"Are there... any special arrangents that can be made regarding the repair of damaged Armants?" Kael’s voice cut cleanly through the murmurs of the surrounding students to reach Ezekiel’s ear — the implication behind his words enough to make those sa students rein in the exclamations rising in their throats.
Grasping the underlying aning, they all turned their attention to Ezekiel’s carefree expression, his smile growing more and more luminous by the second.
What made it all the more interesting was that Kael — a scion erging from a family built on martial tradition — had approached the situation from that angle at all, making it plainly evident that he was not to be confused with the stereotypical muscle-headed warriors the Basalt na occasionally conjured.
"Of course." Ezekiel reached into his Dinsional Ring and produced an uneven ingot of ivory-colored tal. "Byreum tal ore — one of the primary materials used in the production of my Armants. Unfortunately, the Institute doesn’t keep much stock of tal trading, so the quantity I can source through credits alone is limited. I’d have to convert my credits to Starls and purchase whatever I can on the open market."
He stored the ingot back into his ring and swept his gaze across the students before him. "That’s where this arrangent cos in. Through your noble families, I’m confident most of you can source Byreum and a number of other materials I require at below market value.
"With that in mind, this arrangent will only be available to those who can guarantee those materials at a minimum of 10% below market price. Depending on the percentage offered, I will add a 5% increase on top of it and apply the resulting figure as your discount on any Armant you wish to purchase.
"On top of that, I would also be willing to repair damaged Armants free of charge — provided you supply the necessary materials to do so."
Ezekiel’s proposal sent a ripple of excitent through the majority of the students gathered in the lobby. Few of them lacked noble backgrounds, after all — most were well-positioned to et the minimum requirent without difficulty.
Kael studied Ezekiel’s unhurried posture for a quiet mont, aware that if the latter had put forward such an arrangent, he had already calculated his profit margin down to the last detail. Finding no crack in that easy expression, the large teenager exhaled and nodded. "I can supply all the materials you’ve outlined at 20% below market value."
The chanic’s eyes lit up at that, a short laugh escaping him as he sent a ssage to Kael’s NexusHub. "Excellent. As my first custor, I’m extending not the 25% discount I had intended, but a full 35% off your first three purchases — after which it will naturally revert to the standard discount. The contract is in the ssage I just sent you. Once signed, with the Institute acting as guarantor, your goods will be delivered."
"Agreed." Kael read through it with efficient speed before tapping his NexusHub and signing the holographic contract. In the next mont, a luminous mark erged from the device and seeped into both their bodies.
Unbeknownst to everyone present, the mark that settled against Ezekiel’s heart was quietly dissolved by a pulse of athyst-colored energy — unnoticed even by its own owner.
"Quite the order," Ezekiel remarked, glancing at the list of requests Kael had submitted through the NexusHub with a low whistle. "Fortunately, I ca prepared."
He reached into his Dinsional Ring and produced six briefcases, housing two sets each of Windchasers, teor Gauntlets, and Visors. ’A prepared mind like that — it could only co from a well-raised scion of a major family.’
Pulling his attention from Kael’s retreating figure, Ezekiel turned a smile on the rest of the waiting students. "Now then — shall we continue?"
He made a quiet note to thank the Basalt scion internally. Kael’s willingness to move first had done the work of dismantling the last traces of hesitation in the room more effectively than any sales pitch could have.
By the eighth purchase, Ezekiel was fighting to keep a manic grin off his face. Kael’s order alone had shaved 2,500 credits from his outstanding debt. With the number of eager faces still waiting, he estimated that one or two more sales would clear the remainder entirely — and if things went particularly well, he might walk away with enough to fund another research retreat.
His only frustration was that a significant portion of the students at the Trials had already exhausted much of their resources on Relics before the event began, leaving them with little to spare for his Armants.
"Ezekiel."
A soft voice brought the chanic to a halt. Glancing to the side, he caught the approach of a familiar figure — and with each step she took toward him, the light in his eyes quietly dimd.
By the ti she arrived before him, the warmth had already left his expression entirely, replaced by sothing flat and tranquil. "Yes, Miss Doyce."
The apathetic tone speaking her na made Anna pause. Her eyes flickered with a tangle of pain, guilt, and reluctance as the full weight of her earlier mistake settled over her once more. "You... you can just call Anna."
The chanic offered a slight shake of his head, his expression unchanged. "I’d rather not, miss. Were you looking to purchase any of my products?"
Anna suppressed a quiet sigh, realizing that no gesture on her part would reach him now. Conscious of the attention their exchange was drawing, she set her thoughts aside and answered. "A Windchaser. I also have materials that can be routed to the Institute through my family’s network."
As an Earl-grade family, the Doyce na carried enough weight to facilitate such a deal — even if only at a modest discount. What she hadn’t anticipated was Ezekiel’s imdiate refusal. "There’s no need for that. I’ve secured enough contacts to cover my supply requirents as things stand. I appreciate the thought, though. For your purchase today, you’ll receive a 5% discount."
"You..." Sothing twisted in Anna’s chest. Her eyes grew glassy despite herself, tears threatening to spill past the edges of her composure in a way her considerable ntal fortitude could barely suppress.
She pushed it all down, completed her paynt through the NexusHub, and stepped away from the small crowd gathered around Ezekiel’s section of the room. A quiet, rueful laugh finally escaped her as her gaze settled on the sight of students clustered warmly around three people she might once have counted as her own. "I’ve really lost a great deal, haven’t I?"
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