The man she saw was no man at all. Dark-purplish skin, pointed ears and unnaturally white hair were not traits a human could possess. It was without a doubt a drow.
"T-That…" Melina gaped, her hands clenched into fists. Her heart began pumping like crazy, and she desperately tried to call upon her magic. Fire, lightning, ice, anything! She needed to protect herself and Master Gilbert from this monster.
"I told you not to freak out," Gilbert grumbled and gently flicked Melina's forehead. She looked at her master, dumbfounded by his calm exterior.
"But that is a—"
"Yes, I am indeed a drow. Etrian Nachtmin at your service. And who would this lovely young lady be?" The drow man smiled pleasantly at Melina, but her stomach churned in disgust. All of her instincts were screaming at her to fight or to run.
"My new apprentice—Melina. Don't take her reaction to heart. She's from the city and has never met an elf before coming here much less a drow," Gilbert sighed.
"How could you be so calm when a drow is standing right there?!" Melina raised her voice, feeling anger bubbling within her.
Has the old man gone daft at his age? Drow are some of the most dangerous and powerful inhabitants of the Monster Realm. Their control over magic, especially the illusionary kind, is second to none. Each time I faced a drow it always resulted in either a serious injury or even death of one of my allies.
Gilbert glared at Melina, "Because this drow is one of my closest friends. I expected a bad reaction, but this is worse than I thought."
"I—" Melina lowered her gaze and took a few steps back.
Dammit! I let my emotions take control of me. A city girl like me wouldn't know how dangerous drow truly is. I should have pretended to be merely shocked by meeting a new race. But how can I be calm when a monster lives in this very town? What is he plotting? He must be scheming something!
"I-I'm sorry," she managed to spit out, but the words did not come easily.
"Don't mind it, Gilbert. I'm quite used to it by now. But I am surprised that you'd finally get yourself an apprentice," Etrian smiled sweetly at Melina, and she had to suppress the urge to glare at him. She tried to appear neutral but had a feeling that she still had half a glare on her face.
"Yes. Despite her rude behavior, she works hard and has a knack for learning. I suppose I shouldn't expect that orphans would be taught proper manners," Gilbert glared at Melina.
"Don't be so harsh, Gilbert. She's still a child. Better tell me what brings you to my shop. Knowing you, it wasn't just so you could introduce her," Etrian said.
"I'm going to Pertia to get this one registered as my official apprentice, but as you see her appearance is not quite suitable for the occasion," the old baker explained.
"Hmm… Yes, it truly seems lacking," the drow measured Melina from head to toe, and she had to resist the urge to shudder. Only then did she notice that Etrian was dressed in rather fine clothes—a dark blue shirt, purple vest with silver embroidery, and sleek black pants. She had to admit that it looked nice, not to mention that she had never seen a drow wear clothes that were so distinctly human.
Suddenly, the drow came closer, and Melina jumped back, glaring at him. He raised his hands showing that he intended no harm.
"Sorry, sorry! I merely wish to take your measurements. I think I have a few things in here that might fit you, but I'm not sure," Etrian explained. Melina threw a glance at Master Gilbert, who looked incredibly annoyed at her. It appeared she had no choice but to comply for the time being. But she decided to keep her guard up.
"Go ahead," she grumbled, but watched his every movement. The drow smiled and retrieved measuring tape from his pocket. Before she could even properly blink, he was putting it across different parts of her body. Half a minute later, he backed away.
"Done. Yes, I got a few things exactly her size. If you'd come this way, Miss Melina, I'll show you," Etrian said. This time Melina followed him without complaint. While her instincts were still screaming at her and she wished with all her heart that she'd have her magic right now, the glare that Master Gilbert was giving her was enough to get her moving.
"How'd you exactly become friends with Master Gilbert?" Melina asked suspiciously once they had gone to the adjacent room, out of Master's earshot. The room they entered was filled with mannequins of various sizes, each with an outfit set out on it.
"It happened approximately forty-five years ago. Gilbert helped me when I had nowhere left to go and we've been friends ever since," he replied, then pointed towards a long white dress with pink flowers embroidered on its sides. Melina shook her head. The flower motif was not something she wished to stick with—it didn't feel like it suited her.
"So he saved you and just like that human and drow became friends?" she asked skeptically. Etrian didn't seem bothered by the question, instead leading her to another mannequin which had an elegant suit for women with many golden embellishments on it. She shook her head again—it was far too fancy for someone like her.
"It might be hard to believe. You must think that everyone from Monster Realm are… well, monsters. Right?" he asked and walked up to another mannequin. This one had a more tame blue dress with long white sleeves and a leather belt. It looked practical and comfortable—she could see herself wearing it.
"Are you not?" Melina asked sharply. If Master Gilbert had heard her, he surely would end her apprenticeship, but she couldn't keep this within her.
However, Etrian smiled. "I believe that you'll soon learn that there is more to monsters than what the Church keeps preaching. Besides, our worlds are connected so we have to learn to live together," he said, and Melina felt like he had stabbed a sharp knife in her heart.
He's right about that. I know for a fact that our worlds must remain connected. No matter how much humans wish for them to separate.
"I'd like to try this dress on," Melina said, pointing at the blue dress.
"I see you prefer practicality. Go ahead. I'll take a look if I have outfits in this particular style," Etrian swiftly removed the dress from the mannequin and presented it to her. She went to the dressing room and put it on, looking at herself in the mirror.
A visage of her older [Archmage] self appeared, rugged, with a cold, unyielding gaze, and Melina gasped. It disappeared and she was relieved to find a young girl in a blue dress. It suited her rather nicely. But the glimpse of her previous self made her heart race.
It's alright. I am merely a baker's apprentice now. That future will not come to pass. The two realms will remain connected this time.
"How do you like it?" Etrian called from behind the curtain.
Melina realized that she was letting her grim past cloud the judgment of this individual. Master Gilbert clearly trusted him and so did the townspeople, if they allowed him to live here and open a business. A pinch of suspicion still remained, but part of her did wonder—if other cities were as accepting towards non-humans as Sunglow, then perhaps humans wouldn't crave to separate the realms so much.
"It's nice," she replied.
"Wonderful. I got a few more outfits for you to try on," he said and cautiously slid them inside the dressing room. She took them and tried them on one after another. As Etrian had promised, they were all in a similar style, remaining practical and more simple, but at the same time not losing their elegance.
It was probably something an older woman would have worn, but Melina felt more comfortable in these simple clothes rather than bright frills and puffy skirts.
Once she had tried on everything and returned what she didn't like, they both returned to the storefront. Melina held three new outfits in her hands, while already wearing the blue dress. The grey orphanage's dress had been disposed of, Etrian calling it an insult to the "noble art of tailorship".
"Got everything you need?" Gilbert asked, still looking a bit peeved.
"Yes. Thank you for taking me here," she inclined her head towards him, ashamed of her previous behavior.
"I see she came around," the baker said.
"I believe you have chosen a smart apprentice. Although I doubt she'll call me a friend anytime soon," Etrian chuckled.
"No," Melina grumbled, and she saw how annoyance grew stronger on her Master's face again.
"This kid… How much do I owe you, Etrian?" Master Gilbert pulled out his purse from the pocket.
"Master, let me pay. These are my clothes—"
"Nonsense! You are my apprentice so I have to take care of you. Keep your meager coins to yourself."
Melina shrunk back, and Etrian chuckled, "Always so kind to others, aren't you? I'll throw in that dress for free as a present for your new apprentice. Everything else will be 1 gold coin and 30 silver."
She nearly sputtered over the price—so much for some clothes? But Gilbert retrieved the coins without a fuss and handed them over to the drow. Etrian accepted them gratefully, neatly folded the clothes, and deposited them in a bag which he handed over to Melina.
"Let's go home, girl. We'll talk more some other time, Etrian," Gilbert waved goodbye and hobbled out of the shop.
"I'll hold you to that, Gil," the drow replied with a smile, while Melina mechanically wobbled after the baker, still in shock over the price.
"Do you need anything else?" Gilbert asked her once they exited the store.
"Huh? Oh, no. I'm good," she shook her head. There were in fact a few things she wanted to buy, like new undergarments and some feminine hygiene products. But it'd probably be better to buy those on a separate occasion when she was alone.
"Are you sure? Don't hold back simply because you're afraid of me spending money," the baker narrowed his eyes on her.
"No, it's really fine. Although… could we stop by the inn?"
"You're hungry? I suppose we could stop for a meal," Gilbert nodded, resuming his hobble towards the direction of the inn.
"I suppose there's that. But the real reason was to tell Erina to hold back on the party."
"Party?"
"Apparently, she wants to throw me one to welcome me into town," Melina said sheepishly. She really didn't want the party, so she hoped that if it needed to be postponed, then Erina might forget about it entirely.
"Why would you want her to hold back on it?"
"I got the impression you don't want to tell people that I'm your apprentice."
"Where did you get that idea from?"
"This morning when people asked, you never answered."
"That's because I don't answer obvious questions. Everyone already knows you're my apprentice anyway. So there's no need to hold back on your parties."
Melina resisted the urge to sigh. There was no escape from it now.
I guess, I'll just use this opportunity to gather some information about the town itself. Find out something more about the Master's past, the drow and see if there are any people I should avoid. Especially the adventurers—they're the most likely people to have access to the System.
"Alright, then I guess we could go eat at the inn," she conceded. Gilbert nodded, and the two of them slowly made their way there. The sun was beginning to set when they arrived.
"Hello, Gilbert, Melina. Is that a new dress? It suits you so well," Erina greeted them cheerfully.
"Yes. Master Gilbert took me clothes shopping," she replied.
"Oh, then you must have met Etrian," she hummed thoughtfully, leaning on the counter.
"The girl was ready to take his head off," Gilbert growled and shook his head in disapproval.
"I-It wasn't that bad," Melina muttered, looking to the side.
I probably would have electrocuted him with my magic if I still had it.
"Really? Haha! I wish I could have seen that. But it's normal for newcomers to freak out. Come on, most already freak out about our elf guards. A drow tailor—that has to be something unique to Sunglow," Erina chuckled.
"City children these days… haven't seen anything…" Gilbert mumbled and hobbled inside the cafeteria.
"Eh, don't mind him. I understand your caution towards Etrian, but let me assure you—the man has been here for decades. Everyone in Sunglow can attest that he is harmless," Erina said.
A few decades is nothing for a drow. They can live for thousands of years after all. But I really don't see a reason for a drow to live in this small town. Maybe, he really does just wish to live peacefully. Maybe.
"If you say so, then I'll believe you," Melina smiled, trying to appear relieved.
"I'm glad. Now about your party—I've decided to throw it on Saturday. I hope that works for you."
"Sure, it's as good a day as any. Are there going to be many people?" Melina asked nervously, praying that perhaps Erina would stick with a few of her closest friends.
"Of course! Everyone wants to get to know you so prepare for a big, warm welcome," the innkeeper cheered.
Oh, joy…
"I can't wait," Melina plastered on her best smile, then made her way into the cafeteria. "See you on Saturday then."
"See you! Enjoy your meal."
As soon as Erina was out of view, Melina's smile fell and she sighed.
"Not a fan of parties?" Gilbert asked, piling some pilaf onto his plate.
"Not really," she admitted, grabbing a plate and also scooping some pilaf for herself. It smelled really nice and meaty, and she could see large pieces of juicy pork poking through as well as some carrots and peas.
"No avoiding this one, kid. Once Erina has her mind set on a party she never backs out," he said and gave her a pitying look.
"It's just one party. How bad could it be?" she asked, shrugging her shoulders.
"I predict at least three fights, two broken tables," Gilbert took a careful look at Melina, then shook his head. "No, three broken tables and a broken window."
"Why would anything be broken?"
"Oh, you'll see, kid," Gilbert said and paid for their meal. Melina took his plate as well as hers and carried them to the free table.
I've been to plenty of gatherings in my time, one more unpleasant than the next. I am sure that I'll make it through this one too.