Galen Vesa

You can stop pouting already. I see no point to it.

*I am not pouting! And you are blind if you cannot see what she made us do!*

Yup, not pouting at all.

Give it a rest roomie. The fit is perfect. The material is nice to the touch and doesn’t chuff. They even added those ribbons at the tight that hold it together.

Although, the enormous and probably horrendously expensive feathers sticking out of my behind were not exactly necessary in my opinion. They made sitting down quite impossible.

*Such disgrace! I have never…*

Enough. Erta, it looks great on this body. It is comfortable. We are being paid to wear it and I don’t give a dam what others say. Over the last three days I earned more by standing in place than by working my hands off in my previous world. And, to recount our earlier conversation, I may be dumb in some regards, but I am not retarded. I do realize we are being used as a glorified store manikin and an advertising billboard in one. I gave my consent to that and we are being compensated way more than I see it worth. Imagine we are cosplaying as one of the characters from the game you were so curious about.

She swallowed her next comment and continued pouting. I did not care. Flashing my unnatural curves at perverts that paid for it held about the same significance for me as going nude under the shower with other guys in the gym. Nothing to write home about. Also, I had a beehive worth of maids hanging around and ready to intercept any troublemakers and if that all failed, I also had four extremely jealous spirit queens meddling in my life. Though, their help was a mixed blessing, at times bringing more trouble than they solved.

“If you like your arm to remain attached where it is, I implore you to reconsider your next action.”

A merchant froze with his palm an inch off my backside as I met his eyes and voiced my distaste loud enough for others to hear. My blank face and soulless voice did the rest and he withdraw, apologizing. First to me then to the maids that escorted him out of the building.

*And what will you do if someone shall call on that bluff?*

Oh, that’s easy. I have my very own dragon in shining scales that will come to my rescue.

I sent her an imaginary kiss, like a damsel in distress. I was utterly defenseless without her magic. My puny arms and legs showed little to no improvement regardless of how many pushups or squats I did and even though I could use artefacts without trouble I had yet to succeed with casting a spell. I may maintain one if someone else cast it on me but nothing beyond that.

*Dolt, sometimes I think that sparing your life might been the biggest mistake I ever made.*

You also thought that black and red silk set looked good. Want me to buy that later? I honestly thought you were more of a lace enthusiast.

Her anger flipped into… eh, something complicated. I had no name for that emotion.

“Vittoria will need a seven and Ann has a request for a nine. Can you do both? I don’t have anyone else at hand with enough mana left to do more than a five.”

Beatrice came holding our daily log in her arms. I already did twenty of nine’s today and about twice as many of sevens. I could do much more than that but even now all the maids watched me as if I would faint at the slightest exertion. Sometimes I heard whispering about elven monstrous mana amount. It was best not to stand out.

*It might be well too late for that. As for the set, the black one was indeed of high quality. Considerably better than the pink one you were eyeing.*

Ah, so you do want that one.

Her deep, nasal, draconic growl rumbled through my mind. It made the odd bracelet shine and rattle on my wrist. I restrained it with my left hand and spoke.

“A nine, Yes. But that will be the last. I wish to rest.”

I saw relief wash over Beatrice face. Relief for all the wrong reasons if you asked me.

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“No. In that case you’ll do just that seven and go. Ann will have to handle that nine on her own. She has not stamped anything today, she can do one before we close for the day.”

I made the customary bow in acknowledgement and tiptoed to Vittoria's desk, pulling an array of mesmerized stares along the way.

The upper lobby area had five sets of desks separated by tall bushes grown from a hip high, stone bowls and a nasty mix of privacy enchants layered on the floor. The guild put great effort into maintaining customer’s trust. Whatever was spoken before one of those desks, stayed there. They thought of every venue for eavesdropping. From where I stood, even their image was being distorted by some spell.

I held my breath and crossed the spell’s threshold. Sharp jolt of pain went through my spine and I made all the effort I could to surpass my scream. Why it felt like that? We had no idea. Nobody else felt it.

“May the light be with you.”

I made the fancy bow before Vi's customer, avoiding direct eye contact as I rehearsed so many times.

“For she guards our path.”

The patron, a young noble lady answered without thinking. Her fascinated eyes were wide with wonder.

Whatever is wrong with those people? Have they never seen a chick with pointy ears and oversized pillows?

*One that did not try to skewer them with arrows? I think not. *

I went around the desk an stood beside Vi, just like I was taught, waiting for her to prepare the documents. Another one of those. No wonder. Vittoria’s handwriting had no equal. She took time crafting each page, but the finished product shone with love and beauty. As a result, most of her work constituted of marriage contracts.

“Ah, can you please… I know the service was paid for as standard seven but… I have changed my mind. Can you seal it with your blessing? Please, I am sure the guild master will understand, and I will gladly pay the difference from my account with the guild.”

The lady spoke when I had my hand over the documents. Was I even allowed to do that? I put my gaze on Vi. Her face still had a smile plastered on it, but her eyes were full of horror.

“Well yes, the guild can provide that…”

She started saying and realized there was no way of getting out of it without slandering the name of the guild. Something we could not risk. Especially not with nobility.

Eh. We're going to hear about this.

I put on my best fake smile and raised my seal up so they could see the setting on it and I flipped it up to eleven. The so called, blessing level. I was the only one who’s seal could do that, and I was forbidden from doing it without approval but, that one seemed important enough for even Altina came to greet her when she arrived.

“Live long and prosper.”

I said as I pressed the seal against the parchment and grit my teeth to stop myself from doing the famous hand gesture.

And then the spectacle happened. Design to do so, my dress light up overshadowing all the lights in the hall for a moment while emerald, fluorescent lines formed on the contract. My seal was designed to look like a water lily with a spirit resting within the flower’s cup. I wonder why…

*Well, you did it dolt. Again. *

Least it ends quickly.

I excused myself, bowing even more politely than before and left for the backroom. I could feel the horrified eyes of Beatrice glued to my back. Two evenly pale maids suddenly found themselves at my sides as well.

Note to self, research how much manna can I use daily without rising any concerns.

I waited until the door of the backroom closed behind me and l dropped the seal in a theatrical thud. At the same time, I closed my eyes and relaxed my body letting it fold on itself. Experienced hands grabbed me before I hit the floor, but I let myself sunk deep within me to complete my little “look the elven chick fainted” play. The maneuver executed as good as the real deal. Or so I thought judging from the raised voices and the commotion it caused.

Erta waited for me in her dragon form, her tail thumping. Oh, it’s gonna be one of those talks.