Zectas Book II: Heraldic City of Coatl (24 page)

 

 

"You'd want to look for a comfortable mount, but it should also have a decent speed at the same time. Unfortunately, there are no stag moose here in Coatl. Don't worry, I'll take you to best place to get a mount, southern district's Bestride Stables."

 

 

"As long as the mount obeys me then I could start from there."

 

 

The lioness Lioumerean led the way. It took them twenty minutes to get to the famous stable.

 

 

A whole city block was occupied by the Bestride Stables establishment. There was a top view perspective of the building on the side of its entrance.

 

 

Smoke read the layout of the building. Because of its high walls on the sides and a wide open space in the center, it looked like an old military fort.

 

 

Smoke was hesitant to enter the building.

 

 

"Are you sure about this place? It looks expensive."

 

 

Laernea tried her best to persuade Smoke.

 

 

"Let's just go inside and check on their mounts."

 

 

They were greeted by a lean Gnome when they entered the premises.

 

 

"Good Day! My name is Billig Verkäufer and welcome to Bestride Stables. How may I help you today?"

 

 

Laernea spoke in behalf of Smoke.

 

 

"Hello, I'm here with my master, Sir Ilad the Flame Knight. We're here looking for a mount suitable of his caliber. Do you think you have something for us?"

 

 

"Of course, of course. Right this way Sir."

 

 

The Gnome led them to a small coffee table with comfortable lounge chairs beside it. He took out a catalog and gave it to Smoke.

 

 

"We have a variety of mounts to choose from. If you've chosen one, we can head out to the stables, and you can check them physically if the mount pleases your taste."

 

 

Smoke did not speak at all. In a rigid motion he took the catalog and examine its contents.

 

 

            

 

 

Smoke didn't like any of the mounts that he saw from the catalog. The prices were too high. However he was curious to see all of them face to face.

 

 

"You really have a war elephant? Is it here, in your stables?"

 

 

Billig the Gnome salesman fidgeted before he answered.

 

 

"Well, you see war elephants haven't been very popular because of their price and all that. We have to order them before they are delivered here. It'll take us maybe two weeks in order to get one. Would that be a satisfactory?"

 

 

"No, I need a mount today. I need to start practising as soon as possible."

 

 

"Very well then, you can choose from the rest then. I am happy to inform you that we have everything in stock. Except for the war elephant and the paracamelus."

 

 

"Everything in stock, huh? Alright, I'd like to see these mounts in person."

 

 

"Certainly, sir. Please follow me."

 

 

Billig took them to the stables. There, Smoke studied each animal carefully. He was curious to see if any of them would call to him and would move him to pay the overpriced amount.

 

 

The acinonyx cheetah looked majestic. Its body alone was easily over five feet in length. It looked like in good condition.

 

 

Smoke tried to touch it, but the acinonyx cheetah stayed the same. It didn't respond to any of Smoke's attempt to familiarize himself with it.

 

 

"I don't think this mount is worth 10,000,000 zecs, and I think it's too aloof for me. Can you show me the springbok gazelle next?"

 

 

"Of course, right this way. I think you'll find the springbok gazelle to be most satisfactory. It's our most popular mount."

 

 

The springbok gazelle was smaller than the acinonyx cheetah. Its body length was only three feet. It also looked uncomfortable to ride on.

 

 

"This is your most sold mount?"

 

 

"Yes sir, it is."

 

 

Billig smiled proudly.

 

 

"I'd like to move on to your dirus wolf."

 

 

Laernea tried to examine the springbok gazelle herself.

 

 

"I think this is a pretty decent mount, Smo... Umm, sir Ilad. It's no stag moose but it has decent speed, there is an issue with its endurance though."

 

 

Smoke smirked at Laernea's observations.

 

 

"You've already pointed out most of the reasons why I don't want to buy it. Not to mention that I ride with my armor on."

 

 

"Oh, right. You have that heavy armor as well. Well, Billig, show us your dire wolf then."

 

 

Billig kept his salesman smile on. He showed them on to the next stable.

 

 

"This is one of our dirus wolves. You can get a 75% discount if you are a Cavalry Knight."

 

 

"If it isn't obvious from my flaming helmet? I am a Flame Knight."

 

 

Smoke irritatingly moved his head from side to side. He examined the dirus wolf. It was a specimen in prime condition, but the price was still too high.

 

 

"Wait, I thought your springbok gazelle was your most sold mount? I've only noticed a couple of those around Coatl. Whereas I've seen hundreds of dirus wolves all throughout the city."

 

 

"Well, the city provides a level 5 dirus wolf when a Swordsman becomes a Cavalry Knight."

 

 

Smoke looked unimpressed. This place had no mount suited for him.

 

 

"Laernea, let's go. I think I'll have better chances at finding a mount in the wild."

 

 

"Are you nuts? Do you know how long Gandiva and I had to hunt our stag moose? The Mounted Race is gonna start five days from now."

 

 

Smoke looked at the lioness Lioumerean in an offended manner.

 

 

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to sound so rude. It's just that with the given time constraint, getting a mount in the wild is just unrealistic."

 

 

Smoke smiled at Laernea.

 

 

"Don't worry, I was just teasing you. I wasn't offended, but I was serious about this place not having a mount for me though. Thank you for your time, Billig. I think I'll come back and see one of your war elephants in the future."

 

 

The Darkelf started to walk out of Bestrides Stables, followed by a troubled Lioumerean. Smoke heard the Gnome salesman grumble as they headed out for the exit.

 

 

As they got out of the famous mount establishment, a group of five Cavalry Knights on dirus wolves came towards them.

 

 

"Good day, sir Ilad."

 

 

"Oh, sir Macher, nice to see you. I was just about to contact you after I've procured a mount."

 

 

"You've decided to accept my proposal then?"

 

 

"Yes. I'd be happy to partner up with you. Can we discuss the specifics of this partnership?"

 

 

"I'd be happy to. Let me just tell these guys to head on out without me."

 

 

Macher gave the rest of the Cavalry Knights some instructions and they headed out. He got off his dirus wolf and went to Smoke and shook his hand.

 

 

"I know this quiet cafe. It's just a block from here."

 

 

Smoke, Laernea, and Macher walked towards Knackig cafe. The Cavalry Knight had his dirus wolf in tow.

 

 

When they got to the cafe, Macher tied his dirus wolf to one of the posts outside of the cafe. Macher requested that they be seated near the window. He wanted to see his dirus wolf while they spoke.

 

 

All three of them were seated in a small circular table and were served with a cold frappuccino. Macher had ordered the drinks for them.

 

 

"These are on me. I'm really impressed with you, sir Ilad. Quite a bold move playing the cool and silent Flame Knight. How did you know that the people would respond well with that?"

 

 

"What? What are you talking about?"

 

 

Macher raised his eyebrow.

 

 

"You can drop the act. We are going to be partners right?"

 

 

"Act? What act?"

 

 

"You know, you not talking with the NPCs and players, because you've blatantly avoided the masses they only want you more."

 

 

"Really? But no one comes near me anymore."

 

 

"Exactly, because you made it look like you were too good for them. Now, they only want to admire you from a far. When you officially join the Mounted Race, I'm sure that you'll be the number one bet on winning the race."

 

 

"That's really weird. Anyway, tell me about our partnership. You'll pay for my registration fee and you'll get 10,000,000 zecs if I win right? I don't have to pay you anything if I don't win."

 

 

"Well, to be more specific I would get 30% of all your winnings. No matter what place you may finish at. Here, these are the prizes for the Mounted Race."

 

 

Macher gave Smoke a scroll with the prizes of the said event.

 

            

 

 

"Even the trophies can fetch a high price if sold at the auction."

 

 

Smoke nodded his head as he listened to the Cavalry Knight.

 

 

"I was about to join, but I couldn't find a mount. The ones in Bestride Stables were too expensive. Only a madman would buy a mount from that place."

 

 

Macher told him some more information about the race.

 

 

"Remember the race is for 5,000 kilometers. You will need to travel to four special villages that will be announced two days from now. These villages will most likely be scattered all over Coatl. The race usually involves circumnavigating the city. Last year's race lasted for six days."

 

 

"That long? I guess I'd really need a great mount. Then clearly I can't use a springbok gazelle. I don't think it could survive that distance."

 

 

"Well, most merchants buy the springbok gazelle to pull their carts. Their discount ability drops the price to 1,250,000 zecs."

 

 

"Their discount ability can drop the price that low! Incredible, I wish my discount ability would work every time."

 

 

Macher pulled back his shoulder when he heard Smoke.

 

 

"You have a discount ability?"

 

 

"I mean, I wish I had that kind of discount ability."

 

 

"Yeah, you and me both. That dirus wolf outside was the same one that I got when I first became a Cavalry Knight. I raised it up to level 80."

 

 

Smoke nodded as he hid his amazement. He knew how difficult it must have been to raise a level 5 dirus wolf.

 

 

"If you want, I can purchase a dirus wolf for you. I think it'll drop down to 2,000,000 zecs?"

 

 

The DarkElf thought that two million zecs was a fair price for a level 50 dirus wolf.

 

 

"I'll think about it. I don't have that much zecs to spare. Two million zecs is still a pretty high amount. I'll get back to you tomorrow if I can't find a mount on my own."

 

 

"Fair enough, but be sure to register before 8pm tomorrow. That's the time that the registration is closed. Anymore questions about our deal?"

 

 

"Yes, where's the contract?"

 

 

Macher smiled and pulled out a contract from his backpack window. He gave it to Smoke to sign it. The DarkElf signed the name Ilad over the contract.

 

 

A notification window only visible to Smoke popped up.