Chapter 32: Shopping and Realization
The streets of Elandra bustled with late-morning life as Inigo and Lyra walked side by side, navigating between merchants setting up fresh displays and townsfolk running errands. The markets were vibrant—rows of stalls overflowing with dyed fabrics, glimmering accessories, and the unmistakable scent of freshly baked goods drifting through the air.
"I feel underdressed," Inigo muttered, tugging lightly at his worn shirt.
Lyra glanced at him, lips tugging into the faintest smile. "You look like a mercenary who forgot which war he was supposed to be in."
"Exactly my point."
They turned a corner into the Tailor's District, a quieter stretch of storefronts where the colors were richer, and the clientele dressed a little too sharply to be adventurers. One shop caught Lyra's eye—a glass-front boutique with a silver-embroidered sign that read The Gilded Thread.
"This one," she said, already stepping toward the entrance.
"You sound too confident about this."
"Trust me. If you're going to represent Ebon Vanguard, you shouldn't look like a stray dog."
Inside, the boutique was cooler, the scent of pressed linen and polished wood strong in the air. Bolts of cloth lined the walls, ranging from simple browns and blacks to deep royal blues and shimmering silvers. A middle-aged woman with spectacles perched on her nose greeted them with a practiced smile.
"Adventurer wear?" she guessed, eyeing Inigo.
"Upgraded adventurer wear," Lyra said smoothly, stepping in front of him. "He needs something durable, practical, but not completely savage."