'Thank the gods I was able to shut her up…' Lucian thought to himself with relief. Aiko waved back at him with a smile, before turning tail. "We should head to the blacksmith…"
Fei stared at Lucian, her mind was twisting into multiple parts; what was the thing they talked about? Why does Lucian seem so nervous…? He was scratching the back of his head, and a secretive smile on his face.
"If I remember, " Lucian's hand maneuvered to his chin. "Let's go, it's not too far from here."
The streets around them had already become sparse; only a few individuals wearing plated, leather, and chainmail armor walked past them.
Lucian's words spoke true; after a mere moment, the site of a blacksmith shop
In front of them, an incredibly old build stood. It could only be described as decrepit; the windows, they peered inside, were covered with sheets, and the glass was yellowed. Just above its splintered door was a sign.
[Open]
Above its open sign, was another sign. Depicting an anvil being struck by a hammer, it was a blacksmith shop. A staple shop for adventurers to run into, they could buy equipment here.
"C'mon… Don't be nervous, okay?"
Lucian said, turning to look at her. Of course, she was immensely nervous, her lips were quivering. The two furry ears adorned to her scalp were shaking limply. In his peripheral vision, her tail was perpendicular to the floor.
"A-Alright…"
It took a brief pause for her to respond. Moreover, an urge to pat her head took over his hand, but he retracted it immediately.
Lucian gripped the handles, two pickaxe heads. He pushed them open, and a booming voice resounded from the front counter.
"AY! Welcome to my shop!"
The stout man who ran the counter yelled. He was cheery, but gruff. Countless miscellaneous items and weapons littered his counter. One of his huge arms was raised to the sky, waving at them.
"Oh- Its- Ahem! If ya need any help, come and talk with me, alright?" His hand stopped mid-wave, and a small frown took over his previous smile.
"Thanks! We will!"
Lucian returned his wave.
'Thankfully he caught himself.'
He thought as his smile became stiff. He thanked the stars once more, Fei's gaze was lingering elsewhere.
Her eyes were attached to the countless mannequins standing to their right; they wore different outfits - plate armor; leather armor; wizardry robes, a standard array for a newbie adventurer. Swerving to their left, their main purpose was weapons.
Swords; greatswords; daggers, hidden amongst them were bows. This sea of weapons caused Fei to stumble in awe, her mouth slid open. It became unhinged further as Lucian's arm took over her sight, his index finger pointed there.
"Let's go check what he has over there."
Lucian suggested to her; his expression turned mysterious, causing her to feel an odd air.
Contrary to her suspicions, she agreed, turning into a lost puppy following its owner. She watched him creep along the array of weapons, "seemingly" looking at the weapons. Moreover, something ate at her, was he looking for something specific?
Randomly, he pushed two weapons apart. Fei froze, her eyebrow twitching as he pulled out a staff. Pale as her skin, it was carved from a birch tree, its handle similar to an individual with scoliosis; melded to its tip was a cloudy crystal.
That's so pretty…
Her mind instantly became mesmerized. Conversely, she was dismayed. Staffs were exceedingly rare, as this was her first time seeing one. It slid to shock once Lucian's hands raised it to the sky.
"L-L-Luciaan! We can't buy this!"
She cried out upon his smug look. Fei launched herself onto his arm, an attempt to pull it down; unfortunately, her physical condition was not attuned to strength. A failure, but she latched onto his arm.
As for him, he turned his body, dragging her along a trip on his arm.
"Fei, we're buying this."
"S-Stop! I don't need it! I can-"
"Hey boss! How much would this cost?"
Lucian inquired, in an echoing voice. He presented the staff higher in the air, nearly dangling Fei off the ground. Since she was not willing to give up, she stood on the tips of her toes to hold his arm.
"Lucian- Lucian! I don't need it!"
"Ah? That ol' thing? You can buy it for… Fifty copper."
"Perfect, we'll take it!"
"Lucian… I- I don't need it! I can just…"
Fei's voice turned quiet, witnessing his expression.
Of course… He won't listen..
From this point, he would never listen.
"Now… It's time to find my weapon."
Lucian clenched his hands around the staff. Perfectly into their budget! In total, they brought seventy copper. Of course, after this shopping spree, it would leave them next to nothing; however, deep in his heart, it was worth it.
"Lucian… I, I don't need it… I can-"
Lucian's mind instantly switched, scanning the wall of weapons, quickly spotting a dull looking dagger. It was made out of iron, and it was something easily produceable.
"That's fine…"
He strolled to the counter, and sat their weapons down.
"Can we purchase these?"
"Mhm, that dagger will cast ya… Ten copper, that staff ya already know."
Sixty copper, he fished in the small draw-string sack he kept. He pulled out six medium sized copper coins - Their size correlated to their worth. Medium sized coins, perfectly sat on a thumb, their worth, ten copper each. Any larger, one hundred, smaller just a singular copper.
The shopkeeper scrutinized each coin, squinting at it and flipping it over a couple times.
"Alright, they're all yers kid, pleasure doing business with you."
He and Lucian locked hands.
"Pleasure- Woah!"
A second later, Lucian's body was yanked forward. Minutes of intense whispers and threats entered his ear, afterwards he was released with a heavy shove.
"Now, get yer asses outta here!"
Quickly, Lucian grabbed their newly bought equipment, escorting Fei out the door hurriedly.
What the heck did he do?! T-That-
From a jollyful guy to yelling then kicking him out, did Lucian do something to him? Fei wondered, only to be brought out of her stupor by a staff appearing in her vision.
"Take it… Here…" Lucian stretched his arm, dangling the staff with two fingers. His face was drenched in sweat. 'I hope she did not hear what was said…'
"T-Thank you… But, but I don't… I don't need it."
The handle was incredibly soft, just touching it allowed warmth to enter her heart.
"I can… I can just use my magic, I don't… Need it."
"Fei, I could tell you wanted it. And once we work with other people, you'll need that, so you can hide "that" part of you."
"Al-Alright…"
On the outside, Fei looked disheartened; even so, he could see the slight wag of her tail, and the hidden smile underneath her grimace. With the joy she felt mimicking his own, they marched to the adventurers' guild.
Halfway there, Fei stumbled over nothing. Lucian, bemused by this, teased her, leaving a rosey color across her cheek, whilst her lips turned to a pout. It quickly dispersed when they stood affront of the adventurers' guild.