Insect Tamer's Ascension-Chapter 433. Elias’s gift

They got ready for the market tour and stepped out of the inn. Just after a short walk, they were close to the market.

Theo noticed nobles almost everywhere. Even the side streets were filled with them, far more than the number of commoners.

In fact, it was difficult to spot anyone who was a commoner in the entire place; everyone carried themselves with that same refined air that screamed ’noble’.

They reached the market in no time, and Theo immediately saw how bustling it was.

Yet, despite the crowd, the atmosphere felt strangely calm. All the shop owners sat quietly at their stalls, waiting for customers instead of calling. There were no loud sales pitches or shouts about discounts like Theo had seen in his family’s town.

Back in their town, the shopkeepers would always be shouting for attention and talking, yelling discounts, but it was completely different here. Instead, the air was filled with softer sounds of people laughing, casual conversations, footsteps, and children playing.

As Theo looked around, he noticed a group of blue-haired people with matching blue eyes. Their darker complexion stood out to him, which was uncommon in this kingdom.

And with the unfamiliar language they were speaking among themselves, Theo was able to tell that they were foreigners.

Moving through the stalls, Theo saw all kinds of items in the market.

Jewellery crafted from various kinds of gems and metals immediately caught his attention. Some clearly seemed like gold, while others were made from materials he didn’t recognize, which made Theo think they didn’t exist in his previous world.

He asked Clara if she wanted anything, but she simply shook her head. Being in such a market was already enough for her, or at least, that’s what she claimed.

Elias, meanwhile, looked at the jewellery stall. His eyes lit up when he spotted a red ruby pendant that was carved into the shape of a heart.

But Theo also saw his expression change the moment his gaze turned to the price.

The hesitation was obvious at first glance. That piece cost more than two months of Elias’s salary as an attendant.

Theo noticed it, but he didn’t offer to buy it from him. He didn’t want to make Elias feel short on anything. If the guy wanted to give something meaningful to someone special, then it should come from himself. At least, that was what Theo believed should be done.

They continued browsing, stopping at almost every stall. Lucien had already bought several things. Some were pieces of jewellery, while some were tools that Theo didn’t feel like were particularly necessary.

Theo himself didn’t show much interest in buying anything until they came across a small weapon display. There, a pitch-black sword caught his eyes. But when he picked it up, the shopkeeper quickly warned him to be careful.

It turned out the sword wasn’t meant for combat; rather, it was a delicate showpiece, like the rest of the weapons in that store. Theo felt a brief sting of disappointment, like his heart was being cheated upon, but then his gaze shifted to a sleek, black dagger that felt just right in his hand. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

That was when he made his first purchase.

Time passed, and eventually they stopped to eat something. Everyone tried a variety of foods, and even the attendants seemed a lot more relaxed now. After all, almost everyone inside the market was a noble, and sometimes, even the shopkeepers themselves were nobles.

Theo found next to no real weapon in that area, but as they moved a little further ahead, something unusual caught his attention.

A long line stretched down a set of stairs. Women, both young and old, dressed in revealing clothes, entered inside one by one. They seemed to be in high spirits, almost like they were heading for a party.

Lucien quickly explained to Theo that it was a place people went to dance around and have fun.

Theo quickly understood that it was something quite similar to a pub. And that realization made him chuckle.

Further along, they came across stalls that were selling beast parts. Unlike the usual messy displays, these were clean and well-presented.

Theo bought a few items from them, intrigued by the diverse variety of beasts; some came from creatures that were found both inside and beyond the kingdom.

Theo had to do his best to not let the mantis out of the beast space and start devouring everything. After all, this wasn’t his home.

Once they had finished shopping and explored the entire market, they headed back in high spirits.

The only thing that was left now was the training, which would start the next day.

The next morning, with a fresh mind, Theo prepared himself for the training. When he stepped out of his room after hearing a knock, he found Elias and Clara already waiting for him, ready to go.

Theo’s gaze drifted to Clara’s neck, and a smile crept across his face. He glanced at Elias, who quickly turned his face away, as if he knew exactly what Theo was staring at him for.

Clara was wearing a red necklace, not the same as the one Elias had been staring at the last night in the market, but similar enough.

"Shall we go, young master?" Clara asked, a bright smile blooming across her face. Seeing her in such a good mood made Theo smile as well.

Soon, Lucien and Cassian joined them too, and together they headed toward the room where their breakfast awaited.

The morning spread was generous, filled with all kinds of food, yet everyone ate discreetly this time.

It reminded Theo of a great saying: eat like a beggar in the morning, like a commoner in the afternoon and like a king at night.

Theo liked that concept a lot.

He glanced around, searching for the adventurer he was to meet again, but the man was nowhere to be found.

Before long, they made their way to the castle door. As they entered, Theo noticed a group gathered in one corner of the courtyard. Various pieces of equipment were laid out, some he recognized and others that were completely unfamiliar.

He saw a few people in leather armor too, and Theo had a feeling that these were the ones he was meant to meet today.

Theo’s group made their way forward, drawing the attention of the butler, several other tamers and the gathered group, all of whom turned to stare at them.

The atmosphere grew intense, just the way Theo liked it.