Chapter 26 - The Magic Items Store (1/2)

Despite still being troubled by the price of the reward, Nathalia accepted the third mission when the boy assured her that they would find the flowers that day. Knowing the scent of the Jade Vine, Luke figured it wouldn't be such a problem to find them.

”So, can we go?” Luke said to the girl, with a very happy smile. Taking simpler missions at the beginning was a good thing, so they would be able to move up in class faster.

The girl nodded, her face flushed with embarrassment. 'I have to stop acting like a little girl sometimes.' She thought.

Nathalia charged herself a lot. Due to her age, she thought that starting now meant she was way behind people like Luke and Shiro, who have been fighting since they were little.

While looking for a store that appeared to sell items like the Return Stone they needed, the pair walked through the busy city until they spotted a storefront with magical items.

Aspen staffs, Crystal Balls, and even Mana Orbs were in the window, which made the elf also excited about what might be inside the store.

When the girl entered the store, she heard a soft tinkle. Tlim, tlim! It was just the bell under the door. She held the door open for the half-wolf to enter as well.

The entire room was dark and there were no customers or employees, in fact, if it weren't for the 'We're working' sign on the door, the pair would have thought that place was abandoned.

There was a bookcase with various fabrics and old rugs to the right of the entrance and to the left a glass cabinet, which displayed many animal jars in formaldehyde.

Among common snakes and frogs, it was noticed the presence of small monster spoils, such as: Goblins ears, Prums hands, Aarakocras beaks, and several other pieces of creatures.

The entire store was also lit by only one window high above, and the light that passed through it highlighted the flakes of dust in the air. The half-wolf was holding himself back from sneezing.

As they walked together through the store, looking for an employee and the Return Stone itself, Luke and Nathalia, curious, were fiddling with some things.

This place was so silent that even the noise from the street seemed to have disappeared. The half-wolf felt relieved, but the elf was a little nervous.

”Hello, is anyone here?!” She asked aloud.

”Here in front!” A husky voice yelled from the farthest part of the store.

Nathalia looked at Luke, smiled excitedly, and started walking quickly towards the voice.

The boy wasn't so fast yet, because he was curious about several of the magic items in that place. However, he didn't dare touch anything, because it wasn't hard to remember the blue glow of the tiara he found in that warehouse.

'And to think I still have nightmares from that day...' Thought the half-wolf, as he looked at the staff, the tip of which was a small crystal with a faint blue glow, which looked nothing like the beautiful blue he saw on the day of the robbery.

”Hey, Luke! Where are you?” The young lady's scream could be heard echoing in the shop.

”I'm here.” replied the half-wolf, appearing behind her.

”Ow! Where were you?”

”In the back hallway.”

”Anyway, come and meet Madame.” The elf took his arm and started to pull him through the store.

When they arrived at the counter, an old woman with a fallen look was waiting for them. She was so short that she had to climb a small ladder to reach the normal height of the counter, and her spine was crooked, which made her even shorter.

”Is this the guy who commented?” she questioned. Her voice was shaky and, to the half-wolf's displeasure, she had foul breath.

”Yes Yes! We want two Return Stones.”