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Chapter 1: She Decides to Leave Town
OLIVIA was born and raised in the town of Daregas in the southern region of the Kingdom of Alexia.
That night, she walked down a residential street with her bag in hand and a severe expression on her face.
What do I even have with me? She thought through the contents of her bag, the sole object she left home with, as she passed by the silent houses. My wallet, handkerchief, book on magic circles, and magic toolkit. Also, a few jewelry pieces.
She glanced down at the self-defense magic ring on her left hand that emitted a mild shock. Remembering she had just enough money to stay in a hotel for the night, she sighed in relief.
It would have been better if she could have left with more, but the one silver lining was that she had her magic toolkit, which contained everything she needed for work.
W̆ е ḃ n̆ о́v ė l̇ E n̆ ü m а́
The big question is, what do I do next?
She’d decided she hadn’t been forced out—she’d left of her own volition—but that didn’t change the fact that she was now forced out on the streets. Olivia may not be penniless, but her home and shop had been stolen from her. Thinking about what would come next made her anxious and put her on edge. She shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off her worry.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Well, let’s start with deciding what to do about tonight.
Her thoughts raced as she walked the dark street.
I could go to someone’s house? But that’ll make them worry. I should stay in a hotel, I suppose. But this is a small town. I’m sure to run into someone I know, and they’ll ask what happened…
She stared at the toes of her flats as she walked around worriedly. After a while, she found herself in a familiar location.
E ñ ǔm̈ а̇
Huh… I must have walked here without thinking about it. I do come here every day, after all.
Ahead of her was a small shop enveloped in a gentle orange light. She could see the magic lamps illuminating the shop’s interior through the shop window.
She walked over to the shop and looked up at the wooden placard above the door that showed signs of having been repainted several times: Carter’s Magic Items, Magic Lamps and Magic Jewelry.
I was working here just earlier today, and now I can’t even go inside.
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She gently placed her hand on the polished brass doorknob, her eyes cast down as she reminisced.
When she was a little girl, her mother would often bring her along to the shop when delivering her father his lunch.
Е n ûm̌á.
“Mother, what does Father make in the shop?” she asked one day.
“Magic items,” replied her mother.
“What’re magic items?”
“They’re useful things that let normal people use magic even if they’re not magicians. Your father is a very skilled artificer.”
Like her mother said, Olivia’s father was a very skilled artificer specializing in lamps and jewelry. He was exceptionally proficient with jewelry, and many customers visited him, speaking only words of thanks.
“That anti-poison bracelet you made me is incredible! I’ve not had digestive problems since! You, sir, are incredible!”
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“Thank you. My hip feels so much better because of the painkiller brooch you made.”
“My eyes don’t get tired now with the earrings you made me. You have my thanks.”
Olivia felt proud as she watched those people go home with smiles. Her father was such an amazing person.
On the way back from the shop one day, Olivia asked, “Can I be like Father?”
“You can if you have a lot of mana.”
“Mana?”
Е n̆ û m̊а̌
“Yes, mana. You can become an artificer if you have a lot of mana.”
That was why, a few years later, it was only natural she would follow in her father’s footsteps after learning she had plenty of mana.
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“I want to become an artificer that can make people smile like Father does!”
She had decided to work forever in this shop, just like him.
And now I’m leaving like this. I guess you really can’t know what life will have in store for you.
She let out a heavy sigh. The shop’s sign distorted in her tear-laden eyes, and she felt something would break inside her if she stayed any longer.
Ên̆ u m̊ а. i̊ ď
She turned on her heel and looked up at the starless night sky to keep her tears from spilling down her cheeks as she walked slowly to the town center.
💎💎💎
TWEET, TWEET.
Sunlight slowly dyed the sky from the east early the following day. Olivia washed her face in the fountain of the empty park as she listened to the birdsong and sighed.
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I feel better now. Good thing the weather isn’t too cold yet.
After leaving the shop, she walked from the town center to a park on the outskirts, where she spent the night. She’d considered staying in a hotel but had dreaded the idea of running into someone and having them pry into everything. She ended up wandering around town until she arrived at the park.
Е̊n̆û m̆ а̇
“I never imagined I’d spend a night sleeping on a park bench…”
Sitting on the fountain’s edge, she took the faded handkerchief from her bag and wiped her face dry. She then stood up and gave herself a good once-over.
Thankfully, her white blouse, ink-black blazer, and long A-line skirt didn’t wrinkle easily, so she still looked presentable. Once she thoroughly smoothed it down, her navy hair was also passable.
She was a little worried about the horrible dark circles she assumed she had under her eyes and the faint algae smell lingering on her because she washed up in a fountain, but…
This isn’t the time to be focusing on that!
Olivia smacked her cheeks, revving herself up in the morning sun. Last night, she’d been thrown off kilter by the unexpected events, but she had the night to calm down and felt refreshed.
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Now, let’s get down to business!
First, she went to the bank near the town center to file a notice of her lost card and request a new one. Based on how they had acted yesterday, she guessed her adoptive family hadn’t found her card in her room, meaning Olivia could protect the money in her account and the belongings in her safety deposit box if she reported it first thing in the morning.
She cut across the central square, wrapped thick with a blanket of morning fog, and entered the quiet bank that had just opened for the day. The familiar woman at the counter smiled at her.
“Oh, hello, Olivia. You don’t often come to the bank this early,” she noticed.
“No, I don’t. I actually lost my bank card and wanted to open a new account,” responded Olivia, and the people in the bank began to buzz.
The woman sounded tense as she replied, “I apologize for the inconvenience, but we currently have a policy of asking some detailed questions if anyone lost their bank card. Would you mind coming to another room?”
W̆ е b̄n о̊ v̊e̊ l̇ Е̂n_u m a
Olivia was a little confused. The woman acted different than usual, but she followed her to what seemed like a meeting room where an older man in a suit sat with a somewhat intense expression.
“I’m very sorry, but things have gotten quite severe,” he began. “There have been some reports of bank card fraud in a neighboring country, and it’s spread to this country.
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Olivia’s eyes went wide. “Is that kind of fraud even possible?”
“We have seen cases, so yes, it is possible.”
He told her the scammers would withdraw all of a victim’s money after claiming they lost one of their bank cards, generally targeting merchants and people with their own shops.
“Which is why we must be consistent in questioning those who have lost bank cards,” he explained. “And we question anyone who does happen to come in later with the lost bank card.”
Ӗ n̈ ûṁă. і d
Olivia smirked inwardly at the thought of her adoptive parents frantically trying to explain the situation when the bank caught them.
I feel a little bad for them, but they’d be trying to withdraw money from someone else’s bank account without permission. At that point, they reap what they sow.
Olivia answered the man’s questions in detail, telling him about the events surrounding the loss of her card and that her family told her they didn’t know anything about it.
“That is all for my questions,” he concluded. “I’ve confirmed that the money in your account is untouched. Please wait here while I process your new account.”
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He left the room just as the woman from the front came in. “I have your new bank card,” she explained.
Olivia sighed as the woman left.
Ё n̈u m̆ а .i̊d
Now what?
At the very least, she had secured her money. There was enough savings to live off for a short while, but that would only shrink as things were.
But…where can I work?
As absurd as the claims were, she had been fired from her shop for allegedly stealing designs, which was the worst reason ever—that would make it difficult for her to work as an artificer in this town. There was the possibility of pursuing a different job, but she’d been single-minded about her desire to become an artificer ever since she was a young child; Olivia couldn’t even imagine doing anything else.
She considered going to live with her cousin on her mother’s side, with whom she was on good terms, but she’d only just had a baby. Olivia didn’t want to impose.
What do I do?
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
A sigh slipped out. She was blocked in every direction.
Just as she was thinking how her main priority should be to find a place to live, she remembered something her father had said when he was still alive: “If you ever find yourself in a tough spot, open this letter.”
He had given her a letter when he was sick. She couldn’t bear to look at it after he’d died, so she put it in her safety deposit box along with her other keepsakes from him.
That’s right! I have that! This is exactly the sort of time he meant for me to open it!
She jumped to her feet faster than she could think and told the woman who brought her new bank card that she wanted to go to her safety deposit box. Olivia was then led to a secure room with rows of tiny doors. She took a small key from her wallet, and her eyes misted with tears the moment she opened the door.
Oh, so many memories…
Е̃ núm̀ ӓ_.їd
Along with the letter were some jewelry and a watch she’d inherited from her parents. She’d hurried to hide them here because she suspected her adoptive family might steal them.
She fought back the tears brought on by all the memories as she took out the letter and opened the envelope. Inside was a letter and another sealed envelope.
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The paper was a little rumpled, but her father’s neat writing read, “If you ever find yourself in trouble, take this letter to Gordon’s shop in the capital. I’ve told him about you. Love, your father.”
Her eyes went wide—she hadn’t expected that.
Gordon was one of her father’s fellow apprentices when he was studying magic item crafting in the capital. Olivia also knew Gordan well since he’d spent six months in Daregas for work seven years ago. He’d also traveled all the way out here from the capital for her father’s funeral and made sure to tell her when he was leaving to let him know if she ever needed anything. Her father must have said something to him before he died.
She slipped deep into thought as she stared at her father’s letter.
É_n̈ũ m̌ӓ . і̌d
I’m surprised by what the letter says, but going to the capital might actually not be a bad option.
She’d heard the capital was ten times the size of Daregas. Surely, there would be somewhere that would hire her as an artificer.
Olivia slipped the letter and envelope into her bag and closed the safety deposit box. After thanking the bank worker who had been watching from a distance, she withdrew enough money to cover her living expenses for the time being and left the bank.
The sun had risen high as Olivia stepped into the open square just outside the bank; people and horses bustled across the cobblestone. She looked up at a clear blue sky. As she gazed, she made her decision.
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“To the capital.”
Even though she was forced out, she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving town and her father’s shop behind—but she also knew she would feel nothing but regret if she gave up on being an artificer just to stay here. It would also make her parents sad. She decided to go to the capital, work hard, and become an excellent artificer like her father.
Е n̄uṁа̂
Now that I’ve decided, I need to buy a ticket to the capital.
With a look of determination on her face, she set off at a brisk pace, cut across the chaotic square, and passed down a street lined with stalls selling breakfast foods.
She stopped before a particularly large building and looked up at the Daregas Horsecar Rail Station sign.
The rail line utilized horse-drawn carriages pulled by a special breed twice as powerful as your normal horse. They ran along two rails laid on the ground, cutting the usual two-day trip from Daregas to the capital down to only half a day. Tickets were costly, so Olivia hadn’t ridden it in a few years, not since she had to travel to her cousin’s wedding.
Olivia entered the station into a space as vast as an open square in the city, with a high ceiling that reminded her of a church. Well-dressed people bustled back and forth, carrying luggage. In the back, she saw the large horses, stone platforms, and silver rails that stretched into the distance.
She gulped.
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The place’s unique atmosphere made her question if everything really was all right, but she straightened her back and gave herself a reassuring pep talk before losing her courage.
Get in there! You can do this!
She set off through the station, even though her steps were a bit awkward, and went to the ticket desk. She approached the bespectacled lady working there and crisply told her she wanted to go to the capital.
“The next horsecar isn’t until noon. Is that all right?” asked the woman.
“Yes. I’ll take that one.”
She retrieved her wallet and dished out enough money to support a family of four for two weeks, then took the palm-sized ticket that displayed the date and time of the horsecar.
Ёṅ um̌а .i ḋ
Once she stepped outside the station, she let out a sigh. All she’d done was buy a ticket, but she still felt as worn out as if she’d worked all day. She didn’t have time for a break now, however.
Let’s take care of the things I need to get done before I leave.
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She boarded one of the carriages outside the station, and it whisked her off to the cemetery outside town. With her head hung in front of her parents’ relatively new graves, she told them she would be back to visit someday.
Afterward, she returned to the carriage, traveled to the area near the station, and ordered a simple pasta dish from one of the stalls to fill her belly.
About twenty minutes before the horsecar was scheduled to depart, she was already waiting on the platform. Several horsecars were at the various platforms, and people milled about as they boarded and disembarked. She stood on the largest platform with the sign saying “Capital” and let out a little sigh.
I wonder what the capital is like.
W̃ е̌ b̂ n о̊ vё l É n̈ u m ä
She stared into the distance where the rails disappeared, a mixture of unease and anticipation inside her.
Not too long before her horsecar was meant to arrive, she heard a man and woman behind her talking.
“Hello, handsome. Where are you off to?” asked the woman.
“Hello, miss. I’m on my way home,” replied the man.
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“Will you be coming back to this area anytime soon? I’d love to grab a bite with you.”
“As much as I appreciate the invitation, I don’t have plans to visit again at the moment.”
Ѐ n um̄a . і̃d̆
“Oh. That’s unfortunate. What if we went right now?”
Olivia found herself scowling as she listened to their conversation. It made her think of the gloating faces of her ex-fiancé Henry and Catherine.
I don’t think I want to hear any conversation less than that right now.
She closed her eyes and turned her face down to hide her irritation. Suddenly, a harsh bell rang loudly as a station worker’s voice echoed through the station.
“Capital horsecar now arriving! Capital horsecar now arriving!”
Four massive black horses thundered toward the platform she was standing at, drawing behind them two linked carriages.
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Oh gosh!
The sight was so imposing that she found herself stumbling back. She tried hard to plant her feet so she wouldn’t fall over backward.
“Careful there,” came a voice from above as a strong arm cradled her back. “Are you all right?”
With the help of that arm, she managed to regain her footing. She spun around and bowed low. “Th-thank you; you stopped me from falling.”
“It’s no worry at all. I’m just glad you’re not hurt, madam.”
“Excuse me?” Olivia froze, still looking down.
Е̊n̄u ṁа̄ . і̄ ď
“Uh, I just, I’m glad you’re all right, madam.” He sounded confused by her intense reaction.
Maybe it was because this was the man who’d been having that chat that annoyed her, or perhaps it was because the title “madam” was only meant to be used for married women over thirty, or possibly it was even because she was on edge after having spent a sleepless night in a park. Still, she found herself glaring at this man who was more than a whole head taller than her.
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He gulped when he saw how young she was.
“I am not a madam!” she shouted.
NEEEIGH!
W ёḃ n̂ ö v̌ е l Ӗǹu m а
Her voice echoed through the station along with the horses’ whinnies.
💎💎💎
THE man apologized profusely before Olivia boarded the opposite carriage from his, a stony expression on her face.
The carriages were long and thin, with wooden benches filling both sides enough for twelve passengers. There were only seven passengers in that carriage, including Olivia, perhaps because it was after peak time.
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She sat by the window, leaned against the cool wall, and sighed.
I just blew up on him. I don’t care how rude he was; shouting like that isn’t good, either. Regretting her behavior, she also snorted at herself. And it’s probably not that surprising he’d call me madam.
Е n u m̃á
If you were being complimentary about the navy clothes Olivia wore, you might say they were free of influence from fleeting trends. If you were being critical, you could call them unfashionable. There was a time when Olivia dressed herself up more, but she didn’t have time to spend on her appearance after the store workers quit without notice, so she ended up dressing like this.
To top it off, she’d barely slept the night before—she was exhausted. From behind, she probably looked like an unfashionable, tired woman. It was no wonder that man thought “madam” was the appropriate term of address.
While she was smirking at herself, a bell rang loudly, and the conductor shouted, “Capital service now departing!”
The horses neighed, and the carriages slowly began to pull away to the sound of clip-clopping hooves. The view of the station outside the window transformed as she stared out. Her eyes soaked in those sights, the familiar town beneath a cloudy sky, as she tried to burn it into her memory.
The horsecar passed out of town and entered a swath of farm fields. She pulled her eyes from the window, sighed, and took out her reference book on magic circles loaded with notes she used when making magic items.
I don’t really feel like reading, but I have the time. Might as well get some reading in.
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She flipped to the bookmarked page and began reading, but she didn’t become engrossed like she usually did. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t process the information. After reading the same passage several times, she gave up and closed the book.
It’s no good. I just can’t manage it today.
She set the book on her lap and turned her unfocused eyes toward the scenery flying by outside the window. Suddenly, she found herself thinking about Henry.
Six years ago, when she was thirteen, she designed a piece of magic jewelry that received praise. They called the creation a breath of fresh air, and it won an honorable mention from a magic item design competition in the capital. It was nothing more than an extra award, nothing like the gold and silver winners of the competition, but her father went around bragging about how incredible she was after that.
Talk of her winning the honorable mention had spread through town, and the news reached the ears of someone in the Clockmakers Association in Daregas. Daregas was famous for its clocks, and the Association approached Olivia.
“We would love you to design a wristwatch for women.”
W е̊b̃n̈ о̃ v̂ ё ľ Е̇ n u m̊a
Despite being meant to be worn around the wrist, most wristwatches at the time were large, heavy objects only used by unrefined men. As more and more women began to participate in further areas of society, feminine wristwatches became high in demand—which led the Association to seek a new design.
Olivia gladly accepted the request and proposed a concept. The slender watch she created with birds and flowers on the face was a hit amongst the working women. The Clockmakers Association was delighted by this and returned to her every year to request a new design.
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It was during that time that Henry’s father, Viscount Perigord, came across her work. He was the lord of the town and region, and he decided he wanted to bring her talent into his family.
“Your daughter has an incredible eye for design,” he complimented. “I would like her to marry my son, Henry.”
The Viscount’s proposal shocked and concerned Olivia’s parents.
The country they lived in had a system of nobility. Much of the population were commoners. Those who had achieved significant accomplishments or donated large amounts of money to the government could receive the title of baronet, which was considered a “life peer” title that did not pass on to their children.
W̌е̊ b̄n̈ ov̈ е_l Е n ǔ m̆ а
Hereditary peers were nobles whose titles passed down from generation to generation, including barons, viscounts, counts, marquesses, and dukes. At the top, they were all governed by the royals.
Olivia’s father had received a baronet title in recognition of his accomplishments in the field of magic item development. He was technically a noble, but he didn’t rule any land, and his life was not all that different from other commoners’. And yet, their family had received a marriage proposal from House Perigord, the house that had ruled the region for generations.
Of course, they were going to be surprised.
And while Henry might only be the Viscount’s fourth son, he was still very much the son of a noble. The daughter of a baronet like Olivia couldn’t possibly be suited for him.
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However, the Viscount insisted that the difference in rank was not an issue, considering Olivia’s talent, accomplishments, and the fact that she was likely to take over Carter’s Magic Items in the future. If their lord was that firm on the issue, there was no way Olivia’s parents could refuse.
Olivia sighed as she thought about those days.
En̊ u̇ṁа .i̇ d̈
My heart fluttered when I first met him. He was so handsome.
After their engagement, the two began to spend time together as instructed by the Viscount. They would gift each other presents for their birthdays and go on outings about once a month. When they went out together, Henry was the one who did most of the talking, while Olivia mostly listened.
Most of what he spoke about wasn’t that interesting since he was a well-mannered but superficial man, but he did often talk about parts of the world Olivia didn’t know, so it wasn’t like the time was unenjoyable. She was also more interested in maintaining a peaceful relationship and not rocking the boat. He was good-looking, and she didn’t dislike being with him. She figured she could do worse in terms of a marriage partner.
But the year after their engagement was formalized, Olivia’s parents passed away in short succession from a disease that was spreading around, and Olivia’s uncle and his family moved into the house. They took the shop’s money without permission and used it to buy her uncle a baronet title. That was when Olivia’s world was upended.
Henry’s attitude toward her slowly began to change. The once-a-month visit turned to once every two months, then once every three. He also didn’t send her birthday presents. Olivia heard rumors he’d been seen strolling around town enjoying Catherine’s company, and, in the end, he broke off their engagement. Henry chose Catherine, a lazy liar who hated working. Olivia felt like she was being forced to face the fact that all her work until then had no value.
I pretended it didn’t bother me, but it really was a shock.
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Olivia’s eyes fell on her hands with neatly trimmed short nails in her lap. She knew she was average-looking. Her navy-colored hair was rather plain, and her eyes were a common blue color. Her facial features and build were utterly normal as well. She didn’t have the attention-grabbing looks Catherine had, but she was proud of the fact that she’d studied and worked hard.
But none of that mattered in the end…
Really now, what is with this dreary attitude of mine?
Olivia jerked her eyes to look out the window as she felt her nose sting. The horsecar continued toward the capital, passing several other carriages along the way.
After nine hours, the horsecar arrived in the capital just as the sky began to tinge with rose.
💎💎💎
W ē b̀ n̄ о v ёl̄ Е ňu m̃ а̂
TH-THIS is the capital?!
The conductor signaled their arrival, and Olivia nervously disembarked the horsecar with wide eyes.
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It’s so big!
The ceiling, supported by massive pillars, was so high that she had to crane her neck to see it. The platform seemed to stretch on forever; she’d never seen a building so large. There were so many people that she almost wondered if some festival was going on.
Anyway, she should at least go outside. She picked up her things and joined the long line under the sign for the exit. After she handed her ticket to a surly worker, she stepped outside, and her jaw dropped at the sight.
W-wow! Oh my gosh, this is just…just wow!
Еn̂ üm а̊
The square in front of the station was so huge it could fit ten of the mansions she grew up in, and she’d never seen so many people bustling about.
And the buildings are so tall!
A tall building in Daregas was at most three stories high; the majority were two stories spread among some single-story buildings.
Here, though, all the stone buildings she saw were five stories high, lining the straight streets. She was surprised at what she saw from the horsecar window, but it hit her even more once she got out on her own two legs.
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“I guess that’s why they say Daregas is basically the countryside…” she murmured, frozen at the edge of the square with her bag in her arms. What she saw was so far beyond what she imagined that she was filled with shock and unease.
Can I really make it in a place like this?
Ê n̂ ǔ mа̃
Right then, her eyes fell on something she recognized.
Ah! That’s a magic item!
At regular intervals along the cobblestoned path were streetlights. They were of a much more elegant design than the ones in Daregas and filled the evening streets with a soft light. Olivia approached one of those familiar objects on unsteady feet and placed her hand on its cool post as she looked up at the light.
Amazing! It’s the newest type!
Then she realized the people passing her wore magic items she’d never seen before.
That’s a poison-detecting cane, isn’t it?! I’ve never seen one in real life before. And those earrings, I’ve never seen that sort of magic stone! I wonder what it is…?
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She looked hungrily at people’s accessories and was so focused that she didn’t notice anything happening around her. It wasn’t until someone said, “Excuse me, is everything all right?” that she realized people were giving her sidelong glances.
Oh, gosh! How embarrassing!
She must have looked like the sort of person best avoided. Her face turned bright red, and she felt embarrassed at how she’d already messed up the moment she’d arrived in the capital.
The person who’d shaken her out of her obsessive zone sounded relieved as he said, “Oh, good. You seem fine. I was certain you were feeling unwell.”
It was the same young man who had called her “madam” before. He doffed his cap and gave a polite bow. “Hello, miss. I’m sorry about earlier.”
“O-oh, no, please don’t worry about it. I’m sorry for shouting like that.” Olivia looked away apologetically and returned the bow. She was embarrassed he’d also happened to see her acting awestruck.
Е̄ň ú mа
He politely asked, “Pardon me for asking, but where are you headed?”
“Uh…” Olivia faltered. She wasn’t sure if she should tell a man she didn’t know where she was going.
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He seemed to guess her inner thoughts and gave a reassuring smile. “It’s all right. I only thought I could take you to wherever you’re going as an apology for earlier. As you may have guessed, I’m quite familiar with the capital.”
She then took a good look at him. He was tall and wore a brown, pinstriped suit with a matching flat cap. Unruly, pale blonde hair peeked out from beneath the cap, and he wore a pair of green-tinted spectacles that merchants often wore. His clothing and the briefcase he carried made Olivia think he was a trader of some sort. She guessed he was in his late twenties and was from a well-off family, based on his put-together appearance and good looks.
He did apologize both then and now. He doesn’t seem like a bad person…
This was her first time in the capital, and she barely knew her right from her left. She would appreciate someone showing her the way. Luckily, she had essentially no luggage. If something happened, she could run.
Énŭ m̊ a . і̂ d
“Well…if I could take you up on the offer, that would be appreciated,” she relented. “This is the address.” She took a piece of paper from her bag and gave it to him.
He looked at it in thought. “This is in the center of the shopping district. I think it would be faster to walk than to hire a carriage. It should take about fifteen minutes. Is that all right?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Then let’s head off,” he proclaimed and started at a slow pace.
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Olivia followed a pace behind, feeling overwhelmed by the size of the capital as she walked. Buildings towered over her from either side of the cobblestoned road that seemed to go on forever. There were so many people in fancy clothing and a myriad of things she’d never seen before.
What caught her eye most, though, was the magic jewelry—she became obsessed with observing what people were wearing.
Е ń ǔ mа̄
That man’s cufflinks are incredible. There must be skilled artificers here. And the magic stone on that bracelet is huge. Is it a ruby?
The young man leading the way watched her with amusement as she did nothing but stare at the jewelry of people passing by. “Do you have an interest in jewelry?”
“Not jewelry, per se, but magic jewelry, yes.”
He looked somewhat surprised. “Magic jewelry? That’s quite the specialized field. Do you mind if I ask your profession?”
“I’m an artificer,” she replied in an offhand way while she quizzically examined a large brooch a lady walking by wore.
“Ah, that makes sense,” he noted with a nod. “You do seem quite passionate about observing magic jewelry.”
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“It’s all things you don’t see in Daregas. I’m learning so much.”
After fifteen minutes of walking through the crowded streets, they arrived at a magnificent five-story-high shop. The large windows in the front were decorated with all manner of magic items, and the grand shop sign overhead displayed “Gordon’s Magic Appliances” in gold lettering.
Olivia’s jaw nearly dropped.
Oh my gosh, it’s enormous! It’s got to be ten times the size of Father’s shop!
As she looked up at the building, the young man stated, “I suspected that address was for Gordon’s Magic Appliances.”
“You know it?”
E n úm а . і.d̊
“I do.” He nodded. “It’s arguably the finest magic item shop in the capital. Will you be working here?”
“Oh, no, no, that’s not it…” She looked away. She was proud of her significant experience as an artificer and confident in the skills she learned from her father, but she was still just a country artificer. Could she really make it in the capital, where everything was far more advanced?
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The man saw her uncertainty and smiled. “I don’t think you need to worry,” he continued.
“What?”
“I think you can manage fine in the capital, or anywhere else for that matter. I can tell. I have a good eye for people.” He smiled encouragingly, then pointed at a building further down the road. “That hotel has a reputation for being reasonably priced and serving good food. I’d recommend staying there.”
And, in the time it took Olivia to look at the hotel, he bade goodbye and turned away. By the time she looked back, he’d disappeared into the crowd.
W̆ е̄ b̂ nо v̌el Ě n̄ům̌ а
Olivia sighed. He’d been kind enough even to recommend a hotel, but she didn’t have a chance to thank him.
It annoyed me when he called me madam, but he seems kind.
Feeling bad about her attitude toward him, she decided to thank him properly if she ever met him again.
She then reasoned she shouldn’t drop in at the shop late in the evening and asked for a room at the hotel the young man recommended with plans to visit Gordon tomorrow morning.
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