Knowing how to go back and fix my prior conversation gave me a little more confidence that I was learning. I was learning and growing. I am hoping that in the future it will help keep me alive for longer. I am not ignorant enough to think that I will just stop dying. That would be too convenient.

I take a deep breath as I enter back into the smithy. I went through the entire conversation again, doing my best to keep it as close to word for word as possible. I don't need a new variable to change things and possibly lead to another death.

"I don't know. I am not sure of the reasons that I have done things in the past. However, my birthday is coming up and I find that I wish to be a better a more intentional woman. Believe me or don't, that's your choice. Let my actions speak for themselves. And on that note, I will be leaving."

"Didn't you want to look at swords?" he asks me.

"Yes, I do. That gives me another reason to come back."

"Another reason?"

"I plan to get to know you a little. My upcoming party is also to find a suitor you know. Good to know my options. Come to my party if you want to be considered as well. Bye!" I say and make my way out of the shop.

"Okay. Make sure to set some time aside for me if I do show up!" he shouts. I give a hum as a response and don't turn around.

I sigh in relief once the door closes behind me. I had been more confident through the conversation after having gone over it with Alias, but it was still unnerving.

Okay, if I remember correctly there is only one more shop on this strip. I stroke Blizzie's fur and make my way into the next shop. An Assortment of Magical Bits and Bobs is the shop's name. How did I not remember such a strange name. That's it, I am convinced that there weren't names to these shops before.

I push the door and hear a bell chime above my head. I then hear a rustling and footsteps coming over to me. Why does it sound like all of these shop keepers are coming from the back of their stores? It makes no sense to me. Unless they are in the process of making new items? Do I go into the back of my store while it is open to craft new ideas? I'll have to ponder this later. If I have time. Between all of the investigating and dying. More the dying. I die a lot.

"Hi!" Comes a voice coming from the person running to the front of the shop.

"Hello, I hope I'm not interrupting anything? It sounds like you were somewhere in the back." I say, watching to gauge his expression. I want to see if I can tell when a person is about to murder me. I am tired of being taken by surprise.

"No no, of course you didn't. I just haven't had that many customers since opening my shop. I guess people around here don't need magical items as much as I thought they might. Seems that I might want to consider finding a different profession." he says as he ruffles his fingers through his hair.

He is as tall as all of the other men I have met, standing at about 6'3". He has deep sea green eyes, and medium length hair of blues and greens. I wonder if it is natural. It would be rude to ask, however. A lot of people seem to have unnatural hair colors. I guess they wouldn't be unnatural here?

"My name is Alexander Ludus. No I do not play the lute. My father doesn't play the lute. However, my grandfather does." he says and shakes his head a little. Do people often ask him if he plays the lute? "Pleasure to meet you." he says and holds his hand out to me. Is it possible that we haven't met before?

"My name is Aria Brightburn. The pleasure is mine. I assume though that my reputation proceeds me?" I ask him. I want to know how far my name travels. Am I vilified, even by those who don't know me? I am expecting that to be the case.

"I haven't heard of you. Am I supposed to have?" he asks me, clearly curious.

A smile spreads over my lips and I can feel a brightness in spirit come over me. He doesn't know me, he hasn't heard of me. Does this mean it will be harder for him to become suspicious of me? How nice would it be to have someone I can be around without having to worry as much about raising his suspicion bar.

"No. No you shouldn't have heard about me. I don't know why I even said that. Maybe I just always wanted to try that line. I read a lot of books and people make a strong impression if they say ridiculous things like that." I twirl my hair around my finger and laugh nervously. I flick my eyes to above his head. Nothing in the suspicion bar, but it seems that his affection bar increased. Maybe by only a few grains of sand, but it still did.

"Oh good!" he says and sighs in relief, slumping onto the counter that he had been standing by dramatically. He seems interesting. "I wondered if I had just commit a faux pas. I only moved here a few weeks ago and am trying to get my feet under me still." he tells me.

"Where are you from? What brought you here to Altarious?" I ask him. I am pleased with myself that I remembered this kingdom. The countries here aren't really broken up into towns, or at least, not that I know of. We are in the capital however and we just go by the name of the kingdom.

"I came here from Selvilan. I guess I just wondered what it would be like to live somewhere else, somewhere new. Sorry that it isn't anything special or some great and grand reason." he says, looking down at his feet and blushing a little.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"I think that is a wonderful reason." I tell him. "Forget things that feel like great and grand destinies. Living ones life the best one is able is noble. You wanted a change and you went after it! That takes courage and the heart of an adventurer! Even if you don't fight monsters. And now I am rambling. I'm sorry. Ignore me." I say, partially hoping that I could disappear. Finally I have the chance to make a good first impression on someone and I am babbling about courage.

"You really think that I'm brave?" he asks me, glancing at me through hair that had fallen into his eyes.

"Yes. I do." I tell him.

This conversation brings me back to memories of my old life. I was having a conversation with a friend of mine as I was packing up to leave for grad school.

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"Are you sure you are ready to go? I know a lot of people in our class decided to take a year off before going to grad school. Figure out what they want to do with their degrees before taking on more debt. And even the ones that are going are staying local. However, you are going clear across the country to go to med school of all places! Are you sure about this?" my friend Lacy asks me.

"I'm sure, and as much as I love you, you can't talk me out of doing this. I have been wanting to go into pediatrics since I was twelve years old. Also, it is highly recommended that you go to a different graduate school than your undergrad. To get different experiences and different perspectives on life!"

"I know that." Lacy says and huffs. "Do you have to be so brave though? Going from a small-town state university to a big city university? If you end up going through a hard time you won't have anyone you know around you!"

"I'm tough. I can handle anything that life throws at me. How can I not be brave when I grew up having you as a best friend?" I ask her.

We wrap each other up in a huge hug before going back to packing up my clothes.

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"I've never had anyone say that to me before." he says, then meets my eyes and smiles brightly. "I have some plush and comfy chairs further inside. I offer tea to the people that come in to visit my store. I think it enhances the shopping experience." he tells me. "Would you like a cup?"

"I'm not thirsty at the moment. I'll take some next time." I tell him. "However, if you have the time I would love to test out those chairs!" I add when I see his head starting to droop again.

"Are you sure? You don't have anywhere you need to be?" he asks me.

"I still have a bit of time before I am expected back home." I tell him. There was still an hour or three before Poppy would get worried about me not being back.

"Then follow me right this way!" he says and leads me further into the store, almost skipping. I really have no idea what to make of this guy. He wasn't featured a lot in the games, so I have no preconceived notions of his likes, dislikes, or even his personality. I hope that ends up being a good thing.

"Meeooowr!" I hear Blizzie say from my bag. I see Alexander whip his head around. Did he think that I was making that sound?

"It seems my sweet little familiar is upset that he hasn't gotten an introduction yet." I tell him. "This is the great and noble Sir Blizzard. Blizzie for short." I say and reach into the bag and stroke his head a few times. He butts his head against my hand, nuzzling it aggressively. He is so cute!

Alexander walks over and takes a knee in front of Blizzie and extends his hand out in front of Blizzie's paw. Blizzie, seeming to know what he is doing, and sets his paw in Alexander's hand.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Sir Blizzard. It is my honor to have one so regal and noble as you grace my humble shop." he says.

"Meeeooowwr." Blizzie says in response. He really is quite the little conversationalist.

"He says that it is nice to meet you too." I say, translating. Well, pretending to translate. I don't know exactly what he is saying, but I think I can sense the meaning behind his meows. I wonder if I will gain a new skill. Aria learns cat speak, do do do doooo!

Alexander stands back up and continues making his way to the chairs.

"Ones familiar says a lot about a person." Alexander says conversationally. "Or, that's what I have heard at least. It seems to be a common enough saying. If that is true I think you must be an interesting person. Sir Blizzard is so friendly." he says, deciding not to use Blizzie's more familiar name. I wonder why? Personal preference? Alexander seems like he might be a rather odd fellow. I am intrigued.

He finishes leading us to these very plush and comfortable chairs and we continue conversing.

"I used to help my parents with a shop like this back home. It was really popular and we had our regular customers. People were very open about magic and were curious about their affinities. We had a very special, very rare magical item that was able to tell people."

"Aren't there orbs that show the color of ones affinity?" I ask him, wondering why this was so special. I might even be able to make such an item if I do enough research and have all of the needed ingredients.

"Yes, there are orbs that do that. This item was special, unique. Within the glass it did change color, yes, but it also showed a symbol."

"A symbol?" I ask, immensely curious.

"Yes. Everyone has an affinity for an element, even people that are not able to use magic. That is common knowledge, at least where I am from."

I nod to him to show that I am listening and that it is common knowledge. As far as I am aware it is. It is taught in the magic schools at the very least. In the game you play as Iris, starting into her new magic school. It was an odd game, as you actually got the choice whether you listen to a full lecture! I wondered how they were able to program in so much content that most games don't offer. I guess it makes sense now that I know it was a game based off a world.

"Well, the item we had showed more than that. Say you have an affinity for the wind element, it would also show something you would be skilled at within that element. An example for wind would be the ability to communicate with and raise birds. Another example would be earth magic, and the sorts of things you would be best suited to grow. Or, someone can specialize in creating golems. I met someone that got the golem symbol within the item. It was pretty cool." he tells me.

"That is really cool!" I tell him, excited by this idea. "It's sad that you had to leave it back home." I tell him.

"Well, I had to leave it behind, but I was given instructions on how to make one. It seems that I am not very good at crafting magical items." he tells me. "But I am rather good at selling them!"

"Shouldn't you be at least a little skilled in it, to create the items you want to sell?" I ask him.

"You would think so. Instead, I plan on creating good relationship with traveling merchants, so that they allow me to buy then sell the magical items they come across."

"I see." I tell him.

"That was a common practice back home. But I would love to be able to craft that item."

"Maybe we can work on creating it together." I tell him. "I own my own shop, one that mostly sells charms and potions, but I sometimes feel inspired and create magical items."

"Are you sure you would be willing to make this with me? Wouldn't that be taking away from the time that you have creating things in your own store?" he asks me.

"I can just cut my hours in half for a little while." I tell him. "I don't think people will mind that much." I tell him. I didn't even have an hour of operation on a sign at the door of my shop. I am going to take that as an indication that I am more flippant with when I have my shop open.

"If you don't mind then I would enjoy that!" he says, smiling brightly. "You may very well be my first real friend here. Oh, some people from the neighboring shops come in to say hi and look around a little, but this is the longest conversation that I have had with anyone since moving here." he tells me, opening up to me even more.

"I could use a good friend too. I grew apart from the ones that I had." I tell him. "And it's harder to make friends as an adult."

"I look forward to working with you Aria Brightburn." he tells me, offering his hand.

"And I look forward to working with you Alexander Ludus."

"You can call me Alex."