Though it had only been open a few years, Carrow's Coffins & Burial Service was doing just fine for a shop of it's kind. Aleryia had worked hard to make sure that this business succeeded. She had to. This is what she wanted to do with her life, after all. Provide a service and be a comfort to those in mourning. She understood the loss of a loved one all too well.
The shop itself was nestled in between a tailor, and another space which was currently for sale. There was a sign with the shop name out front, as well as a coffin on display outside. It was hand painted, with a floral design that Aleryia had done herself. She kept the display one nailed shut of course, so pranksters couldn't hide in it and terrify her customers.
The interior was fairly spacious, with a few pre-made coffins on display that one could either purchase, or use for reference when ordering a custom one. There was a sign on the wall, detailing different options and prices. She would even help find a burial location and official to oversee, if needed. She was familiar with all the local churches. Of course, another service Aleryia offered that, as far as she knew, was unique to her shop was the preservation and preparation of the deceased.
Custom work took a few days to complete. In that time, a body would have had time to start decomposition, and the process went even faster in summer. Of course, if a body was frozen or kept cool, it tended to last longer. Keeping things cold enough during the hot months would have been difficult, however, Aleryia had been born with the power to freeze the things she touched. This had proven to be advantageous in this line of work. She would store the bodies in the cellar below her shop, which she had spruced up so that people would feel more comfortable leaving their loved ones there. The room was kept cool with ice, and if needed she would freeze the body itself. All it took was a touch of her hand, and a little energy.
People died every day, but despite that, business was sometimes a little slow. At first, she'd struggled to make up the amount she needed to get by, but the solution came to her one fine summer day.
She'd initially been mortified when the Necromancer had asked her to sell him human body parts. But the more she'd thought about it, the more she realized she could get away with it. Sure, it was stealing. But with a little creativity, the families of the deceased would never know. So she made the deal, and within two months, had a steady customer base amongst the necromancy community. She was extremely discrete, which most likely helped her case.
***
On this particular day, Aleryia was working the storefront herself. There were some days she had a cashier, to take orders and such while she worked down the street at her father's carpentry shop. She much preferred handling the store herself though.
She had just started a new design sketch, when the door to the shop opened. Looking up when he cleared his throat, she made direct eye contact with the icy blue eyes of the stranger who had just walked in. Her first thought was that she wished she'd encountered him outside the shop. He was tall, handsome, strongly built, and with that hint of stubble she liked on a man. A part of her hoped he was just here out of curiosity, instead of loss. Setting her pen down, she walked out from behind the counter.
"Welcome to Carrow's. I'm Aleryia, and I'll be able to assist you with whatever you may need today, sir." She said, giving him a soft smile.
