"Thorn, wake up, it's time for breakfast," Bram said, lifting Thorn up and helping him dress up.
"Hello, Thorn," Edward greeted.
"Hi, brother," Thorn replied.
"Eat your breakfast, fast! We need to go to the merchant!" Edward hurriedly nagged Thorn; he couldn't wait to be rich and also to be acknowledged.
"Fine, fine, just give me a minute to finish the porridge," Thorn exclaimed.
"Ok, I'm finished, we are ready to go!"
"And, Father, is your merchant friend even home?" Thorn questioned.
"I don't know; I guess we'll see," Bram heartily laughed out the response.
"Well, either way, the best way to check is to go and visit, no?"
"Well, I guess you're right," Thorn gave in to Bram's reasoning.
"But you're going to carry me, right?"
"Of course, I'm not so heartless as to not carry you."
(One hour later...)
"Ok, we are finally here; now let's hope for the best," Bram said.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Elias, are you home?"
A few minutes later...
"Ok, I guess he's not home. We should come back tomorrow. There's really nothing else we can do. Sorry, Thorn, Edward," Bram disappointedly explained.
"Maybe we can wait a bit more, please father!" Edward remarked.
"Bram, is that you?" Elias called from behind.
"Oh, thank God you're here. I thought we would have to make another journey," Bram replied with great relief; wasting two hours walking was not exactly his favourite hobby.
"Bram, what's the purpose of your visit?" Elias questioned.
"Why don't you let me and my sons in first? It's quite cold out here, wouldn't you say?" Bram remarked.
"Oh, right, where are my manners? Come on in." Elias unlocked the door with his keys and let them inside, guiding them toward the living room.
Ok, wow, this house is like 2 times bigger than mine. It has 2 floors, about twice the land area of my house; it has walls made of bricks with unique flower-like designs on them, the walls are coloured with a white colour, it looks just like a small castle, and the big chimney surely has its presence; it really does look like some modern medieval-style building. Most importantly, the inside—let me not get started with the furniture. It's all made of wood, very nicely crafted, with unique designs on every piece of furniture. Not just that, he has a couch, of course barely as comfortable as a modern one, but still a freaking couch. It's probably more comfortable than any of the beds in my house. But overall, it didn't blow my expectations that much. I mean, he is a merchant, so I expected a fancy house, but seeing it in person sure is different. Let me not get started on his beautiful garden outside. Guess Father made some good friends, didn't he?
"Wow, Father, what is this castle? It is hugeee!" Edward excitedly announced.
"Behave yourself Edward! Show some respect and be more civilized," Bram reprimanded Edward quietly.
"Sorry Father," Edward apologized.
"So now that we've all gotten comfortable, why don't you introduce me? Who are these young gentlemen?" Elias said with a very dignified tone.
"Oh, these are my two sons. First, we have Edward, the big one, and then Thorn, the small one. Introduce yourselves, guys," Thorn exclaimed.
"Oh, hello, mister, my name is Edward. Very nice to meet you," Edward introduced himself as politely as he could.
"Nice to meet you too, young gentleman; my name is Elias."
"Greetings, esteemed merchant, I am glad to make your acquaintance," Thorn respectfully introduced himself.
Now, surely I sound super smart now; that will surely leave a lasting impression on him!
"I see you know your language. It's nice to meet you. I'm Elias." Elias was quite taken aback; seeing such words from such a young vessel was truly mind-blowing.
"Bram, how old is your son? Does he have some growing disease? Is he like 10 years old? Because his talents in language are pretty outstanding.
"No, he is six years old, but thanks for the compliment; we made sure to use the books you cheaply offered us. It was truly a great help for the development of my son."
"Well, I'm glad it helped your son, and what about your first son? How old is he?"
"I am 9 years old, Mister," Edward jumped to answer the question.
"Oh, aren't you a lively one? You have quite a strong build for your age, I must say," Elias complimented the lively boy.
"Thank you for the compliment, mister."
"Do not worry about it, Edward, but nonetheless, we should get back to the main point. What is the purpose of your visit, especially since you brought your two sons with you?"
"Alright, I do think we should get to the main point," Bram remarked.
"Thorn, with the help of Edward, created a product that you as a merchant might take some interest in, I can guarantee such."
"Father, I only helped Thorn with some physical work, but overall, he was the one who created it," Edward interrupted the conversation, trying to compliment his brother out of pure admiration and love for him.
"Oh, what a good son you have, truly so humble and loving, showcasing true brotherhood," Elias said, visibly impressed by the truth and honesty of Edward.
"Back to the point, what is this splendid product that your sons created? Can you tell me about it?"
"Well, for that, Thorn will have to do the talking. Thorn, why don't you explain to Elias here, this magical product you created?"
"Understood, let me begin. So, Elias, instead of discussing my invention, why don't I just show it to you?"
"Firstly, Elias. Would you be so kind as to come and smell me?"
"Is that necessary, Thorn?" Elias confusedly asked, as this was quite an undignified act to do.
"It is crucial for your better impression of the product."
Elias, having heard that, walked about two steps towards where Thorn was sitting, bent over about 45 degrees downwards, and took a meaningful sniff.
Sniffff!
Elias quickly went back to his seat and said.
"Thorn, you, where have you been recently? You smell vastly malodorous!" I must note.
"You are right, I do! Staggeringly a problem, isn't it? I do have some traces of animal feces on me."
"Now, why in the world would you do that, and how does it relate to your product?"
"I am awfully apologetic for the mess I have caused, but now comes the great part."
"Do you see this wooden box?" Thorn pointed his finger at a wooden box shaped like a conical flask with small carvings saying smell masker; in the center of the box. And at the bottom of the box a small inscription saying Blackwell, this was often used to signify the creator of the said invention. On top of the box there was a scrap of linen cloth covering the entrance of the box; also saying Blackwell.
"Yes, I do. Is that your product?"
"Yes, it is, and as you can see, this product is called "Smell Masker". What it does is mask your smell with a super-refreshing and superb scent."
"So how does it work exactly?!" Elias's expression was dim, boring, and dreadful, his leg sitting on his other leg, and his hands signaling a sign of disrespect. Why? Elias many times encountered the so-called creative inventors, and he thought Thorn was one of them.
"Don't believe me, now do you? Let me prove why my product is simply paranormal."
"Father, can you please apply some of the smell masker on me?"
"Sure, no problem, son," Bram eagerly replied, waiting to see the shock on his dear friend Elias's face.
Bram slightly bent over, extending his right hand to grab the smell masker. Bram grabbed the smell masker, pulled it back to him, unsealed the box, took his index finger and nimbly drowned it in some of the liquid, pulled his finger out, and rubbed it on Thorn's neck.
"Here you go," Bram said.
"Thanks, Father," Thorn replied with a satisfied smile on his face.
"Now, Elias. Would you do me the convenience of smelling me again? I promise you would be awed."
"This better be good," Elias angrily uttered.
Again, he stood up, walked two steps, bent over 45 degrees, and took a big—
Snifffff!
"Wait—"
Snifffff!
"This cant be real; I must be hallucinating—"
Sniffffffffff!!!!
"Thorn, what in the world is this? You really smell like an angelic noble lady, but before you smelled like a dirty beggar. Is this really the might of your product?" Elias's expression surpassed the heavens. At that moment Elias remembered what it meant to be humble.
"It is," Thorn simply answered.
"But it must cost at least half a gold coin to produce!" Elias tried to justify his basis of assumption that this product is simply lousy.
"No, it only costs around 10 coppers maximum," again, Thorn responded with a simple answer, showing his domineering presence.
"It must only last for about a minute!"
"Wrong again, it lasts roughly for about 8 hours."
"Now, do you have any more questions?"
"Yes, I d— My apologies, my skepticism towards the product misguided me. You see, many people have approached me with ideas that are too good to be true. From that, I developed a habit of being vastly annoyed when ideas too good to be true are presented by people with no reputation, but your idea proved true. Now I am truly remorseful for my attitude toward you. Is there anything I can do to repent?
"Yes, sell my products, only keeping two percent of the profits."
"That's too low. I can't repent like that. Make it six percent, and we have a deal!"
"Five percent, repent by lowering with a percent, ok? You will anyway gain significant profits and reputation from trading my products."
"Heavens, you have a deal Thorn!"
Elias walked towards Thorn, raising his hand and shaking his with thorns, signaling the strike of a deal.
"So, here are some documents that include all details about the product and my intentions with it, aside from the method of creation, of course."
Thorn and Elias went over the documents for about 5 hours, also discussing the details of the deal.
"So make sure to come tomorrow to my house and collect 1000 units of the smell maskers, alright?"
"Sure."
"Ok, Thorn. Now that you've finished, can we go home now?" Edward, a nine-year-old, was very tired of hearing what seemed like two old men discussing paperwork for 5 hours.
"Thorn, we should go now," Bram added.
"Alright, I guess we should," Thorn answered.
"Elias, we will go now. See you tomorrow, ok?" Bram offered his goodbyes.
"It was great seeing you again Bram, see you tomorrow along with your two bright sons, farewell."
(Next Morning...)