Chapter 101: Chapter 101 – Cai The Tailor

“Noble? No. A woman, however, now that’s the most terrifying thing on this planet, my lady.” Cai flashed a gummy grin. Two teeth clung on for dear life as they dangled like a broken picket fence. He broke out into a chuckle.

“Besides, you don’t seem like someone who would get their feathers ruffled by a few words by a poor old man.” He shrugged his frail shoulders.

“Are you certain about that?” Astrid said.

“Certainly certain,” he said as a matter of fact. “What you here for anyway, Sinwen?”

Astrid smirked. “I need some clothes.”

“Well, lucky for you I have a wide range of–” Cai paused.

He had reached out his arm and was about to sweep it around as if to display his wares, yet he stopped mid-way when he realised the state his shop was in.

“I admit,” he said, “it has been a while since I cleaned up a bit.” Cai scratched his balding head.

“A black robe will do,” Astrid said. “And a mask to go along with it. One that covers my face, nothing complex.”

“It just so happens I specialise in nothing complex,” Cai said in excitement.

He moved to the counter-top of his shop where all his work was done. Loose fabrics of all kinds were just thrown on top, thread was unwound and left disorderly on the table. Needles of a wide range of thickness and length were stabbed into the felt of the table.

Presumably, the pointed tip had pierced the wood. Yet he didn’t seem to care as he swiped the fabrics to the side and grabbed a matte sheet of black material.

The shopkeeper’s bony, callused fingers picked up a spool of thread and a needle. His eyes peered at the hole at the end of the needle. Patience was running out as it refused to enter. With a huff, he threw it onto the table.

“You don’t strike me as a tailor,” Astrid said.

“I ain't one.” The old man spat. “It was the wife’s business… She left me to tackle this place on my own. I don’t have the patience for it even at the best of times.”

Astrid gazed at his eyes filled with longing and loss.

“I’m sorry.”

“Bah,” he said, “spare me the pity. You’ll have to come back later, or get one of those fancy seamstresses to make it for you.”

Astrid shook her head and took the needle and thread from his hands.

“What are you doing?” Cai asked.

“Doing what you can’t,” Astrid said. “Tailor, why don’t you retire if your hands can’t keep it up?”

The shopkeeper humphed. He walked to the back of the shop and opened an old cupboard. The doors groaned. He clutched a glass bottle in his arms, black spots mottled the glass.

As he moved, something bobbed up and down within the liquid.

Astrid had one set of fingers cradling the needle, while the other accurately threaded the hole. With one dexterous try, it slid through and she tied it into a knot.

Cai sighed “I remember when I first awakened, got my hopes up just for them to be crushed.”

Astrid shifted her eyes to the man. “What did you choose?”

She could check herself as he wasn’t wearing a blocking bracelet, but knowing everything was no fun.

“You think I had a choice?” The old man scoffed. “It’s only you ones with the blood of the firsts who get a choice. The goddess forced the Bricklayer class onto me.” His wiry voice turned into a cackle. “A bricklayer, on a fucking ship. Did they not teach you anything within your gilded castle?”

“Not about the lower district, no.” Astrid shook her head.

It seems like being a Lower District tradesman makes it difficult to get work, especially when all the houses down here are made from metal. Unlike the middle-class tradesmen. She thought.

“Typical.” The old man spat.

He shook his head. His frail fingers struggled to pop the cork that tightly gripped the bottle.

“I’ve- c'mon you damned thing.” Finally with a pop, the cork squealed as it surrendered under the force. The smell of the alcohol swept through the room.

“Grapes?” Astrid’s eyes widened in surprise.

Someone from here has grapes to make wine?

“I’ve had it hidden here for many years.” Cai poured himself a cup as he lifted it up, swallowing the contents all at once. His eyes watered and let out a deep breath. “Yep, it tastes awful.”

“I’ve only tried wine once.” Astrid took hold of the cup. She placed it to her nose and took a small sniff. Her nose twitched. She held back her gag. The fume of fermented grapes combined with the harsh tang of vinegar assaulted her nose.

Cai guffawed, his hands clenched around his stomach. “Were you expecting some posh wine that was freshly poured straight from the barrel?” He snatched her cup and swallowed it in one gulp.

Goosebumps tingled along her pale arms as she saw Cai’s adam’s apple bob. Despite the empty glasses, the smell lingered.

She shook her head, turning back to her work. Her fingers worked on the robe, distracting herself from the fermented wine. She crossed the thread in patterns, making sure that she cleanly sewed the thread in and out. Creating a durable set of stitches.

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“Do you think the Leviathan will attack again?” Astrid said. Her words brought with it a silence.

Cai’s hands stopped pouring another drink, and then continued to fill the glass. “It’s only a matter of time now that it has made its appearance known.”

“Another great war,” Astrid paused. “Are we ready for it?”

“It’s not like you’ve got anything to worry about, being a child of Sinwen and all,” Cai said. “You’ll be fine, golden feathered peacock”

Astrid exhaled at the comment. “I will be the first one to fight it.” Astrid muttured, grabbing hold of more material, she stabbed the needle into the fabric with increased force.

“Well, it seems like it’s not all sunshine and rainbows up there after all.” Cai downed another cup of wine. His eyes washed with a gentle haze, but they held a faint understanding within.

“Far from it.” Astrid said. “You don’t seem to know much of the Sinwen family.”

“I’m pretty far from the happenings of the Upper Floor,” Cai continued. “If you couldn’t tell. Plus, I've done well to avoid anything related to you nobles. Not worth fussing over.”

“That much is obvious,” Astrid wryly shook her head.

If he was, he would know that the Sinwen’s are at the forefront of any battle. Astrid thought.

Far from the happenings of the Upper Floor wasn’t an exaggeration. Astrid peeked her head up just as she was completing the finishing touches of the robe.

Cai hadn’t cleaned the shop for seemingly years, grime was left on the counter-tops, and dust was a commonality. It also matched his clothes, despite being a tailor's shop, holes had long worn away as they ate away at the material.

Since the shop was his wife's, that means she is probably dead. Astrid lamented.

It made sense considering the state of the shop and his less than ideal skills as a tailor. It meant that he was likely clinging onto the shop as memories of the past. The thought was a sad one and it just showed that the life of the common folk were just as sorrowful and filled with death as an adventurer was. But, as long as they didn’t die from illness, they were able to live a long life.

Most had large families, and although that brought stress with having to feed them, later on in life it bore fruits.

“Cai,” Astrid said, “who’s the woman?”

The woman seemed to be in her late twenties and she was trying her hardest to sweep the floors and clean up the shop that was far too dirty to be saved by mere sweeping. She was constantly sending flitting glances in her direction and it was getting quite awkward.

“Isobelle,” Cai continued, “come over here will you?”

Isobelle’s shoulders jumped and walked over in haste with the broom still in hand.

“Astrid, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Isobelle. Have you worked here for long?”

“Oh, I don’t work here,” Isobelle said. “I just help out where I can. You know, just trying to relieve Cai’s ever growing loneliness–”

“Ah piss off with that!” Cai spat. “I ain’t lonely, I have Dom and Lerry!”

Astrid followed Cai’s gaze as he smiled at a rat and slender cat. They chased each other, yet they seemed to get along well enough.

“Right…” Isobelle rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I’m so happy to meet you. I have heard all about your travels and missions so far. All the younger generation down here are singing your praises.”

“Oh, well, I don’t know what to say.” Astrid scratched her head in embarrassment.

“You don’t have to say anything, although,” Isobelle continued. “I work at an orphanage, I would be able to brag forever to them if you were to accompany me.”

“I would love to but–”

“But you’re busy, I understand of course.”

“Let me finish my business first,” Astrid said. “Then I’ll accompany you to see them.”

“Of course, take your time.” Isobelle brushed her hair to the side. “We are not going anywhere.”

Astrid nodded, but she could see a hint of helplessness within her eyes.

It would be a good idea to go there, maybe I can inspire some future Wayfarers. Astrid thought.

There wasn’t much she could do to help them, but if she could inspire them then…just like the kobolds, they could rise up to whoever they wish to be. Astrid chuckled as Cai and Isobelle glanced at her.

Using her intelligence and wisdom, along with matter control made even normal tasks much easier. She was able to work without looking at what her hands were doing. In a few minutes the simple robe, along with a mask was complete. Along with it, the first part of her plan was finished.

The mask was quite sinister, she had created a replica of the masked men that had assaulted Rebirth. Although it wasn’t an exact copy of the original, that was chalked up to the lack of materials and tools within the shop. But it would do.

Truthfully, she hadn’t a clue of what she was going to do, or how to accomplish it. All she knew is that it would come to her eventually, so she might as well keep walking forward.

What could go wrong?