Howl Your Appellations

New Revelations

BOEN OPEOR

The wind that goes around the inner market is heavier than the wind outside its domain. I noticed that there are particles similar to snow, but bigger than snow, that seem to float around the Market. It's intricate enough to compare it to snow, but not enough to call it snow. The particles look more like runes than an intricate fractal pattern. I breathe these in and nothing peculiar ensues, but I find it weird that wonders can be placed even in the most overlooked aspects of life.

The farther in we got into the forest the more the cold runic wind blew. Luckily, I had already acquired a decent fabric headband to keep my hood from flying off. I chose a color that matches my dress and it's the type of color that I can match with any outfit. The light tan magic strikes once again! Other than it protecting me from the cold, it also somehow protects my Appellations? I'm not exactly sure how it works but Nikki explains that it's about its effect on the mindset, my psyche. I'm still new, so the control I have with my Appellations is still weak. And by following that logic, I think that the headband does help. I can't really see my own Appellations though. Nikki doesn't seem to be worried, she looks like she's having fun even. No worries behind her gleeful shopping eyes.

The headband only costs 15 Karma. It's so cheap compared to the sculpture I bought but Nikki doesn't seem to mind it. I badly want to tell her that I apparently have infinite Karma. Each time I close my eyes and check, it stays the same, even after I bought a cream cone (Crepe-like milk bread with berries), the number stayed the same. I don't think the store owners can see the number either, they just thank me for their purchase. So it means that the pack can see our collective Karma, but personal Karma is strictly for the beholder only.

We climb up steep stairs upwards towards the gigantic throne. We've crossed multiple bridges already and I can't believe we made it as far as the foot of the throne. It's only your standard stone throne with no distinct features but above its pointed top rail, are five diamond stones float on top of each other vertically. The arms of the throne look more like a mountain with the shops, trees and bushes lined up on top of it. Shockingly, there are no signs of shops on the seat of the throne. It's almost as if the area is off limits, just in case the being who once sat on it would return one day and claim the throne again. While walking, to stop thinking about my Karma and what Fodes said, I began to come up of theories on what being used to sit on this very throne.

The favorite theory that I've come up with is that this space was a very important throne room but it's separated from the castle that it's from because the being who sits on this throne is someone who can't protect themself, that's why they ran away where no one can harm them. Of course, my theory has holes in it but I like to think that this place is a failed solution to a serious problem, and that Luna decided to utilize the room after the being died. A tragic story for the being, an origin story for the Inner Market. I...might be spending too much time with Reese that I'm able to come up with these little stories. Speaking of Reese, where is she?

"Nikki?" I call out to the lady that's right in front of me,holding my hand, "When is Reese gonna show up?" I asked her, partly concerned and partly just to ask.

"I have no idea! Hahaha she's like Lissana like that. Don't worry, she said she'll see us at the shop. She's honest about where she's going to be but not necessarily where she's going." She explains.

"But how will we know when she'll arrive? And where's the shop I am getting tired and my stump's getting sweaty." I exclaim, showing the first signs of me acting like a spoiled child.

"Oh god, I forgot you lost your other leg. You've been moving around like there's no problem, I completely forgot!" She laughs and pats my shoulder with her other hand. "Don't worry, we're close. It's sort of hidden but that became its charm after a lot of people found out about it."

"Oh!" My tiredness turned into intrigue.Mei's the one running the shop, but it's also the pack's shop. It makes me wonder.

"So did Imus just pack up and gave Mei the shop?" I inquired. I'd forgotten the rules about setting up a shop here.

A cold breeze gales at us so unexpectedly that I lost balance but thankfully, Nikki had her strength, attention, and gorilla grip on so she managed to save me from falling up the stairs.

"What was that so suddenly?!" I cry, looking at the beautiful view I've failed to appreciate before. The only thing missing is a sunset, but apparently, there are more people coming in now.

"The wind sometimes has a mind of its own here. You'll get used to being knocked down or toughen up. Either is fun either way." She smiles, lifting me up and propping me next to her.

"We can sit here for a bit if you're really tired. We're actually really close by though? She those giant bushes?" She points at the bush trees on top of the stairs.

"It's the only thing I can see right now, to be honest!" I admit, "The shops not behind those bushes, right?" I ask. It seems like a pain to push a bunch of twigs and branches while carrying the groceries. Nikki and I have been alternating since we bought the fish but I got unlucky and had to carry the basket up here myself.

"It's not that far, I promise. Imus made a mistake with the old shop and it got taken over. Now the shop's here and Mei's actually really happy about it. He made signs and cut up a tunnel through the bushes, I think you'll really like it." She explains to me, and I have to admit that I am positively intrigued. I can sit down all I want in the shop anyway so why bother resting here, where the wind can knock me down at any moment.

"Okay, alright. Alright. Let's go~! I'm excited to see it!" Nikki grins at my response and she tugs me, running towards the top of the stairs.

Finally being up here feels so rewarding. I've climbed what feels like a mountain. The red-violet view of the sky shimmers in my eyes and the lights of the shops and Appellations, make it seem like I'm looking at a small magical town.

"Beautiful, yeah?" Nikki asks, "It's the same as the first time I saw it. The sky that never changes."

I stare at the view for a bit, then Nikki lifts my hand at chest level and proceeded to show me the way to the 'hidden' prosthetic shop of the pack.

The environment is basically the same as the shops down below but there's more larger puddles here now with glowing weeds. Nikki leads me to a stone wall that's next to a large bush. She points to the side of the stone and it has a cute wooden sign that says, "Mei's Shop Entrance" bolted on it.

"The bush has overgrown a bit but the bush and the stone serves as an alley. Sorry, I didn't make sure the path was clear." Nikki apologizes but I just really love the fact that the shop has a hidden entrance.

"But don't worry, we set up fairy lights so it won't be dark. Let's go~!" She practically drags me towards the bushy alley. The bushes are slantedly overgrown so it feels like we were walking through a triangular pathway. The lights they set up works like a charm and there are little signs that says "Halfway point" and "Thank you for coming" displayed as we progressed. It already sets a mood for what kind of shop we have.

And then I finally saw the bright entrance; it has two small lamps illuminating the door. There's little round window on the right side and on top of the door, a little banner says "Prosthetic Shop". Nikki turns the knob and opens the door. The heat bombards me immediately that I feel like I'm being turned into a fire lion. Before I realized, Reese's already hugging me and Mei greets us with his cozy voice.

"You made it, Bobo! I didn't think you'd survive~!" Reese declares as she hugs me. Nikki's already let go of me at this point and I am once again, a free man.

"We can eat and rest up here before Mei closes shop. How'd you like the Inner Market?" Reese pushes me to sit down before I could answer. On display was numerous prosthetics for all kinds of people and animals. The shop smelled of metal and wood.

"I could really eat again! The Market's so big I still can't process it! And there's still a big chunk of the market I haven't seen yet." I explode in glee. Other than my understandable worries, nothing can make me deny the extravagance of the Market. There's still so many places I want to explore.

"Yeah? It's great, right? You haven't even seen half of it, Boen~!" Reese bites down on the big chunk of meat bread she snatched from the groceries.

"For real. Where'd you go even? It would have been easier to carry the groceries with you!" I exclaim, taking a bite from the meat bread too. Reese just smiles and continues eating.

"The tournaments are coming up so I'm just out there gathering information. Nothing out of the ordinary, really." She finishes up the bread, "Although I did hear some people say that someone strange entered the market today!"

I gulp, "It can't be me, right? Nikki and I made sure we were normal..." Reese looks at me with an unconcerned face.

"No, it wasn't you, they said some human managed to wonder in holding a cat."

"A cat! It can't be Soft, can it!? I'm sure cats like Soft aren't rare here. We've encountered a dozen of cats on the way here..." I try to calm myself.

"Well yeah, probably. I'm pretty sure the human they're referring to isn't you, and it can be any Genai. It bothers me that they had to appear when we're showing you the place. It's awful timing, We should go before something happens." Reese faces her direction towards Mei and Nikki.

I'm relieved and exhausted, I can't have more thoughts right now, it might make things worse. Seeing Mei's shop and sitting down for a bit is enough. I just want to go home where it's safe.

"Yeah, well there's nothing to show Boen much here. It's the same as the workshop after all, only a little cleaner." Mei beams and proceeds to leave the counter, slowly preparing to close up.

"Our goal was to show you the Market and the shop even though it was risky and I think we had fun, didn't we Boen?"

I nod furiously, it was the most fun I've had with Nikki and I'm sure it'll be a while before we bond again. "Absolutely! Now I just want to go home~! Hahahah~!"

Mei starts to pack things up and carries the grocery basket for us. Nikki checks if we've forgotten something and gives us the go signal. Reese turns the lights off and we went on our way down the brightly lit alley.

"Is it really okay to not lock the shop?" I ask them while walking carefully.

"Don't forget our Karma system Boen. The Inner Market's generous like that." Reese explains.

I am reminded of the number of Karmas I apparently have.