As they soared through the air, Orion admired the beautiful view beneath them again. They glided past numerous homes and bustling districts until they arrived at an exceedingly crowded area brimming with many shops and stalls clustered together.
"We've arrived," Prince Alden said as he gently descended with Orion to one of the larger shops.
Upon landing, he steadied himself on his feet. "This shop is known for offering one of the finest attires in the kingdom. I'm confident we'll find something you like here," he said, smiling as he gestured for Orion to follow him inside.
Inside the shop, the shopkeeper had just finished his discussion with a few customers, showing them to the section where the attire they were looking for was located.
As soon as the door swung open, he hurried to attend to his customers, but his expression soured in displeasure upon recognizing a familiar face. Just as he was about to approach, anger and irritation clear on his face, he froze as the next person entered through the door.
The shop owner took a deep gulp as he locked eyes with the familiar face, then swiftly shifted his gaze to the wingless back and the attire tied around his waist.
Orion!
As the name of the figure emerged into his mind, he couldn't help but gulp in another deep breath. As one of the figures present at the border of the Pixie kingdom and having witnessed the official meeting between the royal family and Orion, he was familiar with the young man before him.
In fact, even before today, he was very familiar with the name Orion and all the deeds that he had done. And it wasn't only him but also the whole pixie race who was familiar with the name 'Orion', and anybody who wasn't familiar with it yet was probably living under a rock, which was very unlikely.
However, the shopkeeper couldn't help but become overwhelmed when such a person suddenly entered his shop. Almost instantly, the anger and irritation in his expression disappeared and were immediately replaced by a bright, wide smile enveloped by a soothing, welcoming aura.
Prince Alden observed all the changes that had unfolded in the area and couldn't suppress a smile as a glint flickered in his eyes.
The shopkeeper dashed forward and promptly stood before them. "Fourth Prince Alden and Mr Orion, it's an honour to meet you both. If you're here to select the finest attires in the Pixie kingdom, then you've come to the right place," he said, beaming brightly as he gestured for them to enter.
He personally escorted them towards the men's section with a warm smile.
"This attire is made from the amour root plant, offering minor protection against blunt attacks. Due to its characteristics, it's one of the most expensive and popular attires in the entire market," the shopkeeper explained.
Pointing to another set, he continued, "Now, this attire is crafted from the crown blossom flower and enhances your charm around the ladies with its manly scent." He then presented another option. "And this one is crafted from the fern-root plant, which grants stealth and allows you to seamlessly camouflage into your surroundings."
He carefully gauged their expressions as he showcased the various attires, some resembling leaves while others were woven into fabrics from the shelves. Each one held a distinct allure, and the shopkeeper awaited their decision, ensuring that he could tell which one caught their attention and then sell it to them.
Orion, however, curiously followed Prince Alden as the shopkeeper continued to pull out various attires from the shelves, explaining the plants they were made from and the unique characteristics each possessed.
Initially, he had assumed that Pixie attire was just ordinary garments crafted for wear, but he was surprised to find that they were anything but ordinary.
Nevertheless, he understood the uniqueness of the Garden and that the Pixies could also utilize nature energy, so it wasn't entirely unexpected. Nevertheless, Orion couldn't help but ponder the possibility of creating human-sized attire from these materials and the effort required.
If it was feasible, he was willing to give it a try.
"Feel free to choose whichever attire you like, Mr. Orion. The royal family will cover the expenses, so don't worry about the cost," Prince Alden said reassuringly. He assumed Orion hadn't made a choice because he might not know how to pay for attire, especially as a newcomer to the Pixie Kingdom. "However, if you find these attires too fancy for your taste, ordinary options are also available," he added.
Orion nodded in understanding and waited for the shopkeeper to showcase some of the finest attires in the shop before making his decision.
"I'll take this one," Orion said, walking toward a specific shelf and retrieving a piece of attire. It was a light blue shirt paired with matching trousers, perfectly sized for him.
Unlike the other attires the shopkeeper had presented, which seemed geared towards strength or providing various kinds of protection—none of which he required due to his own strength and resilience—this one simply caught his eye, not to mention how good it looked.
"Ah, an attire made from the Bluebell Breeze plant," the shopkeeper nodded knowingly, scrutinizing the garment. "Just like the Bluebell Breeze plant, it releases a scent capable of granting clarity of thought and enhancing intuition."
"Despite being as expensive to craft as the rest of the attire I've shown you due to the nature of the plant it's derived from, its effects are not as potent as the others. This leads to its rarity in harvest and production. Also, since these attires are typically purchased by nobles or rich individuals who enjoy flaunting their wealth, it has become less favoured," he explained.
Prince Alden nodded in understanding, shifting his focus towards Orion, "Are you sure that is the attire you want to choose?" he asked.
He knew there were some attires like this that were less favoured due to their effects and low popularity among other Pixies, so he hoped that Orion would pick one of the most expensive and popular attires to showcase his standing and status.
