[SRP] I Need an Army

[WyvernSlayer]

Satsume nodded in understanding. "Wait here," he said. "I won't be long."

He left the center and began walking towards one of the shops. It was as good a place as any to begin talking to people - after all, travelers need supplies. Now it was only a matter of finding out if the owner could recall anything.

A bell beneath the archway sounded as Satsume entered the shop. It was a small general store; various packages of consumables and medicines were stockpiled behind the counter. Satsume approached the front, which was manned by an elderly woman wearing a worn scowl.

"How may I help you, sir?" she asked. Satsume could detect the false cheeriness coming from her voice, coating her irritation at something or other.

"I'm actually wondering if you could answer a couple of questions for me," he replied. He leaned on the counter, resting his chin against his fist.

"Information, like all things, is a commodity here," said the shopkeeper. She folded her arms in defiance. "And you don't wear the uniform of someone who can demand answers."

"Please, madam." Satsume locked eyes with her. "I'm just trying to find someone. My sister, to be precise."

"I see an awful lot of people in a day, sir," the shopkeeper replied. "Perhaps you might-"

*crash!*

The two of them immediately perked up at the sound of something falling to the ground behind them. The shopkeeper's scowl intensified.

"Excuse me a minute," she said tersely, and before Satsume could object, she disappeared behind the shelves. Satsume could hear her yelling at someone for a moment. Yeesh, he thought. No wonder she's having a bad day.

The shopkeeper returned. "Blasted girl can't do anything right..." she muttered.

"Sorry, who?" asked Satsume.

"A young wretch who's been working here since a few weeks ago," she replied. "Moved here after that mess in the village nearby."

"Oh! The one with the bandits claiming to have found a relic from Sacae?"

The old woman's irritation switched on a dime. "You knew about that?"

"I was there," Satsume said. "We helped the townsfolk fight against the bandits when they attacked the schoolhouse."

"Oh! Well I... pardon my rudeness, sir. I didn't know-"

"It's fine," he interjected. "Perhaps then, you could tell me if you remember seeing a young redhead named Paige?"

"Well, now... I'm not too sure of her name, but..." the old woman raised a finger to the side of her mouth, thinking. "There may have been someone matching your description that came through not too long ago."

"How recently?" asked Satsume.

"T-the night before the library was raided..." came a timid voice from the back.

Satsume peered around the shelves. A girl not much younger than him, with short, cowlicked blonde hair and clad in a stained apron had wandered out from the back room. She clutched a broom in her hands and spoke in a very soft voice.

"Erika!" snapped the old woman. "What have I told you about interrupting me?!"

"What do you know?!" cried Satsume.

The shopkeeper stepped between them. "I am sorry about the interruption, sir. Perhaps you might find more information at one of the other shops? Or with the Keepers?"

Satsume looked past her, and met eyes with the girl. She looked back at him rather solemnly, but said nothing. Satsume mouthed "thank you" before turning to leave.

"...and look, you got the jam all over your apron! Have you cleaned the glass up yet?!" The old shopkeeper's voice followed Satsume out the door as he headed back toward the center to meet up with Cecily.

Have I seen her before? he wondered.

He found Cecily right where he had left her. She looked tired.

"Hey," he said, trying to raise his voice above the sounds of the street. "You look tired. Should we find someplace to rest?"