As I step outside from the wizard's apartment, it's confirmed. The bumbling magician didn't seem to have any electricity, but I was hoping it'd be because either he was trying too hard to be mystical or it was because of a Dresden-like phenomenon where magic doesn't go well with modern technology. But no, the muddy streets, tightly packed wooden houses and lack of cars or street lights points out that this is an another world. Or possibly somewhere in Eastern Europe. Since there's magic, probably the former.

At first glance I get the impression of seedier side of a perpetually medieval fantasy world. I say seedier, because this town is positively filthy. All the steps people take are accompanied by wet splashes of mud. I witness someone casually tossing her night soil out of the window onto the street. A piglet is chased by a mangy dog, and disappears around the corner. Come on people, this is how you get plague.

After a closer look at the people, I readjust my assessment. Medieval is too advanced for this; this place is straight from the dark ages. People's clothing and accessories have a barbaric feel to them, with items like gilded torcs, capes, lots of fur, and occasional guard with mixed bronze and iron equipment. It all has vaguely Celtic feel to it, except the general grimness of the people and architecture. Aside from their liking for skillfully crafted jewelry, it's all bit on the ascetic side.

Standing here I'm starting to attract tad bit too many gazes, so I move on, picking a street that looks least covered in grime. I sure hope this place is socially more advanced than it looks. If it turns out that a demon is little more than a normal human with wings, this could get very ugly. I decide to act like just another human, although that's difficult, since my appearance is just asking for attention. I forecast high chance of troublesome events in the near future.

Oh boy, and here comes number one. I'm being followed. Is it by thugs? No, this one couldn't mug a sick kitten. It's a runny nosed young man, of the same age the wizard was, and obviously of the same motives. Well now, I have to commend you for your good taste, but at least wipe your nose. And don't you talk to me, I have nothing to say to--

"Hey, beautiful."

Nggggghhhhh. I rescind thinking you have a good taste. This brat is trying to be a Casanova, complete with cheesy gestures, and manages to make this really, really awkward with just two words. So this is what it means to be so beautiful it's a curse? You have to deal with this kind of shit. No, wait, I don't really have to, now do I? So I just ignore him and continue walking with a bit more rapid rate.

And suddenly the same brat appears in front of me again. Did he seriously run around the houses to get ahead of me? And here comes take two...

"Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?"

Is he a pursuit predator that chases his prey until it falls from exhaustion? No, I need to curb stomp this situation before it develops further into any annoying directions. I normally wouldn't bother becoming aggressive, but I can tell this one won't leave me be if I don't make it absolutely clear.

"No, I'm from hell. And if you don't cease bothering me, that's where you'll go too."

"Am I to take this as an invitation to your place?"

I don't believe I've been this vexed since I tried to get refund for a defective printer and the shop kept trying to refuse because of the opened packet. How the hell was I supposed to find out it was defective without opening it? Sorry, my clairvoyance doesn't work with printers.

"No. Get lost, you're annoying."

"Your mouth says 'no', but your heart says 'yes'."

If I had a weapon, I'd have already stabbed him. His gleeful misinterpretation of my words reminds me of the fact that we actually speak the same language though. Maybe it's because of some inborn trait of succubus? Currently I'm not too happy about the convenience of that though, since because of it I'm in this annoying encounter.

There's a crowd of curious people gathering around us too, and I'm starting to feel claustrophobic. I need to get out. Now.

"Look, behind you."

I was hoping it'd be so stupid it'd work, but the won't-take-a-hint-brat doesn't even flinch. Maybe I should have put more than absolutely zero emotion in it? Majority of the crowd turns to look that way though, and I feel some validation even in this failure. I quickly make an evasive maneuver that'd get nine and half points from a figure skating judge and slip through the mass of people.

Following my successful disengagement I run through several randomly picked corners, before stopping to monitor the area. Coast is clear, no impossibly insistent idiots in sight.

I examine the coin pouch I commandeered from the wizard. It's half empty, containing roughly minted coins made of different metals. Speaking of money, I spot a shop that might be tailor's on the other side of the street. The robe I 'borrowed' from the magician was tight on chest and loose elsewhere, so some better fitting clothing would be nice. I boldly enter the shop.

Since this world has magic, there could exist also magical clothing, but this place is quite mundane. The clothes hanging around the dimly lit shop are dyed in surprising selection of colors though. I had thought people of this town just loved the shades of mud brown and rat grey, but these clothes are all vibrant with various shades.

The shopkeeper, who is the only person I can see here, deeply stares all over me from below his huge iron grey eye brows. Sigh. Here we go again. Where are you looking at, old man? That's rude, stop that.

"Hmmhmm. That's a fine robe you have, young lady. But the cut's wrong. I can fix it though. Hrmh."

Oh. He was just looking at the clothes. Finally someone professional who doesn't waste my time. But how come, I'm also slightly annoyed that he only paid attention to the clothes? No, I have not incorporated a twisted logic where I both want attention and dislike getting it. It's more akin to the feeling when someone on the internet dares to dislike my favourite movie.

"And it that material just screams for more color! Let me dye it. Hrmmh. Maybe green and red... And purple highlights!"

Never mind, he's a weirdo too. Besides, green and red are opposing colors, and what is purple doing there? I don't want to wear a freaking rainbow, especially without any good set bonuses. Old man, are you sure you know what you are doing?

"... I'll pass on the robe alterations. What I need is a set of clothing appropriate for someone like me."

"Hrrmh. Then I'll choo--"

"And no weird color combinations. ... Actually, make it all white."

The tailor dejectedly gets to it. Despite his awful sense of colors, he seems to be really good at what he does. After shorter time than I'd have thought possible he presents me with the finished product. How'd he manage? Maybe he's using some kind of magic to enhance his tailoring skills? He didn't even take my measures, which was lucky, since I wasn't wearing anything under the robes. Never mind looking like a flasher, the hidden wings would have been even harder to explain.

I immediately put the new set on. It's surprisingly fitting, even though I've never worn anything like it. The pure white dress on succubus body makes me look like some kind of pin up saint. Maybe I should have got a less conspicuous garb, with muted colors and a hood? I can imagine the old tailor crying bitter tears while making something that dull though.

"That'll be two silvers. Hrrmh."

I have no idea if that's a lot or not. I think I have a few silver coins, but let's haggle anyway.

"Half a silver."

"Lady, you cannae get anything this good from other tailors. Hrrh. But if you'd let me dye it a bit, then I might... hrrmhhrrmm... settle for one silver."

"How many of your customers share my measures? Could you manage to sell this to anyone?"

And that's how I obtained new clothes for three quarter silvers, using my luscious succubus body.