Chapter 36: The Black Sea Arrives
As I left the shop, I headed to another one, just next door. This one seemed specialized in outerwear, suited for the harsh conditions of the demonic continent.
I crossed the threshold, and a woman welcomed me with a smile. Her gaze was piercing, but there was warmth in her welcome that contrasted with the harshness of the outside world.
She greeted me politely, and I replied in kind, before letting Lysara take the lead. She needed to find a new outfit to replace her damaged kimono, which was a bit too worn out to withstand the rigors of travel.
I sat on a bench near the entrance, patiently waiting for her to find what she needed. The shelves were full of durable clothing, tailored for the trials of the desert and barren lands.
She said nothing, but her fingers brushed the fabrics more slowly than usual. A timid, almost intimate touch. As if she were looking not for clothing, but for a second skin in which she could feel less... foreign.
Lysara returned a few moments later, wearing a new kimono, this time much more fitted and comfortable. The black fabric, light and flowing, was adorned with subtle yet elegant patterns, evoking simple geometric shapes and mystical symbols with slightly blurred edges, as if hand-drawn.
The kimono exuded a discreet elegance, but the texture seemed to be of a magically imbued fabric that was less resistant. The cut was classic, with wide sleeves and a belt cinching the waist. Some dark sparkles and a slight shimmer appeared under the light, giving it a somewhat mystical air, though it didn’t hide the fragility of the fabric.
All in all, it was a kimono that, while charming and practical, remained simple and functional, lacking the durability one might hope for in a garment meant for the hardships of this continent.
Lysara, intelligent as she was, had understood that resources were limited at the moment. She hadn’t chosen an expensive kimono, but a practical and simple one that perfectly suited our current needs.
I nodded, approving of her choice, and stood to pay.
The new kimono had cost me 2 Drek.