NOVPUB
Chapter 150: Souveneirs
In the earlier days they’d spent at the castle, even before they were given their parties, Tobias had noticed the way Cedric looked at Celeste — hopeful and full of yearning for the princess.
But her heart wasn’t there, and whether Cedric realized it or not, she had already chosen a different direction.
Tobias tapped the side of the carriage and said, "Stop by the central market. I need to pick up some things before we leave the capital."
The driver nodded, adjusting the reins.
Celeste tilted her head. "Souvenirs?"
"For my party members."
Her face lit up instantly. "Can I help?"
He hesitated. "You’ll behave?"
"No promises," she said cheekily, already ruffling her hair.
Her long black locks became a tousled cascade of waves.
She’d changed from her royal garments into commoner’s clothes — simple yet elegant.
It was almost startling how much it changed her appearance. She looked like a young traveler instead of the princess of an empire.
They disembarked into the bustling capital market.
Stalls stretched as far as the eye could see, with exotic spices, magical scrolls, enchanted gear, and things Tobias couldn’t even begin to name.
First, he made his way to the arcanist aisle.
After sifting through dozens of staffs, his fingers brushed against one carved from moonlight willow, its base embedded with a rare gleaming amethyst.
"For Kara," he said quietly.
Celeste peeked over his shoulder. "Circuit-enhancer?"
"Exactly. It doubles the flow of mana through her internal channels. Should help her spellcasting immensely."
He bought it and tucked it into his own inventory.
Next, they headed to an alchemical booth surrounded by herbs drying in little cages.
Tobias selected a fresh set of tools for Bran — vials, pestles, even a mini-brewer enchanted to keep a flame at the perfect heat.
From what he knew about the guy, he held a bit of interest in these kind of things such as himself.
He also picked a double-headed axe resting on an obsidian stand. "He’ll love this."
"For both healing and smashing," Celeste said, nodding approvingly.
Tobias smirked faintly. "Exactly."
They continued.
For Seren, it was a pair of curved daggers forged from obsidian serpent bone.
Each blade glimmered with green veins — venom channels.
"She won’t say thanks," Tobias muttered. "But she’ll use them."
Celeste rolled her eyes. "I wonder what she’s like."
"You’ll see soon enough."
Then came Elisse.
After testing a few staves, Tobias found one shaped like a shepherd’s crook, its end glowing faintly with a soft blue aura.
A "Lumen’s Branch," the vendor called it, ideal for channeling healing rays with precision.
"She’ll be happy with this," Tobias said, watching her inspect it. "That woman looks cute... when she gets something."
"That’s part of her charm, I guess."
They walked for a while, weaving through a stall selling miniature griffin plushies and another offering charms for good luck.
The sun had started to dip, casting gold across the stone paths. Tobias hadn’t bought anything for Zayn.
He paused.
His hand hovered over a black cloak trimmed with blue. No... too bland.
Zayn already had too many.
He scanned other booths but nothing quite fit.
Swords? No.
Accessories? No.
He had no idea what Zayn would want.
"You’re overthinking it," Celeste said beside him.
"I can’t buy him a sword or food or something generic. He’s... weirdly hard to shop for."
Celeste thought for a moment, then her face brightened. "Come with me."
She dragged him two streets down and into a shop with no signboard.
Inside were crystals — small floating stones of varying colors. The merchant inside looked old and tired.
"This place is special," Celeste whispered. "They sell Echo Crystals."
"Echo what now?"
"They record memories and replay them when you touch them. They’re... sentimental." She stepped forward and pointed at a sapphire-like gem. "Buy him one. He can imprint a memory onto it. Something he doesn’t want to forget."
Tobias raised an eyebrow but reached into his pouch and bought the crystal. It pulsed faintly in his palm.
He turned it over slowly. "This might actually be perfect."
Celeste smiled. "Told you."
They returned to the carriage, bags full, and Tobias sat quietly for a moment, looking over the packed gifts.
And across from him, Celeste stretched her arms and said, "Tobias?"
"Hm?"
"I’ve never had this much fun in the capital before."
He blinked at her. "Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"Now let’s go," Tobias said, climbing into the carriage as he slotted the last of the market-bought items into his inventory.
It had been a successful trip — more so than he had anticipated — and now it was time to return.
He rapped his knuckles against the side of the wooden carriage. "Driver, take us back to Timberstead. Quickly."
The coachman gave a brisk nod and snapped the reins. The horses neighed in protest before starting their steady trot.
The city roads remained narrow and winding until they reached the outer avenues, where the wide cobblestone lanes allowed for a smoother ride.
Tobias leaned back against the seat, resting his head and letting out a breath.
’I have to be quick so we can go to where there were sightings of this cult...’ The thought lingered in his mind like a shadow.
He couldn’t afford to waste time — not with towns being visited by madmen preaching that the Demon Lord would save them.
The heroes had been briefed, but he doubted any of the others would act until pushed. That left him and his group to take initiative.
With little else to do during the ride, he reached into his inventory and retrieved a worn book with faded lettering across the front.
He cracked it open casually, the familiar scent of old pages rising like incense.
"What’re you reading?" Celeste asked from across him, arms folded under her cloak.
"Alchemy theories," he replied without looking up, flipping to the section marked with a thin red ribbon.
Celeste puffed out her cheeks and turned toward the opposite window like a pouting child. "Nerd."
Tobias ignored her.
The carriage bounced once as it shifted from cobblestone to dirt road.
The city’s rhythm began to fade behind them, and with it, the high walls of white stone that ringed the capital came into view up ahead.
Massive iron gates stood tall, each carved with emblems of the royal family and warding runes meant to repel hostile beasts.
Guards in silver armor stood at attention, inspecting carriages and waving them through one at a time.
Just as their own carriage approached, Celeste leaned forward and pressed her face to the window.
Her lips parted, and her eyes widened as she saw the sprawling landscape beyond the gate — rolling hills, green forests stretching like a living sea, and a distant mountain range haloed by clouds.
"Woah..."
Tobias didn’t even look up from his book. "You haven’t been outside the capital, have you?"
She shook her head slowly. "No. I... I’ve always wanted to, but father wouldn’t allow it."
He finally glanced her way and gave a soft sigh. "Then welcome to the world beyond the walls."
The carriage passed under the towering iron gate, the shadow of the arch casting them into darkness for a brief moment.
And then, like a curtain lifting, they emerged into the full view of the wild world outside.
The road ahead twisted gently through a field of gold and green.
Birds sang in the distance, and wind rustled through the grass.
The kingdom beyond the capital wasn’t perfect, far from it — but it was real, and free, and alive in a way the capital never could be.
Celeste pulled away from the window with a small smile tugging at her lips. "It’s... beautiful."
"It is," Tobias said, closing the book.
