Run: 2026-02-22-01KJ395NWG91QR2MNQGB44PH5K

The bustling market square echoed with the voices of countless people. Mirabel navigated through the throng, clutching her satchel protectively. She was aware that the merchant wouldn't tolerate delays—his impatience knew no bounds, especially when it came to a girl from the outer ring. "You're late," Aldric remarked, his gaze fixed on his ledger. His thick finger traced down a column of numbers, followed by a frown. Mirabel placed the package on the counter, explaining, "The bridge was down, so I had to take a longer route." "Not my concern," he replied, unwrapping the cloth and holding the crystal up to the light. Sunlight danced through the crystal, casting miniature rainbows across the stall's canvas roof. Aldric's frown deepened. "This isn't what I requested." Mirabel was prepared for this, as the older man always found reasons to complain, regardless of the quality. She crossed her arms, refusing to back down. "It's precisely what you ordered," she asserted. "Blue quartz, uncut, from the northern mines. I witnessed its extraction from the stone myself." Aldric slowly rotated the crystal, examining each facet with care. He brought it close to his eye and then extended his arm to view it from a distance. To Mirabel, he appeared like a jeweler scrutinizing a diamond, though Aldric's trade extended beyond jewels. Setting the crystal down, Aldric sighed. "Alright, but next time, ensure better wrapping. The edges are unprotected." He reached below the counter and retrieved a small leather pouch, its contents clinking as he slid it towards Mirabel. Mirabel took the pouch, feeling its lightness in her palm. Loosening the drawstring, she counted eight silver crowns, falling short of the expected ten. "We agreed on ten," she stated, her tone flat. "That agreement was before the bridge toll increased," Aldric responded with a calculated smile that failed to reach his eyes. "Take it or leave it." As always, she chose to take it. The outer ring offered few alternatives, a fact Aldric understood all too well. Mirabel left the market, making her way through the narrow lanes beyond. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the cobblestones. She tucked the pouch into her satchel and hastened her steps, determined to reach the bridge before nightfall.