Samakhrystal was buzzing with activity under the bright sun. The lively streets, lined with ocher stone buildings, echoed with the voices of merchants praising their products, the neighing of horses and the hammering of hooves on the cobblestones. The air was heavy with spices, tanned leather, and the scent of sweet dates, a blend typical of Topaza's most prosperous trading city.
Ghadib advanced confidently through this human tide, dressed in a tunic embroidered with gold thread and a finely fitted turban. His piercing gaze scanned the stalls with calculated detachment, scanning the precious objects and rare goods with an expert air. He knew every corner of this market, every influential trader, and above all, every secret that could be turned into profit.
A few steps behind him walked Abraham, his faithful steward, holding tightly a ledger covered with fine leather, in which were noted the expenses and acquisitions of their house. Two young slaves, selected for their endurance, carried at arm's length wooden boxes sealed with golden insignia, containing precious objects recently acquired by Ghadib.
The merchant slowed his pace slightly as he passed a stall displaying Amethysta fabrics, their shimmering silk capturing his attention for a moment.
"A fine weave," Abraham commented neutrally. But the colors are less vivid than those of Saphira.
Ghadib nodded without stopping.
— And yet, it sells better here. The nobles of Topaza prefer discretion to ostentatious luxury.
Abraham noted this thought in the back of his mind. He knew that his master never made a remark without reason.
Further on, a merchant presented Emeraldia ivory sculptures, carved with particular refinement. Ghadib paused briefly, observing the details of the carvings depicting mythical beasts.
"Not as refined as Tourmeline ivory," he murmured, crossing his arms. But acceptable.
The merchant behind the stall, a sturdy man with a graying beard, gave a nervous smile to the influential man standing before him. He opened his mouth to negotiate a price, but a single look from Ghadib silenced him.
Abraham gave a slight smile. He knew that Ghadib did not need words to impose his presence.
The merchant observed the sculptures for a moment longer before looking away, continuing his walk with the same confidence.
"The slave market is bustling today," Abraham remarked, turning a page in his ledger. Perhaps there will be interesting acquisitions.
Ghadib didn't answer immediately, his gaze lost in the moving crowd. He never bought on impulse. His acquisitions were calculated, thought out, adapted to his future needs.
"We'll see," he finally replied calmly.
Slowly, he directed his steps towards the central square, where the auctions were in full swing.
The real transaction of the day was about to begin.
***
The slave market square was a veritable hive of activity. The merchants called out to each other, the buyers wandered around, and the slaves, chained in small groups, awaited their fate under an implacable sun. The air was heavy with dust kicked up by the crowd, and a silent tension hung in the atmosphere.
In the center of the square, a raised wooden platform served as the main stage for the auction. A massive man, with a deep, booming voice, presented the captives one after the other, extolling their qualities with the eloquence of a seasoned trader.
— Look at that musculature! he shouted, hitting the chest of a sturdy slave with gnarled arms. A real bull, capable of carrying heavy loads for days! Who opens the auction?
Buyers approached, sizing up the merchandise. A man in an embroidered tunic squeezed the captive's arm to test his strength, another examined his teeth as one would do for a horse. Offers poured in, the sale was quickly concluded, and another captive was brought forward.
Ghadib observed the scene without any real expression. He was not impressed by these physical demonstrations. The value of a slave was not measured by mere appearance.
"A great investment," Abraham murmured, following the auction with his gaze.
"An ordinary investment," replied Ghadib in a detached tone. Brute force doesn't interest me, Abraham.
He lowered his head slightly and slipped his hand under his embroidered silk coat, extracting a medallion with reflections of gold and jade. The object, adorned with a finely cut crystal, seemed to capture bursts of sunlight.
With a discreet movement, he touched it with his fingertips.
The crystal immediately began to glow faintly.
Abraham leaned slightly towards his master, observing the object with measured attention.
"Still effective, I see," he murmured.
"An invaluable tool," replied Ghadib. Much more reliable than a simple glance.
His medallion was unique. An energy detector, capable of capturing the flows of chaos circulating in a living being. All human beings had it, to varying degrees. Some were almost empty, simple shells intended for manual work. Others, however, had hidden potential, a rare essence that was worth far more than any physical strength.
And these were the ones Ghadib was looking for.
The medallion pulsed gently, reacting to the presence of certain people on the dais.
But not yet enough to interest him.
He waited, letting the slaves parade through the market auctions, until his instrument finally pointed out to him a real anomaly.
****
The excitement of the market continued around the platform, buyers competing for the best acquisitions under the watchful eye of the merchants. Yet Ghadib and Abraham remained focused on one thing: their own selection.
The steward, methodically, passed the medallion in front of each captive. With each sweep, the crystal reacted slightly, emitting a faint, intermittent glow. It was normal. All living things had a trace of chaos within them, but most were unremarkable.
"Average values," Abraham commented as he continued his inspection. Nothing really worth it.
Ghadib was not surprised. Finding a slave with true chaotic potential was a rare occurrence. However, he did not despair.
He crossed his arms and waited, letting Abraham continue.
Then, suddenly, the medallion reacted with unexpected intensity.
A bright light pulsed through the crystal, radiating with more force than any captive before.
Abraham immediately froze, his gaze widening slightly.
Ghadib raised his head, narrowing his eyes at his steward.
—A problem? he asked calmly.
Abraham did not respond immediately. He followed the direction of the medallion, then looked up.
There, at the end of the line, stood a child.
A boy with dark skin and messy jet black hair. His eyes, deep black, yet captured the light in a strange way, as if they contained bursts of bluish electricity.
He was not the most imposing of the captives, nor the most impressive. He was even rather frail compared to the robust men around him. But something about him gave off an unusual aura.
He was not just a slave.
It was an anomaly.
"This child…" Abraham murmured, slightly disturbed.
Ghadib made a discreet sign to the seller, inviting him to approach the child.
The slave trader nodded eagerly and turned to the boy.
— You, move forward!
He grabbed the captive by the arm and pulled him violently towards the front of the stage.
The child did not resist. He doesn't say anything. He didn't struggle.
But his gaze remained fixed on Ghadib's with a disconcerting intensity.
—A little thief captured in the desert! announced the salesman with a commercial smile. Not very strong, but fast and intelligent. He will make a good servant.
Ghadib ignored his words.
Slowly, he raised his medallion and brought it closer to the boy.
The crystal sparkled immediately, emitting a regular, almost living pulse.
It was an indisputable sign.
This boy was not a simple slave.
He had something exceptional.
The silence thickened around the dais as Ghadib observed the child.
He didn't say anything either. He didn't look down.
He was waiting.
The merchant finally broke the silence with an enigmatic smile.
— I'll take it.
***