The first thing I noticed about the old woman was her pointed ears. She had a smile on her face while looking over her counter at me. I blushed, hiding behind my mother. The woman was beautiful for her age, and the wrinkles on her face did little to diminish her innate beauty. She wore quaint and elegant green robes that matched her eyes, though her hair was so grey as to be almost white.

“So, what brings the princess to my little establishment? I have heard a lot about you.”

“Oh, please, there is no need for formalities. If even you started to act formally, I’d fear a long future with no friends,” Mother said. She paused and turned to me, smiling as she met my eyes. “En, dear, why don’t you greet yourself?”

“Y-yes,” I said. I turned towards the elderly woman. She smiled, waiting for me. “I am Enala Arr—I am just Enala!”

“Hmm, indeed, it seems you are, " the old elf chuckled. “I am Tinwen. Say, is it your first time meeting an elf? I noticed you staring at these,” Tinwen said, pointing at her ears.

“I-it is, but I knew right away. You are pretty, Miss Tinwen!”

“Hahaha, there is no need for flattery, little one.” She placed a hand on her chin. “As I said, I heard much about you from Roland. So, you love painting, I hear?”

I smiled. “I don’t love painting! I adore it! I never thought it could be so fun,” I paused and looked around at the painting supplies. “Is this where Roland got the infinite paint?”

“Infinite paint? Oh, do you mean the subscription paint? I restock the paint monthly for anyone who gets endless paint. So that’s why Roland bought more subscriptions?” Tinwen looked down at me—considering something. “If you’d like, I could give you a tour of the warehouse?”

I looked up at my mother, who nodded.

“Yes!” I said.

After that, Tinwen led us behind her counter and opened a door. I was surprised at what I saw beyond. It was a full-blown warehouse with giant barrels everywhere, and flying rock golems were moving things throughout. I gasped in surprise at the level of sophistication.

Each golem would fly to the top of a barrel and refill its contents from another barrel, but I wondered why they were moving paint from the massive barrels into the smaller ones. They moved the paint from smaller barrels into glass bottles in another section.

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The ones that would receive the glass bottles were metal golems with a cyan sheen to them. The metal golems cast a spell after the glass was packed to the brim. Of course, I recognized those glass containers as the endless paint containers Roland got me.

“Wow, this is awesome!” I ran into the warehouse towards the golems.

“No, En! Wait!” Mother said.

“Don’t worry, your majesty. Those golems are docile.”

It was just as Tinwen said. The golems paid me no mind and continued their duties. I watched them work their magic. Watching such an intricate design of magic made me want to learn more. I already made my own spell. What if there was a whole world of paint magic to be learned?

I ran back towards Mother and Tinwen. “Do you think I can also control golems like this, Mother?”

“Fufu, I am sure you could do anything you put your mind to, but dear, please don’t run off on your own next time.” She patted my head.

Of course, I knew I should have been more cautious, but I realized that this body profoundly affected me. I never remembered being prone to these bouts of excitement as much before.

“Still,” Mother said, “I want you to enjoy yourself. Now that it’s getting late, let’s head back. Yumi and I can help you with your magic after dinner.”

“You really mean it?” I asked.

“Fufufu, of course, dear.”

“You two are so close. I am very envious.” Tinwen looked longingly at the golems. “Ah, don’t worry about me. Just some old elf’s ramblings. If you need any help with paint in the future, please come back.”

We left the store after buying a few canvases, but the whole time on the way back, I couldn’t help thinking about Tinwen and the paint. I didn’t really know much about the world. An elf could tame or create all of those golems for the sole purpose of making paint. Why would she go to those lengths? Did she just love painting?

“Is something bothering you, dear?” Mother asked as I held her hand.

“No,” I said before shaking my head.”Actually, yes.”

“Is it about Tinwen?”

I gaped at her.

“Fufu, it’s obvious you would have questions. Remember what I said?” She asked and bent down, poking my forehead. “You are my child, and I am your mother. It is my job to listen to you. It is your job to be cute and have fun.”

“How would I grow if I am only being cute and having fun?”

“My, a very logical response, but at the same time, it is so En.” As I started to pout, she giggled. “Fufu, you mustn’t take everything literally. This is also part of growing up, see?”

She pointed at a little girl running across the street. At that moment, the little girl fell and scraped her knee. Just as the child started crying, their mother came to the rescue, using healing magic and kisses.

“That is your job. You are to have fun and fall over.” Mother bent down and kissed my forehead. “If you don’t want to tell me what’s troubling you, that’s okay. But a Mother is always here—forever.”

She wrapped her arms around me just as I also started crying. I didn’t understand it. I was supposed to tell her things, and then I was crying. But even if I was sobbing, she never let go of me.