Chapter 107: The Dwarven Forge

"Gray, does it look good?" Michelle gathered her courage and stood timidly before Ethan.

"Yes. Beautiful beyond words." Ethan smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.

"What about us?" Ilika said from behind him, sounding displeased.

"Well, how should I put it? If I were a noble, I would definitely propose to you two." Ethan replied with a grin.

"Hmph, that's more like it." Ilika glanced at Lisanna, whose eyes had dimmed.

"We'll take all of these. Don't forget to pay." Ilika said irritably, then pulled the two girls into the fitting room. Behind them came Ethan's cries of anguish.

"Ilika, isn't this a little wrong?" Lisanna felt that Ethan was only a manservant, and that his yearly wages probably would not even buy one of the clothes he was wearing.

"What, you're feeling sorry for him?" Ilika leaned in and whispered into Lisanna's ear.

"No, I just think this is improper." Lisanna murmured.

"Michelle, right? How did you meet Gray?" Ilika suddenly asked the girl beside her.

"Oh, Miss Ilika, I... Gray saved my little sister yesterday. My sister was hurt in an accident with ephedra, and Gray helped us." Michelle said softly.

"I knew it. This guy definitely has a private stash of money." Ilika laughed. "How is your sister now? Did you send for a priest?"

"Yes." Michelle blushed. Yesterday Uncle Mus had gone to fetch a priest, but the man had excused himself by saying he had matters to attend to and still had not come. In the end, Michelle had no choice but to use the money in Ethan's pocket, and only then did the priest finally arrive.

"That's good. I hope your sister recovers soon," Lisanna said.

"Thank you."

"This dress is nice. Try it on." Ilika suddenly held up a lacy gown and offered it to Michelle.

"Miss Ilika!" Michelle's face instantly reddened.

"It's all right. And this, too." Ilika smiled and took out a small shoulder wrap that would just cover her delicate shoulders.

"Go on and change. It will definitely look lovely on you," Ilika urged.

"Then thank you, Miss Ilika." Michelle said timidly.

"Hey." Lisanna protested.

"You should try it too. Maybe that guy will really be moved." Ilika's words struck Lisanna straight in the heart. She gritted her teeth, took the gown from Ilika, and went into the fitting room.

"Ah." Ilika sighed. After changing into her own clothes, she came out and saw Ethan gazing out the window. Smiling, she asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Oh, Miss Ilika!" Ethan turned and smiled. "Just watching the scenery."

"Is the view outside better than the one in here?" Ilika said with a pout. "Don't call me Miss anymore. Just call me Ilika." She sat down in the chair beside him. "Gray, do you know? Lisanna is a very good girl."

"Yes, very capable." Ethan smiled.

"Really?" Ilika gave him a sidelong glance. Just then, Lisanna came out first.

"Gray, how do I look?"

At that moment, Lisanna wore a pale yellow dress that reached to her knees, giving her a lively, mischievous charm. Yet the cut across the chest made her full figure stand out with irresistible force. Her lovely face, combined with her spirited expression, created a beauty that was hard to put into words, a beauty that made one feel the urge to conquer.

Ethan let out a low whistle.

Lisanna's face turned crimson at once. She hurriedly covered her chest with her hand. Damn this dress—why was it designed this way? It only made her already ample curves seem even more prominent, so much so that she felt she might die of embarrassment.

"I think if you walked across the academy campus, the line of boys wanting to confess to you would stretch all the way from the Beast Domain to the gate!" Ethan praised.

Lisanna flushed even darker. She stamped her foot lightly, then fled back into the fitting room.

Ilika gave Ethan another sidelong glance but said nothing. Then Michelle came out timidly.

"Gray, you're not allowed to laugh at me."

"You'd better not dazzle me too much!" Ethan said with a smile.

Michelle bit her lip, but in the end she still turned and stepped out.

"An angel has descended." Ethan suddenly blurted out. Even he had forgotten where he had heard that line, but at that moment there truly were no words adequate to describe her.

"Yes, I agree." Ilika, too, nodded blankly. If only the little shoulder wrap could be taken off, it would be even better.

"No." Michelle immediately covered her shoulders and fled back into the fitting room.

"She's absolutely beautiful." Even the sales clerk stood there, dazed and enthralled.

"By the way, please pack up the clothes from earlier for me, and Miss Ilika's as well. Also, could you help me pick out a few pieces of clothing for a little girl of seven or eight? Thank you."

"Michelle's sister?" Ilika asked.

"Yes." Ethan nodded.

Just then Michelle came out wearing her loose, worn old clothes again, and the angel had turned back into Cinderella.

"What a pity," Ilika murmured.

"Sir, there are eleven garments in total, coming to thirty gold coins. Do you have a membership card?" the pretty sales clerk asked gently.

"Thank you, I don't. May I just pay directly?" Ethan asked.

"Of course. This way, please." She extended a hand and led Ethan to the counter.

"Good heavens, this guy is really loaded." Ilika frowned. Thirty gold coins—for a manservant, that should have been an astronomical sum, yet Ethan seemed not to care in the least.

Lost in thought, Ilika looked down. Over there, Lisanna had come out.

"What is it?" Lisanna asked.

Ilika shook her head. "Nothing."

"Where are you two going?" Ethan asked, carrying a heap of bags.

"We still want to look around. What about you?" Ilika said.

"I'm going to Michelle's house to check on Elia," Ethan replied.

"Then all right. We won't disturb you." Lisanna wanted to go, but was too shy to say so, and could only bid the two of them farewell.

"All right. Take your time shopping and have fun." Ethan smiled, then left with Michelle.

"Hey, hey, come back to your senses." Ilika waved a hand in front of the dazed Lisanna. "Give up."

"Why?" Lisanna asked.

"He's not interested in you," Ilika said.

"Oh, really?" Lisanna's voice fell.

"It's not because of you. It's because of him," Ilika comforted her.

Lisanna looked at her companion in confusion.

"He isn't interested in anything at all. Not you, not me, not Michelle—nothing." Ilika said suddenly.

"What do you mean?" Lisanna did not understand.

"He is like a passerby. No matter how beautiful the scenery is here, in his heart it is only a fleeting glance, leaving not a trace behind." Ilika sighed. "That's the feeling he gives me."

Tears suddenly slipped down Lisanna's cheeks.

"Cry if you need to. Once you've cried, it'll be all right." Ilika gently pulled Lisanna into her arms. "Cry."

Lisanna began to sob loudly.

"Cry. Once you've cried, it'll be all right." Ilika softly patted the girl's back.

Michelle brought Ethan home. Along the way, Ethan bought some food to nourish Elia.

"Thank you," Michelle said softly to Ethan, who was loaded down with bags.

"It's nothing." Ethan smiled. "Anyone would have done the same."

"Big brother, thank you." Elia lay weakly on the bed and spoke to Ethan.

"It's all right. Getting well soon is the greatest thanks you can give me." Ethan lightly stroked the girl's thin cheek and casually tucked a little yellow flower behind her ear. "Today, big brother will make you something delicious!"

"Michelle, have you thought about what you'll do in the future?" Ethan asked while busying himself in the simple kitchen.

"What?" Michelle did not understand.

"Elia needs nourishment. If you spend every day selling flowers, will you have time to care for her?" Ethan said as he sliced beef.

"What should I do, then?" Michelle panicked a little. Ethan was telling the truth; selling flowers alone would not let her care for Elia at all. More importantly, the two of them already struggled just to eat their fill, let alone get proper nutrition.

"How about going to the academy?" Ethan asked.

Michelle drew in a sharp breath. The academy? That was something she would not even dare to imagine.

"Whatever else happens, if you go to the academy you'll have a stable job. And there, you won't need to worry about Elia's condition. With me there, it will also be easier to take care of her." Ethan said. "Though it isn't serious, Elia will still need another two months before she is fully recovered."

Michelle bit her lip. "But I don't know how to do anything. Why would anyone want me?"

Ethan smiled. "You can learn if you don't know. The key is whether you want to go." He set down the tools in his hands. "Tomorrow, then. If you're willing, come to the academy tomorrow and find me. I'll take you both in."

"Thank you, Gray." Tears welled up at once in Michelle's eyes.

"I already told you, anyone would have done the same. It's nothing." Ethan lowered his head and continued working. "Go keep Elia company. Today I'll make sure the two of you are amazed!"

"Wow!" Elia's eyes practically sparkled. "Beef! And other meats too!" She could not help swallowing.

Michelle immediately covered her mouth.

"Try big brother's cooking. I don't think you'll be disappointed." Ethan moved a small table onto the bed so that Elia could eat without getting up.

"It smells wonderful!" Elia exclaimed.

"Then taste it." Ethan smiled and gently brought a piece of beef to her lips.

"Mmm, delicious!" Elia chewed happily. "Sister, you should eat too!" As she spoke, Elia speared a piece of beef with her fork and handed it to Michelle.

"Mm, I'll eat too." Michelle forced back her tears and took a bite.

"I'm leaving now. Be good, listen to your sister, and rest well!" Ethan patted Elia's little face. "Also, see you tomorrow." He whispered the last words into the girl's ear.

"Let me see you off, Gray," Michelle said shyly.

"It's fine. I'm going." Ethan smiled.

After leaving Michelle's house, Ethan looked around, then turned and headed in the direction Old Ralph had told him about. "What was I supposed to bring again? Ah, right—wine!" He struck his fist into his palm. "If only I'd brought the wine gourd."

His treasured gourd had been stepped on by the elephant bear, and amazingly, it had not shattered. Ethan had been overjoyed, and after returning he had put it away carefully, never carrying it with him. This time, because the trip had been unexpected, he had forgotten to bring the most suitable thing.

"I'll just buy a couple of bottles," Ethan thought. Looking around, he walked straight into a tavern.

"Boss, give me your two best bottles of wine. I need to take them with me." The owner, who was wiping glasses, glanced at Ethan and then lowered his head again to continue his work.

"Ha! Kid, the only place wine from a tavern can go is into your own belly. You can't take it away." A drunk nearby burped and said with a grin.

"Oh, thanks." Ethan smiled, then said to the owner, "Please give me a glass of wine. Thank you." With that, he placed a silver coin on the table and pushed it forward.

The owner looked at him, set down the glass in his hand, poured Ethan a cup, and tossed it over casually.

"Thank you." Ethan caught it easily and took a sip. It had a strange taste; he still did not like it, but he drank it all the same.

He set the cup down lightly and stood to leave. The owner glanced up at him, then went back to his work. Once outside, Ethan scratched his head and stopped a young man.

"Excuse me, is there anywhere here that sells wine I can take away?"

"Oh, the general store will do." The young man smiled. "If you want good wine, the one over there run by Uncle Rom is pretty good." He pointed ahead.

"Oh, thank you."

"You're welcome." The other waved and left.

"Welcome. What can I do for you?" A genial middle-aged man said warmly.

"Please give me two bottles of your best wine."

"Certainly." The man took out two bottles. "That'll be twenty-five copper coins."

"How far is the blacksmith's shop?" Ethan asked casually.

"Oh? Are you looking to have something made?" the man asked with a smile.

"Yes. Old Ralph said the craftsmanship over there is the best, so I came to have a look."

"Just don't mention to that fellow that you were introduced by Ralph!" the man suddenly laughed.

"Why is that?" Ethan asked in surprise.

"Heh heh, that's a matter between two drunkards. By the way, let me change these two bottles for you; he doesn't like this wine." The man smiled.

"It's fine. Just give me two more bottles." Ethan said.

"That works. That fellow can really drink. And his temper's a bit fiery, so you'd better be prepared." The man laughed, then produced two bottles of wine for Ethan.

"How much?"

"Consider it a gift." The man smiled. "This wine isn't worth much, but he likes it best."

"That won't do. What kind of business doesn't take payment?" Ethan said with a smile, then handed over five copper coins.

"All right then, I'll just take one." The man plucked one coin from Ethan's hand.

"By the way, young man, that fellow is a dwarf. Don't be surprised, all right? If you startle him, then no matter what you say, he won't forge anything for you in anger."

"Oh, thank you." Ethan said politely.

"Come again when you have time." The man waved. A polite young man like this was truly rare.

After taking his leave of the general store owner, Ethan wandered around a bit more and finally spotted a small chimney by an empty riverside. Hanging outside was a hammer.

"Anyone home?" Ethan knocked on the door. It was not locked, so he peered inside. The place looked fairly large, but it seemed there was no one there.

"How troublesome." Ethan felt he had made the trip for nothing. But just turning back felt a little unwilling. Forget it. Seeing two wooden stools by the riverbank, he carried them over and lay down comfortably on top of them.

The warm afternoon breeze was gentle, and Ethan closed his eyes in contentment.

As he dozed off, a thunderclap exploded beside his ear.

"Stranger, what are you doing here?"

Ethan sprang upright at once, looking around wildly, and finally saw beside him a childlike figure drinking from his own bottle of wine.

"Stranger, what do you want here?"

Ethan's lips curled upward. Although he had been prepared, he was still amused by the dwarf before him.

The dwarf stood only as high as Ethan's thigh, at most about three feet tall, but the long beard trailing all the way to the ground told anyone at a glance that this was a full-grown adult.

Beneath the tangled beard was a dark, rugged face, streaked with soot.

Most striking of all were his arms, which were even thicker than Ethan's thighs.

A master. That thought flashed through Ethan's mind.