Year 1512 Epoch III
Merchai Palais St. of the megapolis city of Forte, Nike Empire
Jack James Williams was a young man who sold watches.
Not the shiny type, nor the expensive type. Some days they were bronze, others intricate silver crafted by his rough hands clothed in lazuli blue.
Carved of tarnished brass or the oddest gold, a prince would never seek him out but once discovered a smile would find a certain nobles face easily.
Mr. Williams designs were of simplicity, unless personally requested. Sometimes even made with bone, or the occasional shell from the drift of the Flavus River.
Mr. Williams kept such beautiful shells he deemed worthy in a simple wooden box on one of the many shelves in his workspace besides a package of dried lavender and moonstones.
Never on the watchmakers shelves were items you did not need.
Mr. Williams called himself a mere traveling merchant. But he never refused the title of the clockmaker, nor someone who had everything you needed to survive, even if it wasn't what you desired.
People mostly believed it, when seeing young Mr. Williams with a gentlemanly look, dressed in a black fine hooded cloak and a homely fitting tunic setting up his wares for the day, one could not help but become entranced by the glimmering jewelry.
With a practiced grin and firm hands, speaking in riddles easy to understand, customers loved the boys noble personality.
Hence no one asked him about the pale scar slashing his bronze neck. No one asked when they often caught him staring into space absently because they thought he understood the times they did not.
Despite him being younger than the majority, he played his part well.
So today was no different, when Jack arrived early in the morning to set up his stall under the blinding light of the cerulean sun, in one of the most busiest business cities of all, St. Forte of the Empire Nike, he held a relaxed smile and moved easily. Thief's already were wary of his easiness.
Because once the drifting voices and bubbling laughter filled his ears, the smile of an excited child that reminded him of his younger sister, or a young lady picking out a set of bracelets for herself with barely enough money to afford dinner came in, Jack brought a grin on his face and forgot his own worries, taking others in the process. The stranger would giggle at his odd joke, the young child would laugh when he showed a simple coin trick and the stone cold tycoon merchant even cracked a faint smirk when Jack said something sly with offering a discount.
Today, was no different to the beginning. The ending? Quite the opposite.
"Excuse me, Mister, I'm looking for a golden watch please." A shorter, young girl who was just short of being past 15 in a flowing azure dress with frills and matching lace gloves had greeted him, nervously but politely.
In the land of mythical creatures, strange magic and gods worshipped one could never be too sure about a mysterious watch maker. Neither could one be sure they would not have been robbed on the street here, for a lady of her stature Jack was sure she came with a bodyguard somewhere.
He hastened a kind smile, ready to greet his first customer.
"Of course, Miss. Is it for anyone in particular?" Jack asked simply, pulling the golden painted knob of detailed draw under his counter and partial work desk out. He scanned the items. One gold watch which was simple, thin brown hands ready to tick precisely with numbers reading easily. Another, more complex and sophisticated, but a darker gold, and its pattern was focused on swirls, the numbers were like handwriting of those in Nike and the Kalorean language of the North had mixed. Perhaps not that one…Jack thought.
He grabbed the first watch with trust, not bothering with the rest.
"It is for my fathers birthday, sir. Pardon me… I've heard you were a skilled craftsman. Is it true you can make magic watches…?" The girl in blue asked sheepishly and shyly, twirling her curls of sunlit hair.
Jack merely chuckled, holding up the golden watch with caution as to not drop it. "Only if you believe in magic of course, and I think we all need a little bit of it, don't you? This watch here is simple but practical and efficient, also crafted to withstand a few punches or hit. Of course if you actively try to break it the glass with shatter eventually. It's a 18k gold tone watch. Will this one do for your father, missus?" He asked respectfully, evading the question with classic cliche one could not help but laugh at in disbelief.
The blond haired girl giggled as she eyed the shimmering watch, captivated.
"Yes. It's perfect. How much?" She asked, grabbing her silver wallet.
Jack took note she must be of nobility. She's able to spend money so easily?! Perhaps she works a job too…one can hope. Jack thought and sighed inwardly but made up a random price.
"7,000 pounds. Is this suitable?" Jack asked, allaying it on the counter nearly, offering the lady room to decline.
She simply smiled as if that was cheap. "Perfect. This should be enough…thank you sir." The young noble said, placing a leather tied bag on the counter.
Thump. Jack heard the money clash inside and his his shock with a smile. He got many customers like this.
"Does this watch have any special abilities…perchance? Like mysticism…" the girl inquired again, half hopeful in a hushed tone, glancing behind her. And Jack would not longer lie, so he nodded.
"The inner face is made of moonstone, blessed from the Noctis Goddess. It will be sure to smooth any worries and offer stability, just as the night will always come, the dark brings sleep, not always fear." Jack said in his own whispered interpretation and sly look, packaging the watch up in a wooden folding blue box engraved with a green and silver wax stamp.
He slid the box across, completing the transaction.
The girl seemed to day dream with a loose smile. "Thank you sir." She said, holding the box tightly and went on her way through the business market throughout the city.