It wasn't even noon yet and the city was already lively. As I was walking with Shaylee, I noticed some people were looking at us meanly while others were looking scared. I said "us", but they were mainly targeting her. I preferred not to ask her anything about it, and to wait for a better opportunity to talk about it.
"Huh ?! So that's what's going on here", Shaylee said, after reading a poster on a wall. Out of curiosity I've read it too, and it looks like there have been a lot of demihuman murders in the town lately.
"I hope she's safe", Shaylee muttered.
I couldn't hear her but I could tell she looked worried.
Then we went into a dark alley, where was a blacksmith's shop which we walked into.
"Welcome to the blacksmith's shop Windarm- Oh ?! Isn't that Lee and... Uh ?... A new friend ? or... Is he your boyfriend ?! Why didn't you tell me you got one ? Sneaky little one", the blacksmith said energetically.
Lee ? Does she mean Shaylee ? I thought.
"Well, we can't say that for now but I have hope that in a near futu-", I said with my arms crossed and my eyes closed before Shaylee cut me off.
"Hi Hady. As always in a joking mood from what I see", she said.
"Eh ? So, he isn't your boyfriend ? Sorry, haha ! But you're beautiful, you know ? I'm sure there's a lot of men out there who'd love to go out with you", Hady said.
"I agree with her !", I exclaimed.
"You know that's not true. Not you too Jemuel", Shaylee said followed by a sigh.
"Jemuel, this is Hady Windarm. An half dwarf and owner of this blacksmith's shop. Hady, this is Jemuel Shirakami, my new teammate."
Half dwarf ? So, she's a demihuman too. Looking at her, she had long red hair with yellow eyes bubbling with passion, and protective goggles slightly above her forehead.
"Nice to meet you Jemuel ! I hope you're taking good care of my little Lee, if I'm not sure of that, I can't let you have her yet", she said while wrapping her arm around my neck.
"I know her just for a few hours, but I'll do my best to live up to your expectation mother !", I replied with enthusiasm.
"Mother ? Haha ! I kinda like you, you know ? You're funny", she said.
"Alright ! Quit joking around now, you two", Shaylee said.
"Okay ma'am !", we replied synchronously in a monotonous tone.
"So, what are you here for today ?", Hady asked.
"I need a new sword. The last one broke", Shaylee said while looking at some of them.
"Oh really ? You must have done something insane then, haha !", Hady said.
"It can't be helped", Shaylee said.
As they were talking, I was immediately struck by guilt since I was the one who broke it.
Then, I took a look around and saw all kind of armors, shields and weapons like swords, spears and more.
"Did you really made all of this ?", I asked Hady.
"Yep ! these are all my babies ! You'll hardly find better quality in all the kingdom of Fretzia", Hady said proudly with her hands on her hips.
"Really ? Amazing."
"Right ? Haha ! Oh ! I just remembered something. Shaylee !"
"Yes ?"
"No need to search no more. I have the perfect sword for you. Just wait here a moment, it's in the back of the workshop."
"Eh ? O-okay..."
A few seconds later, Hady reappeared shouting "tada !", with the sword in question in her hands, the hilt of which was a beautiful purple paired with black and the letter "S" engraved on it to mean Shaylee.
"Wow ! When did you make that ?", Shaylee asked, surprised.
"I just finished it recently. I was going to give you that as a present on your birthday but it seems that you need it now."
"Shaylee birthday ?!", I exclaimed .
"Yeah", Hady replied with a smile.
"When is your birthday ?!", I asked Shaylee directly.
"In six months", she replied.
"Why do you give her that now then ?! I thought I was late !", I asked Hady.
"Well, she needs a new sword now, and I couldn't wait to show it to her, so it's the perfect occasion. Hahah !", she answered.
"It's heavier than the last one I owned but still light thought. It's perfect for adding power to my fast sword style", Shaylee said.
"The blade is thin and thick enough to perfectly slice the flesh. You did a good job as usual...", she said after unsheathing it.
"Thank you !", Hady replied.
"But are you sure you want to give it to me now ? I could have waited, you know ?", Shaylee said worriedly.
"Well, to late you've already seen it. Just take it. I would have given it to you sooner or later anyway. Don't worry", Hady said with a smile at the end.
"Thank you very much Hady. I'll take good care of it", Shaylee said while bowing.
"I know it", Hady replied with confidence.
"I guess we'll be leaving now."
"Yea... Hey ! Jemuel !", Hady shouted.
"Yes ?"
"Take good care of my little Lee. I trust you", she said, smiling with her thumb up.
"Sure ! You can count on me !", I said while bowing.
"What are you saying ? I'm not a kid, you know ? Let's go Jemuel", Shaylee said.
"Come back whenever you want !", Hady said.
"One last thing... Be careful, please", Shaylee said seriously.
"Don't worry. You know me better than anyone", Hady said calmly.
"You seem to get along very well", I said to Shaylee when we got outside Hady's blacksmith's shop.
"Yeah, we can say that. We know each other for a pretty long time know. She's nice to everyone regardless of their race, always full of energy with a smile on her face. That's just the kind of person she is", she replied.
"I see. Sounds like she's a really good person."
"Yeah..." She replied gently.
Oh ! What's that ? It looks like crepes", I asked after seeing a stall that was selling something similar.
"Yes, it is. I heard it's delicious", she answered.
"Huh ? Do you that mean you've never tasted it ? Although you've been living here for a long time now ?", I asked, being surprised.
"It doesn't matter to me and, even if I wanted to, he wouldn't sell me any", she replied with a straight face.
Come to think of it, she always have this same expression on her face, as if she doesn't care about anything, but to me... She looks sadder than anything.
"Do you want to taste one ? I can wait for you here while you're buying it", she said.
"Yes, thank you", I replied knowing well that I'm broke... But that's when I got an idea.
"Hi !", I greeted the crepe seller.
"Hi young man ! Would you like a nice hot crepe ?"
"Yes, but I don't have money..."
"Huh ?! What are you doing here then ?! I don't give anything for free ! I have a business to run", he said vigorously.
"Yes, I know... But I have something that could boost your sales in an instant."
"And what is it ?"
"A new kind of candy that has never been seen before. Allow me to present you what is called 'skittles' !" I'm lucky to have put it in my pocket this morning, I thought so with relief.
"Skittles ?"
"Have a taste please" , I said.
After seeing it, he hesitated for a moment before finally doing so.
*Chomp*Chomp*
"OH !! I didn't expect it to be so good ! Did you make it young man ?!"
"No, I didn't , and it's a secret where I found it, but I can give the rest to you, so you can analyze it and found a way to multiply it. In exchange... I would like two crepes, please !"
"Hum, it's sure that if I can reproduce it, I'll earn more than what I have now, and I'll possibly could create new flavors for my crepes..."
"So, do we have a deal ?"
"We have a deal !"
"Thank you very much ! You will not regret it !", I said while bowing.
"Thanks to you too young man !", he replied.
Then, I went back to shaylee and handed her a crepe.
"Here's for you."
"Huh ? But I didn't ask for it", she said, surprised.
"I know but I wanted you to taste it too, and it'd be a bit awkward for me if I'm the only one eating", I answered with embarrassment.
"I see... How much do I owe you then ?", she asked.
"Nothing, it's fine."
"But-"
"I said it's fine ! Just take it, please..."
"O-okay... I'll gratefully accept it then. Thank you very much."
"Whoa ! It's delicious !", I shouted cheerfully, after tasting it first.
"You're right ! It's as good as what people say ! What a strange texture. After each bite I keep wanting more of it", she said, surprised as a child, with shining eyes full of envy and curiosity, after tasting it too.
Well, you can't really blame her for acting that way. It's her first time eating a crepe after all, I thought.
"It's more fun to eat it together, don't you think ?", I asked her with a smile.
"Yeah... I guess", she replied, blushing with a cute little smile that made her face sparkling like I've never seen before, accompanied by a gentle breeze of wind lifting her hair.
"That smile is a heavenly treasure !" I exclaimed, pointing my finger at her after blushing.
"There you go, teasing me again", she said, followed by a sigh.
After being charmed by that smile, I couldn't help but tell myself that I wanted to see it more often. Yes, that precious smile that will remain etched in my memory by now.
Then, we walked a little bit longer around the town before returning home. We took a turn that led us to the Church of the two crowns, and suddenly, Shaylee stopped. As I was behind her, I called her three times but she wouldn't answered.
"Shaylee ? Oye Shaylee ? Shaylee ?"
So, I stepped up in front of her. It was then that I saw her, paralyzed with her eyes full of fear at the sight of the church. Some people would say she looked scary, but to me she looked like she was in pain. Therefore, I shook her while shouting her name and in less than a second she came back to her senses.
"Huh ? Jemuel... I apologize for the trouble I've put you through !", she said while bowing.
"Don't worry, I'm just glad you're ok now", I replied.
"Anyway, let's go somewhere else. Sorry..." She said, adding a painful tone on her last word.
"Why can't we walk past the church ? I did it the last time and nothing happ-" I was saying before Shaylee interrupted me.
"Not we ! I can't", she said, emphasizing the I.
"Huh ?"
"A sinful being like me cannot approach god. I'm a devil after all", she said coldly.
"A devil ? What are you talking abou-", I was asking before she cut me off.
"Perhaps, we should go back to the mansion now... Yeah, let's do this", she said with her back turned as she set off.
At that moment, I started to wonder what happened in her past.
When we got back from our little outing, Pia told us that Karl had left a message saying to join him urgently in the VIP room. So, we rushed in and when I opened the door the other members of the unit were gathered there, with Karl standing in front of them.
"Hi guys, what's going on ?", I asked.
"Oh ! Jemuel ! Shaylee ! You're finally back ! Come over here...", Karl said.
"We have a job", he answered with a smile.