“Well, well looky 'ere. You got your mother running about and howling around like a wolf looking for her cub! Why you ditch her earlier, ey? Why you took off with my blue cape and came back with a cheap black cape, ey? And what's you doing here with a girl, ey?”

Even when she's hunched and whole body

We were back in the tailor shop.

This girl lead me back to the tailor shop! I was thankful that she lead me back here and I can easily navigate my way to the church by myself. But it wasn't for free, and here I am right now helping her buy some fabrics to this specific store.

“Um... I wanted to buy some fabrics...”

“What's that!? Speak up young man!”

I looked behind me to see that the girl was covering her entire face even when her hood had swallowed her entire face.

“I would like some fabrics please!”

I shut my eyed and gave her a small bag if coins courtesy of my companion.

“Hmhm... Why's you want it anyway? ”

She cocked an eye for me.

“A p-present!”

I immediately croaked out.

“I... I... A friend! Yeah, she's going to help me make a dress for mom. Yeah! That's why I want to buy some fabrics... Ha...ha..”

Wetting her lips she looked over my shoulder where my companion, whose eyes peeked through her hands, were red like a tomato when they met.

“Is that so?”

Her face is full of wrinkling doubt and frown.

Think fast you moron! What would Neil do in this... Oh, I know.

“Um... W-well, not exactly.”

I breathed out a little.

“Then what on the go—”

“T-that's why I need your, expertise on helping me pick what kind of fabric we can use.”

“Ey?”

She backed her a bit.

“I mean, Mom surely have some desired dress for some occasions, such is this festivity, and to be frank Mrs. Nana, I don't know much about quality fabrics as my mother.”

“Right on, sonny!”

She gave a hard nod.

“That's why, Mrs. Nana,”

I took her hand and led her to the plethora of colorful fabrics.

“You will help us choose some intricate fabrics that are the best in quality and hand picked by... an expert?”

....

“Please...”

I took my hands back to me and stared down at the floor went a minute of silent passed by.

She looked at pouch of coins I gave and wet her lips.

“How well does the dame know on sewing.”

“Ouch!”

She hit my back as we left the shop with an assortment of fabric.

“Why...”

“When did you learn how lie? Huh!?”

Throwing me the roll she told me to follow. Like a butler carrying her stuff.

“Wait... What. Why would I... Agh...”

This should be the part where we would be calling quits, but I was following a crossed armed stomping maiden.

“Um... Miss, hey. Um... Look, I did apologize about not remembering anything and the such, so please. Hey, can you–”

“Lilly... Ok,”

She suddenly stopped and faced me.

“You used to call me Lilly.”

After which, she stood besides me.

“Walk.”

She ordered.

“It's difficult to carry this pile of roll if you're going to cling on me like that.”

Regardless what I said, she insisted we walk like this. Reasoning was that we couldn't garner much attention.

Yeah, tell that to the crowd looking at us.

“Can you please drop the clinging now.”

“You're still running away from captain May, aren't you?”

She said.

“Is that a reoccurring theme about me?”

“Afraid so, also you're the one who insisted upon clinging hands when you're with me.”

“Ah, well... If it was my idea then it's a bad idea, you should let go now.”

Her arms still locked even when I tried to shook it off.

“Not until you've escorted me to my destination, I've grown very fond of this idea, to be honest, and I did say I was lost.”

“What? But...”

“This way and don't be so rowdy please.”

I felt like I was arguing with Erika the only difference is this girl has a more serious tone and much commanding demeanor.

“But where are we going?”

We were back to place where I bumped her and where the hammer and anvil reign supreme. But this time we took to a left to a dark, narrow, and damp alley route.

“Well this looks a typical evildoer's hideout.”

I whispered as I looked behind and front of me. I don't have anything but my fists and brow, there's a intersection ahead of us, and I just saw some kids running about. I stopped and thought about this. We could turn back and round another route for a safer travel. I'm with a girl after all, I can defend myself but what about her? That's a narrow pass but an intersection on the middle. If a group ambushes us there, I can't defend her. One of the many things that May taught me is that foxes takes the safest route not shortcuts...

“Are you afraid?”

She whispered to me.

“Excuse me?”

I got out of my stupor when she tugged my wrist.

“You always went ahead without thinking, as if you didn't fear anything. Now, you look more cautious.”

We barely got an inch inside that alley way.

“Ah! I'm sorry if I stopped, it's. just that I once charged into trouble without thinking... I was trying save a friend, a very well beloved friend one time, and got me... Um... In a life threatening state... To say the least.”

I'm not going to do that again.

“.....”

She fell silent as I gave my explanation.

Yikes, looks like I ruined whatever reputation Elfien has with this women. Well, I am not going to stay here for long so I don't care. Yet, come on, I can at lest escort a lady through thee street. Besides, if some thugs attack us, I can use that as an excuse to test my skills.

“Uhm... You did went here earlier, right Lilly. So, it must be safe. Sorry, if I was being cautious and all, and sorry if I wasn't the Elfien you once knew.”

“....”

Uhuh... She didn't utter a word her body was shaking a bit, and I could see her hands turn into fist. Looks like I disappointed her beyond measure at this point, the least I can do now is lead the way.

I tried removing my arms, but when I got an inch out her vice tighten.

“Well, what do you know it's safe after all.”

I said to myself when we reached the end and low and behold we were in the outskirts of Pavlon Square. The bustling crowd grew in size and bringing more stir to the atmosphere as if something was coming. They maybe many but the church was still in sight.

“I'm sorry!”

She took roll of fabric and ran. Ran towards the streets, and towards the looking crowd, crying her a fool, a mischief, and other curses that would make a child cry. That stood quickly tried to get her, hands reached out for her for some reason.

“Hey, wait!”

Upon impulse, upon that ‘I'm sorry she gave... It resonated something inside me that I must know why she said that. That's why upon impulse, stupidity, or a broken promise. I reached out my hand to race to get her first. To... Save her...

“You stupid runt!!!”

"Neighhhhh!”

A thunder of a frightened horse and a knight with pursed lips and bulging eyes were the last thing I saw