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CHAPTER START------
---The city of Orario, Tower of Babel, Yang Shen's Room...
A young man could be seen sitting on the edge of a small bed with a window to his right putting on his boots. This was Yang's first night in what was his room but has now been renovated into a full apartment. His small spartan room was now completely gone. His apartment now had much more floor space as well as a second level which held his bed and a small desk and dresser with a mirror. Below it was a modest kitchen with a balcony to the far end of the kitchen allowing him ample space to enter and exit via a flight. His apartment came with full shelves and cabinets waiting for him to fill them and a well-made and expanded bathroom complete with a tub capable of holding possibly 5 people beside a 4x3ft shower. The hardwood floors of his apartment were bare as the place was barren aside from his bed and minor kitchen supplies such as dishes.
"Alright breakfast then shopping, ugh I hate shopping" Yang laments out loud as he takes one more look around his barren apartment. "But I need to fill this place up so it doesn't look this depressing, but, what do I even do, I don't know how to decorate... oh I've got an idea". With these words, Yang quickly leaps over the railing of the top floor and spins on his heel as he walks toward the balcony door at the end of the kitchen. Pausing for a moment he smiles to himself as he opens the door and steps onto his private balcony overlooking the city.
"Breakfast time" was all Yang said as he leaped off the balcony and plummets into the city. To the onlookers, it appeared as if a man simply leaped to his death and the citizens were shocked at what they were witnessing but before their fears were realized 2 condensed flames appeared in his palms and slowed his descent to a crawl allowing him to safely step onto the ground. Without even noting the strange looks his actions had drawn Yang quickly walk to the pub for some much-deserved breakfast.
Finally making his way to the pub Yang was surprised to see that there were a few empty tables, though he is very grateful as he hasn't eaten all day.
Yang: "Good morning everyone."
Chloe: "Oh welcome back Yang, would you like a seat at the bar as usual or a table."
Yang: "I'll sit at the bar, I'm just here for breakfast, any recommendation on that?"
Chloe: "Hmm, well we have a breakfast special. Eggs, sausage, bacon, cheese, bread, and some fruits on the side. what do you think?"
Yang: "That sounds perfect, can I get some to go as well?"
Chloe: "Uh, sure, how many?"
Yang: "Well, 1 for me to eat now and like, 4 to go."
At this point, Mia comes out of the kitchen as she hears Yang's request.
Mia: "Ohh, trying to butter up your new team huh?"
At her words, there was a noticeable shift in the pub as many adventurers stopped eating and began to listen in not so subtly. Many parties still hadn't received any response from Yang as he hadn't even bothered to read the letters he got inviting him to join them.
Yang: "Hahaha Nah, I need to bribe my friend's wife to go shopping with me, new apartment in the tower needs furnishing, and let's just say, I think a family woman will have a good idea of what it needs better than myself."
Mia: "Hahaha! Smart kid, woman's intuition cannot be beaten especially when it comes to things like this. Your order should be ready in a few minutes."
Yang: "Thank you."
Chloe: "You really aren't joining a party?"
Yang: "Mm Nah, my magic would just hurt them so it's safer that way, besides I don't like being responsible for people."
Chloe: "Just, be careful alright and rem--"
Mia: "ORDER UP!"
Yang: "Thanks Mia, what were you saying, Chloe?"
Chloe: "It's nothing, never mind. Just be careful Yang. I'm gonna tend to the other tables, enjoy your mean."
Yang: "I always do."
As Chloe walked away Yang began eating his breakfast after placing the to-go orders into his inventory. 'Rations don't taste bad but man this stuff just can't be beaten, I should hurry up and get out of here, lots to do today. Yang quickly got out of his daydreaming and focused on his meal, it's only morning but he had to go shopping and prepare for his date tonight, no time to waste.
Yang: "Thanks for the meal everyone, I'll probably be back tomorrow, have a good day."
Mia: "Yeah kid take care."
Chloe: "See you around Yang."
As Yang casually walked outside a small conversation began within this pub between two employees. Chloe quickly approached Syr and began to speak.
Chloe: "So....you can stop that now."
Syr: "Stop what?"
Chloe: "Oh please, the moment Yang walked in your eyes haven't left him, why didn't you just go talk to him."
Syr: "What are you talking about I wasn't staring."
Chloe: "You haven't moved from this spot for 5 minutes Syr."
Syr: "That doesn't prove anything, hmph"
Chloe: "Look if you're interested just talk to him, he seems nice enough and he's always polite and doesn't cause trouble. Besides, he's good-looking, so do it."
Syr: "I don't like him like that ok."
Chloe: "Uh-huh, sure, well I'm gonna check on my tables, when you're done daydreaming feel free to get back to work ok."
Syr: "Hmph!"
As Chloe walks away from her friend she had no way of knowing how wrong she was about why Syr was staring at yang so intently.
Syr: 'I've never seen a soul like that, it's like a sun, but broken and fragmented, all there but floating in shattered pieces, what is that? I guess he's more than just potentially strong, he's actually interesting' Syr ponders, retreating into her thought as she recalls the image of Yang's soul, a small smile forming on her lips.
Yang quickly made his way toward Tibor's market stall and found the older man preparing the stall for the day.
Yang: "Morning Tibor. Want some breakfast?"
Tibor: "Hey Yang, you just got back?"
Yang: "Got back yesterday actually but didn't have time to come find you. Brought you some breakfast and came with a favor, kind of."
Tibor: "Uh sure, not really sure what I can do for you but I'll try."
Yang: "Here have this" Retrieving one of the breakfast boxes from his inventory and passing it to Tibor. "There's some more in there for your family, which is the favor."
Tibor: "Uh, what do you mean?"
Yang: "I need your wife to help me shop for stuff for my new apartment. Furniture and stuff."
Tibor: "Oh, alright well why didn't your say so, just head over to my house down at Selen Street, only green-house on the street can't miss it."
Yang: "Thanks, Tibor."
Tibor: "Heh you're doing me a favor kid, hopefully, her going shopping with you means she won't feel like shopping with my money for a while hahaha."
Yang: "Haha yeah I can see that now. Alright, I'll probably see you tomorrow. I've got dinner plans so maybe we can catch up tomorrow."
Tibor: "Anytime kid you take care now."
Yang: "You too."
Quickly making his way towards the location Tibor gave Yang easily located the modest 2 story home in the center of the block. With no hesitation, he quickly knocked on the door. Naught a moment later the door quickly opened and he was greeted by the sight of the simple woman he had come here to see.
Yang: "Hi Norryn."
Norryn: "Uh, good morning Yang, what brings you here?"
Yang: "Well I actually came for your help, oh and I brought breakfast."
Norryn: "Oh, please come in. The kids are upstairs getting dressed. I'm glad you came I was just about to start breakfast."
Yang: "Well I saved you the trouble, already gave Tibor his on the way here."
Norryn: "How thoughtful of you. Follow me to the kitchen and I'll get some plates ready."
As both of them got to the kitchen Norryn poured each of them a cup of tea as Yang retrieved the breakfast boxes from his inventory. Norryn quickly set the table as Yang sat down just moments before the children entered the kitchen.
Yang: "Hey kids, how have you guys been."
Both: "HI YANG!"
Norryn: "No yelling."
Both: "Sorry."
Norryn: "Yang brought you breakfast, thank him, then come eat."
Both: "Thank you Yang."
Yang: "It's no problem really."
As the family began to eat Norryn took a moment to swallow her food before asking Yang.
Norryn: "So what might I be able to help you with exactly?"
Yang: "Shopping."
Norryn: "Ohhhh, you've certainly come to the right woman, what are you shopping for."
Yang: "My apartment is barren and I'd like to feel more like a home. Think you can help."
Norryn: "Well it'd be better if I saw the apartment before I started advising you, and um, if you don't mind sharing, what's your uh, your budget?"
Yang: "Well, I've got about 80 Million Valis from my last expedition so that should be more than enough right?"
Norryn and the kids all froze at his words. From the tone of his words and look on his face she could see that this was a serious question from him and that concerned her.
Norryn: "Do you know the prices of things aside from adventuring gear?"
Yang: "Uh no I've only had to buy gear really, and food."
Norryn: Sigh "Don't worry, adventuring gear is usually much much more expensive than things like this because most of it is made from dungeon materials or is magical. You won't even be needing a fraction of that to furnish an apartment. Hell, this house isn't even worth a million valis. So do you want this place to remind you of home or what?"
Yang: "Hm, well I don't remember anything from before your husband found me so I'll trust you on this."
Norryn: "Oh, he told me about that. I don't even want to imagine what that's like, you know you always have us if you ever feel alone Yang, we'll always be here for you." The older woman says, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
Yang: "Thanks Norryn, but really it's not hard to get past it when you don't know what you don't have. I'll take you to the apartment then we can go shopping."
Norryn: "Alright kids eat up, I'm gonna be out today so listen to grandma ok."
Yang: "Oh there's another person, sorry I didn't bring her any food."
Norryn: "No no it's fine she can't really eat stuff like this anyway. She's having tea in the backyard. Shall we head out?"
Yang: "Sure let's go."
As they walk into the tower to check out Yang's apartment he decides to double down on Norryn's help today and ask her for some more advice.
Yang: "Hey while you're here, can you give me some advice on a date I have later?"
Norryn: "Ooooo a date, good for you, would I happen to know who?"
Yang: "Uh, Lefiya."
Norryn: "Wow, you really go big huh, well if she agreed to go out with you then there must be something she likes, so just be yourself, and maybe talk more about the future than the past since well, you know."
Yang: "Yeah, I don't have one. Thanks that's actually good advice. Oh, this is it just up ahead. Let's go in."
Yang quickly unlocks the door and both of them step in. Immediately a bright smile spreads across Norryn's face as she imagines all the possibilities of how to furnish and decorate the space.
Norryn: "Alright let's measure some areas and go shopping!"
Yang: "Ugh sure."
---The City of Orario, Tower of Babel, Yang's Apartment 4 PM...
After a long day of shopping Yang finally got a moment to relax. After Norryn went back home he had unpacked and decorated the apartment. It now felt like an actual living space. The shelves were filled with books bought in the city describing how magic works and a myriad of books describing certain spells to allow him to get more ideas for his magic as well as books on monster anatomy and tactics, try as he might he couldn't help himself. He even bought a glass top coffee table with draws built-in that he already filled with similar books. (FULL DESCRIPTION IN THE PICTURE LINK IN THE AUTHOR NOTES AND COMMENTS JUST REPLACE THE TECH WITH BOOKS).
Now he was standing at the mirror on the top floor getting ready for his date which was only 2 hours away. Not only had Norryn helped him with the apartment but she also stocked his wardrobe with clothes that according to her were ' Fashionable not just functional', as thanks of course he bought her many articles of clothing for herself and her family. Now he was wearing a white shirt under his black jacket and black pants with his message ring on his middle finger of his right hand with the Hephaestus crest in red on the black rin. His black slacks and comfortable well made shoes finished his outfit. 'Hmm maybe I should dress up more often, I kinda like this look' he thought as he walked down the stairs and sat on one of the couches before picking up one of the books about the history of this city and began to read it to pass the time waiting for the date.
END CHAPTER---