Aqua approached the group, her gaze washed everyone present before she turned to Sheira. The girl looked at her with her usual smug expression. She is so adorable, Aqua just couldn't help but crack a slight smile.
"Where did you disappear to?" Sheira tilted her head slightly while she puffed out her cheeks slightly. She tapped her foot on the ground as she awaited the answer from the redhead in front of her.
"Just sensed something in the forest… so I uh…" Aqua rubbed the back of her head for a moment, "had to check it out."
Sheira's eyes widened in realization before she reassumed her usual demeanour, "You know, Azure would be jealous if you keep disappearing to kiss other ladies in the forest instead of her."
"What? No, it was not that!" Aqua's face gained a slight red tint.
Sheira let out a small chuckle before she grinned, "Nothing. Do not worry, I know you wouldn't do that."
Did it really seem like I went off to do something like that? Aqua let out a sigh as she turned toward the village.
"So my teases do work! Even mommy Aqua can get flustered~" Sheira giggled as she walked next to Aqua.
"I guess… Well enough of that, we are about to arrive at the village. I trust you will be handling the procurement of carriages and beasts of burden?"
The princess nodded, "Yes, you can leave it to me!" Yet despite her confident expression, a flash of worry was clearly visible on her face.
"Is something wrong?"
"No…" She averted her gaze.
"I can tell something is not right. Please tell me, Sheira."
"It's embarrassing…" She rubbed the back of her head. "I don't have any gold…" Her ears slumped down.
Aqua blinked slowly, "I kind of expected that. The Red Dawn had taken everything you carried with you."
The elven princess nodded, "Unfortunately, that means I will owe favors to the craftsmen. Not sure what they would ask from me later, but it's usually a lot more than the usual payment."
"What could they even ask for?"
"Ummm… Special privileges, easier access to the capital's markets, and sponsorships. Owing a favor is always more expensive for us." Sheira sighed loudly, "But we don't really have a choice… unless you can snap your fingers as usual and make our woes disappear."
Aqua hummed for a moment as she tapped her foot on the ground, I could help, I have way too much gold anyway. Aqua just could not resist Sheira's pleading eyes.
Aqua opened her palm, and a small portal appeared above it. Soon, the golden bar fell out and landed right on Aqua's palm. If she were weaker, the sheer size and weight would have made her topple forward, yet she held it as if it were a mere feather.
"I think this should suffice."
Sheira stared in disbelief, her jaw was agape, and her eyes widened, "Aqua… I was just joking… Are you sure? This thing is massive."
The heroine merely shook her head at Sheira's shock. "I would rather you not owe anyone favors. I know how bad that can end up." She placed the heavy golden bar into Sheira's hand, who in turn had to immediately pull it with the other hand due to the sheer weight.
"This thing is heavy!" Sheira grunted as she hugged the bar tightly.
"It is pure gold, I am surprised your kingdom uses gold as currency, but this should be an overpayment." Aqua leaned forward and held the bar up. With a single tap, the gold lost its weight.
Sheira's ears twitched in excitement as she felt the heavy gold lose its weight. She picked it up with one hand and twirled it. "Aqua! You have to teach me that!" She grinned.
"All in due time, but I trust this is enough?"
"More than enough, but I'm still bad for taking so much from you."
"Sheira, you already repaid me more than you can imagine." Aqua's lips formed a thin line as she placed her hand on top of Sheira's head. The princess's ears slumped down as Aqua moved her hand left and right over her head.
"All I have done is get rescued by you, annoyed you to teach me, and teased you…" She pouted as her head moved involuntarily from the patting.
"Yet, I feel at ease when I'm around you and Azure. More than with anyone else I have ever met, so for that, thank you." Aqua smiled warmly as she removed her hand from the princess.
Sheira quickly gathered herself and put her hands behind her back, together with the gold bar. "It's daughter's duty to make sure mommy feels good around her!"
Aqua cracked a smile. Still impossible to fully relax, but at least these two are pleasant company.
"I don't think we should lead the roses into the village, so it would be ideal for me and Azure to go in. Of course, you can come with us too, Aqua."
Aqua brought her fingers to her chin and nodded, "Sure."
Soon they arrived at the village's outskirts, the Roses and Sun God remained behind as the trio of elven girls stepped inside the Village's perimeter.
"Azure, Aqua. You can leave the talking and negotiating to me… not like that it matters much…" She stared at the golden bar. They couldn't just split it up. Sheira gasped in realisation.
She dug her heel into the ground before suddenly turning to Azure and Aqua. "Aqua! Could you split it up into smaller plates? I wouldn't want to introduce too much gold into this village's economy."
Aqua reeled back before she nodded, "Yes." She stretched her hand and took the bar.
"How many?"
"Maybe 20. If we split it that way, each plate would be around the size and weight of 4 golden coins."
Aqua nodded before she raised the bar above her eyes and inspected it closely. Then she closed her eyes and let a stream of crimson flame through the gold. Instantly, it was sliced into 20 equal plates.
"There we go." With a satisfied smirk, she handed the gold to Sheira, who proceeded to put 10 plates inside a small bag and 10 to Azure.
"Why did you give me that, Sheira?" Azure stared at the gold in disbelief. The amount she was given was equal to her monthly salary. Which, by all standards, was rather luxurious as demanded by her exalted position as the champion and the guard captain.
"Because I don't want to carry so much gold on me. And maybe you and Aqua want to go on a date." Sheira winked as she rushed ahead of the duo without even giving them a chance to show shock.
Two girls looked at each other with slight blush before they sighed, "Sorry about her, Aqua. She was always like that when comfortable."
"I really do not mind her, but do you?" Aqua crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly as she watched Azure turn red again.
"I… I do not mind her either… but she could at least not do it constantly." Her ears twitched, "But… I would like to do something with you. Not a date like Sheira's proposal, of course! I wish to learn more about my heroine."
She kind of reminds me of Umbra in a way.
Aqua giggled slightly, "Sure, but let's not allow Sheira to get away from us." She pointed at the distancing form of Sheira before the two girls moved briskly.
Azure nodded enthusiastically. Shortly after, they caught up to Sheira and entered the village together. It was rather plain; the houses were constructed of stone and had hay roofs. Some were made of brick, yet it was clearly at least 2 centuries behind Razul, and who knew how long behind the capital of Red Dawn?
Aqua looked around. The people, despite living in such primitive abodes, seemed… happy. A slight sense of jealousy rose in her as she noticed happy families passing them. Yet she squashed that feeling.
While her life was hellish, it did not give her the right to envy those who could live happily. She forced a smile as they made it deeper inside the village. Around them, Aqua could see small ordinary shops ahead of her.
General goods, bakeries, even some smiths, and at the very end, she saw the shop with a large horseshoe drawn on the sign. "Ok, ladies, you and Aqua go and get yourself something to eat, I will go and get us a couple of carriages."
"Shouldn't we go with you? Just in case." Azure tapped her cheek slowly.
Sheira's grin widened, "And to take away a chance for you and Aqua to acquaint with each other. No way in hell. I will negotiate, that's what I am good at after all, even if I'm useless in other parts of life."
Azure sighed, "Don't get scammed, please."
"Don't worry about me. Enjoy your free time." Sheira waved them off as she left two girls behind.
She really enjoys playing with Azure, huh? She turned with a smile.
"So what do you want to do?" Aqua patted Azure's back.
"I am feeling kind of peckish, maybe we can get a snack." Azure's lips stretched into a smile.