New Fantasy World: Galeia-Chapter 56

I explored the small apartment for a while, testing the bed and the other sofa. There was no kitchen, since the inn served food to their guests. I found a contraption that looked like a washing machine in a small room next to the living room. Two bottles labeled as soap and softener on a small shelf above it.

Returning to the living room, I got dressed. White underwear covered my privates, a simple shirt and a skirt finished the outfit. My ’trusted’ belted boots covered my feet.

I left the room and walked to the first floor, then left the building. I didn’t hear a bell this time.

Neat. I nodded as I crossed the street.

There, just as the clerk had said, a shop was open. ’Rutia’s Trinkets’ was written on top of the door.

Moving a transparent curtain aside, I entered the store. Nobody in sight.

A good amount of clocks, watches, umbrellas, goggles, and many trinkets I had no idea of were on display.

Lapia said the rainy season is approaching. How hard will it rain? I wondered as I inspected the umbrellas.

"Those are one silver coins." a female voice said from behind me.

I turned around and found the smallest person ever to exist. She was standing on the counter, looking at me with an amused smile as she leaned on a mug. Her skin was pale green and her hair an ocean blue. White eyes looked at me.

She was 20 cm tall, a silk dress covered her body. If she stood still, she’d pass for a figurine. And that’s what I thought she was when I entered.

What is she? Appraise, go!

[Tiny Laple, Lvl 227 Artificer]

"Hi, I was just looking." I returned the items and faced the tiny person. "I was told I could buy a pocket watch here."

"Hmm... I have a few that could suit you. Please wait a moment." she turned around and started walking.

I nodded and followed her with my eyes. The sight was a little scary. She was small, slender, had weird colors, and her eyes had a glow similar to my own. I was expecting her to grow butterfly wings and fly off, but she just walked all the way across the counter to a small hatch door on it.

She disappeared into it and closed the door after her.

A little cute, a little nightmare fuel. I smiled. I bet a fly is an arch-nemesis.

While thinking what kind of animal or fantasy creature birthed such a tiny being, the hatch opened and she climbed back onto the counter.

"So, I have three that could be useful to you, Halve." she produced a fabric and spread it on top of the counter with her arms and feet.

Walking over the thing, three watches materialized on top of the fabric.

One was gold, one was silver, and the last one pitch black.

They had intricately carved lids and backs. Chains of the same materials ended in rings.

"The first one." she announced, walking to the golden watch. "Immune to stasis so you can store it and it’ll keep working. It works with Perekis’ Relative Eternity. Made of Gold and Inperim." her hands glowed for a second and the lid opened.

The interior was a masterpiece of clockwork, in my humble opinion. A glass pane protected the gears inside, four hands from the center to the edges. The interior was completely visible, hundreds of gears and small parts moving. All in gold. It had roman numbers, for some cosmic reason.

"Enchanted with self-repair, water-proof, and impact-absorption." she patted the thing with a tiny hand. "Ten gold coins."

I can take being scammed. I nodded. Besides, I believe we Halves are overcharged.

"What’s the Perekis thing?" I tilted my head.

"As long as there’s E’er, it functions. It absorbs it passively to power the enchantments and gears." she looked at me with her white eyes.

"I see. Got it." I nodded.

Amazing.

"Next." she walked to the silver watch. "Also immune to stasis. Made of Silver and Inperim." her hands glowed again and it opened.

It was the same, but silver. "Enchanted with self-repair, water-proof, and impact-absorption. You have to inject the inner mechanism with E’er every ten days. Two gold coins." she moved to the next.

"Finally we have this." she rested a tiny foot on the lid. "Immune to stasis. Works like the first. Made of E’eral Obsidian, Inperim, and Platinum, making it almost indestructible. I don’t recommend testing that claim, however." she smiled. Her tiny teeth looked like needles.

I nodded. "Noted."

"Enchanted with self-repair in the unlikely event it breaks, water-proof, and has a compass on the back." she opened it and it was surprisingly not entirely black, the hands were silver as well as a few gears. "Twenty Gold coins."

That’s a new element. I rested my hands on the counter.

"What’s Inperim?" I asked the tiny woman.

"Found beneath the Bulukuru Sea, this material is very useful when it comes to enchanting tiny parts, perfect for clockwork." she closed the watches one by one.

I don’t want to doubt the woman, but it sounds like bullshit to me. I gave it a thought.

"I’ll take the three." I decided.

Turning my palm up, gold coins materialized on it. I put thirty two pieces in three small towers on the counter.

The tiny woman stared at them for a few seconds, turned to me and smiled. "Thank you very much for your patronage."

I took the watches and stored them.

"Thanks a bunch." I smiled and left the store.

Back on the street, I let out a sigh. Summoning the golden watch, I injected a little E’er and it opened.

Six... forty. I nodded and appraised it.

[Rutia’s Gold-Inperim Pocket Watch (High)]

(Perekis’ Relative Energy) (Complex Clockwork) (Durability B)

-Water Proof (Enchantment)

-Stasis Immunity (Enchantment)

-Self Repair (Enchantment)

-Impact Absorption (Enchantment)

It has the maker’s name. Pretty cool. I put it back into my storage and crossed the street towards the parking lot.

Sonya was drinking from the water trough. I lowered my body and closed in on her. When I was a few meters away from her, I jumped forward and grabbed her left hind leg.

"Gotcha!" I imitated a kidnapper.

She let out a surprised yelp/roar and jumped back, taking me with her.

Turning her head around, she saw me, then growled in annoyance.

I laughed and she pushed me with her claws. I looked down to see if my clothes got ripped, but they were completely fine.

"Hand!" I extended my right one.

She complied and put the limb on mine. I rubbed her fingers and scratched her chin.

What should I do while waiting? I wondered as I played with the drake-looking beast.

We playfully pushed each other, I was careful not to use too much force.

I hugged her neck and focused on her heartbeat.

’Blue’ Lapia’s silky voice entered my mind.

’Church’ Alyssa’s gentle, deep voice said.

"I guess it’s time." I put the saddle on and mounted up.

’Going’ I sent back to the two, then replaced my clothes for my combat gear.

Alyssa has my form, so she can make a copy and update it. I rode the beast into the street and followed the Bond.

I got lost. Two times. The city was a maze. I decided to ask a Watcher for directions.

Finally, I reached Mountroad’s Church. I had to look up while crossing bridges, and face walls while we passed near the edge of roads.

I hate this city. I grumbled as I dismounted in a parking lot near the house of worship.

A black wolf the size of a horse was laying on the ground a few spots away. It reminded me of the dudes that transformed into big dogs in that movie with the shiny vampires.

Is that someone’s mount? I wondered as I stored Sonya’s saddle.

[Fekir Lvl 704]

My eyes widened at the level of the thing. The owner must be pretty high level too.

"Don’t pick a fight with the dog, okay?" I rubbed the Ratnak’s head.

She nodded and neared the water trough. I left the parking lot and walked to the cathedral.

The building was similar to Riverfield’s, but smaller and without gardens. Built with granite, it was a dull gray. Not many people loitered around, and most were clerics and Watchers.

Crossing the entrance, a Dwarf approached me.

"Lady Natasha?" he smiled at me.

He was wearing a white robe with golden embroidery, a hood covering his hair. He had silver eyes and the little skin that was exposed was a gentle tan. A well kept beard of the same color as his eyes done in many braids and adorned with jewelry went down to his waist, covering the front of the attire.

[Argo Dwarf, Lvl 210 Pardoner]

"That would be me." I said back.

"Your partners are waiting for you." his eyes squinted a little with his smile.

"Lead the way, please."

He turned around and gestured for me to follow, then walked off. His short legs made it easy.

My armor disappeared into my storage, leaving me in my stretchy leather armor.

The walls were covered with paintings, mostly abstract art. A few depictions of individuals bathed in light caught my attention.

Are those Gods? I wondered.

I knew better than to ask about it, so I kept quiet.

We reached a double door and he opened it. A room with two sofas and a table between them. Lapia and Alyssa were sitting on the right one, and a red woman on the left one.

They stood up and I focused on the unknown person.

Red skin. Lots of it. She wore a black eye patch, covering her right eye. Her good eye was blue, looking over at me. White hair like snow tied in a short ponytail revealed short, pointy ears as red as her skin. Strands framed her face.

Her chest was wrapped with a white fabric, going over her shoulders. Her chiseled abs and muscled waist were revealed for the whole world to admire. She had muscular arms and had her hands in her pockets. Loose shorts covered her hips, ending at her knees. Her feet were bare, black fingernails on her toes. She had thin, white markings on her body. They covered her shoulders, armpits, and ribs.

Two red horns on her hairline divided short bangs. They were short and thick, at around ten centimeters in length, and going up. A golden ring rested at the base of the left one.

Her lips were a shade darker than her skin, short fangs and tusks at the edges. She was similarly built like me, and equally as tall.

Why are all women hot? I smiled. Bless this world.

"Hello, m-" I began.

"Halve! Fight me!" she said with a wide smile.

Her voice was soothing and mature. Quite the contrast to the content of what she said.

She walked over to me and crossed her arms under her chest, pushing them up.

[Red Oni, Lvl 305 Asura]

I turned to the other two and they smiled.

What is going on here? I tilted my head. What about the kiss when first meeting?

The Dwarf next to me chuckled and patted my lower back. "Good luck, Lady Natasha."

He turned and left, closing the doors behind him.

I gulped and took a step toward the Oni. She took a step of her own and I mentally prepared myself for a punch or whatever.

"No violence." I shook my head.

"Not violence." the Oni shook her head. "Just a fight for fun."

She walked over to the table and took a paper, then came back and offered me it.

I took it and gave the form a read.

Name: Yolin Makav.

Species: Oni (Red)

Request: Lost my right eye to an Ur’en recently. Cool if you heal it. My skills can’t restore it.

Gender: Female

Age: 201

Likes: Fights, strong alcohol, nature, any food, honest feelings.

Dislikes: Betrayers, people who abuse the weak, stupid titles.

I tolerate: Snoring. Smelly feet.

Offspring: None.

Interested in: 50% men. 50% women.

Languages: Red Tongue. Blue Tongue. White Tongue. Orkish. Common.

My motivations are: Fighting strong beings. Reach the limit of mortal growth.

Hobbies: Fighting. Training.

Highest Class: Asura. (Tank Cleric)

Total Level: 800+

Her likes are pretty nice, her dislikes too. So she just likes to fight the strong. That was a scare. Her level is pretty high.