The Wanderer's Fair was a monthly fair run by nomadic merchants that went on for 3 days in the village. It was the only large activity that the little hamlet was exposed to and was highly anticipated by all 25 or so residents.
Stela ran around the market place, a straight cobblestone path lined by makeshift wooden stalls. Ornate paper lanterns were hung on tall bamboo poles that were still green. Thick red ropes that were tied to the posts of the stalls made a zig zag pattern above the path. It was Stela's first fair in both lifetimes and though small, it was enough to fill her veins with excitement.
There were stalls with toys encased in magical bubbles floating in the air that people could shoot with arrows. Another stall sold delicious candy in the shape of clouds, you could even see little bursts of lightning running through it. Variety stalls sold everything from glasses that helped you see twice as far to hats that transformed your appearance into different people, depending on the design. Stela was surprised, while some items were novelties, there were a lot of magical items there that seemed valuable - like the appearance altering hats!
"Ma, are these hats common everywhere? Is this how fairs all over the country are?", Stela asked her mother curiously.
"No, love.", her mother responded, "The Wanderer's Fair only sets up shop in a few villages across the border. The nomads do not like travelling to the interiors or the capital."
"Are these magical hats common?", Stela continued, putting on one and transforming into a brown haired girl. It looked like the hats altered appearances but transformed the wearer into something close to what they already looked like.
Martha picked the hat off Stela's head and placed it back on the display counter. "Not at all angel! This type of magic is forbidden in the capital." she answered absently as if something distracting had just come to mind. Then, holding Stela's hand she made her way to a small grey building at the end of the footpath.
The grey house had a wooden door with a small sign that read - "Clothes". Martha opened the door and walked in with Stela tagging along.
Stela could hardly contain her surprise when she saw the interior of the grey unassuming house. The high ceiling of the parlour was shaped like a dome and tiled with various shades of blue and white that mimicked the sky. The walls of the room were white, with the exception of certain areas where the blue tiles had been placed to make it seem like the colour of the sky was running down. A single lamp attached to a long white rope dangled down in the center of the room, illuminating it. Stela had seen many beautiful architectural sites as Saintess, but she hadn't seen any place as eccentric as this one. Looking below the lamp, her eyes fell upon a bespectacled, short plump lady dressed in pink sitting behind a table.
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Stela felt her mother's hand grip her tighter as the two walked up close to the table.
"Dione, I'll need a Sherol uniform for Stela.", Martha stated awkwardly. It was the first time Stella saw her mother look even mildly uncomfortable.
"Ahhh! Martha!", a raspy sweet strawberry like voice responded. The pink lady stood up. "Finally, you come here for a uniform! It's been so many years! Years! To think that Martin and you had a child at such an old age! Amazing what miracles and community work can do!"
Community work? Stela looked at the pink lady, she was decidedly weird.
The pink lady continued, "But are you sure Stela can enter the academy? There are some quali-".
"She will enter the academy." Martha interrupted her. Then looking down at Stela, Martha gestured towards the pink lady and said, "This lady here is Madam Dione. She's our Village's finest dressmaker and outfitter. Why don't you do a little curtsy and greet her dear?"
Stella did a little curtsy, "Good day, Miss." she said.
"How flattering!", Dione replied, considerably pleased that such a young child had called her 'miss'.
"Well I'll have her clothes ready in a weeks time Martha. As for her size, I'll make it a little larger so that I don't have to sew a new one any time soon." she stated matter-of-factly.
"Thank you Dione.", Martha replied, looking a little relieved. She placed four silver coins onto a porcelain bowl that was on the desk and gave an acknowledging nod to Dione before heading towards the door. She looked back, "Well then, I'll return in a week." she stated.
Dione simply sat back in her chair and continued smiling. Stela found the woman utterly confounding and odd.
Then, right before they opened the door behind them, Dione remarked "Maybe I could make you some clothes as well Martha, yours are quite short aren't they?"
Stela looked at her mother, but Martha seemed unfazed and merely opened the door and walked out.
Once they were out, her mother breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness we're done with that." she said.
Stella tugged at her mother's hand and questioned her, "Why was the lady so strange to you ma?"
Martha smiled awkwardly. "She's an old friend of your father's." she answered.
Stela could only pretend like she did not understand what that meant, but inside she was appalled that her father had dated Dione once upon a time. To think that Dione might have been her mother! Stela shivered in fear thinking of what it might've been like.