Yuii bumped into someone. Really, someone bumped into her, but she managed to catch herself and her basket.

"Sorry. I didn't see you."

Yuii looked up at the man with a shy smile and a slight bow. "Is not problem. Price of being short."

They both turned their separate ways and went on about their day, though Yuii only made it three steps before she froze. Looking back she saw the trailing tail of a large Akumajin disappear around a group of townsfolk. She played the conversation over in the head one more time just to make sure she had heard right. The Akumajin, which was NOT an Akumajin because he was definitely not Ityean, more correctly, the Tiefling, had used her native tongue. Part of her was excited at the prospect of some new face to talk to without the strain of the common tongue, but she tapped that excitement down. She hadn't even gotten a good look at the man.

***

Lydia was one of those curious little communities that couldn't decide if it was a large village or a small town. On one hand it only had two main thoroughfares. The North road and the South road, which were positioned more to the northwest and southeast respectively. On the other hand, it was the central trade hub of the region, making its streets filled with businesses and countless passers-through. Lydia was also the capital town of the Malssenin Barony, though Alek hadn't managed to find the manor yet. Stone watchtowers dotted the town in lieu of a proper wall and the buildings sprawled out along the Harmond River with the town proper on the west side and endless farms on the east. The ever present Darkmoss forest loomed dark and foreboding along the north and west sides.

"I wish you fuckers would just leave." Someone spat at Alek as he made his way down the South road. Generally the random comments didn't bother him. As a Tiefling you either grew thick skin or you went mad, but that was the third time he had been sneered at in the plural. Clearly there was a group in the area and Alek wondered if the comments were just bigotry or if the group were bad apples spoiling the cellar as it were.

A crow caught his eye. It wasn't the bird that caught his attention per se, so much as the way it was acting. It watched the front of a building as if scoping the place out. Alek found a shady spot and watched the watcher. Trying to decide if he was crazy or if the thing actually was screaming "I'm a familiar". He grew bored before deciding he didn't care, but as he moved the crow moved. He almost thought it was trying to stay away from him, but no, it was tailing a large half-orc and another Ityean girl, this one carrying a spear and a serious expression. He tailed the tail for a few minutes before reminding himself that he was now retired and there was no damn reason to poke his nose in shit. He concluded that the crow was indeed someone's familiar and went on with his day.

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Regardless, of small Ityean girls, off comments, and curious crows, Alek found the shop he had been searching for by sound more than anything else. The place consisted of an open air smithy, likely with only a single person working if the sound was anything to go by. A large shop portion, which was Alek's intended destination, and a living area, no doubt the home of the Smith. A bell rang as he opened the door, but it was the rope that immediately caught his attention. It ran from the door, through some hooks on the ceiling, and out a hole in the direction of the smithy. The hammering on the other side stopped. "Clever."

Alek had seen a lot of smiths in his time. Big hairy guys, short practically hairless guys, fat, thin. They were all different, but they all had a few things in common. They tended to be men, though not always. They tended to have well defined arms and be a bit on the larger, more brawny side. They did not however tend to be teenage girls. To be fair the little red head that walked in pulling her thick leather gloves off did have well defined arms. A slight smirk graced her cute, red freckled face as she looked Alek from horn to tail tip and back again.

"You one of Tarson's boys?"

"No. Is that the group that has everyone in town sneering at me?" Alek asked as he approached the counter.

"Yeah, bad bunch." The kid was eyeing him up the same way he might a pretty girl. It was odd and a bit uncomfortable. "You don't have much time. My Pa doesn't like people with horns, but he's out for the moment so what can I do ya for?"

So the kid was the Smith's daughter, not the Smith. That fit better into Alek’s worldview. "Hinges, latches, and nails. Some wire if you got it."

"Sure. You want nails by the box or the barrel?"

"Barrel I think, as long as you're referring to the small ones." Alek held out his hands in the appropriate size of a small barrel only to find the girl examining his face.

"Do I know you?"

"Not likely. But I just moved here so I'll be around."

The girl stuck out her hand and gave him a huge smile. "Shelly, but most people call me Red."

Alek looked down at her slightly smudgy hand and took it. She had a firm grip. "Alek."

"Alek. Are you single?"

Alek stared at her like she was insane. Maybe she was. Most people didn't hit on Tieflings, and she was way too young. "You are way too young."

"So that's a yes?"

"Where are the hinges, and let go of my hand."

The girl grinned wider, but did let go.