The Hamrlight Jewelry Store was the best on the entire planet. Though, as it was run by the Jewelry Master nad Gotri Hamrlight, a Votann Forge Master and Jewelry Master who had very high prestige across the entire Eternal Empire of the Asurya.
The products that were crafted here were usually sold for astronomical prices, even if they were just ordinary pieces of accessories without any special effects to them; even then, they would be sold for many thousands of Universal Credits.
The jewelry store was a rather breathtaking blend of advanced technology, engineering, and luxury, where cutting-edge design ets the tiless allure of precious gems. The exterior of the store imdiately captivates with its sleek, tallic facade.
Large, seamless glass panels reflect the city's lights, while soft, neon accents in shades of platinum and sapphire blue trace the edges of the structure, giving it a sophisticated, ethereal glow.
A sculptural entrance shaped like an abstract gemstone led custors into an environnt that felt like a weird mixture of dwarven fantasy and sci-fi space opera; at least, that was the feeling that Arcturus was getting about this place. However, that was applicable to every single one of the Votanni establishnts because, as the proud folk, they would put their heritage everywhere where they went.
Inside, the space opened up into a vast showroom with high ceilings and walls that shimr with a holographic effect, subtly shifting colors as the viewer moves. The lighting was ticulously designed: invisible sources created a diffused glow that eliminates shadows, while thin beams of precision LED lights spotlight each display case, making every jewel sparkle as though suspended in the air.
The floor was composed of polished, translucent panels embedded with fiber-optic veins that pulsed gently, resembling the flow of energy through a futuristic circuit but with the typical Votanni architecture like the rest of the shop.
Display cases, made from crystal-clear glass and edged with sleek titanium, hover above the floor on nearly invisible supports. These cases use augnted reality technology, allowing custors to see detailed 3D renderings of each piece, including customization options, projected alongside the genuine items. Interactive touch panels integrated into the displays provide information about gem origins, craftsmanship techniques, and virtual try-on experiences.
A central feature of the showroom is a sculptural spiral staircase crafted from carbon fiber and glass, appearing to twist upward like a strand of DNA. It leads to a zzanine lounge area where clients can relax in minimalist seating pods with built-in screens displaying personalized jewelry designs.
In the background, ambient music was playing. Arcturus recognized it as traditional Votann music as the crystalline tone filled the air, creating a serene and luxurious atmosphere yet with the feeling of the typical Votanni culture in this place, which gave it a bit more exotic feeling.
Arcturus looked around the jewelry store, which seed more like so luxurious hotel or whatever, but despite everything, it had a really beautiful appearance from the inside. Arcturus understood that it was to provide a comprehensive experience for the custors visiting the place.
Zehal and Jeniael bolted away as soon as they entered the shop and went to look through the catalog of the items that were being sold there. This wasn't really a thing for him, as he wasn't the one who would be wearing accessories if they were just decoration.
While he would have no problem wearing so artifacts or sothing like that, when it ca to the ordinary pieces of jewelry, no matter how expensive or luxurious they were, for Arcturus, they were just trinkets.
Nevertheless, he continued looking around at the pieces that were being sold here, and as he looked at the category of ordinary jewelry pieces, aning everything that wasn't Artifact and providing so extraordinary effects, he noticed that everything was expensive.
Even the cheapest ring or necklace in hundreds of Universal Credits is staggering. For the ordinary piece of so random gem that was dug from the ground and put on a piece of tal, it was an extraordinarily high number.
This was really sothing because even 100 Universal Credits was a very high number... because all of the High-Level Civilizations and High-Level Star Nations were using the Universal Credits issued by the Cosmic Vaultbank as their form of currency to boost up the trade and eliminate so inconveniences.
This made the buying strength of the Universal Credit very high, so Arcturus found it ridiculous to pay 750 Universal Credits for a ring made from Staria Gold encased with Ruby...
Nevertheless, at least all of the pieces were certainly beautiful, and they were all handmade work made with the famous Votanni craftsmanship and care. He was looking through the things just to pass so ti, because Zehal and Jenaiel were taking their ti.
Obviously, Zehal had far more than enough money to spend on the various things, and she wasn't certainly going to save money in here. She ca to this place mainly because she wanted to buy so pieces from the Votanni Jewelry Masters who ca to live in Ziras IV after various precious gems were discovered at the colony.
For Zehal, it was also a form of investnt because if she managed to snag so rare piece, then it would be raised on their worth several tis over. So she ca here with many tens of thousands of Universal Credits that were prepared to spend them on to buy so exclusive piece of jewelry.
Arcturus found it rather amusing that both Zehal and Jeniael were rather enthusiastic about this to the point where they stopped arguing and even chose so of the pieces of jewelry together.
What a most unusual sight...
And entertaining at the sa ti, as he ca to them while they were looking at one necklace that Zehal apparently wanted to buy as a form of investnt.
"300,000 Universal Credits? Is this even right?"
Arcturus non-believingly asked as he looked at the holo-projection of the necklace that she wanted to buy. The Votanni-made necklace was a masterpiece of craftsmanship and opulence, a testant to the legendary skill and precision of the mountain-dwelling artisans.
The tal itself was forged from rare mithril; its base tal glead with a silvery-blue sheen, lightweight yet unbreakable. The intricate chain links are shaped like miniature interlocking hamrs and anvils, each no larger than a grain of sand but perfectly detailed.
At the heart of the necklace lies a massive, radiant gemstone, a flawless, deep crimson garnet carved into the shape of a roaring dragon's head, its eyes set with glittering diamonds. Surrounding the central gem are delicate filigree patterns resembling ancient runes, etched with a precision that seems almost magical. These runes, inlaid with gold and platinum, spiral outward like streams of molten lava frozen in ti.
Tiny clusters of smaller gemstones, Azuresky Sapphires, Ziri Eralds, and Fireheart Rubies, that are strategically placed to create the illusion of flas flickering along the intricate design.
The clasp, shaped like a dwarf king's crowned helm, is a marvel of hidden chanics, locking seamlessly with a satisfying click. This necklace exudes the weight of history, the might of stone and fire, and a beauty born from centuries of unmatched skill.
"Yeah... this is the masterwork of the Master Hamrlight and was only one of its kind and one of the ten pieces that were exclusively made."
The 300,000 Universal Credits was a lot, but at the sa ti, within a few decades, Zehal predicted that within two to three years, the price would be doubled, and after ten years, the price would be ten to fifteen tis the original.
This staggering increase in the estimated price was sothing that was making his head spin. Not to ntion, Arcturus knew that this was done by Zehal on a whim more than anything else, and it was most probably that if she took a liking to the necklace, she would keep it.
Even Jeniael was looking at sothing similar to what Zehal was looking at, which cost only sothing around ten thousand Universal Credits. Even though it was a lot, it wasn't that much compared to the piece that Zehal was going to buy.
"Wait for here; I am going to buy this little trinket here..."
Zehal stated as she then disappeared to sowhere as she went to inquire about buying the piece that she wanted to buy. As it was a very expensive and very premium product, she needed to talk with the Manager or the Jewel Master.
anwhile, Zehal was out, and he and Jenaiel were waiting for her to return.
Arcturus looked at Jeniael's terminal, which was showing the piece she liked as she then sighed because she didn't really have money for anything else aside from the most crucial things needed for her cultivation.
Money for the luxuries and indulgence were not really on the list of the important stuff that she needed to save money for. The cultivation resources like the Psionic Energy Crystals were far more important than things like necklaces and rings.
Arcturus looked at her as the white-haired young woman looked rather disappointed with the fact that she couldn't afford it, but she obviously wouldn't voice anything. She was too proud to say anything, and she obviously wouldn't say anything about borrowing money or anything.
Seeing her disappointnt, he made a few clicks on her terminal, entered the ID of his Bank Account in the Cosmic Vaulbank, and bought her the necklace. Soon enough, he would receive the first paynt from the Starlight Drive Yard Industries, which would be most probably in hundreds of thousands of the Universal Credits.
And he still had a few thousand Universal Credits that he didn't really need that much, and during the ti spent at the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy, Jeniael was rather helpful to him in many cases.
He wasn't the person who would do sothing for free for another person, but perhaps there were expectations in everything.
"Consider it a gift for as thanks for the help."
Arcturus stated that he paid for the necklace, and while Jenaiel wanted to say sothing, in the end, she just slowly hung her head down and smiled slightly. Normally, she would protest as much as possible because she hated it if it seed that she needed so kind of charitable help.
This ti, she just accepted the gift as much as it went against her principles and character, but at the sa ti, she was relatively happy with the outco.
She knew that Arcturus had far more money than her and that he also had a stable inco from the licensing fees for the patents for which the Starlight Drive Yard Industries were paying rather hefty fees.
Ten thousand Universal Credits was an outrageous amount of money even for the average citizens of the Eternal Empire of Asurya. Even the Imperial Citizens who served in the Imperial Military made only sothing around 1,000 Universal Credits on average.
So, 10,000 Universal Credits was a lot... but for Arcturus, it wasn't actually that much money, and in the end, he felt that he would be stuck at the Ziras IV for the foreseeable ti because things like this usually didn't really go according to the plan.
"Thanks..."
She silently thanked him as they then went to one of the managers because, surprisingly, there was a lot of staff there, and not everything was automated like one would expect. The Votanns were more traditional because they refrained from using advanced technology and other things when they were setting up their hos or personal spaces.
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They preferred to adhere to their traditions and old ways of life like their ancestor many, many centuries ago. The piece that Arcturus bought her was with too with the dragon motifs.
As soon enough, it was delivered to them by one of the mbers of the staff as Jeniael marveled at the necklace, this ti for the real and not through the holo-projection.
In real, the necklace was even more beautiful than in the holo-projection as she looked at the necklace natively with a sowhat satisfied expression on her face as she received a really wonderful gift.
"Would you put it on ?"
She asked in a quiet voice as if she was ashad of asking for it, though he could understand because, for Jeniael, this seed to be a pretty intimate thing and not sothing that she would ask anyone.
For soone as proud, independent, and distant as her, this was a certain degree of trust and compassion if she asked for sothing like this, which she considered romantically intimate.
"Yeah..."
Arcturus said as he grabbed the necklace and put it over Jenaiel's neck. The young princess of the House Luxford observed herself in the mirror and how she looked with the beautiful necklace hanging from her neck.
"It really suits you... the Sapphires are going well with your eyes."
He stated that he noticed that there was indeed a specific correlation between the colors and how they went well together. The young woman in question seed to be satisfied with herself at the mont, and thus, they waited for Zehal to finish her business.
The Heiress Apparent of the rcantile Clan, The House Alvix returned rather soon as she went to buy the neckaclace for the staggering amount of 300,000 Unviersal Creits.
Obviously, she wouldn't be taking the necklace with her to the mission and the Arachnid Nest, but she ordered them to send it back to the House Alvix, where it would be added to her personal collection right next to her bed.
As it seed, Zehal took rather great liking to the necklace from what Arcturus had seen, so he really doubted that she would sell it as she said, and most probably, she would just keep it.
However, who knows what the price of such an item would be in the future? These things were basically limited collector editions of the jewelry world, so the value would only go up in ti and not down.
Who knows how valuable it would be in so fifty years or perhaps after a century or millennium?
Nevertheless, now that their shopping trip had ended, Zehal looked at the necklace around Jeniael's neck with suspicion; she frowned a bit, but sooner enough, her expression returned to normal, far before Arcturus noticed that Zehal was looking at Jenaiel a bit differently.
Obviously, the white-haired young woman noticed how Zehal looked at her as she shot her one victorious smirk accompanied by a grinning smile while Zehal grits her teeth in frustration.
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