Regroup, Reuse, Recycle - Chapter 4

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I swallowed, fingers brushing over my bag, which carried my book. It was full of my thoughts and notes on this world; might as well come clean. The others in the room’s eyes stayed attentive on me. I let out a deep breath before answering, admitting softly. “I kept…seeing it. The crab. Not just any crab, but this one.” I gestured to the crab perched proudly on the table, its jeweled shell glinting. “It felt like it was calling me. So, when I finally saw it at the shore, I followed. That’s how I found the cave…and how I found him.” The boy’s chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, ears twitching faintly like before as if he was listening.

Father nodded slowly, catching my words. “And in this cave, you said your ability awakened. Right?” I nodded firmly, “Yes.” I whispered, heart hammering. “At first, it was just a flicker. I could see what was in certain things, what made something what it was. But then, hints began to appear, telling me different things…none of it made sense. Until I held the crab, that’s when I pushed harder, wanting to help the boy. At that point, it’d opened fully, giving me information I couldn’t even imagine to be possible…it was like—”

“An Appraisal, huh?” Father spoke. His eyes tensed as he cut into my words. But he was correct. I firmly nodded in response. Gil leaned forward, genuinely surprised. “Appraisal? From a child?” Luisa stiffened, grabbing her arm as she looked over me. Father leaned back on the countertop once more, muttering under his breath. “Of course. That’d explain the symbols. It’d explain the strain on your eyes as well.” His gaze snapped back to me, searching. “Do you understand what you’re saying, Chloe? That ability alone is worth more than half the merchant guilds’ coffers. Appraisers aren’t born to common-folk families. They’re bought. Claimed. Fought over.”

“Maybe…just maybe you could do something of the sort. To avoid such a fate…though it’d be quite troublesome with no sort of training…” He pondered with his fingers on his chin. It was as if he’d considered something for but a quick moment.

I bit my lip, thinking of my past life, the best I could. Rows of products, numbers, margins, customers. Always evaluating, always adjusting. It made complete sense. Was this why the Keeper of the Pond warned me about my path? It’s practically perfect for this type of deal, but hearing the dangers definitely makes its warnings more apparent. I shivered at the thought. Father watched before my mother slammed the cloth down on the bench, her voice sharp. “No.”

The word echoed like many of hers before. Final. She stood tall, fury burning in her eyes. “Merchant work isn’t some game! It’s endless travel, strain, and constant danger no matter where you set foot. You know that her health can’t withstand it! You’d push her into a life that’d only break her body with each new town? Are you mad?” Her nostrils flared with her words. Father closed his eyes, considering her feelings. “I’m not saying it should happen…but the truth is plain. She’s blessed with a gift that suits the life of a Merchant more than any other. What type of merchant—no, what type of Father would I be to deny her such an option? Freedom from the chapel’s word, and the ability to see the world as she wants? As much as we’ve worried, she’s done well to fix up.”

Mother’s words cut through the air once more, “But she’s just a child! What aren’t you getting?” She’d walked over and grabbed my father by his shirt collar, frustrated with his words. “She could barely walk just over a month ago. What makes you think she can handle such a thing? Are you seriously going to consider—” her words stopped, as the soft scrape of the boy’s bare feet hit the wooden floorboards.

The boy, thin and battered, shifted in his seat before pushing himself up enough to bow his head toward me. His messy hair shadowed his face, but the intent was clear. It was something like a vow, a pledge rather. My face flushed, embarrassment and disbelief tangled within my chest seeing such a declaration. Was he declaring loyalty…why would he do such a thing? To me, of all people!? I felt my cheeks burn, thankfully under low lights. “W–wait a second, I didn’t ask for—” The crab suddenly clicked its claw sharply, almost as if agreeing with him, then scuttled across the table to perch itself directly in front of me. The room fell quiet once more.

Father studied the boy’s bent form, the crab’s unwavering stance, and me, red-faced as the snapper we ate before. Flustered, yet resolute. His brows knit together as the possibilities began to stir in his mind. “So, not only an ability, but allies as well. A boy who seems intent on serving you, and a creature related to something divine…” Luisa let out a breath, somewhere between disbelief and awe. “This is rather…unexpected.”

Mother covered her mouth with her hand, torn between relief that Chloe wasn’t alone. But the dread of such attention bothered her, and her thoughts of what it could mean for her daughter. I didn’t know how to feel about all of these things. Should I cry? Should I laugh…what should I do? Mother’s voice rose again, sharper now, her hands twisting the edges of her sleeves. “You’re all speaking as though this is something to celebrate. Have you forgotten she nearly wasted away this past fall? Do you think a child with her condition can shoulder the burden of a merchant’s life? You used to return home, tired, beaten, and bruised sometimes! What would happen to her? Do you think a child with her condition can shoulder the burden of a merchant’s life? It will kill her before she even gets the chance to grow!” Her words struck me like stones, and though I knew they came from love, they weighed heavily on my consciousness.

Worry filled me, thinking of the possibility of if she was right. What would become of me? What’d happen if things didn’t work out? What if this family lost their daughter on a whimful dream? I couldn’t help but feel conflicted at the statement, but Luisa stepped in, her tone steady. But her eyes filled with the same worry as Mother’s. “Mother…I don’t think we can ignore this. Chloe isn’t like the other children who run around here anymore. If we hide her gift, the chapel will decide her fate when the ceremony comes—and she’ll have no say at all. At least if Papa teaches her in secret, she can be ready. She can have a choice in the matter.”

Gil crossed his arms, glancing at the boy who had his head bowed to me, “And the kid proved he can fight. I mean, he protected her against an oversized Brineclaw Crab in the cave…he was barely standing, but he still managed to protect her on his own skill alone. If nothing else, he could be trained. If Chloe’s going to step onto a path this dangerous, she’ll need someone like him by her side.” Father gave a small nod; his expression settled into that of a man with a plan. “Then it’s decided. I’ll guide Chloe’s ability quietly, away from the chapel’s eyes. Gil, you’ll teach the boy how to fight properly. Luisa, you’ll prepare Chloe with studies, writing, and learning about the wider world. You’re going to be a teacher after all, so it’s time to use your skills to help your sister however you can. A merchant who can’t recognize the world’s treasures is no merchant at all.”

His eyes glanced to me, his gaze softened. “And Chloe…you will use that book I gave you. Everything you see, everything you learn…write it down. It’ll be your greatest tool in the world of merchantry.”