"Indeed, I am looking for a new pair of trousers, shirt, and hooded robe suitable for a mage. I would prefer it if the items leaned towards boosting my wisdom if possible."
With a thoughtful expression, Daval takes a moment to think over Astaria's request before asking.
"I see, would you mind if I took your measurements?"
With no hesitation, Astaria agrees.
"Not at all, please go ahead."
Moving from behind the reception with a tape measure in hand, he deftly takes Astaria's measurements, a process she is familiar with after visiting various tailors in the past.
With a nod of approval, Daval starts to shuffle through some of the clothes racks on the right side of the shop.
"I see, I see… do you have a preference in colours?"
Without thinking much, Astaria replies.
"White shirt black trousers and hooded robe."
After shuffling through the clothes for a bit, Daval pulls out a white, long sleeve blouse with loosely layered ruffles on the front, and a small pair of black trousers made from leather.
"Here, I think these will suit your perfect figure quite well."
Hearing Daval's words spoken with the sincerity of a tailor admiring proportions, Astaria can only shake her head thinking of how his words can be seen as flirting if taken out of context.
Accepting the clothes, Daval guides Astaria to the back of the shop where a dressing room is located before returning to search for a suitable hooded robe.
Carefully removing her bracers and boots, Astaria strips off her remaining clothes, placing them into her inventory. Taking the leather trousers, she starts to put them on with a bit of effort. They were skin-tight so it was not the easiest to slip over her legs.
Astaria has worn skinny jeans a few times in the past so the tight feeling of the leather on her legs is not that unusual, however, she does feel a little more liberated than in the past since she doesn't have her manhood tightly pancaked against her leg.
Feeling quite comfortable from the sensation, she moves to put on the blouse. It is slightly loose around her torso, the ruffles conservatively reducing how large her breasts look but still hinting at her bountiful size. Looking into the crude mirror next to her, she nods in approval, deciding to tuck the bottom blouse into her trousers. Putting her knee-high boots back on and strapping the bracers onto her forearms, Astaria flicks her long golden hair back over her shoulders as it gleams down her back in the light.
Returning to the shop, Astaria sees Daval giving her an appraising look with a nod while Ben sighs and comments.
"I know you're not a fan of me saying so, but the gods really did bless you with good looks. Your previous clothes didn't do you justice."
Shaking her head, Astaria replies.
"Yes, the gods sure did. I will admit, it was quite satisfying to see the improvement from the clothes, but it still feels quite weird dressing like this. It's just a shame I will attract even more attention, I'm still far from being comfortable with all the strange stares."
Walking over Daval comments on Astaria's words, handing over the hooded robe he has selected.
"You should have more pride in your looks, Lady Astaria, most women would crawl over Beatle Hill for just a fraction of your beauty."
Inwardly laughing at the locally used metaphor, Astaria replies to his sincerity.
"Thank you for the kind words, maybe in time I will be more comfortable with myself, however right now I'm still quite reserved about it."
With a smile and a nod Daval moves behind the reception again.
"Take your time, after all, I'm sure your future will be bright."
Quickly calculating the cost on a sheet of paper, Daval speaks.
"That will be 3 gold and 2 silver please."
Handing over the money, Astaria puts on her hooded robe. The black robe reaches down to her ankles, with a decretive embroidered white trim featured along all its edges.
Astaria pulls her hood up covering her head while giving Daval some parting words.
"Thank you for your help, I shall see you soon. Until then, take care."
With a light bow, Daval returns the farewell.
"And you My Lady, I wish you the best of fortune with your feats to come."
Walking back onto the street, Astaria and Ben make their way back toward the market square.
"So, is there anything else you need?"
Moving to the side to let a wagon stacked with wood pass, Astaria answers.
"Just potions. I still have 2 gold and 2 silver, plus some change. I should be able to get a decent stock of basic potions with what I have left over after keeping 1 gold for a horse."
Letting out a hum in agreement, the duo weave their way through the streets which were starting to become busier as noon approaches along with its promise of lunchtime.
Arriving at the market square, Astaria decides to buy them both some food before the crowds increased. They chat casually while they check out the stalls selling food, Ben eventually deciding to get some sandwiches for later and a baked potato with cheese to eat now, while Astaria, also getting some sandwiches, finally decides on lentil soup served in a tall wooden cup.
After finishing their meals, they walk to the south side of the market square where the Alchemist is located.
Their time in the shop was quite brief, where Astaria decides to buy 6 mana potions costing 2 silver each, 5 fatigue replenishing potions costing 80 coppers each, and 2 health potions costing 2 silvers and 20 copper leaving her with 1 gold and 73 copper.
With this last purchase, all of Astaria's current business inside of the city has been completed and she only needs to buy a horse while on route to catching up with the combat group, who by now should be in the Woodspike Forest and starting to level up.
Walking towards the city gates Astaria poses a question to Ben.
"By the way, do you still remember how to ride a horse? I know it's been some years since you joined me in playing polo?"
With a thumbs up Ben answers with confidence.
"Yeah, it was a while back, but I still got it. I had me a cheeky bit of practice this morning before we were due to meet up."
With a smile, Astaria lets out a quiet laugh.
"I still remember when you almost got kicked in the face walking behind that white horse."
Shaking his head, Ben sighs in exasperation.
"Honestly man, nobody told me horses get all angsty with someone behind them! Besides, that horse had it in for me, screw being white, it should have been black with red eyes, that thing was a demon!"
With a laugh, Astaria nonchalantly waves her hand.
"You're not wrong, that thing certainly had some issues with you. If I recall correctly, it got put down after charging straight into a buffet table and nearly injuring a few spectators, the last of many similar incidents. It's a shame, the horse should not have been given the chance in the first when looking at its personality and just be let to roam in a field."
Ben shakes his head in dismay.
"Damn, it may have been evil, but that's still sad."
As they approach, Astaria makes sure to look around for the guard from last night, Gerald, unfortunately not spotting him anywhere. Walking up to one of the guards currently on duty, she questions.
"Excuse me, I don't suppose Gerald is around?"
Becoming cautious, the guard answers.
"A hooded figure asking for a guard, that seems quite… Suspicious."
With sudden realisation and the concern that being an airhead is contagious, Astaria pulls her hood up enough for the guard to see her face.
"You see, Gerald helped me last night when I was quite incapacitated and led me to an inn, I wanted to express my thanks to him."
With a gasp after seeing her face, he mutters to himself.
"So, Harvey was not lying about her looks, damn. *Ahem* My apologies for the suspicion Miss, Gerald is on the night shift so is currently hugging his pillow like a sleeping baby in the guardhouse, we won't be seeing him for a while."
Letting out a laugh at the guard's comment which causes him to blush, Astaria replies.
"Thank you for the information, I shan't disturb him from his evening's pillow companion and catch him this evening."
Leaving the guard with a massive grin on his face as the beautiful lady embraces his joke, Astaria and Ben make it outside the city gates to be met with the sight of a busy main road as an increased number of players finally arrive from the various starting villages across the kingdom.
Taking a sharp left and making their way along the road that runs between fields of corn and the city wall, they finally make it to large open grass fields surrounded by a shoulder height fence filled with various breeds of horses.
Stopping to look at the horses roaming and grazing in the fields, Astaria comments.
"This sight always manages to impress me, there are only a few places of this size and scale on earth…"