Act I

  Within a cozy inn of furred covered chairs, sweet tasting beer and bards singing stories of old.

  A priestly figure in white robes, sat on a bar with a mug of beer as the innkeeper served another patron.

  Infront of the young man lay a copper, a silver and a gold coin. And infront of that was a large bowl of water.

  “Lesser spirit of wealth, merchant of the pond, fire spirit that pretends to be of the water tribe”

  He spoke as those near him trembled, some even moved away in fear.

  As the face of a giant frog appeared infront of the priestly young man.

  It took minutes before its red eyes and orange pimpled skin could be fully seen.

  “Summoning me without a pond nearby?”

  The frog asked, affronted.

  “I thought this was enough.”

  I said a little surprise at Flare’s reaction, as I pointed at the wooden bowl.

  The frog head looked at the water bowl and then back at me.

  While something brightened in his eyes and smiling lips.

  Is he amused? Yes, he was smiling, the lesser spirit was smiling, as he stopped himself from laughing.

  “Sigh. . . Alright, what do you want? Croak*”

  I returned his smile before pointing at the coins near the bowl.

  “How much would my credit be if you convert into those?”

  Flare the spirit merchant looked at the coins, for but a few moments before shaking his head.

  “Can you bring them infront of me?”

  The frog spoke and politely I did so.

  “Those are imperial Royals from what I know, I have a few of them. . .”

  The frog said as he looked down at the coins in contemplation.

  “I can convert your credit to fifty gold royals, is that fair to you?”

  Flare spoke as his attention went back to me.

  “Anyway I can get more?”

  I said halfheartedly, bargaining with the frog merchant.

  “Croak*. . . I can give you sixty gold royals if you're willing to promise to sell me Draconid blood.”

  I was a little shocked that he knew that there were Draconids nearby and that my bargaining actually worked.

  “Are they for another customer?”

  I asked, making the frog’s smile widened even more showing demonic fangs, before he shook his head.

  “It’s in my pact that I can’t divulge who I buy or sell from boy.”

  I nodded, accepting his words.

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  “I only need coppers for now, can you give me a silver’s worth?”

  Flare did not speak, as he looked at me strangely.

  “I’ll give you ten silver royals, do you want me to keep the rest for now?”

  It took me a moment to realize what that looked meant, after Flare spoke.

  He didn’t have copper coins, damn it.

  Did I look like a rich donkey just now? Hopefully not.

  I hate those jerks buying a coke with a hundred dollar bill and asking for specific change.

  “Thank you Flare.”

  The frog nodded as ten pristine silver coins dropped infront of Lazir landing in his open palms.

  “Wait!”

  A familiar voice spoke, as Flare and I looked over to see the Innkeeper stepping forward.

  “You're a merchant spirit right?”

  The innkeeper asked, Flare didn’t answer as if it was an obvious thing.

  “Well, are you interested in trading alcohol for other goods?”

  Flare didn't say anything for a few moments before nodding.

  “Depending on the quality of the alcohol, know that I can only trade you things gathered or made by the water tribe.”

  The innkeeper nodded happily, puffing her neck fur.

  After that without another word Flare’s spirit projection disappeared.

  “Innkeeper, can I give you a silver royal as a retainer for a bed space?”

  I asked the rabbit woman, making her hop back in shock.

  “Of course! From now on, you're my honored guest! you can have room in the attic all to yourself dear priest.”

  I nodded gratefully as a young waitress, who was probably the Innkeeper’s daughter, led me up.

  Act II

  “Hmm. . . I wonder, do I really want to be an adventurer?”

  A man a few years before his prime asked himself, as he laid in a bed of dried grain stalk, layered with woolen blankets.

  “Isn’t that what you always wanted to do?”

  Again he questioned himself as he closed his amber eyes.

  “Yeah, but that was years ago. . . now I’m just not sure, I think it’s better that I look for a way home.”

  A long stretch of silence appeared as the candle in the room flickered.

  Lazir started rubbing his brown hair, it was becoming even more curled as it grew longer.

  “Is there even a home to go back to? You know how stories like these end.”

  The voice wasn’t as deep as his own words spoke back to him.

  Lazir did not answer, pretending he did not hear the words that would push him into tears.

  “How would your mother react? Seeing her precious boy alive, after Hestia knows how long we spent in that Temple.”

  It was slow, but in the end the young man covered his brightening face with one of his hands.

  “Your father, he might be gone by now. . . Remember, he was sick the last time you visited him.”

  I can feel the warm water, streaming from my eyes, as the thoughts kept coming as I finally relaxed after so long.

  “Your brother might even try to get you imprisoned, thinking you're an imposter trying to take what his brother left behind.”

  After those words I felt hot, as I opened my eyes to see that I was on fire.

  The golden torch in my other hand was happily turning my tears into specs of flames.

  “Thank you! Thank you! I love your sadness! Can you give me some more master~”

  The bell-like voice rang into my ears making me smile, as I shook my head at her.

  “No, that’s all I can give Little Light, I’ll feed you more sadness later.”

  I promised the young Lesser spirit as she chimed in joy, of being promised more sadness.

  As I opened my palm the golden torch faded into nothing, the flames that replaced my tears faded as well.

  “Sigh. . . I don’t think I can keep another Spirit like her.”

  Why did I need to pick a girl that would drain me empty as my first bond spirit?

  Act III

  “Mama?”

  A girl with rabbit ears, a cute triangle nose, and grey whiskers asked curiously.

  While mint leaf eyes, looked up to her much taller furred neck mother.

  “What is it, love?”

  Her mother the Innkeeper asked back as she finished washing a tray of mugs.

  “Why did everyone look away when the priest called his spirit out?”

  The rabbit girl's large circular eyes glimmered.

  As the woolen towel in her hand squeezed itself dry.

  “They were afraid.”

  Her mother said as she watched her daughter continue drying the cups she had washed.

  Using a cloth spirit, she befriended while doing laundry.

  “Why? Mimi is the nicest, why would people be afraid of spirits?”

  The heavy set rabbit woman curled her lips, she was about to yell.

  But in the end she patted her daughter's head.

  “Love, remember this, just like people. Spirits can be bad or good, Mimi is a good spirit and that large scary one earlier could have been bad.”

  The girl looked up at her mother, her large eyes were truly confused.

  “Some could be friends, while others are bullies.”

  A woman, with her guard helmet placed on a table nearby, spoke.

  The young rabbit girl immediately nodded in understanding as she happily continued drying wet mugs and bowls.

  “Thank you for that love.”

  The off duty guard raised her drink, as a reply.

  “Just hope the Dear priest won't be trouble for the town.”

  The lips of the innkeeper twitched as she heard the guard mumble under her breath before drinking her beer.

  “Dear grass lord, keep my home safe from trouble.”

  The Innkeeper said back in prayer, under her own breath.