Nine times out of ten, it was Sigurd who knocked on his door. When he opened the door, his assumption was confirmed.
"What's wrong?" Rowe asked.
Sigurd said with great interest, "There's a traveling merchant at the camp. Let's go check it out."
Rowe was a little puzzled. "Traveling merchant?"
Sigurd explained, "The merchants from Vanaheim often pass by here, selling goods to us while also seeking protection from the camp guards so they can take a shortcut through the forest."
Rowe thought for a moment and then nodded. "Alright, let's go have a look."
The two of them went downstairs together, and as soon as they stepped outside, they saw a large group of people gathered in the camp. It was indeed a trade caravan.
The caravan had at least a hundred people, with several carts laden with goods. The carts weren't pulled by horses or oxen but by massive green-skinned beasts.
These creatures had heads resembling rhinoceroses, with thick and sharp singular horns. Their bodies, however, were more akin to gorillas, with robust limbs and a semi-erect posture. Unlike gorillas, though, they had smooth, hairless skin.
Each beast had its nose pierced with a chain held by a handler.
"What kind of beasts are those?" Rowe asked.
"Swamp Behemoths, native to Vanaheim," Sigurd explained. "They're incredibly strong and can swim through water, making them useful for pulling both carts and boats. Don't underestimate them, though. If they get out of control, they can be very dangerous."
As they approached, they saw a middle-aged man with black hair, slightly overweight, speaking loudly and laughing boisterously with the soldiers.
"…Hahaha, I've been through a hundred battles and seen plenty in my time."
"You said you've been to Rhea. Have you seen the Kronans?" one soldier asked.
"Of course, more than once," the merchant replied.
"Are they really made of stone?"
"Absolutely. Sometimes, bits of rock fall off them, just like dandruff."
"Do Kronans bleed?" another soldier asked.
The merchant pondered. "I'm not sure. I don't think so." Then, he added, "There are actually some Kronans in Vanaheim, though not many."
"Really?"
"I think so. Didn't Captain Heimdall mention it?" another soldier interjected.
While some soldiers chatted with the merchant, others gathered around the wagons, talking with the caravan workers and browsing goods.
Aside from the Vanir Gods, Vanaheim was home to the Vanir people. The Vanir were subordinates of the Vanir Gods, resembling standard humans in appearance but weaker in strength. They specialized in trade and craftsmanship.
The caravan consisted of both Vanir Gods and Vanir mortals. The few Gods present served as overseers and managed the Swamp Behemoths, while the mortals handled the daily tasks.
Rowe and Sigurd approached a young Vanir attendant, who immediately bowed. "Honorable Aesir, how may I assist you?"
"I want to buy something. What do you have?" Rowe asked.
The Vanir handed over a booklet. "This is our inventory list."
Rowe browsed through it. Most of the items were textiles, spices, fine wines, and luxury goods, none of which particularly interested him. However, he noticed a section dedicated to medicinal herbs, many of which he had never seen before.
Sigurd, also a healer, was intrigued. He examined the list and smiled. "Riya white algae? I'll take two portions."
"Understood," the Vanir said.
Rowe considered his options and then pointed at the list. "I'll take these two, those four, and that one. Three of each."
"Certainly!"
Rowe then added, "Some of these herbs I need to inspect first before purchasing. Can I take a look at them?"
"Of course," the Vanir said. "However, we've just arrived and haven't unloaded yet. It may take some time."
Rowe nodded and continued scanning the list. Suddenly, something caught his eye. "What is this 'Lightning Mead'?"
"It's a mead brewed with Thunderfruit. Its taste is quite unique, and only the Gods can handle it. Would you like to try some?" the Vanir replied.
"Thunderfruit?" Sigurd was surprised. "You mean the fruit from the Valley of Thunder?"
The Valley of Thunder was a mysterious region in Vanaheim, constantly bombarded by thunderstorms. Most creatures couldn't survive there, but some unique flora thrived. One such plant was the Thunder Tree, which bore the legendary Thunderfruit.
"No," the Vanir corrected. "The Thunderfruit from the Valley of Thunder is used for forging weapons, not brewing. The fruit used for this mead was cultivated elsewhere and is much less volatile."
Rowe thought of the ingredients required for the Talent Mixture. One of them, the Lightning Core, was described as an unstable plant imbued with electrical energy. The properties of Thunderfruit seemed similar. Perhaps it could serve as a substitute?
However, as the saying went, "southern oranges turn into northern bitter oranges." Even if Thunderfruit could replace the Lightning Core, it would likely need to be the original kind from the Valley of Thunder, not the milder cultivated variant.
"I'll take a bottle of Lightning Mead," he said.
The mead wasn't expensive, and Rowe was curious about its properties.
Meanwhile, several Vanir workers unloaded crates filled with various medicinal herbs. Rowe and Sigurd moved closer to examine them.
Using his Holy Book, Rowe identified each herb one by one, a process that took considerable time.
To maintain goodwill with the merchants, he bought a few extra herbs to avoid appearing overly selective.
Finally, after much searching, Rowe found a plant called "Blood Sac Fern." To his surprise, it had an 85% compatibility rate with Heather, a crucial alchemical ingredient.
The discovery excited him—it meant he was one step closer to perfecting his craft.