse, “Who’s Vilo?”

Felice smiles, “As I said, a stubborn and funny guy. You’ll see him once we get to the village!”

Haiko nods in reply, “Sounds like someone I know…” he says as he remembers Fedo-jisan as the Overseer.

Mimir comes closer to Felice, “Miss Felice may I see the Tenzal and Aetho coins from earlier?”

Felice looks at Mimir, “Sure,” she then looks at Silfy, “Silfy dear”

Mimir prompts in reply, “(人❛ᴗ❛)♪” as he says, “Thank you, and would you mind if I ask about a few things?” Mimir requests.

Felice smiles, “I don’t mind, ask anything you want!”

Mimir, Felice and Silfy continue to talk about different things. Haiko joins in from time to time, but mainly just listens.

Mimir asked about the data Felice was reading earlier and if Mimir could copy it. Felice was surprised for a bit hearing Mimir say that, but was still happy to share her data and some other things.

They continue to walk, as the sun sets and the moon rises. Mimir uses a drone to help light up the way, while Felice simply snapped her finger and a lantern lit up on the side of her backpack.

A while later Mimir asks Felice about the different races and things concerning the different lands.

Felice sighs, “Vilo is the best to go to if you want to know about that,” her face then brightens up, seeing something from a distance, “look!” she points at the wooden archway not so far from them.

Haiko squints seeing the archway and some dim lights, “I guess, that’s the village?”

Felice nods in reply.

Mimir then calls for Haiko’s attention, “Wait for a moment” Mimir states, moving in front of Haiko to stop him.

The group stops as all of them look at Mimir.

“I suggest that Haiko should turn to his 1st form as to avoid any disturbance” Mimir exclaims with some projections.

Haiko nods, “Good point, but um… shouldn’t they already be able to tell I’m here?” Haiko points out to him being in his second form and uncloaked.

“No worries, I’ve copied Silfy’s cloaking and covered you the moment I sensed other’s presence besides ours” Mimir projects a thumbs up.

Felice looks and smiles in amazement at Mimir, “Really?! How astonishing!”

Mimir prompts in reply, “(*≧∀≦*)”

“Then what’s the point of me needing to be in my 1st form?” Haiko asks Mimir.

Mimir sighs, “Did you forget what you look like?”

Haiko ponders for a second before remembering, “Ah, yeah, a high-class monster called a shadow, right?”

Felice interjects, “I wouldn’t say high-class monster, more like a rare creature”

Haiko looks at Felice confused, “Really? But… are shadows normally dangerous?”

“No,” Felice projects a visual representation of shadows, “just very annoying. They are a playful bunch and likes to trick people, other than that they’re harmless. Hardly seen, but once seen they tend to be avoided. But not because they are a threat, because they are a nuisance” Felice says with a shrug and ending her projection.

“Really?!” Haiko then looks at Mimir, “What were you saying then!”

Mimir projects a question mark over his head, “What do you mean? I did explain that your 2nd form may cause alarms with the other races. But I never said you were known to be dangerous”

Haiko can only look at Mimir menacingly.

Haiko sighs, “Alright,” he then changes into his 1st form this time still wearing his cloak.

Haiko notices his cloak on him, “Is this on by default now?”

“It’s what you wanted” Mimir exclaims.

Haiko nods, “Now we can go right?”

“Not yet,” Mimir comes closer to Felice, “Miss Felice would you mind acting as Haiko’s summoner?”

Felice tilts her head, “Wh-” then she understood as she looks at Haiko cutting herself off, “I understand, you want Haiko to act as if I summoned him as my familiar so should explain the powerful aura he’s leaking out, correct?”

Mimir projects a thumbs up, “Apologies for the trouble, I haven’t fully been able to hide most of his aura with his cloak yet in his 1st form”

Felice chuckles, “What a thoughtful companion you have Haiko!”

Haiko quickly shook his head in denial, “Yeah, don’t be fooled by that Felice!”

Mimir nods or in this case bobs his form up and down, “Yes, I agree. Though it would bring me joy to see him suffer. I prefer to avoid things that can affect me as well” Mimir states pompously.

Felice chuckles, “I understand, let us go then. I’ll deal with the rentals for now, pay me with whatever my sweet Silfy desires later on”

Silfy looks at Mimir, “I request to have a few of my questions be answered if you don’t mind sir Haiko and sir Mimir”

Mimir and Haiko gives a thumbs up.

“I’ll be in that thing for now,” Mimir points at Haiko, who blankly stare at him with his white hollow eyes. “I’ll communicate by means of my drones” as Mimir says, he vanishes into Haiko while leaving a single drone.

Haiko, Felice, and Silfy who’s on top of Felice’s backpack continue as they soon enter the Village.

Haiko was amaze to see different races in one place. He saw people with scales, horns, wings, and fangs. Others have a whole different body. In his mind he was thinking of how amazing his situation is as if he was in a fantasy world, but the difference is that all of it was real.

From time to time Haiko notices some people staring at him or he assume was staring at him, or Felice. Felice just says, “Don’t mind them! Probably just people barely recognizing who I am, as I am very much well known all around! You should see what happens if they actually see the real me” she says boastfully with a wink at Haiko.

Haiko thought of it and promptly replies, “I’ll pass”

A moment later they arrive at the front of a tavern, Felice forcefully pushes the door with a smile.

“Vilo! Set up the usual and get ready for something good!” Felice yells inside the tavern partially filled with people of varying races, who ignore her as if used to her wild actions.

Haiko enters and sees the man Felice called to, he stands at the back of the bar counter. A grey-haired old man wearing rectangular glasses.

Vilo looks at Haiko while cleaning a wooden mug, “Oh!”