“ Mella was not harmed.” the woman said in a gentle voice. The woman stood about five two, her true height concealed by her tall boots and long glittery purple dress.“ Mella is not angry, no worries to you.” She said as she brushed a lock of her short black hair behind her ear. A flower barrette was the only thing that pulled back her messy straight hair.“ O-oh okay well I’m sorry anyways.” Keysha bowed in respect and gave Mella a meek smile. Mella gestured to the building just beside her with her hand.“ You can repay Mella by buying something from her store.” Mella suggested, her chocolate brown eyes were illuminated in the light of the mid afternoon sun. 

The two looked at each other and then back at Mella. It couldn’t hurt to have a look at one of the stores in this city. So, Michiko went first. She opened the back door to Mella’s store. The front counter was built into the back wall and was the first thing that you could see when you walked in from the back. The building was full of bookshelves, wall shelves, chests, things hanging from the ceiling, items hanging from the walls, and many other cluttered things. 

The floors creaked as the three of them entered.“ Welcome to Mella’s Nicknacks, please look around, buy whatever you like.” Mella said as she walked over to the counter and sat down. Michiko began to pursue the shelves of strange items and objects. She found small belt bags, letter openers, geodes that glistened in the light from the windows. Then she came across wonderful smelling candles. A smell she recognised wafted up to her. It was the smell of wisteria.

“ Is this a wisteria candle?” She questioned, picking up the candle and smelling it. “ Yes, Mella worked very hard to make that candle. Used true blossoms for the smell. Unfortunately there are very few ways to get these blossoms now.” 

“ You collected wisteria?” Michiko took a few steps forward, eager to hear Mella’s response.“ Indeed, Mella had time last fall. She hiked to crystal port and took a boat to get to the wisteria. Hard to find that is, wisteria grows little now than did before.” Mella responded, she didn’t take her eyes off of Keysha who was looking in awe at the shiny snow globes in the front of the store. 

Michiko desperately wanted to ask more questions, but something in the back of her mind was begging her not to. Did she have something to fear from this store clerk that talked in third person? She supposed she had something to fear from everyone here since the odds were against her. How many people hated magic users and other races? Who would report her to the guards? What questions would get her killed or give her the information she seeked. 

She had so many questions and very little answers. She had to get into that library. She needed answers. But for now, Michiko would have to wait and see how the day progressed.