Chapter 37 - The Shopping District

Rhema picked up the hat and sat down on one knee in front of Azriel. As he did so, his eye level became similar to that of the child and no more threatening shadow was cast over her. He ran his hand through her hair and put the white straw hat on her. He also straightened the crooked hat a little. The tailor swiftly brought a full-length mirror. Letting Azriel stand in front of the mirror, Rhema asked.

“Do you like it?”

Azriel thought that the girl in the mirror looked unfamiliar. She looked like a really precious lady. She used to be useless who was always abandoned by others, but it seemed Rhema had a different idea.

“…Yes.” Azriel bashfully nodded her head. The tailor celebrated inside. “Would you like to see other hats as well? These days, real flower decorations with lace are in trend. This will suit the little lady perfectly.” He was tiresome. Rhema slightly knitted his forehead and glanced at Azriel. She was busy looking at the mirror and touching the hat with her hand. Seeing that, he quickly made a decision. “Please send all kinds.”

“Certainly. Should I send them to the Village of Hanora like last time?” The tailor, who just hit the jackpot, smiled from ear to ear. After agreeing to him, Rhema asked, “Where can I find toys?”

“When you step out, pass two more alleys and turn left, you’ll see a shop with a green door. That is the toy shop.”

“Okay.” Rhema pulled out a pocket of gold coins from his chest. Tailor’s mouth stretched even wider at the jingling sound of gold coins. Rhema handed over the whole pocket to the tailor without reluctance. “Just as before, you can keep sending me goods as long as the money lasts.”

“Absolutely. I will select the best items with care and send them to you.”

Leaving the tailor who was bending his waist deeply, they left the boutique. At the moment they left, the tailor grilled his assistant. The assistant frantically rushed to the toy shop through a shortcut and delivered the message early. In a second, the news that the ‘princess’ had arrived was spread in the shopping district.

 

Having no idea of that, Rhema and Azriel walked down the street. Rhema, who was striding without giving much thought, looked down at the feeling of his hand being pulled all of a sudden. It was Azriel who almost fell trying to follow Rhema’s steps and balancing herself relying on his hand.

Not saying anything, Rhema waited until she found her balance. Then he began to walk very slowly. Because of that, it took them quite a while until they could reach the toy shop. Thanks to the heads-up from the tailor, the owner of the toy shop was fully prepared to receive the guests. When they entered the shop, he approached them with a smiley face.

“Welcome!”

Azriel, with her eyes widened, busily looked around. The inside of the store looked very fancy as precious items that were usually not displayed due to the fear of dust sitting down were all taken out. While Rhema and the owner talked, Azriel walked around the shop, stupefied.

There was a very expensive girl doll as tall as Azriel. It had blond hair made with silk thread and eyes made of blue crystals. Next to it was a huge dollhouse with its door wide open. Dolls about the size of her palm were sitting like nobles, wearing clothes decorated with lace.

On another side were piles of all sorts of rag dolls. In front of the shelf where the dolls were placed, small and intricate animal pieces made of ivory were displayed. On the center table, detailed tableware for housekeeping play was displayed. Little Conhead, fairy sculpture, dice made out of animal bones, colored wooden game board, and other items were also there. The basket was filled with colorful glass beads like candies, and next to it stood all sorts of model ships with sails.

There was a huge model castle in the middle of the shop. On top of it, a silk flag embroidered with colorful threads was hung, and light sparkled through a coin-sized window. Along the palm-sized wall stood tiny soldier dolls. Real water streamed in the moat. The moat and the soldiers made Azriel feel bad, so she turned to the other side quickly.

Against the wall stood a bookshelf full of picture books and next to it were small violins and pianos that were sized down to suit children. On one corner, toys for boys such as wooden horses, wooden swords, and leather balls were randomly piled up. It was the trace of the owner who shoved the things that boys might like in preparation to receive the girl guest.

Azriel approached there and lightly touched a wooden horse colored with watercolor. The silver bell that was tied on the horse’s neck made a sound. Startled, she took off her hand and carefully shook it again. Jingle, jingle. A smile spread around her lips. For the girl who had never had decent toys on her own, this was a new world. Noticing her going about all directions, Rhema asked. “Which one do you like?” She vacantly looked up at him. He asked again. “If you are not sure, you can take all of each kind and play with them first, and tell me what you liked later. Then I can order more of such kinds.”

“N, no…” Bewildered, Azriel grasped his hem. He bent his waist to hear her better. Rhema’s spending was so enormous that Azriel could not grasp it. However, buying all kinds of goods in the shop was unthinkable to her. Azriel shook her head hard. “I don’t need that many. The teddy you gave me is enough for me, Rhema.” Rhema tilted his head as if it was strange. “Isn’t it better to have more?”

 

“No, that’s fine. I can’t play with that many toys anyway.” Rhema quietly looked at Azriel who was fidgety. He pondered for a while and asked. “Are you uncomfortable?”

“…These, aren’t they really expensive?”

“Azriel, I am rich. You don’t have to care about such a thing as money.” He said the truth calmly. In fact, money had not been a problem ever since he became a wizard. It was because of his master’s legacy. After a long time, he could now turn stones into gold. Creating something from nothing was impossible as it was a domain of God, he could turn already existing things into others as much as he wanted. To him, there was not much difference between stone and gold. However, Azriel had no idea of such a fact. She spoke clearly. “It’s strange for me to ask for something I don’t need just because you are rich. I already have more than enough great things, so it’s all right.”

“You have no greed, Azriel.”

“It’s not that. You’re treating me too well, Rhema. If you keep doing this, I might become a spoiled child.” Azriel protested in a small way. The way she spoke so enthusiastically felt cute. Rhema unconsciously stroked her cheek and looked down at his hand. Soft and weak texture. It was a strange feeling. It was an emotion close to ‘lovely.’ He whispered, clenching his fist. “Where did you learn that?”

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“I’ve read it in a book. If you treat a child too nicely, the child will be spoiled…”

“Since you know that already, you won’t ever be like that, Azriel. Then it won’t matter anymore, will it?”

“…What?”

“Since Azriel will be fine and I also want to give it to you, there is no problem now.” Looking back at the owner who was nervously watching them, Rhema made an order. “Give us the best things of all kinds.” Taking a pocket full of coins, the owner bowed deeply that his forehead almost touched the ground.

After leaving the toy shop, Rhema and Azriel ate lunch at a restaurant. Although the food was not as good as what the spirit made, to Azriel, a place like this was novel. After the meal, chocolate ice cream sprinkled with almonds was served in a glass. Azriel, who just had a spoon of it, sighed. Rhema looked at her. “Why do you sigh?”

“I… think I’m too lucky.”

 

Rhema did not agree with her. He saved the girl from filthy water where corpses floated. Her body was full of traces of violence and was so skinny that her bones were revealed. There were neither family nor adults who looked after her. He was not sure whatever happened to her, but she was frightened whenever an adult’s shadow was cast over her. If all seven-year-olds in the world were divided by the categories of the fortunate and unfortunate, Azriel was certainly on the side of the unfortunate.

Of course, if judged by only her potential, she could be the luckiest among all people. However, she must not mean her potential. That was why he could not understand her. When Rhema tilted his head, she went on. “It’s because I met you, Rhema.”

“…Are you lucky to meet me?”

“Yes. I am probably the happiest child in the world right now.” Azriel beamed. Rhema blankly watched that smile. “Is it because I give you good things?”

“I sure like those things, but, what I like the most is…” She mumbled a little and continued. “The name you gave me. I am happy whenever that name is called. And… I also like that I can call you by your name.”

“Anyone can have a name. Did you not have a name at all before?”

“No, that’s not true, but…” A smile disappeared from Azriel’s face. The girl quietly lowered her eyes. A deep shade that did not match her young face was cast over her face.

“My mother and father did not give me a name. So, my brother named me. The only person who called me that name was him. No one else called me by that name. But my brother… he is gone too, now…”

“Your brother is…”

“It’s my twin brother. I had a twin.” Rhema was not particularly surprised. To be born with the level of mana that Azriel had, one had to be a twin. There were rare exceptions, but it was generally the case. Moreover, there were no exceptions for Wizards like Rhema who was born with the dragon eye. All were born as twins and only one of the twins would have the dragon eye. Instead of explaining that to her, he quietly listened to her story.

“My brother’s name is Benhiram. There was war in my village and… only my brother and I survived.” Azriel breathed so deeply that her chest heaved. “My brother was much smarter than someone like me. He smiled a lot and was kind. He always got food from somewhere and gave it to me first. He shouldn’t have done that. He should’ve abandoned me…” Her eyes slowly welled up. “Then the people who started the war came to catch people who ran away. They came riding on horses in a bunch, burned everything, and k, killed everyone, but my brother…”

“Was he killed?” Rhema asked calmly. Azriel bit her lower lip and her shoulders began shaking.

“Only I hid. It was too narrow. My brother should’ve hidden. He said he didn’t need to because he is older. Only, only me, and…” Her patience was of no avail. At last, her tears poured down. “My brother should’ve been the one to live. He should’ve met you. If it were him, he wouldn’t have disappointed…”

“That’s not true. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have met in the first place. And I had never been disappointed by you.” He denied her words without hesitating. Azriel looked up at him oddly with wet eyes. “Azriel, the fact that you’re a wizard means that your other twin is never a wizard.”

“What? Why?”

“Later… if you learn more about magic, you will understand it naturally.” Rhema asked another question as if to change the subject.

“Did you live alone after that?”

“Yes, until I met you. Well, honestly, I thought I didn’t want to live any longer back then.”

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