The day was brighter than most in the town of Stormica. The large windowless structure that was the Stormica Market was packed with a sea of customers and merchants. 

Azarian walked into the market and his ears were drowning in the sound of deals happening. He held his black dragon leather satchel and marched into the sea that of the market.

He had heard stories from Nancy about the market. She would always describe it as a place where the imagination meets reality. It was mesmerizing sight, infant exotic dragons, culinary delicacies from the fairy Kingdom of The North Lands, Spell books of Mages and magical weapons that were crafted by famous blacksmiths. A pure marvel it was.

Azarian wondered around the market looking for a merchant named Ryoko the collector, a name he had heard from a blacksmith not long ago. "The man who collects legends out of stories and become a legend himself.", the blacksmith said. 

 He approached every merchant he could and not a single one knew the merchant, others described him as a myth, a folktale told by the locals.  

That didn't stop him, he continued to wonder around the market for hours and hours.

He came across a merchant stand, it was filled with an array of marvellous paintings. Most of the paintings were of open green valleys under a bright blue sky, majestic thunderous waterfalls and high mountain tops that touched the sky and tickled the clouds. 

The other paintings were of people from all the parts of the Western continent most likely from the ones the painter met on his travels across the continent. 

 There were other paintings of fairies from the Northern Lands going about their every day lives in the mountains and of five mages who were healing a wounded soldier. 

The stand owner was an old man that had lively green eyes and hair that matched the snow. He was a frail man and had thick rounded glasses that made his eyes look like they were about to pop out of his head.

"May I interest you in a painting?", the man pointed to his various pieces of art. 

"No I'm actually looking for someone.", Azarian said, "A man named Ryoko the collector." 

The man didn't say a word. He started to walk in circles and just couldn't keep hands to himself. The man lost his composure. Azarian could tell the man was scared by the way he was moving. 

"Listen here boy I already told your imperial enforcer friends that I don't have what you are looking for.", the man said, "You already turned my shop upside down ten days ago."

"No I'm not an enforcer.", Azarian said, "I'm Azarian of the house Alsatian. I have something you might want."

The man calmed down and let Azarian into the stand. Azarian took a seat in the corner and reached for his satchel. 

"Not here Its not safe.", the man said.

The man went by the counter and looked around the counter. There were no enforcers in sight. He removed the rug that was on the floor of the stand and there was a trap door. 

He opened the door and there was nothing but a pitch black abyss underneath. He pulled down a ladder and started to climb down. 

"Aren't you coming!", the man shouted from the dark abyss. 

Azarian climbed down the ladder and couldn't see a thing when reached the ground. The man turned on the light and the room was filled with ancient relics and objects from all over the Western and Eastern continent. Azarian could recognise some of them from the books he had read over the past two centuries. 

In the corner of the cramped room was a long mirror. The mirror was framed in gold and a foreign eastern text engraved all over the frame. 

He stared into the mirror and couldn't see his reflection but what he did see was undead Samuel. Behind this unholy being was the desert where they fought against the Vallath. His arms were gushing blood where Azarian sunk his claws into him. His half eaten neck had flies hovering around it and insects nibbling on it. His skin was nearly blue and his wounds were covered with sand from the desert. 

Azarian felt a shiver down his spin at the sight of his best friend. 

"I trusted you.", Samuel said. 

The merchant looked at Azarian staring at the blank mirror.

 "That mirror doesn't work by the way.", the merchant said, "Got it two years ago from a mage. Worst deal I ever made." 

Azarian walked away from the mirror and went up to merchant. He opened his satchel and removed a dark necklace with a roaring ebony dragon centerpiece. He handed the necklace to the merchant. The merchant placed it under the light and looked at it with wonder in his eyes. 

"Remarkable.", he said, "The Ebony Dragon necklace. This has been in the royal dynasty of the vampires for centuries. My boy where did you find this?", he asked. 

"Just found it when I was doing some exhibition work." 

"This was one lucky find.", the merchant said, "I can give you four thousand units for it." 

Azarian nodded his head and the Merchant handed him the units.

Azarian left the market and was on his way back to Nancy's house at the edge of Stormica. 

On his way back he found a farmer with an ox cart going to the capital, Vallath Central and got a ride with the farmer. The farmer dropped off Azarian by the side of the road right next the Green Forest. The path to the house went right through the forest.

As he was walking he came across a man. The man looked like he hadn't slept in days, maybe weeks. His hair was a mess and his eyes had bags underneath. The man was putting up posters against dying trees.

Azarian took a closer look at one of the posters. There was a life like drawing of a young girl, not over the age of eight. She had the most innocent eyes and a warming smile. Under the drawing was a message that wrote.

'MISSING CHILD: Our daughter Hope is missing. She hasn't been home for seven days. If you seen our daughter or have anything information about her please come to Heero street, house 4, Vallath Central.' 

Azarian continued his journey through the forest. It was getting dark and eventually Azarian reached the house. He opened the door and found Malak fast asleep on the chair.

He went into the kitchen and saw Nancy sitting at the head of the dinner table having a cup of tea. 

"I managed to get the money to pay off the debt.", Azarian said.