The Knife

The sky took on an orange tint as Iridiel sat on a chair looking at the passing pedestrians, enjoying the bustling city life.

"Soon, just this scene alone will become a luxury few can ever afford..." He sighed and rose to his feet while grabbing a broom.

While sweeping, he hummed to himself a song he found catchy.

After finishing his self appointed task, he plopped down on his small chair and started to look forward to his next customer.

'It's been a long minute since I had a customer, hmm, that girl earlier wasn't half bad, she will reach pretty far.'

He nodded then tilted his head with an expression of mild suprise painting his flawless face.

'Mmm, she is probably an anomaly as I've never come across her before...' He nodded to himself again, then stood up and paced outside.

His figure flashed in the evening rays of sunlight, then vanished.

Reappearing on the other side of the planet on a barren mountain, clad in a black combat outfit, he walked around as if looking for a special spot, and tapped the ground with his foot, sending the mountain below him into oblivion from the force exerted by his feet alone.

A crater appeared with a nigh endless depth, sucking in the surrounding light.

He frowned while looking around, then vanished instantly, reappearing in his shop in casual clothes.

"Okay, I've bought this world another week, this is the most I can do..."

He sat down and looked towards the door when he heard a bell chime.

"Welcome to The Shop, how may I be of assistance?" His soft voice floated over to a young man who blushed when he saw Iridiel's face.

"U-um, I need a knife, anyone will do..." He trailed off as he looked at Iridiel in a daze.

Iridiel just smiled and walked around the counter and pointed into the aisle filled with numerous things.

'How can she even remember where everything is?' Thought the boy while following her directions.

Iridiel reappeared behind the counter when the boy looked away with a small smile on his face.

'This isn't the first time I've been confused for a girl...' '

Bear with it, bear with it!' He murmured again and again.

"You need a knife with a custom handle, the blade can be anywhere between seven to ten inches, and a sheath, correct?" Iridiel lifted a tablet off the table and tapped it a few times.

"That's right, but how did you know, I don't think I've said anything."

Iridiel just smiled raidiantly.

"It's the job of a merchant to know what the customer needs."

The boy blinked his blue eyes and then laughed, creating a truly picturesque scene.

"Isn't merchant a tad old sounding?" He asked while looking Iridiel in the eyes as if trying to see through him.

Iridiel nodded then frowned.

"Mmm, I guess it could be, but you'll have to understand that the world will soon change and people will pay less attention to why my shop is named 'The Shop', and why I call myself a merchant."

Iridiel blinked twice then handed him a knife.

"This is it, right?"