Ethan sat behind the counter, staring at the Sealed Relic Box. The system’s Containment Analysis had confirmed his suspicions—something was inside, and it was powerful enough to warrant an advanced suppression ward.

  That left him with a new problem.

  Who could actually break it safely?

  His list of contacts was short. The appraiser had done her part by deciphering the scholar’s seal, but containment magic wasn’t her field. Jasper? No chance. The Collector of the Forgotten? Gone.

  Ethan sighed. He needed an expert.

  And as if on cue, the shop bell chimed.

  The Binder Arrives

  A woman stepped inside. She was tall and lean, wrapped in a cloak that shimmered like woven shadows. Silver bands lined her wrists, engraved with shifting runes that pulsed faintly in the shop’s glow. Her hair was dark, streaked with strands of glowing blue, and her eyes—cold and calculating—lingered on Ethan before drifting to the shelves.

  She walked with deliberate precision, her movements careful yet completely controlled.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Ethan knew immediately—this wasn’t an ordinary customer.

  She approached the counter, her gaze locking onto the Sealed Relic Box.

  “You’re playing with dangerous things, merchant.”

  Ethan raised an eyebrow. “That depends. Are you here to tell me not to open it, or are you here to offer a solution?”

  A small smirk touched her lips. “I’m a Binder. I specialize in containment magic—sealing, binding, suppressing. Whatever you have in that box, I can tell you exactly what’s inside.”

  Ethan leaned forward. “And if I wanted to open it?”

  The smirk widened slightly. “That depends on what you’re willing to trade.”

  Negotiation with a Binder

  Ethan didn’t hesitate. “What’s your price?”

  The Binder studied him, tapping a silver-ringed finger against the counter. “I don’t deal in currency.”

  Figures.

  “Then what do you want?”

  She reached into her cloak and pulled out a small, crystalline vial. Inside swirled a liquid that shifted between silver and black, like mercury caught in an eternal dance.

  “I need Starfire Essence to complete an ongoing contract.”

  Ethan opened his Multiversal Merchant System and searched for the item.

  Starfire Essence

  ? Availability: Extremely Rare

  ? Cost: 6 Astral Coins

  Ethan grimaced. He had two Astral Coins left after purchasing Containment Analysis.

  She must have noticed his hesitation because she tilted her head slightly. “Problem?”

  Ethan kept his expression neutral. “I don’t have it in stock.”

  She studied him, then nodded. “I’ll give you two days. If you can procure it, I’ll break the seal.”

  Ethan exhaled slowly. He had a lead—but now he needed six Astral Coins to make it happen.

  The Merchant’s Challenge

  The Binder left, her parting words lingering in the air:

  “Be careful, merchant. Some things are sealed for a reason.”

  Ethan glanced at the Sealed Relic Box, then at his shop.

  Two days. Six Astral Coins.

  Time to make some deals.