Soren watched them disappear into the changing area, then found a nearby chair and sat down. A few minutes passed. Then a few more. He found himself leaning forward, elbows on his knees, glancing toward the curtain more often than he meant to.
As the curtain finally rustled and parted, he inhaled sharply, his breath catching in his throat.
Ethea sat in her wheelchair, the white dress flowing around her like morning light. The soft fabric draped over her shoulders and arms, the embroidery tracing delicate patterns down the front. The high collar framed her face, and her dark hair spilled over the pale fabric in gentle waves.
Soren stared, his mind going blank.
"...Beautiful."
The word slipped free before he could stop it.
’...The hell with it.’
He promised himself to be a man, so he decided to go for it.
"Ethea, you look absolutely stunning!"
He said, giving her a thumbs up.
Ethea’s eyes widened at the unexpected praise, her face heating up again, but she quickly recovered, her lips curling. "I’m glad you liked it."
Clara watched the two, a mysterious smile spreading across her face. Their relationship had come a long way from the close yet awkward pair she had first met. And at this rate, they would be ready to confess their feelings properly before long. As their ’Auntie’, she would happily play the matchmaker until the very end.
"Soren," she called out, "should I take a picture of you two together?"
"Oh, that would be great!" Soren’s eyes lit up. "But let me take one of you two first."
He drew out his phone and captured a few photos of Clara standing beside Ethea, both smiling for the camera. Then he stepped back, lens settling on Ethea alone, immortalizing her in the white dress beneath the gentle boutique lights. In that moment, she seemed less a person than a living portrait.
’...I should make this one my wallpaper.’
"Now you two," Clara remarked, taking the phone from him.
Soren stepped to Ethea’s side, his hand settling lightly on her shoulder. Clara snapped several photos, shifting her position with each one, until she finally nodded, satisfied.
"These came out well. We should take one with all three of us."
Soren glanced around and spotted a shop attendant arranging a display nearby. He approached her with a polite smile. "Excuse me, would you mind taking a photo of us?"
The attendant nodded warmly and took the phone. Soren returned to Ethea’s side while Clara stood on the other. The three of them smiled as the attendant counted down and captured the shot.
Soren took the phone back, and they huddled around the screen to look at the photo. The lighting was good, the smiles genuine, and the three of them looked like a real family.
"This one is lovely," Clara said.
"We should frame it," Soren added with a grin.
Ethea nodded, her eyes lingering on the screen a moment longer than necessary.
"Thank you," Soren said, looking up at the attendant. "We really appreciate it."
The attendant waved a hand. "Not at all. You three look wonderful together."
With that, Clara guided Ethea back toward the changing area to try the rest of the dresses. She came out twice more, once in the dark blue piece Soren had picked and again in a soft lavender dress Clara had insisted on. Each time, Soren’s reaction was the same. A brief silence, a stunned smile, and a thumbs up.
By the time they reached the counter, they had accumulated a modest pile. The two dresses Soren had chosen, the lavender one from Clara, and a few more that Ethea picked herself. Soren paid the bill, and they left the boutique in high spirits.
They returned to the villa for early lunch and the next lesson.
The rest of the day went as planned: they returned to the bureau, waited until Ryan and his schoolmates arrived, and went into the bureau’s internal shop to continue shopping.
"What are you planning to buy, Brother Soren?" Ryan asked as they entered the weapons section.
"An A- or B-rank spear," Soren replied. "Preferably suited for ice wielders."
"Ok, then I will look from this side." Ryan moved to the next row and returned a few minutes later. "I found one!"
"Oh, that was quick." Soren chuckled before following Ryan.
They finally stopped in front of a glass case displaying a spear mounted on a dark wooden rack. Its shaft was forged from pale silver metal with a faint blue sheen, and thin veins of frost-colored crystal spiraled down its length like frozen vines. The blade was double-edged, tapering to a needle-sharp point, and a small blue gem was embedded where the blade met the shaft.
"Oh, is this the one?" Soren leaned in closer and activated the Advanced Appraisal.
───────
Skyfrost Spear
Rank: B
Type: Elemental Weapon (Ice)
[Description]: A spear crafted from Skyfrost Silver, a rare metal found in the frozen peaks of the northern ranges. The blade houses a Frost Core, allowing it to channel ice mana with minimal loss. It was forged by a master smith of the Glacial Forge as part of a limited set.
[Current Effects]:
- Frost Conduction: Ice mana efficiency increased by 25%. Ice-based skills cast through the spear require less energy and maintain sharper forms for longer.
- Glacial Edge: The blade naturally coats itself in a thin layer of freezing energy, adding frost damage to all physical strikes.
- Core Resonance: When infused with ice mana above a certain threshold, the spear releases a burst of freezing mist in a small radius around the wielder.
[True Worth]: A solid mid-tier weapon designed for ice affinity users. Its Frost Core can be upgraded by a skilled smith using higher-grade materials, and the shaft can be reinforced with additional Skyfrost Silver to improve durability against heavier weapons.
[Potential]: If the Frost Core is replaced with a higher-ranked variant, the spear can reach A-rank.
───────
"Oh, it’s pretty good," Soren muttered as he pretended to read the details on the glass while reading the status window.
"Right?" Ryan grinned. "It matches you well."
"Mmm." Soren nodded while sharing the details with Ethea mentally.
"It’s within the budget too." He added, glancing at the price tag.
[5,000,000 Credits]
If they used the discount and haggled a little, they could probably buy it for 4,500,000 as well.
"Should we buy it?"