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It was already late in the evening but the merchant seemed unfazed by the passing of time. He sat, poised and elegant, watching the world around him. He didn’t seem bored but he sat, fingers laced atop the table; below it, he kept his toe tapping to some silent tune in his head. He was tall, by human standards, though while sitting down he didn’t seem particularly threatening. If you didn’t look at his face.

He had graceful features--sharp and refined. His chin and nose tapered to a point, giving him an air of sophistication, but that, combined with his slitted eyes and pointed teeth, there was something undeniably predatory about him. He watched with a hungry gaze and a mischievous, nearly sinister smile. His ears were pointed and were prominent despite being tucked behind his vibrant, multi-colored hair. The most intrusive feature that indicated there was something not human about him were the curling horns protruding from his temples and the oil-slick black scales that brushed his cheeks and forehead. He was well dressed, in a fashion obviously otherworldly, and seemed to enjoy dressing himself up in glistening gemstones.

His tables were somehow both simple and overwhelming; each table was draped with a dark purple tablecloth, all with extravagant embroidery in different designs. Scattered neatly atop the tables were an array of items that seemed to carry some magical weight to them.

He did not seem intimidated in the slightest and, upon noticing that the barrier surrounding him rippled to allow his visitor to pass, he smiled.

He did not rise to meet them nor adjust his position in the slightest. He followed them with his fierce eyes and greeted, in a silky voice, “Welcome.”

The more time Newgrange spent with Starlight, the more he found they had in common. For example, they both liked art. They both had a passion for business. They were both incredibly reluctant to approach and introduce themselves to the strange, monstrous man at the table.

The energy signature was compelling enough that after they'd found the wisps, they thought they should investigate, and to their surprise, they had passed through the otherworldly barrier and entered a one-man marketplace.

They'd been noticed, so it wasn't like they could just turn around and leave now that they'd been addressed.

Newgrange walked with Whisler and the two of them entered first. Starlight trailed behind them just a bit and kept looking over his shoulder--and over their shoulders--while he tried to make sense of any of this.

In his time as a Knight, Newgrange had met many strange and inhuman people, though most of them seemed cursed by the Negaverse more than anything else. This man didn’t have a Chaotic energy signature, nor did he seem cursed, just different.

Starlight had never seen anything like him, and, of course, he was staring. He was trailing a few steps behind the other two and had to hurry to catch up. He might have claimed not to know either of them particularly well, but there was something telling in the way that he stayed particularly close to Whisler, and even stood behind him as he poked his head out to examine the merchant at the table.

Newgrange stayed closer to Whisler, out of habit and because he trusted him. He could tell Starlight wasn't sure what to make of any of this--and, honestly, he didn't blame him. He and Whisler were stronger and experienced, and if something was going to happen, it was better that they were in front, where they could protect him.

"Hello," he greeted in response, not wanting to be rude. They approached, at a somewhat slowed pace, and came to a halt a few feet before the table. Newgrange's shoulder brushed against Whisler's, and he found strength and comfort just by nature of his proximity. "I don't think we were expecting to find someone here," he admitted.

Nor had they expected that someone to have worked very hard to make himself look so at home.

Despite every effort to remain polite and courteous, Newgrange couldn't maintain eye contact for long. There were too many tables, too many things in the area, that he simply couldn't avoid trying to take them all in with any subtlety. The crater in the ground should have been alarming, but it seemed like it provided a comfortable station that the merchant had used as the foundation for his business. Newgrange had definitely been out here before and not remembered seeing such a giant hole in the ground--which only begged the question:

Was he responsible for it?

And, if this man was from space--had he come alone?

...Was it even possible to come alone and bring all of these things?

“It is a nice place, yes,” the man said pleasantly. “If I’d had more time I’d have liked to set it up proper, but I think we can overlook some of the disorder and appreciate the stunning display of wares I have to share,” he said, and seemed incredibly proud of his collection. “Commerce has brought me to the city and, no, my friend, I am not a youma. I’m just a humble merchant, looking for a good trade. And, specifically--I’m sure you saw the sign out front?--I’m looking to recover something I’ve lost in my landing.”

He leaned back in his seat, sitting up a little straighter so he could look at the three of them. He wore a smile, and no matter how charming he looked, his sharp teeth didn’t really erase the predatory impression he so easily gave off. “Little floating lights, basically. And if you’ve found any, I’m willing to make a trade. See, they’re very important to me, and when I landed, they--and a few other treasures--shattered. Now, the others, I’ve given up on, but at least I have the pieces if I’m meant to do any repairs. My wisps, not so much. They’ve gotten out and I can’t go find them. It would be irresponsible to leave my tables unattended. So, if you’ve found any wisps, I’d be most obliged--and I’m willing to trade anything you see on this table for their safe return.”

Whistler wasn’t offended at Starlight’s refusal of his hand, he understood...but it made him just a little sad. “And what is the purpose of the things that you lost during your…landing?”

Landing? So this...he was seriously saying that he was from space...for a moment, Whistler was almost excited. The idea of...other people...things? Beings. That were out in space...it was wild, and not something he could have really imagined. “So you’re not a youma...you’re a...an alien then? Is that what you’re saying?”

Glancing sideways at Newgrange, the Knight withdrew his Wisp from where he had stored it. “Just what are these, anyway. How did you end up losing them when you...ah. Arrived? That...sounds like a pretty big issue you faced.”

Oh lord, he wanted to know so badly.

He reached below the table and seemed to know exactly what he was reaching for without having to look. He withdrew an extremely ornate chalice that could have easily doubled as an extravagant candy dish, complete with stem and lid. The crystal bowl was cut with many facets that all perfectly seemed to capture and accentuate the light inside. Atop of the clear crystal, an ornate silver lid encrusted with what looked to be a giant diamond in the center. It had a large silver stem and a beautiful, sturdy base with a few more gemstones embedded within it. A few wisps danced around inside already, and he looked from them to his guests.

“I’ve been trying to collect them so I can reunite them. It’s supposed to be something magical, but it won’t grow properly if it’s all broken into pieces. It’s nothing inherently dangerous, mind you! Although, the wisps will explode if they’re not properly tended to. If you’ve got some, I really insist you work with me to make a deal. I’ll get something of mine back, you’ll get something nice, Earth will be a little safer,” he shrugged. “It’s a good deal, isn’t it?”

He didn’t quite wait for an answer. “And then I’ll get out of your hair. I am--well, yes. By your standards, I am an alien. But it sounds so simple when you say it like that. I’m a traveler, and I have traveled to Earth to share my wares. Although, I wish I wasn’t always asking for help finding what I’ve lost. I’d like to come to Earth and actually make trades without losing things in the process but,” he sighed and clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “I suppose the company is nice at least.”

Then, he gestured across his table. “Come, take a look. Find something you like, anything on this table, and I’ll trade it for any of those wisps you’ve found.”