Chapter 11

Title: Zaun

As they got off the ship they quickly left Zaun's western port. Leaving the western port they entered Zaun's western market. Walking around in the western market Nejime seemed much more relaxed than she did during the ship ride or even before when they travelled through the desert, with a small smile appearing on her face as she looked around.

Seeing Nejime in a better mood Phesto was a bit curious. "I haven't really seen you this relaxed before. Fair to say being somewhere familiar lets you calm down?"

Nodding Nejime responded. "Seems like it. Guess this journey has been somewhat tiring me out. Though I can't enjoy calming down like this properly, not until we reach Ionia."

"But until then, you can show me those stores with magical artefacts you told me about on the ship." Phesto was quite excited about the thought of finding an overlooked artefact that everyone has been missing out on or a super cool ingredient that has amazing properties that no one understood.

"Sure sure, you'll get your artefacts, but no detours, we'll only go to the stores along the way."

"Argh, no exploration of an unknown city for me, how my heart pains." After joking a bit Phesto continued. "Jokes aside, you don't have to worry about that. I mainly wanted to look for artefacts that we could need on the journey, I know that staying longer than we need is unnecessary danger." And he was fully serious with that.

Though Phesto played around with the idea of checking every store that could have magical items, he also knew how much time that would take.

And so went through the market while occasionally browsing through stores that sold supplies or artefacts. Within a few hours, they went through the entire market and Phesto couldn't find a single interesting artefact, he used his magical sense and the systems interface only to find that most artefacts they found had no or barely any effect at all. Leaving the last store on Zaun's western side they entered the Zaun's eastern side. Though Phesto was still left with an annoyed expression.

"Couldn't find anything you liked?" Nejime asked with a slight smile.

With the same annoyed expression as before Phesto asked. "Nene, I went over most items with my magical sense, how come all the artefacts in the stores barely worked at all?"

Pleasantly surprised Nejime congratulates Phesto "Impressive progress on your magical sense" before telling him that perhaps he shouldn't have expected as much. "But as for why there were only lacklustre items, it's simply because magical artefacts are that rare. Sure the Shuriman empire can build all these artefacts and formations, but they are an empire, while we went to the stores owned by the nice neighbour. If your expectations were that big you should have told me, I could have warned you."

Hearing this Phesto realized that perhaps he was still too hopeful that his fantasies would turn real. "Nah, it's fine, it's just that it's somewhat disappointing. I knew magic was rare, but I really thought artefacts would be less so."

"Because a single craftsman can craft more than one artefact, you thought there'd be more artefacts than magicians?"

"Yeah, exactly that. And sure I know that most magicians probably aren't craftsmen, but you know I thought the craftsmen that were around crafted that much more." Phesto said with a disappointed expression.

"You're not exactly wrong, but I think you might have overestimated the number of craftsmen that exist. The ratio of magicians and magic smiths is really pitiful, and all really interesting artefacts that do get made usually get snatched up by magicians immediately. So finding good magical artefacts in normal stores like the ones we visited is more of a luck issue."

In response to what Nejime said Phesto could only sigh, but shaking his head he got over his disappointment before he continued. "Since buying an artefact is a no go, I'll just have to make my own. Also, you have a plan and a place to go to once we arrive in Ionia so is it alright if I tag along, I don't actually know where to go in Ionia."

Spending the last few days travelling with Nejime and seeing her speak about her journey to Ionia to find her mother, made Phesto realize more and more, that he didn't really have any plans nor did he have any connection to this world. Thinking about it Nejime was Phesto's only friend, and though he wasn't the most social person he didn't really like being alone, so he didn't want to separate for no good reason.

"Of course, you're more lost than me, we've travelled together for a bit now, I wouldn't be so cold as to just ditch you once I found my place."

"Ahh, thanks Nene, I was a bit worried. I have to be honest." And as Phesto finished his sentence the two exited an alleyway and arrived in the eastern port.

From there Nejime and Phesto searched for a ship or captain willing to take them to Ionia, and luckily they quickly found one. This time the one to find the ship was Phesto. The ship willing to take them was part of a larger merchant group. They planned on leaving tomorrow with the earliest sunshine.

Agreeing on a deal with the captain, Nejime and Phesto went to the room they got from the captain and went to bed at an early time, so they'd be able to see the Sun-Gates as they left.