I stood before a semi-circle of trolls, arms crossed while idly tapping my foot.

    The trolls simply blinked at me.

    An imposing wall of towering silhouettes, black iron and glossy clubs.

    Normally, this was a sight numbed by the smiles of opportunism behind the thick helmets. But this time, they offered something better–the same shade of blank stare as each and every troll realised at last the futility of testing an adversary they couldn’t defeat.

    A princess.

    A clockwork doll.

    And also a cat.

    “Mreow.”

    The feline in question idly groomed itself while being lifted up by Coppelia.

    A pearl necklace rested against its black coat of fur. And although its lustre was less than that of every other trinket gleaming from a carriage window, its worth was greater than everything present.

    After all, it was currently in my hands … via Coppelia.

    “So?” I said simply. “Do you have an offer? … Because as dependable as my loyal handmaiden is, even her arms must tire. It’d be awful if such an agile and nimble creature were to suddenly escape with a coincidental cough into the depths of Wirtzhaven’s docks and alleyways.”

    The trolls didn’t convene.

    Instead, they simply scratched their backs before their designated representative gave a rehearsed cough.

    The obvious lack of panic suggested they were already expecting me to accept new offers for their missing necklace. A deeply insulting inference regarding my trustworthiness.

    I was a princess. And that meant I could always be expected to improve upon any arrangement I made.

    “My apologies, madame,” said the designated troll. “But the arrangement was without ambiguity. The Seeing Stone offered upon the return of our missing merchandise. While I do see you’ve also apprehended the perpetrator responsible for the theft, I’m unable to offer an improved reward.”

    “Oh? And yet I was also informed that no danger would present itself during this ordeal.”

    “The cat is no danger. It is a common household pet.”

    A yawn promptly sounded from the direction of the cat.

    “A droll observation,” said the cat, speaking with the candour of an aristocratic lady already bored with watching her 2nd son embarrass himself before me. “I am the darkness your nightmares flee from, troll. Be glad I choose to humour myself in the clockwork doll’s hands.”

    The troll blinked.

    A moment of silence followed. Yet instead of breaking out into rapturous and highly mistaken applause like a gathering of adventurers had, he immediately brought out a collapsible telescope, leaning forwards even as he peered through it.

    “A familiar,” he said, betraying only the slightest frown. “... This was unexpected.”

    I let out a maidenly gasp.

    “A familiar! Why, you sent me out against a deadly magical creature! That is unacceptable. Not only did you put me in grievous harm’s way, but you did so after assuring me I could let my guard down! I could have been murdered!”

    The cat, a barely restrained predator of the wilds, lazily pawed at a passing butterfly.

    It missed.

    “My express apologies for the misunderstanding,” said the troll, his miniature telescope disappearing with the same ease as every coin they garnered. “However, a familiar in the shape of a cat is still broadly a cat. The danger posed is minimal.”

    “Hm?” I placed a hand to my ear. “What’s that? Is it no danger or minimal danger now?”

    “The assessment has not changed. A familiar, although a summoned being, possesses little which could harm you. Its claws are no sharper than that of a regular cat.”

    “This is neither a regular cat or familiar. That it’s able to is proof that it’s more than a wisp. This creature, no, this avatar of darkness may very well hold exceptional powers.”

    “There is no could about it,” said the cat with a flick of its tail. “I am the silence which stalks the night and cows the sun. You peer upon me by my grace, lest I offer shadow and doom instead.”

    “You see? The cat is offering shadow and doom. Words that only the most diabolical have the right to utter. That is horrific. See how my loyal handmaiden trembles just to barely hold it.”

    I immediately stared at Coppelia, subtly nodding multiple times.

    She looked down at the creature making no effort to move.

    And then–

    “Ahhh~” she said, in the same manner as a child feeding a fruit slime.

    My hands covered my mouth.

    “Why, my loyal handmaiden is so beset with unease that she forgets how to even elicit a horrified scream! … This demands further compensation!”

    “Madame, this is–”

    “Exactly. This is time to make up for arrears. Had I known it was such a threat, I would have charged more. I demand you table a new offer in light of the withholding of pertinent information and the damages incurred to Coppelia’s mental wellbeing.”

    The troll before me gave the closest thing to a sigh.

    His shoulders drooped slightly, doubtless torn between arguing and accepting.

    “Madame, although the ability to openly converse is rare for a familiar, it is not unheard of. Moreover, as it has taken enthusiastically to its role as a cat, I believe it is open to hyperbole. There is a low chance of likelihood it possesses the means to drown the world in shadow and doom.”

    I leaned forwards slightly.

    “… Are you willing to offer a guarantee to that?”

    The troll made no response. It was the clearest answer yet.

    “My thoughts exactly. The cat has already proven itself adaptable. It can evade the many spells which cover your carriages. Who knows what else it can do?”

    “With all due respect, it is my understanding that the magical nature of the cat is a minor issue.”

    “Well, then I suppose that trolls are more diligent with numbers than words. A curious thing when so much effort is made on bolstering your reputation. After all, if you cannot distinguish a magical cat from a regular one, then how are we to know if the tiaras you sell are close to being as storied as you claim?”

    A pause met my words.

    Then, the trolls quickly came together in a huddle.

    They scratched their backs, nodded and murmured, the words so faint that I could scarcely make out the stoic acceptance.

    “... We have come to an agreement,” said the troll a moment later. “As a professional courtesy to the madame for any inconvenience suffered, we believe it is appropriate that an additional gold reward be offered alongside the aforementioned Seeing Stone.”

    I clapped my hands together in delight.

    “Excellent! How much?”

    “5 gold crowns.”

    I nodded, waiting for the extra digits.

    They never came.

    “Absolutely not!” I said, utterly appalled at the offer they’d shortly be improving. “What am I supposed to do with that? … Why, that’s not even enough to bribe a magpie!”

    “Very well. And how much does the madame believe is suitable as an additional reward?”

    “500,000,0002 … but I’m willing to meet you halfway at 400,000,0002.”

    The troll raised his head and looked up at the sky.

    I had no idea why. His gold wasn’t kept there.

    “If it pleases the madame, we can offer an additional artifact to the one already promised.”

    I gave it a moment’s thought.

    It wasn’t quite what I expected to test the bottomless pouch … but it would do!

    “Acceptable. I shall take the gleaming tiara I’m not looking at, then.”

    “The Tiara of the Last Dawn is not currently available, but I can offer something else instead.”

    “I see? … And which would that be? The hourglass? The veil, perhaps?”

    “A spoon which is always level no matter how lightly you scoop the contents of a bowl. It makes consuming food slightly more efficient.”

    I instantly felt Coppelia tugging on my sleeve.

    Somewhat alarmingly, she was nodding so fast that both her smile and the stars glowing in her turquoise eyes were simply a blend of colours.

    "… Fine. Give me the spoon.”

    “An excellent choice, madame.”

    Not a single moment was permitted to mourn my choice. Two trolls came forwards, each with a cushion bearing two highly unique artifacts … neither of which I knew would actually be useful.

    They stood and waited as the troll offered his gauntleted palms. Coppelia duly obliged, neatly depositing the embodiment of doom and shadow complete with a pearl necklace.

    And that was that.

    “Thank you, gentlemen,” I said, smiling as I accepted my rewards. “This was a most enlightening experience.”

    “As it was for us. May your new acquisitions serve you well. Please note, however, that we do not accept returns for any reason.”

    I pretended not to hear it.

    Instead, I offered a farewell with a sweep of my hair … then made my way towards the nearest alley where the peddling of trolls couldn’t disturb me.

    I was almost successful.

    As we passed one Wirtzhaven’s infinite bars, a muffled cry of despair sounded behind us, drowning out even the whistling of a satisfied clockwork doll.

    A few moments later, a bundle of black hopped gracefully atop a barrel, its jade eyes more than a match for its pearl necklace, and its smooth fur far too sleek for any troll to handle.

    I offered a smile.

    “Thank you for your assistance. Your words were truly ominous.”

    “As they should be,” said the cat. “I spoke nothing but the truth. The light of day exists only because I permit it to fall upon me.”

    Coppelia giggled as she studied her spoon.

    “Mmh~ I bet this is what every cat sounds like if they could talk.”

    “You are mistaken, clockwork doll. Most are contemptuous towards the thought of dignity. They are enamoured with the smallest glitter. The spoon you hold would seem like a scepter, to say nothing of the strange bauble you received. A dark thing, indeed, but nothing compared to my own fur.”

    I nodded as I raised the Seeing Stone.

    “Then let’s allow it to brighten,” I said, expertly giving the thing a shake while hoping it didn’t explode. “You. Orb. Thing. Please show me what sordid thing Miss Lainsfont is now doing so I can know whether or not to turn around.”

    I waited.

    Nothing happened. The orb remained dark and silent.

    There wasn’t even my own reflection, let alone a woman in scandalous attire.

    I wrinkled my nose.

    Trolls.

    However, just as I consigned myself to querying a receptionist instead and using this pebble as punting practice, the first signs of colour began to show itself. sea??h thё N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Like paint washing away from a palette, a faint image of a pearly blue sky appeared.

    Beneath it was a golden telescope pointing towards the stars. And also white walls casting a shadow over fields filled with bent backs as weeping squires diligently watered the grass to ensure it remained sparkling at all times.

    My mouth widened at the familiar sight.

    “Huh,” said Coppelia, leaning in to study the hazy image. “That can’t be right. Not enough fire. Do you want to go back and see if you can return the orb for anything–”

    I hopped on the spot.

    “H-How wondrous!!!!”