[ Chapter 13 ] Shopping

Walking away from the cave, they reach more into the forest and head back to Straya. They leave the forest making it back to the pathway leading to Straya.

[ Anathea ] ¨Gilden, do you want to become an adventurer? I feel like that would be a good way to build on your name.¨

[ Gilden ] ¨Adventurer… I see. I probably should. I can start with small requests and work my way to building my name.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨Let´s get you registered!¨

[ Hearts ] ¨I feel like we should get you cleaned up first. Change your clothes or have a bath.¨

Gilden looks at his body.

[ Gilden ] ¨Is there something wrong with this?¨

[ Hearts ] ¨There isn´t anything wrong with it, but you look dirty and untrusting. If you want people to believe you, you need a good look.¨

[ Gilden ] “I didn’t think about it like that. Yeah, let’s go get me changed.”

They all continue walking back to Straya, soon arriving at the city gates. The two guards stood at the gates to survey the incoming people.

[ Guard 1 ] “Halt! Anathea and Hearts, We permit you 2 entering. But we don’t know that man next to you. Who is he?”

[ Anathea ] “Uhh… he’s a friend… Yeah, he is our friend.”

[ Guard 2 ] “Even if he is your friend, we don’t know who he is.”

Gilden walks in front of the guards.

[ Gilden ] “I am Gilden, a villager from the village of Fod.”

[ Guard 1 ] “Fod?!? The village destroyed by the Silver Fiend?”

Gilden nods at the Guard. Gilden’s begins to soften and lower trying to become more desolated.

[ Gilden ] “I was young when the Fiend attack… I lost my family and all my friends… I was forced to live in the forest alone and survived by myself… trying to live and eat… all alone in the wild… for many years… Then I was found by Hearts and Anathea, they helped me and wanted me to come to Straya to rebuild my life.”

Both guards begin to swell up in sadness hearing his story, tears dropping from their faces.

[ Guard 1 ] “Such a tragic story…”

[ Guard 2 ] “I can’t believe… you had to survive all that by yourself…”

The two guards are still crying. Ana and Hearts look at the guards with black faces, and then they both look at each other.

[ Anathea ] “He’d made all that up didn’t he?”

[ Hearts ] “He definitely did.”

Gilden leans over and stares at Hearts and Ana giving a small thumbs up. Aanthea makes a derpy face of shock.

[ Anathea ] “He did?!?!?!”

[ Guard 1 ] “We’ll let you in. You must have had it rough all your life. I’m sure Straya will keep you well.”

Both Guards open the gates to the city. As the three walk into the city, the gates close behind them, and Ana is standing there perplexed in surprise. Her face is dropped and slumped. All three are in the middle of the main road of the city.

[ Anathea ] “That… actually worked…? They believed it…”

Hearts point towards the houses of markets.

[ Hearts ] “That way. It has shops and markets. I’m sure we’ll find some good clothes for you Gilden.”

Gilden nods okay, and they set off. Gilden and Hearts both walk, but Ana stands there still perplexed. Hearts comes back and drags Ana by her cloak, Ana is stiff as a statue as Hearts drags her.

[ Hearts ] “C’mon. Let’s go.”

Anathea’s eyes are blank as she is dragged.

[ Anathea ] “They believed him…”

Hearts drags Anathea with her as they make their way to the clothing shops soon after they reach the hall of shops and houses. The three stand in the middle of the street in the crowd.

[ Hearts ] ¨So, which one shall we go to?¨

[ Anathea ] ¨I have no idea which one is good. So, it is entirely up to you two.¨

[ Gilden ] ¨I really haven´t been able to go into cities much, even in this form. I don´t know any good ones either.¨

Hearts thinks for a bit.

[ Hearts ] ¨What´s our price range?¨

Anathea scratches her head, looking into her bag.

[ Anathea ] ¨Uhh… maybe… about 30 bronze coins.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Thirty huh… not much but I have a place.¨

Hearts head off, and Gilden and Ana follow and after some time Hearts reaches a lonely small shop at the end of the street.

[ Hearts ] ¨Here. We can get some clothes here.¨

All three of them stand before the building, it looks sad and old.

[ Hearts ] ¨This is the place.¨

Anathea looks at it with indifference.

[ Anathea ] ¨Why does it look so… dead?¨

[ Gilden ] ¨Is this really a shop?¨

The three were questioning whether or not to even go in, the door slowly opened. Startling Anathea, making her eyes jump in surprise.

[ Anathea ] ¨Eeek!¨

The door to the shop slowly opened like a curse. As the door fully opened, the entrance was dark. Slowly emerging from the darkness was an old lady.

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[ Old lady ] ¨Oh… customers. Did you come and buy some of my clothing?¨

The old lady's tone was very soft and welcoming. She had a very friendly and nice aura to her. Her hair was tied in a bun, black in color, was rather short in stature, whiter skinned toned, and with a rounder face. She wore a clothing similar to a kimono.

[ Old Lady ] ¨Irasshai.¨

The old lady returns to the shop, and Anathea looks at Hearts.

[ Anathea ] ¨She´s rather nice.¨

Hearts look at Hearts with a sarcastic expression.

[ Hearts ] ¨Duh, I wouldn´t take you guys somewhere scary.¨

Gilden walks towards the shop first, and Hearts and Ana follow suit. As they entered the shop, the atmosphere was very home-like and warm. The interior was tiny, with clothing pieces placed on counters and some on racks for display.

[ Anathea ] ¨It´s small.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Yup it is. But the stuff here is good. Hey, lady Oba. How have things been?¨

[ Oba ] ¨Oh you know Hearts, not many customers. It´s just me and my sewing kit. I´m just waiting for my day.¨

Hearts chuckles a bit.

[ Hearts ] ¨That´s no fun. Just waiting?¨

[ Oba ] ¨Hearts, you know I don´t have much else to do in my free time.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨I know… but you should try and find something. Maybe get a pet?¨

[ Oba ] ¨A pet… I haven´t thought about that. I do like company.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨See?¨

[ Oba ] ¨I´ll think about it Hearts. In the meantime, who are these two? Your friends?¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Oh yeah, these two are my companions.¨

Hearts point at Ana.

[ Hearts ] ¨That is Anathea, she is my first comrade. She is an elf.¨

Anathea bows slightly.

[ Anathea ] ¨Nice to meet you.¨

Oba smiles a bit at Ana.

[ Oba ] ¨No need to be formal.¨

Hearts points to Gilden.

[ Hearts ] ¨That is Gilden, he is our friend we met today.¨

Oba gives Gilden a slightly suspicious look.

[ Oba ] ¨Gilden… He´s in such ragged clothes.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨I know, that's why I brought us here to buy him some clothes.¨

Oba seems to disappear and be right behind Gilden like she is measuring his figure.

[ Oba ] ¨You have quite the body young man… if you´re looking for clothes. I have the things for you.¨

Oba walks into her employee room and within seconds comes back in holding many different clothing.

[ Oba ] ¨Let´s get him fitted.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Alright! Let´s do this.¨

Hearts walks over to Oba.

[ Anathea ] ¨Why are you going to help?¨

Hearts turn back looking at Ana.

[ Hearts ] ¨Hmm?¨

[ Anathea ] ¨It´s not like you work here right?¨

[ Hearts ] ¨I work here part-time.¨

Anathea's face goes blank like from the realization.

[ Anathea ] ¨Eh…?¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Yeah, I work for Lady Oba here part-time. Now let´s get him fitted! You can help too Ana.¨

Gilden chimes in.

[ Gilden ] ¨Why do you want me to try on so many clothes?¨

Hearts turn back to Gilden.

[ Hearts ] ¨Why not? We are already here. Now hurry up!¨

Gilden backs up a bit.

[ Gilden ] ¨I guess but like isn´t it a waste of ti- Woah!¨

Hearts yanks Gilden by the shirt into the dressing room where Oba and Hearts start to change him.

[ Anathea ] ¨Wait!¨ She sighs ¨I guess I´ll wait here then.¨

Anathea stands there and decides to wait for the outfits. As she waits there, she hears rumbling and movement in the room along with their voices.

[ Oba ] ¨Stop squirming young one.¨

[ Gilden ] ¨Hey- why are you pushing so hard!¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Just stop moving and let us change your outfit!¨

After what seems like a minute of fighting in the room, Oba and Hearts come out with the first outfit on Gilden.

[ Hearts ] ¨First one done.¨

[ Oba ] ¨Young Elf, you wanna see the outfit.¨

Anathea was now sitting on the nearby seat by the room. She slowly gets up going to the see Gilden.

[ Anathea ] ¨Sure. Let´s see this outf-¨

Gilden was wearing what looked to be an orange gi with blue clothing underneath, a blue belt, along with blue and red boots. Anathea looks at Gilden with shock.

[ Anathea ] ¨Is that Gok-!?¨

Oba and Hearts drag him back into the changing room.

[ Hearts ] ¨Let´s try another one!¨

After another minute Hearts and Oba bring out Gilden in another outfit. He was wearing a black and green coak, black pants, knee-high black boots, and white gloves. Anathea's tone increases at the outfit.

[ Anathea ] ¨This isn´t Seraph of the End!¨

They take him back in again and he comes out with a purplish-black coat, pants, black boots, and a black bandana covering his eyes. Anathea looks at him with a derpy and blank face.

[ Anathea ] ¨Just because he has white hair doesn´t make him Gojo-!¨

Again, Gilden comes back with a green jacket where the arms are black and red circles on the arms. Has Black pants with white bandages on his right leg, sandless, a mask covering his nose down to his neck, and a bandana covering his left eye with a metal plate on it.

[ Anathea ] ¨That´s even worse! Nor does that make him Kakashi-!!!¨

After many more outfits, Anathea is lying there gassed out, slowly getting up.

[ Anathea ] ¨I think… that too many refernces in one chapter…¨

Hearts put her hand on her chin.

[ Hearts ] ¨Gilden… do you like any of them?¨

Gilden is now wearing basic clothing instead of ragged clothes. He was wearing a blue shirt and black pants.

[ Gilden ] ¨No… I don´t like any of them much.¨

Oba frowns a bit from the words.

[ Oba ] ¨That´s a shame young one… Are there any outfits that catch your eye?¨

Gilden looks at the clothing.

[ Gilden ] ¨Let me look.¨

Gilden rummages through the pile of clothes, but after a while, he stands back up.

[ Gilden ] ¨Sorry lady Oba, I haven´t found anything I liked.¨

[ Oba ] ¨It´s fine young one. I have lots of more clothes in the back. Here, let´s go look.¨

Oba leads Gilden into the employee room. Hearts sits down next to Anathea.

[ Hearts ] ¨I hope he´ll find something. We tried many outfits on him.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨I feel like… he didn´t choose any or liked any… is because he didn´t choose one.¨

Gilden rummages through the many choices of clothing, then his eyes spark at the sight of an outfit on a rack.

[ Gilden ] ¨May I try that one Oba?¨

Oba looks at the outfit, her eyes moving a bit.

[ Oba ] ¨I haven´t seen that outfit in so long… Sure you can try it.¨

Gilden grabs the outfit and returns the dressing room, Oba comes out of the employee room.

[ Anathea ] ¨Maybe the reason why he didn´t like one is because he didn´t get to choose an outfit of his own.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨I didn´t think about that… We didn´t let him choose his own.¨

Within seconds comes out the new outfit.

[ Gilden ] ¨I like this one.¨

[ Oba ] ¨Oh, that looks dashing young one.¨

Anathea and Hearts turn to look at Gilden. Both inspect the outfit.

[ Anathea ] ¨Oh look at this stunning dude.¨

Hearts put a tiny thumbs up.

[ Hearts ] ¨That outfit is nice.¨

Gilden was in a rather simple and casual fit. Gilden was wearing a dirty blue shirt, a white jacket, and baggy white pants, with white and black boots.

[ Gilden ] ¨I want this one.¨

Hearts hop off the bench, smiling.

[ Hearts ] ¨Alright, it's settled. How much is it Lady Oba?¨

[ Oba ] ¨How much? That one is such an old thing I made. You can have it for free.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨Really?¨

Oba nods slowly.

[ Oba ] ¨I made that outfit for my son many years ago when I was still active. I don´t know why he made me make that outfit for him. Considering he never once wore it. Though I wished I had seen him wear it once before he passed. I guess that´s why I kept it.¨

Hearts take in the words.Hearts and Ana both seem to get visibly sad.

[ Gilden ] ¨How did he pass?¨

[ Oba ] ¨He passed from an illness. I still miss him to this day, but it´s been a long time now. Now, I´m sure you three have things to you have to be doing. You don´t have to waste your time here at an old lady's shop.¨

[ Hearts ] ¨We do have to head to the guild.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨Gilden is registering to be an adventurer.¨

Anathea and Hearts both head towards the front door to leave.

[ Hearts ] ¨We´ll be leaving now Lady Oba.¨

[ Anathea ] ¨Thanks for the clothes Oba.¨

Hearts and Anathea walk out the door, Ana turns back.

[ Anathea ] ¨C´mon, hurry Gilden.¨

Gilden is next to Oba.

[ Gilden ] ¨Give me a second.¨

Oba turns to Gilden.

[ Oba ] ¨You know young one… you remind me a lot like my son.¨

[ Gilden ] "Do I?"

Oba nods at Gilden.

[ Oba ] ¨Tell me… Gilden. Who are you? I can tell you´re hiding something. A mother´s feeling.¨

Gilden stays calm from what she said.

[ Gilden ] ¨So you did notice I´m different. Do I have to tell you?¨

[ Oba ] ¨Ohoho, no you don´t. If it´s a secret I won´t tell soul. But I understand if you don´t trust an old lady like me.¨

Gilden nods no.

[ Gilden ] ¨You wanna know who I am… I am the Silver Fiend.¨

[ Oba ] ¨Silver Fiend huh…? So you´re him… Tell me… are the stories true?¨

[ Gilden ] ¨Not all are true.¨

[ Oba ] ¨I see…¨

Anathea speaks out loud from outside.

[ Anathea ] ¨What´s taking so long?¨

Oba turns to Gilden.

[ Oba ] ¨You should leave, don´t keep them waiting.¨

Gilden walks towards the front door.

[ Gilded ] ¨Yeah.¨

[ Oba ] ¨And once more thing before you go.¨

Gilden turns back around.

[ Gilden ] ¨What?¨

[ Oba ] ¨Don´t be so hidden. I know from looking at you, that you are hiding many facts about yourself to them… I recommend… try to open up to them… They are your comrades.¨

Gilden thinks for a bit, turning back and going outside.

[ Gilden ] ¨I´ll think about it.¨

Gilden walks to Hearts and Ana outside.

[ Hearts ] ¨Took ya long enough, now let´s go.¨

Hearts turn back at Oba.

[ Hearts ] ¨See ya next time lady Oba.¨

Oba is now at the front door.

[ Oba ] ¨Ohoho, Mata Dozo.¨

Hearts waves goodbye and the three walk off towards the direction of the Guild.

[ Oba ] ¨What amazing kids.¨