After the three of them finished eating their lunches, Liliana and Kalin, now with the addition of Mei, left the eatery before making their way toward the center of town.

As Mei and Lili spent the time catching up with each other, Kal followed behind them. Though he never drifted too far from them, he couldn't help but get distracted as they walked through the streets. Every twist and turn of the road had a new sights and experiences. Though a small town, the somewhat windy roads made it relatively easy for lose one's sense of direction.

The scene of the two cute and one beautiful 'girls' caused many people to look their way. Though most people were entranced by the scene, an occasional brave vendor would call out to them, only to be politely refused. These acts caused the surroundings to awaken from their momentary lapse, before continuing with their day.

After similar scenes happened several times, the three of them arrived in front of a large brick building. Seeing the heavy metal gate, high walls, armored guards, as well as the barred windows, Kal looked at the two girls beside him and said, "I know what this place is!"

Looking doubtful, Lili smirked, "Oh, and what would that be?"

Just as one of the guards at the entrance took a drink from a canteen, Kal confidently proclaimed, "It's a prison!" Hearing this, the guard almost spit the contents of his drink out.

Mei and Lili looked at each other before the two of them burst out laughing. Mei commented, "Well, he's not wrong."

Lili, still laughing, "This is the Merchant's Guild."

Kal's cheeks turned a couple shades pinker before he tried to change the subject. "Why are we at the Merchant's guild?"

Lili, not missing his intent to switch topics, decided to go along with his question, "We need to sell the materials and potions we brought from home."

Kal tilted his head, "Why don't we sell them at the Adventurer's guild?

Lili responded, "The Adventurer's guild is just a place to give and receive requests. They act as a brokerage agency for adventurers and their clients. After you get a 'quest' from the guild, you fulfill it and receive money after fulfilling the conditions. This leaves the adventurer to do whatever they want with any remaining materials."

Mei expounded, "That's right. Usually the requester only wants the most valuable part of the monsters, the magic cores. As they are small, valuable, and easily transportable, they are well sought-after items for merchants, craftsmen, and mages. The requester doesn't usually want to pay the cost for materials they don't want, so adventurers end up with a lot of less valuable materials."

Lili cut in, "Exactly! That's why the merchant's guild is important for adventurers. Although they buy items a little below market price, they will buy all the materials you bring, no matter their value. Some adventurers try to sell their items themselves, using stalls or other ways, but then they waste time they could be fulfilling requests to sell things for a couple pints more. After they have to pay a peddler tax to the Merchant's Guild."

Mei sighed, "Adventurers both hate and love the Merchant's guild. While it does make life so much more convenient, sometimes it is painful to see how little money they give you in return for items you risk your life for."

Kal nodded, trying to comprehend the large amount f information that was just given to him. After contemplating for a few moments, he turned to Mei with stars in his eyes. "Were you an adventurer before?

Mei couldn't help but feel blinded by the pure light in his innocent eyes. She smiled, while patting him on the head, "Yep, back in the day, I was a member of the party your sister was the captain of." With a reminiscent look on her face, she continued saying, "I can tell you some stories about your sister. She was quite a handful back then."

Lili retorted to the comment, as a murderous aura radiated from her. "You better remember your place, or I'll put you in it."

Mei laughed aloud at her threat as she brushed it off, "I guess I'll have to wait until Lilli is busy with something else before telling you some stories."

Kal couldn't help but remember the times he had been disciplined by Lili, as he gulped nervously. He couldn't help but look at Mei with a look of reverence due to her fearlessness in the face of the face of evil, Lili.

As if she could understand his thoughts, she turned to Kal and said, "It looks like Mei isn't the only one who need to be 'trained'."

Kal, at the young age of eight, shewed his mastery of the art of diversion, as he said, "Let's go sell some things!" as he sneakily hid himself on the opposite side of Mei, to distance himself from Lili."

******

After engaging in a battle of words with one of the merchants at the guild, Lili was able to use the influence of her and Kal's powers, as well as her advantage as a cute girl, to take away a couple extra pints from the merchant. She smiled as she rubbed her face against the bag of money that was handed to her. Mei couldn't help but sigh at the antics of her former captain.

Before they exited the building, Kal asked Lili, "Why is money called pints?"

Lili turned to her brother before having a smug look on her face and saying, "I guess I'll have to bestow my vast knowledge upon you." Kal, used to her antics, just nodded before she continued, "The term 'pint' is used to reference to how soldiers and mercenaries used to be paid in liquor. The liquor they received was often traded for goods of the local people. Or, that's at least how the story goes."

As they left the building, Mei turned to Lili and asked, "So what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

Lili, noticing the quickly falling sun and said, "I think I'll just end up buying some supplies before finding an inn for tonight. Tomorrow, we have to go to the Church to get Kalin's status plate. Then I was planning to buy him a weapon before we head back home."

"You don't have to find a place for tonight, you two can stay at our place!" Mei said to the siblings. "It's just me and the old man there. All the inns are crowded and smell of sweat and stale ale. We also have a bath and plenty of room for the both of you."

Lili put a hand to her chin as she contemplated the suggestion, while Kal copied this action. Though he wasn't contemplating anything, it was an adorable scene, nonetheless. After a moment, Lili opened her mouth, "There's no reason why we shouldn't." Then turning to Kal, she said, "Tonight, let's stay at Mei's house."

"Yay!" Exclaimed the excited boy, as he threw his arms around the unsuspecting Mei.

Mei couldn't help but smile as she hugged the adorable lavender-haired creature back. "This thing is too cute! Can I keep him?" She asked, turning toward Lili.

Lili frowned at Mei's slip, "You can't. SHE'S mine!"

Mei couldn't help but turn a little pale at her verbal slip as she quickly surveyed the surroundings. After confirming that nobody seemed to notice or hear what she said, she let out a internal sigh.

Because the convenience of being close to the Merchant's Guild, the three of them were already in the heart of the business district. The surroundings were filled with shops and stalls from various reputable sellers. Usually, the closer to the watchful eye of the guild, the less likely one is to be sold fake or damaged goods. This also means, however, that the prices are generally higher and set in stone.

Turning to Kal, Lili handed him a small money purse with 30 pints in it, before saying, "This is half of the money from the herbs we found on the way here. You can go ahead and buy whatever you want with it." Looking around she continued, "You can go around the market, but don't follow anybody or leave the square. When you are done, come back to the gate of the guild, got it?"

Kal, felt the weight of the purse and let out a large "Kay," Before running over to the closest stall.

Lili turned to Mei and whispered, "Follow him secretly to make sure she stays safe. Only interfere if it looks like she's in danger,"

[A/N: Due to the sensitive nature of his race, Kalin will be referred as both male or female, depending on the setting and circumstances.]

Mei smiled before stepping into the crowd. As she did, her presence seemed to dissipate, almost as if she wasn't there in the first place. Walking to the nearest general store, she went to purchase grains and various other daily necessities.