Once I was back on the street I mused that it was rather convenient to have a magical inventory. You could summon and disperse items at your whim, and quite a good amount of them too. It prevented fatigue from carrying things. No more backpacks, no more briefcases! There were things about life in Halfmoon Hills that already had their perks.

And those perks extended beyond just having special powers. This place was a fantasy world, something I had only dreamed of as a kid. It had been so many years since I’d let myself fantasize this way. These days my life was spent listening to judges and studying cases. I never got to read or watch T.V. I never got to explore this kind of world. But now I was living it. In just a short few hours I’d met a cute elf maiden and befriended a grumpy dwarf. I had to admit it was pretty cool.

But this isn’t your home, this isn’t where you belong.

The thought rang out in my head snapping me back to reality. That was right, I had a real home, a real life, a real job. I had to focus on figuring this place out so I could get back. First things first though, I was going to get out of these muddy clothes.

I realized too late that I hadn’t asked Barbold for directions. After a few turns I exited the cobblestone streets of the downtown and found myself strolling along a wooden pathway by a river. I leaned on the railing and looked out at the rushing water. I noticed the sun was much higher in the sky. When I checked the time I found it was 1:55 pm.

Damn, time really flies here. How am I supposed to get anything done!?

As I watched the water I saw a splash, a large silvery-scaled fish rose and fell into the water. I smiled. This place was so idyllic, so peaceful. So quiet. I took a stone from the ground and skipped it across the water. It bounced three times. I chuckled to myself proudly. Still got it!

“Hey! Excuse me! Can you not do that here? Some of us are trying to make a living!”

I looked from side to side, perplexed, but then remembering what had happened earlier today I looked a little lower. It wasn’t a dwarf this time, but a goblin who spoke to me from below. I noticed that he had his fishing rods, all three, set up through the slats between the fencing. He glared up at me.

“Yikes, sorry! But hey, while I have you… do you know where I can find Madame Pomme?” I asked.

The goblin picked his rather large nose and flicked it absentmindedly as he considered the question. “She’s just down that way, the big red brick building, can’t miss it. But she’ll close soon. She hates staying open late, If I were you I’d-”

“Thank you!” I cut him off and turned, jogging off in the opposite direction by the riverside. I wasn’t about to spend another day in these clothes, especially if tomorrow entailed strenuous activity. This suit might yet be salvaged at a good dry cleaner when I returned, I wasn’t gonna rip it planting tomatoes.

Sure enough, just a short way down by the riverside was the red brick cabin I had to assume belonged to Madame Pomme. I checked the sign on the door which said she closed at 3:00 and then checked what time it was.

[ Now, it is 2:33 PM ]

Thank goodness, I made it!

I pulled open the large wooden door and stepped inside. I was immediately impressed. The interior was fastidiously clean and organized. It smelled of lemon and soap. Along the sides of the walls were hundreds of neatly pressed garments. Each was carefully hung and tagged with numbers written on parchment paper. I assumed they were orders for various people. I took a step towards the large shining brass countertop.

Madame Pomme did not look up at me. Her spectacles halfway down her nose, the tall gray-haired woman was flipping through a large ledger book, occasionally and rather viciously striking out this or that tally with a quilled pen.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“I see you standing there young man. Best speak your piece, I will close in ten minutes.”

Ten minutes!? How long had I been gawping?

“Um, hey. Madame Pomme. My name is Geroge and I’m wondering if you could clean this suit for me, oh and also if you have some better clothes for wearing around the farm. Anything will do really. I have 100 gold pieces.”

Madame Pomme chuckled. “I’m not a cleaner boy, that you will have to do on your own. You are taking over Golden Acres then? Oh don’t look shocked, I know everyone in this town and you are a new face. Plus, you have your grandfather’s nose. Anyhow, I can’t clean your clothes, nor can I get you much for 100 gold. But I do have a few simple options. Feel free to browse, but don’t take too long. I close at three you know!”

“Yeah, you mentioned that. Twice. Um okay, let me take a look,” I said. I rubbed my forehead as I did so. I was beginning to get a headache. Living here was constant information overload. Finally, I found a few outfits in my price range:

[ Blue Farmers Coveralls (50 gold)

BlackFarmers Coveralls (50 gold)

Yellow Farmers Coveralls (50 gold)

Cloth Pants (10 gold)

Linen Pants (25 gold)

Silk Pants (50 gold)

Cloth Shirt (10 gold)

Linen Shirt (25 gold)

Silk Shirt (50 gold)

Basic Work Boot (10gold)

Steel Toed Work Boot (20 gold) ]

I picked blue coveralls, cloth pants, and a cloth shirt as well as a steel-toed work boot. That left me with only ten gold to my name but I figured the clothes would serve me well. The items all went into my inventory and I checked to make sure everything fit:

[ Inventory (7/8)

* Scythe (Rank 1)

* Fibrous plant materials (5/99)

* Tomato Seeds (5/99)

* Blue Farmers Coveralls

* Cloth Pants

* Cloth Shirt

* Steel Toed Work boot ]

Barely, just one slot left!

I heard a rather aggressive cough from Madame Pomme. She shut the book with a loud slamming noise and headed around the counter. “Out, out! It’s closing time! Didn’t I warn you, young man? You know you ought to be busy with your farm during the day, it does a man good. What kind of young lady will marry you if you don’t have a working farm?”

Madame Pomme didn’t seem to require an answer to any of her questions so I merely bowed and let her guide me out.

“Thanks,” I said as I was pushed out the door.

Madame Pomme merely sighed. “Good luck,” she said, as if she doubted it would be enough to save me, then shut me out.

I looked around. There wasn’t much activity on the streets. I supposed most of the other villagers were still working. With only ten gold there wasn’t much left for me to do in town either. I decided I’d best head back to the farm and check on things there. I could always venture back out here in the evening and maybe grab a bite to eat and a drink, maybe even listen to some gossip that might give me a clue as to the wizard’s whereabouts.

Before I took another step I had one last thing I needed to do. I selected each of my new pieces of clothing in my inventory and equipped them. I started with the coveralls. I focused on the item in my inventory and suddenly felt my outfit change and a cool breeze on the bare skin of my sides. I realized I was naked underneath the coveralls!

Quick! Equip the rest!

I mentally selected the pants, shirt, and shoes. This completed my outfit. The old clothes were now in my inventory:

[ Inventory (6/8)

* Scythe (Rank 1)

* Fibrous plant materials (5/99)

* Tomato Seeds (5/99)

* Business Attire - Top Half (SOILED)

* Business Attire - Bottom Half (SOILED)

* Dress Shoes ]

I walked over to the river where I’d met the goblin earlier and looked down into the water at my reflection. Staring back at me was a person who looked quite different than who I’d seen in the mirror this morning. Sure, my features were all the same, but I was dressed like a local now. Already my five o’clock shadow was coming in as well. I didn’t have a razor here. I laughed.

“Ok George, you make a dashing farmer. Now let's get to work.”