Somehow, New Delsta was full of activity and life even when the sun went down. Partitio had learned this during his last two trips to the city, but it always found a new way to impress him. He reached one hand up to his hat like he thought it would be blown right off his hat if he thought too much about how amazing New Delsta was without holding it in place. "Look here, partner. Whole place's wild as an unbroken horse," Partitio commented. 

"The raw energy is incomparable to anything I felt in prison," Osvald agreed, and Partitio bit back a wince. Of course Osvald was going to mention Frigit; this had been where he did his best to recover from the damage his time behind bars had left behind on his body. Osvald took in a deep breath, and his entire body seemed to move from the force of it. "And the air... It's so fresh."

Partitio chose to not comment on the fact that New Delsta most certainly did not smell fresh to him. The city was full of endless possibilities, but it also had a less than pleasant scent in his eyes. He supposed that was to be expected given the circumstances, but he didn't let himself dwell on it. There was still other work to be done, and he wouldn't back away from it for anything. "Hehe. Smells like a deal to me!" Partitio said instead. "I bet ya can't help but trip over opportunity in a town like this!"

Almost as if on cue, Partitio's gaze caught a man who was stumbling through the streets of New Delsta. His entire face was downcast, and his steps were uncertain. The man let out a few heavy breaths before his legs gave out from beneath him, and he collapsed in the middle of the road. Partitio let out a cry of shock before he moved to dash over to the man, his heart racing in his chest. Of all the things he had expected to see that night, somebody collapsing certainly wasn't one of them. 

Osvald was far less surprised by the sight, no doubt jaded from seeing others' strength give out because of his time on Frigit Isle. "Well, he certainly tripped over... Something."

Partitio wasted no more time in rushing over to the man, pressing his hat closer to his head to make sure he didn't drop it on his way to his destination. Osvald followed suit, and they both crouched down next to the fallen man once they had arrived by his side. "Hey, what's the matter, fella?" Partitio asked, hoping with everything he had that his examination would reveal that the man was still conscious. He had no idea what to do with a man who passed out in the street, and he didn't know if he would ahve time to run and grab Castti before the man wound up getting worse. 

The man groaned at the sound of Partitio's voice, and the merchant sighed with relief that he was awake if nothing else. "I am... A scholar..." the man choked out, though his voice was muffled by the stones he was facing toward. "But I... Am soon to starve and become a useless lump of meat..."

Partitio and Osvald shared a look, and Partitio pressed his hand into his bag. He pulled out a small bit of bread before passing it over to the man. He would be able to replenish his supplies in the morning before the group boarded their ship to Canalbrine. It was no worry at all, and Partitio didn't want to sacrifice the wellbeing of someone who needed help no matter what it cost him. "Well, we can't have that, now can we? Here, have a bite o' this bread."

The scholar's head whipped up to look at Partitio in an instant, wonder and admiration flooding his eyes. "O-Oh... My savior!" he cried out. He wasted no time in taking a hearty bite out of the bread, sighing as soon as the taste flooded his mouth. When the scholar sat up, Partitio was able to get a better look at him. The man's hair was dark and poorly maintained, sitting wild and unbrushed on top of his head. He wore the robes of a scholar, the fabrics dyed a deep teal color to accentuate an orange tie wrapped around his neck. His dress was starkly different from what Partitio had grown used to from Osvald, though he supposed that made sense. Wearing traditional scholar robes wasn't exactly the easiest way to travel across the continent. 

Behind Partitio, Osvald stared at the man with crossed arms and a heavy frown. Even so, he didn't say a word as the scholar ate through the rest of the bread. Once it was gone, the man sighed with relief and smiled at Partitio brightly. "You have saved me... Yes, thanks to you, I can continue my scholarly pursuits!" the man beamed. "Good gracious, this is my first meal in... Three days, nine hours, and twenty-three minutes!"

"Now hang on... You're tellin' me you were countin' minutes even as you were dyin' o' hunger?" Partitio asked with wide eyes. He had dealt with hunger countless times as a result of the dire financial situation in Oresrush, and he hadn't ever thought to count out just how long he had been hungry for. That felt like one of the least of his concerns. All he needed to know was that he was hungry, and the rest of the details would be able to wait until he was able to get some food in his stomach. 

"It is in a scholar's nature to keep records, no matter how dire the situation," Osvald supplied, and Partitio supposed he was right about that. Osvald had told the travelers during his explanation of his past that he had counted out every day he spent at Frigit Isle. With each time the sun set, Osvald found his burning desire for vengeance hotter and stronger, and it gave him the strength to keep going even when the world seemed ready to smother him. Once a scholar, always a scholar, it seemed. 

But Osvald had one more surprise up his sleeve when he arched an eyebrow in the direction of the scholar with something like familiarity playing across his face. "Isn't that right, Regulus?"

The man--Regulus, it seemed--remained still for a long moment, studying the details of Osvald's stature and features. Eventually, recognition burst through his face alongside a bright smile. "Osvald...? It is you, isn't it, Osvald?!"

Partitio glanced back and forth between the pair. "Huh? You two know each other?"

Regulus nodded eagerly. "We were friends in our academy days! Hahaha, it has been quite some time! We'd frequently bring the fruits of our research to bear in our spirited discussions!" For a moment, Partitio almost thought Regulus was going to mention that Osvald had once been convicted of murder, but he never brought it up. Partitio didn't know if Regulus either didn't know what had become of Osvald or if perhaps he simply didn't believe it, though he supposed the difference didn't matter too much. So long as Regulus was not going to sell Osvald out because he recognized him from the past, all was going to be fine. 

Osvald seemed equally relieved that Regulus wasn't going to be saying anything, and the tension in his shoulders started to dissipate upon realizing he was safe. "So then... What brought you here?" Osvald asked. 

Regulus laughed. "Procuring research materials, old fellow," he replied. "For a--hold your applause--earth-shattering invention!"

That was more than enough to pique Partitio's interest, and he grinned widely. "Ooh, sounds nice! What is it?"

"Most curious..." Osvald hummed. "Shall we talk it over?"

"Oh, how this takes me back, Osvald. Let us do so over drinks!" Regulus exclaimed jovially. He waited for Partitio and Osvald to respond, and they both relented with nods. Partitio couldn't say this was how he had expected to spend his night when he had been planning to go out into the city and look around for all he could find related to the steam engine, but he wasn't going to object. Reconnecting with an old friend Osvald had once known was far more important in his mind. 

Regulus smiled wider when he was certain both Partitio and Osvald would be joining him. "If we're agreement, well, I shall go right on ahead!" he proclaimed. He wasted no time in darting up the stairs that led to the tavern nearby, leaving Partitio and Osvald to stare after him quietly. 

Partitio laughed quietly once Regulus was out of view. "You and your friend sure are different, aren't you?" he asked. "He's a lot more talkative than you are."

Osvald hummed. "I used to talk much more frequently," he said, not bothering to explain that he had grown quieter because of the force behind his silence on Frigit. It was difficult to speak when he simply was not being given the physical ability because of the cruelty of the guards that surrounded him. "Though Regulus has always had a bit more energy than me."

"Well, there's no reason to leave him waitin' for any longer then," Partitio smiled. "Let's go and check up on him. I'm excited to see what kinds of drinks he likes best. If he's been here in the city for a while, then I'm sure that he'd have a bunch of recommendations for us!"

Osvald seemed considerably less certain, but he didn't bother to explain to Partitio why it was that he had so many hesitations. Instead, he followed the merchant up the stairs and toward the tavern. Partitio pushed the door open first, and Osvald filed in after him. 

The tavern was alive with activity even at this late hour, and Partitio could certainly understand why he had heard people refer to New Delsta as a sleepless city in the past. It certainly seemed like most of the people never slept with how late they could stay up on seemingly random days. The even more impressive thing than the sleep schedules of the people of New Delsta, however, was that Regulus had managed to get a table for three in the very short time it took for Partitio and Osvald to catch up with him. He waved them over, and Partitio gladly sat down in one of the remaining seats while Osvald claimed the other. 

A waiter passed by their table soon afterward to take their orders, and Partitio wound up selecting a drink that reminded him of home since he wasn't able to ask Regulus for recommendations. Osvald, as per usual, declined to drink alcohol and opted instead for a black coffee. Regulus selected a wine and then ordered two appetizers for the group to share. Partitio wasn't particularly hungry since he and the rest of the travelers had already eaten dinner earlier in the day, but he certainly wasn't going to say no to being able to try something delicious. 

"So, Regulus," Osvald began once he was fully settled in his seat. "You said that you came here to New Delsta to gather ingredients for a new invention. Would you mind telling us what it entails?"

Regulus opened his mouth, but he never got the chance to explain. The waiter returned with their drinks for the evening, and Regulus directed his attention instead to thanking the man for his service. Once the drinks had been passed out and the waiter had left, Regulus held up his glass for a toast. "To the stars!" he exclaimed with a bright smile. "To which we mortals turn our gaze and use to delineate our dreams. Though they are far, far beyond our grasp. Hehe... And so, I have devised a device that will allow us to bring them right before our eyes. I call it... The astronomical telescope!"

Partitio's eyes were wide as could be by the time Regulus finished his explanation, and if one looked closely, it would seem like the stars had been reflected in his eyes from pure awe too. "Hooooo-ey!" Partitio exclaimed. The idea sounded absolutely incredible to him. Partitio knew a thing or two about charting constellations in the sky overhead, but the details had always eluded him beyond the most basic of shapes. If he was able to see the stars up close, then he would be able to understand all sorts of things. It was a thrilling thought, and Partitio could only hope he would one day be able to share it with other people too. Agnea would no doubt love to hear about a way that she would be able to reach up for the stars and make them something of her own. 

Regulus was practically glowing when he took a sip of his drink and then continued his explanation. "The stars have been humanity's guide since time immemorial," he began. "They know the truth of this world. But I shall be the one to lay their mysteries bare!"

"You haven't changed a bit, Regulus," Osvald commented from beside Partitio. 

Partitio couldn't think of anything more exciting than that. Uncovering all the secrets of the heavens with a single device... It was incredible. Partitio would have to see if he could look up at the stars using the astronomical telescope when he was able to find the opportunity. He was certain it would inspire him in all sorts of ways, and that was more than enough reason to see Regulus' dream through to its end. "Golly... That's one astronomical-sized dream!" he exclaimed. He could hardly wait to learn more about it, so Partitio gestured toward Regulus eagerly. "Well, go on! Show us this telescope o' yours, Regulus!"

"You've piqued my interest as well," Osvald chimed in. He was tilting his coffee mug from side to side, watching through his periphery as the dark liquid inside swirled around. "Is it complete?"

Regulus took a long moment to respond, his face seeming to freeze in place. He set his glass down on the table like he thought it would be enough of a distraction for him to come up with a response. It bought him a few seconds of time before he cast an awkward glance at Partitio and Osvald. "It will be soon," he vowed, his voice suddenly far weaker than it had been moments prior. "Rather, it was supposed to be. If only I had hit it big at the game parlor, I would have secured the last of my funds..."

Dread filled Partitio's chest. Throné had mentioned the game parlor a few times in passing, and one of her biggest pieces of advice regarding life in New Delsta was to never even think of going to the game parlor. So long as a person valued their leaves, that was the last place they ever wanted to find themselves. Partitio winced as he pressed one hand against the table "Ya don't mean..."

Regulus sighed and shook his head. "The odds were ever in my favor... But the stars abandoned me in my hour of need," he explained, his voice overflowing with regret. 

Osvald shook his head. "You just misread your odds. Betting is a simple matter of probability," he pointed out. Partitio got the feeling there was a bit more to it than that though; Throné's strict opinions around the parlor certainly implied that it was not a good place to try and find money anyway. Even so, Osvald's opinions persisted. "You've always had an exceptionally keen mind, but you're a fool when it comes to money."

Regulus deflated, unable to so much as look Osvald in the eyes. "I see you have not mellowed with age," he murmured. Osvald had seemingly been this stern even in youth, a stark contrast from the overactive eagerness Regulus displayed effortlessly. Partitio almost wished he had been there to see what Osvald was like before Frigit Isle forced itself into his life; he had to wonder just what the difference between his past and present selves would have been like to see. 

But there was no time for that now. Partitio couldn't stand to see Regulus looking so upset, so he cast the scholar a smile as a plan started to brew away in his head. "Say, Regulus, how much coin ya got in those pockets o' yours?" he asked. 

Regulus looked ashamed as he shoved his hands into his pockets and then pulled out a notably tiny number of leaves. It wouldn't have even been enough to cover his food that night. It was no wonder Regulus had been struggling with eating proper meals recently; he was trying to save up his money for his invention, and that meant food had taken something of a backseat. "This is all I have to my name," Regulus admitted, his cheeks flaring pink from embarrassment. 

Partitio let out a small, awkward laugh. In a way, Regulus reminded him a lot of the way things had been for him back in Oresrush after the silver mine began to lose its momentum. Every leaf had been made to count, and it still hadn't been enough when his finances were stretched to the point of thin impossibility. "Y-Yep, ya sure are hard up..." Partitio murmured. 

Osvald was far less sympathetic, and his eyes narrowed with familiar frustration. "You were hoping we'd treat you to food and drinks from the start, weren't you?" he questioned even though he already knew what the answer was going to be. Osvald had no issues with helping a person in need, but that didn't mean he was fine with someone assuming that he would pay for their financial issues without so much as asking him first. 

Now it was Regulus' turn to laugh awkwardly. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, suddenly finding the thought of making eye contact with Osvald to be unbearable. Osvald had seen this coming, and he sighed and looked away while pinching the bridge of his nose. Regulus had not changed in the slightest in the time they had spent apart, and Osvald couldn't even say he was surprised. He wasn't shocked by Regulus' assumptions nor his poor financial maintenance. All of this was par for the course for his old friend, and it had been a source of irritation back when they were young just as much as it grated on him now. 

Partitio smiled sympathetically at Regulus, unable to see him looking so worked up. "Aw hell, you've got me all riled up now. What's say you give me that coin?" Regulus tilted his head to the side in muted confusion, and Partitio gladly explained. "Invest this coin in me, and I reckon I can get ya everythin' ya need for your telescope!"

Osvald turned to look at Partitio in something like horror, though the weight of his emotional response was dampened by his attempts to not make too much of a scene. "No, don't encourage--"

"M-My savior!" Regulus exclaimed, his voice loud enough to attract the attention of a few of the diners at the nearby tables. Regulus didn't even seem to notice though, instead leaning forward and gladly dropping his leaves into Partitio's waiting hands. Osvald, meanwhile, just shook his head. This was yet another example of a poor financial decision on Regulus' part. Partitio may have been a safe place for him to invest his money, but that wasn't something Regulus necessarily knew. He wasn't being cautious in the slightest, and it could have led to yet another scam if he wasn't careful. Osvald knew Partitio to be a safe party, but Regulus most certainly did not, and he was bound to make a lot of mistakes in the future if he continued to trust people without giving them the chance to prove themselves first. 

Par for the course for Regulus, Osvald thought as he took another sip of his drink. Some things never changed. 

~~~~~

After Regulus handed over his money to Partitio, the trio finished up their meal for the night. Just as Osvald had expected, he and Partitio wound up taking care of the bill, leaving behind enough to cover their shares along with what Regulus had ordered. Osvald had grown used to Regulus' more frustrating habits many years prior, and yet, he found himself annoyed by it all now anyway. If Regulus was struggling, that was one thing, but he didn't ever communicate upfront that he needed help until the other party was in too deep. He had realized during his school days that constantly asking others for aid after he had gotten himself into a dire financial situation was bound to drain the patience of his classmates, and so, he wound up keeping the details secret. Osvald had come to expect it, and yet, he hoped just the same that Regulus became more self-aware in the next few years to ensure he didn't repeat a bad habit like this too many times more. 

Once Osvald, Partitio, and Regulus had left behind the tavern, Regulus launched into yet another excited discussion about the telescope and all that was involved with it. Osvald wasn't sure if Regulus simply hadn't noticed his friend's frustration with his passive manipulation or if he was choosing to not acknowledge it. Either way, Osvald supposed, the effect was the same. "We need three components in order to complete my astronomical telescope," Regulus explained. "A metalworking tool, a mirror, and a precision lens. Partitio here shall control all the funds."

Partitio nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with all the determination in the world. "Yep! Leave it to me, friend! I'll get you what ya need!" His fingers were clenched tightly in a fist around the leaves Regulus had given to him. Partitio's hands were larger than average, Osvald had learned, but even if they had not been, it likely would not have mattered too much. There was so little money to Regulus' name that it probably would have even fit cleanly within Ochette or Agnea's palms too. 

Regulus pressed his hands over his chest in a show of gratitude. "Thank you ever so much! I shall await you in the square in front of the theater! I pray to the stars for your every success!" With that, he turned around and walked up the steps leading in the direction of the theater, vanishing through the crowd in a matter of seconds. 

Osvald sighed once Regulus was out of sight. He and Partitio were expected to go to all of this trouble for Regulus' sake, and yet, Regulus wasn't even planning on joining them. He would be going off somewhere else to wait while they did the vast majority of the work on his behalf. Osvald should have expected this as well, but it found a way to frustrate him even so. The last five years had taught Osvald to raise his expectations through the force of punishment if he failed, but it seemed that others had not been willing to make such a change on their own. 

"You'll get no help from me," Osvald told Partitio as soon as he was certain they would not be interrupted. "Indulging him never ends well."

Partitio didn't seem to mind Osvald's lower mood at all though, instead laughing it off with a shrug. "Well alright then. Was me that got to boastin' anyhow." Partitio flipped one of the coins he had received from Regulus, and it gleamed even in the limited lighting of the city's late hour. "Now... I'd best get to negotiatin'!"

Partitio turned his attention back toward the tavern a moment later, and Osvald frowned. "What could you possibly want in there?" he asked. 

"I can ask around in there to see if there are any merchants in town that might be able to help us out with our purchases for less of a price," Partitio replied. "Regular market value's probably what's makin' it so hard for Regulus to find what it is he needs, so this is as good a way to solve that problem as any. There's no better place to gather information than the tavern!"

Osvald watched Partitio dart inside, and he found himself sighing before trailing after him. He couldn't believe he was letting himself get dragged into this even if it was to a far smaller extent than it would have if Regulus had cornered him on his own. Osvald wanted to be able to leave Regulus to clean up his own messes. He was an adult man who should have known to not drag others into his bad habits, but there Osvald was anyway. It was less about wanting to pull Regulus out of his own self-created trouble and more about not wanting Partitio to wander the city on his own at this hour. Osvald couldn't say he knew much about the ways in which New Delsta functioned, but he trusted Throné's judgement if nothing else, and if she thought it was safest to stay in groups while navigating the city, then he was willing to believe her. 

By the time Osvald arrived inside the tavern, Partitio had already made his way up to the counter. He was speaking with someone who looked to be a merchant, though the man in question was far from in the capacity of business at the moment. His face was red from crying, and he looked like he had been trying to fill up a hole in his heart through the use of a drink. Osvald could only assume that Partitio's eye had been attracted in the man's direction by the clothing he wore, but that had only ended with him having to comfort a man he barely knew through indulging too much in alcohol to soothe his darkest desires. 

"What's the matter, fella?" Partitio was asking as Osvald came up to stand beside him. Partitio clearly noticed Osvald was present, but he knew better than to comment on it when he was in the middle of an important conversation with the teary-eyed merchant before him. 

The merchant rubbed at his eyes and sighed. "I haven't had a single sale in days... I don't know what I'm doing wrong! All sorts of people come to New Delsta to hit it big so they never have to work again after they've sold all their wares, but... I just can't get anyone to buy from me!" the man cried out in despair. He whimpered before shaking his head and looking back down at his mug. "It's all hopeless..."

"I'm sure it's not hopeless!" Partitio assured him with a shake of his head. "What sorts of stuff do you sell? Maybe there's a good strategy out there for us to help you drum up a little more interest from the city!"

"I... I work with metal," the man answered. "I've got a few tools for it that I sell, but there aren't many people who do it here... I don't know what to do now! I've got all of these tools that no one wants, and I'm not going to be able to get through the week's rent if I can't get someone to take the bait soon!"

Partitio's eyes lit up with recognition. A metalworking tool was one of the three items Regulus needed, and that meant he had struck gold without even meaning to. "I'll buy a metalworkin' tool off you," Partitio offered, already pulling out the leaves he had received from Regulus. "How much do you want for it?"

The merchant's eyes brightened immediately, and he scrambled with shaking, drunken fingers to pull one of the tools out of his bag. "Two hundred leaves!" he exclaimed, his voice a little bit too loud for the conversation. The merchant barely noticed though, too caught up in his excitement to care for anything other than the sale he had been hoping to make for multiple days on end. 

"I'll take it!" Partitio grinned, passing the appropriate number of leaves over to the merchant. In return, the merchant handed over the tool in question. He giddily dropped the coins and bills into his coin purse, and Osvald could only assume that Partitio's funds would lessen the sting of the night spent out drinking. 

"Thank you for buying from me!" the merchant exclaimed. He sniffled and rubbed at his eyes with the side of his left hand before smiling up at Partitio again. 

"Of course. Thankee kindly!" Partitio returned. He moved toward the door, but he only made it a few steps before he turned back to the merchant. "Though if I'm bein' honest with ya... I think you'll find more luck in sellin' tools like this in Clockbank. They're always lookin' for more specialists to help with makin' their steam engines over there." 

The merchant nodded, gladly accepting the advice. Osvald knew Partitio was giving it bittersweetly though. On one hand, Partitio didn't want to sign someone else up to have to struggle with the financial situation in Clockbank, but on the other, people in New Delsta were being taxed for the steam engine anyway. At least the merchant would be able to make a bit of money back for his tools by working in a city where the creation of steam engines was a bit more centralized. 

Once Partitio and Osvald had left the tavern behind, Partitio cast Osvald a mischievous smile. "And here I thought you said you weren't gonna be helpin' me out at all with gettin' the supplies for Regulus."

"I'm here to ensure you do not find yourself too deep in any trouble," Osvald corrected him, though he supposed that to an outside eye, the effect looked exactly the same. Before Partitio could point that much out, Osvald shook his head. "We have two other items to get, don't we?"

"Yes, we do!" Partitio nodded. "And I see no reason to stand around and think about it for any longer than we already have. Let's see about gettin' that lens and mirror so we can take it back to Regulus!" He pointed his finger ahead and then vanished into the crowd. Osvald shook his head twice before trailing after him, hoping they were able to take care of this quickly and painlessly. 

When it came to Regulus, this would probably be the first time those words had ever been applicable. 

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Crossed paths time! Woohoo!

This one is moving a lot faster than the first did, though I suppose that makes sense. There hasn't been as much introspection in this one compared to the first, so it makes sense that there wouldn't be as much time dedicated to it. I'm expecting these crossed paths to take up two or three chapters each right now, and this one might end up being on the shorter side. We'll just have to wait and see, I suppose. 

I think this chapter speaks for itself overall though, so I'm going to leave you guys off here. Next time, we'll get closer to wrapping up the first part of the Merchant and Scholar so that we can move on to our next few steps. Until then, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Feedback is appreciated as always. Have a nice day, everyone!

-Digital