–—- ??? —---

  Kaledo inhaled, his eyes blinking rapidly as the light poured in. Confusion roiled through him as he looked around, trying to understand what was happening. He'd been having a bad day. No, scratch that, it had been a bad week.

  Over the years, the commoner turned merchant had scrounged, saved, and bargained to earn enough gold to purchase his shop. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but Kaledo was proud of how far he’d come.

  Around him were shelves packed with pots, pans, foodstuffs, sharpening tools, and more. General items that the average farmer, housewife, or tradesman might need.

  He’d only had it for six months. Kaledo could have bought a shop like this years ago, but the location had been what held him back. He could have purchased a shop in a town or city near the edges of the empire, yet he held back for one reason.

  The Demonlord.

  Since he was a child, talk of his return had been on every citizen's lips. They were close to the next cycle, and with every passing year, the apprehension grew.

  That’s why he had saved to purchase the building and land in the imperial city of Golvan.

  In recorded history, Golvan had only fallen once. Even then, that was something some of the more fanatical imperial loyalists denied.

  So, when the demon army marched across the empire toward the capital, Kaledo couldn't believe it.

  But a merchant by class and by trade, he knew when a bad hand had been dealt.

  Despite the loss he would have to stomach, he tried to sell. He tried to leave. He was confident he could make money. Kaledo would just have to do it again.

  But no one was buying. The focus of all the merchant guilds was on the war effort and the opportunities it supplied. Nobody wanted to use capital to take on a ‘safe’, boring investment like a general mercantile.

  Kaledo was left with no choice. If he left, the store would be empty within minutes. Years of work gone.

  He stayed. And three days later, the demon army arrived outside the gates of the Imperial City. Within a day, their siege shattered the tall walls of Golvan.

  The city burned. People fled.

  Kaledo hid in his shop, sheltering the few neighbours he could before barring the door and hoping the demons ignored the unremarkable store.

  He remembered the joy he felt when the sounds of the Demon’s faded. The smiles shared between him and the three others hiding with him.

  Then the fire came. It spread through the block, distant demonic laughter echoing alongside it.

  The barricade of goods piled high at the door proved deadlier than the foes it barred.

  He remembered the sweltering heat and choking smoke. By the time the roof started to creak, he was almost glad. The last thought he had before the heavy beams crashed down was of his sister. It was time to join her; his life cut short just like hers. That was the last thing Kaledo remembered.

  Which is why he was extremely confused. Didn’t he die? Why was he sitting back in his shop, with large sacks, pans, and other items he had used to barricade the door neatly stacked in proper places?

  In front of him, the flat red wooden surface of his counter still stood. Across it, a man frowned, obviously expecting a response from him.

  Kaledo’s eyes swept the odd figure, his vivid tie-dye robes, blue conical hat, and gleaming spectacles.

  “Um… I’m sorry, sir.” Kaledo mumbled, taking in long breaths. “Could you give me a moment?”

  The man nodded. Kaledo closed his eyes and breathed. His thumping heart calmed.

  Finally, when his heart no longer felt as if it was attempting to escape the world, he opened his eyes.

  The man was still frowning.

  “Well, sir.” Kaledo began. “Could you repeat the question?”

  An audible sigh from across the desk.

  “I said, I want to buy your shop.”

  Now it was Kaledo’s turn to frown. “What? Buy my shop?”

  “Yes. That’s what I said.”

  The merchant squinted in suspicion. “Why?”

  Another sigh. “Because I want to purchase it. Buy it. Acquire it. It’s really quite simple.” The man groaned. “I don’t understand how this is complicated to you people.”

  Kaledo watched the stranger drag his fingers across his face in frustration.

  “And no.” The stranger continued. “Before you ask, I am not trying to sacrifice your soul. I’m not turning this establishment into a secret cult. I’m not a demon. I’m a human.” The man eyed Kaledo between fingers. “My name is Wilbur. I’m a wizard. And I want to buy your shop.”

  The merchant’s gaze swept the store. Everything in it looked like it had this morning. Before the demons had ransacked the town.

  “Sooooo…” Wilbur asked impatiently. “Are you going to sell it to me?”

  “Well… I’ll consider it.”

  “I just want to buy it.” Wilbur replied quickly, “I don’t want anything else, just the–wait.” He raised an eyebrow as he realised what the merchant had said. “You will?”

  “Of course.” Kaledo nodded. “I’m still very confused, but as our guild says: A good merchant never lets an opportunity walk away from them.” He looked around again. “And this seems like an opportunity to me.”

  Wilbur stood, blinking. After the silence stretched on, Kaledo asked. “I do have a question.”

  The man in the tie-dye robes tensed. “Yes?”

  Kaledo took a breath, then exhaled. “How am I alive?”

  “I brought you back.” The wizard simply stated, his posture still tense.

  The merchant’s eyes went wide, and he stared at Wilbur. His mind raced as he tried to comprehend. So, this man, who called himself Wilbur, had resurrected him? How? But what about his neighbours? Evelyn, Joseph and Miss Tomkin had all been in the building when it was destroyed. Yet, as he looked around his shop, there was no sign of them.

  He glanced back at the wizard. Wilbur was eyeing him carefully.

  Kaledo nodded. “Okay.”

  Wilbur raised an eyebrow. “Okay? Okay, what?”

  “I’ll sell you my shop.”

  “Huh.”

  Despite Kaledo’s response being exactly what the wizard had asked, the man seemed confused.

  “You aren’t going to call me a liar? Tell me some drivel about how it’s not possible?” Wilbur asked.

  Kaledo gave him a warm smile. “I won’t lie, it's quite surprising to be alive once again. However, I’m not the type of man to ignore the fact. I know I died, and yet, I am now alive. Why would I not believe you?”

  The merchant watched as Wilbur leaned back and was caught by a comfortable, brown recliner.

  “Oh, thank goodness,” Wilbur muttered. “You have no idea how many unreasonable people I have dealt with today.”

  Kaledo smiled. “I would imagine some do not take this conversation well.”

  “Not taking it well is the understatement of the century.” Wilbur groaned. "Calling me a demon worshiper, a demon in disguise, heretic, charging at me with whatever is within reach.” He sighed. “It’s been an awful day.”

  “How many have you done this with today?” Kaledo asked, frowning. “And, out of curiosity, am I special in some way?”

  “Huh?” The wizard looked up over his glasses. “Special? What do you mean?”

  “I mean,” Kaledo said carefully, his mind racing. “To bring me back. Is there any requirement? You said others have been upset. Are there conditions for you to bring someone or some place back from beyond?”

  “Uh…” Wilbur looked confused. “No? Nothing like that. Your shop is sitting in a place I would like to buy.”

  “Hmmm…” Kaledo nodded. “So you want the land, and my resurrection was for that reason?”

  Wilbur started to tense at the line of questions. “Yes?”

  “Okay.” Kaledo smiled, then quickly added. “So, about selling you my shop.”

  The wizard relaxed. “Yes, right. Your shop.” Wilbur stretched out his hand. In front of it, a glowing disc appeared, and Kaledo watched in fascination as it seemed to envelop the wizard's hand. A moment later, Wilbur pulled his hand back with a hefty bag.

  “I’m willing to pay you five times what this place cost you. Right now.”

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Kaledo eyed the bag, a gleam in his eyes. He had heard the distinct clink of coins from it. But he couldn’t let his greed cloud his mind. There was more to be gained here than gold.

  “Hmmm…” He said. “That is very generous.”

  "I know," Wilbur muttered. "You'd be surprised how many people have turned it down.” Then in a quieter tone. “Ungrateful jerks. Their shops were a pile of ash before I showed up. But nooo… obviously I’m a flipping demon.”

  The wizard looked up at the merchant. "You people are very suspicious. Someone comes along, does something good, and what’s the response? Not thanks, just ‘ahhhhhhh demon powers!’” Wilbur shook his head. “Come on, why would a demon worshiper resurrect you, then offer to give you money? It makes no sense."

  He leaned back into his recliner with a huff. “It’s stupid. It’s delaying my list.”

  “I can see how that would be frustrating,” Kaledo said, studying Wilbur, a plan forming in his mind. “So, I’m the only one who has agreed to sell so far?”

  “Yes.” Wilbur groaned. “It’s like everyone’s allergic to money. I never thought I would witness it.” He shook his head, then held up the bag. “So, five times what you paid sounds good to you?”

  Kaledo drummed his fingers on the counter, leaning forward. He waited as the wizard stared him down.

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  “WHAT?!” Wilbur yelled. “What do you mean you don’t think so?!”

  “It's generous, but I wo–”

  “It’s GENEROUS!?” Wilbur cut him off. “Of course it is! Just how much gold do you think your crappy little shop is worth?! What is wrong with you people?!”

  Kaledo just smiled. “You seem quite desperate.”

  “Excuse me?” Wilbur snapped as his eyes took on a dangerous glow. “I am not desperate. I am trying to help you. I wouldn’t have to if it weren't for the stupid broken-ass system and its dumb rules! I’m about done with this ruined city and you obnoxious people. Just why does nobody want money?!”

  Part of Wilbur’s speech piqued Kaledo’s interest. The system? Why did that matter? This man was obviously powerful, as he had just resurrected him. Kaledo’s information networks were not as extensive as some merchants', but he still had decent connections. Since his sister's death, resurrection was something he had researched extensively. From everything he had heard, any form of resurrection was prohibitively expensive. To the point that kingdoms couldn’t afford it.

  Despite that, this man had resurrected him. Furthermore, he had ‘resurrected’ his shop at the same time.

  So, the question was. Why?

  The wizard was still ranting about the unreasonable people and what he thought of them.

  Kaledo watched him fume, and with every passing second, he was sure of one thing. This man could level Golvan. Or at least that was his guess. But that didn’t seem to be the wizard’s goal.

  “Sir,” Kaledo said, interrupting the spew of anger from Wilbur. “I think your offer of gold is more than fair. I just wanted to suggest an alternative payment.”

  Wilbur glanced at Kaledo, his expression suspicious. “What do you want?”

  “I would like double what I paid for the shop,” Kaledo replied. “But there were three of my neighbours who hid here when the demons attacked. Would it be fair to remove the extra gold for you to bring them back?”

  “Oh.” Wilbur stared. “That’s what you want?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hmmm..”

  Kaledo struggled to keep his face composed. He had no idea how much it cost this man to perform this miracle. Should he have offered to give his shop for free? Mayb–

  “Okay,” Wilbur said with a nod. “I agree.” Then he raised his hands.

  Clap! Clap!

  Magic crackled in the still air. A moment later, three silhouettes blurred into view. There was a sharp intake of breath as Evelyn, Joseph and Miss Tomkin breathed once more.

  “There!” Wilbur exclaimed. “Now, how much did you pay for this place?”

  “Uh…um… well..” Kaledo stammered. “It was seven hundred and eleven gold pieces.”

  “Heh. Of course it was.” Wilbur shook his head as he rose. “Then I owe you one thousand four hundred and twenty-two imperial gold coins.”

  The wizard tipped the bag onto the counter. Golden coins poured out, clinking as they fell onto the red wood surface. As they landed, they shifted and moved, stacking themselves neatly into piles.

  After a moment, more gold than Kaledo had ever owned sat on his counter in orderly piles.

  There was a Ding! And a notice appeared in the merchant's view.

  — Notice —

  > Wilbur the Wizard would like to buy “Kaledo’s Goods and Everyday Items”

  > The offered price is 1,422 imperial gold coins.

  > Will you transfer the store, land, and all inventory stored within?

  > Yes - No

  —— —— ——

  Kaledo read the notice, then smiled and accepted.

  Across the counter, Wilbur visibly slumped back into his recliner.

  “Oh, thank goodness.” He groaned. “Finally, some headway. I didn’t believe it. Maybe picking this city wasn’t a mistake after all.” Wilbur grimaced, then in a low voice grumbled, “Now I just need to hope everyone else in the neighbourhood is reasonable.”

  Wilbur rose from his recliner, then tipped his blue conical hat to Kaledo “Thank you, I can honestly say, it was a pleasure doing business with you.”

  He looked around the shop, then at the three other people who were locked in shock. Wilbur shook his head, then looked back to Kaledo. “Just be gone by the end of the day, alright? You’re welcome to take anything from here; I don’t need it or care about it. All I wanted was the land.”

  With that, Wilbur spun, then strode to the door. The silver bell above it chimed as he left.

  Kaledo turned his attention to the gold. With quick motions, he reached under his counter, snatched a bag, then scooped it quickly out of sight. He turned his attention to the others in the room.

  They all looked dumbfounded, their faces swirls of emotions as they tried to process what the hell was going on.

  Miss Tomkin gathered herself first.

  "Kalado? What… what just happened?" She looked around. "Where are the demons? How are we alive?”

  The merchant gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Miss Tomkin, I don’t have answers. I’m just as confused as you are.”

  “Well… then who was that man?”

  "I don't know." Kalado drummed his fingers. "Really, I have no idea. He said his name is Wilbur, and he's a ‘wizard’."

  Joseph the blacksmith coughed and eyed the merchant. "You ain’t got no idea who he is?

  Kaledo nodded.

  "But you did business with him? He said he bought your shop"

  Kalado grinned. "Never let an opportunity walk out your door. It is our guild's motto."

  “But still,” Joseph continued. “Just…” His words were cut off as his daughter, Evelyn, moved towards him, and he put a comforting arm around her. The three started whispering to each other as they tried to figure out what was going on.

  The stranger's words played through Kaledo’s mind. He realised an important fact. Something he should have jumped on already.

  He glanced toward the door. Then he grabbed his bag of gold and quickly stepped around the counter.

  He was halfway to the door before the others realised.

  "Kalado, where are you going?"

  "Like I just said," Kaldeo grinned back as the small bell chimed. “Don’t let an opportunity walk away from you.” He stepped through the door, then paused. Kaledo leaned back, and his head cleared the doorframe. “Feel free to take anything before you go. That man said it’s all free.”

  With that, he pulled the door shut behind him and quickly scanned the street.

  His sharp eyes picked up a trail of footprints in the dust.

  Kaledo turned and quickly followed.

  –—- ??? —---

  Wilbur was in a foul mood, his hands deep in his robe pockets as he grumbled to himself.

  “Ungrateful, unwelcoming, annoying, obnoxious people.”

  He kicked a piece of rubble.

  “At least I was able to purchase one place. This is just ridiculous.”

  This was supposed to be easy. Instead, it was turning into a nightmare.

  One of the strange eccentricities of Vlanoris was the system, and by extension, its strange town interface.

  Unlike on Earth, towns weren't just buildings. No, they were something else. The ‘system’ had them all connected and quantified.

  Wilbur had never really interacted with this part of the system. When he built his lab in the Glittering Expanse, a notice from the stupid thing had suggested he create a town. He had instantly said no.

  Towns required essential infrastructure to run. Towns needed a variety of buildings, structures, defences, and whatnot to be considered a ‘town’. There were definitely tangible benefits to it, but they had one major downside.

  Towns need people to operate.

  Wilbur didn’t want people.

  So, of course, he had turned it down.

  But the problem was, he had never interacted with the town interface. It had never been something he was interested in doing, and therefore, never did it.

  Now his lack of experience had bitten him in the ass.

  When he had descended from the sky, he had a grand idea. He would sketch out the blueprints. He would summon elementals. He would build his school and–bam!

  Ta-da! School established!

  Hell, he had this whole plan about resurrecting the entire city. The people of Golvan would suddenly wake up and wonder how they were alive.

  They would wander the streets, asking questions, then see that a massive, wonderful, magical school had been built. Of course, they would be so grateful to be alive and their town restored, they would send their magically inclined to go learn the ultimate form of magic. For free!

  “Yeah, right,” Wilbur grumbled. “How in the hell did I think it was going to go that way?”

  The first problem began when he tried to build the school. He’d cleared away rubble and then started sketching designs with arcane light.

  But then the stupid system had informed him that if he continued with what he was doing, it would be seen as a hostile force occupying the city.

  How did that make sense?!

  Apparently, building anything on land that he didn’t own counted as a hostile takeover.

  “It’s so STUPID!” Wilbur said, kicking another clump of rubble. The stone spun across the street and bounced off a wooden beam before coming to rest. “This is literally a ruin!”

  He sighed.

  So, Wilbur had tried to solve the problem. He had hoped to ask for forgiveness instead of permission, but oh well.

  Then he had resurrected the first building and its owner.

  “YOU’RE A DEMON! STAY AWAY FROM ME! MY SOUL BELONGS TO RADIANCE!"

  That owner had screeched at him as Wilbur beat a hasty retreat from the bakery.

  The scene repeated, over and over.

  “HERETIC!”

  “STAY AWAY!”

  “WHO ARE YOU!?”

  “WHERES MY MOM?!”

  And many, many other ‘creative’ expressions.

  Wilbur stared into a pile of ash. This whole situation was just dumb.

  “At least that merchant was reasonable.” He muttered. “One piece of land down.”

  With a sigh, he leaned back and fell into his recliner. It floated above the street as he stared out into the city.

  Maybe he should try somewhere else. Wilbur wasn’t sure how many more unreasonable people he could take before he did something he’d regret.

  His hand extended, and a mug appeared. With methodical movements, he brought it to his lips and inhaled. At least it was quiet, and he could enjoy his coffee. Wilbur took a sip.

  “Sir!” A distant voice yelled.

  Wilbur flicked his free hand, and his recliner rotated toward the sound. At the end of the street, a man was running towards him. Wilbur frowned.

  “No refunds!” He yelled back.

  That caused the man to slow. “What?!”

  “I said, no refunds!”

  The merchant looked confused, then shook his head and hustled towards Wilbur.

  “Oh great,” Wilbur whispered. “I swear, I’m going to blow this town off the face of Vlanoris.”

  “Sir!” Kaledo said through heaving breaths. The merchant was now several steps from Wilbur’s lounging spot. “Are you going to try to buy more in this neighbourhood?”

  Wilbur eyed him. “So, what if I am?”

  The merchant’s eyes gleamed, and he gave Wilbur a smile that reminded him of every used car salesman he had ever seen.

  “Well, if you were planning on that. Maybe you would be interested in knowing the people you are going to be uh… approaching?”

  Wilbur cocked his head. “What are you suggesting?”

  “I was thinking your negotiations may go better if you had someone representing you.” Kaledo beamed. “Someone who the people in this neighbourhood already know.”

  There was a pause. Then Wilbur smiled.

  “You know, that’s not a bad idea.”

  –—- ??? —---