Following the directions from the street vendor, Mira saw the rice store at the end of the street.
Rice, flour, corn, and oats. Mira recalled the items on the list, planning to buy a little of each.
She couldn’t carry too much in one go.
Mira sighed, thinking how easy it would be with a single cast of Strengthen magic, but without enough magical mediums, she had to be more cautious.
The young girl, basket in hand, entered the store.
The grains were stored in large sacks, neatly arranged on the floor.
A woman wearing an apron hurried in from the backyard.
“What do you need?”
Mira's gaze shifted from the various grains to the suddenly appearing woman. “Hello. I’d like to buy some flour and rice, and I also need some oats and corn.”
The shopkeeper asked, “How much?”
“Maybe a pound of each?” Mira estimated the weight. Besides the grains themselves, she needed many other things. A pound wasn’t much, but with the four types of grains combined, it should last a while.
Mira had no experience buying grains; it was all the fault of the cafeteria at the Magic Nexus.
“How many people are you feeding?”
“Two.” Mira answered. “Me and Lance.”
“That’s not enough.” The woman gave a professional opinion. “At least two pounds of rice and flour, or you won’t even be able to make two big loaves of bread. Oats and corn are fine…”
Mira kept her words in mind.
“Then I’ll take two pounds of rice. I’ll get the oats and corn next time,” Mira calculated. According to the aunt’s suggestion, a pound of flour wouldn’t be enough for baking bread, so she could buy ready-made bread.
Her mentor had once said that learning magic requires flexibility, and that applies to everything in life.
“Not getting the flour?”
“No,” Mira replied. “I can’t bake bread. Aunt, is there anywhere around here where I can buy pre-baked bread?”
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“You’re not from this town, are you?” The shopkeeper looked Mira up and down.
“No, I just arrived here yesterday,” Mira answered.
“Touring?” The woman seemed confused. This was the town closest to the Magic Dragon Tower, and people didn’t usually come here for leisure. Most strangers were adventurers.
She carefully studied the young girl in front of her, noting her expensive-looking clothes. She didn’t seem like the kind of person who would shout and fight like an adventurer.
Unless…
The woman remembered the guard team that had passed through the town a few days ago, escorting the princess to the Magic Dragon Tower.
Her eyes lit up. “You... you’re... the princess...”
Other customers entered the store, and her voice dropped, trailing off, until Mira gently shook her head.
Mira mouthed the word: Maid.
When the woman’s expression changed to “I see,” Mira added, “We’ve just arrived and need to buy some essential supplies…”
“Magic Dragon?” The shopkeeper cut herself off after only half the sentence. Living in the town closest to the tower, she of course knew what the Magic Dragon meant, and she dared not say more.
“Such a curse, such a curse.” She lowered her head, adding another scoop of clean white rice into the cloth sack.
“I’ll give you some extra, eat well.”
Mira nodded. “Thank you.”
“By the way, Aunt, I also wanted to ask, where can I buy medicine?”
“Still need medicine?” The shopkeeper’s eyes widened. “Is she alright?”
There were rumors that the Magic Dragon was bloodthirsty, while the princess was the king’s treasured jewel kept in the palace.
Mira didn’t say anything, but inside, she couldn’t help but mutter.
The Magic Dragon's reputation was bad enough, and it would only get worse from here.
Mira knew that explaining herself might clear up the misunderstanding, but those jars full of eyeballs made her unwilling to defend the Magic Dragon.
She just wanted to become stronger quickly so she could leave this place as soon as possible.
“I’m fine,” she answered. “But I do need some medicine, just to be safe.”
“It’s on the next street,” the shopkeeper replied, her gaze moving to another customer. “It’ll be one silver and four copper.”
Mira took the copper coins from her pocket. While the shopkeeper made change, Mira felt a gaze assessing her.
Mira touched the medium in her pocket.
The shopkeeper handed the change to Mira. “The bakery’s on this street, the apothecary’s on the next one, just walk to the end and turn the corner,” she repeated.
Mira noted it down.
As she left the store, she brushed past a young man. His eyes never left her as she walked by.
The bakery. The apothecary. Following the shopkeeper’s directions, Mira found what she needed, then bought vegetables, meat, and a pot at the market.
She only bought small amounts of everything, but it was enough to fill her basket. She had to carry the pot with her other hand.
It was almost time.
Mira hurried to the alley where the teleportation circle was located.
At the corner of the street, a group of young men sat together.
“Are you sure?”
“I helped my mom buy flour, I heard it with my own ears. Aunt Mary wouldn’t dare say it, but I’m certain it’s the Magic Dragon.”
“The king just gave his daughter to the Magic Dragon.”
The group discussed animatedly.
“He’s so stupid. Does he really think giving his daughter to the dragon will bring peace?”
“Silence and compromise only lead to more terrifying oppression.”
“Because of the king’s continuous indulgence and compromise, so many people have died under the Magic Dragon’s flame.”
The leader of the group stood up. “Let’s go teach her a lesson.”