Orano and Caitrin parted ways once more, each embarking on their own quest for additional equipment. As Caitrin walked, her mind couldn't help but wander to the impending day of their separation. Although it had only been a fortnight, the thought weighed heavily on her.

Lost in contemplation, Caitrin didn't notice Orano calling out to her until he repeated his question. Startled, she replied, "Oh, yes, I can hear you."

She bowed her head, her voice soft. "I was just thinking about something."

"Very well, then. Follow me. We've arrived," Orano said.

They had reached a quaint equipment shop nestled in the northeastern corner of the city, surrounded by other shops. The shop was small but welcoming, with a designated area for sharpening swords and forging iron. Shelves lined the walls, displaying a variety of equipment, and a set of stairs led to the lower level.

As they entered, Orano approached the shopkeeper. "We're looking for armor and a sword. Can you show us your best selections?"

"Certainly, sir-" The shopkeeper paused, his eyes widening in astonishment as he gazed at Caitrin.

He stammered excitedly, "Mrs., is that the armor of Ilaria?"

Caitrin's brow furrowed. "Uh, yes, it is. Why do you ask?"

The shopkeeper's eyes sparkled. "Please wait here, Mrs. I'll be right back!"

The shopkeeper returned shortly, carrying a long steel sword. "This is Elzamor," he announced, placing the sword on the table. "It's the complementary piece to the armor."

"These two items are invaluable because they were inspired by the sword and armor of a legendary female general named Hera," he explained. "Many years ago, she brought peace to the land, defeating countless enemies. Despite her formidable power, she was a symbol of hope and unity."

Caitrin picked up the sword, examining it with a mix of awe and trepidation. "This is the replica of a general's sword. It's so beautiful and dangerous," she murmured.

Orano turned to the shopkeeper. "We'll take these. Thank you."

Caitrin nervously approached the shopkeeper, holding out her necklace. "Before we purchase these, I have a question. I've heard that Faye's economy and population are more advanced than the other kingdoms. Do you know of any places where I could sell this?"

The shopkeeper took the necklace and inspected it carefully. "It's a very interesting piece," he said, his eyes narrowing. "Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with such items. However, based on recent auctions, I can say that it's practically priceless."

He placed the necklace back on the table and sighed. "I regret to inform you that this is too valuable to sell here. Even if you listed it for sale, I doubt anyone would be able to afford it. But if you were to go to Emperal, you might find a suitable buyer there. That's where you're most likely to sell such a valuable item for the price you desire."

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Caitrin's eyes widened in realization. "It's just like the vision I saw! Could this mean it was showing me the place I wanted to go all along?"

"Now that we know where to go and have everything we need, let's get moving," Orano said, starting to leave the shop.

Caitrin sighed wearily. "Can't we rest for a moment?"

Orano noticed that Caitrin was getting tired, but he ignored him and continued on his way.

As they strolled down the street, lost in thought about their next steps, Caitrin inquired, "Where are we going next?"

"Nethilor," Orano replied. "Once we find the rift there, we'll move on."

"What about the rift I saw?" Caitrin asked, her voice tinged with weariness.

"We'll investigate that if we need to go to Emperal," Orano answered.

"We're going to be walking forever," Caitrin sighed.

Just then, a young girl caught their attention. She was playing the violin, surrounded by a group of children. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her emerald eyes sparkled with passion. Her playing was both delicate and powerful, evoking a range of emotions.

Caitrin smiled. "Her music is beautiful, and she is too. I wonder how long she's been playing."

Orano joined her in admiring the girl. Like Caitrin, he was captivated by her grace and talent. She poured her heart and soul into her music, and it resonated with everyone who passed by.

When she finished playing, the girl bowed gracefully to the audience. The children cheered and clapped enthusiastically.

"You were amazing, big sis!" they exclaimed.

"Please play again, big sis!"

The girl smiled. "Now, now, you have things to do. Your parents will be worried if you don't go home. I'll be here tomorrow, so you can come back and see me again."

The children agreed eagerly and departed.

As the children dispersed, the woman prepared to rest. However, her tranquility was shattered by an angry voice. "You're playing your violin in front of my shop again! Didn't I tell you to go somewhere else?"

The woman looked up, her expression unchanged. "I'm simply trying to brighten people's day, Miss Everly. I have no intention of causing harm, but these people need a moment of joy."

Miss Everly's anger flared. "Nobody cares about your 'joy.' You're interfering with our business!"

The woman remained calm, her voice firm. "What if we become so consumed by our responsibilities that we forget about the importance of happiness? Perhaps I'm approaching this the wrong way, and perhaps I'm spreading negativity. But you must understand that happiness is not a fleeting moment. It's a journey, a process that propels us forward. Even a brief moment of happiness can lead to beautiful things in the future. If we ignore the pursuit of happiness, we risk losing our humanity. Everyone deserves to experience joy, including you, Miss Everly."

Miss Everly's anger reached a boiling point. "Enough of your nonsense! Leave now, or I'll call the authorities!"

She stormed back into her shop, leaving the woman to face the curious stares of onlookers.

Orano approached the woman cautiously. She looked confused and frightened at first, but as he drew closer, he slowly presented her with two pouches filled with gold.

"I enjoyed the performance," he said. "I'll be back for more."

As Orano turned to leave, the woman called out to him. "Sir, sir!"

He paused, turning to face her. "Yes?"

"Why are you giving me so much money? You don't have to reward me for something so ordinary. Please take it back." She tried to return the gold.

"I won't take it back," Orano insisted, gently pushing her hand away.

"But why? What if I'm just pretending? What if I'm lying? What if I'm a fraud?" she pleaded.

Orano faced away from her, his voice steady. "Perhaps you are a thief, stealing my money. But what you don't understand is that I'm willing to lose my money for the chance to make someone happy. Even if a small part of what you say is true, your actions can bring joy to many people. It could be a truly wonderful thing. That's why I'm giving you this money, right here, right now."

The young woman smiled, taking a deep breath. "Thank you, sir. I'll never forget your kindness."

As they walked away, Caitrin turned to Orano. "You did the right thing, you know."

"At least she now knows what to do," Orano replied.