I AM THE AUTHOR

HAPTER NINE 

"Here it is. Ive never even been this part of town before." Levi said, now even more nervous. He was holding the sleeve of my brown commoner T-shirt-looking thing. "It's fine, loosen up. I have coins, so technically they can't drive us out. If they do, we'll just find somewhere else." I said, shaking him off. At least, that's how I assumed it went. I wouldn't know - before today, I wasn't even here.

As I barged in, the shopkeeper frowned at us. "Did you enter the wrong shop? Out." Levi turned to leave, but I yanked him back with one hand. "We're in the right place. We need new clothes. Also, I have coins. Sorry about this entire thing, you know how it goes with us noble families. We didn't get rich by doing legal stuff, so when we do stuff that isn't legal we take measures to hide our identities." I said, and Levi gently put the sack of coins on the ground next to me. "Ah, so, you need to get out of that shoddy disguise?" the shopkeeper said, instantly warming up to us, and I nudged Levi. See? Easy! He just silently nodded. 

Within five minutes, we were all suited and booted. "Are you sure you want pants and this large tunic, my lady? It's not very… noble." The shopkeeper said, worriedly. She was fussing over us like a grandma now, and I was enjoying it. I nodded. "It's comfortable." this was the equivalent of an oversized T-shirt and leggings, which was the epitome of comfort. For me, at least. "Alright then. Will you remove those bandages, young man?" the shopkeeper asked Levi, who was now wearing a matching tunic and leggings. Levi shook his head silently, and I interjected, "No thanks." If you looked at it from this angle, we looked like we were wearing matching school uniforms. New shoes, too. I beamed at my new boots. Much better than the clumps, although I had gotten used to wearing those too. Levi was now looking crestfallen, for some reason. 

Ah, well, I could always ask later. As we walked out, I stared at my empty hands. "I don't have any more coins," I mumbled sadly, and Levi was looking even worse. "Uh, but what's up with you, Levi?" I asked, and the swordmaster/street fighter/extra opened his mouth to speak. 

"What do you want… in return?" he asked quietly, and I patted him on the back. A valid worry, but, in my case, it was also a useless one. "You're gonna help me out, remember? Im going to get beat up without you - my divine power isn't that strong yet." I chirped, and Levi buried his face with his hands, so that I couldnt see his expression anymore. "And then you'll throw me away." 

My face stayed smiling for a minute before the words sank in and my jaw instantly closed. "What? No! Levi! Look at me!" I said, suddenly grabbing his head. In surprise, he looked at me. "I promise I won't throw you away! We're going to become nobles together! Best friends forever! Pen pals, if that doesn't work out! Deal?" I said cheerfully, winding one of his mummified pinkies and looping it through mine. The ultimate sacred promise. "Just protect me for now. Deal?" I said, and Levi looked at me for a long time. When he turned away, his ears were red. "...Alright. Deal."