Eugina’s Clothing Store Part 2

Eugine took Marcus and me to her family store. We are heading to the shopping district, which is in the center of the city. Dad’s shop is farther away in the workshop district. In the workshop district, you can craft various items and personalize them from natural resources and monster parts, and perform repairs. Meanwhile, in the shopping district, everything is already made, it's alike, and cheaper. It's all about selling directly to retail customers.

Eugina and her husband have a clothing store. It’s a nice store. They sell pajamas, training clothes, t-shirts, pants, dresses, suits, and underwear for every kind of human. Something I notice is that all the sizes are petite. My dad wouldn’t fit into any of these clothes, and there aren't many distinctions between men's and women's clothing. Both men and women wear pants, dresses, or robes. Additionally, there is no distinction between colors for men and women, and the primary size difference is typically in length.

Hypatos, Eugina’s husband, works at the cashier. He is good at math. In comparison, Eugina does the hemming to improve fit and creates new clothing styles. They have some store staff who assist customers in finding the right size for clothes or place orders. The clothes are high-quality, made from materials such as monster skin, hair, wool, and fibers derived from monsters, plants, or raw materials. The clothes fabrics are processed in farms outside of the city, and others in the workshop district. Eugine and her husband buy the fabric and make their clothes. They have two slaves who sew in the store and make the clothes that Eugina tells them to make. In contrast, the store staff are hired. Eugina only works on special projects as a seamstress.

“Why?” I pointed at Eugina’s horns with my cute face.

“My horns? What about them, baby?” Eugina said, leaning closer.

“My horns?” I said, my head bowed, tears welling up.

“You are so cute!” She kissed me.  "My horns and tail mean that I’m a homo bovinae. The Sacred Biblion says that the god Bovina was working on the landscape of the world when he created the homo bovinae in his image to help work the land. Male and female Bovina created them. And he put in their heart the desire to serve.”

“Bovinae?” I said, pointing at myself.

“Ha ha ha. No, I’m a homo bovinae. You are a homo sapiens. While Bovina was working in the landscape of the world, the god Sapere was writing the natural laws of the world. However, Sapere didn’t have time to name, count, and judge what he was creating, so Sapere created the homo sapiens in his image. Male and female Sapere created them. And he put in their heart the desire to know.”

“Woooww.” My eyes were wide open. I was shocked by such an explanation.

“That’s why you are so curious.” She smiled, touching my nose.

“And why?” I said, pointing to one of the staff members who looks like a cat.

“Those are homo felidae. While Bovina and Sapere worked on the world, the god Felida guarded the entrance of the world, ensuring that no harm could pass to what was being created. However, Felida couldn’t protect every creation, so he created the homo felidae to help him protect what was created. Male and female Felida created them. And he put in their hearts the desire to be strong.”

“Woah.” My jaw dropped. Eugina took me outside and pointed to a person who resembled a bird.

“You see that person with wings? Those are homo accipitridae. While all the gods were working in the world, the god Accipitry was playing around with all that was created. However, Accipitry needed to rest, so he created the homo accipitridae to help him play with all that was created. Male and female Accipitry created them. And he put in their hearts the desire of motion.”

“Wooooah!” It’s incredible.

“That’s what the sacred book says about how the world came into existence.”

“Hello, do you have slaves’ clothes? I need ten robes.” A customer asked at the store entrance.

“I do, any children?” said Hypatos.

“No, I have two, but they are almost adults.”

“Okay, meet me at the back.” Said Hypatos.

“Great, thanks.” Said the customer.

Slaves are a common thing in this world. I don’t get it. What kind of savages would have slaves. This is a cruel world. We don’t have slaves, not at home or my dad’s shop. I wonder if they are opposed to having slaves. Eugine and Hypatos have two slaves, Elacita, who is short, and Crise, who is blond. They were born in slavery and bought when they were eight or so. Eugina taught them to sew. They are twelve now and working full time in the store. 

Slaves are like property. Slave owners can do whatever they want to their slaves. Slaves live to work for their master for food and a place to sleep. However, Elacita and Crise seem pretty well taken care of. They don’t wear the regular slave clothes. They have well-designed clothing, which may be intended to give the store a better look. Slaves have a bracelet on their left wrist. Apparently, with magic, soldiers have a way of telling who they belong to if they escape or commit a criminal act when captured. There are different kinds and colors of bracelets according to the function of the slave.

“What… why… this?” I don’t know how to ask Aunt Eugina without sounding like an adult. I pointed at Elacita’s wrist with my confused face.

“Ah? What do you want, honey?” Said Eugina, not understanding what I was saying.

“Do you mean my bracelet, Miss Cato?” said Elacita.

“Yes, yes, yes. I like it.” I said. Elacita is very sharp.

“I remember often getting asked by other slave children when we were bought. Miss Cato, you don’t need one.” Said Elacita, smiling.

“Cato, those bracelets identify slave workers. You see how Crise and Elacita have bronze bracelets; it means that they are early in their career path as sewists.” Said Eugina.

Ahaaaa! So, colors or materials indicate the type of slaves they are. Is there a path to be free? I wonder,  but I can’t ask that now.

“It’s been four years since you two have been with us. You are such hard workers, and your magic is pretty good too, even though you didn’t have a proper magic teacher.” Said Eugina.

“We will always be grateful to master Eugine for teaching us this profession.” Said Crise, bowing.

“You two are very good at it. And always keep the store clean. I think you two are closing for another bracelet that shows you are special slaves. I hope you always stay with us. And remember, let me know if you need anything or have any problems, okay.” Said Eugina.

“Yes, master, thank you.” Said Crise and Elacita in unison.

Eugina treats their slaves with love. I guess slavery is an essential part of this world economy. However, I struggle to understand the fact that they are not free. It seems okay, and maybe it works, but that doesn’t mean it's right. I stayed the whole day with them in the store. I saw multiple people come in and out. I started noticing the slaves with their bracelets too. Dad came to the store to pick me up later, and we went home together.