“—So please don’t destroy the pavement. We have buildings under there. Lives could be lost.” The conversation had taken long enough for the cupcakes to cool, but Mary had finally finished.

“Only humans could claim land,” he laughed with a shake of his head. “Very well, I will refrain from destroying the ground when possible. Consider your definition of property ‘updated.’ I can’t exactly pretend to not know that you consider it damage now, can I?” A shrug left Mylo as he moved to examine the cupcakes.

“Feel free to eat one, uh...Miss White? I was wondering if, while I have you, you could tell me about the progress on my Munst application.” Moving to step over, Enis watched as a folder was lifted out and offered to her.

“Actually, yes. Here is the list of candidates. We have 15 Munst for you to choose from.” Briefly, the two looked to the folder, and Mary watched her open it, leafing through it quietly. Each one gave an assigned name, a description, and their skills and magic knowledge. Alongside each one was a ‘temperament' as well, briefly detailing the results of a personality test.

“I don’t see Mylo here, is he not a candidate?” Closing it for a moment, Enis looked to Mary as she blinked at her. Both figures turned to glance at her in shock.

“You...want to hire the dragon,” she responded with a twitching eye. Both turned to see him, half-bent over the plate of cupcakes that had been half-eaten already. It gave Enis time to think over her decision and collect her thoughts.

“Well no, but yes. I mean…” She paused and tried again as she turned back to Mary.

“I was just curious that he wasn’t on here. If he’s not interested in working then it’s not really my decision now, is it? I just thought since he already knows how to make cupcakes and we hit it off, it’d be an easy transition.” Some of the candidates looked nice though. A few that didn’t have fur would be ideal for this sort of work.

Mylo swallowed his food, “I’m not sure what this ‘work’ you refer to is, to be completely transparent. I know what it means, don’t get me wrong, but I am confused as to its connotations.” Licking his fingers clean, he moved to step toward them.

“Yeah, no. You’re not having him working in a bakery.” Dryly remarking, Mary couldn’t believe the gall of his woman. The dragon was powerful beyond all measure, and she wanted him baking cupcakes!?

“Well, alright.” Opening the folder once more, she considered it carefully before being interrupted.

“You have a few days to decide. Call me on this when you do.” Mary fished out a card with her number, and Enis took it as they watched her leave.

“Well Mylo, it’s nearing closing time. Why don’t you take those cupcakes to go? Know how to pay for goods?” Spinning on a heel, Enis clapped her hands together as she prepared the small carry bag for the dragon.

“...Pay? Is that like trading?” Confusion sprung to Mylo’s face as Enis laughed loudly.

“No no...It’s like...Well, it is. You are trading money, which you earn through work, for the item you want. Instead of one good directly for another, you trade using an intermediate resource. One universally used. So if the item you wanted cost say...a chicken, you could instead pay 20 bucks. That 20 would be equal to the price of the chicken. Say you wanted an item worth 20, you could pay with a chicken, or with 20.”

“I didn’t understand a word of that,” he responded with a blank look. A sigh left her and she pulled out her card.

“Have you got one of these?” Progress, he nodded at her words, pulling out a black and gold card.

“Now all you need to do is tap it here until it beeps. Yes, like that.” A soft beep echoed out as he paid for his dozen cupcakes.

“I am very confused. The beep is trading for cupcakes?” It was an ordeal and a bit to explain the basics to Mylo. Enis nearly gave up, but she tried again.

“That card has an item called ‘money.’ Money is used to trade for goods. It’s easier than carrying around 20 chickens to trade for an ox.” They both glanced toward the card as Mylo considered that.

“So this card can...act as a form of trade? Without me carrying my gold?” He conjured up a single gold coin as an example.

“Yes, exactly. You deposit goods and trade them for ‘money', which is then used to pay instead. A universal currency.” Joy filled Enis as she moved to close up the shop.

“Ah! I see! Thank you, that is most illuminating.” Mylo was slowly ushered out of the shop with some light pushes as he watched her close up.

“What are you doing? What is that steel thing? Why is it closed?” Question after question, and answer after answer.

“I’m closing up because it’s time for me to head to bed... No, I don’t sleep there... That’s a key. It’s a little old fashioned but I still like a good old mechanical lock. Since not many use them anymore, it’s actually more secure than keycard readers.” Turning toward the dragon, Enis lifted a hand.

“This is where we part ways for now. Come by anytime, alright?” Slowly, she turned and began to make her way home. It took a little bit for Mylo to decide on a direction to wander, not having a destination of his own.

Enis entered her apartment directly above the store and closed the door, moving to open the folder and leaf through her options.

“So, we have a few options. We could go for this scary insect guy named Sect. Then there’s this lizard named Gator. Or this unassuming kobold named Urk.” Gently pulling them out of the folder, she laid out all her options while continuing to talk to herself.

“Personality...timid. Then Gator is...bold, and Urk is also timid. I would like someone with a little spice, so maybe Gator. Mmmm.” She leaned back in her chair with a groan as her arms flailed in the air in a childish display of indecision.

“Why is it so harrrd?”