“I don't need you telling me that you're a new student.” Duff said, stroking his chin. “It's as plain as the whiskers on a bear fish!” 

“Is that so?” Dusk asked, wondering what gave him away as a first-year. When all the robes are the same color, despite the year difference. 

“It's your accent; we don't get many from your part of the world.” The granddaughter said, her hands busy making, what Dusk guessed was, new baskets for the stall. Her fingers were too fast for his eyes to keep up with. Impressive. 

“Coal,” Duff coughed her name and ruffled his beard with displeasure.

“Grandpa,” Coal said with a wrinkle of her nose. The pair were cute; Dusk would give them that, but he had wasted enough time here already. Looking up at the sun, he could see it was getting close to noon. The daylight was dwindling faster than the task he had to complete. 

“About the deals?” Dusk urged him to get back on track. 

“Yes,” he said, giving Coal a sideways glance. “We have the starter pack for all your basic tokens. Three silver.” He bent down and brought up a small wooden box. It had the same symbol as their stall front on it. “Covers teleportation to cleaning, a basic guide in the lid.” Dusk nodded, adding it up in his head, like the dwarf promised he was getting a discounted price. 

“I'll take it; can the cleaning token handle a hard mess?” Dusk asked, thinking of the cabin and its unique condition. Dusk tried to spin it well, but the cabin was in horrible shape. At least the stench alone made it so; the bones were good, Dusk had to remind himself. The bones were good.

“No, sir, it's meant to tackle everyday cleaning.” Duff's eyes glinted like a silver coin. Ah, here it comes. Dusk thought it would come sooner or later. Whatever he was going to bring up was going to hurt his wallet. “Bought one of those run-down cabins, looking to turn it around, make yourself some coin in three years time?” Dusk watch the dwarf's eyebrows wiggle with excitement. The speech made Dusk's stomach sink. It was spot-on but also raised flags about a pricey deal. 

“Don't have time or know how?” Coal came up, popping from behind her grandfather. 

“Holes in the walls? Does it stink like a sweating pair of-” Duff looked to his side and coughed. A flush rising up from the sides of his beard.  

“Skunk-apes?” Coal cut in, and Dusk thought they all knew that was not what Duff was going to say. Dusk nodded, but Duff's sigh of relief didn't go unnoticed. “Crud so thick you could construct a city with it?” 

“This repair kit is for ye!” Duff's chest puffed out, while the Coal brought out a larger, more elaborately detailed box. A sign of expense, if there ever was one. Dusk thought, looking at the fine flourishes that decorated the outside of the box. Even the middle had a craved-in stall ship sign, where the other had fewer details and was much simpler. Dusk would bet that the granddaughter had made the first one, and this would be Duff's work.  

“Grandpa completed it!” She declared while puffing out her chest, imitating her grandpa to a t. “It can fix every minor repair and tackle all the hard cleaning and yard work!” 

“Comes with my guarantee! There is nothing for ye to worry about!” Duff and Coal both started grinning. Dusk was nearly blinded by their combined pride. 

“How much?” Dusk liked the sound of it; a guarantee was always good, but the price was what it always came down to. If someone wanted to know what distinguishes men from monsters, it was financial worries. Dusk wouldn't mind a little less of it right now. He had enough to not worry right now, but if he wanted to build up a new life after university, He couldn't afford to spend foolishly now. 

“One platinum.” Coal held out one finger. It wasn't a large number, but it was. Dusk took a long breath. It was a tenth of his limited budget. It wasn't a bad deal. Time is also money. Dusk thought, and it was money that he couldn't earn back. He couldn’t live, let alone sell the cabin as it is now.

“It'll only go up in price once the product gets itself out there.” Duff was quick to warn him. Hands on his waist. “Giving ye the newbie price.” 

“It has a guarantee.” Dusk asked, picking up the repair kit; it was heavy. Dusk had to hold it with two hands to balance the weight. 

"Yes, sir, if it doesn't work, you bet your bottom pebble I want to hear it.” Duff said this, staring at Dusk, and Dusk stared back. His unwavering gaze, with clear eyes, settled his last fears. 

“Okay, I'll take both.” Dusk said, placing a bright white platinum coin down with three silver coins. He should earn it back. When the cabin sells, it will be earned back. Dusk reminded himself with a deep, even breath. 

“I'll get you a bag!” Coal said, her eyes shining brighter than the coin. 

“No need,” Dusk said, taking both boxes and placing them in his storage. 

“Personal storage, and ye don't even have a familiar yet. Good job.” Duff gave him a thumbs up. Dusk nodded, unsure how to respond to that offhanded praise. 

“Do you know where I can buy some household wares?” Dusk asked, trying to speed things along with a referral. Mentally, he was getting tired, and with everything so new here, His previous urge to explore had waned since he didn't want to sleep with the grasshoppers tonight. 

“You came empty-handed, did ye?” Duff shook his head with clear disapproval. Dusk disapproved too, but he couldn’t risk hoarding supplies, not when his every action was reported back to the Black family. Not that he was going to explain that to a stranger. 

“I'll take him to Scattered Goods! I've been meaning to drop off Auntie tokens for the month.” Coal spoke up, raising her hand. 

“Good idea!” Duff patted the girl's head. “Take good care of the new customer.” 

“Come on! It's this way!” Coal jumped over the stall and counter. Running ahead of him, she stopped, waving her hand. “Come on!” 

“My thanks,” Dusk said, raising his hand to his chest. He gave Duff a small bow of the head. To his surprise, Duff repeated the action back to him. 

“Welcome to Lapidary,” Duff said with a natural ease. Dusk gave him a small smile and jogged to catch up to the small dwarf girl, who was bouncing with enticement. Walking down the street, he was no more than three stalls away when she turned and pounced on him. 

“You'll tell Prince Perfect that I helped, right?” She held her hands behind her back, rocking on the balls of her feet, while she stared up at him. 

“I don't really know him.” Dusk said, sparing her a glance before staring at the different stalls and walk-in shops on the street. It took in some of the prices when they walked by and at a glance. Dusk had gotten a good deal. I’ll go back to that stall again. 

“If you see him again, like at school, you'll tell him, right?” She spun around to step between him and his window-gazing. 

“If he asks.” Dusk said, not liking the look in her eyes. The wide-eyed, star-struck gaze was unnerving. “Why is he called Prince Perfect?” Dusk asked, which he had to omit, if not only for himself. He was a little curious. 

“Prince Perfect,” she corrected. “And he's only the most perfect guy ever. I would tell you, but I don't want to ruin the journey for you.” 

“I see,” Dusk replied. The journey? Dusk didn't see anything at all. Still, she smiled up at him, looking pleased. She is none the wiser for his ignorance.  

“Here we are!” She turned to the shop they were standing in front of. “Oh no! I forgot her tokens! I'll be right back!” Coal turned on her heel and vanished back to her stall. Dusk shook his head and walked into the store. A small bell sounding off. 

“Hello,” an older voice greeted him. Bent over a walking cane, with one hand behind her back, she dipped her head in greetings. Wearing a simple pink shawl over her white dress. Dusk admired the simplistic style. That matched the long gray rabbit ears draped over her shoulders, along with her white hair. Her lips tilted with an easy smile. “What brings you here?”  

“Greetings.” Dusk held his hand to his chest and bowed. “Coal recommended me to your store.” 

“Ah!” Her nose wiggled. “Nice girl.” 

“Indeed,” Dusk nodded, finishing off their pleasantries. 

“We have new student packages,” she said, waving over to the shelf she was standing in front of. It could have been for her own ease of access, but the store was bright and airy. Everything had its place, displayed along the walls in clear, weaved baskets. “This wall has all your basics.” She pointed to each floor-to-ceiling shelf as she spoke. “The first row has kitchenware, the second bathroom, and the third bedroom.” Walking along the wall while she went. sounding a little heavier with each step. 

“Prices range from.” She paused and looked him up and down. “One silver to one gold.” It looks like Chamomile was right; he couldn't pass off as a commoner; he had noticed. That without him asking, he had been giving the prices in universal coins. Not that he was trying. 

“Don't mind this, elder; I'll be sitting at the till.” She continued on to take a seat in a high-back chair at the back of the store. Some pink color perked up her face when she sat down. She could use a hand running her store. Dusk thought with a frown. 

“My thanks,” Dusk said, going to the section marked kitchen. He would be responsible for his own meals now. At least they would be hot. Thinking back to those cold leftover meals he had every day for the last few years He was looking forward to learning how to make his own meals. Dusk still needed to learn how, and he needed kitchen tools for that. Dusk eyed the weaved baskets that held items ranging from silverware to pots and pans. 

Silver seemed to be the basic, and gold looked like it was for the more elaborate designs. Dishes were either in a set of four or one. No in between. Singles were four irons, but having extra sets felt right and was cheaper to get now. The stores were set up to sell to new students. Dusk could admire the metal-formed branches and the simple but elegant plates. He didn't need it.