Mira had picked out a bundle of enchanted silk threads, a jar of glow-dye, and a small set of carving tools, nothing extravagant, but enough to spark her experiments. The shopkeeper wrapped them in a rough cloth parcel, tying it with a quick knot, her callused fingers moving with practiced efficiency, as she did it almost countless times before.
Before she knotted it tight, Lys took the knife he had inspected before with his appraisal skill, and gave it to her, saying, "Count it with them, too. We're taking it."
"With that, your total price would be twenty silver then, young man," she said while counting the math in her head, her voice carrying over the market's hum.
Lys counted out the silver coins from his pocket, the metal clinking softly as he handed them over to the shopkeeper.
He paid without haggling, sliding the coins across the counter, knowing very well that she didn't even try to inflate the price even a little. "Here you go. Thanks for the explanations, learned more today than I expected."
The shopkeeper pocketed the money with a nod, her eyes crinkling at the corners. She leaned on the counter, wiping her hands on her stained apron, and glanced between Lys and Mira, who was already eyeing the next stall with excitement. "Before you two run off, mind if I ask? What's the relation here? You don't strike me as just friends, too cozy for that."
Lys smiled easily, shifting the parcel under his arm. "Ohh, I thought you figured it out already! Given how good your observation ability was. Well, she's my sister."
She nodded to herself, "Hmm, I see. Sisteeer…I see. She seems very bright." She said it like she was evaluating something from it.
"Well, she's the crafty one in the family. So, I guess She IS very Bright!" Lys said it proudly, even though he knew he was not actually her real brother. Yet, as the memories were coming back to him, he felt like he really was becoming Lys, not just physically, but mentally too. As if his perception and emotions were getting somewhat linked with the original Lys's, even without him knowing about it.
The woman's gaze shifted instantly when she learned Mira was his sister, her warm expression sharpening into something more appraising. She looked Lys up and down, not with the hungry stare he'd grown used to from other women in the market, but like she was measuring him for a suit, evaluating his build, his stance, the way he carried himself. It wasn't flirtatious; it was calculating, as if she was sizing up a potential customer or ally.
Lys caught it and smiled a little to himself. After all, it felt kind of refreshing, in a way, amid all the overt attention he'd been getting, not just after coming to this market, but from the moment he came to this world.
"Well, well," she said finally, her tone thoughtful. "A brother-sister duo out shopping. Nice to see family sticking together in times like these." She straightened up, dusting off her hands. "Listen, if you ever need more supplies, threads, dyes, or tools, you're welcome anytime. I'm setting up a permanent shop here in this village now that the guild's coming here. It's going to become a prime spot for business in just a few days, with all the new folks rolling in from neighboring villages."
Lys nodded, appreciating the straightforward pitch. "Hmm, sounds good. Okay, we'll keep it in mind." He paused, then added with a wry grin, "Feels refreshing, you know?"
She raised her brow, not getting what he was talking about. He continued, "You know, that someone is actually promoting their shop instead of... well, trying to get into my pants for once."
As soon as he said it, the shopkeeper burst into a loud laugh, her belly shaking as she slapped the counter. Heads turned from nearby, a couple of women at the spice stall glanced over, curious, but the woman before Lys didn't care.
"What're you on about, boy? Me? Hah! Do you think I don't know my worth? I ain't fooling myself into thinking a young buck like you'd glance twice at an old hag like me. I learned that lesson way too early, young man. Hah, you really picked a funny joke."
Lys eyed her properly then, taking in her features under the canopy's shade. She wasn't as old as she claimed, mid-thirties at most, maybe touching forty. Her face had lines from sun and smiles, but her eyes were sharp, her build sturdy from work, not frail.
Suddenly, it struck him as sad how women like her had accepted invisibility in a world where men were scarce, attention hoarded by the young or powerful. He felt a pang of sympathy, mixed with something deeper, perhaps his past life's memories, where he was also kind of invisible to everyone around him. Not getting the attention you deserve is a sad thing, he knew that from experience.
"You're not that old," he said, his voice genuine, leaning a bit closer over the counter. "Not as you're claiming to be, anyway."
Even though he looked really serious when he said this, she shrugged it off, waving a hand dismissively, though a faint flush crept up her neck. "Huh, flattery'll get you a discount next time, maybe. But don't waste it on me, I stopped falling for those tricks way before the curse hit, you know."
Before she could turn away to sort more beads, Lys reached out for a handshake. Looking at his hand, she also extended her own hand, her fingers brushing his.
Suddenly, in a quick pull, he pulled her closer, just enough that their hands clasped firmly, his other arm steadying the counter between them. The shopkeeper's eyes widened in shock, her breath catching as he leaned in, his voice a low whisper in her ear. "But what if I say that I'm very interested in you? Would you still think that you don't any chance with me?"
The words hung in the air, his breath warm against her skin. She blushed heavily, a deep crimson spreading across her cheeks, her callused hand trembling slightly in his grip.
For a moment, the market noise faded for her. The haggling, the laughter, the sizzle of grills, all drowned out by the rapid beat of her heart. Lys lingered close to her, a second longer than necessary, his thumb brushing the back of her hand in a subtle, intimate caress that sent a shiver down her spine.
She quickly pulled back, her hand slipping free, eyes darting around. She glanced at Mira, who was already at another shop just beside hers, looking at some new item, with great curiosity.
"What... what was that about?" she stammered, her voice hushed, a mix of confusion and unexpected heat.
But as she turned her head toward where Lys was standing before her, she saw Lys already stepping away, his smile enigmatic, leaving her question unanswered.
With a final nod to her, he melted into the crowd, his figure disappearing among the sea of women.
The shopkeeper stood there, hand still tingling, her blush fading slowly as she watched him go. Something about this sudden encounter with him felt off, too sudden, too intense for a simple flirt.
She shook her head, trying to dismiss it, but the whisper of the words he just said echoed in her mind, stirring thoughts in her mind she hadn't entertained in years.