Even though the ice cream I made only had one flavor, Lion and Ghost never seemed to get tired of eating it.
I mentally planned to create more varieties once I got the hang of using these local fruits.
This first batch was beautiful. The colors seemed to mimic the night sky, though the flavor was the exact opposite.
It tasted like morning... like a cup of sweet coffee, but with much less bitterness.
Soon, I was full.
I'm still amazed by how much it looked like the ice cream from back on Earth. Making ice cream with no ice or even a refrigerator...
Magic really does work wonders.
....
Over the next few days, Lion and Ghost were busy setting up the ice cream business.
They spoke so fast that I had a hard time keeping up, so I eventually just left them to it.
I went back to my room and opened the windows. Lion had made me a table and a chair, so the space didn't feel quite so empty anymore.
Out in the garden, Pinky was basking under the suns.
It was a good thing Lion had made me a magical notebook and pen the other day, or I would have gone mad with boredom.
He and Ghost had been so curious about them and I'd patiently explained their purpose.
For now, though, I decided to keep this "invention" to myself. I didn't want any trouble with the other magical item sellers.
Of course, the pen and notebook I was using were no ordinary stationery.
The pen functioned like a 3D pen. Whatever I drew in the notebook would materialize as a miniature version on top of the page. If I turned to the next page, the miniature image would disappear and the previous page would look like an ordinary drawing again. If I wanted to erase something, the pen would do it with a single touch, kind of like using a tablet pen.
....
I sat on the chair and placed my notebook on the table.
I was thinking of a new design when I remembered I only had one pair of underwear left.
Naturally, I decided to draw all sorts of lingerie in my notebook. To my surprise, when I touched the miniature versions that materialized, they became real.
Awesome!
Soon, my table was covered in various styles.
Yey!!! I finally had new underwear!
I tried one on and immediately felt shy. It looked so daring.
Then common sense dawned on me. Who was even going to see it?
I laughed mischievously and began trying on the sexier ones.
It was so much fun... right until I remembered that I had opened the windows.
Like, ALL of them.
I am so dumb.
I suddenly felt guilty for calling the female characters in my novels "dumb."
Now, I was one of them. To make matters worse, I'm supposed to be an adult.
I hurried toward the windows to close them, but I froze when I saw a creature staring back at me.
What the heck?!!
I completely forgot how I was dressed because the creature was terrifying.
Like, TRULY scary.
It looked like a dragon, only smaller, but its face was covered in multiple, intimidating eyes.
We stared at each other for a beat before I let out an unearthly scream.
AHHH!!!
Honestly, if you saw that thing, you'd scream your lungs out, too.
I still had enough common sense to grab a robe from the closet.
Thankfully, the dragon didn't move or attempted to eat me. It just kept staring with all those eyes.
With world-record speed, I threw on my robe while backing against the wall.
Finally, a portal hummed open and Lion, Ghost and Pinky stepped out.
With a mirror-shattering squeal, Pinky rushed the dragon and hit it several times to no avail.
The dragon actually looked amused, but that amusement was short-lived.
Lion, with a look that could kill a dozen dragons, approached slowly with a violet fireball in each hand.
Ghost wasn't to be underestimated, either. He had shifted into his other form, looking like Death itself on the way to claim a soul.
His pale eyes had turned a blood-red.
Sweet goodness. I never want to be on their bad side.
....
Just before Lion could throw the fireballs, the dragon hurriedly transformed into a handsome, human-like being.
Oohh.. well, hello there...
He opened his mouth to speak, but his tongue darted out, long and forked like a snake's.
I take it back.
Nope.
He didn't look human at all, regardless of how handsome his face was.
To better describe him, he had wavy, shoulder-length hair the color of shallow sea water. Wings sprouted from his back and his light brown skin was dappled with noticeable scales.
His fingernails were long... more like claws, really. Thankfully, he only had two eyes in this form, or my sanity would have definitely flown out the window.
I noticed he didn't have a tail, which was surprising for a dragon.
Then again, I remembered that dragons back on Earth didn't have multiple eyes, either.
I'm clearly not on Earth anymore.
He had marks on his arms that looked like tattoos and wore several bracelets. His outfit reminded me of what an ancient Egyptian pharaoh would wear, though the fabric matched the colors of his dragon scales.
Suddenly, I realized my new underwear was still in plain sight.
Uh-oh.
I hurriedly scooped them all up while everyone stared.
My face burned, and I tried my best to ignore their gazes.
After stuffing everything into the closet, Ghost, now back in his regular form, started whistling an out-of-tune melody while staring intently at the ceiling for no reason.
Lion, meanwhile, averted his eyes and cleared his throat repeatedly.
I glowered at him, while asking him if he needs a drink.
He shook his head and sighed, his face turning crimson.
The stranger found the situation hilarious and started to laugh. However, under murderous glares from both Lion and Ghost... with Pinky still fruitlessly thumping him with branches, he finally stopped.
He apologized while offering his help for our new business.
Meet Sly. Our new business partner.