A Zombie's Path to Power

"Don't tell me you haven't got any money?" Asked Gryphon his relaxed smile still playing on his face. Underneath it though, Azel could tell that the old man wasn't smiling at all.

"It's not that I haven't got any money, per se, just that I haven't got any money on me..." Said Azel slowly, feeling out for a reaction from the shopkeeper.

Gryphon didn't say anything but his silence spoke volumes, and Azel felt more and more uncomfortable by the minute. How curious... Azel didn't know he could feel awkward over a social situation.

"Of course, I'm sure that Colwyn is more than happy to pay in my stead when he returns..?" Continued Azel tentatively, before realising he was falling back into the habit of talking like an old man.

Once again Gryphon didn't say anything, further unnerving Azel. How could Azel, with just a few days worth of social experience, explain to this old man (who was apparently mourning his grand-daughter) that he wasn't paying for hand made magic goods.

Azel didn't exactly "feel" like everyone else -probably a result of rising from the dead- but he was sure that this wouldn't be a good first impression on the eccentric shopkeeper.

What kind of professional merchant unloads trauma on a customer anyway? Azel wasn't a therapist, he didn't even fully grasp his own emotions... and yet the old man talked about his granddaughter with such a sad tone to him all the same.

Yes that's right, it wasn't purely Azel's fault in this exchange, Gryphon was being incredibly unprofessional! To think Colwyn was singing this guy's praises earlier, the knight should really think twice before calling someone "The most persuasive guy I know".

And then the penny dropped. This old guy was good, really good. It was just a hunch, but being from the way Colwyn said he could "sell water to a fish," made Azel think that perhaps this merchant was a bit of a con man.

He might not even have a granddaughter at all, it was just a way to get Azel to relate and feel closer to him.

He knew that Azel didn't have any money, after all Azel was just a newly awakened undead, what could he possible pay with?

Yet Gryphon didn't object to Colwyn and Lyra leaving, despite the two of them being the "wallet" of the cohort. So the old man wanted something else... But what?

A few possibilities flew into Azel's mind; labour, favours... Maybe even ingredients if Gryphon was running low. But he couldn't quite figure it out from the shop keeps unchanging gaze.

'Damn it,' thought Azel, he was under the impression that Gryphon was like- well, a Griffin. Wise, calm and endearing. Apparently he was more of a greedy fox!

"Well, If you're short on notes then I suppose we can work something out..." Said Gryphon with a rather exaggerated sigh as if he had to part with his dominant hand.

The old man pretended to think for a moment, tapping his head as if he was trying to kickstart his brain.

After a seemingly eternal moment of contemplation, Gryphon spoke. "I suppose there is something you could do for me," he said, his voice carrying a hint of reluctance. "A small task, really. Consider it a trade—your services for the lenses."

Azel narrowed his eyes, trying to gauge the shopkeeper's intentions. "What kind of task?"

Gryphon leaned in slightly, his sharp blue eyes gleaming with a mixture of cunning and sincerity. "You see, there's a rare herb I need for some of my more... delicate enchantments. It's called Dragon's Breath. Grows deep in the mountains, in a place most folks avoid."

Noticing Azel's wariness Gryphon confirmed, "Ah, despite its name the herb has nothing to do with actual dragons..."

While that was a subtle concern of Azel's, the zombie was more worried at what Gryphon said at the end of his request.

"A place most avoid?" re-quoted Azel.

"There is a particular type of beast that enjoys the herbs smell, nothing to scary really, you should be fine."

Azel was silent for a moment before stating, "I'll have to settle into the city before I take on any requests."

He made sure to say it in a way that implied there was no room for argument, as if he had some kind of urgent errand to attend to, of course there was no such thing. But Azel need to gain some kind of control in the deal.

And then the second penny dropped, Azel was being rushed into a decision. Gryphon was trying to make the agreement before Colwyn returned with well money.

The shop keep was more desperate for this herb than he was willing to let on, and he needed Azel to agree before an alternative option opened up for him.

Once again Azel's brain was firing out explanations. Either the 'dragon's breath' was dangerous to procure, and hence Gryphon couldn't hire someone to get it. Or it was illegal, And the old fox couldn't get it through usual means.

'Damn it!' thought Azel, again. He hadn't had to do this much thinking yet. Even when he was learning mana manipulation it felt less like discovery and more like his body was remembering how to do it.

This was a completely different part of the brain that was being worked and Azel was struggling to keep it up.

"That's fine," affirmed Gryphon, "You can keep the lenses for a few weeks, just make sure you get me the herb before the start of the next season."

As the Gryphon spoke he pulled a document from under the counter. "Sign here if you will, Just a simple mana contract."

Looking over the contract Azel noticed an error from the shrewd old man. The requirements for the deal to be completed was for Azel to "supply the dragon breath herb", meaning that there was room for movement.

Unless the definition had changed since Azel had woken up, supply meant to make something available, not to give.

Even if the definition had shifted slightly it didn't matter, mana contracts worked off of ones intentions- If Azel thought that he had fulfilled the requirements then there would be no backlash on his soul.

Gryphon didn't know that Azel was aware of his desperation, nor the error in his contract. Giving the zombie room for negotiation afterwards...

Azel just had to actually get the herb first.