Julius and Helos walked one after the other along the side path of the Duke’s Mansion.
Helos was wrapped in that dingy old cloak, her silver hair tightly hidden beneath the hood, only half of her pale cheek and a pair of wary pale purple eyes visible.
She tiptoed like a sneaky little cat slipping out, glancing back every now and then, afraid of being noticed.
Julius appeared much more at ease. His black casual clothes made him look like an ordinary boy, but his sharp black eyes and upright posture still exuded the aura of a Saint Knight Squire.
“Hey, slow down!”
Helos lowered her voice and tugged at Julius’s sleeve. “What if the patrolling guards spot us?”
Julius glanced back at her, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.
“Don’t worry. At this time, they’re all changing shifts. No one will pay attention to us.”
“Really?”
Helos narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “How are you so familiar with this?”
Julius was silent for a moment before clearing his throat. “I often observe the patrol routes inside the mansion during training.”
“Oh~”
Helos dragged the syllable out meaningfully. “So the Saint Knight Captain secretly studies how to sneak off too?”
“First of all, I’m not a Saint Knight yet.”
Julius corrected her with a stern face. His short black hair swayed slightly in the morning breeze. “Secondly—”
He glanced sideways at the girl beside him with a sly look. “This is called tactical observation! What would a little girl like you know about that?”
“At?!”
Helos instantly flared up, strands of her silver hair bursting out of the hood.
She swung her fist and started pounding on Julius’s back.
“Who do you call a little brat!”
“Calling me a little girl too?”
“Even if I use my past life’s age, I could be your uncle, alright!”
Julius staggered from her blows but couldn’t help laughing softly.
“Alright, alright~ I’m the little brat~”
He exaggerated the tone deliberately. “Then, may I ask this old auntie, where are we headed now?”
Helos puffed out her cheeks in anger, her pale purple eyes wide as saucers.
She grabbed Julius’s sleeve hard enough to almost twist the cuff.
“This way!”
She pointed at a fork in the road ahead. “Turn left and walk two hundred meters; that’s where the Magic Material Shop is!”
Suddenly realizing something, she covered her mouth and glanced around cautiously.
After confirming no one was watching, she finally released Julius’s sleeve and muttered softly, “Almost gave away the destination…”
Julius watched her like this, the smile on his lips deepening.
He reached out to straighten her crooked hood, his fingertips accidentally brushing against strands of her cool silver hair.
“Don’t worry, no one will pay attention to two ‘ordinary’ little brats.”
He deliberately emphasized the words “ordinary,” earning Helos a sharp eye roll.
The morning mist gradually dissipated as sunlight poured onto the stone path, stretching their shadows long.
Helos kicked small stones by the roadside as she walked, murmuring to herself.
“Just wait, when I make the perfect Mana Core, the first one will be used to blow you up…”
Julius pretended not to hear but suddenly stopped at the corner.
He reached out to stop Helos, who was still looking down as she walked, and lowered his voice.
“We’re here.”
Helos suddenly looked up to see a two-story building with a Star-Moon Signboard standing before them.
The display window showcased various Magic Crystals glittering brilliantly in the sunlight, like stars fallen to the mortal realm.
Her eyes instantly brightened, her earlier anger completely forgotten.
She tiptoed like a cat spotting dried fish, nearly pressing her whole body against the glass.
“Oh~ These are the ones~”
She swallowed hard, the dazzling light of the Magic Crystals reflected in her pale purple pupils.
“Go on~ Brave boy~”
The girl suddenly turned, placing her hands on Julius’s back and pushing him hard.
“This is a necessary path for your growth!”
Julius staggered forward half a step from the push, shaking his head helplessly.
He adjusted his crooked collar and turned to remind her.
“You wait outside quietly.”
“Mm-hmm!”
Helos nodded repeatedly.
“Don’t wander off.”
Julius still seemed worried and continued.
“Okay~”
“Don’t talk to strangers.”
The boy kept nagging.
“Don’t eat candy from strangers—”
“You’re so annoying!”
Helos finally lost it, rolling her eyes and covering her ears, signaling “I’m tired of hearing this!”
She pushed Julius toward the shop entrance. “I’m not three years old!”
“Hurry up! If you keep talking, it’ll be dark soon!”
“Alright, alright.”
Julius gave Helos a deep look one last time before turning to step inside.
Ding-ling—
The copper bell on the door rang out crisply.
The light inside was dimmer than outside, with a faint scent of sandalwood and metal in the air.
Various Magic Crystals were displayed in glass cases, glowing softly under magical lights.
“May I help you, young guest?”
An elderly man wearing gold-rimmed glasses stepped out from behind the counter, his attire meticulous, even his beard neatly trimmed.
Julius pointed to the Magic Crystals on the shelf behind the old man.
“I want attribute-less Magic Crystals, the purest kind.”
The old man’s eyes brightened. He turned and took out an Ebony Box from the back shelf.
Lifting the velvet cloth, inside were neatly arranged over twenty translucent white crystals, each about the size of an egg, so pure that one could see clearly through them.
“These are top-grade goods directly supplied by the Dwarves. Five thousand Soli each.”
The old man pushed up his glasses, showing no disdain despite Julius’s young age. “How many would you like?”
Julius didn’t answer immediately.
He carefully examined each Magic Crystal, as if contemplating an important decision.
“This one…”
He pointed to one. “Seems to have a small flaw on the edge?”
The old man leaned in to look.
“You have a sharp eye. I can give you a discount on this one.”
“And this one?”
Julius pointed to another. “Its transparency isn’t as good as the one next to it.”
Thus, after nearly half an hour of bargaining, Julius finally bought ten Magic Crystals for 43,000 Soli.
He carefully stored the heavy package and counted the remaining coins in his pouch.
“Aren’t you going to buy more?”
The old man wiped the sweat from his brow. “You see, this batch really is—”
“No need.”
Julius shook his head, a slight smile at the corner of his lips.
“This is enough.”
The boy turned his head to look at Helos, who was crouched at the street corner, drawing circles on the ground with a stick.
His gaze fell on the girl’s somewhat worn clothes, and a faint smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
“The rest of the money… I have other uses for it.”
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