Elara emerged from behind the thick, velvet curtains, carrying a carefully folded set of clothes with almost hallowed reverence.
The Fox-woman smiled warmly, her fluffy tail moving gracefully as she approached her client.
Lilith greeted her with a joyful glint in her eye, and for a moment, the two women exchanged a few polite, respectful remarks regarding the tailoring craftsmanship that the Atelier of the Silken Whisper took such pride in.
"Is this what you prepared for me?" Lilith finally asked, pointing at the elegant fabrics.
Elara nodded with pride.
Lilith, wasting no time, deactivated her demonic form. In a split second, her body took on human proportions, and her massive wings vanished.
Her long, jet-black hair fell in a cascade, covering her breasts, while she reflexively shielded the lower parts of her body.
"Finally, I can put something on," she thought with relief.
She remembered how, on her first day in the city, she had asked Bargin for a recommendation for the best tailor.
The Captain had unhesitatingly pointed to this shop, run by the fox race, where only the elites of Silver Starforger dressed.
Lilith needed an outfit for her human form; while she felt perfectly comfortable running around naked in her demonic state, she felt a strange discomfort as a human.
She wasn't sure if it was an echo of her previous life or simply an instinctive need for protection, but obtaining clothes had become a priority.
Since she didn't know the local fashion, she had given Elara a completely free hand, asking only for something that would emphasize her status.
Elara handed her the set, and Lilith accepted it, stepping firmly into the changing room.
She started by pulling on black, fitted trousers that hugged her thighs perfectly, highlighting their strength and slenderness.
Next, she donned a shirt of a deep, saturated red. The material was cool and slick, delicately caressing her skin as she fastened the buttons all the way to her neck.
Over it, she threw a black, tailored blazer with gold trim, which gave her silhouette an air of authority and predatory elegance.
The most difficult element was an intricate brooch in the shape of a blood-red rose with hanging gold chains, which she had to precisely pin under her collar.
"We do not create footwear," Elara's voice came from behind the curtain, "but we collaborate with the 'Leathern Craft' workshop. We asked them to create a special pair for you."
Lilith reached down, taking a pair of high, black ankle boots with a stable height and a boost to her confidence.
When she finally emerged from the changing room and stood before a large crystal mirror, her eyes widened in disbelief.
A powerful, incredibly elegant woman with hypnotizing red eyes and a storm of black wavy hair stared back from the surface.
She looked like a true sovereign, capable of bringing the world to its knees with a single glance. The outfit fit her like a second skin, blending the gravity of a leader with the dark charm of a demoness.
Lilith examined her reflection and slightly adjusted the blazer, trying to arrange the fabric so it discreetly covered her nipples, which were clearly visible under the thin shirt.
She let out a heavy sigh in her mind, feeling a slight irritation.
"A pity they don't know what a bra is here... but there's nothing I can do about it," she concluded, smoothing the elegant material over her breasts with her hand.
As she stepped fully into the room, silence fell.
"You look... breathtaking, My Lady," Elara whispered in awe, unable to look away from her client's transformation.
Lilith smiled radiantly and thanked her for the exquisite craftsmanship.
At that moment, another fox girl approached her, holding an ornamental parchment.
"The bill, My Lady," she said politely.
Pleased with her new appearance, Lilith confidently seized the paper and began to read.
However, the further down her eyes traveled, the more her face paled and darkened.
When she finished, she settled the payment without a word and left the shop a moment later, casting one last, regretful look at the shimmering sign of the "Atelier of the Silken Whisper."
She felt practically robbed.
"What a ripoff!" she growled under her breath, walking through the market.
"Someone is out of their damn mind with these prices... It's just clothes, and I spent nearly everything I earned from those three blacksmiths selling them those fucking iron ores!"
Frustrated, she marched ahead, unaware of one significant fact.
The material her outfit was sewn from - rare shadow silk and thread from rock-spider wool - was a nearly mythical commodity in this city.
In Silver Starforger, such robes were worn only by the wealthiest elite to manifest their status and power through their attire alone.
As she walked through the market toward Bargin's apartment, she felt the gaze of dozens of people. Whispers erupted around her.
"Did you see her? Who could that be?" passersby murmured. "She looks like someone from a very high noble house..."
Lilith furrowed her brow, looking left and right.
"I feel a lot more eyes on me than usual," she thought uncertainly.
She reflexively adjusted the lapels of her blazer again, feeling the cool cave air making her body stand out too clearly under the shirt's fabric once more.
Finally, she reached the Captain's house.
She stepped inside, smelling the scent of cooking soup.
"Greetings, Bargin!" she called out casually.
Hearing her voice, the dwarf muttered something and started to walk out of the kitchen to greet her.
However, when he stood in the doorway and saw an elegant woman instead of a horned demoness, he nearly dropped his spoon and shouted in terror:
"Who the hell are you?! And what are you doing in my house?!"
Lilith's eyes went wide, looking at him in bewilderment.
"Lilith?" she answered stupidly, pointing at herself.
Bargin's face turned red with rage, and he grabbed the hilt of his axe leaning against the wall.
"You think I'm an idiot?! Lilith is a powerful demon, not some human aristocrat from Elara's shop! Speak, what did you do with her, or you'll regret it!"
Lilith slapped her forehead with her open palm.
Right... he's never seen me in human form before.
Lilith had to spend a good thirty minutes patiently explaining to the dwarf that it was still her, just in a... less horned version.
Only after she briefly summoned her Aura did Bargin lower his axe, though he still looked at her with disbelief.
Half an hour later, they were sitting at dinner. Bargin, slowly slurping his soup, couldn't stop glancing at her new form.
"That outfit truly suits you, My Lady," he finally admitted, smiling crookedly under his thick mustache.
"You look like someone who rules half the continent in it. But... I bet it wasn't cheap. I honestly expected you to be rich, but I didn't think you could afford the Atelier of the Silken Whisper without batting an eye. Only the highest circles shop there."
Hearing about the price, Lilith froze for a fraction of a second with her spoon halfway to her mouth. A painful memory of the bill that had ravaged her purse flashed in her eyes.
"Let's change the subject, shall we?" she cut him off quickly, avoiding the dwarf's gaze.
"Tell me instead, how is Brokkur doing?"
Deep worry immediately painted itself on Bargin's face. He put down his slice of bread and sighed heavily.
"I went to visit him today. He didn't even look at me while we talked. All the time, just hammer and anvil, hammer and anvil..."
Bargin shook his head, his voice growing serious.
"It looks as if some demon of work has possessed him. He drinks that elixir of yours straight from the barrel and forges those swords at such a pace that sparks fly from his eyes. He might finish on time, but I'm worried it will take a toll on his health. A dwarf's heart is hardy, but he hasn't slept in three days."