That’s just my luck!

The Tales of The Seekers is a collection of short stories set in The Seekers universe. Feel free to comment so I can improve them. If you want to learn more, please do read my published books in the same universe: The Seekers: Soul-Ties, Kirin, and Perrin Peters. And if you don’t want to buy my books but still want to support me, I’m on Patreon. And if you prefer one-time payments, you can Buy Me A Pizza or a Coffee.

Carved into the crystal of the Big Market, lit by the lanterns with burning bugs, the aparitors’ office was now home for Kana. A place she wouldn’t trade for any sack of gold coins.

It was one of the first bureaus of the Union before the name of her profession even existed. She remembered how three small Igni villages decided to work together. How this very room was first furnished and filled with people. How the number of the Union members increased to five, and then the Juxinso tribe got wiped out by the Pinna. After that tragedy, military strength became significantly more important for the Union, so finding suitable new members became more difficult.

Kana sighed. The Lands were so different back then, more than two hundred years ago. And yet, she still loved this job, unlike most Igni who could not do the same thing for more than half a century.

Sitting at her desk, she met all sorts of travelers, merchants, and scholars, and tried to help each and every one. Her colleagues at their desks did the same, spreading the fame and power of the Union to all species, not just to the Igni. Exchanging coins, translating, making maps and books, collecting taxes, providing troops and transportation, giving loans — the Union was doing more each year, providing for the increasing number of its members.

The first client of the day wanted to rent ten wagons. Instead of simply taking her money, Kana checked the calculations, and they both decided that nine would surely suffice.

The second client was a tribe mistress. Having come to the Big Market for some books at the House of Stories, she visited the aparitors to ask about the process of joining the Union.

However, it was the third client who caught Kana’s attention. Looking exhausted and angry, with her tail swinging wildly, she barged in, hitting the door against the wall, and went straight towards Kana.

“What—”

“Oh, that’s just my luck!” the client uttered. “I’m here to get my insurance, and fast!”

“What happened?”

The burning red eyes widened. “What happened? What happened? Those imbecile miners dropped a huge chunk of the crystal on my stall!“

Yeah, it made sense. Even though the lower levels of the giant crystal of the Big Market were now hosting shops, inns, and offices like the aparitors’, the upper levels were still mined. Kana imagined a chunk of the colorful crystal chip falling off right onto the stall, crushing it and showering everything around it with debris.

“Oh, that sounds terrible! You’re so lucky you’re not hurt.” Kana used her nicest voice and the gentlest expression.

“Lucky my ass!” the client roared. “My whole business is ruined! And those fools tried to grab my stuff and kept bothering me with their oh-so-comforting words. Now shut up and give me my money!”

Smiling and reminding herself that the newcomer probably wouldn’t act this way in a normal situation, Kana verified the client’s identity, found the recordings of the insurance, and counted the golden and silver coins.

“Here you go.” She handed them over. “I hope you’ll rebuild soon and without issues.”

The Igni’s face contorted from a mix of rage and fear. “You wanna jinx me, is that it?”

Having uttered that, she stormed off.

Every aparitor watched her leave, then turned their heads to look at Kana, who wanted the Demon Lord to take her. Being the center of attention could be nice, but not of this kind!

The next hour proved uneventful, so everyone enjoyed their lunch.

As the last piece of fire lizard meat was eaten, the door squeaked, letting in a green-skinned Igni.

“Hello,” she said to all of them, smiling, and went straight to Kana.

“What can I do for you?” was my response.

“My name’s Nayon. I want to claim my insurance. Here’s my dixa.”

“Insurance?” Kana asked, taking the metal plate with the stamped signature. “What happened?”

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe!” Nayon’s yellow eyes widened. “Some miners dropped a chunk of the Market onto us. Oh, we were so lucky. No one was hurt, as far as I know. And so many people ran forward to help me clean up, assess the damage, gather the surviving goods, and more. Then, they bought me lunch, acquainted me with some carpenters who promised to rebuild my stall by tomorrow.”

“Oh…” Kana trailed off, forgetting what steps she’d done and what was left to do.

“Yes!” Nayon’s cheeriness was infectious. “I made so many friends and clients today! Oh, I’m so lucky.”

Having received her money, the green-skinned merchant was gone, but not before waving goodbye to the aparitors. And not before giving them her address and receiving promises to visit.

The End

Anton Anderson, 2025

This story was inspired by The Geologic Podcast episode #921.

If you want to visit and experience the Big Market, talk to Kana, and even soak in a bath house, check out my fantasy novel, The Seekers: Soul Ties, specifically the second part of the book called “A trophy, a find, a reward.”