Tangled By Fate

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Veronica wouldn't threaten anyone randomly. But this time, she had to do it.

She put on a poker face and warned the magician to behave.

'The nerve of him. Did he think he was the first scammer I met in my life? I've already dealt with five of them before meeting him,' she thought.

The middle-aged magician realized that he couldn't scam this lady. His complexion changed.

"Mam, you don't have to be rash. What do you have to offer?" His tone was unexceptionally polite. No more cunningness. 

After a moment of silence, Veronica gave him a wooden box.

The magician didn't seem to be impressed. Nonetheless, he took the box and opened it.

There was an iron dagger in the box. It was rustic and antique. 

The magician played with his long mustache. He spotted Urulas's hand on his sword. 

Afterward, he spoke as humbly as possible, "Mam, I'm sorry to tell you that it isn't valuable enough to be exchanged for the magic stone. Is there something else you can offer?" 

Veronica frowned. 'I found this dagger in the ruins. I thought it would be valuable. I guess I made a mistake. But, what can I offer?'

She thought of her wedding ring given by Arthur. It was hanging on her neck. 

After running away from Ironin in Utahill, she put it in a chain she bought from the street.

'I shouldn't sell something as significant as this one. If Arthur and I… can't work this out, I have to give it back to him,' she thought.

Although she couldn't trust him, thinking about separation made her heart throb.

The magician glanced at her hair and his eyes lit up.

"Mam, you have very unusual hair. Why don't you give it to me?"

At his suggestion, Veronica was surprised.

"Would you like my hair? It's very long."

"Yes, that would be wonderful." The magician was delighted.

He Thought, 'As the rumor said, the blessed child has silver hair. Everyone knows the blessed child lives in a castle.'

'Thus, the blessed child selling her hair for some magic stones is out of the question. Although this lady has an escort, she doesn't look like a pampered princess. Since this girl has silver hair, I'm sure I can sell it for a hefty amount.'

Veronica paused to ponder about her hair before grabbing her braid. Her long hair was bothersome during the journey and so she tied it up.

She took out her sharp knife and roughly separated the braid from her remaining hair.

Urulas stepped closer to prevent her from cutting her hair but before he could, the braid was on her hand. Her short hair loosened up and covered her hair.

"Here you go," Veronica expressionlessly put down the braid on the table.

The magician was delighted. He took the braid and carefully observed it.

"The magical stone?" Veronica asked.

"Yes, yes, I'm giving it to you right away."

The magician opened a drawer and grabbed a small pouch. He untied the pouch and let a small blue stone roll on the table.

"This is what you are looking for. You can use it only four times. After that, the stone will lose its glow. It means it has no more mana left."

Veronica heard him giving instruction and then calmly spoke her mind.

"If you give us a wrong product, you do realize that we will come for you, right?"

The magician gulped. A droplet of sweat rolled down his cheek.

"Haha, mam, you jest. You gave me a valuable product in exchange. How can I cheat? Please be rest assured and don't forget to come to me next time. I have valuable magical items."

Veronica collected the stone and her wooden box with the rustic dagger and then left with Urulas. Outside the shop, a soft breeze blew and ruffled her short hair.

Urulas stared at her short hair and his heart ached. He couldn't help but complain.

"Was it necessary to cut off your hair? You look better with long hair."

Veronica shrugged. Her expression was serene.

"I don't see the problem. It'll grow soon. At least we have the magical stone. We can go to Tybu tomorrow morning. Let's stay here for the night. I'd like to look around."

"Sure, whatever you wish," Urulas agreed.

That night, the magician sent Veronica's hair to the Magic Tower.

In that tower, magicians could invent many magical items from human parts if they carried lots of mana.

The magician wished to know if he could sell his items in the tower and get enough money.

In the Magic Tower, magicians were already familiar with Veronica. When they found the hair, one of the senior magicians secretly informed Ovior.

Ovior rubbed the back of his neck and went to talk to the magician from the town.

"I see you have a fascinating item. Where did you get it?" he inquired.

The magician's eyes sparkled after seeing Ovior. He greeted him in a friendly manner.

"Master Ovior, it's an honor to meet you after a long time. I've brought this hair in exchange for a magical item. The customer didn't have enough money, so she decided to give me her hair."

"I see." Ovior frowned. "Where is your shop situated?"

"A small town on the border of Lynnford," the magician replied.

Ovior raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Lynnford was a developing kingdom. The kingdom was separated from two powerful countries in the north by a mountain range. In the south, there's another country, Tybu.

Tybu and Lynnford were separated by rainforest.

Ovior's heart trembled. "Do you remember how the customer looks like?" he carefully asked the magician while reminding himself not to hope too much.

The magician didn't have to think too much. It happened just this morning.

"The customer is a pretty lady. She is tall and skinny. Her skin is slightly tanned. She must have been traveling a lot because her lips are rough, and her arms have old injuries.. It can be a sharp sword."