The marketplace unfolded before me, a riot of colors and sound, with stalls brimming with everything imaginable—delicate pottery and fine parchments sat alongside cages of live chickens, slabs of meat, and baskets of fresh fish. The air thrummed with the calls of vendors hawking steaming bowls of soup, skewers of roasted meat, crisp vegetables, intricate trinkets, and richly embroidered fabrics.

  The entire scene pulsed with movement—a swirling mass of people, each with their own rhythm. Voices overlapped, footsteps mingled, and scents wove together into a thick tapestry of life. The sharp bite of spices, the sweetness of flowers, and the earthy tang of sweat hung heavy in the air, while sunlight spilled over the market, making the vibrant stalls shimmer like scattered gemstones.

  It wasn’t just a place to shop—it was an experience, a living, breathing mosaic of humanity.

  Damn. Now this—this was perfection.

  All this effort poured into one market scene in just one of the many small towns! The level of detail was staggering. Every NPC felt like their own person—unique faces, fluid movements, and subtle sounds that gave them life. Vendors called out over the din, laborers pushed past with heavy loads, patrons loitered in deep conversation, and beggars wove through the crowd with outstretched hands. The place didn’t just feel populated—it felt alive.

  No other game even came close to pulling off something like this.

  I watched the bustling scene unfold with a mix of curiosity and quiet amazement. For several long moments, I simply observed, drawn in by the unexpected fluidity of it all. Even in the quieter corners where customers were sparse, the vendors didn’t fall into the usual robotic loops I’d seen in countless other games. There was no endless repetition of scripted lines or mechanical gestures.

  Instead, they moved naturally—chatting with each other, rearranging goods, adjusting displays, or casually leaning back with a drink, as if time itself wasn’t measured by the number of sales they made. It felt organic, unforced, as though I was peering into a slice of real life rather than pixels.

  This—this attention to detail—is what sets Mephisto’s World apart. It’s not just a game. It’s a world that breathes, and that’s why it holds players in its grasp.

  I took a deep breath and grinned to myself. Alright, overview complete—time to focus on the real reason I came here: Shopping. Yes, with a capital S!

  I won’t deny it—shopping is fun. Maybe it’s that ancient hunter-gatherer instinct buried deep in our DNA, the gatherer part specifically, that makes wandering around and collecting treasures so satisfying.

  Just because I skipped out on Clara and Lola’s shopping trip in real life doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it. Let’s be clear—Clara is the issue, not shopping itself. Wandering through the marketplace, losing track of time as I dig through curious trinkets and rare finds? That’s the good stuff.

  I made my way to the side of the marketplace where sorcerers were selling their magical items. It was a bit of a gray area, as they were technically only allowed to sell objects, not their sorcery itself. So their wares were displayed as simple rings or pieces of body armor, and it was up to the buyer to guess their true value.

  In this kingdom, wizards and sorcerers were regarded as outcasts, shunned by many and often blamed for being the root of all evil—or at least complicit in it through their magic. The prevailing theory held that the act of casting magic disrupted the natural balance of the world, gradually pushing it toward an inevitable and catastrophic collapse.

  Only by abstaining from casting—or doing so strictly within the approved confines—could one supposedly help maintain the fragile balance of the world.

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  Of course, none of this was true, but it remained the official position, rooted in court intrigues and infighting between various classes, guilds, and noble houses. There was also a religious undertone to it, though I hadn’t yet pieced it all together. Perhaps I should try to understand these local politics better. Was it something along the lines of “magic for me but not for thee”? It certainly seemed that way. Certain forms of magic, like those practiced by priests and paladins, were openly sanctioned, while others were condemned.

  The truth was, magic made everyday life easier—but it was also power. And those in power were always eager to hoard it, restricting access to "the plebs" while cloaking their control in the guise of morality or necessity.

  I sighed, abandoning my thoughts about petty politics, and turned my attention to the market. A smile lit up my face as I browsed the various stalls. Spartacius was right; these items didn't have the magical attributes we were looking for, but that didn't diminish their appeal. My interest lay solely in their aesthetic value.

  In my gaming history, I had spent hours upon hours trying on different clothes, amassing a nice collection in my item box, not to mention what I kept at the guild and bank. And yet, I was still discovering new and unique pieces—some that fit better, some more elegant—among the many wardrobe items on display here. There were so many options but so little time to check them all! And my available inventory slots were always so limited!

  As I was wandering between sales counters, a young boy approached me hesitatingly.

  “Are you lady Cala?”

  As he asked, he was looking with his round brown eyes at me with fear, curiosity, and admiration. For him, I was one of those mythical strangers visiting the town. The high quality of my armor, the filigree embroiled satin work decorating my shirt, and the fine leather boots were visible even for a peasant's child from a provincial town. Everything screamed: 'elven armor' even if it wasn't actually elven armor... Well, elven armor was actually good-looking armor but not the best of the best; however very expensive. But explain that to the average peasant who will never be able to even touch one piece in his entire life, except maybe in a war when facing imminent death.

  I nodded to the boy:

  “Yes, I am.”

  He grinned over his whole little face, happy that he found me:

  “I have a message for you!”

  I leaned down slightly to hear him better and asked, “What message?”

  The boy showed me a small piece of parchment in his hand.

  I watched him, surprised. Who would send me a message? I do not recall something like this when I played Act 2* before. It is strange, but I do have Cala's memory of everything that Cala did. I perfectly remember every quest, every good or bad deed, noble or barbaric act she did, including those that Cala did before me. This is one of the problems with picking up a character from somebody else, which is now forbidden, by the way. I should not have admitted to it… Oh well...

  While the game has evolved and new situations have arisen, I've spent countless hours exploring various Act 2 areas and have never encountered a message in the market like this before. Perhaps there are now so many versions of Act 2 that I've simply lost track, or maybe it's a message from another player in a unique form.

  I took the small parchment in my hand. It was not sealed up, just folded up in four. The message was short and impactful, written by hand with beautiful calligraphy:

  'You are in great danger. Leave now! Meet me in the forest at the white tree.'

  I chuckled at the idea of wandering through the forest searching for a white tree; it seemed like a simple, low-level quest. Should I be looking for a tree painted white or one that was simply brighter than the others? The message on the parchment was unsigned, with only the outline of a white flower painted beneath the text. I didn't recognize this quest. Who could have written this warning?

  “Who gave it to you?” I asked.

  “It was a lady dressed in white satin robes. She described you and promised I would get a penny if I delivered it to Lady Cala,” the young boy replied with a smile.

  I glanced at his outstretched hand, realizing he was waiting for a tip. “Alice, can you give the boy a penny and see if you can find out who sent me this message? I need to go to the bank. We'll meet back here. And keep your eyes open,” I said to Alice before turning to leave.

  Alice let out a sigh and replied with a wink,

  "I'm sure that little bugger was paid to deliver the message..."

  I couldn't help but chuckle as I watched her search through her purse for some spare change to tip the boy. It was amusing to hear her unscripted comments about the greedy NPC messenger, which were not typical of a game's dialogue. This always surprised me in Mephisto, but now it seemed to be even more than usual.

  Despite the warning message, I didn't take it seriously. After all, nothing bad ever happened in town. I figured it must be some sort of minor quest or a way to make my visit to the forest more interesting.

  I briefly checked my equipment but decided not to dress in full fighting gear just yet. After all, we were still in town, and it was generally safe. I'd wait until we were out of town to prepare for any potential dangers.

  * Mephisto's chapter 2 areas may be referred as Act. 2 areas.