"Hah! Oi laddie… did you see his face when he saw those bugs!?" Bargram howled once we had left Earhart's shop, "And tellin' him to keep the change! Ah, ya bring a smile to this old man's heart you do…"

"Mister Hollow, you shouldn't turn monsters into gold anymore…" Wyndia whined, River chirping in confusion, "Then other monsters can't scavenge! That's why!" She shouted as the avian atop her head tilt her head before jumping atop my own.

"It is unfortunate, but we will need as much gold as we can accrue in these coming times of hardship," I replied as I led our group to Melromarc Royal Threads.

"Hey, laddie, there a reason you're walking into that uppity clothing store?" Bargram asked worriedly, "You aren't thinking of getting the little lass a maid outfit like Fera's are you?"

"Of course not," I replied as he relaxed, "However, there are details which should be addressed."

"Details? Oi, lad… don't tell me you plan on having the little lass walk around with her Slave Seal out and about?" His worried expression only became more worried as we entered, the chiming of the ship's bell alerting the shopkeeper girl who had returned from her time at his tavern.

"Bug Hero!" The shopkeeper girl cheered as she threw her hands up, "Welp! Party's over, right?~ Guess it's back to the grind for us, and look! You even have a new Demi-human with you!~" She cooed sweetly as she knelt down to a now frightened Wyndia.

"M-mister Hollow… she's scaring me…" Wyndia whimpered.

"Aww~ But I'm not scary!" The shopkeeper whined, "Me and Mister Hollow go waaaaay back! I was the first clothing shop he ever visited! Did you know that?" She asked with a smile, Wyndia shaking her head slowly.

"Oi, lady…" Bargram interrupted, "Business first, scaring customers later."

The shopkeeper only giggled into her hand and waved, "Oh you~ Now, what seems to be the problem, my most valued and treasured customer?"

"Wyndia will require new garments able to withstand the abuse of battle," I replied as I placed a hand upon the child's head, gently running my fingers along her head as she eased into my palm.

"Mm, mm… you want another set of regenerators…" The shopkeeper hummed, "Looks like she'll really only need a shirt though… I can already see she's going for the dashing rogue look~ anything else?"

"Would it be within reason to ask for her Slave Seal to be printed upon her garment's front?" I asked curiously.

"Ooh~ Really going for the Master and Servant aesthetic…" She mused as she looked to Fera, More specifically her armor, "Okay, okay… yeah. Just like kitty over here… glad to see your dress is looking fit as a fiddle despite being roughed up under all that metal!~"

Master… I do not like the way her eyes look upon me…

"So!" She exclaimed as she rose, "What's your name, little miss?"

"W-wyndia…" The child replied as she was taken by the hand gently. The shopkeeper girl smiling softly as she led her along.

"Don't you worry, little Windy~ Big Sis Millie is gonna take real good care of you so you can look the best for Mister Hollow!~"

As the two had gone away, our giant sighed, "Ah… here's hoping she doesn't make her look like a pet…"

Poor fool…

The time slowed to a crawl, Bargram idly shuffling in place as Fera examined the many fabrics and suits on display. Master, would you not wish to wear a new cloak?

A new cloak? Would I part with that which had followed me since birth? No, I believe not…

"All done~" Millie had sung out as she returned with Wyndia, "I really outdid myself this time! That I did~"

Wyndia now wore an earthen green sleeveless shirt beneath her vest, shining blue embroidery stitched upon it in the shape of the cracked Slave Seal. Green dragon scale had been added to the folded collar of her vest, and she now wore a green collar adorned with a gold coin stamped with a large 'W '.

"Ah… well at least there aren't any paw prints this time…" Bargram whispered.

"Grammy!~" Millie teased, "How could you? Of course there's a paw print!" Nodding to Wyndia, the child slowly turned around to reveal a massive green beast's paw print adorning the back of her vest, "Nice and big for everyone to see! Not like those tiny cat prints on your maid's dress, no sir-ee!~"

"Ah… what was I even expecting…" Bargram said with a defeated sigh.

"That's gonna be one gold!" Millie cheered, "You get the hero's discount now that you helped stop a wave!"

"Oi! If that's the discount, what's full price?" Bargram questioned as I once more rifled through my inventory.

"Two gold coins!" The shopkeeper replied happily before gasping in awe, a golden horned rabbit pelt now in her hands, "This is actual gold… oohh~ and it still has all its fluffyness!~ Don't let anyone tell you otherwise Bug-Boy, you're always gonna be my hero! Go knock em dead!"

With nods and thanks given, we left the shop behind as I made way for the magic shop.

"Mister Hollow? Do you know magic?" Wyndia asked me as we neared the shop, her hands idly rubbing the dragon scale upon her vest.

"I am rather sufficient in my ability, yes."

"Papa always wanted me to learn magic…" Her ears drooped before rising, flinching at the sound of the doorbell.

"There is time, we shall teach you."

"Sword Hero!" The witch at the counter cheered, "I was hoping you'd come by. Naofumi, the dear, already left if you were trying to catch up to him."

"Our paths shall cross should he return to Lute," I stated calmly as I placed a hand upon Wyndia's shoulder, "Until then, Wyndia would like to learn magic."

"Oh she's a darling child…" The witch whispered as she ushered the child forward, "Come come, place your hand upon the crystal ball."

Slowly, but surely, Wyndia gently touched the crystal, flinching and pulling away as it lit up before fading. It was Fera who eased the girl's worry, helping Wyndia in easing her palm along the ball as it once more flared to life. A torrential green gust flowed within, surrounded still by what I believed to be the hue of Lifeblood.

"Oh my… just like yours…" The witch mused, "No darkness though… just that strange blue hue… Wind seems to be your element, my child. Here, a book all about wind magic."

In anticipation of payment, I had already retrieved a salamander and presented it to the awestruck witch.

"What's this!?" She quickly began examining the reptile, opening its mouth and reviewing its interior, "This is definitely gold… an enchantment? Yet it still retains flexibility… oh no I can't just accept this… one second!" She put the salamander away before diving into a backroom before placing a grimoire upon the counter, "Here, I've since copied the information into a fresh tome, so you can have this one. It holds a fraction of my life's work… call it a gift for saving Lute."

Taking the grimoire, my Nail had shined as a message appeared:

[Spellsword Quality Up!

Spell Learned: Soul Shock

Focus your Soul to stun all those who would bring you harm]

Interesting… It would seem that certain items may enhance and empower your current blades.

"We shall return should the need ever arise," I stated calmly as she waved us off.

"Something tells me I know where we're off to," Bargram commented as he took point. He was correct in his guess as we soon found the Apothecarist, "Let's hope they don't hold out on us this time."

"Mister Hollow? Are you sick?" Wyndia asked, her hands now holding her father's egg, "Are you gonna buy medicine?"

"We will be buying health potions for the trials to come," I replied as I opened the door, the bell chiming as we entered, "As we lacked the funds, we were only able to leave with five simple potions."

"Caught that did you?" The apothecarist asked with a smile, "Had I known you'd be fighting a dragon, I would have given you a bit more."

"Ya shafted us willingly!?" Bargram shouted, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't put this entire shop in a hole!?"

"Hey, hey… this shop wasn't doing so well either," The apothecarist stated as he raised his hands placatingly, "The first Wave took a lot of my stock and I had no idea your group would be doing something so dangerous."

"Regardless," I interjected, "We are in need of health potions now more than ever, and we have the gold to pay for them."

"No," He said simply with a smile, my party shouting in confusion and outrage. He silently waited for Bargram to calm down, Wyndia keeping the giant from harming the shopkeeper, before reaching down his counter, "I'm not taking even a copper from you today," He soon placed a box of twenty high quality potions before us, their powerful glow a testament to their craftsmanship, "For saving Lute, I had these prepared almost immediately. You and the Shield. You're our heroes, Church be damned."

"We thank you, we will not let your kindness go to waste."

Fera had quickly pushed a grumbling Bargram from the shop as Wyndia carefully followed, arms wrapped around Gaelion's egg.

It is time. Shall we travel to Lute Village?

Nodding, I urged my party close as I summoned the Hourglass Blade, River chirping excitedly as I held it aloft and activated its magic before plunging it deep into the earth. Within seconds, several rings rose from the earth, engulfing us and rising ever faster until Melromarc castle town had faded from sight, replaced instead by Lute Village's bustling heart.

Many an onlooker examined us with awed expressions, an elder marching forward happily, "You have come, Sword Hero," He muttered softly, yet with such poise and dignity, "Allow me, as well as all of us, to welcome you and your companions to Lute Village."

Within seconds, the townsfolk had all begun clapping and cheering as if the Wave had not recently threatened their lives. This is due in part by our aid, as well as Gaelion's aid against Melromarc's soldiers.

"To be quite honest, being graced by our two heroes this day… it is a joy we can not hope to repay…" The elder stated happily.

"The Shell Bearer, he is here then?" I asked as River chirped, floating down and seeming to inspect the land.

"Naofumi is currently resting in our inn, he and his partner hard at work learning our alphabet," The elder replied, "Come, let us talk within my home. There is much to discuss."

We shall be fine, Master. We shall find lodging within the inn as well.

Nodding, I handed Fera three gold coins and bid the party farewell… aside from River who remained within my crown. The avian settled in gently and began to sleep as I followed the elder closely.

"Ours is a small village," He muttered, "Hardly worth much in the grand scheme of things. Yet our one saving grace has been our mine, the only one of which produces Light Metal regularly."

"Light Metal?"

"Strong as steel at half the weight," He explained, "With a natural ability to repulse magic. Yet, it was only recently that our mines have become available to us."

"Why tell me this?"

Sighing, the elder opened the door to his home and ushered me inside, waiting until I had found proper seating, "This town has never had proper aid, not from Melromarc, not from mercenaries. Naofumi was the first to truly aid us, and now you, Hollow. No one else knows our mines have been cleared but the Shield Hero and our people. I ask you to take the time to explore our mines and seek out any and all materials you may need, as well as our storeroom. The Chimera's body still lies within, should it be something of worth."

We bid our farewells, the elder to tend to his work, I to seek out this 'Chimera'...