THE MOMENT
"This is the lucky one, it has to be!" 23 sighed as she tore the sheet off the corkboard. It was a yellowed, frayed parchment with an elaborate pencil sketch of a toothy pixie. The young girl turned and headed to the counter with her friend, Cassie, close behind. Cassie was 18 and several years older than 23's preteen age.
"I'm not in a hurry...," Cassie replied with a smile. "...even if that's not the one, we'll get it today," she said.
"It's already taking too long for me...," 23 shook her head. She placed the sheet on the counter and looked up at the clerk. "What can you tell me about this?" she asked.
"Ohh, Pixies, huh?" the clerk shook his head. "Pixies are carnivorous creatures that lure humans into the woods and lead them to a certain death before feasting on them," he said. "There are rumors of a new pixie village in the nearby forest that's causing trouble. Do whatever you can to cull their numbers. I'll reward you for every 10 pouches of pixie dust you bring me."
"Quest accepted," 23 nodded at him and held both her hands out to Cassie. The older teen dropped 10 button-sized golden pouches of dust in her hand. Then, 23 turned and placed them on the counter. "I brought you some Pixie dust," she said.
"Wonderful!" he reached under the counter and pulled out a card-sized glass rectangle. It was translucent with a faint green glow emanating from within; but, 23 shook her head with a grumble when he laid it on the counter. The girl picked it up and spun around. In a single move she gave the card to Cassie and walked across the shop to the bulletin board again.
She needed to wait for a couple of minutes for the sheet to reappear. Cassie joined her while she waited.
"I'm not in a hurry; but, I am running low on Pixie dust. You're going to have to help me restock after you get the right reward," she said.
"Don't Merchants get special deals from Sharp Development?" 23 asked. Cassie nodded with a smile.
"Yeah, we do," she said. "But, free is an even better deal; and you'll need to practice with your new Ability anyway. If you get it," she giggled.
"Yeah, we'll see..," 23 nodded as the Pixie sheet reappeared on the board. She tore it off and carried it to the counter. "What can you tell me about this?"
"Ohh, Pixies, huh?" the clerk shook his head. "Pixies are carnivorous creatures that lure humans into the woods and lead them to a certain death before feasting on them," he said. "There are rumors of a new pixie village in the nearby forest that's causing trouble. Do whatever you can to cull their numbers. I'll reward you for every 10 pouches of pixie dust you bring me."
By the time she had her hands out Cassie had the Pixie dust ready. 23 turned them in and the clerk smiled.
"Wonderful!" he reached under the counter and pulled out a card-sized glass rectangle. It was translucent with a brilliant golden glow emanating from within.
"Yes!" 23 jumped in place when he set the card down. She didn't waste any time and grabbed it. Then, she touched the golden card to the purple deck box strapped to her left wrist. The card disintegrated into white powder and a message appeared in the top corner of her vision.
[Rabid Pixie card added to Fantasy Deck]
"Alright!" she grinned at Cassie. "I'm ready to go; how many pouches of dust do I owe you?" she asked.
"130..," Cassie said.
"13 times!??" 23 shook her head. "I didn't know we'd done it that many times; no wonder I was getting impatient," she giggled. Cassie joined in the laughter as they headed out of the store.
"That's not too bad...," she added with a smirk. "...considering your sister got bored and left after the first two times."