The Eccentric Craftsman

At the commercial district of Sharia, a certain fire spirit and a mind-reading miko were stuffing their faces with sweets.

Stella's eye twitched as she watched them and then said, "Do you two have to do that at EVERY shop we go to?"

Fai swallowed a powdered donut and then said, "But the food tastes soooo good!"

Miko took a bite from a funnel cake and nodded. "It's delicious!"

Stella let out a deep sigh.

Since it was the day before Onii-chan's wedding with Eri nee-chan, the house was busy being prepped, and she had been shooed out.

Stella wanted to go hang out with Onii-chan, but he vanished somewhere. Because of that, she tried to get someone else. But literally the only person available was Miko.

Which was fine. Stella considered Miko a good friend. But...

...She didn't think Miko was such a 'gourmet.'

Stella frowned and said, "Aren't you worried you'll get fat, Miko? Fai is fine since she's a spirit, but you..."

Miko brushed off her hands after finishing her latest snack and smiled. "It's okay!" She stuck up her arm and flexed her muscles. "I've been training with Norn, so I'm burning all the sugar! Besides!" She lowered her arm and proudly buffed out her chest. "Since I started training, the fat's been going somewhere else instead!"

Stella clicked her tongue.

Miko laughed.

Stella shook her head and said, "Whatever." She started walking along the street again, adjusting her backpack as she did.

Leo and Wyn were busy doing some secret 'work' together to prepare for the wedding, so the only spirit friends with Stella right now were Fai and Wata.

As for Wata...

"Cheer up, Stella!" The cat spirit hovered beside Stella in a transparent form, keeping guard. "I'm sure you'll get big one day too!"

...He just didn't have any tact.

Stella sighed. "Don't need to rub it in."

"H-Huh? Did I say something wrong...?"

Stella shook her head and then took a look around.

Fai and Miko were walking behind her, but they also stuck close. There were a lot more people around than usual in the city, so it seemed like the two were worried about getting lost.

Stella hoped the people weren't all here for Onii-chan's wedding though. Uncle Philip and Auntie Hilda did mention they wanted to go big, but Eri also said she talked them down...

No, this was probably something else. And come to think of it, Onii-chan raided a bunch of slave markets the other day...

Spoilsport.

How was Stella supposed to be a hero when Onii-chan kept doing all the side quests before her?

Wata floated to sit on Stella's shoulder and said, "It's probably better that way, Stella. Miss Zenith will be mad if you do something reckless again. Remember how she reacted by you trying to cook?"

Stella flinched. "R-Right..."

The Hug Monster...

Norn had warned about it, but Stella didn't believe it.

Then she found out firsthand after healing a cut from trying to peel a potato.

The relieved sigh, scolding, and then the following suffocating embrace by Mama Zenith...

Stella shuddered.

Miko walked over to Stella's side and said, "What do you want to do now, Stella?"

Fai walked over to Stella's other side and said, "Yeah! Are we going to go eat more food? Please?"

Stella rolled her eyes and said, "Onii-chan gave us a lot of pocket money, but we shouldn't just spend it all eating. Besides, you guys already tried out most of the street food around here."

They'd been walking around all morning now, so there really weren't many places left to look.

Stella paused and took another look to see if there's anything interesting.

Clothing stores, magic artifacts, weapon stores, cafes...

Those were kinda cool. But Stella was sure that nothing there would surprise or awe her at all considering what Onii-chan could make. And clothing stores... well, she had a minor trauma regarding them now after all the shopping she did with Mama Zenith and Mama Lily...

After some more walking, Stella noticed a shop with extremely detailed statues.

"Hm?"

She paused and then took a look at the figurines on display through the window.

Perfectly chiseled down to the folds in the fabric. Life-like expressions that made the statues seem like people turned to stone.

Either way, it looked interesting so Stella walked towards it.

"H-Hey!" Fai quickly followed after Stella and said, "We're going in here? But the food...!"

Stella rolled her eyes and said, "Save your stomach. We're going to a bunch of weddings, remember? You can eat your fill then."

"Oh!" Fai's eyes lit up and she said, "Right!"

Stella ignored her and then walked into the shop, opening the door.

A soft bell echoed, and then they all walked in.

The shop was surprisingly spacious, large enough to hold dozens of life-sized statues. There were also shelves with smaller figurines of monsters and people, along with various jewelry.

"Wow..." Miko looked around and said, "Even the statues at the Church of Saint Milis aren't this detailed."

"Yeah." Stella nodded and then walked over to one of the statues.

A smiling mother, holding an infant in her arms. A handsome man standing next to her, a hand placed on her left shoulder...

Stella glanced down and saw a plaque describing the piece. "Family, huh?"

Taking a look around, she realized that the other statues had plaques as well. And some were in glass cases.

Instead of a shop, did they find a gallery or museum?

Footsteps echoed from the back.

Stella glanced over, ready to run or cast magic in case something bad happened. But she didn't need to worry.

"Welcome!" ...Oh?" A young man wearing a black robe walked out from the back. He was tall and willowy and his brown hair was styled in a bowl cut. Although his big round glasses gave a bit of an eccentric look to him, he radiated a calm atmosphere.

Glancing at Stella, Miko, and Fai, he smiled and said, "It's rare for children to visit my workshop. Are you here for some toys?"

Stella puffed her cheeks and said, "Just because we're kids doesn't mean we want toys!"

The man nodded and said, "Of course, of course. Whatever the case, please enjoy your time here. Don't worry, the figurines are extremely durable." He laughed and said, "I've tested them myself."

Stella pursed her lips and then walked over to a shelf with a small collection of monsters. She was curious, so she picked one up and tested it with earth mana. But to her surprise, it didn't even budge.

The man noticed and said, "Do you like that one? You can take it if you wish." He gestured towards the shelf and said, "I just created those from scraps, so if you children find anything interesting, feel free to take it with you."

Fai's eyes lit up and she said, "Really?" She quickly glanced at a pile of shimmering spirit figurines and said, "Can we really?"

The man nodded. "Of course." He smiled and said, "Children should be happy when they can. If a figurine provides that, then all the better."

...He was weird.

Stella felt something off about the man, so she glanced towards Miko. She was their resident mind reader, so if she was fine with it, everything should be good.

Miko got the signal and then looked up at the man. "Um, Mister? What's your name?"

'Nice, Miko!'

An innocent and childish question to make the man look into Miko's eyes.

The man smiled and said, "My name is Zanoba, and this is the workshop my Master gave me to hone my skills. And speaking of Master..." He walked over to the shop and placed a 'closed' sign up. "I am actually fairly busy with a commission." He smiled at Stella and the others again and said, "Feel free to stay and look around as much as you like. Simply close the door behind you as you leave."

After saying that, Zanoba waved at the children and then left through a door in the back of the store.

"Huh." Stella stared at the door for a bit and then said, "That guy was a bit weird, but I guess he's alright?"

He was almost too calm and polite. Still, he wasn't giving off any 'creep' vibes. Just... odd. Like he was carefully controlling his actions.

Wata materialized and then said, "I think he's safe, Stella! He seems really strong and everything, but he also doesn't seem like a bad guy."

Stella panicked and then grabbed Wata. "Don't just pop into existence like that!"

"But it's fine! Aaah! Don't squish there! I'm not a plushie, Stella!"

Miko giggled. After that, she looked at Stella and said, "Well, Mister Zanoba said we can take some toys. Should we see if there's anything good for a gift?"

Stella let Wata go and then nodded. "Good point."

There were a lot of interesting trinkets laying around. And Zanoba seemed serious about letting them take some souvenirs... which Fai was already doing by trying on various jewelry and playing with some tiny angel figurines.

Was this because she was a fire spirit? Fai was always so quick to act without thinking at all...

Stella sighed again and then started browsing.

Now let's see, what would be a good gift for Onii-chan...

Ooh. This tiny elf girl figurine looks cute... And it looks like there's a series of mini-Roxy as the Headmaster of Ranoa Magic Academy too.

That should be cool, right-

*BOOM*

Stella flinched and almost fell over.

"Easy, Stella!" Wata quickly conjured up a fluffy cloud to catch Stella.

Even before she hit that though, a light shimmered from the pendant she usually wore and corrected her balance.

Didn't mean she recovered from shock though.

"What was THAT?"

"Oooh!" Fai looked excited and turned towards the back. "Mister Zanoba is using explosions!"

"EXPLOSIONS?!"

Miko giggled.

Stella glared at her and said, "You knew and didn't warn me?!"

Miko smiled and said, "Well, I was curious too. Mister Zanoba makes all the statues and figurines by hand, so-"

Another thunderous explosion shook the shop.

It was enough to where Stella wondered why the heck they didn't hear it from outside.

And then she saw that the shop was filled to the brim with magic formations that activated with every explosion, cancelling the shockwaves.

The only reason they could hear it at all was because there weren't any formations on the door to the back.

After yet another explosion echoed, Stella sighed and said, "It's always weirdoes. Always..."