“So we will get in trouble while the only thing we want to do is buy flour?” Yv said as she led me through the sandy streets.

  She could probably find the most trustworthy-sounding vendor in the area.

  You sound like you know me for years… but you're probably right.

  Yv stopped in front of a shady store.

  Hey, we will be asking for trouble if we enter this place.

  ‘I’ve heard good things about this place. Come on, trust me!” She said and pulled me into the store.

  You will get the title of troublemaker if this ends up in trouble.

  “Excuse me, mister, do you sell flour?”

  A wrinkled, suntanned old man turned around. He was more wrinkles than…man. “I’m sorry, we don’t sell flowers. They’re hard to get in the desert.”

  No not flowers, flour like the stuff you need to make bread.

  “Ah bread! Yes, we have bread! Leavened or unleavened bread?” He asked as he walked over to a cabinet filled with bread.

  “No mister, we’re looking for the white powder that gets used in making bread.”

  ?hh, haha! My bad. Follow me.”

  We followed him, and he stopped at a different cabinet.

  “Salt or sugar?”

  I facepalmed.

  You’re not pulling our tail are you?

  The old man cocked his head. “tail? I don’t have a tail, look!”

  He turned around and wiggled his old human butt.

  Old man, please…flour, like the powdered wheat one.

  His face changed. “Ohh, you want the good stuff? Come here.”

  Huh what?

  “It's hard to get a hold of it in the desert.” The old man opened a magic vault he had hidden.

  “It’s just flour mister, why…”

  We covered our nose as a strong smell assaulted us.

  Old man, what the fuck is that?!

  “You wanted it, right? Youngsters these days. We used to call it cannabis in our time. ‘Weed’ is confusing, as unwanted garden plants are also called weed.”

  This stupid language and their stupid homophones!

  “Sweetie I think your accent made it sound the same. I don’t think Kaledonian is at fault…”

  You’re right Yv, ‘weed’ and ‘wheat’ sure, but what about ‘flour’ and ‘flower’?

  “Uhh, yeah…”

  Anyway sell me that plant, I might be able to use it!

  “Do you even know what it’s used for?” Yv asked.

  To nuke the noses of beast kin?

  “Not quite, but that’s possible.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  The man packed the strange weed and I paid for it. He grabbed my wrist. “Don’t get caught with this on you.”

  Old man, what the fuck did you sell me?

  “Some high quality stuff.”

  I nodded placed it in a ‘possibly dangerous’ section of my dimensional pocket.

  “So, we still need flour.”

  The old man shook his head. “Flower? I don’t sell those, I’m sorry.”

  Which one you’re talking about? We want the edible one.

  “Edible flowers? How about cactus fruits? Their flowers are edible.”

  Old man, you’re doing this on purpose, right? Is it possible that we're the first customers in a while? I can buy more stuff you want.

  “Well… I’m sorry. You’re correct. I was a bit lonely. My children and grandchildren have moved away from the desert, and It's too far for them to continue visiting…”

  Oof that’s rough, how about you move away from this sandy hell?

  “Agnis!”

  “Haha, it’s fine. My son was as direct as him.” The man showed us to a door. He revealed large sacks of flour. “Take it, free of charge. It was short, but you two have entertained my old bones.”

  Ooh! Nice!

  I cleared out the flour, closed the door and thanked the man.

  I hope that you get more customers!

  We left the store, and I was hundreds of kilograms of flour richer.

  “Was it the right thing to just take it without compensation?”

  Oh, he got his compensation. I have learned to just shut up when people give me free stuff. Focus your ears on the store, he should check out that room out about now.

  Yv focused and her expression changed. “You’re such a softie.”

  That’s why I don’t tell people this… come on, focus your ears on possible dangers… Is there anything you want to buy?

  “Nope, nothing.” Yv happily skipped along.

  The old man reminded me of Liam the bard. Even a bit like Azu when she was Uraya in Boshi town. There is something the mortals seem to be forgetting. Why do old people end up alone?

  It's one thing if they want to be alone, but none of them wanted to end up alone. Is that the inevitably of aging, or is something else at play? The idols seem very concerned about ending up lonely, and they’re working hard to make sure that happens. Is it because they’re immortal? Is it easier to ensure you don’t end up alone if you’re sure that you will live for a long time?

  I didn’t focus on this, as I don’t honestly believe I will live for a long time. It actually reminds me that I need to pay Vinny a visit to check if he has more sky mangoes or ghost truffles. Giana hasn’t asked me yet how many lives I have left, but it will surely become an issue when she does.

  Or she already knows. She did take my blood after all. Not sure what a 9t healer can get out of it, but I’m sure that it will be a lot. It should be my biggest concern, but I just can’t put myself to put it at the top of my list, as is loneliness. In the end I can’t relate, so I don’t think I will be much of a help there.

  We returned to the AA as it was time for Yv and Giana to swap. Everyone was staring as Giana walked in a local belly dance attire.

  “I love reading your emotions off your face, thank you, Yv.”

  “I learned a lot, have fun with Giana.” Yv waved and left.

  “Let me show you what I’ve learned! But not here, let’s go to your room.”

  Giana gave a belly dance performance. It was captivating as she capitalized on her strengths.

  You seem to have mastered in just a few hours…

  “Aren’t I great?” She said as she slowly spun around while rocking her hips.

  Deca, I told Yv, but if we can stay out of trouble for 3 more days I should be able to handle anything that comes at us.

  “Oh? Anything I can do to help?” She asked as she spun around and pulled up her hair in a seductive manner and showed off her back.

  You’re already helping. All I need is to regain mana and finalize [Morphi: Fireball]. I already finalized [Morphi: Foxfire Lunacy].

  I showed Giana the morphi. “Oh how serene. Well then time to up the tempo, any chance I could get some assistance with [Boss Music]?”

  Oh sure! I don’t know any sand music, though. I will have to simulate some before I can play it.

  “I can dance on anything, go for it.”

  Giana belly danced on the music I provided. It made my appreciation for Giana and sand people grow.