The market, as it turned out, was very similar to the farmer’s markets that Winston’s humans had brought him to. Two long rows of stalls and tents took up a sizable portion of the camp.

  Despite having just eaten the energy-infused kibble, Winston began salivating as the exotic smells filled his nose. His nose was assaulted by a hundred scents at once. Seeing Winston’s intent stare at the food stalls, Erynd sighed and walked over.

  Winston just stared at the grilling meat while the Caltherans spoke, but he broke out of his trance.

  “That’ll be 2 credits,” The vendor said as he prepared a pair of skewers.

  Erynd’s jaw dropped. “2 credits? But the System only gave us 100 each!”

  The vendor shook his head, “You look like the hunter type. Haven’t you tried selling parts of your kills? Some animal parts can make you quite a tidy profit.”

  Erynd sighed, “Yes, I’m a hunter. But no, I haven’t tried selling animal parts. The last expedition went…poorly.”

  The vendor’s eyes widened. “Were you part of the incident yesterday? What happened? No one will tell us what went on!”

  Erynd and Winston winced in unison. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Oh, come on. All we know is that one or two people died! Your food is half off if you tell me!”

  Erynd sighed and leaned forward, putting his face up to the vendor’s. “I told you. I don’t want to talk about it. All you need to know is that it wasn’t one or two people. It was dozens. So don’t you dare talk about it like it was no big deal. Just be grateful none of your friends died.

  “Now then, I’ve transferred your credits. Where is my food?”

  The vendor gulped and handed him the two skewers. Erynd nodded and walked off. As they walked in silence, Erynd held a skewer up to his shoulder, letting Winston take bites of it as he walked.

  Eventually, they stopped at a large, dark blue tent. Erynd bent down and pushed through the flaps. Inside was a dusty, wooden-floored room. Sunlight filtered through the tent’s opening, illuminating the dancing motes.

  Displayed around the shop were jade bracelets of different shapes and sizes, and in glass cases behind the counter was a single glimmering blue-and-purple bracelet.

  Erynd walked up to the counter, nodding in greeting to the owner. “Caelith.”

  The Caltheran behind the desk looked older, with slightly wrinkled skin. His body was decorated with dozens of gems, not quite as many as Erynd, but close.

  Caelith, the shopkeeper, nodded in return. “Erynd. I heard what happened yesterday. The commander is trying to keep it quiet, but something will always get out. My condolences.”

  Erynd nodded stiffly. “Thank you.” He looked around the shop. “I see you’ve expanded your stock.”

  “There was another change to the tower,” Caelith said, “Each Contender can only equip two spatial rings at a time, but most only need one. So the lucky bastards who have already gotten two or three come here to sell the excess.”

  Erynd frowned. “People are already getting multiple? Aren’t they supposed to be rare?”

  Caelith nodded. “They are rare. So far, the only way we’ve been able to get them on this floor is by killing Initiate 6 or higher beasts. And even then, it’s only a small chance. I honestly don’t know how these people are getting so many. Someone even came in with that one!” He pointed at the purple-blue bracelet in the glass case behind him. “That’s an Acolyte-tier spatial bracelet.”

  As Erynd and Caelith spoke, Winston focused on the blue bracelet.

  [Spatial Bracelet(3m x 3m x 3m) - Rare]

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  This was only the second Acolyte-tier thing that he’d seen, but he assumed that was the rank above Initiate. He didn’t know how Caelith knew it was Acolyte-tier, as it didn’t say anything in the description, but he decided to trust him anyway. Although given how Commander Thalysar had bested the Nightrender while still an Initiate 7, he didn’t know how much it actually mattered.

  After a moment of thought, he listened to Erynd and Caelith’s conversation.

  “How much for a low Initiate-tier spatial ring that can fit around Winston’s leg?” Erynd asked, gesturing at Winston.

  “30 credits, but for you, I can do 25.” Caelith smiled. “And before you start bitching about the price, you and I both know that the System Shop only sells higher tiers of spatial storage. So, unless you want to get out there and hunt for hours, I’m your only option. And it is a good deal.”

  Erynd sighed, “Fine. Can you show me the ring?”

  Caelith nodded and stepped out from behind the counter. “Why does he even need it? What even is he?”

  “I’m hoping he’ll be able to carry his own food and water, as well as whatever else he wants to carry. As for what he is, the System calls him a ‘corgi.’ I don’t know much more than that.”

  “Well, he must mean something to you if you’re willing to drop this many credits on him. What is he to you? A pet?”

  Erynd nodded. “I suppose that’s right. He’s a pet. A pet that I’ve grown rather attached to over the past days.”

  Erynd took the ring and paid. Scooping up Winston, he strode out of the tent without a second word. As they walked, he talked to Winston, “I don’t like him much. Caelith, I mean. He seems nice enough, but I’ve known him for a long time. He’s just been acting this way since we were brought to the Tower, trying to get on people’s good sides.

  “Sometimes he breaks character when he has an opportunity to profit,” Erynd sighed, scratching Winston’s chin. “Just…be careful around him. He’d sacrifice this whole camp if it benefited him.” Erynd sighed again. “What am I even doing? I don’t even know if you can understand me! I was already wandering in the dark when I came to the Tower, and now Roderic had to go and make me the leader of the party. I don’t know what to do.”

  Winston barked softly, pressing his cold nose against Erynd’s neck.

  When they arrived back at Erynd’s tent, he slipped the spatial ring onto Winston’s leg. It fit almost perfectly, more of an ankle bracelet than anything else.

  Once it was on, it felt like an extension of his body. Winston squeezed his eyes shut and focused on the ring. In his mind’s eye, he could see a small space, like an empty cardboard box. Opening his eyes, he concentrated on the ring again to bring up the description.

  [Spatial Ring(1m x 1m x 1m) - Uncommon]

  Just like with the Acolyte-tier bracelet, no description appeared. Before Winston could do any experimenting, Erynd spoke, “I know you can somewhat understand me, but I’m going to try and give you some more complex instructions.

  “To use your spatial storage, you have to focus on the item you want to put into your storage. Then, just will it in. Some items, like particularly powerful magical items or those owned by others, may resist you putting them into your storage.”

  Winston waddled over to the corner of the tent, sticking his head into Erynd’s box of arrows. With a thought, an entire bundle disappeared into his ring. Erynd’s eyes widened. “Huh. You picked up pretty quickly on that. To take items out of your storage, you have to—”

  Winston willed the arrows out of his inventory. Stubby tail wagging, he looked up at Erynd for approval.

  “Wow, good job,” Erynd said, brow furrowed. “How much can you understand me? Uhh… turn around.”

  Winston turned.

  “Lie on your back and roll.”

  Winston complied.

  Erynd frowned for a moment. “Raise one paw if you can understand me.”

  Winston raised his paw, his nub of a tail practically vibrating. Someone was finally realizing that he could understand them!

  Erynd took a breath, and for the first time since Roderic’s recent death, the sadness in his eyes was replaced with something else. What it was, Winston wasn’t sure, but anything was better than the state that Erynd had been in earlier.

  “Do you want me to tell the others you can understand?” Erynd asked. “Nod your head for yes, shake it for no.”

  Winston stopped and thought for a moment, weighing the options. He could expose himself as he had to Erynd, but he didn’t trust anyone else. In the battle against the Nightrender, Erynd had come to save him. The others had only followed to make sure Erynd didn’t die. He’d seen more than enough movies with his humans that he knew what happened when you put too much trust into people you didn’t know too well.

  Winston shook his head.

  Erynd looked disappointed for a moment before nodding. “Alright, I can do that for you. Now come here,” Erynd held out his arms, and Winston ran forwards. Using his stubby legs, he launched himself at Erynd.

  “We have a few hours before we head back out,” Erynd said while rubbing Winston’s ears. “Are you ready?”

  Winston jerked his head enthusiastically, accidentally jerking his ears out of Erynd’s hands.