The marketplace stirs as the morning sun rises, I open the door to my store, the beasts inside already awake and trying to get my attention. I send a silent prayer to Loyt for the silence rune on the cages. Standing outside to try to gauge the customers, a quiet falls over the surrounding market. I look over at my neighbour, usually a loudmouth who catches everyone's attention, he delicately places fruits on the outside rack. 

“Morning John, is something happening?”

 He looks over my shoulder and points down the street, I turn to look at the disturbance. A man quietly walks through the forming crowds, a young girl sits atop his shoulders, a smile wide on her face. I watch as the crowd parts, although the thing drawing the most attention isn't him but the three tall metal guardians following behind. A noble crest covers the front of the armour as purple ruins flow along the surface. 

I slowly slink back into my store, my heart pounding, I swear the man was looking at me. Reaching the nearest cabinet, I grab out a feeding bag and a cup. Moving along the cages, the first animal is a small pink ball of fluff. I think it was related to faireys somehow but is now just a domesticated pet. It yips around in excitement as I pour the green cubes into its cage. 

The next cage is covered by more runes as the creature inside is a large black snake, a black aura flowing out of the creature. Unlike the usual hissing and biting at the cage, it's quiet and shaking, its attention solely focused on the front of the store. I look around and notice all the other animals as the same, some cowering in corners and others playing dead. 

The bell in the door rings making me jump in surprise. “Morning, how may i-” My voice is caught as I realise it's the man, the girl still on his shoulders. Being this close i realise, they have small horns on the front of their heads, a trait for demon nobility. A shiver goes down my spine as I realise the girl is staring at me, her eyes constantly changing color, pointing out of her flowing blond hair, a white and black horn sitting in the same spots as the man.

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“So can you help us?” The man says, as if forced back to reality.

“Sorry, I was caught in thought, how may I help you young sir?” The girl giggles at my bad acting, the man sharing a smile.

“It's my daughter's birthday, and she really wants a pet. I was wondering if you could help us”

I slip back into my professional personality and put the food away, the list of possible pets suitable for such a young girl. Anything in the elemental section is out, the draconic subspecies are too heavy and hard to feed. Ah, sprites or maybe a plant based creature. 

A thud catches my attention, the few animals either too stupid or lacking a survival instinct still make noise. The sound comes from the garden pests section, often used for tests or food for other creatures.

“Oh, a slime, how curious” The man says already at the cage's location, I didn't even notice him move. 

“Local hunters use them for bait, Sir if you come over here I think one of these would be better” 

“Daddy I want that one” Her voice was quiet, barely audible. I could sense something of warmth in each word, my curiosity peaking. Her father looked at her with a chuckle and looked over at me with a pleading look.

“2 silver for the slime, food is basically anything, I caught that one myself. I think it was trying to eat a villager's crops last winter when it fell into a mud pit.” I chuckle at the memory of the slime slowly eating the mug only to be washed back down. 

“We will take it” The man said looking at the girl, she nodded quickly in excitement. 

“I will get the key fo-” A crunch sounds stops me in my tracks, the man had touched the cage. An anti theft rune kicked in, but unlike the usual zap, the entire rune collapsed. The man looks devastated at his hand than over me with an apologetic look. 

“Its okay, must have been the age” I say with a chuckle “consider the slime on the house, coverage for the rune zapping you”

After a moment of bickering the slime is sitting snugly in the girls arms, I smile at the two as they leave my shop. Only now do I realise that the animals weren't looking at the man but the young girl. The smell of animal urine fills my nose, should have installed smell runes, Guess it's time to clean?