“Why is it still sunny?” Marshal asked as he stared up at the sky. It was blue just like it normally is on earth, despite hours passing. “It’s creeping me out.

“There is no night here,” Alex replied. “In fact there are two suns. It’s just kind of difficult to see them due to the trees. Besides, I don’t want to imagine this place if it ever did get dark.”

“True. So, come up with any good ideas on how to handle our four legged friend?”

“Still got nothing.”

“Well, we have to try something. We can’t stay here forever.” Marshal said.

Alex covered his face. “I know, but neither of us have the power to take that thing down. If one of my teammates were here they might have stood a chance.”

Teammates? Shit, didn’t that imp say they were probably all dead? Marshal thought. Alex also seems to be out of it. It might be up to me to figure something out.

Coming to terms with the situation, Marshal snapped his fingers and brought out his status window. He reread all the options and had to admit he had no idea how they functioned or even what they were for. Still, he was certain that the shop might contain their best bet to getting out of this mess.

With a simple tap, a laundry list of options presented themselves in front of Marshal. Each item had a picture followed by a name next to it. The list seemed to have no order to it. Weird pills were listed next to pieces of armor, and the prices listed varied from one point to thousands of points. Worse, the list was incredibly long. Marshal scrolled for over five minutes with no end in sight.

“Are you done looking like an idiot?”

“Bartus?” looking up, Marshal came face to face with the flying imp. “What are you doing here?”

Bartus rolled his eyes, “I remember introducing myself as the shopkeeper. Your memory is as lacking as your ability to listen. Do you even have a brain in that thick skull of yours?”

“Shopkeeper?” Marshal asked with a raised brow. “You can help me sort out this mess?”

“I swear to the gods!” Bartus smacked his forehead and sighed.”Yes! Yes, I can help you sort through the shop. What are you looking for?”

“I don’t know,” Marshal shrugged and pointed at the centaur that was now laying down. “Something to kill that thing?”

The imp looked from Marshal to the centaur and then back to Marshal. “You’re stupid and crazy.”

“Is there anything or not?”

“It’s not that there isn’t,” Bartus replied after a pause. “Here is a condensed list of the cheapest items based on your current abilities.”

Flicking his wrist, the vast list was shortened down to thirty items. Seemingly satisfied with his work, Bartus showed the results to Marshal.

“Violent Fire Bomb. Cost, forty points. Heavy Thunder Talisman. Cost, fifty points. Grey Flower Poison. Cost, fifty points.” Marshal frowned as he kept reading the list. “Life Draining Chain. Cost, one hundred and twenty points. Is there anything that I can afford?”

Bartus picked at his fingernails. “You asked for items that can kill that undead centaur. I merely listed the cheapest items to get the job done, based on your current abilities.”

“Then show me items that I can both afford and give me a fighting chance against that thing.” Marshal said through gritted teeth. Why bother showing me things that I can’t even buy?

Alex walked over as Bartus flicked his wrist again. The list condensed to less than a dozen items. With a quick look, Marshal felt his stomach drop.

“Sharp Dagger. Cost, five points. Minor Elixir of Power, Cost, five points. Minor Frost Talisman. Cost, five points.”

Compared to the items on the first list, all the things he could buy were rather lackluster. Still, with some hope, he read the names and descriptions of each one. Unfortunately, that hope was smothered.

“Why is everything so vague,” Marshal said. “Why does the Minor Elixir of Power say that it will increase my strength and agility by a ‘small amount’?”

“Because that is what it does.”

“The stats page doesn’t have strength or agility. How am I supposed to know how much stronger I will become?”

Bartus rolled his eyes. “Are you under the delusion that you can survive by simply viewing this place like one of your human video game? This is far from a game. Show me where the word ‘stats’ is used in the status window.”

“Well. Uh.” Marshal blushed.

“That’s what I thought,” Bartus scoffed. “Humans take performance enhancing drugs all the time. This elixir is no different, besides it having no major side effects.”

“Are there at least any options for food and water?” Marshal asked.

“No”

Marshal dismissed the status window. He was officially at his wits end. None of his ideas were working out.

Am I going to die here?

That question had started out as a minor thought in the back of his mind. Gradually, the pressure built up until he could no longer ignore it. Like a dam that sprung a leak, a surge of negative emotions cracked what was left of his mental fortitude. Just when Marshal felt like he was losing his sanity, a hand fell onto his shoulder.

“Calm down,” Alex said in a soft voice. “It’s my fault that you are even here, so trust me to get us out of this.”

With a look of determination, Alex opened the store. An imp that looked identical to Bartus appeared.

“Kob, get me Minor Elixir of Power, a Minor Talisman of Fortitude, and a True Yang Saber.” Alex rapidly gave a list of items that he wished to purchase.

The imp named Kob shuffled side to side in the air, his eyes wide at the order.

“Are you sure about this Alex? You are low on points and the saber is not cheap. If you get injured you will only be able to barely afford a Minor Wounds Pill.”

“I know,” Alex replied coldly. “No need to send them to my inventory.”

“Well, alright.”

Kob fidgeted and stared at his feet, but he still did his job. Opening a small pouch attached to his waist, he began to take out the three items that Alex ordered. A small crystal vial containing a light blue concoction appeared on the ground in front of the imp. Soon after, a small piece of yellow paper covered in red scribbles and a shiny gold saber were placed next to it.

“I wish you the best of luck,” Kob said before vanishing.