D.L.Evans Prologue 2 - Sail under the Grey flag
"Captain Grey! Are you sleeping at your desk again?"
"Ah sorry private, I must of dosed off, how is our heading?"
"Nothing but clear seas for miles Sir."
"Good. I think I'll walk around the ship for a while."
Suddenly a bell starts ringing, the ferocious clattering of metal was able to be heard all across The Silver Pearl.
"A ship! Captain it's hostile!"
Captain Grey burst through his cabin doors out on to the deck. "There Captain, starboard. They're gaining speed and heading our way!"
Grey pulled out his telescope and focused it on the incoming ship. "By the gods... Red and white sails, it's her ship... The Royal Ellgraat! She found me..." With a flutter from his naval coat Grey spun on the spot and looked out at his crew. "Prepare the cannons! Battle stations!"
Everyone frantically began to load cannons but shortly after a thunderous clap shook the air. Everyone looked out at The Royal Ellgraat. It was too late, a sea of cannon balls coated the sky blocking out the sun. They began to pelt The Silver Pearl and casualties began to rise.
"Captain! Get off the deck, its too dangerous!"
"Never! If this ship goes down, so do I."
"Captain watch out!"
"Huh?"
It was too late Grey turned to see the cannonball smash straight into his face, the whole world seemed like it was in slow motion. His eyes shut tight as he braced for the sweet release of death. Grey was thrown off the side of the ship and woke up with a jolt.
D.L.Evans Chapter 2 - A Grey cloud before the storm
Slowly opening his eyes, Grey could here a feint voice calling out. Well more like an annoying alarm clock you can't turn off... Or slap.
It was Celia's voice and Grey quickly realised that the red and white sails were above him. The cannonball would soon follow.
"Hellloooo? Hello? Goooood morning?"
Startled, Grey jumped to attention as the figure of Celia came into focus. Who was looking down at him pouting as if it was his fault for being here. "ack... What are you doing here so early Celia?"
"Well it is ten o'clock and the shop opens at half nine. Hina said just to leave you but I was too excited to show you my new invention." The glee on Celia's face was glowing as her impatience continued to grow.
A groggy Grey yawned. "O-oh, the one Hina said you damage the shop with." He yawned again with blurry eyes not considering his words.
Celia pouted. "Hmpf you can't just take her word on these things. It's fine look, take a look at it, look totally fine.
Grey's words had stuck a nerve and he was now facing the consequences. Quite literally, as Celia was mashing her contraption into Grey's face. Ah... There's the cannonball...
"I was too excited to show you my invention so I let myself in. We should sell it right? Right!"
Grey gave the proud looking Celia a disapproving glare. She was way to comfortable with admitting to breaking in.
The glare didn't phase her as she started hopping up and down wiggling the ball around Greys face. "Look, look, look at it."
Of what could be made out from the corner of his eye of the blurry ball shaped object squished against his face. The contraption seemed to be a spherical object with a soft outer layer which was slightly sticking to his skin.
Trying to regaining control of the situation Grey pushed the cannonball away from his face... Wait I mean spherical ball...
Sigh
"Okay, go into the living room and I'll join you in a short while once I've changed.
"Yay!" Celia let out an even bigger hop, one of joy, before racing out of the room.
After a short while Grey followed entering into the living room. To his surprise he was met by a busy Celia who was caught in the act of moving all the furniture to the corners of the room.
"What the... What are you doing."
"Well we need some room to test this little beauty out."
"Oh great an indoors test run. I can't see this going wrong, maybe I should of listened to Hina after all.
It was too late to back out now as the furniture were now nice wall decorations.
"Nonsense this is perfectly safe and besides we don't have anywhere to actually test products. Why do you think there are so many repairs to the walls." Celia giggled a little and looked at Grey as if that was just common sense.
Sigh
"I guess we should just get this over with then. So explain the product to me and we'll take it from there." Grey was less than enthusiastic.
"Alright then, here's Celia's fast paced magic lesson."
"Eh where did those glasses come from?"
"Don't ask silly questions Grey."
Celia began explain her magic use and what elements she has while demonstrating them with her hands. "So as you heard. I can use all four of the primary elements; Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. I can also do some fun stuff by combining them but that's not important right now. I may have an affinity for all four elements but it just means that I'm not a master of one element. Like how Hina is a master of her Earth magic, she can manipulate Earth like a pro. So instead I focus on supplying magic, I can pump out an almost unlimited amount of mana. I know a fair few spells but I prefer to come up with my own... Which may or may not have caused a lot of property damage."
She bonks her head and sticks her tongue out with a playful look. However Grey just stares back with a grimace.
Throwing away the glasses which just seemed to materialise onto her face. Celia placed the ball on the floor in the middle of the room and continued. "So anyway back to this invention. I'm sure by this point you know that this ball has a soft outer shell. Seeming your face is well acquainted with it."
Grey rubbed his face, he remembered the feeling well as he looked over at the giggling Celia.
"This is the gel shield, by shooting tones of wind magic into the little centre ball the outer gel layer expands like a giant bubble. Let me demonstrate." With that, Celia began flowing wind mana into the ball. It rapidly expanded creating a giant orb filling the cleared space in the room.
"Oh that's interesting, you said it's a shield right? How does It... Well shield?" Grey's intrigue overcame his caution as he explored the bubble. Pacing around it trying to reverse engineer it in his head. Then pausing briefly within touching distance. "Do you throw this in front of yourself like a wall or..."
Before he could finish, he felt Celia's hands on his back, then suddenly, fwoosh. Grey was thrust into the bubble, expecting some resistance Grey put out his hands. To his surprise, he passed through the gel shell landing in the middle of the ball. "Hey why did you do that?"
"Well you seemed curious and nothing beats a practical test."
Composing himself Grey stood up and began to process the situation. "Oh I-I see so you enter the shield as some form of protection, this... This is actually quite impressive."
Celia was overwhelmed with excitement from the praise and was trying to hide it behind her confident stance. "Oh ho ho, well it is a shield after all. It wouldn't make much sense to not protect from all angles, and watch this! Here we go."
With a small hop, Celia also jumped into the bubble. She was now within touching distance of Grey.
Embarrassed he tried to remove some of the tension. "Yeah so... How are we able to stand in this thing anyway?"
"O-oh yeah okay... So the wind magic I'm channeling into that ball next to your foot is keeping the space filled with air. All while keeping the outer layer thick enough to deflect physical attacks, magic, and debuffs. The gel parts just enough to pass through then seals up tight like rubber."
"So we're essentially trapped in here?"
"What? No! Well only if the mana fails..."
"Then what happens?"
"Er... No idea, but that wont happen."
Intrigued, Grey began dissecting each part of the design in his head. After a few moments he crouched down pointing to the mana crystal absorbing the wind magic. "This crystal down here doesn't seem well protect, it's kind of just, there you know."
"I know what you mean but it's an early prototype. It's not like it's in the way. Watch!"
As Celia reached out her arms to rock the bubble to prove the ball wouldn't get in the way. Like a comedy act, she slips due to the lack of space in the living room. As well as the fact the rug had lifted thanks to her frantic interior redesign.
KABOOM!!!
"AGK!!!"
Celia had managed to trip, regain her balance but then step on the ball in the process. In a sudden suction the now vacuumed space rapidly closed in on the two of them causing the gel like substance to pin the two of them together like a cocoon. Slowly the gel receded back across both of their heads revealing the deep embarrassing glow they were both wearing on their faces. Their bodies now joined together unable to tell where one arm started and one leg ended.
Grey mumbled through his embarrassment believing himself to be in more shock. "Well it broke... I saw that coming."
To start with Grey was only able to see his arm poking out of the gel as it continued to recede he was able to then move his head. Looking towards Celia, he realized that her body was pressed against his own and her eyes had entered a trance like state, the only thing to leave her mouth was a mutter of sounds.
Her eyes rolled around in her head, lost. "I I I Ju-oh. Wh"
Grey sighed heavily wiggling his fingers around. "Well, I don't think she's going to be much help right now."
With an audible sigh, Hina slammed the door open. "What happened I heard a loud... WHAT!!!"
Grey wiggled his fingers around frantically as the only means of body language to express his innocence. "Hina it's not what it looks like. Well I mean it is but it's not my fault."
Feeling second hand embarrassment, Hina stumbled towards them struggling to stay out of the same trace like state which was clouding Celia's mind. "A-Another f-failed attempt at an in-invention I see."
Without even looking at them, Hina placed a hand on Grey's gel covered back. Avoiding eye contact the entire time, she used a little earth magic to convert all the gel covering the two of them into a hardened brittle form. All the gel flaked off them without a trace of a stain.
An awkward silence fell across the apartment as they each began to do individual tasks to put the room back together. A few minutes past before Hina attempted to quell the storm of silence by serving tea. Celia and Grey were both trying to hide their embarrassment as they sat down on the couch. The tea composed and relaxed Grey, the sweet aroma of the tea filled his lungs, he felt calm. Celia on the other hand, was still in a trance like state as her hands were shaking uncontrollably sloshing tea everywhere.
They both watched Celia with concern, as the slightly confused Grey piped up. "Er so who's watching the shop right now?"
"Ah! I almost forgot. I rushed up here so fast."
As if hypnotized, Celia stood up and rigidly waddled across the room towards the door and continue to mutter as she disappeared.
"O-oh yes t-the shop I need to b-be on the s-shop floor. I will go!"
Hina couldn't help but snicker. "I told you not to trust her inventions. You're lucky all you got was a Celia sandwich rather than another hole in your nice apartment."
"Wait, another hole? Never mind... Yeah you're right, I know now to be more careful. However there's merit to that invention, it has potential. I don't mind putting the shop in harm's way if it means creating something innovative."
"Hmph. Its pricey getting the guild to do repairs." She pouts looking into her tea.
Grey got lost in thought for a second pondering solutions to their unfortunate bonding experience, physically and mentally.
"Hey, Hina thanks for the tea. I'll follow you down to the shop in a while. I want to try something first." Grey stood up and headed to his study.
"Oh...Okay." Hina returned to the shop floor to see a robotic Celia stood at the counter. The few customers who did come in promptly left or were met with the automated check out machine. Hina peeked in from the sidedoor staring intensely at Celia. A few minutes past before Grey came flying down the stairs clutching a roll of paper. He almost barrelled into Hina putting on the breaks.
"Oh sorry Hina, I nearly didn't see you there."
"Why are you in such a good mood, I mean show some compassion for how you violated Celia."
"What!!! That wasn't my fault. Besides I do feel bad, that's why I'm sure this will cheer her up."
Grey flashed the roll of paper in front of Hina with a confident motion.
"What is it? A lengthy apology letter."
"Eh? No!"
"Well either way she's a bunny lost in the long grass. A lost cause."
"Just you watch!" Grey approached Celia with the paper in hand. Like a beast tamer approaching a wild animal.
"H-hey Celia you got a moment?"
The loose gears and fautly chain turned as Celia faced him, avoiding eye contact. "Welcome to The Sailsburn Emporium how can I help you." Her automated response was oddly satisfying and Grey thought about leaving her to it for a second.
Hina waved Grey down. "Psst, I told you."
Grey sighed before returning his attention back to the automated response unit."
"Erm right... Anyway, take a look at this!"
Grey cleared some space on the countertop and unravelled his paper scroll. Celia reluctantly forced herself to look down at the paper and what she saw immediately brought her spark back. Her eyes widened and her sour mood turned to one of joy. A trance state no more.
"Is... Is this my invention?"
"Yes! Well not quite. I was thinking about the design and it's glaring fault. I think if we made this change here the issue would be resolved. It could potentially be a really useful product for adventurers." Grey pointed to the scribbles and notes. "You see the ball here if you used wind magic to keep the ball at the top of the bubble at all times it wouldn't be just rolling around in the bottom and..."
Before Grey could finish explaining the changes Celia cut in slapping the paper over and over.
"Useful!?! Do you think we could sell it?
"Yeah! I mean it needs a little more work but I don't see why not."
Hina walked in acting as if she hadn't been hiding behind the door the whole time. "Oh Celia are your feeling better? What are you looking at?"
"Its our shops next top seller! Thank you so much Grey I knew it had potential."
"Wow Grey, you might actually be the real deal when it comes to inventing things." Hina smirked giving him a little nod of approval. She was pleasantly surprised by the display of capability Grey showed for his new job.
An overwhelming smile was now beaming off Celia's face.
"Well I guess that worked. I've never seen Celia so happy before, I think you'll get on just fine here Grey."
Celia clutched the paper close to her chest and began bouncing up and down on the spot. Grey watched with a relieved chuckle, happy to see Celia in a good mood again. He looked over his shoulder to catch Hina plodding off to the basement. With a loose wave as if to say 'good job my work here is done'.
"Huh? Maybe I should go check in with Hina while Celia is distracted with my drawings?"
Grey managed to peel himself away from the awe struck Celia and headed down to the basement to find Hina. Oblivious to this, Celia stayed behind humming to herself.
Once in the basement, he walked down the hall and place a hand on the closed door handle knocking gently. "Hey Hina are you in here? Can I come in?"
"Yes of course, please come in." Hina had already returned to making things for the shop at her work desk.
Grey opened the door and nearly tripped as a small clay golem walked past his foot. With one leg off the ground, he stumbled over the busy golems doing odd jobs, trying to get to Hina.
"Oh hey Hina. I didn't notice you had all these golems the last time I was here."
Hina kept her head down working away. "Yeah I only use them when I'm working. They're very useful for gathering and moving materials around. So what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I thought I'd come see what you're up to. I wanted to see what you do around here."
"Should you not be helping the ball of joy, Celia on the shop floor."
"Well I guess but she hasn't stopped holding that drawing I gave her for a while now."
Celia at this point in time was happily humming away to herself, doing her job. One hand free as the other continued to clutch the drawing even while helping customers.
"Hah. That does sound like Celia."
Grey was watching two of the golems lift small crystals between one another as they struggled with their tiny hands. "Oh that's right! Do you think you could make a batch of those gel shields when we finish the design?"
"Well originally no. But you have this air about you, so yes. I trust your judgement on this one."
"Great thanks. The way Celia describe you last night I didn't think you'd be on board."
"I like you Grey. You seem like a nice guy and if you trust her foolish inventions then I do too."
Warmed by the compliment Grey decided to return the favour. "Your earth magic is impressive, the way you changed the properties of that gel was incredible."
"It's nothing special really not when you compare it to all the magic Celia can use."
Grey stood with both fists balled out in front of him as he spoke excitedly. "Absolutely not!"
This short but sweet statement stopped Hina in her tracks for a second. She put down her tools and swung herself around on her chair to face him. "Oh, and why is that?"
"I saw many mages over the years who came to our estate to try and teach me magic. But I never saw any of them change the properties of materials. That's seriously impressive, please show me more."
Hina's ears pricked up like a cat and her hanging belt straps wagged like tails. "Oh well since you asked so nicely. Let me give you a little demonstration on why I'm a master of my craft." With that she hopped off her chair and stood proudly in front of Grey.
"Like I mentioned I can only use earth magic but I've refined and master it over the years. Now I can freely change the properties of objects. However I can only weaken properties, strengthening them requires the use of an alloy. But that isn't the limit of my skill." She made some fluid hand motions and created a ball of earth at her fingertips. "I can also call upon the earth spirits to conjure earth at my very fingertips. Shaping the earth based on my understanding of an object making perfect replicas. Then I can change those properties to create new, more desirable outcomes. I can also make my own things now and then, like the golems walking around."
"Wow really? That's incredible, would you be willing to give me a demonstration."
Hina tried to act casual but she was practically purring, loving the ego boost. "Very well, I'll make an exception. This talent is quite unique as I am able to also make the very tools needed for crafting." Hina bent the very nature of earth magic to her will, creating a small hammer out of thin air.
"I'm in awe"
Hina let out a obnoxious chuckle. "Well I am a Farcraft after all. My family travel the world to create and craft. Hense far- craft." Feeling confident and cocky she wanted to show off more.
"Unfortunately I can only make things I've seen before or have a good understanding of how they work. However I can freely change the size of the object I make." A powerful pull of mana in the air began to be sucked into her fingertips. Grey sheltered his face from the increasing winds.
Hina's attempts to show off had now escalated. With great power, she now held a large hammer far too heavy for her to carry. She struggled with the hammer trying to hide her lack of strength. However her face wasn't hiding anything as her lip wavered. Soon her fatigue got the best of her as she topple over like a statue causing her face to land softly against Grey's chest. The hammer hit the ground with a thud starting a moment of awkward silence. The golems stood motionless as thier creator and controller blushed heavily, unable to focus mana into the golems.
Grey unsure to move, stood still in an attempt to make Hina feel less embarrassed. Her cheek's continued to blush and she looked defeated. She placed one hand on his chest as if to savour the moment before violently pushing herself off him.
The weight of the hammer combined with her extensive mana use and lack of food made her woozy. Noticing this, Grey reached out and grabbed her wrist and unsure what to do, he pulled her back into his chest.
"Are you okay Hina, don't over do it." Just as Grey expressed his concern the door slammed open.
"Hina! Are you okay? I heard a-"
Before Grey could realize what happened Celia had descended the stairs and barged into Hina's room.
"AGK!!! Again how many girls do you plan on getting up close and personal with today?"
She gave a piercing glare staright through Grey who felt like his life just ended. His head flashed between them both looking at Celia's glare and Hina's passed out face.
"This one wasn't my fault either. She passed out casting a mana draining spell!"
Celia quickly changed her tone once she realised the situation. "Oh no not again she has to eat more. Maybe I should come to work earlier to make breakfast for a lazy bum and a foolish neet."
"Sure... Wait which one am I?"
She giggled going over and taking Hina out of Grey's hands. "Come on. Help me get her upstairs. I closed the shop for lunch now anyway."
After a silent lunch the awkward atmosphere in the shop caused everyone to do their own activities in silence. The girls reluctantly taught Grey how to man the store and showed him where everything was. He felt that was the least he could do for the awkward situations they found themselves in today. Following a busy day the group had dinner again to what felt like a silent viewing and then promptly split their separate directions. Grey couldn't get to sleep straight away as his heart raced every time he recalled the two separate occasions he had a girl pressed against him. For the lonesome county boy any contact with a girl was a new and unusual experience.
"Is this what my parents meant by new experience... One to remember or one to forget?"
Grey woke up bright eyed and ready to learn more about this weird and wacky shop his parents left him. Ready to learn more about the two girls who work here. Ready to immediately leave and go home. He still wasn't interested in becoming the owner. He went through to the kitchen half expecting them both to be there after Celia so bashfully stated she'd make breakfast for everyone.
"Huh, I'm actually a little sad they decided not to have breakfast with me." He soon shook it off with a light stretch.
After a somewhat lonely breakfast Grey went downstairs to the shop, once entering the shop floor he noticed Celia and Hina where both already there.
"Oh, I thought I was early today."
Both girls jumped when they heard Grey's voice like cats walking through a construction site. Both girls seemed to be acting strange and avoiding eye contact.
Grey thought to himself mulling over yesterdays events. His brain ticked over as he got flustered thinking about the awkward moments. It was only after a good nights sleep that he began to realise it did feel kind of weird to just act like normal.
Hina was the first to break the silence while she adjusted her headband. "G-Good morning Grey. Celia and I have decided your punishment."
"What? My punishment, what did I do?
Celia pouted and stomped her foot, pointing at him. "Don't try and act innocent. Just do it!"
Grey was a little taken aback by their sudden cold demeanour. "I guess there's not much point in fighting it..."
"As punishment you are to go get our weekly supplies from the market."
Celia was soon smiling again with a gentle grin. "Seeming you haven't been here very long. We thought it would be a good chance for you to explore the city a little."
Even though they were embarrassed they still found a way to make Grey feel like he was welcome. He didn't want to test his luck so he agreed. "Oh, okay I can do that."
Hina slaps a list and map into Grey's chest. Stepping back as he fumbles to catch the documents.
"Follow this list and you'll be fine. Oh also stop by the adventurers guild and put that poster up advertising the shop."
Grey had a distinct dislike for adventurers and dreaded the thought of going to the guild. "Ah... Okay."
With a heavy sigh, Grey left the shop and headed towards the city centre.
Hina mumbled a goodbye. "With him out of the shop for the day that should give us plenty of time to compose ourselves."
Celia also mumbled a goodbye her ears still burned red as she let out a cute little noise with a quick nod.
As he was walking away from the shop, he looked down at the note and map handed to him by Hina. The map, similar to the one given to him by his parents, showed the city's layout with lots of different district names and points of interest. He chuckled finding it endearing that Hina had circled the places he needed to go to. She had even signed it with a cute little cat drawing.
"Okay first thing on this list is the adventurers guild. Looks like Hina circled the closest one on the map. Eh? That can't be true it's so far away."
The city had a few guilds which neighboured important landmarks like the docks for merchants and sea folk. The holy church for the religious groups, and the market for the low ranked and rough types. Grey was headed to the market guild as that was the one circled on the map.
"I guess the market guild is the closest and I need to go to the market anyway so that's convenient." With that Grey set out to the market passing by carriages, caravans, and groups of adventurers.
"Why do all adventures fall into the same categories, it's always the same stereotypical people. Oh look a blonde haired elf, and look at that a plain man holding a sword probably thinks he's a hero. Oh and of course there's a mage with glasses and a silly gimmick, why wouldn't there be?"
Grey enjoyed his little ramble and the time quickly passed as he arrived at the market. "Time flies when you're having fun. Okay, best do the guild first. What else is on this list?"
Looking back at Hina's list Grey read the following instructions. "Put the poster up on the notice board in the guild. Okay doable. If you're feeling up to it approach some people too. Mmm not so doable."
He Folded the note and put it in his pocket. "Nope no thanks, if it's optional I'll pass."
Grey approached the building, a guild hall and an inn called Lucy's bar. The building had a semi circled courtyard facing on to the market with a colonnade wrapping around its facade. The shape of the building was irregular with very little symmetry as it followed the outline of the inner wall. Like an after thought to fill the gap, but a very successful use of a pocket of space.
Entering the building Grey rolled his eyes and was quickly lost in his own thoughts. "I hate guilds, they're always filled with the same people and each one thinks they're better than the other."
At this point Grey was totally wrapped up in his own thoughts. His eyes were closed judging everyone as he continued to walk as he paid little attention to his surroundings.
"I bet the guild master will be a cute receptionist with a great body and force us to do meaningless tasks. Not that I'd mind gaining favour with a cute... ack!"
Meanwhile, back at the Sailsburn Emporium the mood was peaceful and both Hina and Celia were attending to the shop. It had seemed that the incidents of recent had brought the two a little closer.
Celia straightened her back from stocking shelves and wiped her brow. "I hope Grey is okay he hasn't been to the city before right?"
Hina was buried in her paper work and didn't look up. "He'll be fine."
"Yeah but what if he gets mugged or assaulted. Maybe he'll get on the first carriage out of here?"
Celia's persistence forced Hina to snap the tip of her pencil's led and this time she did look up.
"He'll... Be... Fine! Besides the market guild is a straight walk from here along a busy street so as long as that's were he went. He'll be fine. Besides, I told the guild master he'd be coming by today."
"Hmm, I hope he gets along with Moma. She can be quite intimidating."
At that precise moment Grey slammed his face into something big and hard. "Is this a wall, stone carving maybe, or a chisel installation?" Grey explored the mass with his fingers.
A deep but feminie voice came from above him. "The name's Moma and I'm this here's guild master. Can I help ya?"
Grey froze and a chill ran down his back realising he was planted against a lady. He jumped and quickly shot to the back of the room putting plenty of space between the two of them.
With such distance put between them it was clear to Grey why he mistook the lady for a wall. Standing in front of him was a huge giant-like human towering over the tiny adventures. It felt like the only part of this tower he could see was her legs as her knees were at eye level.
"I've not seen ya in these parts before and I know everyone. Are ya a new adventurers would ya like to apply to this guild?"
Struggling for composure, Grey quickly formalised himself to answer the question. "An adventurer me? Hah, I don't think so." He said in a smug way implying he was better than adventurers.
"Hmm yes I see. Ya don't seem to have any physical strength and I can't seem to get a read on ya magic levels, are they low?
Grey was immediately annoyed by the bold but accurate accusations. "I could quite easily be an adventurer! One of the best even. You have no idea of my strength."
"Mwahaha sure kid I'll believe it when I see it. So why are you here then."
"Oh right! I was asked to put this poster up here for the Sailsburn Emporium." He pulled out the poster showing it to her.
"Ah yes now that explains ya lack of talents. I didn't know that shop got a new employee."
Grey still annoying jumped on the chance to blow up his ego. "Well you know someone as talented as me was asked to save the shop. I am the best inventor this nation has ever seen!" He puffed out his chest standing with his hands on his waist.
"Mwahaha. Again I'll believe it when I see it. Anyway Hina let us know someone would be drop'n by. Go ahead and put ya flyer up on the guild board."
"Oh okay, thanks I guess."
"I'll warn ya now though. Not a lot of people like your little shop they see it as a threat to the church and magic in general.
Up to this point Grey hadn't looked at the people in the guild. He began to notice all the glares and piercing looks people were firing in his direction.
"Yeah the church sure as hell don't appreciate ya. Why'd ya think ya shop is so far out of the city?"
"It's not like we're try to banish magic it's quite the opposite we're using magic in new ways for a better future."
Grey's words had managed to peak the interest of a small adventurers party sitting close by.
"There's ya reason right there. They don't like ya prodding around with their perfect little magic classes. They've been refining it for millennia. A word of warning for ya, try not to make too many waves." Moma leaned down whispering in his ear while scanning the guild. "There's not many is this city who will take kindly to ya. Some might even seek to take advantage of ya."
"Well if I have my way, you won't have to worry about that. That place will be closed and sold soon enough." Grey walked up to the guild board with no concern for the people staring at him.
He pinned the poster on the wall but suddenly felt a presence over his shoulder. He whispered to himself. "One, two? No four people I think? I know I talked a big game but if these guys are out for blood then I'm concerned."
Grey reluctantly span round and to his surprise four adventures stood in front of him. The exact stereotypes he described on his walk to the guild.
The stereotypical swordsman spoke first with intrigue. "Hmm Magic infused inventions. Sail... Sailsburn Emporium, interesting."
The classic glasses wielding smart looking one spoke next with a justified tone. "See I told you there was an interesting place like this here in the city."
Grey had to look down for the next adventurer. "Hmph I mean I guess we could check it out." She seemed deflective, masking her excitement.
The presence of the fourth adventurer was already overwhelming. A stereotypical blonde elf girl with a beaming warm smile. "H-hello excuse me did you just put that poster up?"
Grey was immediately annoyed and wanted to remove himself from the situation as soon as possible. "Nope, not me." Grey began to walk away but the elf girl pinned him to the quest board like a excited dog.
"Eh? Yes you did I just watched you do it!"
"Then why did you ask..? Sigh fine, yeah I did. Don't tell me you guys are actually interested?"
The man with the glasses. His only defining trait, spoke up. "Most certainly, this shop could hold many knowledgeable secrets."
"I'm not sure about knowledgeable." Grey chuckled. "Well follow the poster for directions. I'm going now bye."
As Grey went to turn and leave, the elf girl stopped him in his tracks. She reached out with both hands and latched on to his hand.
"Wait a moment sir you don't happen to work there do you, do you?"
The warming embrace of her hands, inquisitive look, and nice personality made Grey quite uncomfortable. He quickly reeled away releasing the grasp, putting his hands behind his back.
"Eh yeah I guess. Why is that so important?"
"Oh wow we're so lucky. Could you take us there?"
The swordsman seemed like a pleasant enough guy and used his chivalry to help get the Elf girl out of Greys face.
"Elisia give the guy some space. Sorry about her she can be a little... Intense sometimes. My name's Hiro Soma, a swordman in the warrior class. The tall man behind me is Atticus Seeker, a sorcerer in the archmage class. The small one there is Raiko Konama, a knife expert in the thief class." He chuckled pulling Elisia away form Grey. "The girl you're already quite familiar with is Elisia White, a bow user in the magic archery class."
Grey Sighed puttung his thumb and finger around the bridge of his nose. "Yeah that's already too much information I didn't want to know abut you. Well I'm Grey Sailsburn and yeah I do work there for the time being."
Hiro laughed rubbing the back of his head. "Nice to meet you Grey. We are a party of novice adventurers and your shop might just give us the edge over other-"
Without letting Hiro finish his formal introductions. Atticus butted in abruptly. "Sailsburn! As in the Sailsburn Emporium, Sailsburn."
Grey thought Atticus was a little rude but couldn't help but let his ego grow. "Erm yeah, it is my family's shop."
"Quiet you lowly commoner's! We are in the presence of greatness." Atticus began slapping Raiko's shoulder much to her disgruntlement.
"Who are you calling a commoner's, glasses!?" Raiko's mood switched quickly as she pulled her dagger from it's hilt aimed at Atticus. Grey was surprised by the tiny girl. She wasn't in his stereotypical adventurers list.
"Hah, I like this one"
The tip of Raiko's blade quickly changed target to Grey. "What's that supposed to mean, huh?"
Grey threw up his hands like he was about to get mugged. Hiro promptly placed his fingers on the flat of the blade and pushed it down. "Sorry about her. Raiko's a great person once you get to know her and pay no mind to Atticus. He's a glutton for knowledge." Hiro seemed apologetic for every action of his party acting like the self elected leader he considers himself to be.
"Guys stop pestering Grey. I'm sure he's a busy man running a shop and all. Well stop by tomorrow."
Elisia was a little too disappointed. "Fine."
Atticus was pretending to be unmoved by the decision. "Very well."
Raiko wasn't that bothered and just shrugged it off.
With the theatrics over the group headed out of the guild bickering to one another as Hiro played mediator.
"Well that sucked. That went just about how I could of imagined. I hope they don't come to the shop anytime. At least not while I'm there."
Grey took one last audible sigh and headed out himself. He collected the remaining items on his list and headed back to the shop.
Once back he found some energy to act infused. Hina and Celia where still working the last few moments of the days shift.
"Hey Grey."
"Hi Grey how was your trip?"
Grey gave short and quick replies to avoid reliving the annoying encounter. "Fine."
Hina took the list and map off him. "You were away for the whole day. Did you get everything on the list?"
"Yes, no problems there."
Celia walked up to him excited for good news. "Did you manage to get anyone interested in the shop?"
"Just some annoying novice adventuring party I doubt they'll stop by though."
Hina walked away heading up stairs. "Well that's more than I expected you to do."
Celia closed up shop and slapped Grey on the back. "Great let's go eat! Tell us everything."
Grey explained as much as he could in as little detail as he could. The meal brought about the end of another chapter to Grey's new eventful life. He slept like a log as his social battery was running on empty.
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D.L.Evans Extra - A Grey Light in the fog
The mysterious cloaked figures had gathered once again to give their lives to their leader. They dropped like flies to give him access to all they had seen of the recent espionage on the Sailsburn Emporium.
He roared in laughter flicking through the events. "A gel shield? That's ridiculous, it's just an item to assault girls. We'd have no use for that." He silenced to the room of laughter with a quick flash of flames before continuing.
"Ah now this is interesting indeed. Hina has mastered her earth magic. That will be a crucial part of my plan." He chuckled stroking his beard lost in thought. "Grey however, his dislike for adventurers and like for change will prove crucial in turning the masses. Especially when focusing on experimental magic."
A few of the cloaked members in the mass seemed confused by the tern 'experimental magic'. "Sir what is experimental magic and why is it bad?"
"Silence fool!" He blasted the person who questioned him and watched him vaporise into a pile of dust. "Good question! The church and royal family doesn't like people messing with the four elements. It took millennia to perfect them, making them all powerful and controllable. The people in power rule over magic as they understand all. Once that is challenged they get scared and seek to silence those who pursue it. In their eyes magic is unpredictable, just like Grey Sailsburn."
Laughter erupted around the pit of the room as the members began to funnel out of the room. The open flame torches began turning off one by one until the room was pitch black. The soft shuffle of fabric was accompanied by groans and disgruntled noises as they stumbled their way out in the dark brining an end to their meeting.