The bustling market of Valltherion was far less lively than some of the larger cities Ray had visited in the past, but it still had its charm.
Stalls lined both sides of the cobbled street, their colorful banners fluttering lightly in the breeze, while the smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling meats filled the air.
Seraphine walked beside him, her eyes darting nervously between the crowd, clearly uncomfortable in the heavy, battered armor that still clung to her body.
The sunlight shone down on her golden hair, which, though still immaculate, seemed at odds with the worn, dented armor she wore.
"Ray," she murmured, glancing around at the curious looks they were getting. "I don't like the attention."
Ray looked around, his gaze calculating as he noticed the glances falling on them. A few people here and there were whispering, some pointing discreetly at Seraphine's armor.
She did stand out in her current state, especially in a town that hadn't seen much action from royalty or adventurers alike.
"It's okay," Ray said, his voice calm as he gave her an encouraging smile. "Let's just grab you some new clothes, and this whole Princess in Battle Armor thing will be a thing of the past."
Seraphine let out a soft sigh, relaxing just a little. He was right. Being out in public with her armor on didn't do anything for their cover.
They walked down the narrow market street, where the noise of merchant calls and chatter filled the air.
Ray led her toward a modest tailor's shop tucked away between two larger, more flashy stores. It was a simple place, its wooden sign creaking as the wind passed by.
Ray opened the door and stepped inside, holding it for Seraphine. The warmth of the place wrapped around them, a welcome contrast to the cool air outside.
Inside, an older man with a thick mustache and round glasses was bent over his workbench, sewing patches onto a coat. He looked up as they entered, squinting at Ray with a sharp, discerning eye.
"Ah, travelers," the tailor said, his voice rough but welcoming. He set the coat down and approached them. "What can I do for you?"
Ray flashed a small smile, sizing up the tailor. He'd been to enough of these kinds of shops to know what to expect—prices were usually negotiable, especially for someone who looked like he wasn't dripping in gold.
Ray gestured toward Seraphine. "She needs clothes. Something practical, durable, and—most importantly—unrecognizable."
Seraphine stood there awkwardly, her hands slightly stiff at her sides, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. She looked down at her armor, and then at the clothes on the racks nearby.
It was her first time stepping into a shop on her own; back in the cathedral, there had never been any need for such mundane errands.
The tailor, taking one look at Ray's basic traveler's attire, made a quick assessment. He glanced over Ray's worn coat, the lack of adornment on his belt, and his unassuming boots.
The man's brow furrowed slightly, but he kept his tone polite. "Ah, a poor traveler looking to spruce up, I see."
Ray's expression didn't change, but a slight smirk tugged at his lips. He'd gotten used to this kind of assumption.
"Right, exactly," Ray said, pretending to sound the part. "Something nice, but not too extravagant."
The tailor nodded sagely, apparently satisfied with his judgment, and moved over to a rack of simple tunics, trousers, and cloaks. He pulled a few items off the shelf, placing them in front of Seraphine.
Thankfully, he was too disinterested in the wanderers that he guessed her to be some noble child who ran away with her lover than the celestial princess herself.
"Something like this should do the trick," he said, clearly satisfied with his selection. "It'll look good, but won't attract much attention. Two silver coins for the tunic, another silver for the trousers."
Seraphine eyed the tunic carefully, her fingers grazing the fabric. It was soft to the touch, the color subtle enough to blend in, yet still high quality.
She nodded and picked it up. "This will do," she said quietly, though her tone carried a sense of relief. She wasn't used to having choices like this.
Ray gave a chuckle, his grin a little teasing. "Yeah, they won't win any fashion contests, but they'll do the job."
Seraphine shot him a sideways glance but couldn't suppress the tiny smile that crept onto her lips.
She was coming to trust him more and more, realizing that the sarcastic remarks weren't meant to offend. In fact, they often made her feel more at ease.
"I'll take these," she said, a soft confidence growing as she spoke.
Ray then turned to the tailor, his eyes scanning the rest of the shop. "We'll also need a small spatial ring for a sword," he added casually, as if that wasn't a big deal at all.
The tailor blinked and scratched his beard, clearly caught off guard by the suggestion. "A spatial ring? For someone who doesn't look like they've got much of a budget?"
Ray gave him a knowing look. "Don't worry, I've got the gold, and you've got the goods."
He eyed Ray with new curiosity but didn't say more. He moved to a corner of the shop where small jewelry pieces were laid out, including a handful of spatial rings.
Seraphine watched quietly as Ray chose a delicate silver ring with a simple gemstone embedded in its center. "This one," he said, holding it out to the tailor.
The old man inspected it for a moment before nodding in agreement. "It'll hold a weapon just fine. Twenty gold coins for that."
Ray didn't even blink as he handed over the gold without hesitation, a quiet satisfaction settling in his chest. The tailor, now visibly more eager to complete the sale, quickly wrapped everything up.
He then turned to Seraphine, handing her the ring. "There. Now you won't have to carry your sword around everywhere."
Seraphine took the ring, her fingers brushing the smooth surface. She didn't speak for a moment, but her gratitude was clear in the way she held the ring. "Thank you."
Ray smiled, the warmth in his expression momentarily breaking through his usual nonchalant attitude.
"You're welcome. Now, let's get out of here before you change your mind about all this."
As they stepped out of the shop, Ray felt a strange calm settle over him. Despite the whirlwind of chaos that had defined his recent life, this felt… simple.
Necessary.
He glanced at Seraphine, who was holding the new clothes in her arms but hadn't tried them on yet.
"So, what now?" she asked, her voice soft, hesitant. "Should I try these on?"
Ray chuckled lightly. "Not yet. We'll get you settled in, then you can change in peace."
He led her to a modest inn not far from the market, a quiet place where no one would pay too much attention to them.
"Well, what do we have here?" the innkeeper said, looking up from his ledger. "A weary traveler and…"—his eyes flicked over her dulled armor—"a knight who's seen better days. What's the story? Escorting her to safety, or is he the damsel in distress?"
"He's the one slowing me down," she replied, before Ray could perform another of his one liner quips.
"Oh, so you're the tough one." The innkeeper chuckled, leaning on the counter. "Lucky guy. So, what'll it be? One room or two? Or should I just assume separate beds for now?"
"Separate beds," Ray answered immediately. "We're keeping it simple."
"Simple, huh?" The innkeeper's grin widened mischievously. "Well, if simple gets boring, the beds here push together easy enough. Just saying."
Her face turned scarlet, and she instinctively reached for her sword. Realizing it wasn't on her, her fingers twitched as if ready to summon it from her spatial ring.
"Easy there," Ray said smoothly, stepping in front of her before the innkeeper could notice. He leaned casually on the counter and slid over the coins.
"We'll take the second door on the right. No need to test the durability of your furniture."
The innkeeper's chuckle grew louder. "Second door on the right it is. Five silvers. No squeaking guaranteed. Unless, of course—"
"Thanks, we'll keep that in mind," Ray cut him off, taking the key and gesturing for her to head upstairs.
She huffed and turned sharply, marching toward the stairs without a word.
As they ascended, Ray smirked. "You know, summoning a weapon in an inn could've been a bit… excessive."
Her glare was sharp enough to silence him, but the tips of her ears betrayed her embarrassment. "He deserved it," she muttered under her breath, quickening her pace.
Ray just chuckled, following behind her.
----------
Ray sat down on one of the beds, stretching. "Alright, here we are. Now, why don't you freshen up a bit? We're heading to the Adventurer's Guild before sundown."
She glanced at him, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "The guild? Are we going to register?"
"Exactly." He leaned back, his tone casual.
Her lips tightened slightly, clearly not used to the idea of needing anyone's approval. "And you?"
Ray smirked. "Oh, I'll come too. But first, I need to handle something in my world. Shouldn't take long."
Your… world," she repeated, a strange sadness flickering in her eyes. She felt as if she had caught a glimpse of something she'd never truly understand.
He waved her off. "Just a small trip. A perk of being me. I'll be back before you even get comfortable in your...low profile outfit."
"Low profile?" she shot back, crossing her arms. "This from the man who walked into a shop dressed like a wandering beggar, only to flaunt gold like a king?"
Ray laughed. "It's called adaptability. You should try it sometime."
As she rolled her eyes, he added with a smirk,
"Oh, and while I'm gone, try not to summoning your sword indoors, Princess. I doubt the innkeeper wants to deal with another redecorating job."
Her face turned red, and she glared at him. "That was one time!"
"And unforgettable," he quipped before disappearing out the door, leaving her grumbling to herself.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Seraphine sighed, her gaze drifting to the small bundle of clothes she'd picked out earlier.
Fresh clothes, a bath, and some quiet time—it sounded simple, but it felt like an odd luxury after everything.
Still, as she unwrapped the bundle, the faintest hint of a smile played at her lips.