382 Preparing For Derby Deser (2/2)
Zero smiled at the cheerful little fellow who wore all green and brown. His sense of fashion was very similar to those in the high society that he saw in the palace. Axel did smell slightly odd. Dwarves normally smelled of coal, earth and metal but this spriggan smelled like the forest. To be more accurate, Zero thought that he smelled like Cleo.
”Hello, Axel. We came here to find a mount for our journey to Derby Desert. Dorgon told us that we might be able to find something here,” Zero explained and Truen looked around the cluttered shop.
Axel was a real collector and Truen didn't know if he should be impressed by the variety of things Axel collected or horrified. Zero didn't seem too interested in the magical trinkets and strange artefacts in the shop. Instead, he completely ignored the potions and rare herbs. In the past, Truen had to pull Zero back from running towards anything that was new and interesting. Now, he was slightly unnerved by how calm and collected Zero was being.
Had Zero grown up and matured learning under Merlin? Surely, that curious child was still somewhere in there, right? Truen found it hard to believe that Zero had changed for the better.
Axel nodded and told the elves to make themselves home while he checked on the type of mounts he had. ”It's a little bit of a walk from here so allow me to check what I have before I push my recommendations. Would you like some tea or juice?”
”Tea would be lovely,” Zero smiled and waited for Axel to pour them a cup and excused himself. Zero didn't move from the chair at all until Axel was out of sight and hearing range. Then, he ditched the tea, startling Truen.
With wide eyes and a high-pitched giggle, Zero wandered in the shop, taking time to admire and play with some of the things Axel put on display. Now, this was more like Zero. Truen sighed in relief when he realised that the adult-like behaviour had all been a show. For a moment, the archer feared that he had to report the bad news to his higher-ups about Zero's maturity but after seeing Zero sniff what looked like a fossil, Truen no longer had doubts. A leopard really doesn't change its spots and Zero won't ever stop being curious.
”Hey, Truen! Check this out. It looks like something the gnomes and Raj would make, it has so many gears! I wonder what it does...”
”Don't touch it, we don't want to wreck anything,” Truen warned and Zero snorted.
”You don't have to remind me. I'm not a child anymore.”
The archer smiled and joined Zero to look at a collection of flags. Truen recognised the Smargdas Empire's flag and pointed it out. Zero became intrigued so Truen started to talk a little bit more about how the flag designs came about until Axel returned.
”Ladies and gentlemen, I believe I have sorted the mounts up. Would you like to follow me so that you can take a look at them?”
Zero grinned and pulled Truen along to follow the spriggan. ”It would be our pleasure, Axel.”