Justin and Lila stepped out of the Golden Aurelius into the bustling plaza. The magical fountain continued its aerial dance, drawing admiring glances from a few passersby. Justin figured they must have been travelers or perhaps even tourists, if such things existed in this world, because the majority of the people ignored the display.

"Excuse me," Lila said, approaching a well-dressed woman carrying a basket of exotic fruits. "Could you direct us to a cartographer's shop? We're looking to buy a map."

The woman paused, her eyes taking in their fine clothes with approval. "Oh, you'll want the Merchant Quarter, dearie. Head down that street there," she pointed toward a wide avenue that sloped gently downward, "past the Silk Weavers' Hall. You can't miss it, big blue banners. Look for the sign of the compass and quill. That's Master Corvain's shop. The best maps in all of Belmora, though they'll cost you proper."

"Our thanks," Justin said with a slight bow, pressing a few coppers into her palm. He doubted he would see this lady again, but it seemed like the right thing to do.

Her eyes widened at the unexpected generosity. "Arion's blessings on you both!"

They set off down the indicated street, passing beneath decorative archways that marked the transition between districts. The architecture here was notably different. Where the plaza area favored elegant stonework, the Merchant Quarter displayed wealth through elaborate wooden facades, carved with intricate patterns that spoke of prosperity earned through trade. They stopped by a food stall for a quick breakfast, some sort of pastry filled with ham and melted cheese, with a green sauce that was akin to pesto but with a little spice.

They had walked perhaps ten minutes when the steady flow of foot traffic ahead began to slow and bunch together. Voices rose in agitation, and Justin could hear the sharp whistles of city guards trying to restore order.

"What's going on?" Lila asked, standing on her toes to see over the crowd.

As they drew closer, the cause became clear. A Royal Mail cart had overturned in the middle of the street, its contents scattered across the cobblestones like fallen leaves. Letters, small packages, and official-looking documents littered the ground while some people darted between the overwhelmed guards to snatch up anything that looked valuable, while others tried to protect the mail.

"Stop! Royal property!" a red-faced guard shouted, but for every package he retrieved, two more disappeared into the crowd.

Justin studied the overturned cart with a critical eye. It was a disaster, poorly balanced, with wheels that looked barely adequate for city streets, let alone the longer routes between settlements. The rusted axle had clearly snapped in a large pothole, something any decent engineer could have anticipated.

Justin shook his head. "It's a miracle if these things make it to their destinations."

"The whole system seems rather inefficient," Lila agreed, watching as another guard slipped on a scattered letter and nearly fell. "The Royal Mail has quite a bad reputation, from what I understand."

That was something Justin could attest to. People had to wait a long time for packages to arrive, to the point where if someone wanted something faster, they had to pay through the nose for it, as Valdrik had done with the fateful package Justin had picked up. There had to be a better way. Perhaps something like Amazon couldn't be replicated here, given the lack of modern technology, but maybe something inspired by it would be quite popular. A business idea, perhaps?

They skirted around the chaos and continued toward their destination.

The sign of the compass and quill hung above a narrow shop wedged between a spice merchant and a dealer in rare books. Through the front window, Justin could see rolled maps in wooden cases, most subtly glowing with enchantment, along with detailed charts spread across reading tables. A small bell chimed as they entered, and the scent of parchment and ink filled the air.

"Welcome, welcome!" called a voice from behind the counter.

The shopkeeper emerged from a back room, wiping ink-stained fingers on a leather apron. He was a man of middle years with bright blue eyes and the confident bearing of someone comfortable with both commerce and craft. Justin's monocle immediately identified him as a Level 25 Master Enchanter. A man of a great many skills, then, who had likely taken many abilities related to map-making.

"Good afternoon," Justin said, approaching the counter. "We're in need of a comprehensive map of Eyrth. Something that shows just about everything in decent detail."

The cartographer's eyes lit up. "Ah, a fellow with discerning taste! You'll want one of my premium editions, then." He moved to a locked cabinet and withdrew a leather map case. "This beauty shows every major city in Serenthel, and most of the major ones in Atelinar and Calidon too, in great fidelity. That's detailed street layouts, major landmarks, trade routes, and current political boundaries. Of course, you will need to update your map every now and again for the latest details; most people do so yearly. This premium edition is my masterpiece. It took me ten years to compile all the information and required a great deal of materials to make."

He carefully unrolled the map on the counter, and Justin's breath caught. It was a work of art as much as a practical tool, just small enough to be easily held in both hands, an important consideration for travel. It displayed a map of Eyrth in its entirety, cities rendered in exquisite detail, with tiny illustrations marking important buildings, color-coded roads, and elegant script labeling everything from royal palaces to major guildhalls. The cartographer zoomed in and out with his fingers, the action smooth and precise, revealing more details of Belmora, the Marin River, its harbor, and the Golden Gulf.

"Impressive work," Justin said. "What would something of this quality cost?"

"Ten gold crowns," the cartographer said without hesitation. "And worth every copper, I assure you. This isn't some student's sketch. This is professional cartography at its finest."

Justin hummed thoughtfully. Eldrin, or perhaps Lila—he couldn't remember—had told him that a blank Dynamic World Map would cost "at least a gold crown."

Stolen novel; please report.

But this was far more than a blank map. It was clear that Belmora, at least, was rendered in exquisite detail, while the master also assured Justin that most other major cities were rendered beautifully as well.

"Tell me," Justin said. "The detail for Belmora is useful. But what about other cities? Windfall, Silverton, Eribar? Not to mention the rest."

"I did much of my studying at the Royal Institute of Cartography in Velandia, the best on Eyrth. I wouldn't be worth my salt if the 'capital of the world' wasn't rendered in exhaustive detail. Besides this, though, most major cities of Eyrth have a serviceable level of detail, while Aranthian cities gained special attention. Of course, if your travels take you elsewhere, any Master Enchanter can work with my Aetheris runes and add their own local knowledge. But please ensure they truly are a Master, or they may bungle my work and cause glitches. The map was designed to be flexible and adapt to the needs of the user."

Justin considered the offer. It was expensive, but the value of the information was undeniable. Having accurate intelligence about the region would prove invaluable.

"Normally, I'm one to haggle a bit. It's a product of my class. But I also recognize value when I see it."

"Of course, sir. We have financing options available through the Aurelian Bank. Our terms are generous: twelve percent per year over five years, though you would need to go in person to secure financing."

"No financing necessary. I'm ready to make the purchase today in cold, hard coin, should the terms be favorable."

"I see. Well, you qualify for the non-financing discount, which is ten gold crowns."

"While I understand the quality of your expertise, I'm shrewd enough to recognize that the initial price is merely a starting point to make further discounts look attractive. As such, I can offer you eight gold crowns for the map."

Master Corvain's eyebrows shot up. "Eight? My good man, this is a premium cartographic work! Ten years of careful research, resource acquisition, and verification fees from other Enchanters went into this. I couldn't possibly—"

"Eight and a half," Justin countered smoothly, "and I will recommend your services to my contacts. A man of your skill deserves a wider reputation."

The cartographer stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Well, I already enjoy a well-earned reputation, but referrals are always valuable, though often dangled as bait to the unwise. Still, nine gold crowns is my absolute bottom price. This map will easily pay back all your costs from the information it provides. Think of it as an investment in efficiency."

"Eight and three-quarters," Justin pressed, leaning forward with a conspiratorial smile. "Plus a guarantee that I will use your services once a year for map updating."

"You drive a hard bargain!" Corvain laughed despite himself. "But I admire persistence. Alas, nine crowns remain my most competitive offer."

Justin extended his hand; a ten percent discount would have to suffice. "Nine it is. You've convinced me that value and quality deserve their due."

"Excellent! Too few appreciate quality craftsmanship these days." He began carefully rolling the map back into its protective case as Justin counted out the gold. "Might I ask what brings you to Belmora? I'm always curious about my customers—it helps me understand what sort of maps folks need."

"Business opportunities," Justin replied, which was certainly true. "I'm new to the city and trying to understand how commerce works here. Speaking of which," he leaned slightly closer, adopting a conspiratorial tone, "I've heard the Aurelius family has significant influence. Since I'm staying at their inn, I thought it wise to understand who I'm dealing with."

The shopkeeper chuckled, but there was a nervous edge to it. "Smart thinking. The Aurelians are... well, they're richer than a dragon and thrice as dangerous. But stay on their good side, and they'll take care of you. Get on their bad side..." He chuckled again. "They'll also take care of you if you catch my drift."

"I figured as much."

"What sorts of business are they involved in?" Lila asked innocently.

"What they aren't involved in might be a shorter list," the cartographer said, glancing toward the window as if checking for eavesdroppers. "Banking, obviously—they finance half the trade in the city. Shipping, both river and ocean. They own the largest magical item crafting houses and control most of the ether crystal trade coming up from the southern mines. They have real estate throughout the Merchant Quarter and even have interests in the luxury food trade—if you've eaten anything expensive in this city, chances are the Aurelians profited from it somehow."

"Impressive," Justin said. "And they control the Cartographer's Guild as well? I assume that's what you're a part of."

"Among others. I'm technically a guild member, which means I pay dues and follow their standards, but it also means I have their protection and access to their networks. It's not a bad arrangement, as long as you don't get too ambitious."

This was exactly the sort of intelligence Justin needed. "And for someone looking to start their own business? What would you recommend?"

The cartographer burst into laughter, apparently finding Justin's question genuinely amusing. "Start a business? Just like that?" He wiped his eyes. "Friend, I can see you're not from around here. You can't just hang out a shingle and start trading. You need to join a guild first, work your way up as a journeyman, learn the trade, and prove you're not going to undercut established members or steal their customers. Take me, for instance. I spent six years as an apprentice and another four as a journeyman before I had enough standing to open my own shop. And this is after my education in Velandia."

"And if someone didn't want to wait ten years?" Lila asked.

"Well," the cartographer said, his amusement fading, "there's always the Floating Market. You can rent a stall there without guild membership."

"That doesn't sound so bad," Lila said.

The shopkeeper shook his head gravely. "It's dangerous, girl. The Floating Market is like a world unto itself—gangs, thieves, smugglers, people with nothing left to lose. The city authorities mostly leave it be, figuring it keeps the criminal element contained in one place. Sure, you might make some coin, but you're just as likely to get your throat cut or your goods stolen. It's where people go when they have no other choice."

Justin absorbed this information carefully. So, the guild system created a bottleneck; legitimate business required years of apprenticeship and guild membership, while the alternative was a lawless free-for-all. It was both restrictive and potentially opportunity-creating, depending on how one approached it.

"You seem like a decent sort," the cartographer continued, clearly warming to Justin's manner, or perhaps his innate charisma. "Tell you what. If you do decide to pursue guild membership somewhere, I'd be happy to provide a reference. Master Corvain," he said, extending his hand. "I like the cut of your jib, and that's not something I say lightly. There's something about you, lad. I feel like you're going to go far."

"Justin Talemaker," he replied, shaking the offered hand. "And this is Lila Fairwind, my business partner. Your advice has been invaluable, Master Corvain. I'll certainly keep your offer in mind."

"Good, good. And don't let my warnings scare you off completely. This city has opportunities for those clever enough to find them and patient enough to pursue them properly. Just be careful about the shortcuts."

As they concluded their business and prepared to leave, Justin felt a sense of genuine accomplishment. Nine gold crowns was a significant expense, but they had gained far more than just a map. They now had a clearer picture of how power and commerce worked in Belmora, a potential ally in the guild system, and a new objective to pursue.

[You have gained 500 experience points. Your experience stands at 17,325/29,000.]

It was a good amount of experience, gained from both the negotiation and information he had learned.

"So," Lila said as they stepped back onto the busy street, the precious map case secured in Justin's pack, "the Floating Market?"

"The Floating Market," Justin agreed. "If it's really as lawless as he suggests, it might be exactly what we need. Sometimes the best opportunities are in the places everyone else is afraid to go."

As they made their way back toward the Marin River, Justin's mind was already working on the possibilities.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.