044 Manning the floor

Shaking Azel by the shoulders, Gryphon rebuked the zombie. Whilst the experienced mage was working on enchanting some items in the back and, in his foolishness, left Azel to man the front desk. The zombie was a quick learner, so Gryphon thought this would be fine, but he had forgotten quite how much empathy he lacked.

After finishing up on enchanting a cloak to brush off arrows like they were falling leaves, Gryphon checked in on Azel to find him mid conversation with a customer. Standing behind the door frame, the old man found himself listening in on their dialogue.

"...Well can you recommend anything?" Asked the customer, who was clearly distressed. Gryphon nodded in thought, a desperate customer was an easy one. Just give them some words of reassurance and they'll buy anything.

The zombie, who was leaning back in Gryphons armchair with an unfounded sense of confidence just shook his head, "It's not like I make a commission if I help you out, why would I bother?"

Feeling a fly leap into his wide open mouth, Gryphon tried his best to choke silently as a vein pulsed on his forehead. How dare this corpse show such a disregard for his esteemed customers? For such an out of the way store like his, Gryphon was reliant on regulars coming in, a small bad rumour could spell the end for the old mans business.

"How about this," Started Azel, "There's a much nicer magic shop back up the road and on the left. I think it's called 'The blasting Cauldron'? I'm sure they can help you out with whatever you need."

Gryphon saw red. He didn't even stop to think before surging forward and grabbing Azel by the shoulders, shaking him vigorously. The zombie's head lolled back and forth as his vacant eyes finally met Gryphon's burning glare.

"Azel, you half-rotted turnip! What do you think you're doing?!" Gryphon barked, his voice a mix of exasperation and barely restrained fury. "We're supposed to be selling things here, not sending customers straight into the arms of our competitors!"

Azel blinked, unimpressed. "But they are better, though. We both know it."

The customer, who had been watching the exchange with growing amusement, took a hesitant step back. "Uh, maybe I should just—"

"NO!" Gryphon spun on his heel, plastering the most strained, customer-friendly smile onto his face. "No, dear patron, please! Stay! Azel was just, uh, testing you. Yes, a test! To see if you were truly committed to finding the best magical items for your needs!"

Azel crossed his arms and slumped further into the chair. "That's not what I was doing."

Gryphon stomped on the zombie's foot, causing a dry, hollow thud. "What my wonderful assistant here meant to say," he continued through gritted teeth, "is that we offer a variety of high-quality enchanted wares that can suit any budget and need. Now, tell me, what exactly are you looking for?" His voice carried an edge of desperation.

The customer hesitated, glancing between the disinterested zombie and the sweating shopkeeper before clearing his throat. "I need something for protection," he admitted. "I've been traveling a lot lately, and I keep getting jumped by bandits."

Gryphon instantly brightened. "Ah! Perfect! We actually have just the thing!" He hurried to the back, pushing aside dusty curtains to retrieve the freshly enchanted cloak. "This beauty here will make arrows slide right off you, like leaves in the wind! It's durable, stylish, and an absolute steal for—"

"Too expensive," Azel interrupted. "He looks broke."

Gryphon let out a strangled noise as the customer frowned, reaching for his pouch with a sheepish expression. "I, uh, don't have much..."

Before Gryphon could salvage the situation, Azel stretched and stood up. "You know what would be cheaper? Hiring a few extra people to travel with you. Maybe even bribing the bandits instead of getting shot at. Less painful, too."

Gryphon grabbed the zombie by the collar and yanked him backward with the strength of a man clinging desperately to his livelihood. "Excuse us just a moment!" he said through gritted teeth, dragging Azel toward the back room.

Once they were out of earshot, Gryphon whirled on him. "Are you actively trying to run my shop into the ground?!"

Azel tilted his head. "No. If I wanted that, I'd burn it down."

He showed the old man an outstretched finger and the two watched as a small candle flame grew on his index finger in response to Azel's brief chant. "See? I've gotten pretty good at it."

Gryphon massaged his temples. "Why—why do you have to be like this? Do you want to get thrown back in the grave? Because I have a shovel. I can make it happen."

zel flicked his finger, extinguishing the flame, and gave Gryphon a lazy shrug. "I don't see the issue. You always complain about how much work running this place is. I thought you'd be happy if fewer customers bothered you."

Gryphon dragged a hand down his face. "Azel. You absolute menace. That's not how business works! We want customers. We need customers. If we don't make money, we don't eat!"

"I don't eat anyway," Azel pointed out, tilting his head. "And you're talking like you've ever bothered paying me more then minimum wage."

Gryphon felt a fresh wave of exhaustion wash over him. "Right. Well, I eat, and I'd like to keep it that way. Which means we need sales, which means you need to stop scaring off my customers!"

Azel hummed, considering this. "...I think your customers scare too easily."

Gryphon threw up his hands and hissed in a low voice. "Oh, forgive me for not attracting battle-hardened adventurers who don't flinch when my undead assistant suggests arson!"

Before Azel could respond, a hesitant voice called from the front. "Uh, is everything alright back there? Should I come back later?"

Gryphon slapped on his best merchant's smile and strode back into the shop, leaving Azel to trail behind him. "No, no! Everything is perfectly fine! My assistant was just—ah—reminding me about a special discount we have today!" He shot Azel a warning look. "Isn't that right, Azel?"

Azel stared at him, then at the customer, then back at Gryphon. "...Sure."

"See? Excellent!" Gryphon clapped his hands together. "Now, since you're looking for protection, how about this cloak? Normally, it's thirty notes, but just for you, I'll let it go for twenty! A rare deal! One-time offer! Absolutely the best you'll find!"

Scratching his neck, the customer whispered, "I'm only really allowed to spend ten notes, would that work?"

Gryphon's eye twitched, but he refused to let the sale slip through his fingers. He forced his best merchant's smile, though it probably looked more like a grimace. "Ah, ten notes! Well, that's certainly… a challenge. But fear not! I am nothing if not a generous businessman."

"Alright, my fine customer! Here's what I'll do." Gryphon held up a single finger, as if presenting the most brilliant idea ever conceived. "We stick with twenty notes, and I'll throw in an extra minor enchantment. Just a little something to, say… lessen the impact of blunt force attacks! That way, you won't just avoid arrows—you'll also walk away from a club to the ribs with minimal bruising."

The customer hesitated, then brightened. "Really? That'd be great!"

Gryphon forced his grin wider. "Of course! That's the kind of premium service you get here at—"

"The Blasting Cauldron could probably do that for free," Azel mused aloud, reclining back into Gryphon's chair again. "Might even throw in a second enchantment if you ask nicely."

Gryphon's entire body stiffened. Slowly, mechanically, he turned to face Azel, his hands clenched into trembling fists. "Azel, my dear, sweet assistant. If you do not stop talking, I will personally ensure that your grave is at the bottom of the ocean."

Azel blinked at him, a smug smile playing his face, "Yes sir."

The customer awkwardly shifted on his feet, glancing between the two. "Uh, so… deal?"

Gryphon exhaled through his nose, forcing his expression into something resembling warmth. "Deal! Just—ah—give me a moment to apply the enhancement!"

Hurrying into the back, Gryphon grabbed a spare rune stone, channelled a small spell into it, and slapped it onto the cloak's inner lining. It wasn't the best work he'd ever done, but it would hold up against at least a few solid whacks. Returning to the counter, he presented the cloak with a flourish.

"Here you are! Light as a feather, tough as steel, and now with just a pinch of extra protection against anything that tries to break your ribs!" He extended his hand. "Ten notes, please!"

The customer eagerly counted out his coins and handed them over before pulling the cloak around his shoulders. He gave a few experimental tugs and nodded in satisfaction. "Feels great! Thanks, sir!"

"Oh, anytime, anytime! Spread the word about our fine establishment!" Gryphon said, waving him off. Only when the door shut behind the customer did he slump onto the counter, rubbing his temples.

"You seem unusually hyper today," Observed Azel, "Maybe you should have a cup of tea and take a break?"

Gryphon shot him a weary glare. "I am going to have a heart attack before the week is over."

"Mm. Sounds expensive. You should probably sell more cloaks."