--Luci POV--

  "This girl..."

  I muttered under my breath as I watched the most clueless women I've ever met leave the inn.

  "Hah..."

  I finished my food and stood up.

  "I'll just have to spell it out for her ter, no big deal."

  Keeping that in mind, I left to go shopping. I was originally pnning to go with her, but I guess her magic really does come first right now.

  "Ooh..."

  "Caught your eye did it? You got good taste dy."

  My first stop was an armory. I needed to stock up on arrows, and maybe even get a better bow. Such an object was right in front of me. A steel longbow enchanted with the spell Mark. I only had 7 gold on me, a combination of quest rewards and my savingsI came here with.

  "How much is it?"

  "The price for it is 6 gold and 40 silvers. Real good craftsmanship this one."

  "That much! For half that price I could just get a normal bow to enchant myself! 4 gold."

  "Hng... 5, no less. I ain't runnin a charity here."

  "I'll take it."

  I handed the dwarf the agreed price and took my new bow. I also made sure to by a full quiver's worth of arrows for only a couple more silver coins before I made my way outside with my new prize on my back. Without anything else I needed to do, I chose to walk around and browse for a while.

  "Greetings Miss. You look like there is something troubling you."

  "Hmm?"

  A Gestian Lizardman called out to me.

  "Come. You may speak with Raht-Wailyre about of your troubles."

  I looked to the sign next to his stall, and sure enough, it read Today Only: Free Counseling. Interesting... maybe I could use something like this right about now.

  "Um, what kind of counseling do you do?"

  "My, a peculiar question. I can 'do' anything. Retionships, monetary, if it ails you, you can speak with me."

  "Alright. I guess there is something I could use advice with."

  "Then you have come to the right pce. Tell me, what has been troubling you, little elf."

  "Well, you see, there's this girl..."

  --Mira POV--

  The shopping district was a good walk away from the Guild, and it was nearly noon by the time I arrived, and just as the sun was in the peak of its daily cycle, the markets were receiving peak business for the day. In other words, the street was crowded with everyone trying to get their shopping done at the same time. I decided to just join in the crowd and keep walking until I found Luci.

  I ignored the all the peddlers trying to pitch their sales to me, and soon enough, I could see her through all the heads everywhere. She was at a stall talking to a lizard-like person behind it. I think I remember her saying they're called Gestians.

  "...and then she just left! Seriously... I've never met someone so dense in my life!"

  "Hmm, yes." I noticed the Gestian's eyes lock with mine briefly as I approached. "I'm afraid our time may be up little one."

  "Huh? Why's that?"

  "Hey, Luci. What's this here?"

  "Wah!?" The poor elf looked like she nearly had a heart attack when she saw me. "Mira? Weren't you trying to learn Light magic?"

  "Yes. It went a lot smoother than I expected. I'm already up to the 3rd tier."

  "Really? That's good. Um... do you want to come shopping with me? I was probably about to find a pce to eat."

  "That sounds nice. I already figured I'd try to help you with your shopping since I finished so early."

  "Let's go then."

  Luci grabbed my wrist and tried to march me in the direction I came from. As she did that I managed to catch a glimpse of the stall's sign.

  "So... Counseling? You know if something's wrong you could always talk to me about it. I'll help in whatever way I can."

  "Huh? I- It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

  "Luci... we're a party. If you're keeping secrets about anything important it could effect our teamwork." When I mentioned the party, I had a sudden realization. "Wait... Could you possibly be into someone? Maybe Rick?."

  "Mira... could you maybe just drop it? I'll tell you when we get back to our room, okay?"

  "Okay." Yeah, I think I hit the nail on the head with that one. Well, good for her I guess. "Do you have a pn in mind for where we're eating?"

  "Yes. There's a pce I ate at once when I came here with my father a few years ago."

  Not long after she said that, we entered a fancy looking diner off the side of the street.

  "Welcome. Right this way to your seats."

  As soon as we entered the door a waiter greeted us and led us to an empty seat.

  "Are you two ready to order already or will you need to look at a menu?"

  "We'll both take the special."

  "Right away ma'am.

  The waiter turned and walked through a doorway in the back of the room.

  "What's the special?"

  "You'll see. I guarantee you'll enjoy it."

  Neither if us said another word until the food arrived. It didn't take very long. The waiter handed us our ptes and Luci took out her coin pouch and paid him a gold coin.

  "Luci? Was that a gold? We didn't have to eat at somepce so expensive..."

  "Hmm? It's my treat Mira, enjoy."

  "Okay..."

  I'm starting to think there is something wrong now. First she bought me the hair ornament, and now this. I really wonder what this is all about...

  To try to take my mind off that, I started to eat my first meal since we left Pristel that wasn't a type of stew. The 'special' ended up being some kind of thick steak with assorted vegetables on the side. I took a bite of the steak, and it was truly heavenly. I'm really gd that we should be getting a good amount of gold tomorrow, because I can guarantee now that I'm coming back here as much as I can.

  Unfortunately, it didn't take long before I was finished. Luci was done shortly after, and we spent the next few hours window shopping. When we were finished, we went to find Rick and tell him about the meeting tomorrow before we finally returned to the Moon-Fork. Once again, they served stew. It wasn't until we entered our room and the door closed behind us that I remembered Luci was going to tell me what was wrong.

  "Mira, about what I wanted to tell you..."

  I turned around to face her, and when I did she grabbed my hands and looked into my eyes. Suddenly, just like when I first picked up my katana, I started seeing figures overpping my regur vision. This time, however, I could see the orange fox-girl from my dream in the same situation as Luci, grabbing my hands and looking into my eyes. Both spoke at the same time.

  ""I- know it hasn't been very long, but... I think I'm in love with you.""

  The vision ended after that, and I could see Luci much more clearly now as she turned her head away with a blush. Meanwhile, I didn't know how to respond, but I could assume from the warmth in my ears that I was probably just as red. Luci turned back to me with a deep breath, expecting an answer.

  "I- uh..."

  "Listen, Mira. I know we're both women, so it probably sounds strange, but... I really do like you."

  "Um, I don't know. We've barely known each other for very long and, well, this might sound like I'm making up excuses, but..."

  I told her about what I saw just now, and she took it surprisingly well.

  "So, assuming that these 'visions' are actually just memories from before Lia found you, then that would mean this girl also had a thing for you..."

  "I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you. It's not like I don't like you. I- I think I just want to figure out more about my past first. When I can give you a good answer, I promise I'll tell you."

  Luci spoke one more time with a smile on her lips and tears in her eyes.

  "Alright, Mira. I'll be looking forward to it."