Dress Shop pt.2

Lyceum, sitting behind the solid wood desk, observed Shirei with apparent calm, but his scrutinizing gaze betrayed a deep concern. 

"I can get them for you without problems, the Lilies Park offers the possibility of ordering new changes every three months thanks to an agreement."

Mr. D'Agostini returned to the desk with the pieces of glass still in his hands and made them disappear under it, probably in a bin according to Shirei's suppositions. After making that gesture, he searched in some drawers and pulled out a form from the light blue paper.

"Fill out the form and then bring it back to me. The clothes will be delivered directly to your home within two to three days with 'Ammirazon'."

Shirei shook his head slightly.

"Ammirazon is a company created by Ammir, the god of travel. They are responsible for supplying every part of the Otherworld with any foreign resources."

After a moment of silence, Cragar's son nodded.

"So," Liceo continued, "All you have to do is fill out this and you will have a new package of personalized clothing with the park logo."

Shirei interrupted politely, feeling the urge to explain his request.

"I need special clothes," he said, his voice had lowered, he still felt that uncomfortable feeling of being watched. "I have to choose them myself, to make sure they're good."

The demigod simply kept his eyes fixed on Lyceum, hoping that he would understand what he was asking and not hinder him.

The man, after a moment of reflection, accepted the request of Cragar's son.

"Okay, you can go," however, before Shirei turned around, Lyceum gave him a penetrating look, "But... please be careful."

Shirei nodded respectfully, thanking him for his understanding. He was not one to worry and struggled to understand how a simple visit to the mortal world could be a danger to him. Observing, however, the marked irises of Mr. D'Agostini, he found it wiser to limit himself to thanking for the advice rather than replying.

"If you give me time to finish here, I'll accompany you to the portal," said Lyceum as he prepared to rearrange the paperwork on the desk and clean the floor on which the potion had been spilled.

"Portal?"

"Yes," the man nodded, "It's the entry and exit point between the mortal world and this section of the Otherworld, without it you couldn't get to the other side."

Shirei didn't respond and continued to look at him with confusion.

Lyceum reassured him with his hand, "Really, two seconds and I'll accompany you."

The boy, instead of waiting for the rector to physically escort him to the portal, decided to face the journey alone. With an imperceptible gesture, he allowed himself to be enveloped by the surrounding shadows, allowing them to envelop him and carry him on a spectral travel into the Underworld. Lyceum watched with shocked eyes as the demigod dissolved into nothingness, silently praying for his safety. 

With a heavy sigh, Lyceum shook his head and prepared to return to his responsibilities.

"These demigods... I need a nice vacation soon."

Shirei suddenly reappeared in a strange city. His shoes clacked on the pavement as he stopped to take in the new scenery that lay before him. Stretching before his eyes was an intricate web of winding alleys, terracotta-roofed buildings, and centuries-old churches that aspired to the sky with their tapered spires. The sound of an urban symphony enveloped him: the tinkling of bicycle bells, the buzz of customers in the cafés and the call of street vendors offering their wares in lively voices. Shirei felt the gaze of passersby resting on him as he moved through the crowded streets, as if he were a stranger in an unknown land. He wondered if his aura was subconsciously perceived as alien by passersby. 

A car almost cut him off. Shirei stared calmly at the car, while a man in his fifties rolled down the window and yelled at him.

"Me', stu' trman!" *

The demigod narrowed his eyes, but the man ran away in the blink of an eye, exceeding the permitted speed limit by at least twenty kilometers.

Shirei pulled a small note from his pocket, a piece of opaque paper that Cragar, his divine father, had thoughtfully given him before his departure for the mortal world. Shirei's gaze fell on the name written on the ticket, an elegant handwriting that indicated the name of a shop hidden in the local streets. Without further hesitation, the boy set off with a determined step, following the directions as he entered further and further into the streets of the city. The pastel-colored houses followed one another, adorned with flowered balconies and curtains fluttering in the wind. The scent of delicious food wafted through the air, mixing with the distant salty smell from the sea and the sweet aroma of the pastry shops that dotted the city.

He had been going for ten minutes when Shirei noticed that he was being followed by a small group of curious kids, their scrutinizing gazes observing him suspiciously. The demigod immediately noticed the very pale tone of their skin, which stood out among the multitude of citizens. They were careful to stay in the shadows and most of them wore heavy clothes combined with sunglasses, Shirei found it a rather anomalous combination. However, their presence faded into the background when Cragar's son's gaze fell on the shop sign he was looking for. 

The sign hung above the store's entrance, bright and inviting in the sunlight that filtered through the city's narrow streets. The gold letters glittered with an old-world charm, while the image of a phoenix in flight adorned the top edge of the sign. The shop itself exuded a mysterious and fascinating atmosphere, which was a departure from the lively air of the city. Ornate windows displayed glittering jewels and all manner of accessories, revealing the clothing inside. 

The hardwood door opened with a soft creak as Shirei crossed the threshold of the shop, the tell-tale sound of a bell announcing her presence. Inside, a shimmering light illuminated rows of clothes. Shirei prepared to explore the shop without making a sound, his purple eyes resting on some dark shirts hanging on the wall. 

Shirei was internally astonished to see strange female creatures, who he assumed were nymphs, coming in and out as if nothing had happened. The mortals crossing the street didn't seem to notice much; only every now and then someone stopped to observe them more carefully, squinting in disbelief before continuing on their way.

With a sigh, Shirei decided not to let himself be distracted. He felt the gaze of everyone present resting on him. He tried to ignore the curious glances, but his gaze was caught by the imps working in the shop.

The imps were known as 'Tummà', small and agile creatures, with sparkling green eyes and colorful clothes. They had dull fuchsia skin, their feet were bare, revealing fairly long nails. Shirei moved his gaze towards their faces crowned by two large pointed ears. The distinguishing feature, however, was a shriveled trunk that emerged right from the center of the face and extended to their knees. 

The Tummà moved with disconcerting speed, busy with their daily activities. However, as Shirei approached, he noticed how they were eyeing him suspiciously, keeping their distance from him. The Tummà seemed reluctant to interact with him, most likely due to the sinister and unusual aura that accompanied his presence.

As Cragar's son approached the shop counter, a sudden commotion interrupted the tranquility of the environment. The group of boys who had followed him through the streets of the city went inside. The young people violently threw themselves against the store's shelves, greedily grabbing clothes and precious objects. 

The Tummas, surprised and outraged by the thieves' audacity, rushed after them, shouting and waving their little trunks in an attempt to stop them. 

"Stop there!" An elderly imp shouted.