Chapter 138: Back to business.
"I want to buy those. All of them," Elara smiled with royal decisiveness.
Before Noah could respond, Valeria interrupted with competitive urgency. "Sorry, Princess, but I need to buy some too. My guild needs those enhancement effects too, we’ve been venturing out lately."
"Calm down, both of you," Noah intervened with diplomatic authority. "Each of you can have twenty-four pieces. You can have bread as well, but this can’t be hoarded. These resources must go toward protecting people."
"Of course!" both women replied simultaneously, their competitive tension dissolving into a shared purpose.
They settled into comfortable conversation as the shop’s atmosphere relaxed into familiar patterns. But Elara’s enhanced magical perception immediately detected the unusual energy emanating from Noah’s corner displays.
"These are incredible," she breathed, studying Moon and Star with obvious fascination. "I’ve never seen anything like these plants. The mana ambient they’re producing is extraordinary."
Noah’s memory sparked with sudden recollection. His storage ring contained gifts he’d been saving for exactly this reunion.
Perfect timing. I kept some Demonica Moonburghs specifically for them.
"I got you both something," Noah announced, reaching into his dimensional storage with anticipation.
He withdrew two perfectly cultivated Demonica Moonburghs, their silvery leaves shimmering with contained mana that made both women’s magical senses tingle with recognition.
He had kept the demonica’s as his daily income stream instead of the $5,000 for this moment, he knew that they were going to like the gift.