Stefan took him to a smith, apparently different from the one that they had both visited when Michael became an adventurer. It wasn't like Michael's first leather armor was cheap, it was more like he needed one that could last him for longer. The one he had before couldn't handle the hassle of a giant mana beast.
They walked through the morning streets of Aldoria, a little farther into the higher district, avoiding nagging pitches for beauty care products and weird contraptions. As if there was a perfume that makes the wearer irresistible to the opposite gender. People had their own ways of hassling money other than resorting to adventuring like he did.
At least it was surprising to see that Michael wasn't the only one clawing his way for a decent living.
Stefan stopped him before a smith-shop, one with clear windows to glimpse into the neat interior. Armors were set on display, catching the easy attention of the people passing by with prices that looked shamelessly unaffordable. Maybe that was the reason why nobody was inside.
He looked over at Michael. "What do you think?"
Michael stared at the mannequin clad in shining silver armor. "Expensive."
"Don't worry, I know the guy here."
"Are you going to rob him?"
He recoiled his face. "What kind of person do you take me for?"
"But you can't afford that."
"I got the money, kid, do you honestly think I spent all of it on booze?"
"Yes." Michael and Evelyn said in unison.
Stefan peeked around Michael. "Why is she still here?"
Evelyn stuck out her tongue.
"I want her here," Michael pushed her back. "We're not fighting any mana beasts, right? I don't need a sword."
"Oh—oh, okay," Stefan quickly nodded. "I understand, yeah, no problem."
The bells on the door rang as they entered the shop. Stefan looked into a mirror and made himself look presentable, and even fixed his hair. Michael thought the smell inside the shop was pleasant, like freshly wrapped leather, or sort of that nostalgic type.
Evelyn checked around, touching the armors and spare swords laid on the stands. The ones that were more decorative were hung on the walls, marked high for their price and condition. The shop was moderately large, having enough room to pack at least thirty people at once yet they were the only customers inside. Michael would even assume the place was closed.
Then someone came from around the back upon hearing the bells rung. It was a fairly old man, his thin hair slicked and tied back, with a long but trimmed beard. He had a naturally red face, almost the same color as his heavy apron. He was probably in his late fifties, judging the wrinkles and drag on his face.
But his eyes couldn't have been more wide when Stefan waved at him with a weird smile.
"Stefan?" he unbuttoned his apron. "Is that you?"
"Yeah."
The man rushed over and hugged him. The man was shorter than Stefan but his arms still covered Stefan.
Michael looked around with Evelyn. He wasn't sure how to process this. He thought Stefan's only friends were Mave and Ellis, and that was them being generous.
The man held him by the shoulder. "You look well."
"I guess."
"You haven't been too hard on yourself, have you?"
"Beau, stop it." Stefan pulled his hands away. "I'm not a child."
Beau glanced over the two. "Who are they?"
"They're in my party. The boy needs new armor, light and leather."
"That's…why you've come to visit me?"
"Can you do it?"
He sighed. "Yes, of course I can."
Stefan pulled a pouch from his waist and handed it to Beau along with a folded card of an address. After that, he walked out the door like nothing had happened.
Beau silently studied the pouch in his hands. He wasn't checking the weight or looking inside if it was any real gold. He was just staring at it with a pained face.
Stefan popped his head back inside the shop. "Oh, kid, I forgot to tell you!"
Michael turned to him.
"You have to owe me for this! Don't forget it!"
Michael watched him dart across the windows, leaving the two of them unattended with a man who didn't even look about for business. Michael also didn't know what a fifteen year old kid could possibly owe to a twenty-three year old man.
"You're in need of new armor?" Beau broke the silence.
Michael thought the man's voice was gritty and deep, and he looked way too ragged to own a nice place like this. But knowing Aldoria and its weird people, anything could've been possible. He nodded to the question.
Beau stuffed the pouch in his clothes and walked into the back where he came.
"Michael, look at me!" Evelyn shouted across the room.
He walked over and saw her with an oversized helmet over her head. After noticing the price tag, he gently lifted the helmet away. He also stopped her from pulling a sword out from its display. It was sort of ironic watching her touch a sword, though he doubted she would enjoy the joke.
She pouted, annoyed that Michael didn't let her ruin the place with her charm. They ended up walking around the shop and viewing the pieces as Evelyn gave her remarks on how bleak and dull it looked. Michael still couldn't believe how terribly expensive they were. He couldn't even afford any of these even if he got himself lucky with quests.
How is this place remotely open without any business? Must be some type of laundering scheme, Michael deduced, because Stefan turned out to be its only customer for the day.
"Boy," Beau's voice called. "Come over here."
Michael looked at Evelyn.
She pushed him. "Go."
"What if he eats me alive?"
"Do you want me to turn into a sword then?"
Michael apprehensively went towards the voice. He walked around the counter and pushed open the door, revealing another small room of mirrors and a clumsy mess of materials.
Beau stood by a pedestal, holding a measuring tape with a marker on his ear. Was he some type of professional fitter?
Michael followed his direct instructions and stood still, holding his arms a few inches apart from his body. It felt awkward but very relaxing at the same time.
Beau spun the pedestal around like a swivel. Michael could catch Evelyn trying not to laugh as he posed like one of the mannequins outside.
"Do you have a name?" he asked, measuring Michael's limbs.
"Michael."
"Your last name?"
"Velo."
"Velo?" he pulled back the tape. "I haven't heard anything about that. Where are your parents? Are you staying with them?"
"My parents are dead."
"Oh, I'm sorry for that," he swallowed. "I didn't mean to ask—"
"It's okay."
They continued the next few minutes in silence as Beau fitted Michael on random pieces of armor marked by their size. It was like he was giving Michael the full deal, like a whole new set of armor, something even better than the one he had before.
"I'll be right back," he wrapped the tape around his neck. "Stay still for me, Michael."
Evelyn waited until the door closed behind him. She immediately started to spin the pedestal around.
"Evelyn!" Michael whined. "What are you doing—"
"Nuh-uh, he said you can't move," she continued to spin the swivel. "Maybe Stefan was right, you are kind of resilient. I thought you would puke by now."
Michael stepped off the pedestal, tripping on his own dizziness. He could only focus on the sound of her laughter.
"Sorry," she kneeled with a deep frown. "You were basically asking for it—"
Michael lunged onto her. He attacked her most vital points: her sides. All of these nights sleeping with Evelyn, he's been finding the secret weapon to counter attack the teasing she's done to him. He tickled her, ignoring her loud and crying laughter as she tried to push him away.
"Okay, okay!" she pleaded. "Stop, I'm sorry!"
He sat back, pulling away his hands.
She caught her breath, resting on the floor.
"Are you done?"
"I thought you were injured," she panted. "Where did this energy come from? Do you like me that much?"
"Uhh…"
With that sudden second of hesitation, Evelyn sprung from the floor and tried to kiss him. But luckily, with Michael's trained senses of anti-kissing that he's developed, he weaved his head to the side and stepped away. They ended up chasing each other around the room. Unfortunately, he couldn't stop her from throwing things.
Beau opened the door. Evelyn dropped the belt in her hands as if the mess around them were invisible.
He sighed, shaking his head. "Stand on the pedestal, please, Michael Velo."
Michael quickly followed his instructions. Though Beau didn't look like the person to scold children or have that type of manner. His face sort of understood this would happen if they were let loose for themselves.
"So you're an adventurer," he said while measuring Michael. "How twisted can the fates be that you would wind up in Stefan's party?"
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Neither good nor bad. Hold up your arms."
Michael held up his arms. "Do…you know Stefan?"
"I take it that you saw our reunion. Stefan came to visit when he's in need. It's a shame."
"Were you in the Adventuring guild before?"
He looked up at Michael. "Has he told you about—"
"Cerra Harper?"
Beau nodded to himself and continued measuring. "I wasn't in the guild but I had great relations. They would come to me for armor, just like you do now. Cerra would come by, and every time she does, she brings a teenager so full of himself. Stefan was their prized member, their successor, and I came too fond of that aspiring boy."
"Do you not like Stefan anymore?"
He measured Michael with a blank face. "Stefan isn't himself. He's hiding behind a facade and he thinks he can trick me. I just don't understand why he would return to the guild in that pitiful state. Yosef is the worst captain they could've appointed."
"Yosef is gone. Stefan got him kicked out."
Beau raised his brow. "Wow, how about that?"
"When…was the last time Stefan visited?"
"Some years ago. He used to come every week with Cerra when she was alive."
"Do you know what happened to her?"
"It's heartbreaking." he wrapped the measuring tape around Michael's arm. "But time continues to move, only the pain of memory remains."
"He doesn't get along with anyone at the guild."
"I figured—hey, don't touch that."
Evelyn turned her attention away from the sets of armor.
"Is that your sibling?"
Michael looked back into the mirror. "My, uhh…"
Beau sighed again, standing from the floor. "I have your measurements done. You'll have your armor, like promised, light and leather."
Michael finally stood off the pedestal. "Thanks."
"Do you need anything else?" he noticed Michael's empty sheath. "I have a wide selection of swords, and I can even make one just for you."
"Umm…" Michael tried to ignore Evelyn's glare behind him. "I'm fine."
"I asked because Stefan gave me more than the amount."
"Keep it. I just need the armor."
He nodded. "Alright, Michael, I'll see you later."
Evelyn pinched his arm when they made it outside the shop. He didn't know why but he thought her face was cute.