As we left the sandwich shop, I couldn't help but notice Jake's eyes scanning the surroundings. I followed his gaze and saw that he was looking at the park in the middle of the fifth floor. Several groups of people were still milling around, not really anyone in particular that we knew.
"Hey, let's go check out the park," Jake said, breaking the silence.
Julie disagreed. "No, let's go to the shops first, and then if we have time, go to the bakery, then the park if we have time."
Jake looked disappointed. "Okay, fine."
We began to walk towards the ramp leading to the third floor, but Jake kept glancing back at the park. I was getting worried. Did he see something I didn't? Maybe there was a threat there I couldn't perceive, but he, as a non-magical, picked up on something? But wouldn't he avoid the park then? He was acting a bit obsessed with the park.
We reached the ramp and began to ascend to the fourth and third floors. We had to walk a little slowly as a group of merfolk in custom-powered wheelchairs. The incline of the ramp made the chairs slow. But the merfolk fascinated Julie, so we didn't complain or try to pass them.
We reached the fourth floor and saw a café with an outdoor seating area. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafted towards us. Julie's eyes lit up at the sight and smell.
"Let's grab a quick coffee and snack," Julie suggested in an excited voice.
I looked at her with wide eyes. "You just ate a sandwich as big as I did, and I'm stuffed."
She blushed. "I'm growing, and it smells good."
Jake jumped in. "On the way back, and if we have time. Remember." Snapping at Julie, he added with a scowl, "You can't have coffee yet! Just cause Mom and Dad aren't here doesn't mean I'm going to get in trouble at home for not noticing."
We walked around to the other ramp, going up again, and walked quickly. This time, we managed to make it to the ramp before the merfolk. Jake seemed to finally not focus on the park as we walked to the 3rd floor and instantly saw the artificer shop. On this floor, the storefronts were significantly larger and had very clear signs.
From the ramp across the open space, in letters bigger than Julie, we could read "The Magician's Arsenal Workshop: Arcane Craftsmanship."
As we approached the artificer shop, the name of the store was no longer readable, the letters looking like large smudges on the window. Instead, I noticed the elaborate window display. It was almost like a miniature world filled with moving constructs and tiny figurines. A group of tiny steam-powered trains circled around miniature towns and villages while a fleet of airships hung suspended in the air, propelled by whirring gears and steam-powered turbines.
One particularly impressive construct caught my eye. It was a metal dragon, at least three feet tall and covered in shimmering silver scales. The dragon's wings were spread wide, and with each flap, a gust of hot air billowed out from its nostrils. I couldn't help but marvel at the intricacy and beauty of the construct. Clearly, the artificers who created these wonders had incredible skill and craftsmanship.
"This is amazing," she whispered, gazing at a group of tiny fairies flitting about a glittering crystal garden.
On one of the panes of glass hung a list of offered services and goods, and I noticed one interesting one in particular: Mundane Assistive Devises. Glancing at Jake, I got an idea and quickly calculated how much coin I had on me.
I turned to Julie and Jake, who were mesmerized by the various constructs that seemed to be moving either by steam or magic or both or other. I smiled, seeing the wonder reflecting in both of their eyes.
"You know we can walk in and see what they have," I said, with a smile in my voice.
Jake and Julie looked from left to right on the window displays, looking for something. I pointed to a metal-looking panel in the middle of the display with the word open visible as a raised relief. We approached this panel, and as we did, the doors seemed to fold or melt out of the way for us. It was an odd spectacle, like the doors were made of a living fluid substance, sensing our approach and conforming to our dimensions.
As we stepped through the doors, I heard 3 gasp at the sight before us. It took me a second to realize it was all three of us. The inside of the store was even more impressive than the outside. The walls were lined with shelves, and each shelf was packed with wondrous artifacts and magical devices. The shelves were arranged in neat rows that seemed to stretch away from the entrance into the depths of the store.
The air was thick with the scent of oil and metal, mixed with the faint smell of incense. The floor was made of polished wood, and in the front of the entrance to the store, there was a large worktable with various tools and materials scattered about. The thing that shocked me was that there was a computer and a scroll next to a merchant vault.
I couldn't see any attendant anywhere, so I turned to Jake and Julie and asked, "What do you think?"
"This place is incredible," Jake said, barely able to contain my excitement. "We could spend hours here and still not see everything. I could spend every penny I ever made and ever will make and still have things on my wish list."
Suddenly, a deep baritone voice boomed from the back of the store." I heard you complimenting my wares," the dwarf said, grinning from ear to ear. "That's a high compliment indeed.
The three of us turned to see a short, stocky figure making his way towards us. The figure was a dwarf, easily recognizable by his stocky build, bushy beard, and broad shoulders. He wore a leather apron and a pair of thick goggles on his forehead, and his hands were covered in oil and soot. If it isn't some new customers to my humble shop," the voice chuckled. "My name is Torgir Barrelfoot, and this is my shop: The Magician's Arsenal Workshop."
Torgir arrived at the workbench by the front door. He was a bit shorter than Jake and me but wider than both of us combined. He gestured towards the shelves around the store with a broad sweep of his arm.
"Anything you need, you'll find it here," he said, his voice brimming with confidence. "The Magician's Arsenal Workshop has been in business for over 100 years, and we have everything from the smallest trinkets to the largest constructs. We also do custom builds and have contracted enchanters if you need a bit more kick. Is there anything in particular that you're looking for?" Torgir asked us, his eyes scanning over us as if he was sizing us up.
"We're just browsing for now," I replied, not wanting to give too much away.
"Very well, take your time," Torgir said with a smile and nod. "If you need any help, just give me a shout." Pointing to the cavernous back of the store, he added, "If I'm not here, I'm back there. We have our workspaces back there." He sat with a struggle on a chair and pulled out a sandwich from one of the cubicles. "Gonna eat here away from the fumes so I can actually taste something." He said, winking at Julie.
So we began to walk through the store. There were shelves lined with glass bottles filled with glittering powders and potions, wands with intricate carvings, and orbs emitting a soft, pulsing light. Periodically, as we walked into a new aisle, Torgir called out a commentary of what we would find in that aisle.
Julie was drawn to a display of intricate clockwork toys. They were made of brass and gears, and some of them were so complex that I couldn't even begin to figure out how they worked. As we continued to browse, I noticed a shelf of small, intricate metal tools that looked like they could be used for fine metalworking or engraving. Jake got stuck. There was also a display of miniature golems, each with their own unique design and purpose. One golem looked like a miniature version of a blacksmith, complete with a tiny hammer and anvil. Another looked like a small dragon, breathing smoke and fire from its nostrils.
As we walked further into the store, we found a display of enchanted weapons. There were swords with blades made of shimmering blue ice, axes with fiery red blades, and bows with strings that glowed with otherworldly energy. Just as Jake couldn't resist trying out one of the swords, Torgir yelled from across the store, "Don't touch the weapons without guild, license, and insurance. The non-magical stuff is at the other end of the store, but those are far too dangerous for children."
Jake bristled at being called a child but withdrew his hand.
Seeming to have finished his sandwich, Torgir made his way over to us. "Are you finding everything alright? Any questions now that you've browsed a bit," he asked.
"Yes, thank you," I replied. "Actually, I had an idea for my friend Jake here. He's nonmagical, and I was wondering if you had anything that could help him see it."
Torgir stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Well, we do have some special glasses that can help with that," he said. "They're enchanted to react to the shimmer of magic and move it into the visible spectrum. They're not perfect. It will look like those shity-" He glanced at Julie, "-low-quality AR/VR goggles. But they should allow him to perceive more of the world around him."
I was bewildered by the acronyms; Julie and Jake seemed to have gotten the reference.
"That sounds expensive," Jake said skeptically.
Torgir chucked, "You have a good nose for things." He tapped his own nose and motioned for us to follow.
Torgir walked over to the opposite side of the store and closer to the back of the store's nearby shelf and browsed through the boxes of various aids and "magical tools for the Mundane" as was proudly written on the boxes. Looking at Jake one more time, grabbed a small case. Inside were a pair of glasses with clear lenses and a thin wire frame. "Here you go," Torgir said, handing them to Jake. "Put these on and see if they help. We can make a custom frame if you want it later."
Jake took the glasses but didn't put them on. He squinted and asked, "How much to take them off?"
Torgir roared out a laugh. "Free if you don't keep them or break them; I'm trying to find a size, fit, and strength that works for you."
Jake put on the glasses and looked around the store. At first, he didn't notice anything different. But as he looked closer, he could see a faint shimmering around some of the objects on the shelves. It was like a thin layer of mist or smoke, but it was constantly moving and changing.
"It's amazing," Jake said, his eyes wide with wonder. "I had no idea there was so much magic around us."
Torgir giggled. "Wait till you walk out into the enclave. Just be careful; they give some undies headaches. I'm sure you have pills that will help if you need them."
Jake kept looking around like he was seeing the world for the first time.
"How much for the glasses?" I asked Torgir, hopeful I could afford the cost.
Trogir took the case from the absent-minded Jake, who didn't even notice he was still wearing the glasses. "Let's see," he said, flipping the box around and checking the price tag. "Ah, here we go. They're 25 silver without any alterations. We can customize the strength frame and shape, but if it's too many changes, it's better just to get a different one."
"Sounds reasonable," I said, nodding. Grateful it wasn't more. This is very expensive but worth it. "Do we need to make an appointment for alterations?"
Torgir nodded. "Yep, any alterations would need to be done by appointment in the back of the store. Just let me know if you want to schedule something."
Jake seemed to have snapped out of it, taking the glasses off quickly but carefully. "Wait, that's way too much. I already owe you 5 silver plus for the passport. I can't have you pay another 25 for me!" He looked embarrassed.
I shook my head, "Well, in fairness, you owe me 4 silver after lunch since you paid. And second, you really like it. And this way, you'll be able to at least see what's going on, even if you can't participate."
Jake looked at the ground. "I'll pay you back."
Torgir asked, "Does this mean we have a sale? Let's go to the merchant's vault."
Julie looked excitedly at Jake as I nodded at Torgir, following him. "Jake, don't worry about paying me back. Happy Birthday! Late, but still."
Reaching the workbench with the merchant vault, I fished out the silver coins from my backpack and paid Torgir, who handed the box to Jake and said, "I suggest using them on and off for about a week or two and then stopping by for any alterations. That way, you will know what you need done."
As we walked out of Torgir's shop, Jake gasped and looked around in a mix of horror and amazement.
"What's wrong?" I asked him, concerned. Julie walked up to Jake and took him by the hand.
"Everything... is just... so... different," he replied with long pauses, still taking in his surroundings.
I looked around, and nothing really had changed. Everything was as it was when we walked into the artificer's store. Looking back at Jake, I asked, "What do you see?"
"There is a shimmer all over the place; there are butterflies, hummingbirds, owls, dragons, and many other flying things moving around in the center of the floors where it is open. Many of the...people, I guess, are moving around, and something shimming is flowing off of them. The plants have a shimmer in every pot."
He turned around and looked at the display window. "In the store without the glasses, everything just looked normal but moving. Right now, everything is bathed in rainbows of shimmering light." Looking closer, he added, "Actually, not everything. Some of these things aren't shimmering."
Looking around as he described his surroundings, I imagined seeing it from his perspective, as if seeing everything for the first time. It would be fantastical. I noticed that Julie had already gotten used to it. Maybe Julie got used to magic from the Lycons and Fairies where she grew up, and this just was about her expectations. But Jake was seeing magic for the first time ever. Not the effect of magic but magic itself.
I smiled at Jake. "That was worth every copper to see you enjoy seeing the world for what it really is like."
Jake glanced at me with a mix of shame and gratitude, not finding what to say.
Julie jumped in without hesitation, "Now, let's get some coffee and sweets before the appointment."
Jake snapped his attention to Julie and quickly replied, "No coffee for you. Yes to sweets, but no coffee."
Julie looked at him with a slight frown, "Dang it! I thought I could sneak it in there. Why no coffee? You know I love coffee."
Jake chuckled, "Yeah, but you also know that the caffeine affects you pretty badly. Remember last time? Plus, Mom and Dad would not be happy."
Julie rolled her eyes, "Okay, fine. I'll just get some tea then."
We made our way down the ramp to the fourth floor of the enclave and to the pastry shop Julie had wanted to go to earlier. The patrons outside in the seating area had left, and the shop itself seemed half empty. We must have come right after the rush.
Stepping into the shop, Jake and I had to duck as several pixies and fairies flew around the shop, delivering drinks and pastries to the few patrons. The air was thick with the smell of sugar and baked goods. My mouth watered at the sight of the display cases filled with a variety of sweets and the sweet aroma of coffee, tea, and other drinks I wasn't sure of the name of.
Behind the counter were a Leshi, a Sylphy, and a Triant, all wearing aprons. The Triant was focused on making drinks, using his trunk-like arms to extend and reach multiple coffee machines, espresso presses, and tea kettles, placing finished drinks on the counter, which acted as a landing zone for the pixies and fairies. The Leshi stood in front of a register while the Sylphy used precisely controlled wind magic to package pastries for the flying servers.
Jake and Julie walked slack-jawed towards the counter, and I followed them. "What can I get for you folks?" asked Leshi with a sharp-toothed smile and a barely contained hungry glint in her eye.
Julie looked at the menu on the wall and, in rapid-fire, said, "I'll have whatever you think tastes good and has a ton of sugar and a cup of coffee, please."
The Sylphy started activating her magic around a sweet-looking pastry that looked like a crescent smothered in a cream as the train reached for a cup and brought it to the coffee machine. Jake jumped in, "She will have tea, no caffeine...or any stimulant of any kind." The triant froze and then grabbed another tea kettle and poured a rich-smelling dark liquid that smelled of flowers and berries.
The Leshi winked at Julie. "Sure thing, dearies. And you too hunks?" She smiled even wider, showing her teeth even more.
Jake pointed at a chocolate croissant and a raspberry tart, "I'll take those two, please. And a coffee."
The triant grumbled, "You sure this time?" After Jake nodded, the triant went to work on a coffee without turning around. I wasn't sure how he saw Jake nod.
The Sylphie's and Leshi's eyes focused on me. "Give me something medium sweetness, and I'll also have a c-coffee." For some reason, my hand trembled, and my voice stuttered at the mention of the dark nectar of divinity.
They smiled in unison and asked us to pay. Before I could, Jake pulled his card and swiped it. I shrugged and waited for our drinks. Jake asked, "Can we eat in the park downstairs?"
The Leshi smiled sadly at Jake as Julie and I nodded our agreement. Taking our drinks and pastries, we made our way out of the shop.
Once we arrived at the park on the fifth floor, we looked for an empty table. We found one in a secluded corner by the pond surrounded by trees and bushes that were unmistakably dryad homes. A fairy hive hung in one of the taller branches. Jake seemed distracted as he looked around through his glasses, taking in the surroundings. Julie and I sat down and unpacked the sweets.
I sipped my coffee and savored the rich, bold taste. The sweetness was just right, and it was the perfect accompaniment to the bite of the pastry. I looked over at Jake, who was still scanning the area, with a raised eyebrow.
"Everything okay?" I asked, trying to break his concentration.
He looked at me and then at Julie. "Yeah, looking for someone," he replied, sitting down.
Julie rolled her eyes. "Paranoid much? Or does someone have a crush." she teased.
Jake quickly reached over and flicked Julie's forehead gently. "Shut up," he said, sipping his coffee.
A sudden rustling caught our attention. The three of us looked up to see a dryad stepping out of a short bush of what looked like Jasmine. Her hair was a deep green, and her skin had a soft, woody, almost invisible texture. She wore a simple pale green tunic with a small pouch hanging from her waist.
The dryad walked to our table and sat at the empty chair. The magic shimmer around her turned into a beautiful display of flowers, and that's when I recognized her as the same dryad that bumped into us earlier. I blinked, and the flower burst that was near me. I glanced over at Julie, who was scowling at the druid girl. Strangely, she didn't have any flowers around her.
"Hello again," she said with a smile. "I'm sorry about earlier. I was in a bit of a hurry. My name is Jasmine."
"No worries," Jake replied, leaning forward and trying to look cool.
She looked at our pastries and coffees with interest. "Those look delicious. Do you mind if I join you?"
Jake reached for his half-eaten pastry and stretched it out to her. "Enjoy." He had a strange look in his eyes behind his new glasses. "Want some coffee as well?"
Julie cleared her throat. "Hi Jasmine, I'm Julie. He's John, and the idiot is Jake, my brother." She dropped a lot of emphasis on the last word.
Jasmine the dryad looked at Julie, and I could swear for a split second she scowled and looked scornfully, but it vanished in less than a blink. "You are so cute, Julie." She said sweetly. "I'm just trying to get to know your brother."
Out of nowhere, a shimmering falcon dive-bombed our table, then jumped in my pocket, starling all 4 of us at the table. Pulling out my scroll, I read aloud, "Doctor is in the house; feel free to come early for your appointment if you want."
Jasmine was about to reply when Julie cut her off. I could see the venom in her eyes as she said, "It looks like we need to go. Nice meeting you, Jasmine." She gathered her pastry and coffee, and I did the same, leaving Jake's half-eaten one out for Jasmine if she wanted it.
I could feel the tension between Julie and Jasmine, and I was curious about what could have caused it. However, I knew better than to ask Julie about it right then.
Jake was reluctant to leave as we walked away, glancing back at Jasmine. "Come on, Jake," I said, grabbing his arm. "We don't want to be late for the doctor's appointment." Jake reluctantly followed us, being dragged by both arms.