"So, uh, what exactly are you looking for?" I asked as I've watched Hedrik deliberate for the past five minutes over one small corner of the shop.

"Something usable in a work environment. She's an engineer, so, something incredibly showy wouldn't be practical," Hedrik answered as he continued to stare at a wall of several items with his arms crossed. Other customers in the shop stared at him as he stood out like if the sun was put in the night sky, but he at least had the sense to have put on what I knew as a button-up shirt and jeans from what my mother told me about when I was younger, along with a light jacket that was dark blue. At least everyone thought he was a tourist since he dropped the suit and isn't wearing a military uniform. They'd be rioting if he wore the latter.

"That still doesn't really answer my question. Are you looking for a hair thing, a necklace, a bracelet, or what?" I asked as Hedrik finally turned to look at me.

"That's a good idea, a necklace would probably be best. It wouldn't bother her too much while working. Do you think you could help pick one out?" Hedrik asked with one arm crossed over his torso that was holding the other up to his face.

"I mean, I can, but I don't know who you're shopping for. Is it a friend or family member? What does she look like? What are her personal preferences?"

"She's about a palm size shorter than me with blonde hair and blue eyes. She tends to wear solid color jewelry with little or no gems in it, if that help," he answered as he went back to looking at the shelf in front of him.

"I guess that'll work, yes," I responded before I walked to the other side of the store. I didn't know his price range, so I decided it's best to stay on the lower ended.

I tried to picture what she might look like based off what I was told and how Hedrik looked and decided that some kind of gold necklace with a kind of blue gem would be best. A green shade might work too, but it would probably be better to go for blue since it will match her eyes. Hell if I knew what shade of blue her eyes are, except I have a nearby model with blue eyes who I can use as a reference.

I ran back to Hedrik and tapped his shoulder to get him turn around while saying, "Would you say she has darker or lighter blue eyes than you?"

"I would say that they're the same color," Hedrik said while looking at me weirdly.

"Okay, got it," I said before running back, keeping an image of him in my head.

Eliminating necklaces that had golden and a blue gem in them eliminated most of the necklaces there. There were only five left, and two of them were long necklaces which I assumed would be impractical. The remaining three were entirely different price ranges. I eliminated the most expensive one as the jewel was too large to be considered practical for what I consider a workplace environment, leaving two more. The gems were the same size but one was a less pure gem that had green flecks in it.

As I picked up the more expensive of the two that had a gold chain with small leaf looking things on them, I could feel the glare of the shopkeeper on me as he probably assumed I was going to steal them. I looked at the shine on it to make sure it wasn't a fake item that had a spell cast on it to make it look real, as a lot of magicians did to sell items for more money. It's a regretful thing our society has grown to do, but when you put near limitless magical potentially with greedy humans, it's bound to happen.

After determining that the only magic on the necklace was some to make it stay shiny longer, I once more tapped Hedrik's shoulder as to ask if he thought it would look fine. It took a few moments for him to realize what I was trying to do, and I had shoved the box into his arm before he finally did.

"I think that's quite a good fit. Sapphire to match her eyes, right?"

"Yes, but I don't know what your price range is so," I trailed off as I looked away.

"I'm paid too much for my own good. I'm sure I can afford this," he said as he took the case from me and angled it at different points.

"O-okay. If you say so, sir," I said as he seemed to think the necklace was acceptable.

"It was definitely a good idea to bring you here, I would have been deliberating a lot longer if I hadn't. I'll go pay for this," Hedrik said as he walked to the shop keeper. I found it hard to believe he had the money to pay for it on him, as no sane person would carry it with them, but I suppose he probably has some way of protecting himself and his money, as I heard that it's impossible to become a Brigadier General or higher without magical ability, though, I'd also heard of people with high status bypassing that rule.

Perhaps I was wrong about it, but the way Hedrik spoke to the supervisor earlier was definitely one of someone who actually had to command troops.

I sighed before giving up on thinking about it and looked at some of the hairpins that were for sale. I couldn't afford even the cheapest one as I wasn't given a weekly allowance like the other girls, but I could dream. I only got sadder when I saw a purple pearlescent and gold hairpin with a violet and leaves design that would have been cheap enough to buy had I been with my mother.

Enough dreaming of materialistic things, though. If I was going to spend the money, it may as well be on a book, which would last perhaps not as long but would be far more helpful to me. A book about Astrya would be nice to read, as all I've ever heard about it was from my mother who lived her whole life in Saxony.

"See anything you like?" Hedrik asked me as he tucks the wrapped box of what he just bought into some pocket in his jacket.

"Yes, that one," I said as I pointed out the hair pin I saw before while continuing, "But nothing worth buying."

"And why's that?" Hedrik asked with genuine curiosity.

"I could spend the money of that one hairpin on three history books that would bring me far more entertainment, not that I have the money anyway," I said as I gestured for him to follow me out of the shop.

Hedrik took another glance at the hair ornament before he followed me out while he said, "I don't know many people that would turn down something like that for a book. Granted, with the men I'm usually around it's overpriced drinks and not hairpins, but the same principle applys, nonetheless. If you really want, I brought a few with me for light reading when I want to clear my head."

"You brought a few history books for light reading?" I asked in disbelief as we walked down the street of the market place, merchants still calling out their wares from their stands on top the cobblestone ground despite how late it was.

"Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous, but I enjoy the change from newspapers and government reports," Hedrik responded with a smile as we walked past a restaurant that smelled absolutely wonderful.

"I would think that they'd be similar, though," I said as we walked past a dessert stand selling desserts that originated from the nearby province. Then one selling the most was a pastry made in the shape of a fish out of fried dough with red bean in it.

"The wording gives me a break from what I usually read. Have you eaten yet, by the way?" Hedrik asked me as we passed another restaurant that taunted be with their delicious smell before I realized I hadn't eaten the whole day. I missed breakfast at six and we don't get lunch, not to mention I'll probably miss dinner too at this rate as it's served when most of the girls get back around an hour from now.

"No, I haven't, why?" I asked as I looked up at Hedrik's face as he did tower over me.

"The food they served us today wasn't that good so I didn't eat much. Do you know any place that sells good food?" Hedrik asked me as we move to the side and look around.

"No, we're never allowed to come here for food. Only jewelry and clothing," I said apologetically.

"That's fine, I think anything will work at this point. Shall we?" Hedrik asked with a joking smile as he holds out his hand to me.

I raised an eyebrow at him before I relaxed and smiled at him while took his hand saying, "We shall."