“Four hundred and fifty-nine silvers?!” Red raised his voice, stern and cranky; “What kinda Smile’s Crown prices are you trying to demand for repair?!”

  “Well, when you say it like that, o‘course it’s gonna sound unreasonable!” replied the smithman, stroking his elongated beard; “But four golds and fifty-nine silvers, that’s more than reasonable here for the type of work you want.” He operated an open smithery of sorts; a forge, anvil, and related stations just outside a small building of metals, tools, and other things of such sorts.

  This smithman claimed to be a specialist of all things smithing-related—from weapons, to instruments, to armor, and the like. Past experiences, however, had made Red naturally skeptical of such claims.

  “ ‘Type of work I want’, ” Red mocked, “it doesn’t need that much work!”

  “Red…” Blue, having been silently next to him, so glared… “Must I repeat ‘it was washed by a wave of liquified nitrogen’?”

  “And oxygen. The air ain’t just nitrogen…” Red needlessly corrected, pretending he was missing her point.

  “Nytro…whatinthe fuck now?” The smith was confused though unhindered. “Fancy Far West words, aye? I don’t know what any of that means, but I’ve got eyes; you should listen to your sweet missy: your… Nonogineeta-whatever thingy-ma-polearm needs an entirely new shaft crafted; blade needs some work too, and that being Far Eastern means I gotta do more work. Gotta study it; see how they did the craftsmanship; replicate it.” he explained. “Might have to out-hire a woodcrafter or tanner too, and if it costs me, it costs you more; just how that works, friend.”

  Truth be told, this smith’s lack of an evident Strawberrien accent only added to Red’s skepticisms. Strawberry, being a mercantile realm, lacked a distinct smithing or really any craftsmen tradition; most practitioners thereof were usually from other realms… And the only reason—from Red’s perspective—that any of them would even bother moving themselves from their homes to here would be to take advantage of…Strawberry’s unevenness.

  The purchasing force of golds—and consequently silvers by intrinsic connection—was considerably weaker in Strawberry due to affluence and inflated circulation; consequently, golds were easier to earn. Most of these smiths and craftsmen tended to come and go, never residing permanently… Red felt that most of these bunches were scheming to accumulate as much golds as they could get away with before ultimately returning to whatever their realm of origins—where golds’ purchasing ability was certainly stronger, thereby making themselves unfairly richer than they otherwise would have been.

  These prices were intentionally extractive, he thus believed.

  “Bagh, Gods’ sacred…” Red turned to Blue; “Doesn’t even know what nitrogen is… How can I trust him to do good a job?” Naturally, he was not going to declare his proper reasons for distrust… Better to sometimes play the belligerent moron, he often assumed.

  “Red… Most of everyone in these lands do not know what that is…” Blue duly remarked.

  “Bah…” Yet Red shook his hand. “Forget about this. Try somewhere else…” He thus stomped off.

  The smithman crossed his arms, not seeming to mind. “Hm. Suit yourself, but you won’t find a better deal than from me, friend!”

  Red waved his hand, dismissive; “Yeah, yeah…” He continued to walk off.

  Blue, however, was slow to immediately follow. Her eyes were down, her mind in thoughts… Yet, with a sigh, she finally followed and quickly caught up. “Red, you told me…this was going to be a ‘quick’ ordeal…” she spoke mellow in voice, keeping next to him; “But we have been at this for nearly…two hours…”

  “Yeah…” Red just acknowledged, his tone affectively distant.

  “And likewise,” Blue’s icy eyes so eyed, “he is right… His prices are the best we have found thus far…”

  “Yeah…” Red, again, so acknowledged; “But that says a lot, doesn’t it? And that was only for the naginata. Who knew how much higher he would’ve raked us for the armor…” His own eyes glanced at her. “Blue, even you should know that these prices are extortive.”

  “Oh, believe me, I can see that.” Blue thus spoke; “However, I just want to get this over with so we can finally…”

  “Ah…” Red interposed; “So this wasn’t just about me getting my stuff checked out, huh?” he plainly remarked, not particularly upset since such was preestablished.

  Blue grumbled, before wrapping her arms around his own, hugging in effect… “Of course not. I said that as a means for you to think about this… You are well aware of what this is for me, Red.” She snuggled, yet although his arm was not fully armored, his shoulder lamellar and elbow guards nevertheless made it seem stiff and uncomfortable, never mind… “Beh… Greasy and dirty…” She let go; indeed, this moment was not worth staining her freshly cleansed attire. “Why must you always wear your full armor?”

  “Why do you always have to wear your robes and stupid pointy hat?” Red, however, counter inquired.

  “Huh?” Blue nearly gawked. “…well, I have no other…outfit. It is not as though I am able to have multiple outfits… Where would I place them? We travel!” she specified; “Besides, I may be a lowly freelancer, but I am still a spellcaster—a mage… I might as well dress suchly. We are stylish!”

  “Exactly.” Red thus spoke; “You’re a mage. And I’m an adventurer. So, I look the part.”

  “Hm. Certainly so…” Blue just acknowledged with a gentle breath… In truth, her only contention was simply the fact that she could not comfortably snuggle his arm without defiling herself… Though, such was more the fault of his tunic’s…equally grimy sleeve.

  “Besides,” Red continued on, “I’ve gotta carry this shit with me anyway to get them checked out and cleaned; might as well wear it—shit’s lighter to wear than carry.”

  “That is true…” Blue, again, just softly acknowledged.

  There was a short silence as they continued walking. Blue’s eyes retained a glance at him… At least he was quite calm this moment… Indeed, despite Red’s propensity towards showful combatness and verbose belligerence, he was—at least whenever it was just the two of them—more often like this: reserved and calm… In his head, thinking.

  He was neither stupid nor wise, but he was certainly knowledgeable—surprisingly so… He could also be so considerate and good-hearted…and kind… Though, he tried his best to make himself appear the opposite; to act meat-brained and angry… Though, he was also meat-brained and angry… He was too many things; though, so too was she.

  “Hm… Say,” Blue began to say, “that old man from the Guild hall… His shop, ‘Sapphire Smithing’… Why haven’t we inspected his…place? He said he would be willing to offer us well…”

  “Eh…” Red’s dismissiveness bled from his tone… “Blue, you know why…”

  “Uhm… No. I do not know why, actually…” Blue, however, stated.

  Red groaningly sighed. “You think we’re the first that old Sapphire approached like that? We obviously aren’t… And with a closed Guild hall, you know for a fact he scooped up the workless staff…” he explained; “I mean, why wouldn’t he? You know how much skill goes into being a receptionist?”

  “Ah… So you can praise those wonderful women? I thought you hated them…” Blue teased.

  “I don’t hate them. They hate me.” Red nevertheless corrected anyway. “The Guild’s malicious with its grudges, and it’s been carved into their hearts… I don’t want any problems.”

  “Rightly, but…” Blue began to so say, “if that is your contention as for why we shan’t inspect his smithery, then why…was your first instinct to head straight for the Guild hall as soon as we entered this city?”

  “…” Red was silent. “Listen, lady, I never said I was consistent. The fuck do I know what I’m doing half the time…”

  “Yes, but you certainly know what you are doing at least the other half of the time.” Blue spoke, smiling. “ ‘Besides, Blue, where else was I going to get quests? I just wanna quest haba der der’…” she quite playfully mocked his voice, already predicting his follow ups; “ ‘I am Dragon Slayer, I like fucking every species of women who is not my proper girlfriend, mer der.’ ‘Look at me, I hate fuck receptionists, der mer’…” Perhaps she was beginning to go overboard; however, this certainly was an innovative way of getting things off her chest.

  “…” Red, again, was silent. “Blue, you’re an unfaithful adulterer.” he frankly stated.

  “From your allowance…” Blue countered.

  “Yeah, because you’d do it anyway!” Red countered her counter.

  “Love and lust are two separate things—your words, not mine…” Blue countered his counter’s counter. “Also, clarification: I do want to fuck you; I prefer it even… Romantic passion burns so differently than plain carnal desire… But you always seem to be evading me, and it is not because you don’t love me…” she continued her venting teases.

  “Most men would never tolerate the likes of you, Blue…” Red remarked, his voice by no means hostile. Indeed, they were not arguing; the context was completely different.

  “Oh, yes, yes… But that is what makes you so different.” Blue so replied; “You are right. Most would not tolerate me—most have not. But you…” She looked at his fuzzy unshaved face with eyes quite frank; “You are very weird, Red. Extremely so. It is quite unsettling, solemnly, if I were not also suchly. We complement each other well—when we want to…”

  “Yeah…” Red’s voice quieted, going silent. Moments passed, before… “Alright, fine,” he sighed, “we’ll check out that old man’s smith. Can’t be any worse than the rest.” He abruptly decided.

  “Huh?” Blue was not even going to bother being confused as to how their conversation led to his accepting decision. “Alrightly! Great!” She simply smiled and kept her pace with his walk. However… “Hm…” Abruptly, she slowed to a pause, scratching her temple as if…massaging it, her focus somewhat…detaching.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Red, having immediately noticed, paused in kind. “What? What is it?” He stared at her.

  “Nothing…” Indeed, it felt like nothing… Yet… “Hmm…” she eyed around and about, feeling weird; once again, there was such a tingle in her head… “I just do not get the sense we are private…”

  “…” Red’s stare became an unamused glare. “Blue, we’re out in the open with others around—of course we aren’t private! We’re in the city!” Indeed, souls began to eye the armored man who abruptly raised his voice, though quickly lost interest. Certainly, they were amidst the public sphere.

  “Yeah… We are… Obviously.” With a gentle shake to the head, “Sorry…” she apologized. Although their walk resumed, she could not shake this strange sensation that kept…

  -||-

  “Huh?” Blue blurted as if having been struck seemingly at random; she abruptly eyed around as if that would yield anything. “Weird…”

  “Yeah, yeah… Weird, I know…” Red so waved his hand; “I am just thinking…”

  “What?” Blue’s focus swung back to him. “No, not…” She shook her head, snapping out of it. “Anyway, ‘Sapphire Smithing’, you do not need to spend so many seconds reading two words, Red.” she opted to simply teased.

  “Like I said, I was just thinking…” he reiterated.

  Indeed, they were once again within the same general area as that shuttered Guild hall, although of course at a completely different building… Red frankly did not need to read the sign to know that this was the correct location; it was both a shop and a smithery, and it certainly looked accordingly.

  “Thus… Shall we enter?” Blue prodded behind.

  Red, however, hesitated within… “Fine…” With an exhale, he thus gripped the door’s handle. However, before he pressed and pushed… “Blue…” He glanced behind; “You might not like this, but…”

  “I shall await thee outside, worry not.” She smiled, already knowing.

  “Thanks…” Red thus proceeded to open the building’s front door, stepping in to the tune of a small ringing chime.

  The door closed shut as Blue patiently awaited nearby… “Hm…” However, she again felt compelled to eye around… “Hardly any others around…” she mumbled in remark… “But this feeling… Hm… What is this sensation, even?” It felt as though she had ears on top of her head that were flexed with alert to something’s presence; though, of course, there was nothing here, and she had no such ears.

  Interim

  “Oh, hello!” So promptly greeted such a sweetly charming voice almost on prompt as soon as that entering ring so chimed. “Welcome to Sapphire Smithing, how can…” Yet as soon as those cheerful eyes so opened from that receptive smile, everything on her face…immediately flattened blunt. “Oh. It’s you…”

  “…” Red stood there, having just entered this humble wooden shop of armor and swords—and also polearms. Ah… He had never even met this woman before, yet she already knew who he was. That unmistakable formal uniform and identifying amulet… “Great…” He hated when his hunches were proven correct.

  The woman stationed behind that clerk counter facing straight his way from the far end of this shop so rolled her eyes, sighing… “And here I believed I would never have to deal with you… But alas, Fate is wicked, and Fortune is a bitch-whore…” She glared him down. “What do you want, Dragon Extinctor?” Indeed, she was a one and only Guild receptionist; seeing her vest was that distinct indigo-dyed darkish blue, she was obviously a mainline receptionist—formerly, that was.

  No wonder she knew who he was…

  Red so hughed aloud and approached. “Look, lady, I don’t want any problems or anything…” he promptly stated as soon as he arrived before that wooden counter; “I’m only here because the old man who owns this place said he’d help me out—said he’d give me a discount…”

  “Hmm.” Yet the former receptionist merely pressed her chin with her finger, cogitating though she was obviously not. “I do not believe you, sorry.” She had such a condescending expression. “Sure, a ‘discount’… Since when has he done that? Let alone be so courteous.”

  “Huh?” Red gave her a look. “Why in the Demon-King’s gaping asshole would I lie about this? How’d I even know there’s an old man running this place?”

  “Could be guessing—profile did say you’re quite intelligent and cunning…” the Guild receptionist-turned-shop-clerk so remarked.

  “That’s giving me too much credit, lady.” Red was frank. “And my profile should’ve also said that I’m honest, and I always say it how it is. And that cheery old man came to me and partner, talked with us, and offered his services as one adventurer to another. That’s what happened.”

  “Rightly, however,” she began to proclaim, “I have known that fart for years, and he has hardly been sociable, even with adventurers. He never talks to anyone lately… So, I find it hard to believe that he’d suddenly find you—out of everyone—interesting enough to—”

  “Alright, lady, we’ve never met before; you don’t actually know me enough to judge that.” Red interrupted, blunt. “Quit pretending.”

  The receptionist-turned-clerk went mute for a moment, staring blankly… “Yeah…” she so sighed, “You’re right… The fuck am I doing?” Her eyes withdraw downwards, her fingers tapping at the counter… “Not even my job anymore—why should I care?” Her conditioning was hard to break, even now.

  “Besides,” Red decided to add, “he kept eyeing my armor and naginata; that’s probably what interested him…”

  “Alrightly, that… I can believe.” Her eyes returned to him. “You have a very distinct appearance. A mix-mash of Far West, Far East, and who knows what else… Where is your red tunic even from, huh?” Her demeanor was more casual now.

  “Fuck if I know…” Red was honest. “Anyway, well…”

  “Yeah…” she sighed; “I’ll quit the shit. Last that fart was here, he did mention a special customer who may or may not show up… Didn’t think he was talking about you, though—or any adventurer, really…”

  “He doesn’t do this commonly?” Red immediately inquired.

  “Nope.” She plainly replied. “He has never given anyone special status before…”

  “Not even adventurers?” Red followed up.

  “Nope.” And she, again, plainly replied. “Adventurers, former adventurers, randoms, anyone and everyone… Doesn’t matter.”

  “Hm… But that old man seemed cheery when he talked to us… What’s he normally like?” Red decided to ask; “You work for him now, so…”

  “He’s sweet but weird… Sometimes says strange things and his mood’s shifty. Like I said, he has been awfully to himself… Real distant man these days. I barely see him anymore, honestly… Spends more time in his weird private room upstairs…” she answered, quite openly; “He’s left most of the managing business to me now, in fact.”

  “Wait, he has a room upstairs? So, he’s here?” Red decided to keep going.

  “Yeah.” She plainly answered. “This is both a shop, smithy, and a…house. We live here and work here.”

  “But you barely see him?” he followed up.

  “Yep.” And she, again, plainly answered. “He’s either in his bedroom, his weird locked room, or somewhere else… Honestly, I don’t bother poking.”

  “Huh.” People were two-sided coins, he guessed. Still, Red was…starting get weird feelings about him—and all of this.

  “Anyway,” yet the receptionist clerk transitioned, “I can immediately tell: armor and weapon cleaning ‘nd repair.” She swiftly pointed to a door off to the side. “That’s a changing and handover room. Dispart from your armor in there and leave your polearm too. I’ll have someone handle it. Come back in a day or two; should be done.”

  “Uhm…” Red…looked at that door before relooking at her… “And what about…details? Like, you know, the price?”

  “Do not worry about that right now.” she stated. “I was instructed to not charge the ‘special customer’ anything, but instead oversee their smooth handling should they appear. I’ll have to this sort out with him…whenever he appears again. This is an atypical courtesy, so…”

  “Uhuh…” Well, this certainly was going conveniently smoothly. “And…you can actually handle my—”

  “Yes.” the receptionist clerk cut him off; “Far West, Far East, Far…fucking South even; that fart was both an adventurer back in better days and an expert smith. He knew a thing or two from most contacted alien practices, and he has taught his apprentices very well…” She was confident.

  “You seem to look up to him.” Red noted.

  “In a way, yeah. He did give me a job, so…” she replied, forthright.

  “Anyone else? Or just you?” he followed up.

  “Only me.” And she replied. “I treated him well whenever he showed up at the Guild hall, I guess… Might also look too much like his daughter; that’s what he always tells me.”

  “Who I assume is dead?” Red plainly remarked.

  “Yep.” And she plainly replied. “Anyway,” her finger again sharply pointed, “Door. Open. Dispart.”

  “Yeah, alright..” Red finally went to that door. Yet as he gripped the handle, he turned his sight back to that receptionist clerk, contemplating and wondering… “Still wearing that same uniform, huh? Despite not being with the Guild anymore…”

  “It’s a pleasant outfit, what can I say?” The former receptionist gave a small humored smile. “It denotes what I am, even if no longer affiliated. Spent years in grooming, after all…”

  “Hm.” Red mumbled, contemplating further… “What’s your story anyway?” he decided to ask. “You obviously know mine…”

  “I suppose I do,” she chuckled a little, “although I had no choice to learn about you. The Guild must retain consistent cross-branch policies and handling, after all…” she remarked. “As for me, not much to say. Main counter receptionist. Guild hall was forced closed by the count’s ordinance… Most of us left to hopefully find a new place at another branch, but I decided to stay. Old fart offered me a job, and also…”

  “There’s someone else keeping you here?” He noticed a ring.

  “Something like that…” she replied.

  “Hm…” Well, so far, this former mainline receptionist was being…remarkably forthright with him. He decided to push it. “So… Uhm… What exactly happened to the—”

  “Security Office happened. Citadel Admin took over the whole branch.” the receptionist clerk, however, cut him off. “I know the game, Reddy. You’re digging me. And as I’ve been indicating, I’m willing to openly answer.” she stated, tone neutral; “Lots of stuff happened apparently… But first dispart from your shit already. We can talk afterwards.”

  -||-

  “Huh?” Blue let out a short gasp of air, eyes once again looking around… Yet as always, nothing was found. “This feeling again…so randomly strikes…” She was talking to herself again. Funny.

  Promptly, however, that shop and smith’s door sprung open as Red finally exited out; now without any armor and weapon, he almost looked normal.

  “Red!” Blue so greeted.

  Yet Red merely walked and kept walking.

  “Oh…” Blue…swiftly followed, catching up. “That took you awhile… Everything sorted, then?”

  “Yeah…” he just replied… It was obvious from his face that he was more in his thoughts than not. “Let’s just move on. We aren’t done yet… Gotta get my garments cleaned, and you said yourself…I stink, so I need a bath too…” he thus said. “Need to buy new garments first, though, just so I have something to wear while this shit gets washed…”

  “Oh, they may provide that for you… The washer I went to.” Blue duly remarked; “For an extra cost by the day, and you must return it after receiving your cleansed belongings, but it is cheaper than purchasing a new set of wear.”

  “Good to know.” Red just replied; “Just take me where you went, then…”

  “Uhuh…” Alright, Blue knew what this suspiciously cooperative tone of his meant. “Alrightly, Red, did something happen back there?”

  Red…momentarily hesitated, before sighing… “No. I just talked with the clerk in there—former main receptionist. Learned some stuff; that’s all…”

  “Hmm?” Blue gave him a squint… “The learned stuff being?”

  Red, again, deliberated… Before, with a breath, “The entire Trinity’s damned Huckleberry Guild branch’s being taken over by the Security Office…” he finally said.

  Blue stared with slight confusion… “I thought we already knew that?”

  “No, I mean… Yeah, but…” His breaths grughed, struggling to articulate.

  “What do you mean?” Blue rose her eyebrow.

  Red sighed… “They didn’t just take over the Grandberry hall. The entire Huckleberry branch reports to them now, and they’ve been cracking backs for the duke… Bunch of shit’s been going on; here, there, at the Citadel…” he explained albeit kept the details to himself for now. Indeed, more strings had stitched within his head.

  “And, thus, this means…?” she essentially reasked.

  “It means don’t think too much about it; just enjoy your break here while we still can.” Red was quite blunt. “Because fuck if I know what kind of dogshit’s gonna fling on our faces…”

  “Wait…” Blue paused, caught off guard… “Does that mean…”

  “Yeah.” Red paused in kind, looking at her. “Do whatever you want to do… And if you want to spend time with me, I’ll…spend time with you for the rest of…however long we’ll be here.”

  “Uhuh…” She was, indeed, mellowly perplexed by his affirmation… To hear such words from him. “…you really mean it?”

  “Yeah… Just don’t drain me, alright?” Red stated before beginning to walk again.

  Blue smiled, delighted. “I’ll try…” She promptly began to follow, retaining a warm blush. “Firstly, let us…finish your sorting. Attire washing, bathing, grooming… You shall be the best man you can be! Then we shall have dinner… Or… Maybe…” She began to leer with a grin… “No, let’s…stay in the bath… Heh…”

  Ah…

  Always fascinating,

  When threads intersect to create such…alignments of chance.

  Yet to be continuously beset with that curious sensation of observation…

  I wonder how much you will be able to relish in your romance.

  Be relieved, however, for I shall leave you be.

  Thus, enjoy your date, little mage.

  Privacy to be afforded for free.

  For memories are priceless,

  When you join this grave.