Ethan narrowed his eyes, staring at him evenly. They had only managed to grab a couple of the insectoid corpses to avoid prying eyes and this guy was asking for one whole corpse. He was definitely getting ripped off.
His eyes darted here and there to see if he could find something to add to the deal when he noticed a huge crystal ball on the shelf, similar to the one Lia had described to him before. If he was not wrong, this should be an awakening stone.
Ethan suddenly got an idea. "Throw in that crystal ball and we can call it even."
The vendor raised an eyebrow, his smirk faltering for the first time. His gaze flicked to the crystal ball Ethan had pointed out, then back to Ethan, sizing him up carefully. "That crystal ball?" he asked, his tone almost mocking. "Do you even know what that is?"
"I know exactly what it is," Ethan replied evenly, keeping his expression calm and composed. "An awakening stone, right? And judging by the dust on it, it's not exactly a hot seller."
The vendor's lips twitched, but he didn't deny it. "Awakening stones aren't toys, boy. They're rare and freaking expensive. There is no way I am selling that to you even if you offer a hundred of these corpses."
"Fine then. Forget it." Ethan turned around and took a step out.
"Ok. Wait. Wait." The vendor called after him. "I can't sell that to you but you can use it once. I will throw that in for free."
Ethan paused mid-step, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He turned back to face the vendor, raising an eyebrow. "Use it once, huh?"
The vendor nodded, his expression wary, as if worried Ethan might walk away again. "Yeah. You get one shot. It'll do the job, same as if you owned it. No need to lug it around after, right?"
Ethan crossed his arms, pretending to mull it over. "That's a generous offer for someone who just called it freaking expensive."
The vendor scowled, his eyes narrowing. "You get what you want, I get what I want, and we part ways. Look, I don't make a habit of letting people use stuff for free, but you're… persistent. Just don't break the damn thing, alright?"
"Alright, deal," Ethan said, extending a hand. "One insectoid corpse, the Mana Bolt scroll, and one use of the awakening stone."
The vendor hesitated before finally shaking Ethan's hand, grumbling under his breath. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
He shuffled toward the shelf, carefully lifting the crystal ball and placing it on a small pedestal in the corner of the room. The orb gleamed faintly as it settled, its surface swirling with faint traces of light. "There you go," the vendor said, stepping back. "Go ahead. Don't waste my time."
Ethan shook his head. "Not when you are still standing here. I want to do it privately."
The vendor stared at him blankly. "Are you an idiot? The awakening stone results are private. It doesn't matter whether I am standing here or not. It will only turn red and expose you if you cannot awaken any class. Clearly, that won't happen since you already have a class. I can see your level, lad."
Ethan realized that he had let slip something about himself by mistake. "Watch your mouth." He immediately acted annoyed. "I know the results are private. I just didn't want to be disturbed."
The vendor chuckled. "Alright, alright, no need to get all defensive. Do your thing. I'll be over here, minding my own business." He stepped out along with the other attendant who was working inside the shop.
Ethan suppressed a sigh, his annoyance masking the unease creeping up his spine. The vendor's casual comment about his level had set him on edge, but he couldn't let it show. He stepped toward the crystal ball, brushing off the lingering tension.
He placed his hands firmly on the crystal ball, feeling its cool surface hum faintly beneath his touch.
The room seemed to dim slightly as the orb's inner light began to swirl. Threads of golden and silver energy danced within, coalescing into intricate patterns. Ethan felt a pull as if the stone were delving deeper into his very essence.
For a moment, the orb glowed blindingly bright, then settled into a soft, pulsating blue. A strange, otherworldly symbol appeared within the crystal, hovering faintly before vanishing. Ethan felt a surge of energy rush through him, leaving him momentarily breathless.
[Ding! Second Awakening Successful]
[Ding! Second Class Unlocked]
[Ding! New Achievement Unlocked: Dual-Class Wielder]
[Second Class: Mage]