The two ninjas were served with ale by May while me and Wendy, as May told me, sat down and waited for her to cook something nice.

I immediately took this time to explain to her that I don't remember anything about my past or anything about her.

“So, I don't know but we can start by being friends.”

I reached out my hand for a handshake.

“Wendy Fisher. Son of Rex Fisher! I'm a merchant journey woman, soon to be master, under my father who met you here when we were young. Also, I'm your best childhood friend!”

Every time she answers she got close to me and her eyes were burning crazy more and more as I recoiled.

Soon to be master? At that age?

Journeyman/woman is like a second stage to becoming a master of a specific trade. Kinda like getting a doctorate of some sort. At least that's how I interpret since May considers me an apprentice reaching to become a journeyman.

“That's cool. I guess. So... Um... how did we met?”

I pushed her back to her seat.

“Um...”

She suddenly melted back to her seat and hang her reddening head and asked if I can change the question.

I then poke my head closer to her and with a whisper asked about what she was doing in the tool shop earlier. Plus she was good at using a sword.

“Looking for you,”

She fidgeted.

“You always get into some silly turf fights with the other kids every story fair.”

Furthermore, it seems Elfien never gave any attention to Wendy, on her yearly visit on Ellena, whenever there's a turf war, gang fights, or whenever there's nothing to do, he's just interested in swordsmanship and fighting in general -- the typical attitude of every kid here. That's the only information I got when May came in with sizzling fried pork, green veggie soup and orange rich scrambled eggs.

“Pork chop, I missed this! You can have the veggies.”

“Shut up and eat. I wanna hear this.”

“Thank you, Miss May.”

Wendy clasped both of her hands as her nose took a whiff of the steam of our meal that her grumbling stomach was giving her evidence when added:

“I haven't a real meal in two days.”

Me and May would truly have filled the table with questions to make her full without eating but the way she stuffed her mouth with food used her hands on chomping the pork and almost choking the soup we let her have her fill until she asked for seconds.

“So, why are you here a day earlier than your father? I would expect here by dawn but... Well you're here.”

May took the initiative as now Wendy was licking off the mess of her satisfaction off her lips.

“My apologise for my table manners but,”

None taken, we replied, after which she cleared her throat and said something that will make my sleep harder tonight.

“Firstly, I would like to thank you for sending that missive about Elfien's resurrection,”

“You don't have to be so formal about it, dear.”

“Really I must, you don't know how much that means for me when returning back here.”

She took May hand's as if she was angel.

“That is why I won't make any this any more longer.”

Raising her hand she paused and struggled to take something of her pocket we all felt it; me, May, and her companions, knew what she's going to say after such emotional testimony. Finally, she got a roll of paper and she began breathing out and in, composing herself I was ready to say No if she says it.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“I wish to start a business venture here in Ellena.”

She said aloud that gave me a sigh of relief.

“A business proposal?”

Said May and broke a sweat.

“Ah... I see.”

I notice that sigh of disappointment in that as she told Wendy to tell her all about it since she looked so ecstatic when telling about it. I am just glad that it wasn't a marriage announcement or something close to that.

“Has your father finally given you permission to start a shop here? And at this age I wish my son was prodigious like you.”

Ugh. Of course she would compare.

“W-well, you are not wrong but my proposal is far more profitable business venture for both of us. So please do listen because I'm very bad at reiterating what I said.”

Here she paused for a moment and started

“I've already secured a building permit by the mayor to build my very own store here in Ellena, and I expect construction will begin at around mid to late spring, isn't that amazing?”

“May!”

I tugged her hand to wake her up.

“Huh, Ah! Well, eh well... Yeah... Good on you.”

“But the really profitable part starts here in this written contract that if you sign right now will secure a two year business deal my new established shop with your Inn,”

It was a downhill discussion of her strategy and other business stuff that I could only comprehend some while May just let her be and tried to keep her head from not dropping.

“Thus, by my return on the next coming cycle me and Elfien are to be wed and thus completing the terms and agreement, and covering the...”

“Wa-wa-wa-Wait, wait!”

I said in a jump.

“You and me to be wed!?”

“I-I really don't like to reiterate what I said.”

And she's blushing. She clears her throat, composed herself, and began to continue...

“Wed!?”

All of the sudden that contract slapped May with a dose happiness.

“Mom!”

“What's the matter? Be quick about it I have a contract to sign!”

Her eyes were sparkling.

“Really!?”

Even more so was Wendy.

“What do you mean, what's the matter!? You're going to sell me!”

I slammed the table to get my point across.

“Wow, so this is how marriages works back in the day. Huh.”

“Shhh! It's getting good!”

Those are awfully loud for commenting.

“Look, I'm 13,” As I was always been told. “I'm too young to be married and you're too young to be married!”

Besides 15 is the right age for marriage in this world.

“Haha, Elfien, you're already 14 now, today's your birthday remember?”

Chuckled May.

Ah... Fish paste!

“A-also, I turned 14 two months ago... And also, here...”

She pointed in her paper a mad red stamp with a certain anchor and crown engraving.

“I already have father's stamp, consenting to my proposal.”

“All is well then. You have my consent for his hand by the next cycle when he comes of age.”

“What!”

I strafed at May, she really sold me.

“Really?! B-but I haven't mentioned about the dowry and my... My...”

She became frantic as she tried to take something from her inventory again.

“Bah. Leave that little detail behind! I'll talk to your father when he arrives.”

With a pat on her back and thumbs up...

“Nope! M-mom! I mean May!”

She's not my mother!

“I won't have it!”

“Why, what's the problem. Wendy's a good girl and your long time friend!”

“E-even if I'm a merchant by heart, I still know a great deal of household chores like cooking, sewing, cleaning and churning too!”

What's churning?

“Oh, you see! She's also a great beauty at that one! Plus she's the reason why you wanted to learn how to dance in the first place.”

“Really?”

She gasped and her face blushed heavily again. 

“I never knew you wanted to dance with me that much.”

And now she's playing with hair while looking down and it made May want to sign the contract even more.

“What! I don't remember anything ok! Agh. Look I-I just don't want to marry.”

I don't even know what any reasons will convince them that I just don't like it since I just met her and yes, I did say that to them as a main reason but I got flooded with stories of how me and Wendy were so close together back then.

“Don't tell me you're in love with another girl?”

And May detonated a landmine.

“Prfft... Lol.”

“Haha... Poor kid.”

“I-Is this true?”

Her whole body suddenly shakes like a crumbling fortress.

“Elfien! Tell us the truth right now! Because even if you don't tell us I will still sign this contract regardless.”

“May... Please! You've kept me in training for the past weeks, always worked in this Inn with you, went to shopping with you, and you always refuse to let me go with my friends! How would I have fallen in love with someone?”

I rested my case there and stamped my way to my room and locked myself, even if she shouted at me to open the door.