[Chapter 30 - Memento Vivere : Remember To Live Pt. 3]

I stood near the carriage taking a moment to process my surroundings. The roads were a bit more spacious and lined with purpose placed stones creating a near seamless road. The people were dressed comfortably and there was a noticeable amount of recreation based buildings such as restaurants ; We were in the middle sections of Lindor.

As my eyes wandered a strong grasp appeared around my arm. Turning to see what, I saw Cere beside me with her arm locked in mine holding firm.

"Eh wha?!" I made a startled noise as a weight appeared on my chest

Cere looked at me with a confused expression"I'm still blind" she smiled and chuckled lightly as I became obviously uncomfortable

"You're not going to make me fight through all of these people with a cane are you?"

"No, of course not!" I replied

She nodded "Good" she began to walk, pulling me to follow "Now come with me. I don't get to do this very often and before anything I'd like to visit my favorite place."

She seemed so excited. I haven't known her long but Cere usually seems like the calm and collected type. But since we have left she's noticeably different, happier.

A bell chimed as we opened and walked through the doorway. In front of us was a seemingly empty shop, though only in terms of people. In regards to items the room of wood and stone was practically overfilled. From display cases to shelves and racks on the wall were all kinds of trinkets.

Soon the curtained doorway behind the counter was pushed aside and a small older woman came out.

"Oh Cere, I thought that was you" the woman spoke with a large smile appearing across her wrinkled face.

I felt the grip on my arm disappear as Cere practically ran into the woman's arms exchanging a large hug.

"Hello Ms. Gwynda!" Cere spoke cheerfully. She seemed almost childlike compared to usual.

After greeting one another the woman directed her attention to me "Hello dear you must be Elwen." She lowered her head slightly in a bow "It is nice to meet you, I apologize that I cannot courtesy properly I fear my knees would not allow me back up if I did" she laughed lightheartedly

I smiled back somewhat awkwardly "No please it's no worry at all! Though may I ask what exactly this shop is?"

"An assortment of various magic tools and trinkets made by myself. Using different mana items such as soul stones I craft" she raised her hand to a brush on the shelf by her "a brush that can manipulate the structure of your hair from straight to curly and back, or" she lowered in reference to a small metallic orb in the glass case on the counter "a sphere that can be placed in any liquid to warm it almost instantly" she pulled her hand back "And a little bit of everything in between"

"Wow" my eyes fixated on the orb "I had no clue such a thing could be done"

The old lady chuckled "I can tell you are a warrior but contrary to what you may believe not all magic is destructive"

"Oh, no, I" I was flustered. In panic I looked to Cere who simply smiled before she began wandering across the shop trailing her fingertips across various items before stopping to pick one up and examine it.

"Young man, come with me for a moment." she waved me behind the counter

I followed over and she lifted the curtain to the back of the shop

In a stressed and hushed voice I spoke "What about Cere, doesn't she need someone to help her around all the cases?"

The woman chuckled before speaking back in a hushed voice, but seemingly to mock mine and my serious approach "Oh come now, you don't really believe that?"

I looked at Cere. To be honest, she's right, that wasn't the reason. It was more just that I didn't want to talk one on one with someone who seemed so important to her. I didn't want to mess anything up.

But it was too late. The old lady saw through me and as I took my gaze off Cere I headed through the doorway into the back.

The room was a small bed in the corner and besides that, a plethora of workbenches and various tools from wall to wall. It was a craftsman's dream.

"What is this?" I found the words escaping my mouth as my gaze brushed across the room. Despite its cluttered appearance everything seemed organized somehow ; and there was not a speck of dust to be found. Not to mention almost every different station had some partially finished project in the middle being worked on.

"This is where I make everything you see out there. But that's not what's important right now." she waved her hand to disregard my awe. Waddling back towards the bed she groaned and reached down pulling out a large open top crate from under the mattress. "I have something for you"

"Oh?"

She shuffled in the crate "Well I suppose one is for you" she pulled a rapier out and walked over to me holding it gently sheathed in both hands "One is for you to return"

"Return?"

"This sword once belonged to a man you know quite well. I believe he is still in your service?"

"Louse?" I said somewhat confused

The old woman nodded softly as she handed the sword to me before pulling out a necklace. It was a woven plant fiber that came to an end wrapping around a tooth pendant. As it dangled in her grasp "And this is yours, well your fathers at least."

"What!?"

She chuckled "I am in my 160's dear, I have been around long enough to know some things. How about we just let this be a simple gift and nothing more" she smiled

I was taken aback at the reference to my father but at the same time I couldn't help thinking that she looked incredibly old. I thought 160's wasn't all that old for an elf. I mean my mother is older than that for sure

A voice appeared in my head <"Correct. This is due to the Vinswain family being High Elves, meaning they are Elves mostly descended from the nobility of the original High Elf Kingdom. All of the current nobility in the FSE have some level of high elf pedigree as a way to establish class, increase lifespan, and in hopes raise their chance for powerful skills. The original Elven tribes had lifespans closer to that of humans in your previous life. Since even the standard population of the High elf kingdom had a higher lifespan overtime the standard age of an FSE Elf increased,">

I spoke inside my head 'But the purer blood is still kept at the top so that they outlive everyone else'. I was beginning to understand how things worked…

<"Correct. This was achieved through generations of curated marriages and breeding. However as the FSE was formed to unite the tribes and kingdom this all began with an initial combination of 50:50 between heads of Elven tribes and heads of High Elf royalty. So even now the pinnacle of lifespan potential is only around twice the standard FSE Elf age of 180.">

'I see. Not the history lesson I was expecting right now but thank you'

Looking at the tooth pendant necklaces dangling I reached to accept it from the woman. She happily gave it up then began to direct me back into the front room.

"I'm so glad the two of you were able to stop by, I apologize but I'm afraid I need to return to my work but don't be a stranger dear"

Cere turned and smiled "No need to apologize at all". I began making my way to her sliding the necklace into a pouch and holding the rapier in my arm. She grabbed onto my other arm and after exchanging final farewells we made our exit and began walking along the bustling streets

"That woman was very kind" I spoke up to break the silence

With a smile and nod she replied "Yes. She took care of me for most of my life, up until I went to live where I do now actually. She was the one who was by my side after I lost my sight"

"I understand your father being busy but was your mother as well?"

Her face saddened "No, she passed when I was little"

"Sorry, I won't ask any further. How about lunch" I spoke optimistically, trying to brighten the mood.

Seemingly well received, Cere nodded "Yes, let's" and we continued making our way, now with the goal of finding somewhere for lunch in mind.