Run: 2026-02-22-01KJ37XSC4NFRDD96ZDFR25R63

The harbour plaza buzzed with the sound of a hundred voices. Elena navigated the bustling crowd, tightly holding her satchel. She knew the merchant wouldn't accommodate lateness, especially for a girl from the lower ward. "You're late," Gregor remarked without glancing up from his ledger. He ran a thick finger down a column of numbers, scowling. Elena placed the package on the counter. "The ferry crossing was unusable. I had to take a different route." "Not my concern." He unwrapped the cloth, revealing the crystal to the sunlight. It reflected the light, creating miniscule rainbows on the stall's canvas roof. Gregor's frown intensified. "This isn't my order." Elena expected this, as the old man always managed to find fault, regardless of the goods' quality. She crossed her arms, refusing to back down. "It's exactly what you wanted," she asserted. "Blue quartz, uncut, directly from the eastern quarries. I witnessed its extraction." Gregor turned the crystal, scrutinising every angle. He brought it close to his eye, then held it at arm's length. Elena observed him, reminiscent of a jeweller evaluating a diamond, but Gregor's trade encompassed far more than mere jewellery. Setting down the crystal with a sigh, he conceded, "Alright. Just ensure proper wrapping next time. The edges are exposed." Reaching beneath the counter, he retrieved a small leather pouch and slid it towards Elena, its coins clinking slightly. Elena took the pouch, gauging its weight in her palm. It felt insubstantial. She loosened the drawstring and counted: eight silver crowns. They had initially agreed upon ten. "We agreed on ten," she stated bluntly. "That agreement predated the rise in ferry fees," Gregor responded with a thin, calculated smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Take it or leave it." She accepted the offer, as she always did. Life in the lower ward wasn't known for its abundance of choices, something Gregor was well aware of. Elena exited the harbour and ventured into the narrow lanes beyond. The setting sun bathed the rooftops in golden hues, casting long shadows across the cobblestones. She slipped the pouch into her satchel and increased her pace. If she hurried, she could reach the ferry crossing before darkness enveloped the land.