Chapter_7: Lines of Stores

Ragnar stood in shock, his eyes fixed on the horrifying scene unfolding before him.

"Call the royal guards!" A mother urgently called for the royal guards, shielding her daughter's eyes from the distressing sight. Ragnar and the onlookers shared a moment of disbelief.

In a swift and breathless arrival, a lone guard rushed to the scene, his expression mirroring the shock and astonishment felt by everyone present.

"The other guards will arrive in minutes, so please vacate this area immediately." The guard's voice resonated with unwavering determination, despite the distressing sight before him.

With gritted teeth and a trembling hand, he urged the citizens to depart. Meanwhile, amidst the gruesome scene, Ragnar heard rapid footsteps approaching from behind.

As he turned, he saw the old man swiftly grasp his hand with a firm grip, his other hand clutching a wooden staff.

The old man then led Ragnar away from the gruesome scene as they joined the crowd exiting the area.

"It's a regular occurrence in this district, so don't be shocked. More than five people are killed here every day, and a crowded place usually marks a crime scene," the old man's rough, deep voice conveyed.

"Didn't it shock you to see that gruesome scene?" Ragnar inquired as they made their way out of the bustling area.

"I was only surprised for a moment, nothing more. Let's focus on our errand and save the talk for later," the old man replied in a serious tone.

The old man quickly led Ragnar through a narrow passage, turning left, where a staircase awaited. As they ascended, the wind grew stronger, causing the old man's hat to slowly lift and reveal his long, gray hair. With a gentle dance in the air, the hat began to fall.

But Ragnar, with his outstretched arms, managed to barely catch the falling hat.

Ragnar felt a sense of amazement at his quick reflexes and handed the pointy hat back to the old man, who smiled warmly through his bushy gray beard.

"Thank you, Ragnar. Now, let's head to the shops," the old man said as he accepted his hat.

As they continued ascending the stairs, they finally reached the top. The area was much more open, with shops lining the sides and a stone pathway in the middle.

Ragnar's gaze fell upon a statue of "Mayor Smith," standing above a fountain crafted from white cement.

Surveying the shops to his left, from "Maine's Cab" to "Truman Shop" to "Felix Woodcutting Inc.," Ragnar then turned to his right, taking in the sight of "Lola's Cooking," "Yeoman's Yard," and "Merlin's Business."

"Yeoman's Yard is one of the shops Lady Ana mentioned. I guess we should start there," Ragnar remarked, with the old man standing behind him.

With the old man following behind, Ragnar entered Yeoman's Yard. Inside, they encountered a muscular man wearing a tight pink shirt adorned with a miniature design of Lady Ana.

He also sported a pink skirt and a small bag featuring Lady Ana's design. Ragnar observed that nearly everything in the shop bore Lady Ana's likeness.

The muscular man, with his long brown hair swaying, sported long white socks and a pair of red sandals, adding to his unique and distinctive appearance.

In a deep voice, the muscular man greeted them, "Welcome, young man. What can I help you with today?"

The entire shop exuded a feminine ambiance, adorned with numerous portraits of Lady Ana. On the left side, an array of majestic dresses and exquisite clothing in various colors and designs adorned the space, while the right side showcased an assortment of accessories, including stickers, bags, bracelets, and necklaces.

As Ragnar unfolded the paper from Lady Ana, the muscular man blew a kiss and said, "Mwa mwa."

A shiver ran down Ragnar's spine as he struggled to comprehend the situation. "Now, tell me, what do you want to buy?" the man intoned in a deep, commanding voice.

Feeling a wave of embarrassment, Ragnar turned to look behind him, only to find that the enigmatic old man had vanished, leaving him standing alone in the shop with the muscular man.

"Where's that old man?" Ragnar muttered to himself.

"What do you want to buy, young man? You can't waste my time here, so make it quick," the man said in a stern tone as he settled into a wooden chair.

Ragnar swiftly gazed at the muscular man and examined the paper in his hand. "I would like to purchase Majestic Velvet Clothes, Five Mini Lady Ana Stickers, and a Brown Trench Coat," Ragnar enumerated, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

As Ragnar listed the items, the man looked at him with confusion. "What kind of velvet clothes and stickers? Can you be more specific, young man?"

"That's all it says here; I'm not sure," Ragnar admitted, feeling embarrassed as he showed the paper to the man.

"Give me that piece of paper," the man said, extending his left hand to receive it, and Ragnar slowly passed it over.

As the man read the piece of paper, his eyes fixed on the text, he muttered, "To Buy List: 4th Moon, 143 AR

by Lady Ana Smith, 'The Best Lady'

12 Brown Potatoes (From Old Lady)

Majestic Velvet Clothes (From Yeoman's Yard)

4 Injections (Medium Size) (From Merlin)

10 Apples (From Old Lady)

Ivory Bone Necklace (From Merlin)

5 Mini Lady Ana Stickers (From Yeoman's Yard)

Brown Trench Coat (From Yeoman's Yard)

Acherontian Crusher (From Merlin)

I am so great, and I am better. Thank you, Heizen, for the gift, mwa mwa."

The man was visibly shocked and flabbergasted, taking a deep breath before speaking.

"The one who ordered these items was Lady Ana! Why didn't you tell me? I was puzzled about her absence today, but now it makes sense. Wait here, I'll provide you with the finest velvet clothes, stickers, and a brown trench coat." With that, the man rose from his seat and disappeared into the back of the shop.

'Where did that old man go? 'Ragnar wondered as he peered outside the shop. Lacking patience, he retrieved the silver pocket watch that Arawn had given him and checked the time.

"It's already 5:14 HU?" he muttered in surprise.

He gazed outside the shop and observed the setting sun casting a darkening hue over the city.

"I should head back to Lady Ana soon," Ragnar muttered to himself.

After a minute, the muscular man returned with the finest velvet clothes, pristine stickers, and exquisite brown trench coats. He breathed heavily as he said, "Young man, here it is. The final price is 1 gold coin and 20 silver coins, but since Lady Ana is the one who ordered you, you must pay only 1 gold coin."

The man swiftly packed the items into a bag adorned with a Lady Ana design as Ragnar pulled out a gold coin from his pocket. The man then handed the bag to Ragnar and extended a handshake.

"My name is Yeoman; please take care of Lady Ana," the man said in a gentle tone.

Ragnar then gave the gold coin to the man before exiting the shop.

Ragnar gazed into the darkening sky, where stars began to reveal themselves alongside the shadowed moon. The western horizon transformed into a mesmerizing shade of orange as the sun gracefully set. The absence of birds and people created an eerie atmosphere, enveloping the surroundings in an enigmatic aura as Ragnar made his way back along the stone pathway.

"Now, Yeoman's Yard is taken care of, so all that remains are the items from a guy named Merlin and the old lady," Ragnar muttered to himself, deep in thought.

"Wait, I remember seeing a store earlier called 'Merlin something'. It was definitely around here," Ragnar mused quietly to himself.

Ragnar then carefully surveyed the area in every direction, searching for the store bearing the name "Merlin," and his hunch proved correct—there indeed was a store named "Merlin."

The store bore the name "Merlin's Business," and Ragnar wasted no time as he made his way towards the establishment, carrying a bag from Yeoman's Yard in his left hand.

From the exterior, the shop exuded an aura of a place specializing in magical accessories, evident from the design of the sign and the mystical sensation Ragnar experienced as he approached.

Upon entering, he found himself in a dimly lit store, cloaked in shadows. Strange, indescribable noises filled the air, reaching his ears as he ventured further inside.

And as he ventured inside, he could hear a familiar voice—a rough and deep voice. The voice uttered, "Oh, is it you, Ragnar? You have finally come."

The room was suddenly flooded with light as the voice echoed through the store. And there, to Ragnar's surprise, stood the very same old man he had encountered earlier. With a swift motion of his staff, he conjured a blazing wheel of fire that illuminated the entire shop, casting a mesmerizing glow across the surroundings.