Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

Morning comes around much quicker than I expected. On one hand because I might have worked on the sandals longer than I thought. On the other hand because my sleep is light and fitful.

At least my final wake up call is not unpleasant. It is delivered in the form of a pleasantly soft meow accompanied by a purr that is both relaxed and relaxing. Yes, there really are worse ways to start a day.

I take a moment to play with Sour Cream as she seems to enjoy the attention. Eventually she decides that it is enough and time for her treat.

The little distraction certainly helps take my mind off the enchanted sandals still waiting for me where I left them, at least for a little while. Eventually I have to check on them though. There is no way around it. Yet I decide not to do it right away, for the same reasons I didn't do it then and there last night.

I don't want to risk another shocking revelation while on my own.

Thus I leave the sandals be for another little while, heading out barefoot instead.

It really isn't that bad. Especially as I stick to the little used path behind the houses along the creek, to get to the bathhouse. I might have to be a little more careful on my way down to the inn, since I'll have to use the dirt road, but I'll manage.

Since I'm a little early today I take a little more time washing and soaking. After last night, even without knowing the exact nature of the fruit of my hard work, I feel I deserve it.

Despite taking my time I'm still done and gone again, before the bathhouse can get really busy. Except for the fact that I go about it barefoot, my morning quickly returns to its usual routine afterwards.

I visit the inn and get a quick meal. Today's offer is a pretty straightforward one, oatmeal with dried fruits, warm milk and little dip of honey. It isn't exactly something that will get you through a whole day, but it certainly will get that day started.

Then I post the mana mill quest once again, only for Elzbieta to snatch it the moment Krystina puts it on the board.

She accompanies me back home right after as well. My lack of shoes of course, does not go unnoticed.

“No shoes? What is up with that? You aren't going halfling on us all of a sudden, right?”

I snort at the comment and shake my head.

“No, no I'm not. I'm just a little too tall to convincingly pretend that I'm one anyway.”

We share a quick laugh before I continue my explanation.

“I put another enchantment on my sandals last night.”

One of Elzbieta's eyebrows goes up a little bit?

“Did it turn out bad?”

I want to shake my head again, but I refrain at the last second.

“To be honest, I have no clue. I didn't dare check, in case there would be another shocking revelation. You know what happened the last time.”

She nods, chuckles and moves in a little closer, so she can wrap an arm around me for a quick hug.

“Yeah, I haven't forgotten.”

I have to admit, I'm pleasantly surprised by the gesture. Enough so, that a little blush spreads across my cheeks.

“Want me to keep an eye on you while you check out your work?”

I blush a little more and nod, just as we reach the backdoor of my house.

“Please?”

“Sure, lets get this out of the way before I get started with that mill though, alright?”

Even as she says that, she drops down onto my bed, wiggling about for a moment until she gets comfortable, sitting on the edge, before she pats the spot besides her.

I don't need any further prompting. Without delay I grab the sandals and sit down besides her.

She wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me close.

I can't even begin to describe, how exhilarating this little gesture feels. After taking one more deep breath, I focus my attention solely on the sandals in my hands, to activate the appraisal skill.

[A Summer night's sandals, Quality: Epic, An enchanted pair of sandals that grant the wearer's every movement a dreamlike grace. Agility, Willpower and Endurance all are increased considerably while wearing these sandals, much more so than one might initially expect. When worn in combination with A Summer night's dress or other matching items additional effects might be achieved.]

Just this is already enough to get my heart beating faster, and not just a little either. A moment later the dreaded and desired divine whisper reaches my ears.

[Extraordinary success! Good job creating your first set item! Keep at it! Maybe you will even complete the Midsummer Night's Dream set one of these days! The Dawn Maiden gifts you 4 points of the World Arcana as a reward.]

A moment later, before I can even completely comprehend the first one, another divine whisper hits me.

[Success! Great job transcending your limits with this enchantment! Not many achieve heights like this. Is this enough for you? Or will you go even further? The Moon Father gifts you 6 points for the Magician Arcana as a reward.]

The combined impact is enough to make me feel lightheaded once again.

It is a good thing that Elzbieta is there, to steady me. She isn't just keeping me upright though. She is whispering in my ear as well, while gently patting my back.

“Breathe, Valeria. Don't forget to breathe.”

Breathe? Right, I really shouldn't forget about that. It's important. I do take a deep breath only to let it out as a long sigh right away again, which, even without words, speaks of tremendous relief. Finally the dam bursts and the words flow from my lips like water.

“I did it! My first triple enchantment! And somehow it's even better! It seems the sandals are part of a set! A set!”

She blinks in surprise, but then she gives me another hug.

“Good for you! But wait, a set? Wouldn't that mean that you already know at least one other item of the set? The divine are surprisingly tight lipped about these otherwise.”

I blush again, not just a little this time around either. Before she can inquire any further I get up and step to the trunk at the foot end of the bed. I don't need to look for long to find what I'm looking for either. Grandma's special dress is rather distinctive after all.

As I pull it from the trunk, I let it unfold, so I can hold it up against myself.

Elzbieta's jaw drops. At the same time she develops a blush that easily matches mine.

“Oh …”

I snort.

“Oh?”

She blushes even more, and as she speaks up again, it comes out as barely more than a hoarse whisper.

“Is it bad that I want to see you wear that?”

My heart misses a beat and my fingers tremble ever so slightly, as my lips turn dry all of a sudden. For a moment I try to come up with a reply. Then another idea strikes me.

I let the dress flutter back down into the trunk and grab something else instead. My fingers are still trembling as I tie my hair up with the yellow bandanna with the deep red, suggestive embroidery.

“You want to see … what?”

Elzbieta's eyes go wide and she needs a moment to regain her composure, or at least a little bit of composure anyway.

“I want … I want to see you wear that dress … and nothing else …”

Again she trails off in a hoarse whisper.

I on the other hand feel emboldened now.

“Maybe I would. Would you like to sneak out into the woods tonight? Just the two of us? For a little dance?”

It seems, she is at a complete loss for words now. As I finish asking these questions of mine, she simply nods.

I in turn grin like the fox that just got the farmer's best hen.

“In that case … in that case it's not bad at all.”