015 : Lustrous Lantern

With a groan, the front of the crate was pried open and shrugged to the floor. This was a smaller box than most, and was as tall as it was long so I had already ruled out it being a sword or spear, or anything of the like. Well, maybe it could have been a very small, fat sword, but I believe the term for that is “kitchen knife”. The wood shavings completely obscured whatever the item was, but as I cleared them away they soon revealed a thick metal ring with a leather grip. I looked to Kaufmann for approval, and with a “On with it lad,” I grabbed the metal ring and pulled up the rest of what I now saw to be a lantern. The oddest thing happened the second my hand met the cold leather – which in this profession I am sure I should be used to by this point – but the very moment I touched it, I heard a gentle fwoof (if that’s how you would spell it), and in the chamber of the lantern a violet flame had sparked to life, sending flickering shadows spilling across the floor. The lantern was very… lavish. It was a rose gold colour, with cream stripes across its body, and shining red gemstones I could only assume were rubies glistened from the purple flame. The candle held in its chamber looked off to me, and upon closer inspection it too seemed to be made from the same rose gold metal, and was probably just there for the aesthetic, the flame itself obviously being some form of enchantment. I looked to Kaufmann.

“So, what’s the gimmick? Is it just an enchanted lantern?” I assumed this wasn’t the case, as whilst a self-lighting lantern seems cool, an item of such basic level magic wouldn’t be kept in the back room. Everything in here always seems to have some sort of twist or… I don’t know. But it’s never as simple as “lantern that turns on when you hold it”.

“Enchanted it is, but not in a way you might have already figured out. Try moving it around.” I did as he said, moving the lantern around my body. I noticed that, as I moved it in a certain direction – towards the door – the light seemed to burn brighter, but moving it in any other way would dull the light to less than half its intensity. I stood up then, and tested my theory. I walked the opposite direction of the door, and saw how the purple flame shrank so small it was barely visible, grasping to the wick as if it was a piece of driftwood at open sea. Then, as I stood still, it returned to its normal level. Next, I walked towards the door, and the lantern burned so bright that the torches in the room felt obsolete. There was also something inside of me that seemed to grow. I can’t explain it. It felt like as I walked away from the door, this deep feeling of yearning and loss ached in my chest, but as I walked towards it I was almost giddy with excitement. If I didn’t have a job to do I’m sure I’d be out of the door in no time.

“It’s leading me somewhere.” I muttered. “It wants to take me to something.” I turned to Kaufmann, who had watched my whole charade, and then looked down to the lantern. The flame flickered as innocently as fire can be.

“You’re right there. This tricky little thing could have you walkin’ for months. Years, even.” He said, standing up and taking the lantern from my hand. As it transferred from my hand to his, the flame inside turned a cool blue. He studied it and I couldn’t help but notice an odd expression on his face. Sadness? Not quite. Something more bittersweet.

“Where does it lead?” I asked. Kaufmann was inspecting it for any damages, turning it over in his hands. Without looking up he answered.

“Your true love. Somehow decides it for you, finds a perfect match an’ boom. Settled.” Your true love? Well that would explain the aching in my chest I felt when I held it.

“Does it work?” Was the only question I could think to ask. Kaufmann laughed.

“Well of course it works, would be bloody upsetting if it didn’t. It’s always trying to trip you up though. I’m sure it’s helped many lovebirds find one another, but more often than no these things always ‘ave compromise. Maybe your true love is already married, or maybe it’s someone you’ve always hated. It could lead you deep into a forest, never to be seen. It could very easily lead you to a grave. But it works.” There. In his voice. It was that same sadness I had seen on his face.

“Have… Have you ever used it?” I felt like I was stepping out of line, but something compelled me to ask. He simply smiled.

“Now, Mr. Pirks, what have I told you is the first rule of enchanted items.” I sighed. I should have seen this coming.

“If it’s too good to be true, then it’s definitely cursed.”

“And if it isn’t cursed?” He asked.

“Then don’t sell it. Use it.” He nodded his head. I couldn’t help but notice how he didn’t answer my question. There was a moments silence, and then he put the lantern down, the blue light vanishing.

“So, what do you think it’s worth?” He asked me. It was a good question, selling items of the more cursed variety seemed to be harder to decide, but there was a solid no refund policy.

“50,000 gold? Probably best for some lovestruck bard.” Kaufmann nodded in agreement.

“That sounds about right to me. But remember – people will pay big money for love. Maybe start at a higher price, work down to somethin’ more… profitable.” I smiled. He was right. I placed the lantern back in its box, and covered it over with the wood shavings. Kaufmann left me to pack up, and as he left the room I couldn’t help but think about that sadness I saw. I suppose that with anything like this, a sense of melancholy is included in the price tag.