After several minutes of uninterrupted work, Ellen’s shop looked like a battlefield made of fabrics, needles, asuring tapes, and scraps of clothing.
The woman moved from one side of the room to the other with surprising speed for soone her age.
She took asurents, cut fabric, sewed, muttered insults about the quality of certain materials, sewed so more, and finally, after what felt like an eternity, stepped back and proudly admired her work.
"Done."
Nox raised an eyebrow.
Ellen pointed toward the three won accompanying him, and Nox stared at them for several seconds.
Audrey was wearing an elegant black dress that perfectly accentuated her figure. The dark coat accompanying it was discreet, but clearly expensive.
Misty wore almost the sa style, though modified to allow her greater freedom of movent.
And Tessa...
Tessa looked like royalty.
The dark dress matched her red hair perfectly. For a mont, it was hard to imagine that she had once been an inquisitor.
Nox blinked several tis.
Damn. They look like a group of fem fatales. They literally look like the protagonists of a spy movie.
Audrey adjusted the collar of her coat.
"I feel pretty warm wearing this."
Ellen didn’t even look up.
"Do you want to be comfortable, or do you want to blend in?"
Audrey fell silent.
Misty started laughing.
"I feel like if I throw one really strong kick, I’m going to tear this thing apart."
Ellen pointed her pipe at her.
"If you want flexible fabrics, you’ll have to pay. A lot."
"I was joking."
"You’d better be."
Misty kept laughing.
"Alright, alright. I like it."
Tessa examined her sleeves.
"It’s perfect for ."
Nox looked at her.
"Really?"
"Yes."
The forr inquisitor adjusted a lock of her hair.
"I don’t usually wear clothes this feminine."
Then she smiled faintly.
"But if I walked around dressed like before, anyone would know I used to be an inquisitor."
"Good point."
Nox crossed his arms and looked at the three won again.
I can’t believe this is my villain group. A psychotic huntress. A dancer who can cut mountains apart. And a forr inquisitor who ca back from the dead. What the hell am I doing with my life?
Misty noticed his expression.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"You’re smiling."
"Nothing important."
Misty smiled back.
"Sure."
Nox cleared his throat.
"Anyway. What about ?"
Ellen released a cloud of smoke.
"You’re the biggest problem."
"Thanks, I already knew that."
"That wasn’t a complint."
The woman pointed toward a door at the back of the shop.
"Co with ."
Nox sighed.
"That doesn’t sound suspicious at all."
"Move."
"Yes, ma’am."
"Don’t call ma’am."
"Of course, miss."
Ellen nearly hit him with her pipe.
◇◆◇
Fifteen minutes later, Misty was chatting with Catherine, Audrey was pretending to inspect so fabrics, and Tessa was pretending to inspect others.
The two still refused to acknowledge each other.
And Felix was asleep on top of a mountain of folded clothes.
Then the back room door opened.
Every gaze turned toward it.
Silence filled the shop.
Nox walked out slowly.
"What?"
Nobody answered.
"Why are you looking at like that?"
Audrey was the first to speak.
"If you could see yourself right now..."
Misty’s eyes widened.
"He doesn’t look like a demon."
"That’s a good thing."
Ellen appeared behind him, smiling proudly.
"I told you that you could trust ."
Nox was now wearing a large black hat that perfectly concealed his horns.
He also wore an elegant dark suit, black boots, leather gloves, and a long coat that completely hid his demonic tail.
But the most shocking change was his face.
His red skin was gone.
Now it had a pale complexion, almost human.
Nox coughed.
"I think I’m allergic to sothing you put on ."
Ellen burst out laughing.
"Don’t be dramatic."
"My face itches."
"It’s sunflower-tooth flower pollen."
"What?"
"A mountain plant."
"And that’s safe?"
"Completely."
Nox coughed again.
"I’m not convinced."
Misty was still staring at him.
"I can’t believe you’re the sa demon."
"Thanks... I guess."
Ellen smiled with satisfaction.
"Job finished."
Nox adjusted his hat.
"I hate these clothes."
"You look fantastic."
"I feel weird."
"That ans it worked."
Nox sighed.
"Thank you, ma’am."
The woman raised her pipe.
"Don’t call ma’am again."
"Whatever you say, ma’am."
"Get out of my shop."
Everyone started laughing.
Even Audrey.
◇◆◇
Once the laughter finally died down, Nox looked toward Catherine.
"By the way."
The cat girl lifted the ears on her hood.
"Yes?"
"Thanks for helping us."
Catherine smiled.
"It was nothing."
"Now we need to find sowhere to sleep."
The girl tilted her head.
"Felix and I sleep beneath the roof of the Grand Theater in the Eastern Plaza."
Nox blinked.
"Oh, wow..."
"Do you want to co?"
"No, thanks."
Catherine looked confused.
"No?"
"I want a bed."
"I can make a bed out of wooden boards."
Nox felt his soul leave his body.
"I need an inn."
"What’s an inn?"
Misty started laughing.
Ellen joined in as well.
"For a few silver coins, you can stay in my basent."
Nox looked at her.
"Is everyone in this city a codian?"
"My offer was serious."
"I want a bed."
"Demanding."
"I want to sleep sowhere warm."
"Even more demanding."
Laughter filled the shop once again.
Even Felix lifted his head in confusion.
Then a serious voice spoke.
Tessa.
"Maybe I know a place."
Everyone looked at her.
The forr inquisitor crossed her arms.
"I have a contact."
Nox seed to regain hope.
"Does it have space and beds?"
"Yes."
"Several?"
"Yes."
"Heating?"
"Yes."
"Perfect."
Tessa sighed.
"I’m not sure I completely trust him."
Nox’s smile vanished.
"And why did you save that part for last?"
"Because it was important."
Nox rubbed his face.
"I just want to rest for a while."
Misty raised a hand.
" too."
Audrey nodded.
" too."
Then she pointed toward the door.
"And Claws too, if possible."
As if he had heard his na, the enormous bear growled from outside.
Tessa nodded slowly.
"I don’t think he’ll be a problem."
"Why?"
"Because my contact loves animals."
Audrey imdiately looked interested.
"I already like him more."
Then Misty walked over to Catherine and Felix.
"Hey."
The cat girl looked up.
"Yes?"
"Do you want to co with us?"
Tessa nearly choked.
"What?"
Misty smiled.
"There’s room, right?"
"I suppose."
Catherine looked at Felix for a few seconds.
"Really?"
"Of course."
Catherine’s eyes sparkled.
"Yes!"
Felix let out a happy little ow.
Tessa massaged her temples.
"Great."
"What?"
"There’s more and more of us."
Nox smiled.
"That ans we’re building a good group."
"That ans we’re going to need a house and a ans of transportation other than a bear."
"A problem for future us."
Misty burst out laughing.
Audrey shook her head.
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