Affinity

The trade is complete, hands have been shaken and good are about to be exchanged.

George the jeweler places the marbles back in the box then gets up and says.

''Please wait for a moment i need to retrieve your payment, it will just be a moment''. He leaves through the door, and I can't help but jump and flail my arms a bit in happiness, i just conned a man and I couldn't be happier.

Before he returns I sit back down and try to look proper. Now that i think about it he has to give me 2600 coins, how would i even carry that much, if he brings a big chest full of coins how would i even hide it, the town is full of thugs, and no amount of guards will save me from getting robbed.

Will my plan fail just like that, I feel like an idiot. Oh well what comes around goes around i guess, i lie and steal, make a fortune doing that, then karma comes and slaps me right back.

As is was slowly falling into depression George return carrying a small wooden box, he then places it in front of me and takes off the lid, in it there are three stack of beautiful golden coins with pulsing green veins going through them, they are at least twice as big as normal coins and give off a strange minty smell.

As i stare at them in wonder George takes a seat next to me and grabs one of the coins.''Here you go, 26 enchanted coins, i will remove the mana signature right away then you are free to mark them''

No idea what he is talking about, so I keep staring this time at him and with even more confusion obvious in my eyes. George seems to notice it and asks me.

''Have you never seen an enchanted coin, mister Caspian?'' I nod.

''I see, they are quite rare after all, lets me explain how they work, each enchanted coin is worth 100 normal coins, they are mostly used by merchants so most people never get to see one.'' He stops to think for a moment then shakes the hand that was carrying the coin.

''They are called enchanted coins because of the magic used on them, you see, the coins absorb the owners magic so they can never be stolen, even if stolen they can never be used as only the owner can remove the magic signature on them, it goes something like this''

He then pushes his thumb on the shining coin and the green veins that were running through it seem to return to his finger making it shine briefly in the same green color.

''Go ahead and mark this one'' He gives me the now normal looking golden coin, it has a strange texture almost too rough for how shiny and polished it looks.

Problem is i don't know what to do, never used magic, i don't even know if i can use it, imagine if i am magically inept so i can never use these coins, how ironic would that be.

I finally open my mouth and say. ''How exactly does one mark a coin mister George, my magical abilities are meager at best you see''.

''Just push some magic into the coin, it will do the rest on its own, you know how it works, focus on it for a while and it should happen, it truly is a peculiar experience feeling your magic mark an item''

Man, George you're not really helping, stop looking at me with a nostalgic smile and actually explain.

We might as well try, so I put the coin in the palm of my hand and close my fist. Nothing happens so I close my eyes and just focus on the sensation of the coin sitting in my palm, still nothing.

I've been at it for several minutes now and Geroge just sits looking at me in silence. The stare doesn't make it easier, so this time i try focusing on the rough texture of the coin, it truly is peculiar how odd the sensation is.

As I think that I suddenly feel a strange sensation, the best way of explaining it is the need to burp, it feels as if I just ate a good meal, drank a few glasses of a fizzy drink and really need to let out a big one.

And so i just do, not burp, obviously, but let it out, I can't feel anything travel through me or anything like that, it just feels nice, refreshing even.

I open my eyes and stare at the now shining coin, it is not green surprisingly, but a deep purple, the pattern isn't the same either, while the green one was veiny as if covered by three roots, the purple one has a pattern similar to throwing a rock in still water, rippling, it is also constantly moving, truly spectacular.

George disrupts me with surprise 'Ooooooo'.

While looking at him I ask. ''What is wrong mister George, i did it properly, at least i think so''.

George then shakes his head and says. ''It is a perfect mark mister Caspian, i was only surprised by your affinity, conjurers are very rare you see, especially the ones that choose to be merchants, my affinity is the common nature related so unless i join the druidic path it is useless''

''Does the color of the coin represent the affinity of the user?''

''Indeed it does, green for nature, red for fire, blue for water, purple for conjuring, white for enchanting and the list goes on'' Great, it seems i can use magic, this requires a visit to the library, again.

''I see, forgive my lack of knowledge sir George, i never knew my affinity nor interacted with such items before''.

''Do not worry, it is understandable, unless one aims for the path of magic knowing one's affinity is useless, now enough of the meaningless chatter, let us mark the coins and be on our way''.

And so we did, George unmarked a coin then passed it to me, it was a lot easier to mark them this time, just had to let the magic slash burp out and the coin will just grab it on its own.

After we were done we left George's office with him walking behind me until we reached the front door. We stop right next to it and shake hands one last time before we part.

With the three armed bodyguards looking at me I say. ''It has been a pleasure doing business with you mister George, i hope it has been as fruitful for you as it has for me, have a good day''.

''Of course mister Season, it has indeed been a pleasure, may we meet again''

And so I am 26 enchanted coin richers, judging by the sun's position I have a few hours before dark, might as well head to the library and figure out what this conjuring affinity actually is.