pulled out a small cloth bag. He placed it on the table in front of Noir. “It's only a few. You won't need many because most everyone in town just trades without the use of tali. But you should have them just in case.”
Noir said carefully, “Sir, I'm sorry but we don't have tali where I'm from. What are they?”
“Lumin blind me! You don't know anything.” It was exasperated but playful. “It's money, Noir. Both kingdoms use it. They are very small enchants, which you'll learn about later in your Luxin training.”
Noir pulled the leather string and poured the contents into his cupped palm. Twenty small silver beads fell into his hand. When they made contact, they each glowed very faintly white and yellow.
“That's how you know they're real. They glow white.”
Noir inspected the small shiny orbs more closely. On each tiny sphere, there was an etched emblem that looked like two overlapping hour glasses.
“Anyway, you have some tali if you need them. Now go get acquainted with some of the townsfolk. By the time you get back here, we should have a room ready for you for the night.”
~~~
A man pretended to look at a dagger that the town blacksmith was selling. Though his eyes were on the dagger, his focus was actually on the young man in his peripheral vision who had just walked out of the command building. The young man had on an odd style of clothing and walked with a limp. He matched the description of the one who walked out of the cave. The fact that he was now outside with no guard around him implied that he had joined this pathetic group. It meant that the young boy was to be trained in his vigor and he would be off to meet Fafnir probably the next morning.
The man handed over the few tali that the dagger cost, and walked away from the blacksmith's shop. After he got out of sight, he ducked behind a clay hut. Letting out the held in anger, he balled his hand into a fist and gritted his teeth. Adeel was dense enough that she would never catch onto his plans. But a third Luxin could pose problems. The man’s gritted teeth turned into a vicious smile. The new Luxin boy had to be dealt with.
Chapter 8
Luxin Adeel
Noir exited the building. It was the first time in this world that he had had the freedom to go where he pleased. The very first thing he did was turn and look at the two glowing orbs on the sides of the doorway. He got up close and inspected all sides of it. There were no wires for electricity. No place to hold batteries. He couldn't figure out where the power for the light came from. Even though he was getting confused looks from the guard stationed by the door, Noir reached up and touched the light. It was perfectly cool unlike the light bulbs that he was used to. He turned to the guard who was already looking at him and asked, “Excuse me. What makes this thing work?”
The guard gave him a strange look and said, “You have got to be kidding me. You have never seen a glow sphere before?” Noir shook his head. The guard sighed, grabbed his belt, and hoisted it up a bit higher. “Chakra makes it glow. A Luxin enchanter made it. Quite expensive, especially when you're so far from most any enchanters. They're handy for night watch though.”
The answer satisfied Noir. He wasn't sure what enchanters were or how lux or chakra could be enchanted in something, but that's what he had the book for. He figured he'd read about it later; his feet were itching to explore.
Noir explored the town. When people passed by him, they gave him confused but intrigued looks. They were all dressed in
Noir said carefully, “Sir, I'm sorry but we don't have tali where I'm from. What are they?”
“Lumin blind me! You don't know anything.” It was exasperated but playful. “It's money, Noir. Both kingdoms use it. They are very small enchants, which you'll learn about later in your Luxin training.”
Noir pulled the leather string and poured the contents into his cupped palm. Twenty small silver beads fell into his hand. When they made contact, they each glowed very faintly white and yellow.
“That's how you know they're real. They glow white.”
Noir inspected the small shiny orbs more closely. On each tiny sphere, there was an etched emblem that looked like two overlapping hour glasses.
“Anyway, you have some tali if you need them. Now go get acquainted with some of the townsfolk. By the time you get back here, we should have a room ready for you for the night.”
~~~
A man pretended to look at a dagger that the town blacksmith was selling. Though his eyes were on the dagger, his focus was actually on the young man in his peripheral vision who had just walked out of the command building. The young man had on an odd style of clothing and walked with a limp. He matched the description of the one who walked out of the cave. The fact that he was now outside with no guard around him implied that he had joined this pathetic group. It meant that the young boy was to be trained in his vigor and he would be off to meet Fafnir probably the next morning.
The man handed over the few tali that the dagger cost, and walked away from the blacksmith's shop. After he got out of sight, he ducked behind a clay hut. Letting out the held in anger, he balled his hand into a fist and gritted his teeth. Adeel was dense enough that she would never catch onto his plans. But a third Luxin could pose problems. The man’s gritted teeth turned into a vicious smile. The new Luxin boy had to be dealt with.
Chapter 8
Luxin Adeel
Noir exited the building. It was the first time in this world that he had had the freedom to go where he pleased. The very first thing he did was turn and look at the two glowing orbs on the sides of the doorway. He got up close and inspected all sides of it. There were no wires for electricity. No place to hold batteries. He couldn't figure out where the power for the light came from. Even though he was getting confused looks from the guard stationed by the door, Noir reached up and touched the light. It was perfectly cool unlike the light bulbs that he was used to. He turned to the guard who was already looking at him and asked, “Excuse me. What makes this thing work?”
The guard gave him a strange look and said, “You have got to be kidding me. You have never seen a glow sphere before?” Noir shook his head. The guard sighed, grabbed his belt, and hoisted it up a bit higher. “Chakra makes it glow. A Luxin enchanter made it. Quite expensive, especially when you're so far from most any enchanters. They're handy for night watch though.”
The answer satisfied Noir. He wasn't sure what enchanters were or how lux or chakra could be enchanted in something, but that's what he had the book for. He figured he'd read about it later; his feet were itching to explore.
Noir explored the town. When people passed by him, they gave him confused but intrigued looks. They were all dressed in
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