You did what!?

After a half day driving with the covered wagon, we see a big city surrounded by large city walls. Sisli and Knox look enthusiastically at the city from the wagon.

"Wow, what a big city. I have never seen a city in my life," she says while her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm.

"That's Einheit. One of the biggest cities of the kingdom." Knox says.

"Have you ever been there?" I ask.

"Yes, as a mercenary. I come to the city sometimes. I will show you around!"

"Yeah!" Sisli shouts happily.

"Caspian, Lionel, have you ever been in Einheit?" I ask.

"I was here once. A good place for gambling!" Caspian says.

"But don't gamble it all away...again." Lionel says.

"It was one time... two times!"

"Three times, Caspian! And when we count the one time where you..."

"Ok! Ok! Got it," Caspian interrupts Lionel nervously.

We drive through an imposing archway. I feel a surge of excitement as we pass the great walls, and I look around curiously. The book describes the city as impressive and lively, but in reality, it's even more impressive.

Now we're at a stable and stop. Knox, who was driving, drops the horses off at the stable and presses a gold coin into the stable boy's hand.

"We're ready to go," Knox calls. 

While Lionel and Caspian jump from the wagon, Sisli climbs onto my shoulder. I jump down as well, but as I straighten up from my knees, I see Lionel standing next to me with his hand outstretched. Since his hand is in the air, I clap his hand. He looks at me, puzzled.

Oh... it's slowly dawning on me. He probably wanted to help me down. In this day and age, there are still certain forms of decency towards the female sex. Slightly embarrassed, I turn around and run ahead.

"What's the matter?" Sisli asks.

"Nothing!" I say.

Now we walk down the streets.

"We should repair and change our equipment," Lionel says.

"Let's buy clothes there!" Sisli shouts and points with a finger.

"Good idea. We look like burning victims. The people already stare," I say.

If I take a closer look, people aren't just staring because we're wearing burnt, torn clothes. All the women, in particular, are staring at the partially exposed muscles of Lionel, Knox, and Caspian. Caspian seems to be visibly enjoying this. Knox, who has the biggest muscles as always, doesn't notice the stares, and Lionel seems a bit uncomfortable, standing there with a somewhat gloomy expression.

When I look more closely, Lionel also has big muscles and a handsome face... but who cares? He is the protagonist, so he is naturally written to be handsome... Not that I would like him or anything like that...

"Let's go!" I shout and enter the shop.

The others follow me directly. In front of us stretches a bright and neatly furnished shop stocked with all kinds of clothing.

"Hello, dear customers. I am Lian. How can I help you?" a middle-aged woman in an elegant green dress with brown hair tied in a bun says.

"We need combat - ready clothing," Lionel says.

"I'm more responsible for finer clothing. That's my husband's area of expertise. I'll call him," she says smiling.

"Darling?" She shouts with a gentle voice.

A tall, broad man comes out of an adjoining room. He has a full brown beard and a bald head. He's at least as broad as Knox, and judging by a large scar through his eye, he has done other jobs before.

He looks threatening as he stands before us with his grim expression.

"So you are looking for combat-ready clothing?" He asks with his deep voice.

"Don't be so gloomy, darling." She says and hits him on the back of the head while she smiles.

"That is my husband, Dominic. He looks a bit gloomy but is a nice person. He simply takes his craft very seriously,“ she says.

"I will take the two women, and you look after the three young men, Darling!"

"If they deserve to wear my craftsmanship," he says.

"Honey, we need to make money, so stop being picky," she says and glares at him with a dark expression.

"Yes, my dear, I will equip them," he says a bit nervous.

"Wait, we also need some combat clothes..." I say.

"I have something better for you."

"No, wait a minute..." Sisli and I say, but she drags us behind her before we can talk our way out of it.

"Wait a minute..." Lionel wants to say, but Caspian interrupts him and says, "Make them both look pretty!"

Caspian, that idiot. While she drags us away, I glare at him and stroke my throat with my index finger. Judging by his nervous expression, he's gotten the message.

Lian looks at us. Above all, she looks at Sisli in fascination.

"I have never had such a small customer. What are you?" she asks, interested.

"I am a Kodama. A powerful forest spirit!" she says, full of pride.

"How sweet!" Lian says, smiling.

"Did she say 'sweet'?" Sisli says and looks at me startled.

But before I could say something, Lian had already taken the upper hand.

"Take this, this, and this and change in this room," Lian says, while she presses some clothes in our hands and pushes us into some kind of two different changing rooms.

After changing, I come out and look in the mirror. I wear a medieval blue dress with waist lacing and white gold decorations. Truly beautiful, and I can move well, but it's not what I had in mind when it comes to combat clothing.

"I don't think this is suitable for combat..." I say.

"Honey, a woman should always dress up a little. Besides, this dress allows for a lot of freedom of movement. And if you add this belt, you can attach weapons and potions to it. And the leather corset is hardened from Leviathan skin, making it almost as good as armor."

"Really...?"

"You can trust me. You are a healer, am I right?" she asks.

"How did you know?" I ask irritated.

"I guessed based on your equipment. And as a healer, you shouldn't wear heavy armor, because you must be able to move freely. Take this cloak too, and your outfit is perfect," she says confidently.

She seems to understand her job well. Then Sisli comes out of the cabin. She wears a little, fluffy, pink, and ruffled dress with a large bow. It's probably a doll dress, as Sisli doesn't have a typical dress size, but it's really...

"...Really cute," I say and stare at Sisli.

"That's stupid. I can't move and feel like a marshmallow." She says, sulking.

As cute as it is, she is right.

"Sisli really needs something more mobile..." I say skeptical.

"I know, I only wanted her to try it on, as it looks too cute on her," Lian says, smiling and winks at me.

"What?!" says Sisli angrily and with a sulking expression.

"I have something better for you!" She says and gives Sisli a green dress with a leather breastplate.

"That's more my taste," Sisli shouts and takes the dress.

Then Caspian and Lionel enter the room. Lionel wears black pants and a dark blue shirt with black leather details. These are probably also made of Leviathan skin. He also wears a new black cloak. Caspian, on the other hand, wears black pants, a black shirt with brown leather details, and a dark purple cloak that matches his purple hair. But where is Knox?

"Doesn't Aria look beautiful?" Caspian says and stumps Lionel.

"It doesn't look bad," Lionel says while covering his mouth with his hand and looking a little flustered to the side.

Complimenting isn't his strength, and his reactions really become weirder every day.

"What happened to Sisli?" Caspian shouts and laughs as he sees her new outfit.

"Stupid human!" She says, and enters the changing room again.

I look at Caspian with an angry face.

"You walk on thin ice, Caspian. Where is Knox?" I ask.

But then Knox and Dominic enter the room. Both laugh and shake hands.

We stare at them. Knox now wears dark green clothes with brown leather and a dark brown cape. But more importantly, when did he become best friends with Dominic?

"Yeah, they are best friends now!" Caspian says, as he is also surprised at how Knox became so good with Dominic.

"There met one of a kind," I say.

"Who is Knox's best friend?" Sisli shouts and comes out of the changing room.

She seems a bit jealous as she stares at them.

"I am your best friend, aren't I?" She says with a sulking expression.

"Don't worry, you are my number one friend!" Knox says to her while he lifts her up on his shoulder.

"Did you all find what you were looking for?" I ask.

"Yes, we got new clothes, but we need to see a blacksmith as well," Lionel says.

"Thanks for your help. Here is the money," Lionel says while he gives Lian a sachet with gold coins.

"That is too much..." Lian says.

"It's worth the money!" Lionel says.

"Thank you," Lian says, smiling.

We say goodbye and leave the store.

Knox, Lionel, and Caspian go to the next blacksmith, while I and Sisli sit down on a bench next to a big fountain in the marketplace.

"How long will they take?" Sisli asks while she is balancing on the ledge of the fountain.

"I don't know! But I think they won't take long."

People hustle and bustle at the market square. The sun is shining brightly. A really nice change after spending ages in the dungeon. Sisli and I enjoy the sun. But slowly we are getting hungry. Fortunately, Knox and Lionel come to us. But where is Caspian?

"Caspian is not here?" Knox asks confused.

"No! Wasn't he with you?" I ask irritated.

"After he got his arrows, he wanted to get back first," Knox says.

"I fear the worst..." Lionel says a little nervous.

But then Caspian sprints to us from afar.

"Where have you been?" I ask.

Caspian seems very nervous. And when I look at him, something is unusual. He has no weapons and no bag with him.

"What did you do?" Lionel asks with a serious face.

"Don't be mad, but there is the possibility that I lost our money while gambling. And my bow..."

"You idiot! How are we supposed to buy food or pay for a place to sleep now?" I say annoyed.

"You all knew that I am a little addicted to gambling, and still you let me carry our money..."

"You are still hiding something!" Lionel says and stares at him angrily.

"There is another problem too... I probably also lost the orb..." Caspian says nervously.

"You did what?!" We all shout in panic.