Chapter 32:Chompski's Offer and Coffee Hut Encounter

I left the hotel and, on the other side of the road, I spotted the store Elijah mentioned. Intrigued, I decided to enter.

I entered inside. It look ancient. But it seems like a nice place. I bet I can get a lot of useful stuff here. But who do you get it from? Weird. The place isn't closed. But no one's here. 

" Ahem..... Anybody here? HELLO, ANYBODY HERE ALIVE? "

" Yell in your own ears." Who said that? Where is he?

Then, a small man emerged from behind the counter. " Can't you see everyone's busy? As usual with young people. No respect. Can't you wait a minute? "

What kind of creature is that? Is that a real dwarf?

" Well, why aren't you talking now? Did you lose your voice? What did you want? "

" This is .... It's a store. Isn't it? "

" A store? Huh, I'm Gordon chompski. And this is chompski shop. Best store in dale. "

" Is that so? "

" Of course it's so. Dwarves never lie. That's why we make such great salesman. Anyway, what are you standing there for? Look around, choose, pick, ask, pay, "

" I'm just looking around. I don't know what I want. I'm from nortale. Our house win the competition this week. "

" Whoa, what are you, an apprentice or something? He-he-he. I love wizards. Your kind knows a good ingredients. Pays good money. Not all of them, some of them are assholes. But you look like a good guy. "

" Thanks, I guess" 

" Willow, willow , baby come here, we got a wizard in the house" 

The fuck there's no one here. Whom is he talking to? 

Suddenly, a petite girl with pink hair and wings appeared out of nowhere. " hello" 

Whooaaa, where did she came from? And what kind of creature is that, anyway? Is she a dwarf too? 

" Father, you called for me ? "

" Willow is my treasure, my blood. She's half-fairy, if you know what I mean..."

He's offering me to but here, or what's going on?

" Not really...."

He start shouting " half-fairy, you jerk. fairies are the best at magic, after all. " 

I wonder if that's true" really? I didn't know... "

" Of course, willow has felt magic like no one else since she was a little girl. If you ever need anything that my shop doesn't have, go to her. "

" It's true, I could help you with anything unusual. I can sense magical objects from a great distance. And I find almost anything if I have to. 

That is, of course. If you can thank me enough."

Is it just me, or was it not about the money? " Thank you. I can't think of anything, but I'll keep that in mind. "

" It's a shame it gets so boring around here sometimes. I thought, at least I could play with you...."

Gordon jumped and interrupt her " willow, daughter, don't harass the client. He said he doesn't want anything now. Stay out of his way."

" No, no, it's okay...."

" All right, father. ( She looked at me ) See you later, man " 

I turned to Gordon" you shouldn't have done that, she didn't get In my way at all. "

" Don't be modest. I know how annoying she can be. She's half a fairy. Her mother never left stoped talking. Blah-blah-blah.....

If you know what I mean. Heh-heh-heh. All right, I've got pancakes freezing behind the counter. Let me know if you're thinking of buying some. "

" I will."

" Hmmm, by the way. You seem like a tough guy. Can you hold a fishing rod? "

" I guess so, why? "

He answered" see yourself( i raised my head and I saw a board was wrote on it: fisherman needed. Ask Gordon) I need a pair of spare hands. 

If you need a part-time job, there's nobody better than chompski. "

" Really, can you tell me more about that? "

" Heh, sure..not only do we have a shop here. But we also have a little bakery. The locals really like the fish pies that willow bakes. But the fish has to be very fresh and caught by hand"

" Hmmm.... Don't the magic refrigerators in dale work?"

" That junk that goblins make for a few pennies? No, thank you. Dwarves don't eat that kind of crap. And judging by the popularity of willow's pies. Everyone can taste the difference. So we always need few hands to toss the rod. "

" Catch a few fish? Sound easy. And will any fish do? "

" If course, our lake only has delicacies. At least the ones that bite from the shore on a fishing pole. I'll mark on your map a great fishing spot on the lake. Right away. And here have a rod and a bait. "

" Okay."

" I'll pay you a dollar for each fish."

" Sounds fair. "

He start shouting" FAIR? I'm robbing myself for you. But all right, it's fine. Just be careful when you're fishing in the evening. Some lake dwellers hunt at dusk...."

" What are you talking about? "

" Just some town talk. Never mind. Just think about the catch. I'll be waiting for you with fresh fish."

That sounds like a promising opportunity. I grabbed my fishing equipment from the store and opted to postpone the actual fishing to the next day.

 Meanwhile, I would use the day to explore this city. I walked around a bit, and everything I saw was beautiful—new people and strange creatures. After a while of moving around, I felt some fatigue. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Cafe with a beautiful view. I decided to grab some food to explore it.

 I entered the cafe. And it looks pretty cozy. And the barista, by the look of it, is pretty friendly. 

" Welcome to coffee hut. My name is achi and I'm your barista today. Can I give you a hint "

Approaching the individual, a wave of unease swept over me. The guy was exceptionally pale, resembling freshly fallen snow, with eyebrows elongated like towering peaks and ears reminiscent of an elf. Opting not to make things awkward, I spoke as if nothing phased me.