The First Legendary Beast Master

The rooms were clean enough that nobody considered just going to the Tiny World for the night, and the team was up bright and early to head for stall 808, their assigned spot for the day.

The stall was one near the core of the market, a prime location next to a number of magical reagent vendors and other high-value goods. That had to be deliberate, as the city guards had chosen the stalls for everyone, so they had caused this grouping.

Or, perhaps there were designated sections based on the trade goods you had. But either way, it worked out well for Karl and the ladies, who were already attracting attention even before they had started setting out the actual goods.

Rae had made a black silk cover for the rough wooden stall table, and then hung a thin white silk sheet over the top and sides, so they would have plenty of light, but less direct sunlight.

She didn't want anyone getting sunburned.

Rae knew full well that they would all heal instantly from sun damage, but it still seemed wrong to leave them standing in the sun all day. She had made hanging chairs, support poles, a nice stretched top coffee table. The booth was fully decorated, and ready for a comfortable day sitting around waiting for customers.

But that elaborate setup had caught the attention of the other vendors, and they were eager to find out where they could get some of this finery.

The booths were standard sized, other than the larger ones for the bulk food sales. So, if it worked in that booth, they could make it work in the others as well.

"Ladies, gentlemen. Might I ask if you are advertising these most lovely silk chairs? I could use a few of them for my booth." A mage from the alchemy stall beside them asked.

Rae shrugged. "They're not actually what we came to sell, but I can make you a few."

She held out her hand, and webs spun in front of her, creating two Awakened Rank silk hanging chairs.

"There you go. No charge, just be comfortable." Rae insisted.

The alchemist bowed to her and hurried to go hang the chairs in his booth, which the apprentices were working to decorate.

Rae's work on their booth had upped the standard for the magical goods section as a whole, and as more of the booths put out decorative storefronts, the rest were forced to do the same, or risk looking shabby in comparison.

Normally, they didn't put much work in for a single day sales exhibition, but that was not Rae's way. Even if they were operating a travelling market, she would still put up a proper booth for the day.

Karl placed a dozen of the rings and two of the [Flooded Canals] statues out on a wooden tray, and then placed a barrier over them and the table so that they couldn't be stolen without great effort.

It was still early, so there weren't many shoppers in the market, but the other vendors had sent apprentices around to scope out the competition. If there were someone selling identical goods for less, they would either try to buy them out, or adjust their own pricing to match so that they didn't lose out on sales.

With that tactic, it didn't take long before every magical goods vendor was aware of the shop that was advertising [Water Creation and Assorted Magical Accessories], courtesy of the Darklight Host.

Karl had set out a few other items to go with the water creation rings. Cleaning charms carved from magical wood, a small stack of paper talismans that he had made to set off an alarm if a door was opened, and four [Gentle Childbirth] stone statues that had been made with the help of the two Orcish Druids back at the Guild House.

At least, Karl assumed it was them, as the items were Commander Rank, and Dora could have done them at Royal Rank if she had made them herself. The fact that they were shaped like a seated pregnant Orc woman didn't give him much of a clue either way.

"Are we taking wagers on what sells first?" Lotus asked as she swung herself in one of the chairs.

"Winner gets to pick where we get lunch from." Tessa agreed.

That was a winning bet, no matter who actually won, and Lotus was in immediately.

"I think that it's going to be the Childbirth statue. Those ones sell out so fast once we put them on the shelves. Even the farmers like them because they work on livestock." She insisted.

Tessa shrugged. "I think it'll be one of the alarm talismans, simply because they're only a silver a piece, so they're an impulse purchase for browsing mages."

Dana shook her head. "We're in a desert. I think it will be the water creation rings first."

Rae and Karl looked at each other, and Karl motioned for her to go first.

"I will choose the cleaning rings, then. Which leaves Karl with the flooded canals statues, and everyone else out of luck."

Ophelia chuckled and shrugged. "Next time, we will have to put out enough different items for everyone to get a choice. But we trust you four to pick something good for lunch, and I already know that Lotus is going to pick ice cream and pastries."

Lotus frowned. "That's not what I had in mind at all. Well, maybe. There is a shop we passed by yesterday, just after eating, which sold all sorts of pies. They have a sweet potato and shredded pork pie that I have to know the taste of."

Which naturally meant that she would also be purchasing pies of the sweet and fruity varieties. So, while Ophelia wasn't completely right, she wasn't actually wrong, either.

In the distance, bells began to ring, and Karl saw that all of the shopkeepers around them were suddenly at attention, now in business mode, and the casual atmosphere of the setup period was gone.

The market was open, and the bell seemed to have set off a tidal wave of housewives, as middle-aged female dwarves and beastkin filled the area.

Lotus was feeling good about her chances.