Scarlet instinctively tightened her grip on the Wildfire Spear, but Dustin lightly pressed her wrist, signaling her not to act rashly.

Elowen stepped toward the stall. Without even sparing the burly vendor a glance, she tossed down a pouch of celestial stones and reached for the sword.

"Hold it!"

A voice cut through the air.

Another man stepped out from the crowd. He appeared to be in his early 30s, wearing a blue-violet robe, and had a cold, predatory look on his face. Faint arcs of lightni