Most interesting of all were the vendors themselves, the wizards seated barefoot on flying carpets. When customers approached, they would float gently down to greet them, steering their carpets with casual mastery. It seemed each booth was owned and operated by the carpet riding wizard perched atop it.
In the center of the bazaar was a wide, circular square, open to the sky. The layout was clever, stalls arranged in neat concentric circles, with a wide path cutting straight through the middle.
From above, the whole thing would look like a target or a magic circle.
Alex watched it all unfold with fascination. Even after everything he'd seen in the wizarding world, this place felt truly foreign, magical, ancient, and alive.
The stalls lining the Kara Black Bazaar offered a dizzying variety of goods. Some specialized in flying carpets, with thick stacks of floating blankets piled directly in their booths, each rug hovering one above the other, forming a column that reached as high as a second-story window.
The sight of over a dozen suspended carpets swaying gently in the air was nothing short of spectacular.
Other vendors sold weather blankets, displaying them in a fashion similar to curtain shops. They unfolded each enchanted blanket and draped them around their stalls like colorful tapestries.
Every piece had its own unique effect some exuded the chill of winter with frosty breezes, others radiated the scorching heat of a desert summer.
A few buzzed with static as miniature lightning bolts danced across their surfaces, thunder rumbling softly beneath, while others gave off misty droplets, mimicking the damp chaos of a summer thunderstorm. Watching them ripple and react was both impressive and oddly mesmerizing.
Behind the stalls, a variety of service shops, bars, restaurants, and cold drink vendors, were set up in more permanent buildings.
These places offered refuge from the heat and the bustle of the market, and their shaded patios hummed with the low chatter of wizards relaxing between purchases.
Naturally, no wizarding district would be complete without a goblin-run bank. On the edge of the square stood a tall, three story structure topped with a domen, but this particular dome was noticeably crooked, as if it had been dropped slightly askew.
The building's odd appearance instantly reminded Alex of Gringotts back in Diagon Alley. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. 'Goblin architecture really does have a style of its own,' he thought. 'Crooked seems to be part of the charm.'
All around the plaza, more stalls were packed tight with vendors selling herbs, potions, wizarding garments, magical tools, and even magical creatures.
These sellers laid out their wares openly, with everything displayed on colorful blankets or floating trays. The sheer range of goods was dazzling, drawing the eyes in every direction but with that came a downside.
The blend of strong-smelling herbs, beast musk, potion fumes, and magical gases created a pungent cocktail of scents that was difficult to endure for newcomers. Several in Alex's group visibly flinched or turned up their noses as they walked through the denser areas.
Alex, for his part, wandered carefully, taking it all in. He soon noticed an overwhelming number of alchemy related stalls. Unlike other street markets, nearly half of the booths here were dedicated to alchemical goods, most of them proudly advertising themselves as specialty stores.
It was a paradise for any alchemist. There were stalls brimming with speculum lenses, enchanted toys, self-developing magic cameras, and even enchanted kitchenware.
One booth was dedicated entirely to alchemical carving knives, each blade gleaming under an enchantment that kept them razor-sharp and cool to the touch. Judging by the steady stream of customers crowding around, business was thriving.
Alex couldn't help but compare it to what he'd seen back in the UK. The last time he visited a magic supplies shop in Hogsmeade, the most basic set of alchemy knives had been covered in dust, tucked away like forgotten relics. But here? Every tool was clean, new, and ready for use.
'This place really is an alchemist's dream,' he thought, feeling a rising sense of excitement. Just seeing all the different tools and rare items ignited a strong urge to shop especially when he passed that stall of carving knives.
The one he used now had been a gift from Bones years ago, and he hadn't replaced it since.
Still, he knew he couldn't just stop and browse. The group was still moving, and lagging behind to gawk at knives would be a bit rude, especially since Bones was leading them.
With a heavy heart and one last look back at the glittering alchemy booths, Alex reluctantly followed the group out of the Kara Black Bazaar.
The transition from the magical district back toward the Muggle world was far less theatrical than the brick wall at the Leaky Cauldron, but no less impressive.
At the far end of the road stood a circular stone arch, simple yet elegant. The moment they stepped through it, the vibrant market vanished behind them, replaced by the more muted bustle of the ordinary world.
Alex could feel the enchantments pulsing around the archway. The confusion and concealment spells woven into the stone were powerful much stronger than the ones he'd sensed around the Leaky Cauldron back in London.
No wonder they felt confident setting up the bazaar so close to a Muggle area. With magic like this, even the nosiest Muggle wouldn't stumble in by accident.
In fact, compared to the occasional slip-ups that happened at the Leaky Cauldron, this barrier seemed virtually foolproof.
"Mr. Bones, why did we have to leave the Kara Black Market? I saw a hotel there. Do we really have to stay in the Muggle community?" Medea asked, giving Bones a puzzled look.
Bones sighed. "We don't really have a choice. Every International Alchemy Conference draws huge crowds. The hotels inside the market are always full, not just with locals attending the event, but also with Egyptian wizards. Forget about having enough space for us foreigners."
Noticing that it was Medea's first time at the conference, Bones patiently explained further.
"To prevent conflicts and overcrowding, the Egyptian Ministry of Magic arranges accommodations outside the market for foreign guests. It's standard procedure now. And the place we're going to, it's not entirely Muggle. At least, the owner isn't."
"You mean Martin?" Vanessa chimed in with a teasing grin. "His tavern has been running all these years without ever closing down."
"Yeah." Bones nodded, rubbing his temples with a faint grimace. "Every time I ask him why he keeps taking Ministry contracts, he just shrugs and says, 'I can't rely on Muggle customers alone, I need those Galleons too!'"
Barnabas chuckled. "That man hasn't changed a bit."
"Martin?" Medea blinked, curious. "Is he the one running our place? What's so special about him?"