The huge man's fingers tightened around the gold coin as the shop assistant reached out to take it.
His other hand rested on the palm-sized seashell he had finally chosen after walking around for half a day.
His heart was already beating faster, his eyes were full of nervous expectation. He could almost see himself holding a glowing pearl and walking out proudly, just like that middle-aged man from earlier.
Right at that moment, a calm voice floated up beside him.
"Sir, if I were you, I would choose the one next to your hand."
The burly man froze.
The gold coin almost slipped from his fingers.
He turned his head stiffly and saw that strange little girl again. The one with the scarred face and bright eyes. She had squeezed back to his side at some point. She lifted her chin and pointed lazily at the shelf.
Her fingertip landed on another seashell.
