Merchant of The Universe

The appraiser approached the counter, her gaze flickering between Ethan and the Sealed Relic Box. She placed a slender, gloved hand on the wood, her fingers tracing the faint glow of the revealed runes.

"You've already uncovered quite a bit," she remarked, her voice tinged with interest. "Two seals. Two different people."

Ethan nodded. "The first one is a personal binding. The second… is something else."

The appraiser exhaled slowly. "That second seal is a Containment Ward. It's designed to imprison something—or someone."

Ethan stiffened. "Someone?"

"Possibly," she said, tapping her fingers together in thought. "Or it could be an entity. A spirit. A curse." She paused, then added, "If it's powerful enough to require a Containment Ward, you should be careful about what you're trying to open."

Ethan frowned. He'd expected the box to hold something valuable, but now he wasn't sure if valuable and dangerous were the same thing.

"You still want to go through with this?" she asked.

Ethan hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Yes. But I need to know how to do it without getting myself killed."

The appraiser chuckled. "Smart." She gestured toward him. "Did you get the Ethereal Inkstone?"

Ethan opened his system interface and confirmed the purchase. His remaining Astral Coins dropped to zero, and in a flash of light, a smooth, translucent inkstone materialized on the counter.

The appraiser's expression shifted slightly—impressed, but not surprised. "Good. With this, I can decipher the personal binding and find a way around it."

She reached into her robe, withdrawing a delicate silver quill. Dipping it against the Inkstone's surface, she began tracing symbols in the air above the box. Each stroke shimmered before fading, leaving behind faint patterns of residual magic.

Minutes passed. The air in the shop grew thick with tension as the symbols coalesced into a larger formation. Finally, she stepped back.

"There," she said. "The first seal belonged to a scholar of the Celestial Archive. He used a personalized key—one that no longer exists."

Ethan sighed. "Figures."

She smirked. "I can bypass it. But it will take time."

Ethan nodded. "And the second seal?"

She tapped her quill against her palm. "That's a different challenge. The Containment Ward wasn't just created—it was fed over time. That means whatever's inside… it's been growing stronger."

Ethan's jaw clenched. That definitely didn't sound like something he wanted loose in his shop.

The appraiser gave him a long look. "This is the kind of thing that people lock away for a reason."

Ethan exhaled. "I get it. But I need to know what's inside."

She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Fine. I'll handle the first seal. You'll have to find someone—or something—strong enough to deal with the second."

Ethan's stomach sank. He had no Astral Coins left, no powerful allies, and no idea where to start.

But he'd made his decision.

Whatever was inside that box—he was going to find out.