"Six gold coins."
Violet didn't bargain.
Merchants like Timothy didn't dare cheat a knight's family openly. One complaint from House Raven could ruin his shop for good, and Timothy looked like the kind of man who valued his future more than his greed.
Violet took six gold coins from her pouch and placed them on the counter.
Timothy accepted them with both hands, as if receiving sacred relics. He quickly wrapped the rubies into a cloth bag, tying it carefully.
"Thank you, Lady Raven," Timothy said respectfully.
Violet nodded once and left.
*
The moment she stepped outside Sapphire's Exchange, she didn't head toward the gate.
Instead, she walked through the streets for a while, weaving through crowds and carts, turning corners at random.
Not because she was lost.
Because she wanted to be sure no one was following her.
Only when she found a narrow alley with no people did Violet stop.
She leaned against the wall and pulled out the cloth bag.
The rubies slid into her palm, cold and heavy.
Six of them.
Violet separated three and set the other three aside.
Then she lifted her sleeve, staring at her right arm.
The faint mark of the Alchemist's Cube was still there, like a shadow tattoo pressed into her flesh.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Not from fear.
From anticipation.
She had memorized the recipes long ago.
Three gems of the same type.
One higher-tier gem.
One of the simplest formulas in Alchemists of Nymira.
Violet inhaled slowly.
Then focused inward.
The cube space opened inside her mind, twelve squares arranged like a grid.
She placed the first ruby into a slot.
Then the second.
Then the third.
The three gems rested inside, glowing faintly as if they knew what was coming.
Violet's gaze dropped to the bottom of the grid.
A word appeared in her mind, as clear as if it had been carved into stone.
Synthesize.
Her heartbeat sped up.
"I hope this works…" Violet whispered.
Then she pressed it.
A white light flashed inside the cube.
The three rubies vanished instantly.
And in the top slot…
A new ruby appeared.
Bigger.
Brighter.
Perfect.
Violet froze.
"…This…"
Her lips parted slowly.
"It actually worked."
She pulled the ruby out into her hand.
Under sunlight, it looked unreal.
Not just larger, but flawless. Every surface reflected light cleanly, scattering red like liquid fire. It wasn't cloudy. It wasn't dull.
It looked like it had been carved by gods.
Violet turned it between her fingers.
Even without knowing the exact value, she understood one thing immediately.
This ruby was worth far more than the three she had fed into the cube.
Her throat tightened.
Then she quickly repeated the process with the remaining three.
Another flash.
Another gem.
Now she held two high-grade rubies.
Violet stared at them, her mind racing.
This wasn't just money.
This was a weapon.
A weapon that could create wealth out of nothing, as long as she could obtain the right materials.
But selling them…
That was the problem.
She couldn't go back to Timothy.
She had just bought six rubies for six gold coins. If she returned an hour later with two perfect gems worth hundreds, Timothy would immediately know something was wrong.
Even if he didn't dare expose her, suspicion alone was dangerous.
In this world, suspicion killed faster than swords.
Violet slipped the rubies back into the cloth bag and walked out of the alley, her face calm again.
As if nothing had happened.
*
After wandering for a while, Violet spotted a building that stood out from everything around it.
Blue Moon Auction House.
The sign was elegant, carved with golden lettering. The building itself was tall and clean, guarded by men in neat uniforms. Compared to the surrounding shops, it looked like a noble's palace.
Violet's memory immediately supplied the information.
Blue Moon Auction House was the largest auction network in the Principality of Canan. Branches in almost every major town. Five hundred years of history.
Their reputation was untouchable.
They auctioned rare treasures, monster materials, magical artifacts, and luxury goods that nobles fought over like starving wolves.
If there was one place in Fort Brightforge where Violet could sell something dangerous without being cheated…
It was here.
Violet stepped inside.
The interior was quiet and cool, with polished floors and clean walls. Only a few customers were present. It was near noon, after all.
A woman approached immediately.
Tall.
Elegant.
Long blond hair tied neatly behind her back. Clear eyes that held sharp intelligence. Her dress was silk, expensive enough that even Violet felt the difference at a glance.
The woman bowed smoothly, performing perfect noble etiquette.
"Welcome to Blue Moon Auction House," she said softly. "May I assist you?"
Violet returned the greeting properly.
The woman's smile didn't change, but her gaze sharpened.
This wasn't a common child wandering in.
This was someone trained.
"I need a gemstone evaluated," Violet said calmly.
The woman nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. Please call me Miranda," she replied. "I am the manager here. If you don't mind, we can speak upstairs."
Violet nodded. "Lead the way."
*
Miranda guided her to the second floor, into a private sitting room.
Soft chairs.
A clean wooden table.
Quiet walls that felt thick enough to swallow secrets.
A servant entered without a sound and placed two cups down.
Coffee.
The smell hit Violet instantly, and her expression almost changed.
Almost.
It had been a year since she'd tasted anything like it.
Raven Castle wasn't poor enough to starve, but it was poor enough to avoid luxuries. And coffee wasn't a noble favorite in this world.
Tea meant elegance.
Coffee meant soldiers.
Hard workers.
People who lived rough.
Violet took a sip.
The bitterness was smooth, rich, and strong.
Her eyes narrowed slightly in satisfaction.
Miranda watched her quietly.
Studying her.
Violet looked young, but she didn't fidget. She didn't stare around in awe. She sat calmly, posture straight, movements controlled.
Like a noble raised properly.
That alone made Miranda treat her with more respect.
Violet placed the cloth bag on the table.
Then she pulled out one upgraded ruby and slid it across.
"Ms. Miranda," Violet said calmly. "Please tell me what this is worth."
Miranda accepted it carefully, holding it like something fragile. She lifted it toward the light and turned it slowly.
Her professional calm began to crack.
Half a minute passed.
The room remained quiet except for the faint clink of her fingernail tapping the gem.
Then Miranda's eyes widened.
"Perfect cut… perfect structure… no impurities…" she whispered.
She stared as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Not even a single flaw."
Miranda looked up at Violet.
Her expression had changed completely.
This was no longer polite interest.
This was hunger.
"A ruby like this…" Miranda said slowly, "…is extremely rare in Fort Brightforge. Even in the capital, it would draw attention."
She took a breath, then gave a firm number.
"If you wish to sell it… I can offer a maximum of three hundred gold coins."
Violet didn't react immediately.
She simply stared at the ruby, watching sunlight scatter across its surface.
Three hundred gold coins.
The number echoed inside her head like a hammer.
Violet wasn't ignorant. She had lived in Raven Castle for a year. She knew what gold meant. A knight family's yearly income might only be a few hundred gold coins if the harvest was good.
And now, one ruby was worth almost that much.
Six gold coins became three hundred.
No.
Six became six hundred, since she had two.
Violet's fingers tightened slightly on the armrest.
The Alchemist's Cube…
It wasn't just an artifact.
It was a heavenly treasure.
But excitement didn't last long.
It turned into cold caution.
If anyone discovered what she could do…
This wouldn't become trouble.
It would become slaughter.
A secret like this wasn't something people argued over.
They killed for it.
Nobles.
Merchants.
Even the church.
No one would allow a twelve-year-old girl to walk around with a treasure that could print wealth.
Violet looked at Miranda again.
This was the safest place in Fort Brightforge.
Blue Moon Auction House had a reputation even nobles respected. If anyone could pay fairly without trying something stupid, it was them.
And Miranda's offer was more than fair.
Violet reached into the cloth bag again.
She pulled out the second ruby and placed it on the table.
"There's another," Violet said calmly.
"Same quality."
Miranda's breath caught.
She accepted the second ruby as if it were sacred, holding it up to the light just like the first.
She turned it.
Slowly.
Her lips parted.
Then she let out a quiet sigh.
"…Two of them."
The words sounded almost like disbelief.