The boutique's entrance chimed as Zairon pushed the door open, walking in with the casual confidence of a man who had faced thousands of monsters… and yet still felt like he was walking into a battlefield.
Inside, the soft scent of spiritual incense filled the air. The two women were examining a set of enchanted silk robes—clearly high-tier, judging by the glowing runes woven into the fabric.
Zairon took a deep breath, ran a hand through his hair, and approached the fairy. Her wings shimmered faintly in the soft light, her every motion fluid and precise.
"Hi," he said, his voice steady but warm. "I'm Zairon. I'm new to the city."
The fairy turned to look at him. Her eyes—bright, shimmering like starlight—met his with calm curiosity. "Oh? Welcome then, Zairon," she replied, her voice melodic, light like a breeze. "What brings you to Celestara?"
"Exploration, mostly," he said, smiling lightly. "Thought I'd see what the world had to offer. I've been around, but this city is... different. Stronger. Brighter."
"And more beautiful?" the elf added, stepping beside her friend with a graceful tilt of her head, a faint smirk on her lips.
Zairon gave a faint chuckle. "Definitely. The city too."
That earned a raised eyebrow and a tiny smile from both.
"I'm Aralei," said the fairy, introducing herself. "And this is Sylwen. We're from the Moonlight Guild."
"The Moonlight Guild? Sounds elegant," he said, genuinely curious. "You two look like you'd belong to a strong guild."
"It's not bad," Sylwen replied with a small shrug. "Mostly exploration, artifact recovery, and sometimes diplomatic missions."
Zairon nodded. "I've done a bit of that. Leading a group, clearing dungeons, making sure nobody dies. You know, the basics."
Aralei giggled softly. "You say that so casually."
"Old habits." He smiled, his tone casual but with a spark of pride.
They exchanged a few more pleasantries, the awkwardness slowly fading as Zairon leaned into his natural confidence.
Then Aralei asked, "So where are you staying?"
"Inn near the eastern market. Top floor, decent view. Bit too peaceful, though."
"Peaceful is rare," Sylwen said, folding her arms. "Especially for someone who walks around with that much spiritual energy cloaking them."
Zairon grinned. "Caught that, huh?"
"You're not exactly subtle," she replied, but the tone wasn't cold—it was playful, challenging.
"Well," he said, taking a step back, "if you're not busy later, maybe you could give me a proper tour. You know the best spots around here?"
Aralei smiled. "Maybe. If you don't get lost first."
Zairon turned slightly, waving casually over his shoulder. "Guess I'll take my chances."
As he walked out, a thought bubbled in his head.
"That went better than expected."
And in the depths of his soul, his Roc spirit beast let out a quiet chirp… as if amused.