“Yes, it’s an underground trading fair,” Eric nodded, replying.
Siles noticed his casual demeanor and asked, “I sense—this trading fair doesn’t seem very… confidential?”
Eric looked at Siles with some unease, then realized, “That’s right, Siles. It’s a semi-public fair. After the rainy season, some merchants returning from the Endless Lands sell miscellaneous goods.
“Those goods are legal, so selling them at the fair isn’t an issue. If you’re looking to buy something… less legal…”
Eric lowered his voice instinctively. “That happens on the last night of the fair.”
Siles mentally rejoiced at knowing Eric, his classmate. He asked, “What kind of illegal goods?”
“Some rare herbs, clothing. Some mysterious items—possibly related to Revelators, though I didn’t understand before. Some items possibly linked to old gods. And relics of deceased explorers… some…”
Eric thought for a moment, then shook his head. “In short, things unlikely to appear in regular markets.”
Siles nodded thoughtfully.
He asked, “Are there really items of old gods?”
Old gods—the fallen gods—were called such, shadows vanished in bygone days.
“I haven’t attended the last night of the fair, just heard others talk,” Eric’s voice softened. “But such rumors exist. People say the Endless Lands are the domain of old gods.”
Siles held his breath slightly, his gaze drifting to the window—this city sheltered by Antinam.
After a moment, he said, “Perhaps we’re lucky enough.”
Eric didn’t quite grasp his meaning.
Siles was about to explain when the door opened again. Angela Clayton, Mrs. Fuller, and Bruer Darro entered together.
Angela’s face showed a trace of annoyance.
Eric, observant, noticed her expression first. He glanced at Siles, then asked proactively, “What’s wrong, Miss Clayton? What happened?”
Angela Clayton, an outgoing and lively lady, replied immediately, “Call me Angela. We just met a… Revelator, who started a bit earlier than us and has mastered several rituals. He…”
“He mocked us,” Bruer Darro, the usually impatient young man, interjected. “Unbelievable, who does he think he is? Just another novice Revelator—”
Mrs. Fuller shook her head, saying nothing.
It seemed the three had an unpleasant encounter on their way.
“What’s going on? Why block the door?” Another lively voice appeared. Darell Hobbs poked his head in, looking curious and puzzled.
Everyone turned to the young boy.
For some reason, they all laughed.
Darell tilted his head, scratching his hair, feeling the adults were hiding something.
Mrs. Fuller explained the incident calmly, and Darell showed indignation. After this annoyance and laughter, they felt closer.
Angela and Mrs. Fuller sat together, Eric beside Siles, and Darell reluctantly with the haughty Bruer.
Angela glanced at her classmates, thought, and said, “We’ve known each other a few days. Let’s do deeper introductions. I’ll start—
“My name is Angela Clayton, twenty years old. I’m about to attend Lamifa University.”
Mrs. Fuller went next. “My husband passed early; everyone calls me Mrs. Fuller. My granddaughter is about your age.”
She smiled kindly.
Next was Darell. “I’m Darell Hobbs… um, sixteen. I’ll attend Marshall High School in August. My parents know I’m a Revelator!”
He said proudly.
“Marshall High School!” Angela said quickly. “I went there. Listen, Teacher Eugene is great but very strict…”
They chatted about Marshall High School briefly.
Then Bruer: “Bruer Darro.” He repeated his name, hesitated, and said, “I… uh, I’m about to be engaged. I can talk about that.”
Angela gasped softly. “You’re so young.”
Bruer said flatly, “My father’s eager.” He looked at Angela. “Miss Clayton, haven’t you been urged to marry?”
Angela’s expression grew complex. “But I’m going to university.”
The topic was heavy. Bruer didn’t seem eager to marry but wasn’t strongly opposed. It was unclear what his fiancée thought.
Mrs. Fuller, the eldest, said, “In this era, finding someone to share life with is a good thing.”
Bruer showed rare irritation. “But, Mrs. Fuller, a woman I’ve never even met…”
Mrs. Fuller said, “You could meet her beforehand, spend time together, right?”
Bruer froze, muttering, “Meet… beforehand?” He seemed intrigued, then coughed awkwardly. “Alright, my part’s done.”
Next was Eric. He introduced his name, hesitated, and asked Angela and Darell, “How much is Marshall High School’s tuition? My daughter’s of school age.”
Angela seemed unsure, looking to Darell.
Darell thought. “About… a hundred duke coins a year, including room and board.”
Eric frowned, pondering.
Angela suggested, “If money’s tight, check other schools—like Claude or Hales. My mom mentioned they’re good. Marshall’s tuition is pricey.”
Her words were blunt, but Eric, having overcome his reservations, nodded. “I’ll consider it.”
Then it was Siles.
He had listened silently, barely joining in. Before speaking, he gave Angela Clayton a complex look.
That glance puzzled everyone.
“Siles Noel, research scholar at Lamifa University,” Siles said calmly. “Next week, I’ll teach there.”
The room fell into a subtle silence.
Her expression mixed respect and dread.
—Just being a Revelator, and caught by a teacher on the spot?
Young Darell burst into laughter, followed by Mrs. Fuller and Bruer. Eric stifled a chuckle.
With the topic out, Siles asked, “What’s your major?”
Angela, with apprehensive foresight, said cautiously, “Literary history… You?”
Siles sighed faintly. “Silent Era… literary history.”
Miss Angela Clayton froze like a statue.
Darell laughed so hard he nearly fell off the sofa, sounding like a goose.
As they hit this impasse, Carol Hausman pushed open the door. Seeing the six conversing, with Darell laughing, he blinked and smiled. “What happened?”
Darell said first, “Laughing at a poor soul!”
Angela glared at him, then, mindful of the professor, gave a refined smile.
Siles nearly laughed but held a calm face for his future student’s dignity.
Mrs. Fuller, amused, explained the teacher-student connection Siles and Angela hadn’t known.
“Oh, that’s quite a coincidence… cough,” Carol chuckled. “Study hard… with your professor.”
Angela maintained her smile, nodding.
Carol sat, and the atmosphere calmed, focusing on Revelator knowledge.
He pulled out the hefty Box of Knowledge again.
“When you first arrived, I said a Revelator’s power comes from three elements: potion, time track, ritual,” Carol said. “On Wednesday, you tried a very simple ritual.”
Everyone nodded.
Carol continued, “During your rituals, despite taking potions, having time tracks, and performing rituals, you still failed—why? Any guesses?”
Siles knew the three elements and dimensions from Glenfiel but stayed silent.
Darell said, “Because we’re not skilled enough?”
“Indeed,” Carol nodded. “But more specifically?”
“We’ve taken potions and have time tracks. Those are external, so no issues there,” Angela said, thinking. “But the ritual, we perform ourselves… we can’t control it well?”
Carol nodded. “Exactly. So today, we’ll discuss: ritual compatibility.”
He pulled a stack of items from his pocket and distributed them to each person.