Submission (#8292) Approved

When Luna had asked Mizuki to accompany her, the undine wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but obliged. The two wandered the streets of Silveil City as the denizens hustled and bustled. Considering her frequent visits, it was something Mizuki was used to now. In this eternal city of night, it seemed the residents were always moving about, engaging in various activities, and never letting the lack of day deter them. That said, it wasn’t as if this place always stayed dark. The skies were filled with a canopy of stars, an ever shifting swirling galaxy that was always breathtaking no matter how many times one laid eyes on it, and the city itself was always adorned with lights, whether this ranged from the lamps adorning the streets, lanterns hanging off buildings, or even the occasional fireworks going off in the sky.

If anything, one often didn’t have to worry about losing their way due to darkness, and anyone who did could only attribute it to their own poor sense of direction or from being easily distracted, which Mizuki admitted there was no shortage of here. That said, she wasn’t here for frivolities, but for forming meaningful connections and relations for future business, and for honing her craft. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a sentiment shared by her pomu, who was flitting back and forth, eyes wide as she chittered with excitement. Mizuki was certain that if she didn’t keep her eye on her, Biri would have long gotten lost amidst the excitement, drawn in by various food vendors and entertainment.

Seeing Mizuki eye her pomu with disdain, Luna couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“Oh, there’s no harm in letting her look around. Even living here, there’s always so much to see. Speaking of, have you visited the places I mentioned prior?”

Mizuki recalled visiting the mana well Luna had told her about, deep within Silveil Forest, and was amazed by the abundant crystals and the effect it had on its surroundings. She had also spent time by Starlake, gazing upon the bioluminescent life within it, and the wonders of Silveil’s eldertree.

“I have, and they were absolutely breathtaking, thank you. Is there another place we’re going to that we haven’t seen yet?”

Luna gave her a thoughtful smile, but didn’t respond. This only piqued Mizuki’s curiosity. What exactly was she being so secretive about?

After a short walk, the two arrived at the outskirts of Silveil City, and if one continued down the path, they would soon reach the forest. However, what had caught Mizuki’s attention was that there was a group of elnin along said path, and what looked like various shops set up with carts and wagons in the back.

“...A caravan?”

Mizuki had encountered a few during her travels, but certainly nothing as grand as what she was witnessing. They were generally merchants peddling various wares, but she often found that the local specialties were of higher quality and better integrity, and that the travelers would often spin tall tales to entice buyers, which only made her wary. Luna seemed to sense Mizuki’s hesitance, and placed a paw on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry, these ones are reputable. Lumia often asks me to pick up a few things when they come by, and I’m sure there’ll be a few things that’ll catch your eye. At the very least, it seems Biri is already captivated.”

Mizuki turned to see that Biri was no longer by her side, and was now hovering around some of the food vendors with eyes wide. She sighed. Did that pomu ever stop thinking about food?

Letting out a sigh, Mizuki went and paid for whatever it was Biri was ogling over, and hopefully with her pomu occupied, it meant less chance of her causing trouble. Luna couldn’t help but laugh at the display, and guided the undine over to some of the other stalls. In addition to food, it seemed they also sold an assortment of items, some of which had certainly caught Mizuki’s attention.

“Are these… mana crystals?”

They looked like the ones she had seen at the mana well, and it seemed they had collected various bioluminescent mushrooms as well. While Mizuki had already collected a small sample of the mana crystals for her own use, she could tell that the vendors had an eye for quality, and made sure that none of the crystals were cracked, and were polished finely. They would certainly make beautiful jewelry. And while she didn’t have any current use for the mushrooms, she supposed if they were dried and grinded into powder and mixed with binders, they could be turned into various dyes and paints.

While she looked over the other offerings, she noticed Luna talking with one of the merchants, seeming to have picked up various fabrics. And Biri was, well, Biri. At least she seemed content munching away at the moment.

It seemed the vendors not only sold items, but also put up various forms of entertainment. A makeshift stage was set up, with a bipedal elnin dancing, the coins at the hem of her dress and sash jingling as they clashed together. It made her think of Lumia’s performances, and wondered if they two knew each other. Others joined in, clapping and cheering along, while others just opted to watch, drinks in hand as they chattered away. It was hard to say how long this caravan would be in town, but it was surely something Mizuki wouldn’t forget anytime soon.