Silence in the Back Alley and the Proffered Gold Coins

Three gold coins. That was the latest, and most ridiculous, price I had put on that blue stone necklace. And then, a wealthy eccentric actually showed up at my lodgings, offering to pay exactly that amount. I stood there, surrounded by the baggage I had carted in with Mio's help, leaving my broken wheel behind in the mud. I had just heard from a courier that Garon was in the warehouse, organizing old blueprints of the 'Awakening Shelf.' What on earth is he trying to do now? That question kept spinning in the back of my mind. That was when the well-dressed gentleman arrived. His leather purse was heavy and swollen with gold coins. This was the moment I had been praying for—the money to cover the advanced down payment, the repair costs for the wheel, all resolved in an instant. Yet, looking at his open palm, my blood suddenly ran cold. This is just a counterfeit. A powerless piece of pale blue glass that my 'appraisal department' sent out with false confidence. So why? 'This is, not...' I started to say, then bit my tongue in a panic. What was I about to say? That particular phrase must never, ever escape my lips as a merchant. In the end, I sent him away with a clumsy excuse about not having finished unpacking. I am just terrified. Terrified that the necklace might actually become real—or that another real thing might vanish from my hands. Four silver coins for tomorrow's lodging.