BXBX NOVEL Chapter 66: Chaos In The Bazaar
Knock. Knock.
Just as he reached for the handle to turn it, he raised his dagger in preparation before swinging it open—
"Sorry if I'm interrupting—ah?"
Stopping his blade just short of the visitor, Finn found himself greeted by the sight of light, blue hair that was quite unmistakable.
"Charlotte?" Finn recognized, lowering his guard with a shake of his head. "Sorry about that."
The young woman brushed it off with a small laugh, walking in as she was welcomed, tucking her hands behind her back, "It's alright. I'm realizing now I probably should've just called out than just knocked."
Finn sat on the end of the bed, shaking his head, "No, I'm just…on edge, y'know? There's being cautious, then just being damn paranoid."
Seating herself on the cushioned, mahogany chair at the desk across from the bed, Charlotte assured him, "That's not true—well, I mean not for you. You're not paranoid."
"I don't know. Anyway, did you need something?" Finn asked, straying away from the conversation.
"Well, not really, I just didn't really want to be alone tonight," Charlotte admitted with a bit of shyness, kicking her legs a bit.
The truthful admission from the young woman brought Finn to think about it himself, recalling the nightmarish encounters so recently experienced.
"Yeah, I get it. Lately, this has all just been a nightmare," Finn said, rubbing his head.
"When we're able to sit like this and actually think, let our thoughts settle, you know…It's all just crazy when you think about it, isn't it? I mean, what this world has turned into," Charlotte said.
"Yeah," Finn tiredly agreed. "The only thing you can do now is accept it. This is what's left of our world now–humanity is barely tethered by a string at this point."
"I guess you're right. Thinking about it won't change it, I suppose," Charlotte lamented.
For a moment, they both sat there in silence amidst the less-than-gleeful conversation, only both beginning to open their mouths to speak up again–
Knock. Knock.
"Who's?--" Finn began to ask.
There wasn't even a chance to walk towards the door before it was opened on its own without any care for the knock being answered.
"Sorry for the intrusion, mate. Hope you don't–oh."
"We've come to settle a debate on which of our homelands has the best cuisine–ah."
It was the Australian knight, who was still opting to wear his helmet as he strolled right in without being welcomed in, along with the swede who barged in right behind him.
Though both paused for a moment, looking between Finn and the feminine guest in the room as if shocked to find them together.
"Alright, just let yourselves in, I guess…" Finn remarked, watching the two enter.
Jasper was carrying a six pack of what looked to be cans of beer in his hand, seeming to have wasted no time using the magical menu to acquire such an item. In fact, the Australian already had the visor to his helmet partially lifted, holding an open can in his other hand.
As the knight whose breath reeked of booze sat down against the bedside, it was Magnus who grabbed hold of the menu on the table, flipping through it.
"So, why are you both here?" Finn questioned.
Magnus answered while rummaging through the boundless catalog of cuisine, "That beer-breathed cobber claims Australian cuisine is the best."
"All I said is that it's better than meatballs and potatoes, mate," Jasper protested while raising his hand.
"Either way, we couldn't settle on what was better between us, so we decided you both should factor in as well," Magnus continued, turning to look at Finn and Charlotte.
While everybody seemed to settle into his room, he was left questioning why it was his place specifically they all seemed to converge to.
"I'm fine with taste testing, but I'm not exactly a connoisseur or anything of food, you know," Charlotte accepted with a small laugh.
"One does not need extensive experience to understand the quality of Raggmunk, or even Kalops," Magnus spoke highly of his homeland cuisine.
"Sounds like you're casting spells to me," Jasper said jokingly while raising his can.
What was going to be a quick turn to slumber instead had Finn finding himself with the company of his companions, using the menu extensively to order dishes.
From savory Swedish dishes of potatoes and meat, to Australian cuisine that focused on summertime comfort food, and American meals of savory chicken.
Of course, there was also a remarkable amount of desserts ordered by Charlotte.
"Who would've thought a limitless catalog of food would be abused…" Finn sarcastically remarked at the plethora of dishes sprawled out.
An hour was spent simply taste testing the wide array of entrees, leaving them each entirely full. In fact, a bout of snoring brought him to find that both Magnus and Jasper had passed out, with the swede sprawled out on the floor right beside the Aussie.
"Seriously?" Finn muttered, shaking his head.
With a bowl of ice cream from strawberry, to pineapple, and even one with pieces of chocolate candy in it, Charlotte was more than pleased with herself as she stuck the spoon in her mouth.
It was the first time seeing such a delighted, innocent smile worn on her face as she plucked the spoon away, "Ice cream is amazing…Ah–I mean, we didn't even get to tell them whose food was better."
"I can't even think about…I'm way too full," Finn remarked, letting out a sigh.
"Well, what now?" Charlotte asked.
Finn glanced at the two who were snoring on the floor of his rented room before answering, "…I'd drag them back to their rooms, but honestly I'm too tired for that. I'm just going to call it a night."
"Then if you don't mind—" Charlotte suddenly spoke up, tapping her finger against the bowl.
"What is it?" Finn asked just as he was situating himself into his bed.
"If you don't mind, can I stay here, too?" She asked quietly.
It took him by surprise, though seeing as he already had two guests, one more wouldn't hurt, "Err, sure…Yeah, that's fine."
"I can use the sofa, I don't mind," Charlotte said, standing up as she set the bowl down on the tabletop. "It's a lot better than what I usually get to sleep on, anyway."
As he watched the silken-haired girl move herself closer to the couch, he intervened before she could set herself down, "You can use the bed."
"Huh?" Charlotte looked back at him.
"If you want, I mean," Finn clarified, scratching his cheek.
The proposition brought them both to an awkward silence for a moment. Even amidst the world being turned on its head, the concept of sharing a bed with the opposite gender was still something that wasn't so casually handled by Finn's mind.
"Alright," Charlotte accepted, moving over to the bed.
In order to avoid more intimacy his poor heart could handle, he grabbed a pillow, bringing it to the end of the bed to lay down opposite of Charlotte.
As she laid beside him, he somehow managed to fall asleep with the snoring as white noise.
—
The rise of the morning brought them to the Bazaar, after a bit of throwing up from the knight who drank a tad too much.
Magnus fixed his hair with an exhale, "I don't think I'll be hungry until tomorrow, honestly."
"Yeah, same here, mate," Jasper said while slapping his own helmet as if trying to sober up still.
Still, a full night of rest did wonders for Finn as he found himself full of energy while browsing the selection at the shopkeeper's display.
"Does anything catch your interest, adventurer?" The boar-headed shopkeeper asked while cleaning his own tusk with a handkerchief.
"Just looking," Finn answered while keeping his gaze on the variety of items.
[Current Anarch Coins: 22500]
The amount he had accumulated was practically burning a hole in his pocket. What caught his eye was a pair of black-steel wrist guards on display.
"Ah, interested?" The shopkeeper noticed, lifting the item to showcase. "The Abyssal Keeper Guards are a splendid addition to anybody's arsenal. When knocked together, you can temporarily gain a burst of killing prowess."
Thinking about it for a moment, Finn made his decision, "I'll take them."
"Fantastic choice!" The Bazaar keeper rejoiced.
[Anarch Coin: -5000] [17500]
As the cost was deducted, he was granted ownership of the mystical wrist guards. He didn't waste any time equipping them, siding them onto his wrists as the sleek, black steel blended right into his uniform.
[Abyssal Keeper Guards]
He swiped his dagger around swiftly against the air, testing the difference in weight. Surprisingly, there was no hindrance at all; in fact, it seemed to add into the strength of his movements.
"I take it you're satisfied with your purchase?" The shopkeeper asked, tapping his fingers together.
"Guess so. I'll also take a Divine Ambrosia," Finn requested.
"Of course! Here you are," the boar-man said, presenting the bottle of healing properties.
[Anarch Coin: -5000] [12500]
Getting the all-restorative substance, he stuffed it into his back pocket while the others still shopped around. Amidst their preparations, the safe level of the Tower suddenly trembled—
"What?—" Finn questioned, looking around as the marble walls rumbled.
"Is it coming down?!" Charlotte asked.
Jasper looked to be on the verge of puking, "Not the time for shaking, mate…!"
It came to an end within seconds, brought to a conclusion by the wall beside the shop itself being pulled away into a glowing, red gateway.
"What's that?" Magnus wondered, stepping closer.
A glistening field of enigmatic force swirled in the ominous doorway, releasing a subtle hum.
The shopkeeper stepped out from behind the counter, standing by the newly-formed gateway, "An adventurer like yourselves has used a "Convergence Call."