MARRIED?!

The scene shifted to Silas measuring Oreon, who stood with his arms out and a comically large lump on his head. Across from him, Sylvanie waited with her arms tightly crossed and her eyes closed, refusing to look his way, while Celestia struggled to suppress a giggle.

Silas's shop was cramped but orderly, with bolts of fabric lining the walls in neat rows, from muted earth tones to deep, rich hues—the scents of dye and fresh linen mingled with the faint wood polish from the tool-covered counter.

Silas was a seasoned man in his early seventies, with round spectacles that constantly threatened to slip down his nose. His gray hair was tied in a ponytail as he moved efficiently around Oreon, measuring his shoulders.

"Hold still," Silas grumbled, sweat darkening his loose white shirt as he tried to focus. "Stand straight and stop fidgeting." He tightened the measuring tape around Oreon's chest and scribbled notes on worn parchment with a charcoal stub. "I can't measure you properly if you keep squirming like a child."

Oreon winced, not from the tape but from the lump throbbing where Sylvanie's fist had struck him. "I'm... I'm not fidgeting," he muttered. "It just hurts, that's all..." A tear gathered in the corner of his eye.

Celestia finally let out the laugh she'd been holding back, covering her mouth with one hand. "I'm sorry, Oreon, but... you should've known better than to provoke her." Amusement shone in her eyes, as if such exchanges were perfectly normal between them. "Sylvanie has always been... sensitive about certain things."

"Sensitive?" Sylvanie snapped, her eyes flashing open as she glared at her sister. "He called me demonic! As if I'm some monster that—"

"You did hit him hard enough to leave a lump the size of an egg." Celestia pointed out gently, trying to mediate. "Perhaps...perhaps the reaction was a bit much?

"Yeah, it definitely- wait a minute—" Oreon blinked a few times as Silas adjusted his arms up, grumbling as he did. "Did you just say my name?" He asked as he looked over at Celestia.

Celestia paused, her eyes widening as she realized what she'd done. "I... I suppose I did." A faint blush warmed her cheeks, and she looked away, suddenly fascinated by the fabrics lining the small shop. "It just... slipped out."

Sylvanie's anger gave way to surprise as her gaze darted between Celestia and Oreon. "Well, well..." A mischievous smirk curled her lips. "Look at that. I don't think I've ever heard my sister call a human by their first name." She leaned closer, still smirking. "Are you warming up to this insufferable human after only one day?"

Celestia's cheeks deepened to pink as her composure slipped. "I—that's not—" she stammered, clasping her hands as she tried to recover her usual grace. "It would be rude to keep calling him 'you' or 'human' when he has a name, wouldn't it?" She cleared her throat and looked away from both Oreon and Sylvanie. "It's simply... common courtesy."

"Uh-huh," Sylvanie drawled, leaning against the wall as her smirk widened. She was clearly enjoying her sister's discomfort. "Common courtesy. Right. The nonsense you spout when you're embarrassed is always entertaining. You've never called a human by their first name—maybe their last, to preserve your image, but never their first." Her eyes gleamed with mischief. "Tell me, sister. Is this human the exception?"

"Sylvanie!" Celestia called out.

"Ah, a young man and his wives," Silas remarked as he pulled back the measuring tape and straightened. "Some people have all the luck."

The room fell into an immediate, deafening silence.

"W—WIVES?!" Celestia and Sylvanie cried in unison, their voices echoing through the cramped shop.

Oreon's face flushed bright red, and he nearly stumbled forward with his arms still awkwardly outstretched. "N-no, no, no! That's not—we're not—" he stammered, glancing frantically between Silas and the two elven sisters.

Silas blinked and adjusted his spectacles, looking between the three before shrugging. "You bicker like you've been married for years. Arms down, boy—and stop moving!" He wrapped the tape around Oreon again.

Sylvanie's pale face burned crimson, matching Oreon's embarrassment. "M-married?! To him?!" She flung an arm toward Oreon, her voice jumping an octave. "I'd sooner marry a goblin! At least they're honest about being detestable!"

"Sylvanie!" Celestia gasped, her own face burning with embarrassment. She pressed both hands to her cheeks, desperate to cool them. "That's completely inappropriate! We are not—this isn't—" Her usual composure had shattered, leaving her unable to finish a sentence.

Oreon wanted to disappear into the floor. "Silas, please..." He groaned, his voice strained. "Can we just...finish the measurements and move on?"

"Almost done, boy," Silas muttered, unfazed by the chaos he'd caused. He lowered the tape to Oreon's waist and jotted down more notes. "Still, if you three aren't married, you certainly act like it—the bickering, the familiarity..." He peered over his spectacles. "Reminds me of my own marriage. Rest her soul."

'WE ARE NOT MARRIED!" All three of them shouted in unison this time.

Time passed in a montage of Silas measuring Celestia, who followed every instruction perfectly, clearly accustomed to fittings. Sylvanie, however, struggled as much as Oreon, forcing Silas to start over whenever she moved.

By the time Silas finished, it was midday, and the bright sun hung high over the town.

"All right. That took longer than necessary with all your fussing, but I have ideas for each of you. Meara made it clear you'll need more than one set of clothes. Come back before sunset, and I'll have a few outfits ready."

"Thanks, Silas." Oreon rubbed the back of his neck as they stepped into the afternoon sun. "You didn't have to do this, but we truly appreciate it. We'll be back before sunset."

"You have Meara to thank for that. She's not someone you want to anger." Silas chuckled, then gave Oreon a serious look. "I don't know your circumstances, and I don't need to. But for Meara's sake, stay out of trouble." He glanced at the two elves, who hadn't noticed the exchange. "Traveling with two elves will draw attention wherever you go, boy."

Oreon's expression sobered as Silas's warning sank in. He glanced at Celestia and Sylvanie a few paces away, their earlier embarrassment beginning to fade as they spoke quietly—Celestia in a soft voice, Sylvanie with her hands planted defiantly on her hips.

"I know..." Oreon took a deep breath. "Believe me...I know, I'll be careful. If not, Meara won't stop yelling at me."

Silas gave a dry chuckle and shook his head. "That woman has a voice that could wake the dead when she's angry. Best not give her a reason to use it." His expression softened slightly. "But she cares, boy, even if she rarely shows it. So whatever trouble you've found..." He glanced once more at the two elven sisters. "...make sure it's worth it."

Oreon nodded slowly, his jaw tightening. "It is..."

"Good." Silas adjusted his spectacles, then turned back toward his shop. "Remember, before sunset. Don't be late." With that, he disappeared inside, the door closing with a soft creak.

Oreon stood still for a moment, Silas's words weighing on him. After a deep breath, he headed toward Celestia and Sylvanie. Pretty sure the whole town knows they're here by now, he thought.

As Oreon caught up, Sylvanie sighed in exasperation. "Finally..." She stretched her arms overhead, her joints popping, then arched her lower back. "I thought we'd never get out of there. That old man took his sweet time, then blamed me for moving too much." She turned away with a childish pout. "He's lucky I didn't slice up everything in that shop."

Celestia sighed softly. "You did move quite a bit, Sylvanie—more than necessary, if I'm being honest." She tucked a loose strand of pale-blonde hair behind her pointed ear. "He was only trying to do his job."

"His job required him to get far too close," Sylvanie shot back, folding her arms defensively. "I don't care how old or 'professional' he is. I hated having a human's hands on me while he muttered about measurements and proportions." She trailed off and shuddered at the memory.

Oreon couldn't help but smirk slightly despite himself. "You know, for someone who acts so tough and fearless, you sure get flustered easily when it comes to—"

"Finish that sentence, human, and I'll give you another lump to match the first one," Sylvanie interrupted sharply.

Oreon raised his hands slightly in front of him. "Alright, alright! I'm just saying..."

"Well, don't." Sylvanie turned away from him with a huff.

Celestia gently stepped between them, her expression patient as ever. "Let's not start another argument in the street," she said softly. "We've drawn enough attention already." She glanced around. Several townsfolk had paused in their routines to stare at the unusual trio.

Some whispered behind their hands, while others openly stared at the two elven women beside the young human man.

"Great," Oreon sighed. "You'd think they'd never seen a non-human before. They stared the same way when a Werebeast passed through last week." He started walking. "Come on. Let's browse the shops and kill some time. At least some people here have manners," he muttered.

Celestia followed close behind Oreon, maintaining her graceful posture despite the stares. She kept her eyes forward, ignoring the whispers trailing them. "It's... understandable," she said quietly, so only they could hear. "Elves are rare in human settlements, especially under our current circumstances. As you said in the forest, most humans never see an elf, let alone one of noble birth."

Oreon glanced back at Celestia and gave her a slight nod.

"If they're that curious, I can give them something worth staring at," Sylvanie warned lightly.

"Sylvanie, please," Celestia said. "We're trying not to draw more attention, remember?"

"I know, I know..." Sylvanie muttered, her eyes still flashing with irritation as another townsperson gawked at them. "But it's really starting to piss me off. I feel like some four-headed freak."

"Try to ignore them. Most people here don't care who passes through, as long as they stay out of trouble," Oreon said.

"Easy for you to say," Sylvanie scoffed. "You're not the one being gawked at like some stupid performance act."

"Actually..." Oreon gestured around them. "I am, in a way. Half these people are probably wondering why I'm walking around with two elves. The rest likely think I've lost my mind." He paused, then smirked. "And honestly, they may be right about that last part."

Despite herself, Sylvanie's lips twitched—almost forming a smile before she caught herself and schooled her expression back into annoyance.

Celestia, walking on Oreon's other side, glanced at him. "Thank you," she said softly. "For...trying to make this easy for us."

"Don't mention it." Oreon strode a few steps ahead, then turned to face the sisters. "Besides, I know a place where no one will judge us, no matter how we look. It's also great for food and shopping." With theatrical flair, he flashed a broad grin. Celestia and Sylvanie blinked, then exchanged puzzled glances.

"Come on!" Oreon grabbed both elves by the wrist and pulled them after him, drawing a startled yelp from each.

The sudden tug caught both sisters by surprise.

"W-wait!" Celestia stammered, cheeks flushing as she stumbled forward and barely caught her balance. Oreon's grip was warm, and the unexpected contact quickened her pulse.

"H—Hey! Let go of me, you-!" Sylvanie protested; she tugged halfheartedly at his grip, her eyes wide in surprise. "I can walk on my own, you know!"

Oreon held on and pressed forward, weaving through the crowd with infectious energy. "Come on, you two! Trust me—it'll be worth it!"

Celestia looked down at their joined hands, then at Sylvanie, who was also staring at Oreon's grip on her wrist. Their eyes met, and a silent understanding passed between them.

This is—Strange