Chapter 312: Leave With No Regrets
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Samantha had spent the first day gathering whatever necessity was needed from the elven clan, as she would be leaving in two days time. The elven clan had shown her nothing but kindness all through her stay, and that was something she would never forget. Some of them were thoughtful enough to offer some of their local herbs for her journey, and having Viney who could explain the use of these herbs was another advantage to her.
There was a slight rainfall that afternoon, and Samantha, who remembered witnessing the season of fall only once, sat on the veranda in Elara’s abode. She extended her hand forward, feeling the water drops land coolly on her palm. Her lips curved into a dainty smile, and her emerald eyes gleamed at the soothing change the weather brought.
When the raindrops reduced to a drizzling motion, Samantha grabbed a coat and stepped out. Brian had informed her about the chief’s will to finally meet her in person, and if Brian had been around, she knew without a doubt that he would have accompanied her here– she was glad he didn’t, because she finally found the opportunity to be by herself without his assistance.
As much as she appreciated his help, there had to be a limit to whatever bond they were forming. Letting out a sigh and tucking her gloved hands into the pocket of her coat, she continued to meander her way through the path that was now enshrouded in a silver mist.
She has passed the Elwynn Book Emporium on countless bases, and that made it easy for her to remember the exact route. The drizzling rain painted a magical canvas on the Elwynn Book Emporium, and it looked like any other ordinary, elegant bookstore one would easily walk into. Climbing up the steps and facing the delicate wooden door, all she did was knock twice, and the door swung open with a loud creak.
Stepping inside, she took off her coat and carefully hung it in the hanger adjacent the entrance. The exterior of the book shop appeared relatively small on the outside, but Samantha was trapped in a daze when the interior part of it felt like she had stepped into a completely different dimension. The Elwynn Book Emporium seemed to stretch endlessly, shelves disappearing into the dimly-lit distance, whilst her round eyes grew wider in sheer wonder.
The air smelled of old parchment and ink, and there were a few dwarf elves who stacked up books and climbed ladders to fix them at their designated shelves. Compared to the structure of the book store outside, Samantha hadn’t anticipated for it to be this grand on the outside. She felt cheated in some way, cause now she was standing like a statue, unsure of what route to take. At least the Emporium felt warm in contrast to the cold outside.
As she wandered deeper, the shelves towered over her like an ancient tree, all adorned with mystical symbols that pulsed with a soft glow. Each step she took seemed to echo through the vast expanse, and her mouth formed an ’O’ shape as she marveled at the floating ladders that navigated the towering shelves autonomously.
One of the dwarf elves stood on the floating ladder. She was busy fixing the books on the upper shelves when she accidentally missed one, and the book slipped. Samantha’s heightened senses had sensed the book falling, and she reflexively caught it before it smacked her on the head. The lady elf was by her side, and the floating ladder had brought her down from the high shelf where she once was.
"Are you alright, child?" She adjusted her glasses, her eyes mirroring her concern. Gazing at her up close, she was actually a short, plump, good-looking elf lady, and that sort of reminded Samantha of what she pictured a fairy godmother to look like.