It was my first time that someone merely chuckled at May's serious pointing demand. He just told his servant to get some drinks for us and made a small chuckle lowered May's hands.

“I would be happy to accommodate this request, but this is my estate, not town hall.”

He explained cool and calm.

“You weren't at the town hall neither at your inn so I went here instead!”

She pointed again like a sharp knife just an inch from his neck.

“Charming, as always, but I was doing business since this morning. Organizing, preparing the logistics of having enough ale and bread for story fair.

It can't be helped since story fair is coming by the week and, as always, Lord Magnus never misses this day. As Mayor you know how hectic organizing this festivity in particular. Besides, aren't the other officials enough for you?”

He then formed a smile and just danced away from her knife shaped finger.

“Ah, so you really just like me, let's get married, shall we?”

“Not even a monster would want you!”

She retorted and once again demanded for my friends execution.

“If that's all your request then can't you just call upon the garrison to arrest them? Every guard -- Me and the whole town for that matter -- still see's you as the leading protector of this town. It can't be hard to arrest them with your status.”

“Ronald, you know why I resigned...”

She hung her head as she said that. A silent pause came afterward. Even the smile of Mayor Ronald began to fade when May turned stiff.

“I'm trying my best to be a mother not a garrison warrior. That's why I'm filing this to the authorities.”

She soon spoke.

“Of course, and you shall be taken serious as a citizen of Ellena.”

He then cleared his throat.

“Care to discuss this in the dinning room? I have a delectable,”

He then fell his eyes down on me.

“Gift to the child, Elfien.”

“Oh, you're being kind to him now, ey? I demand those adventurers be tried for attempted murder on Elfien!”

“Attempted murder? My word.”

There was a clear hint of sarcasm there.

“May! No! Umm... Master... Sir... Ronald, sir, my friends just misfired an arrow. T-they weren't attempting anything, I swear on my life.”

I still wouldn't count on the Mayor's lack of interest on May's demand thus my outburst.

“Elfien!”

“Oh? Now, its just a misfired arrow?”

He raised an eye brow and smiles at May

“It was attempted murder! Elfien, sush!”

“Mhhmmfff!”

I found myself covered by her hand and struggling myself free.

“Controlling as always, I see.”

He then told May to let me go and said something that made me say that this man has a death wish.

*****

We left with with a jar of apple that was pickled by golden sweet delectable honey, a cursing innkeeper, a broken door knob, and a stupid law that saved my friend's neck.

The whole one hour that transpired was me, having a hand on my mouth, even when I gave up, and Mayor Ronald saying that they were protected under law.

“What!?”

I was certain a mirror shattered somewhere when May roared her disbelief.

“On the cycle of 1456 king Varus issued a command that all able bodied men or women to practice archery as much as possible, especially on the weekend, in order to stave off monsters. And in the event if anyone is injured, impaired, or killed due to practicing archery, they are pardoned. And yesterday was weekend.”

“That law is old as my great great grandmother! We have fire arms!”

“It has been revised to add fire arms in the law as well, I don't have the edict but believe me it's true, this law, or the "Varus Marksman edict" is still in effect meaning they are protected.”

“That law only protects the people of Æden. They are adventurers!”

“Hehe. Well, then you to talk Serafina for that matter.”

A servant then came and gave me the apple pickled in honey jar and a drink to May and the mayor.

“No... She did not.”

She didn't accept the drink, her hands were to busy clenching.

“Oh yes she did, the high priestess of Ellena recognize them to be citizens of this land and in effect they are now citizens of Ellena.”

Well, I covered my ears after he said that and the volcano erupted.

I didn't know you can kill someone with a bow and arrow on a weekend and be protected by law. Anyone could use to kill a rival by the weekend and the law will protect you.

Nevertheless, her anger abated when left the fences of the Mayor's house. Indeed, after walking and passing through the bustling dirt street of Ellena where streamers were being hang by every house and establishment. Mothers, children, and men wore colorful capes and abhorrent masks. Tunes of drums, flute, strings and the such were almost everywhere. Just like how everyone recognized me they also recognized May who began greeting her with smiles and invitation to drink.

It soon affected her mood by the constant positivity that she received.

Pavlon square seemed to be littered with people trying to sell or buy. Carts of vegetables, carts of fruits, and a line of sheep and goat were sold live or butchered. Jewelry and tools, clothes or blankets, everyone came to buy or sell something. Webs of streamers above us, a figure of a giant wooden dragon was the eye catcher of the square. Then there were barrels upon barrels of ale and wine, benches and chairs, sausages and bread and many more exciting things were being add by the passing hour. Children ran about wooden sword in hand, farmers carried smile as their pouch carried something hefty, and soldiers sitting down, mugs in hand, cheeks blood shot as their beards or mustaches caught alcoholic foams.

“Wouldn't they get flogged?”

I asked since this my first time seeing soldiers this drunk at this hour and in their armour too.

“What for? They've done their duty, the field has been harvested, monsters will focus on foraging food for winter instead of men, drunk soldiers at the end of the harvest means no death or abduction. It's one of the little rewards they get for a cycle defending and of... Everything.”

****

May then lead me and taught me a new street for me memorize. It was filled with strings, needles and spools. Signs that had paintings of scissors, clothes, needle was on every stall and building. Needle street, May said to me.

“Remember it, deary, so that one day you when you earn your own coins this where you can buy good clothes.”

Well, not that I am staying here for long, but I nodded and listened to her carefully while I contemplated about the note from the arrow.

It was in cursive and well aligned. A hallmark of Neil and he wrote:

‘Buy a blue cloak when you enter the shop. You're mother is going to haggle against the storekeeper, when that happens you will hear a signal only you will understand, leave the store wearing the cloak when you hear it.’

I just hope it's not some obscure thing that they know, I've forgotten some things back home when I concentrated on training. I just hope I recognize it quickly.

After passing some store we stopped in a two story building where we just above the door a outside the door.

“Listen well, Elfien, every store here is good at making clothes but never buy in this store, ok.”

She whispered to me as she grabbed the door knob.

“Ok, but why are we here then? ”

And why is she opening the door and peeking inside?

“Because I'm honor bound to buy only in this store.”

She sighed when we entered.

Rolled fabrics and spindles of colorful needle rolls were neatly placed on the right while on the left were clothes and capes that May gravitated towards some clothing while she began calling out a name; “Nana, you in here?”

An old hunched back women called. Face prune and sweeten by age, body shaking a constant as she walked out a room with scissors in hand.

“One hour!”

The hunched grandma wetted her lips.

“Yes, blame Ronald not me.”

Replied May as she ran through the articles of clothing.

“Elfien, can you stand still while old Nana takes your measurement.”

“Now lookey 'ere.”

She breathed behind my neck.

“Whoah!”

She got behind me? How!?

“Hey wait!”

The old woman then squirmed around me, measurement in hand straightening my arm,

“What was that for?"

Hitting my back to straighten me up,

“Not there! Not there!”

Measuring neck, height, and arm length,

After which she went in a room mumbling;

“He got taller... May is still can't sew well... I need might need to adjust his hood...”

Well that was something. For an old lady she waddle quick to a room.

“Elfien, try this on for me please.”

She then showed me a pair of shoes. It was golden brown leather shoes with a very pointy dagger like point.

“It's a bit tight to be honest.”

I said when putting it on and walking around.

“Umm... How about this then?”

She then picked up another set seemingly random this time.

“You sure?”

They look smaller than what she gave me.

“Drop it!”

Gnarled the aging tailor slapping May's wrist out of nowhere,

“Those are for boys no taller than your hip! Not for his size! Come ‘ere!”

With a quick grab on May's ear the old tailor dragged her like she was nothing more than a writhing child.

“Nana! You hag, let go of me!”

Cried May.

“If you want something good for your son then behave!”

She was dragged inside a room.

“Well that's new.”

I whispered under my breath. When I heard them arguing inside a room and May's proud lion voice was a mewl from whatever thundering coarse aging voice from the tailoress, Nana, as May keep crying.

Left alone I began to look around at this wardrobe shop where my eye fell on the rack where hooded capes of varying colors hung. Yet, before my fingers lands on the fabrics I heard the shutter of the store creak open. A kid waved at me and smiled wide showing that he has a single bucktooth, eyes wild, and a familiar face from yesterday's visit from the church's mill.

“Afternoon master Elfien!”

He croaked in his cutesy toddler voice.

“Where's the others? Are you the signal?”

I knelt before him.

“Ah, the signal! Onion Chain! Do you understand it?”

He said in enthusiasm.

“What? No, Is there any other meaning behind that?”

“Um, I don't understood it either and then Master Roland said I wouldn't get it but I'm the smartest of the Covent said Father Mattel, so I said I would understand it but then--”

“Kid!”

I shook his explanation.

“Where are they?”

“Over there,”

Across the street an through the stores he pointed at alley way.

“Right,”

Running back inside the store, I swiped a blue hooded cape before scurrying away like I stole the thing.

“Elfien?”

I heard May when I was at the door knob.

“Do you like that cape? Ow! Nana!”

“Get back 'ere! You sewed it wrong!”

“Let's go kid.”

I grabbed him as we danced our way through the busy street and to the other side.

“Greenwood, master Elfien, my name is Greenwood!”