Legacy of the Tarot (Laoyon)

Garrick the Builder (Carpenter), Alicia the Artisan (Luxury Decor)

The scent of fresh-cut wood and varnish filled the air as the trio followed Selva down Emberstride Walk, a bustling street where craftsmen shaped the bones of Veyne's architecture. Wooden beams, marble counters, and intricate carvings were displayed in open workshops, each artisan showing off their best work.

At the heart of the district stood The Emberforge Furnishings, a massive workshop lined with polished furniture, ornate tapestries, and exotic decorations. It catered to both the practical merchant and the extravagant noble, offering everything from simple wooden chairs to luxury silk-lined lounges fit for royalty.

The moment they stepped inside; a gruff voice greeted them.

"Unless you're here to swing a hammer, don't touch anything without permission."

Standing near a half-finished oak table was a towering man with arms as thick as barrels, his face marked by decades of work at the forge. His broad shoulders and soot-stained apron made it clear—this was no merchant. This was a craftsman.

Garrick the Builder, the master carpenter of The Emberforge Furnishings.

Arden smirked. "You say that like I was planning to break something."

Selva snorted. "He says that because you're planning to break something."

Garrick's frown deepened. "Hmph. What do you want?"

Leigh pulled out their neatly prepared list, ignoring Arden's antics. "We need essentials. Beds, storage, lanterns—functional things."

Garrick raised an eyebrow. "You don't look like the settling-down type."

Arden shrugged. "Think of it as long-term camping."

Before Garrick could respond, a smooth, refined voice cut through the conversation.

"Camping?" A woman in flowing artisan robes approached, adjusting the silver-trimmed cuffs of her sleeves as she examined them. She had sharp, discerning eyes—the kind that could tell at a glance how much someone was willing to spend.

Alicia the Artisan. The decorator of Veyne.

She looked at Leigh and gave an approving nod. "I assume you have taste?"

Leigh blinked. "Uh… I suppose?"

Arden leaned over to Dominic and whispered. "Oh great. Fancy talk incoming."

Selva elbowed him. "Show some respect."

Alicia continued, gracefully weaving her hands through the air as she spoke. "Even if it's temporary, your living space should still exude elegance. A home should reflect its occupants—a balance of function and form, of comfort and sophistication."

Dominic smirked. "We live in a cave."

Alicia gasped in absolute horror. "A cave?!"

She looked deeply troubled as she took a slow, measured breath. "How tragic. No wonder you've come to me."

Arden leaned against a polished mahogany table, grinning. "Yeah, we're just looking for something simple. Sturdy. You know, things that don't cost as much as a noble's wedding."

Alicia tilted her chin slightly. "Functionality is no excuse for poor taste."

Garrick rolled his eyes. "Alright. You need practical, I can do practical. Tell me what you need."

Garrick cracked his knuckles as he motioned toward the shop's well-organized sections. "Alright. You need furniture? Let's get to it."

Leigh nodded, taking the lead. "First priority—basics. Something functional."

Garrick grunted in approval. "Good. Ain't got time for people who only buy things to look fancy."

Leigh ignored the jab at Arden and turned to Dominic. "We need a proper place to sit. Right now, the only seating arrangement in our base are wooden chairs—at least they don't stab you in the back."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "Comfort? How very… civilized of you."

Leigh sighed. "I'd rather not feel like I'm on a survival mission every time we eat."

She ran her fingers over a sturdy wooden table set, polished yet simple, with enough space to seat six.

"This one."

Garrick gave an approving nod. "Solid oak. Sturdy, won't splinter. 1,500 gold."

Leigh tapped her chin, then gave a decisive nod. "Done."

While Leigh handled the seating, Arden wandered to the bedding section, flipping through various options.

"Alright, next on the list—something to sleep on that doesn't make me feel like I've been in a brawl with the ground itself."

Selva smirked. "You mean the cave floor you slept on wasn't luxurious enough for you?"

Arden gave her a flat look. "I have standards, okay?"

Leigh rubbed her temples. "You sleep anywhere. You literally passed out on a broken floor on our first day, remember?"

"That was different. That floor had personality," Arden countered.

Still, he grabbed a set of thick sleeping mats, reinforced for comfort and durability.

Leigh added a few extra blankets to the pile." 2,000 gold total. Consider it an investment in sanity."

Dominic glanced at Arden. "We also need proper lighting. We can't just rely on my magic to light up the place, you know."

Arden rolled his eyes. "I'm not scared of the dark, you know."

Dominic smirked. "No, but you're always the first to complain when you stub your toe in it."

Leigh sighed and grabbed a bundle of Wall Lanterns & Fire Stones, enchanted for long-lasting warmth and brightness.

"1,200 gold," Garrick confirmed.

Just as they finished their selections, Arden's gaze landed on something magnificent—a massive, intricately woven rug with gold embroidery and a soft texture that screamed luxury.

His eyes lit up like a child seeing candy for the first time.

"Ooooh. We need this."

Leigh slowly turned to look at him, unimpressed. "We do not need that."

"But it'll make the cave feel cozy!" Arden insisted, running his fingers over the fabric as if he had already claimed it.

Selva laughed. "You're actually considering buying a luxury rug… for a cave?"

"Atmosphere is important," Arden said, nodding sagely.

Garrick crossed his arms. "That thing's 4,500 gold."

Arden froze. "…Okay, maybe not that cozy."

Dominic grinned. "Look at him. He just went through the five stages of grief in two seconds."

Leigh dragged Arden away from the rug. "We're leaving before you do something reckless."

Arden sighed dramatically as they made their way to the counter.

"Goodbye, my beautiful rug. We were never meant to be."

Leigh rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."

Garrick cracked his knuckles and pulled out a thick wooden box with intricate engravings and brass reinforcements. With a practiced motion, he began stacking their purchases inside, carefully arranging each item to fit snugly.

"Alright, hold still," he muttered as he reached for a small metal lever on the side of the box. With a firm pull, the mechanism inside whirred to life, gears clicking as the box began to shrink.

The entire package compressed inward, folding like a masterfully crafted puzzle, until it was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. A single rune-inscribed button remained on the surface.

He placed it on the counter and tapped the rune with a firm thud.

"There. Press this button when you get to your place, and everything will unfold back to its original shape, just the way I packed it," Garrick explained, dusting off his hands. "No mess, no missing screws."

Arden picked it up, testing its weight. "This is insane. You guys could make a fortune with this."

Garrick snorted. "We do. That'll be 50 extra gold for the packaging."

Leigh sighed, already reaching for the coins. "Of course it costs extra."

Selva smirked. "Consider it a premium service. Besides, better than hauling everything on your backs."

Arden slipped the compact package into his Leather Backpack, grinning. "Fine. But if I press this thing and it pops out wrong, I'm bringing it back."

Garrick folded his arms. "If it pops out wrong, you pressed it upside down."

Dominic chuckled. "Yeah, Arden. Try not to dump all our furniture into a river."

Arden huffed. "You guys have zero faith in me."

Leigh patted his shoulder. "Oh no, we do. We just know exactly how this is going to go."

As they left The Emberforge Furnishings, Leigh flipped through her notepad, tallying the expenses with the air of a seasoned accountant. She tapped the page with her finger before glancing up.

"Alright, let's go over the numbers before someone gets any more ideas."

Arden scoffed, rolling his shoulders. "Everything I bought was completely necessary."

Leigh didn't bother dignifying that with a response.

"Arden, you spent 2,750 gold. That includes the table and chairs, the lanterns and fire stones, and—" she gave him a pointed look, "—the extra 50 gold for magic packaging."

Arden crossed his arms. "That should have been included in the price."

Selva smirked. "And I still think you'd be crying if you had to carry everything on your back."

Leigh continued, "I spent 2,000 gold on bedding and sleeping mats. Which, by the way, is probably the smartest purchase made today."

Dominic leaned back, arms crossed. "I spent exactly 0 gold." He exhaled as if basking in his own financial genius.

Arden side-eyed him. "What are you, a dragon? Hoarding gold like you're going to sleep on it?"

Dominic smirked. "Maybe."

Leigh flipped her notepad closed. "That leaves our new balances. Arden, you're down to 36,950 gold. I have 36,900. And Dominic… is sitting comfortably at 41,300 gold." She shot him a flat look. "Because someone hasn't gone on a spending spree yet."

Arden glanced at Dominic's untouched pouch of gold. "You're going to drop a fortune later, aren't you?"

Dominic smiled as he flipped a coin between his fingers. "Oh, absolutely. I'm just waiting for the right moment."

Leigh exhaled heavily, slipping her notepad into her pocket. "Alright, that's enough damage for now. Next stop—The Gilded Chest Supplies."

Selva clapped her hands together. "Time to stock up on actual adventuring essentials."

Arden's mood instantly shifted. "Ooooh, now you're talking."

Leigh pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is going to be expensive."

Dominic grinned. "And yet, I will still have more gold than both of you."

"Oh, shut up, Dominic," Arden and Leigh said in unison.

Selva chuckled as she led the way. "Let's see who regrets their spending first."