"You don't need to thank me... It's my job after all..." As before, Sofia still didn't let go of Raven as more words with opposites came out of her mouth, so Raven said that to make her understand that she was exaggerating a bit.
"Of course it's not your job, but that doesn't mean I can't be ungrateful to you." The same smile from before hadn't left Sofia's face, she understood Raven relatively well and knew that she was just a bit shy at that moment.
Maybe Sofia had a few more things to say, but her attention focused on Blake once she analyzed the situation after her initial surprise.
"By the way... why isn't Blake with you? And I remember long ago you said that you loved making deliveries..." Sofia put her hand under her chin as a sign that she was thinking deeply about something.
Blake also listened intently, and once he thought he understood Sofia's words, his gaze unconsciously turned to Raven.
"..." But as if she didn't want to answer, a deep silence came from her after that... Although it wouldn't last long. "I'm going home..."
And not letting anyone else say anything else, Raven simply hurried out of the room not letting both Blake and Sofia could help but stop her. Now there were only the two of them left in the room and a small trace of confusion could be seen on their faces.
"Hmm... I must say that it's not the first time I've seen Raven act like that... She seemed very calm." And indeed, Sofia didn't remember a single time that Raven acted nervously.
Blake had noticed that too, although, unlike Sofia, it wasn't the first time he'd seen her that way.
"She even remembered the payment for the earring, could you give it to her for me, Blake?" Sofia realized that important point, so she was not going to postpone it for another time.
"Don't worry, leave it to me." Blake accepted and took the small bag of coins that Sofia handed him a moment later.
"Thank you for your help, and thank you also for neglecting Raven, hehe." Sofia was in a very good mood at that moment, and some strange ideas were going through her mind.
Blake was about to say goodbye to her, but before doing that, an idea also appeared in his mind and he couldn't help but ask about it.
"Sofia, are you and Raven friends?" Perhaps that question sounded a little strange, but from the way he had seen how they interacted with each other, Blake deduced for himself that this was the case.
"Hmm..." But contrary to what she thought, Sofia didn't answer right away, but thought about it a bit before starting to speak. "Maybe this sounds like something normal, but I really consider Raven as a friend... Although I couldn't tell you if she feels the same way."
Although it might sound strange to someone else, Blake perfectly understood that feeling since his relationship with Raven was in the same situation. But in the end, and without thinking too much about it, he thanked Sofia for her time and said goodbye to leave the mansion in the direction of the smithy once more... But he would have to stop in front of the main gate before taking another step.
"I thought you'd be in the smithy by now." And those words that had just come out of Blake were completely directed at the figure of Raven who was not far from him.
"I felt it was kind of rude to leave you…" Raven hadn't looked at Blake directly this time as her gaze was focused on the gray sky as well as the raindrops that kept falling continuously.
"I guess I should thank you for that... But I think you also remembered that I was the one who got the umbrella, right?" Blake spoke quite calmly, though he couldn't help but chuckle a bit as he watched Raven further hide her face because he had guessed correctly.
Maybe Raven would say something else, but then she felt a shadow cover her and she noticed that Blake's figure was now close to her, they didn't need to think too much about it and they just started moving forward again on the same path as before while the protection of the umbrellas helped them cover themselves at that time.
…
…
It could be said that it didn't take long for their little adventure since right now they were inside the warm smithy. Raven had offered Blake a small wooden bench and he gladly accepted it to get some rest, Raven had walked away once more to save the payment Blake had given her from Sofia, plus there were a few things to take care of, which resulted in a few minutes of simple silence.
"Well... If there's nothing else you need my help with, I think I should..." Blake was thinking of saying goodbye since he believed that the small request was completed, besides that Raven seemed quite busy with work.
"Wait a minute." But Raven cut him off at that moment, then came out behind the counter and approached Blake's figure. "This…"
"Something happens?" Blake sensed that Raven had something she wanted to say, and she asked that question before she thought to forget it.
"I... I wanted to thank you for the help, Blake... And this is your reward..." Blake had to say that he already expected that, but he didn't expect Raven to get even closer to him making him appreciate her even more.
Although Raven simply reached into the sack that was tied around her waist and then took out some pieces of iron and bronze that she handed to Blake.
"T-Thank you." Blake almost forgot to thank him for that, and even though he still had no way to use those minerals, he wouldn't turn them down.
With that last said, Blake said goodbye to Raven at the same time that she did the same, he had also returned Raven's umbrella, and although she said that he could take it, Blake made the excuse that he only needed to use a teleportation to appear in home.
After that, Blake walked out of the smithy through the front door, there were some thoughts he would keep to himself, but before he did anything else, a small comment slipped out of his mouth as he saw the scene in front of him.
"Looks like the sun came out again…"