Chapter 27: Selenite
Soleia clutched the hood she had, tilting it over her head even further to make sure her face was completely hidden. She retraced her steps, her boots treading through the snow as she weaved in and out of the crowd and headed for the familiar dark alleyway she had just been an hour prior.
The pouch of coins she had jingled under her coat, and perhaps it was because of her anxiety, she swore she could hear the sound of them knocking against one another much louder than usual, drawing the attention of some of the villagers who frequented this haunted area of town.
Dark stares were thrown her way, some curious and others a little more menacing. Soleia gritted her teeth and trudged forward, keeping a tighter hold on her coins. She didn't want to be robbed― especially since she would have no way of explaining her presence in this part of town to the guards.
Thankfully, the crystal store was open for business. The bell above the door jingled when she entered.
Much like the first time she was here, there was a wave of energy that crashed against her the moment the door shut behind her. Soleia pursed her lips― the feeling was much stronger this time compared to before.
Her eyes scanned the shelves, admiring the glittering stones that lined the display cabinets. Some were larger than she had ever seen before, bright enough for the reflection of the store's lighting to hurt her eyes― but not as much as the number that was shown on the price tag.
Soleia randomly picked a shelf and made a beeline towards it. There were many things she needed. A garnet to fix the one that was shattered in the earlier altercation with Orion and Elowyn, an amethyst for research, and―
"Can I be of assistance, dearie?" a voice croaked from behind her, and Soleia stiffened.
She rigidly turned around on the spot, careful to keep her face hidden from view. Though, she wasn't sure how useful her hood was, considering how the old lady was much shorter than her and could easily look up from underneath.