To Be or Not to Be

[Thoth]

After a night of sleeping close together in the wolf pack's cave, Shanodin and Alice set out for the last leg of their journey, although this was not before Shanodin spent a few hours soaking in the healing spring as Alice had absolutely insisted that she do it to gain back as much of her strength as possible in anticipation for the upcoming battle. Then, finally after gathering their belongings, they indeed set out. They were now very close to their destination, less than a day's journey from it, and so, Alice, once again in her nekomata form as she always was while riding on Shanodin's back, both because it was much smaller than her human one and therefore a lesser burden.

Soon their destination indeed came into view, and Alice, forward at it in front of them, crawled forward and down Shanodin's side and whispered to her, "There it is Mommy. The town where we'll find the man who sold me off and separated me from my parents. Hopefully we'll find out what happened to them here, or at the very least where they went after they left him, either of their own choice or by being sold to someone else. I warn you though, just as I said, this man is very mean...You saw when we met that I have scars like you, right? He gave me most of them. In fact I'm worried he may take the opportunity to try and capture us. Just be careful, okay?"

[SilmeriaElemred]

((wow same day? Hehe I thoughtthey would have rested a little longer also so Shanodin could attempt fixing some armor. Does not matter though))

The rest had made Shanodin feel better for sure. Unlike before her feathers and fur seemed to be less dull.
One of the smaller squire armors that had been present was just about her size. Well. It was still to big but would not be in the way.

She nodded to Alice's words and started to descend. Hopefully, her skill and speed would be enough to help Alice out with this. She did not land in the town however, but outside of it,out of sight so she could morph back to her elven self. It would not be more then a few minute walk.

The town seemed normal but that was just from the outside. ''we have two options. Walk around the town for a bit, or wait till nightfall and seek the man out. We will barely have a moon tonight so it will be dark.''

[Thoth]

Alice was happy that Shanodin was finally starting to feel better, but she was also extremely worried about her. Just as she had told her, the man they were going to see was a cruel person who had hurt her in the past, and she didn't want to see Shanodin have to go through anything like that again like she did with Gradius. After they flew to the town and landed there, Alice turned to Shanodin and spoke to her in a worried tone, "Mommy, be careful okay? This guy is really mean, and I don't want him to hurt you like he did to me...On the plan thing, I trust your judgment Mommy. So, let's do whatever you think would be safer...I can see in the dark though, so it wouldn't be an issue for me. I don't know about you though."

[SilmeriaElemred]

''Lets take a bit of a walk in the town to be familiar with it in case we have to run to get out. As long as we do not act afraid or to much on our guard, we should blend in just fine. I can not see in complete darkness but they have lanterns outside in the streets so I should be alright. But getting someone at night is usually a better plan. Other people will be sleeping so there is less chance we will get cought''

She gently patted Alice on her head. Despite she was nervous herself this was something Alice needed.

[Thoth]

Listening to Shanodin speak, Alice nodded happily to her suggestion, "Okay Mommy, to be honest I don't remember this place too well, as its been quite a while since the time I lived here, so it might be a nice idea for us to do that like you said. Come on, we should get going." Alice said, then hugging Shanodin and looking up at her with a smile on her face when she patted her head.

[SilmeriaElemred]

Shanodin nodded and gently took Alice's hand. Entering the town was not hard; people walked in and out. But most seemed interested in the slavemarket most likely. Knowing that there would be one going on most likely made Shanodin's stomach turn. Fortunatly though, they had taken quite some gold from Gradius' place as well if they felt like buying something.

''If you see something you like Alice, sweety, tell me ok. We can buy some things too while we were here.''

[Thoth]

Smiling at Shanodin when she took her hand, Alice happily followed her into the town, but kept her guard up the entire time as she was quite worried on Shanodin's behalf, as she didn't want for the two of them to be captured should she be recognized and sold off at the slave market. Then, as they ventured through the town, the girl looked around at the various wares being sold. The girl was drawn to one of the stores, which was where magical items were sold, such as enchanted jewelry, amulets, weapons, armor, as well as just various other magical items.

Looking around the store, Alice was drawn to an enchanted suit of armor which was standing on its own and was actually meant to serve as something like an automaton, or basically a servant, and then, turning to see if Shanodin had followed her into the store, Alice said, "Oh, why don't we get this Mommy? It would really help us to have a mechanical helper like this, right?"

[SilmeriaElemred]

Shanodin looked at the automaton. Never having seen one ever before did make her somewhat weary. But it perhaps could increase their chances of getting out. But it perhaps would be hard to take it along depending on what it was capable off. The guy they were doing to visit most likely had a large house. And carrying an automaton inside through flight was perhaps something to much for her. Could it move silently?

''Does it say anywhere what it is capable off?'' she asked looking for some sort of note from the seller whom was dealing with another customer at the moment.

[Thoth]

Alice looked at Shanodin imploringly to see if they could perhaps buy the living suit of armor, and when Shanodin asked her question concerning it Alice looked around, and indeed there was a small plaque down beneath the automaton, which listed off its various features and capabilities. It said that the Automaton was completely self-propelled, and could move at a maximum of seven miles an hour. This was slower than a running person, however, it could lift up to a ton [2000 pounds], considerably more than an average human, and probably more than either of them, perhaps even Shanodin in her Griffin form, could.

It wasn't meant to be a fighter, more of a servant really, but it did have an attack setting, the automaton having a number of modes that it could be set to via a dial set inside its body which could be accessed by opening up the small metal door that had been welded into its chest. It was also large enough that if she wanted, Alice at least, could probably just climb right into the chest and hide inside of it if she wanted to, as it was hollow on the inside.

After reading the plaque for a few moments, Alice looked up at Shanodin and replied to her, "It's not that fast, but its really strong Mommy. It would really help, and we can always just keep it in the bag when we're not using it, right? So, can we get it? Please?"

[SilmeriaElemred]

''I am sure you know more about these things then I do.'' Shanodin said as she petted Alice. ''Very well. It will be my gift to you. Alright sweety?'' she said and looked at the seller. Walking towards him after he was done dealing with his other client. After talking for several minutes with him, the two walked towards Alice. ''So. Looks like your mother here has tastes in gifts. You are one lucky little missy. Because you are so adorable, I will cut some of the price as well.'' he leveled himself to the same height as Alice.

''Have not seen one of your kin before. But I can't help but have a weak spot for adorable things.'' he got up again. ''I will prepare the manual and make sure it is activated and ready to follow your orders.''

[Thoth]

Alice smiled widely up at her dearly beloved mother and nuzzled lovingly into her side when she patted her on the head. Then, nodding to her, Alice then watched as Shanodin walked over towards the store's owner and talked over buying the automaton with him. She stood behind Shanodin, sort of clinging to her side as Shanodin spoke with the man about buying the Automaton. When he leveled himself down, Alice sort of hid shyly behind Shanodin's legs, but then when he got up she looked around, wondering if there was also anything else in the store that they might also want. Remembering that her mother Shanodin specialized in the skill of archery, Alice looked around, searching the store for any bows, quivers, or even just enchanted arrows that might prove useful to her mother.

Continuing to search, Alice then turned over towards Shanodin and spoke, "After you're done paying for that Mommy, do you want to look to see if they have anything to help with your archery? I know that's how you prefer to fight so having something for that might be useful to you. What do you think?"

[SilmeriaElemred]

Shanodin looked at Alice. ''My bow and quiver belonged to my people. Despite they should be replaced it would feel wrong not to use them. She had looked around already on the matter but at this shop, had not found something she'd like. There were a few recurve bows, shortbows and longbows. But their designs did not appear to much to her liking.

''An archer huh?'' the shopkeeper said as he finished preparing the automaton. ''Little girl, could you stand in front of it please? At least,'' he turned to Shanodin. ''Assuming you want your daughter to be it's master.''

Shanodin smiled. ''It is hers. For her to be seen as its master would only seem just.'' she said. Not just that, she knew nothing about these kind of things herself unlike Alice.

''Alright.'' the shopkeeper said and waited for Alice to stand in front of the Automaton and activated it. There were several magic words Shanodin could not make out but at least it worked. ''Alright. You can give it the first order. Like kneeling or shaking hands with you. You will be from that point on its master.'' the shopkeeper said exited

[Thoth]

Upon hearing Shanodin's reply Alice sort of shrunk back, worried that she had offended her mother by suggesting she replace something so important to her. Then, when the shopkeeper told her to stand in front of the automaton, Alice sort of glanced over to him and then nodded, shuffling over towards the man, still looking down and looking rather melancholic as she thought to herself about having apparently displeased her mother whom she loved so dearly. Then, getting an idea, she looked over at Shanodin, realizing there was a way they could have it both ways, "Well, what if we get your bow and quiver enchanted? We could look for an artificer to enchant your weapons for you, and that way you could still use them, but they would be much more effective, no?" She turned to the shopkeeper, "Do you offer any artificing services?"

She then realized she had to give the automaton its order when the shopkeeper reminded her, and so, thinking for a moment, Alice walked up to the automaton and simply stated, "Let's hug." And she then hugged the metal robot, the enchanted armor leaning down somewhat and returning it. This hug lasted for several seconds until she then again spoke, "Okay, you can let go." And so the automaton did.

Alice then walked around and spoke again, "Follow me please." She said to the robot, as she walked over towards Shanodin. She looked down as she walked over to her, still somewhat worried that she had offended the woman and saddened by this potential prospect.

[SilmeriaElemred]

''I am no artificer myself. I only sell their made stuff but there is one a few stands further. I would not take her along though if I were you.'' he nudged towards Alice. ''He has a thing for little girls.'' the shopkeeper warned. ''If the arrow and quiver are precious to you, it perhaps is a bit of a waste using them.''

''..I know... it is just the last thing I have of my own family.'' Shanodin replied and looked at Alice noticing the girl was a bit down. ''What is wrong sweety?'' she asked

The shopowner seemed to ponder for a moment before going to the back of his shop looking in a couple of boxes.

[Thoth]

Listening to the man, Alice nodded to him, "Oh, well, okay then. This is a pretty small village anyway, I guess it might be better to look for one once we get to a larger area or somewhere that has specialists in that craft. Do you at least have any special arrows she could use? Like any arrows of slaying that she might be able to use for her bow?"

Then, when Shanodin asked her what was wrong, Alice looked down again, and sort of shuffled her feet in place before speaking, "I thought that I might have upset you by saying that you should buy a new bow when you're so attached to the one you have. I don't ever want to do anything that would make you feel bad, so I'm really sorry about that Mommy."

[SilmeriaElemred]

''I am not upset at all'' Shanodin replied and hugged the girl tight. ''I will need a new one at some point, true. To make sure we are safe I actually might as well do that now. She touched the bow which was at her back. Using the things from her people was something of comfort. But they were about to get in a situation where her past should matter way more less then this girl's future. Shanodin pressed a soft kiss on Alice's cheek. ''No need to be sorry ok?''

The shopkeeper did not seem to hear Alice since he did not answer her but after several minutes he walked up with various boxes. ''I can never replace what your current gear means to you but... you may be interested in these.''

He opened the boxes which held various kinds of bows and were each packed with their own quiver. The shopkeeper was right, it did peek her interest. They were more practical then the other bows and were more natural.

''These bows, have names. And I warn and assure you one of a kind. There is Kudzu, the dryad bow. Rosewood a bow whose arrows when fired will never kill no matter what you hit. Everlasting pyre. Its own arrows and wood from the burning kingdom in the far seas. Incinerates a person till ashes no matter how well hit. Even a scratch is all it takes. Or turns the area ablaze in searing flames for a while. Then, we have viper...''

''Poison..'' Shanodin said softly. The shopkeeper nodded. ''We have shocker, the lightning bow, frost tooth the ice bow. And then, last but not least. Natsumi.''

''What does Natsumi do?'' Shanodin asked.

''Natsumi was a wood spirit of summer. She kills... or doesn't. Depends on your heart. The slightest. Her forest got completely destroyed to make place for rice fields except for one tree which she resided in. A bowman found the tree and she requested to make a bow and arrows out of it from the last wood and he did. You could say Natsumi is in the very bow. You could say as a prisoner but she willingly chose this.''

[Thoth]

Still continuing to look down, and unable to stop feeling guilty for what she had said, Alice just stood by, not daring to look Shanodin in the face while she hugged her, and generally just seeming to be very uncomfortable there in her grasp. Then, when Shanodin decided to actually get one now, Alice looked briefly up at her, and when she was kissed by Shanodin, Alice touched her cheek before turning away.

Alice walked away and began looking at some of the Magic Jewelry, which was the last type of item she was thinking about possibly getting today. She didn't know if they'd have enough money, but then, they had the stores the Bandits had had saved up, what they had managed to steal from Adela Castle, and then the money Shanodin had stolen from Gradius when they had visited his estate to collect her things. Together that gave them a rather large sum of money, but magic items weren't cheap, and even with the discount the shopowner had given them on the Automaton, it was still quite expensive, so she didn't know if they'd have enough for all of it.

Still, she didn't think it would hurt to look at the selection of what the man had. She also wanted to look to see if he had any special arrows. The ones that would come with whichever bow Shanodin chose would be fine for normal opponents, but for the truly heavy hitters, she still thought it best they have some special arrows which when fired would prove especially powerful. Alice searched through the available selection of rings, amulets, necklaces, and other types of jewelry, and found three items which interested her, these being two rings, both of which were actually for her, and a third item, a magical amulet, which she thought would be a meaningful gift for her mother.

She knew not to take the items out of their cases, since they were most likely very valuable, but she walked back over to Shanodin and the shop owner, wanting to get the three items for themselves, so that they would both be better protected. For the moment however she merely waited while Shanodin finished up her business with the owner on deciding which bow she wanted to buy.

[SilmeriaElemred]

''Looks like you need some time to decide.'' The merchant said and looked at Alice but before he could ask Shanodin looked at Alice. She noticed her words had not comforted the girl. ''Sweet, mommy needs your help.'' She exolained the powers of each bow to the girl.''I want to choose with you. It will then be my new precious bow. Precious because I picked it out with you.''

[Thoth]

Silently watching Shanodin as she worked over in her mind which bow she wanted to buy, Alice glanced over at the shop owner when he indicated that he would give her more time to make a decision. When she then turned towards her and began explaining that she essentially wanted her to choose with her and then began listing off the features of each individual bow, Alice, still feeling somewhat nervous, nonetheless listened intently, "Oh, alright. Um, the one called Natsumi sounds like the best. It might be nice to have another companion, and I don't think it would ever not fire for you. You're such a good person, I aspire to you a lot, so I think if there were any living bow that were being used by you, it would see that."

[SilmeriaElemred]

''Then Natsumi it is.'' Shanodin said as she put her arm around Alice. ''We should pick out some arrows as well. Was there anything else you wanted sweety?'' She asked the girl.