Chapter 5: "Grumbling in Geffen!"

Alaylle happily walks down the stairs that make up the east entrance to Geffen. "Yay! Finally here! So... this is Geffen, huh? Seems like a really magical place! I mean... there aren't even any large walls or gates around the city... Must be magically protected!" Alaylle looks around as she walks along the circular road around the city.

Alaylle draws to a halt and thinks for a moment. "Uhm... now why was it that I came to Geffen? So many things happened on the way here... I kinda forgot..." Alaylle fishes through her basket and finds her father's zeny pouch. "Oohh! That's right! Blue gemstones!... Uhh... 50, I think... Okay!... Umm... now... to find the store that sells them!" Alaylle continues her walk around the outer circle of Geffen.

Alaylle happily walks towards the southwest corner of Geffen's outer circle and looks over at the shop. "Hmm... maybe this place?" She is about to open the door when the door opens on it's own and a young woman runs out.

"Kyahahaha! I got it! Dad's gonna go nuts when he sees this !" the woman grins to herself and looks towards the person she passed. "Eh? Whoa!" The young woman runs back to Alaylle and looks her over. "Uh huh... uh huh... It's really you! Hey Rootfoot! Never thought I'd see you here! Thinking of shedding your roots?"

Alaylle startles and looks over at the young woman. "K-Karian? What are you doing here?"

"Aaaaahh, just doing the usual stuff... you know... Do I really need a reason to be here? How about you?" Karian lifts her arms above her head and places her hands behind her neck.

"Umm... just shopping for blue gems... 50 of them to be exact... Daddy wants them" Alaylle points to the zeny pouch.

Karian eyes the zeny pouch and then glances at Alaylle. "You were gonna buy them here? What a waste! Here, come on, I'll show you where to buy them!" Karian quickly grabs Alaylle by her ponytail and drags her towards Geffen Tower. Alaylle, being somewhat used to this, just lets herself be led.

"Heh heh heh... perfect cover..." Karian whispers to herself and grins. "Oh Alaylle, just buy them from that vender over there... it's a lot cheaper!"

"Oh... alright..." Alaylle walks over to the vender. "Umm... excuse me... how much is a blue gemstone?... Oh... alright..." Alaylle carefully buys one blue gemstone at a time and tucks it carefully into her basket.

Karian grins and stays behind Alaylle, carefully stealing whatever she can from the crowded venders and shoppers. A few bumps, jostles and some slight of hand, not to mention a bright pink dressed girl as a cover, and Karian quickly does what she does best. Needless to say, by the time Alaylle finished buying the gemstones, Karian was quite happy with the things she's "borrowed" from the people wandering around Geffen.

"Alright, all done! I saved 6000 zeny! Thank you so much, Karian! Daddy will be thrilled." Alaylle turns around and smiles happily at Karian.

Karian just grins back as she stuffs a dagger into the pocket hidden in her long hair, "Oh, no need to thank me! But you know what? Let's get a warp out of this place before it gets late, okay?" Karian grabs Alaylle's ponytail again and drags her over to an acolyte. "Excuse me... here... could you zap us to Prontera, please?" Karian asks sweetly while giving the acolyte a 1000 zeny coin. "Alaylle... when you see that beam of light thingy... jump into it... be quick! Others are gonna try to do the same!"

The acolyte nods and casts the warp portal to open on Karian.

"Kyahahaha! Yes!" Karian laughs as she vanishes into the light of the warp portal.

Alaylle looks nervously at the light beam, but then sees other people jumping into it. "Uhmm... okay... here goes!" Alaylle closes her eyes and jumps in- and lands in the west part of Prontera. Alaylle opens her eyes and looks around, blinking. "Gosh... that was neat!"

"Kyahahaha! Dad's gonna go crazy when he sees this!" Karian pulls a circlet out of a pocket and puts it on while taking off her hairband. "I feel like a mage now! See you later, Alaylle!" Karian continues laughing and runs off.

"Oh! Bye bye Karian! And thank you!" Alaylle awkardly waves to Karian's retreating form. "Well... that was a strange trip..." Alaylle smiles awkwardly as she walks towards home.

End of Chapter 5
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Chapter 6 Preview!

Alaylle: "Whew... that's enough adventuring from me!"

Karian: "Not if I can help it! Let's see... yes, this would be perfect for her!"

: "Oh no... Karian, don't do that..."

In the Next Chapter: "A Strange Introduction!"

?#2: "Aha! A visitor at last!"

Alaylle: sweatdrops
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