“Are you sure we can do this?” Isabella asked,
“Of course,” Alexandria replied, “it’s my early birthday present to you and your sisters,”
“We really appreciate it, it’s going to make this party so great!” Jacob chimed in,
“Oh trust me, it will,” Alexandria said, “plus, it’s not like I’m giving it away for free,” she explained, “I’ll pay for it, and once you’re all finished, I can put it back,”
“Thank you so much Alexandria!!” Isabella said, wrapping her arms around her friend,
“Easy!” Alexandria exclaimed, feeling the small box being squished between them,
“Sorry Lex!” Isabella jumped backwards, almost knocking a whole shelf over in the process. Luckily her boyfriend was there to guide her in the right direction,
“Now c’mon, I’m still working. I’ll see you all later. Have fun!” She said, handing over the box carefully, “and remember all the rules I told you!”
“Yeah we got it,” Isabella started, “don’t open it until everyone is there, don’t touch her, and don’t piss her off,”
“Close enough,” Alexandria said, sarcastically, “sorry I couldn’t come!”
“We understand, don’t worry! We’ll send photos!!”
“Please do,” Alexandria said. She watched as her two friends left the store, the bell ringing as the door swung closed.
“They paid, didn’t they?” A voice suddenly said from behind. A little flustered, Alexandria spun around. She didn’t see anyone, then she realised…
“Oh right, sorry,” she took a glass sphere off of one of the shelves. Within the sphere was the face of the wise Shop-Keeper still ‘out-of-town’ collecting some new artefacts and products from a number of distant villages and cities in a number of distant realms, “I bought it for them, and they’re bringing it back,”
“Hmm, I see,” he said, understanding, “they’re your friends?” He asked,
“Yeah. I’ve known one of them since I was barely a one-year-old,”
“I see, I see,” he expressed. He placed his hand on his beard, stroking it briefly, “I’ll make you a little agreement, Alexandria,”
“Okay…” she said, hesitantly,
“You close the shop,” he started, clearing his throat in between, “then practice your summoning spells, your shielding spells, and study the runes I taught you yesterday, I’ll pay allow them to take the item for free,”
“No no, it’s really okay, it’s a birthday present from me,” she explained,
“I understand, but I insist,” he insisted.
Alexandria hesitated for a moment, she sighed, “okay. And please don’t think I need a reward to study magic, I was going to do it regardless,”
“Exactly,” the shopkeeper said, “it’s more of a treat,” he said,
“As opposed to a trick?” Alexandria joked,
“Clever,” the shopkeeper said. He changed the subject, “I should be back by tomorrow, I’ll call you when I’m on my way,”
“Understood,” Alexandria said. She flicked her wrist, looking over her shoulder to see the ‘OPEN’ sign turn around to read ‘CLOSED’, “perfect,” she said to herself,
“Now don’t waste the full moon,” the shopkeeper said, “keep in touch,” he finished, his face suddenly evaporating into smoke as the glass ball clouded with a grey cloud, before clearing up and becoming perfectly transparent.
Alexandria took a breath, returning the ball to the shelf.
She had cancelled on a party to focus on her magic. Maybe next time…
———
Isabella and Jacob approached the house. Bianca’s house.
She looked down at the box, feeling it moving. It was moving rhythmically, with a beat. Whatever was inside… it wanted to party.