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Amid the bustling shopping district of Orario, Aiz and Lefiya finally stopped in front of a clothing store well-known among adventurers—Vespertine's Wardrobe. The store had wide glass windows displaying its latest summer and swimwear collections. Light pastel-colored dresses hung neatly, and a mannequin on the right side showcased a rather daring swimsuit, making Lefiya's cheeks warm just from looking at it.
"Ah, I think this is the right place," Lefiya said, eyeing the store's sign adorned with floral ornaments.
Aiz gave a slow nod. Her gaze fixed on the display window, lingering on a simple white swimsuit with gold trim. Something about its color felt... fitting.
"The last time we went to a store like this... was with Tiona and Tione, right?" Lefiya remarked with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "It feels like just yesterday, but it's actually been months."
Aiz nodded again, this time a bit slower, as if confirming while reminiscing.
"Yeah... Tiona dragged me along that time," she said flatly but warmly. "She said my face looked gloomy..."
Lefiya pursed her lips, then let out a quiet, exasperated sigh. "That was because of that human—Bell Cranel." Her tone wasn't filled with hatred, but more like annoyance at the fate that made Aiz feel guilty for no reason.
She continued, "Back then, Bete got drunk at the Hostess and rambled about Bell. About how the kid was saved by Aiz from a Minotaur but then ran away from his rescuer like a coward. But it's understandable—he was only Level 1 at the time..."
Aiz listened without responding verbally. She remembered the incident clearly. Bell, who had been secretly hiding behind the counter, heard everything. Then, without a word, the boy ran out of the restaurant, his face twisted in pain... not from battle, but from shame.
"I thought at the time... he was afraid of me," Aiz whispered softly, more to herself than to Lefiya.
Yet the next memory that surfaced wasn't of Bell or Bete, but of Shirou. Aiz lowered her head slightly, and a faint smile graced her usually expressionless face.
"You look very beautiful, not scary, even when fighting monsters."
Shirou's words from that time... still resonated strongly in her heart. Unlike empty compliments, he had said it honestly, without ulterior motives. It made her cheeks warm slightly despite the cool air outside.
Why am I thinking of him now...? Aiz wondered, shaking her head gently to dispel the image of the red-haired young man from her mind.
However, a small, warm hand grasped hers and tugged lightly. Lefiya looked at her with a bright smile. "Let's go in, Aiz. If we stay outside too long, the store will get crowded."
"Ah... right." Aiz snapped out of her reverie. She gently returned Lefiya's grip and stepped into the store with her friend, the small bell above the door chiming, cling, cling as they entered.
The moment they stepped inside, a light scent of new fabric and floral perfume greeted them. The store's interior was filled with bright colors, neatly arranged racks, and hanging clothes. Magical chandeliers with a classic design cast a warm glow over each collection, creating a comfortable yet luxurious atmosphere.
"Waaah... Look at all this, Aiz!" Lefiya exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. She had already taken a few steps inside before Aiz could respond. "The latest summer styles! The cuts... are so soft! And these pastel colors... so cute!"
Lefiya twirled while hugging a cream-colored dress, then quickly moved to another part of the store. She touched the fabric, matched the colors to her hair in the mirror, and giggled like a little girl in a candy shop.
Aiz, still standing near the entrance, watched her friend in confusion. She blinked twice before stating flatly, "Didn't we come here to buy swimsuits?"
Lefiya turned quickly and approached with two sets of casual clothes. "Well, yes, but... there's no harm in looking at other clothes too. Maybe we'll find something nice to wear outside the pool." She smiled eagerly. "Come on, Aiz, try this one! I think it'll suit you!"
Aiz eyed the clothes handed to her. One was a white blouse with a small ribbon at the collar and a knee-length skirt with a delicate floral pattern. She frowned slightly.
"I'm... not sure this suits me," she murmured, but Lefiya had already turned away, busy exploring another row.
Aiz eventually gave in and followed. She walked slowly, glancing at the hanging clothes, but none truly caught her interest. Meanwhile, Lefiya was like a small storm sweeping through the store, praising almost every piece she saw.
"Oooh, this one's so adorable! And this'd be perfect for an evening stroll! Aiz, look at this!" Lefiya's voice echoed through the store, so lively and cheerful.
Aiz could only watch from a distance, slightly bewildered and unsure how to react. Lefiya's pace was too fast to keep up with. In no time, Aiz had lost track of her.
"Eh...? Where did she go...?" Aiz muttered, looking left and right. She now stood alone among the racks, surrounded by colorful dresses and summer blouses. She paused, uncertain whether to follow or wait.
Why did I even come into this section...? she thought with a quiet sigh.
From across the racks, Lefiya's voice called out again, "Aiz! Over here! Look, I found another cute one!"
Aiz turned and spotted Lefiya waving enthusiastically near the back corner. With slow steps and a slightly resigned expression, Aiz made her way to her enthusiastic friend, who was still energetically picking out clothes.
Lefiya stopped in front of a small rack displaying a row of summer outfits. Her eyes locked onto one that stood out the most—a soft pink set with a sweet and feminine design. The top was a blouse with a small collar adorned with white lace and a tiny ribbon at the chest. The fabric was light, draping gracefully over the body, with a subtle cherry blossom pattern. The matching short skirt had small pleats and lace accents at the hem, adding a playful yet modest touch.
"Waaah... this one's so pretty..." Lefiya murmured, hugging the outfit to her chest. She stepped in front of a large mirror in the corner and held the set against herself as if wearing it. "Aiz, do you think... this suits me?" she asked hopefully, her cheeks faintly pink with nervousness.
Aiz approached, studying Lefiya's reflection. She observed the outfit clinging to her friend's figure, then nodded without hesitation. "It suits you well. The color matches your hair... and the style looks like you."
Lefiya nearly jumped for joy. She beamed and clutched the outfit tightly, but then turned back to Aiz with a hesitant expression. "In that case... would you wear the same one?" she asked softly, her eyes darting nervously.
Aiz furrowed her brows slightly, surprised. "Wouldn't it be weird if we wore the same outfit?" she asked, her tone quiet, as if trying to understand Lefiya's intent.
But Lefiya quickly shook her head and pointed to the same rack, right beside the pink version. "But there are other colors! See, there's light blue, cream, yellow... You can pick one that suits you. But the style's the same, so we'll match when we go out together. Hehe..."
Aiz fell silent for a moment, then walked slowly to the indicated spot. She examined the outfit Lefiya meant, her fingers brushing the light blue fabric that looked simple yet elegant. The color was soft, like the morning sky, and not too flashy.
"...This one," she finally said, lifting the outfit. "I think... I can try this."
Lefiya let out a quiet cheer, "Yay!" and briefly squeezed Aiz's hand excitedly. "I'm sure we'll look great together! Shirou will definitely—" She paused, her face flushing red, "—ehm, I mean, everyone will say we look adorable."
Aiz gave a small nod, but her eyes held a hint of warmth. Silently, she felt happy seeing Lefiya so enthusiastic.
After selecting the light blue blouse and matching skirt Lefiya suggested, Aiz held them firmly and walked slowly toward the fitting room. But after a few steps, she stopped. She looked down, realizing she was still wearing her lightweight armor. At her waist hung a sword sheath containing Desperate, the dulled sword Shirou had projected for her.
"Ah..." she murmured awkwardly. She turned toward the counter and decided to ask.
With calm but purposeful steps, Aiz approached the checkout counter in the corner of the store. Two female employees were tidying price tags there. One of them, a black-haired woman with a neat fringe and a professional smile, greeted Aiz warmly.
"Excuse me," Aiz said politely but flatly. "Is there a place here to store armor and weapons?"
The black-haired employee smiled slightly, looking a bit surprised to see a customer in full armor at a casual clothing store. "Ah, of course. If you'd like to try on clothes, you can leave items like armor and weapons here, in the storage lockers."
Aiz nodded briefly. "Thank you."
She temporarily placed the light blue blouse and skirt on a nearby rack, then began removing her protective armor one piece at a time, carefully avoiding loud metallic clangs. After that, she calmly unbuckled the belt holding her sword sheath and handed Desperate to the employee.
The woman seemed slightly nervous holding the sword, which felt heavy to her as a non-adventurer. "This is... a real sword, huh..."
"Yes," Aiz replied succinctly but politely.
Once finished, Aiz turned to retrieve the blouse she had hung earlier. But before she could touch it, a loud voice from behind made her tense reflexively.
"Customer!" the employee called, her voice slightly panicked but not loud.
Aiz turned immediately, her brows lifting slightly. "Is something wrong?"
Her mind raced with possibilities. Had she broken a store rule? Was her sword too conspicuous and scare the staff? Or... had she accidentally touched something off-limits?
Her eyes locked onto the employee, her body slightly tense. Amid her curiosity and worry, she waited for an explanation.
Aiz stood frozen, slightly confused, staring at the employee who had called her. The young woman tilted her head, studying Aiz more carefully, then asked in a slightly trembling but excited voice,
"Sorry... are you... The Sword Princess? Aiz Wallenstein of the Loki Familia?"
Aiz nodded slowly, her expression still neutral, though her eyes narrowed slightly in surprise.
"Yes, that's the alias given to me."
Hearing this, the employee's eyes sparkled instantly, like a fan meeting their idol. "Waaaah!! I can't believe it! It's really you! The real Aiz Wallenstein! You're my hero!!!"
Without waiting, she immediately bent down and rummaged through a drawer under the counter with enthusiasm. The sounds of scritch-scratch and small objects being moved around were clear, making Aiz even more puzzled. She glanced briefly at the blouse rack, her hand reaching out, but she refocused on the employee.
"What is she looking for...?" Aiz wondered silently, frowning slightly.
Soon, the employee stood up again, her smile wide and full of excitement. In her hands was a small book with a cover illustration of a black-haired man with a long sword standing atop a pile of monster corpses, surrounded by light. The title was written in shiny gold letters: Dungeon Oratoria.
Aiz recognized the book immediately. Dungeon Oratoria, a popular fairy tale series, especially among young adventurers. Some stories in it were romanticized, but one volume, one tale in particular, had always stayed with her.
The volume that told the story of Albert, the hero of old, and Aiz's birth father. In the tale, Albert had managed to strike one of the Black Dragon's eyes, leaving a permanent wound on the cursed creature... before ultimately falling in battle.
Aiz's eyes lost focus for a moment, her mind dragged into bitter memories. Her father's voice... her mother's gentle smile... and the dragon's roar that destroyed everything. The hand that had been reaching for the blouse instead clenched into a fist.
"...Father..." she whispered in her heart. Her face remained calm, but her chest churned like restless waves.
Yet her reverie was interrupted when the employee exclaimed cheerfully, "Can I get your autograph? I'm a huge fan! I even watched when you all returned from that big expedition... when you and the others appeared in front of the Pantheon, everyone cheered!"
Aiz stared at the book for a moment, then nodded calmly. "Alright... But this is the first time I've been asked to sign something like this."
Quickly, the employee handed her a pen. "No problem! I'm sure your signature will still be cool!" she said excitedly.
Aiz took the pen and opened the book's front cover. Her hand moved slowly, writing in a simple but neat style. The signature, though seemingly plain, was something she had practiced since childhood under Riveria's guidance, who had once said that an important member of the Loki Familia must be able to leave a recognizable mark.
As she wrote, the employee's words echoed in her mind.
Hero...?
Aiz bit her lower lip slightly, her gaze distant.
I'm not a hero... The monsters I kill aren't for justice or protecting others. It's for revenge. Revenge against the black dragon that killed my parents.
Once she finished signing, she handed the book back.
The employee hugged it with a joyful expression, as if she had just obtained treasure. "Thank you so much! Today is the best day of my life!"
Aiz only gave a small nod, then turned to retrieve her new clothes, her expression calmed, though her chest felt slightly lighter.
Aiz stepped into one of the fitting rooms with light but measured steps, just as she would on a battlefield. The space was narrow but clean, illuminated by a white, magical lamp hanging overhead. She hooked the curtain behind her with a click, then removed the white battle cloth that was part of her daily dungeon attire.
She hung her battle cloth on the wall hook, then lifted the light blue blouse with both hands. The fabric was soft, cool against her skin, and far lighter than what she usually wore. Aiz slipped her head through the neckline, then pulled her left and right arms through one at a time.
Zup... rustle... fup.
Once the blouse was perfectly in place, Aiz studied her reflection in the small wall mirror. The light blue blouse had a feminine but understated cut. The fabric was light and followed her curves, with a small white ribbon at the collar and delicate ruffles at the sleeve ends. The hem curved elegantly, making it look neat yet simple. She looked... different. Not like a warrior. But like... an ordinary girl.
Next, she picked up the matching short skirt—a pastel blue piece with an equally sweet design. The skirt was light and slightly flared, adorned with small, neat pleats and giving off a cheerful vibe. A small white ribbon at the waist matched the blouse's accents. The length fell just above her knees, making Aiz feel a bit self-conscious but not overly exposed.
She put it on slowly, zipping the side before adjusting it in the mirror. The fabric swayed gently with her movements.
Flaap... swish.
Her ears caught a voice from outside the fitting room.
"Eh... are you the one called the Thousand Elf?" asked the same female employee who had greeted Aiz earlier.
"A-ah, yes. I'm Lefiya Viridis of the Loki Familia," Lefiya answered politely, slightly flustered.
"Waaah! Both of you are here? Wait a second!" The employee's voice was excited again, followed by the sound of something being placed on the counter—thud!—and the clicking of a pen being shaken.
"Hehe... can I get your autograph too? I'm a fan of both of you!" she exclaimed.
Aiz touched the curtain handle and pulled it aside gently, swish. She stepped out and immediately saw Lefiya standing near the counter, her face slightly flushed but full of enthusiasm. In her hands was the Dungeon Oratoria book, open to the page with Aiz's signature. With slow but steady movements, Lefiya wrote her signature beneath Aiz's—neatly curved, with a small leaf-shaped flourish at the end.
The employee cheered quietly, closing the book with an ecstatic expression. "Kyaaa~ You two are wearing the same blouse but in different colors! Blue and pink. They look so good together! Like... sisters!"
Lefiya immediately turned to Aiz, her eyes widening briefly before she looked down, covering her reddening cheeks.
"Eh... s-sisters...?" she murmured softly, but it was audible. She then handed the book back to the employee, her smile radiant with joy. "Thank you for saying that..."
Just that one sentence... is enough to melt my heart, Lefiya thought. Being called Aiz's sister... by someone else... feels like a dream come true.
Aiz glanced at the counter, then approached. "We actually came here to buy swimsuits," she said bluntly, her expression neutral again.
"Oh! In that case, let me take you to the swimwear section!" the employee replied, her eyes sparkling. She rose from behind the counter and gestured with her hand. "The swimsuits are in the back, near the storage racks. Lots of new models arrived today!"
Aiz and Lefiya exchanged a brief glance before following the employee to the back of the store, walking side by side... like two sisters.