"Bold? I guess so, but I just wanted you to understand the situation. I am your daughter's friend, just as I am to Tracy. I only offered her the same thing that my other friend had requested!" I declared, not sure why I had to go this far to get my point across.
I was sure that I had plainly said things in a way that was easy to understand.
"Why are you so strange?" Tom asked after finally calming down.
"I woke up face down in a puddle of mud in a rain storm in a loincloth. Forgive me if I am not with normal customs, but I'm not from around here. I have always been the type to get things done and then get to the next project," I said, and Tom nodded at me.
"Well, you have got guts, kid, so I will nod my head to you for now. Glad you liked the grub," Tom said and turned back into the kitchen.
The room stayed silent for a moment, and then both Annie and her mother let out sighs.
"Woah! That was amazing! You really are something! Tom has never done that to anyone I know!" Dorthy exclaimed.
"We should, umm, get going, right?" Annie asked, and I nodded.
I had only said what should be said, but I guess that wasn't something that people were used to around here. I followed Annie out of the Inn and then into the street, and the two of us walked in silence.
The smell of summer flowers in the wind and the sun coming down on my bare back felt amazing. After having that bath, I was feeling better, plus I had a nice bed that I might get a bit of sleep on tonight!
"The tailor is up here," Annie said, leading me to a shop that had a needle and thread carved on a wooden sign.
I nodded and followed, deciding that I would let Annie do the talking. I had really just worn whatever I had found in the past; buying clothes was frivolous when you just found them as treasure.
Now things were a little different, and getting something that fit me might not be such a bad idea.
"Stop stealing my followers!" The man behind the counter yelled at me, almost drooling, and I pushed Annie behind me.
"Honestly, you are looking good, Jessel! The drool really brings out the "you" to the old man. What do you want, short stack? Or did you just come here to abuse another one of your followers as a puppet? You wonder why they forsake you?" I asked, and The man's eyes glowed red with rage, but I knew from my previous life that God had no power here, or at least she didn't.
"You are a worm beneath my boot! I sent Tagovia to the next village! The people are probably already being slaughtered as we speak!" The old man cackled, and I sighed.
"First of all, Tagovia is a Control Demon, and not really that great of one to start with. Secondly, I can't put my party in danger, stupid! I am trying to raise a hero, idiot! No, be gone, wretch!" I commanded but had no expectations.
"Watch your back Nameless God! I will not rest until I have my blood!" Jessel warned and then left the tailor's body.
"You see that? That is the great Goddess, Jessel. She really cares about you all," I growled as Annie rushed over to the shop owner.
"Are you okay sir?" Annie asked, and the man nodded.
"Not sure what happened there, but welcome to my store! You look like you need some clothing!" The old man exclaimed, and I nodded.
The man did a couple measurements, and then he and Annie picked out some clothes for me.
While they did, I took a seat on the bench, thinking about Jessel.
I got that the Gods didn't like me, but what were they doing for the land? What were they doing for the people now?
These were questions that were starting to pop up in my head, but I really had no way to answer them. I could ask him, but I didn't feel like having my body torn apart so soon again.
"What do you think of these?" Annie asked and held me out some of the clothes.
There were primarily dark colors, and there was a jacket as well. I didn't really need a jacket, but Annie looked delighted with herself, so I just smiled and nodded.
"Looks great. Are you sure that you don't want to get something new? This green dress looks nice on you, but feel free to get something," I said, feeling silly that I was the only one getting something.
"Are you sure?" Annie asked, and I nodded.
"Of course! You are the one that did all the work! You should be the one getting three sets, not me!" I declared, and she laughed at me.
"I guess so. I can see why my dad had such a hard time with you. You are so brutally honest that it's almost more than us normal folk can take!" Annie laughed, and I glared at her.
"Normal folk? I don't think normal folk have such refined descriptions of daggers!" I spat back.
Once we were finished in the shop, I wasn't really sure what to do with the rest of the day. I kind of wanted to head to the fairy ring now, but I didn't want the girls coming with me.
"What would you like to do now?" Annie asked me, and I shrugged.
"Not a lot to do around here. We could train, but we just got clean, so I think we can leave that for the day. There is something I want to do, but it's something I need to do alone," I explained, and Annie stopped and looked up at me.
"What do you need to do that you can't bring us along with you?" Annie asked.
"I am going to the fairy ring, and I am going to find us all Familiars. They will help keep us safe and will be good in the future," I explained, but Annie narrowed her eyes.
"Why do you need to go alone? Don't avoid my question!" Annie growled, and I sighed.