Kael would have happily accepted it if he knew that the spot was his. But seeing that the man in front of him was a human, he felt like the man would pick the busty light elf instead; most humans were perverts in his eyes.
Noah considered their legitimate concerns before offering a solution that demonstrated his growing creativity in handling issues that came with his shopkeeping.
"You can do rock, paper, scissors to determine order. This way you can both be satisfied with the result, as I will have no power to alter the result," he suggested with helpful enthusiasm.
Both pseudo-archmages stared at him with expressions that mixed confusion and growing suspicion about his mental state.
"Rock... paper... what?" Elena asked slowly. She had no clue what the phrase meant, but she had a hunch that it was part of the human culture, which she had no clue about.
"Scissors," Kael finished with equal bewilderment. "What manner of strange human ritual is this supposed to represent?"
Noah nodded with a knowing smile. Naturally, the elves wouldn’t know what it meant. But he was there right next to them, and he would teach them the basic, simple game.
"It’s a method for making decisions," he explained patiently. "Each person simultaneously makes one of three gestures with their hand. Rock beats scissors, scissors beat paper, paper beats rock. Best two out of three wins."
He demonstrated each gesture while explaining the rules, watching as both pseudo-archmages processed this alien concept with the seriousness they would normally reserve for analysing complex magical spells.
After several clarifying questions about proper technique, they agreed to participate in this strange human custom.
The contest proceeded with intense concentration as both elves approached rock-paper-scissors with a tactical mindset, as if they were approaching war.
"Very well, I shall demonstrate the intellectual superiority of light magic practitioners through this... human decision-making ritual."
"Intellectual superiority?" Kael scoffed while stretching his fingers like a pianist preparing for a performance. "Shadow magic requires far more thinking than your flashy light shows. This contest will prove that dark elves possess superior minds."
Noah positioned himself between them with the gravitas of an official tournament referee. "Remember, best two out of three. On my count—rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"
Both pseudo-archmages thrust their hands forward at a pace that Noah found difficult to track.
Elena threw scissors with elegant grace, her two fingers extending forward.
Kael’s hand formed a rock with confidence, his fist clenched as if preparing to crush enemies.
"Rock beats scissors!" Noah announced with theatrical authority. "Kael wins round one!"
"Impossible!" Elena gasped with genuine shock, staring at her defeated fingers as if they had personally betrayed her.
Kael smirked with satisfaction.
Noah immediately announced the beginning of the second round before they fought once again.
Elena’s green eyes glinted with a competitive spirit as she prepared herself mentally for the second fight.
"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"
This time, Elena chose paper, her five fingers blooming like a flower.
Kael threw a rock once again with confidence, perhaps assuming his previous victory would indicate another one.
"Paper englufs rock!" Noah declared with growing amusement. "Elena wins round two!"
"Light prevails!" Elena proclaimed triumphantly.
Kael stared at his defeated rock with the expression of someone whose entire worldview had been challenged. "That makes no sense whatsoever."
"This is the game, I’ve already explained it before. There is no use for complaining now." Noah immediately stated before things got out of hand. "But don’t worry, you still have one more round. Whoever wins this round will be the first to enter. Prepare carefully, and think about what you are going to choose."
The third round proceeded, and it ended with the victory of...Elena Starweaver, who celebrated in excitement.
Kael ground his teeth audibly but remained silent as Noah quickly clarified the arrangement to prevent future disputes.
"You’ll have access to exactly the same options and quantities," Noah assured the defeated shadow mage. "No special deals or exclusive offers based on entry order."
With Lola’s archmage-level presence radiating subtle but unmistakable power beside Noah, Kael chose not to challenge the arrangement further.
"Fine," he said with barely controlled frustration. "But I expect complete fairness in our transactions."
"Of course." Noah smiled before walking with Elena towards his shop entrance.
Kael watched as Noah and Elena disappeared through the shop entrance, leaving him alone outside the mysterious establishment that had materialised in the most strategically important location in their divided kingdom.
The shadow mage moved to a position several yards away from the shop, ensuring his conversation would remain private from the light mages while maintaining visual surveillance of the building. His violet eyes continued scanning for any signs of additional threats or unexpected developments.
Reaching into the depths of his midnight-black robes, Kael withdrew a communication crystal that pulsed with dark energy. The obsidian-like stone responded to his touch by establishing a secure magical connection to the Shadowvale Dominion’s capital.
"Commander..I have urgent news about the situation in the neutral zone." Kael spoke into the crystal with a respectful tone.
The crystal flared with shadow magic as the commander’s voice from the border emerged clearly despite the distance between them.
"Report, Kael. What have you discovered about the sudden appearance of that building?"
"The structure is not an ancient relic as we initially theorised, it’s an active commercial establishment operated by a human merchant and an archmage-level succubus."
Silence stretched across the magical connection as the commander processed this unexpected information.
"A human and a succubus operating a shop in neutral territory...they aren’t simple. Tell me what happened. Why did the light elves enter before us?"
Kael’s grip tightened on the communication crystal as he explained the human ritual and his loss.
The commander stayed silent for a second before saying. "Alright, don’t worry too much. This might actually be a good thing for us; the light elves were not prepared for the appearance of that shop. So, that stupid wretch wouldn’t have much to trade with him.
Come to the border, we will supply you with things to trade for and golden coins. Humans love gold, and the human merchant might use that as a currency."
"Yes, commander!" Kael responded with exasperation, he suddenly felt good about his loss.
He would enter that shop prepared and buy what he could. Whilst the human shopkeeper had said they would both get the same opportunity, that didn’t mean they would both have the ability to buy them.
Meanwhile, on the light elves’ side.
The commander at the border watched with a smile on his face. Although he didn’t know what had transpired exactly near the building with the ’idle shop’ sign.
He knew that it was in their favour.
He saw the way Elena smiled in triumph before entering the building alongside the human and succubus.
The commander turned to face the light elves waiting alongside him and said. "Rejoice, elves of the light. Elena might’ve secured us a powerful opportunity from that mysterious building."
The elves behind the commander rejoiced and celebrated like little children despite their ranks ranging from adept to master rank.
"Light! Light!" The elves started chanting in excitement.