As of late, Rukhar's general mood had great improved. Frozo was the only person who wasn't aware of Callie and Rukhar yet, and he was off doing something. No one actually knew where he was, but they knew he wasn't in the facility. Saturday came, and Rukhar decided to go sell some of the Hydra bones at the market in the village nearby. Of course, Callie wanted to join him, because she had never seen the market before. Jay didn't dare crack a joke, because he was pretty sure he saw Marie out of the corner of his eye. That and he was still tender from a few days ago, evidently Marie hit very hard.

Upon arrival to the gate of the town, Callie looked around in awe. The color stands, the playing children, and the general happy atmosphere were very appealing to her. Rukhar took her around to see some of the stalls, on the way to where he typically put his.

One stall in particular caught Callie's eye. One merchant was selling hand made crystal jewelry. It way each piece glittered was almost mesmerizing. She asked Rukhar to please go see it. Rukhar looked over at it, and smiled. He brought her over, and Callie squished her face up against the viewing window. She really wanted one, but knew she had no money. But Rukhar could tell which one she had her eyes on. It was a simple sea shell, but it clearly reminded her of home. He looked up at the merchant selling it and asked "hey, how much for the shell?"

The merchant looked up, seeing Callie's very enchanted face and Rukhar standing by her. She knew Rukhar, almost everyone at the market did. He always had rare flowers and herbs, or bones or organs of strong beasts.

"Depends." She said. "What have you to give me?"

"The usual." Said Rukhar. "And hides from a Rainbow Quartz Cave Hydra."

"Ay, that there is a rare bounty." The merchant said. "I'll have 6 of em, and we'll call it even for the pretty lass."

"Sounds good." Rukhar said, producing the skins.

"These be a wee bit small, doncha say?" The merchant protested.

"Then I'll make it 12." Said Rukhar. He pulled out another 6.

"That be more like it lad. Thanks ya for stoppin by." The shopkeeper said, picking up the shell hair clip.

She gave it to Rukhar, who turned and handed it to Callie. "There you go." He said. "You wanted that one, right?"

Callie was very happy. "You're the best!" She said, hugging Rukhar tightly. She put the clip on her left tentacle, and beamed.

"It's no problem." Rukhar said. "Now, what say we go set up our table?"

"Ok!" Callie said. She followed Rukhar through the dense crowd, skipping the majority of the way.

Meanwhile, Marie was heading to the forge. She knew neither Rukhar nor Callie had picked up their weapons, and she intended to bring them over. She checked her map, and saw Rukhar and Callie in the village, hanging out doing something.

"I haven't seen either of them that happy since I got here." She thought to herself. "I suppose Jay did at least one good thing."

She got to the forge. She saw Callie's weapon first, a hefty, Violet and Magenta hammer, supported by several bars. Next to it, was Rukhar's new bow and arrows. She picked them up, and stored them, but the last weapon was unbelievable. It was hers, a sleek, ice blue and cyan wrapped Sniper Rifle, and it was an energy weapon, instead of classic Military. She gingerly picked it up, and admired its cool, sleek feel. She took it to the test range for a while, taking a few practice shots. She noticed that the kickback was almost non-existent, and the shots went much further and faster than before. After half an hour of getting the feel for it, she remembered what she was going to do in the first place. She hastily left for the town. Meanwhile, Frozo was returning to the town as well, with a large amount of Highlands Ice and Timber, sought after materials few could get too. He ran into Marie, just as she got to the gate.

"Oh! Hello, Marie. Pleasant day, isn't it?" He said, as over the top and polite as usual.

"I suppose. What brings you here?" Marie replied.

"Oh, I was here to sell some Highlands building materials. Non-ice mages can't really get to them, you know?" Frozo said.

"Ah. That's where you've been." Marie said. "I'm just here to drop off Callie and Rukhar's new weapons and Callie's armor."

"The pair are here together? Goodness, I have missed a bit, haven't I?" Frozo asked.

"Yeah. Thanks to Jay, kind of, they are now dating. Also we almost died. Big things like that." Marie said, with a classic smirk.

"That's... Unfortunate. What happened?" Frozo asked.

"There was this big beast that showed up while I was mining with Callie and Rukhar. I think Rukhar called it a Rainbow Quartz Hydra." Marie said.

"A run in with a Hydra in poor gear? That's quite a feat, just escaping." Frozo said.

"We actually took it out, but it took effort." Marie replied.

"Then I assume that's what Rukhar is selling." Frozo said. "Also, I must commend you. Hydras die hard."

"Yeah, you don't say?" Marie said. The pair finally entered the market after standing around.

"Well, I'm off to set up a table. I assume Rukhar is off in the back, that way." Frozo said, pointing to the left. "Even if he weren't on my friends list, I know he always goes over there."

"Well, I have him in my list too, but thanks." Marie said. "I'll see you around."

"And I, you." Frozo said, as he turned.

"Well, at least poor Rukhar is happy." Frozo thought to himself.

It took Marie a few minutes to find Rukhar and Callie, but sure enough they were hanging out at a table with an arrangement of the bones, skins, and organs harvested from the Hydra.

"Oh hey." Marie said, surprising both of them.

"Marie!" Callie said. "What's up?"

"You guys forgot your weapons and armor." Marie said. She was already wearing hers, a thin vest made of the Hydra Scales, with a few plates of the same metal that her gun was made of hidden between layers if scales, and with a thin layer of smooth cloth on the inside.

"Oh, yeah. Funny, considering what it took to get them." Rukhar said.

Marie deposited the weapons on the table. Rukhar inspected his bow very closely.

"Wow, Jacopo's handiwork is impressive." He said. "14 times as durable and with double the gem slots."

"I think that's a lot." Marie said.

"It is." Rukhar replied. "Presumably you guys have the same multipliers. Well, I got to keep tending the shop, but feel free to go inlay some gems. You should have 6 slots."

"I guess I'll leave you too it, then. See you later Callie." Marie said, as she turned to leave.

"By Marie!" Callie waved.

Over her shoulder, Marie called back. "Out of everyone, I'm glad it was you Rukhar. Take good care of my cousin, won't you?"

"Of course." Said Rukhar. "I knew there would be a string attached, but I understand."

Marie smiled, and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Rukhar and Callie to run the stall.