Floating Island - Triple S Talent

"Efan, let me know if you sense any other signs," he said without stopping. His goal was clear—to find a place where the light of fortune shone brighter.

Efan nodded quickly, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Understood, Brother Lein! For now, there's only one spot with an exceptionally bright glow—over there." He pointed towards a small shop at the edge of the market.
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Lein followed the direction Efan pointed to, then glanced sideways. His eyes caught Laras slowing down several times as they passed jewelry stores. Her gaze often lingered on small displays showcasing glittering accessories.

Lein let out a short sigh. "Huft… all girls are the same," he muttered softly before abruptly stopping in his tracks.

Unaware of the sudden halt, Laras—who was still admiring the jewelry—bumped into his back.

"Ugh!"

Her body jerked backward. For a moment, her face tensed with surprise, but as soon as she saw who she had bumped into, her expression turned awkward. A slight blush appeared on her cheeks.

"Sorry, Brother Lein, I…" Laras stammered, her voice small. She tried to come up with an excuse but didn't know what to say. A nervous smile formed on her lips while Lein simply stared at her without a word.

"You…" Lein let out a long sigh, his gaze resting on Laras, whose face was still slightly flushed. He gave a small smile before speaking in a gentle tone, "Let's go buy the thing you want."

Laras was taken aback. Her brown eyes widened like a kitten caught stealing fish from the kitchen. Panicked, she quickly waved both hands in front of her chest, trying to convince Lein with a rushed voice, "N-no need, Brother Lein! I don't want to buy anything! Really!"

Lein remained silent, watching as Laras continued to shake her head and wave her hands frantically with an expression full of panic.

Efan, who had been observing the whole time, finally chimed in. "Sister Laras, Brother Lein has a point. Besides, we could also get some cool accessories for Sister Nita, Elen, and the others," he said while glancing at the jewelry store nearby. His gaze held a hint of interest.

Laras turned to Lein again, hoping for support. But Lein merely nodded slightly, signaling that the decision was already made. In the end, Laras gave up. With her cheeks still red, she muttered softly, "Alright… let's go there."

Lein and Efan walked behind her, weaving through the crowd before finally arriving in front of a two-meter-long display case. Various pieces of jewelry were neatly arranged inside, sparkling under the glow of the shop's lights. Some were made of gold, while others were adorned with precious gemstones.

"Feel free to choose whatever you like," Lein said casually, gazing at the jewelry collection inside the display case.

Laras, who had been hesitant at first, was now slightly surprised to see Lein also examining the jewelry.

"Please take a look, madam and sir. The jewelry we sell is of high quality. We guarantee its authenticity," said a young woman, the shopkeeper, with a friendly smile.

Laras hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "Do you have any recommendations for a necklace and earrings that would suit me?"

"Of course, madam. Do you prefer pearl or crystal?"

Laras thought for a moment before answering briefly, "Crystal."

"Alright, just a moment."

The shopkeeper then bent down, opening one of the chests beneath the display case. Inside, various small jewelry boxes were neatly arranged. Meanwhile, another shopkeeper began assisting a new customer who had just entered the store.

Efan, observing from the side, suddenly reached out and picked up a pair of earrings with a small cross pendant dangling at the end. "Sister Laras, these earrings seem to suit you," he said with a smile.

Laras took the earrings from Efan and examined them in her palm. She liked the design, but her expression changed slightly when she noticed that the golden chain appeared thin and almost broken. "They're quite nice, but the chain is too delicate," she commented with a frown.

Lein, watching idly, picked up another necklace from the display case and handed it to Laras. "How about this one?" he asked.

Laras received the necklace, and her eyes lit up upon seeing the pendant—a three-dimensional, transparent blue crystal in the shape of the letter 'L.' Every facet reflected light beautifully depending on the angle. She lifted it slightly higher, letting the store's lighting enhance its sparkle. "The letter looks very interesting, Brother Lein. But… the chain is too thick," she said, examining the sturdy yet slightly inelegant metal chain.

"They can replace it," Lein responded, glancing at the female shopkeeper nearby.

The shopkeeper immediately straightened up and smiled. "Of course, sir. We can replace the chain with one of your choice," she said professionally, then gestured toward several chain samples that had been prepared.

Laras started feeling more comfortable with her selection. After choosing a suitable chain, she moved on to find earrings that matched her taste. Her fingers skillfully touched several pairs displayed, until she finally found one that caught her attention—a pair of white crystal earrings with a glowing core inside.

Still examining her chosen earrings, Laras lifted her face and asked, "Excuse me, do you have other letters for this necklace?" She wanted something more than just the letter 'L.'

"Of course, madam. We have all 26 letters of the Latin alphabet," the shopkeeper replied, swiftly retrieving more letter pendants. Laras saw the letters 'E,' 'N,' 'H,' and 'G,' all designed in the same style as the one before.

Laras' smile widened. "Great… I'll take them all," she said enthusiastically. She inspected each letter one by one, her eyes sparkling like a child who had just discovered a treasure trove. "And also four more pairs of earrings like this one," she added cheerfully.

Lein, standing beside her, simply observed quietly. When Laras turned to look at him, he raised an eyebrow. "Brother Lein, what do you think? Don't you both want to buy some accessories as well?" she asked, hoping for more than just silence.