After forming the bond with the little falcon, Logan was given a small bag of food that would last the day and was even offered a free slave to help him carry anything he would buy, yet the boy rejected the offer. Leaving with minimal pleasantries, as was Logan's style, the two teenagers left the kind yet morally questionable slave trader's shop.
"I know you are not the best speaker, Logan, but I should remind you that making allies is in your best interest. Mr. Miles seemed content with your actions, but others may not be so keen on your way of acting. So try to fake a smile once in a while; who knows, maybe you will—"
Before Rubina could finish, she noticed a girl their age standing outside the shop. It was evident she was an earth user from the radiance of the Great Spirit of Earth's power that surrounded her. An aura of amber shone around her, enhancing her features that were tinted in this hue. Her light brown short hair, clear, amber-tinted eyes, and bronze skin added to her look.
The girl's presence was calm and grounded, giving off a very different vibe in contrast to the bustling environment of the shopping district.
"Lady Chloe of the Amberstone, to what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?" Rubina's voice held some mild contempt.
Lady Chloe tried to maintain her composure against the clear hostility shown to her. "I have been tasked with overseeing the hero's safety. I apologize, as I was asked to meet you earlier, hero. Some miscommunications occurred, so I have come late to meet you this fine day."
"Uhm, alright. I am Logan. Nice to meet you, Lady Chloe?" Logan spoke while looking at Chloe with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
"Ah yes, I almost forgot. Forgive me. My name is Chloe Amberstone, from one of the gem knight families under the care of the Great Earth Spirit." The young girl bowed, hand on her heart in a very knight-like movement, elegant and refined.
Logan nodded, acknowledging her short introduction. Rubina remained hesitant about their new guest, especially since she interrupted the short time she had alone with Logan.
I see you are both shopping, don't mind me. I will be following you from afar, hero. I am merely here to keep you from danger. We never know when the vile demons will try to attack. But… don't worry about that; we have reinforced the kingdom with the help of various nations. Just… shop, let's not overcomplicate things." The girl sighed, a bit of her stress showing through her composed exterior.
Chloe then took about ten steps back, giving both Logan and Rubina enough room to speak normally. Yet, it was hard to ignore an armored knight a few steps behind them, especially with the metal clanking noises that accompanied her movements.
Rubina sighed, trying to focus on their shopping. "Well, at least she's not right on top of us," she muttered, glancing over at Logan.
Logan made a small smile, appreciating Rubina's attempt to make light of the situation. "Let's just continue. Where are we going next?"
"Well, there are various things we will need. The simple ones will be picked up later so we won't need to carry much. We do need you to pick out your armor… a simple weapon and some new clothes, as going out in the wild usually ends with torn or ripped wear," Rubina replied thoughtfully.
"Sorry to interrupt you two, but if it's about armor… we should head to old Merryl's shop. It should be the fourth shop before the street ends," Chloe spoke out, then acted nonchalant as if she wasn't with them.
"Right, I was going to suggest the same. So I guess it's a great place to go next then." As before, Rubina led the group forward, this time trying to pull Logan by the hand with a bit more speed, as if attempting to keep Chloe behind.
Logan followed along, somewhat exasperated with everything that was happening. And yet, it didn't feel too bad to be here now, near a girl who reminded him of how Lisa would pull him around as kids. The memories brought a small smile to his face as he recalled those good times.
As they walked through the bustling market, Logan took the opportunity to look around. Despite living through a war, the people here managed to get up every day, continue living, and strive to make enough money to satisfy their daily needs.
As they got closer to the destined shop, the duo looked back, their follower seemed closer than before, with expectation clearly visible in her face.
It did not take them long to reach the shop, they entered the large wooden building with a wide window displaying various armors made from different materials, whether animal hides or high-quality minerals. Once inside, the unmistakable scent of new leather filled their nostrils. The place was well-lit, with various magic orb crystals radiating light. The rhythmic sound of a hammer hitting metal could be heard in the distance, accompanied by the voice of someone humming a lovely melody.
The sight of an elderly lady sitting behind a workbench was the first thing they noticed. She was fully concentrated on trying to finish sewing a part of a boot but did not fail to greet those who entered.
"Greetings, give me a second, will you? Just a few more rows and this should be about finished," she said with a calm tone that reminded Logan of his late grandmother.
"It's fine, Madam Merryl, we will take a look around while you finish," Rubina said, predicting this would happen.
"Oh, it's the Rosengard Lass, huh? That's a nice suggestion. Wait, is that you, Lady Chloe? Even better! You should know what the young couple would want." With a light laugh, the old lady spoke while still dedicating all her attention to her work.
With a smug look, Rubina pulled Logan to the area where medium defensive equipment was displayed. She glanced around, considering the various colors and thinking about which would fit and look good on Logan. As she picked up a few gloves, a voice stopped her before she continued.
"Uhm, Those won't be too useful, if I may… This black set and this dark grey set might be good choices," Chloe suggested, stepping forward. "The black set has good defense and deters magic to an extent, but it is a little heavy. Meanwhile, the dark grey set seems to align with the hero's choice of wear. It's mostly leather, so weight is not much of a problem, yet it lacks the magic defense he might want to have…on" The young girl who seemed conscious that her presence annoyed the red haired youth as before took a few steps back, yet her suggestions were enough for Rubina to not lash out in anger.
She took both sets to Logan, nodding in appreciation before saying, "Well, the Amberstone's know their stuff. The gloss finish on some parts of this black armor would go well with your personality, while this grey one does look good and takes comfort into consideration. The choice ultimately depends on what you prioritize more, defense or mobility."
Logan carefully examined both sets, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He appreciated Chloe's knowledgeable input and Rubina's effort in finding the best gear for him. After a moment of contemplation, Logan made his decision but before he spoke Rubina pitched in another choice.
"Then again, why do we need to make a choice? We should take both." Rubina paused for a second before addressing the third wheel. "Also, Ms. Chloe, stop going so far if you can hear what we are saying. We might need your help here as we still need footgear for going in the wild, and a good spatial bag."
Chloe stepped closer; her composed demeanor unchanged. "About that, I think a good spatial ring would be better suited. It's less cumbersome and more secure. Plus, it frees up your hands for other tasks."
Rubina showed a look of impression and, considering Chloe's suggestion, said, "That does sound practical. What do you think, Logan?"
Logan nodded, thinking it would be better to have something lighter while walking. "Yeah… well that sounds good to me."
The boy was happy he did not have to do much. After picking out everything they needed in terms of armor and camping gear, they went to the old lady Merryl, who had finished her task. She introduced Logan to her husband, who specialized in both armory and blacksmithing. The neighboring shop, the weapon shop was run by their eldest daughter, continuing the family tradition.
Entering the weapon shop was far easier, as they only had to pick up a few daggers and, for some reason, a whip which Rubina kept insisting on getting for Logan.
Before heading back to the Rosengard Estate, they decided to visit a nice café for a few snacks. Chloe initially wanted to sit at another table, but Rubina, in a sly manner, dragged Chloe to join them.