It was another day in the Isolated Forest, Slady was sitting on the bench in his library, drinking a black coffee and taking notes in his small notebook.
Shaphira was in her renkai creature form, sleeping on Slady's lap. Her black fox tail swung casually as she slept, looking peaceful and comfortable.
Slady had gotten into some thoughts, now remembering his promise.
A few days ago...
Slady was sitting on the bed, tasting the lunch Shaphira had made for him, for being an amateur, the food was... so-so. After all, the girl didn't know how to cook as well as Slady, but the man recognized the effort put into the lunch Shaphira had made.
- "How did you find it, master?"
Shaphira asked, sitting in front of Slady on the bed, a little nervous about his assessment.
Slady looked Shaphira straight in the eyes, then said sincerely.
- "It's good, you can improve it more, I'll help you with that."
Shaphira looks at Slady, a little disappointed. But she's happy that he recognizes her effort and can help her.
- "Thank you, master. You're the best."
She sits on his lap, hugging him.
- "..."
Slady was a little uncomfortable with the hug, but kept her face emotionless and patted Shaphira on the back, as a gesture of approval.
She separated, just staying on Slady's lap and crossing her arms.
- "So, if you liked it, I deserve a reward." She gave a mischievous smile.
Slady just let out a sigh, accustomed to her behavior.
- "Yes, which one do you want, girl?"
- "I want to have clothes."
Slady was surprised, he didn't understand why the girl wanted to have clothes.
- "Do you need them?"
- "I don't know, master. My hair already covers my entire body, but I would like to wear something that humans wear."
Slady put his hand on his chin, he didn't see the need for Shaphira to cover her body, since her hair already does that. But he also understood Shaphira's motivation to try to be more... human...
- "Yes."
- "Thank you!"
Shaphira hugs Slady, getting even more comfortable in his lap.
Slady just rolled his eyes, but decided to try to pamper the girl a little, Shaphira's happiness and safety is his biggest priority.
The current moment...
Slady had remembered that moment, so he decided to fulfill the part of the promise that he had forgotten...
His mechanical arm wraps around the body of Shaphira's renkai fox form, getting up from the chair to take her to the room.
Despite being big and heavy, Slady's right arm prototype is very strong, so it carries the girl in her demonic form with ease.
Slady put Shaphira in their room, luckily, she didn't wake up at any point.
Adjusting his coat, shirt and pants, Slady closes the bedroom door, returning to the main room of the library. He takes some Lynes, locks the place, places a warning letter on the counter... takes a last sip of his coffee and leaves the library.
A few minutes later...
Not feeling the smell and comfort of Slady's lap, Shaphira woke up. She let out a yawn and stretches, she looks around, seeing that Slady is not there...
She jumps out of bed, starting to walk on all fours through the library. Her snout rubs on the floor to try to see where Slady had gone, ending up accidentally hitting her head on the library door.
She connected the dots, understanding that Slady had left... where? She thought to herself, Shaphira went straight to Slady's workbench, standing on two paws and resting the other two paws on the table, finding a letter.
Shaphira opened her mouth, showing her razor-sharp teeth, after all, she was a demonic fox after all.
She bit the letter gently so as not to tear it and put it on the floor, lying down to read the content that Slady had left.
***
"I'm going to buy your clothes"
***
Direct and quick, something typical of Slady. Not only considering her handwriting, which is terrible. Only Shaphira's time with Slady could explain how she was able to read it so easily.
But despite everything, she felt relieved with the letter, knowing that Slady was fine and would keep his promise. She goes to the library couch, lies down on her back, and quickly goes back to sleep...
Meanwhile...
After walking for a while, Slady arrived at the city, which was more of a shopping center than a city per se, but it had its residents.
Slady looked at the sky, seeing the sunny day, feeling a little of the heat.
He takes off his overcoat, tying it around his waist so it wouldn't fall, and starts walking around the city he hadn't visited in a few weeks.
The shopping center was a very diverse place, with specific areas for each culture and even some villages. Considering the fact that it was one of humanity's last hopes after the emergence of the Inférius, it was easy to understand why this city was so important.
Slady walked around the city, people ignored him, seeming not to care or pay attention to him, not that this was bad for Slady, he hates attracting attention.
He entered a local clothing store, coming across a teenage clerk, who was wearing a female clerk's outfit with a tight skirt. She stopped in front of him, finding the man's appearance unusual, but respecting him and offering a friendly tone.
-"Welcome to our store, how can I help you?" She says with a somewhat nervous voice, perhaps it was one of her first days on the job.
Slady noticed the nervousness easily, speaking in an emotionless and lower tone for her.
- "Where can I get women's clothes?" The young clerk feels more comfortable with Slady's low tone, nodding her head.
- "Yes, but I'm curious, is it for someone? A girlfriend?" She asks, genuinely curious.
- "definitely not, it's just for someone I care about."
- "oh... sure, sure! Let me help you." The young attendant offers her hand to the man.
Slady found the gesture strange, but saw that the young attendant just wanted to be kind. He puts his right hand over hers.
The girl felt the cold, metallic touch of Slady's prosthesis. She was curious about it, but didn't want to question it so as not to be rude.
- "yes... let's go." The attendant begins to lead Slady to the women's clothing section of the store.
Slady noticed the woman's curiosity, but decided not to press.
After a few minutes, Slady selected the clothes, based on Shaphira's size from her memories. The store clerk takes the women's clothes and counts the prices, speaking in a sleepy tone, perhaps because she works a little early.
- "hmmm... adding up all the pieces you ordered, it came to 320 Lynes in total." She yawns, closing her eyes for a while.
- "right." Slady gave 340 Lynes.
- "keep the change and go get some coffee."
- "thanks, dude." She smiled sleepily, the saleswoman just sat on a swivel stool, putting the extra Lynes in her bra.
Slady just ignored the scene, starting to leave the store, not before feeling a touch on his back, making him turn around...
- "I noticed that you tried hard so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable, it's my first week here, thank you." It's the attendant, offering a smile.
- "it's nothing, enjoy your day." Slady says in her neutral tone, leaving the store.
Slady was walking around the city again, holding a shopping bag from the store, looking at the pieces she had bought.
But before returning to the library, Slady had to visit an old friend...
In one of the city's neighborhoods, there is a famous tavern called "La Taberna", a simple name, but known by the locals
Upon entering the place, Slady finds the tavern empty, there were some workers having lunch in its corners, nothing very crowded at that time of the morning
At the counter, there was an old man of 70 to 75 years old, draining some glasses of beer and wine. When his gaze falls on Slady, the old man smiles.
- "Oh-ho! If it isn't my friend, Slady!" He says in a hoarse voice, banging on the counter.
The old man was wearing a leather jacket with fur on the collar, underneath, he wore a white tank top, which highlighted the man's chest and well-built and toned body, wearing black pants.
Slady looked at the man, he walked over to the stool and sat down, placing the shopping bag on his lap.
- "You seem lively this early in the morning, Raizer." Slady looked Raizer straight in the eyes.
- "Please, just because I'm almost on my last legs doesn't mean I'm an old man with no energy!"
The old man laughed quietly, going to get something to serve Slady.
- "You like that wine, don't you?"
- "Yes."
Raizer picked up a rather sweet wine, taking a smaller glass and serving it to Slady.
- "Just the way you like it, Slady." He leaned back in the counter chair.
- "Thank you, Raizer." Slady took the small glass and drank the liquid in one go.
- "Didn't your daughter come to help you today?" Slady asked.
- "Oh, no. She's still sleeping, so I let her have a break today."
- "She must help you a lot, you're a generous father." Slady said.
Raizer just nodded amiably, taking a sip of his own wine.
They stayed in a comfortable silence, Raizer drinking his wine and Slady just with her eyes closed.
Suddenly, one of the doors on the second floor... (where some visitors or drunks who slept in the establishment for a certain price were staying)
It opened, then, coming down from the second floor, a 15-year-old girl appeared, wearing casual clothes to sleep.
She was sleepy, she looked at Raizer, giving him a loving hug.
- "Good morning, dad."
- "Good morning, Elisa." Raizer stroked the teenager's hair.
When she separated from the hug, she looked at Slady and smiled, going to him, sitting on the man's lap to hug him.
"Good morning, uncle Slady..." Suddenly, she started to snore, making it clear that she had ended up falling asleep on Slady's lap.
- "..."
Slady looked at Elisa, letting out a sigh and placing her hand on the teenager's legs to arrange her on his lap.
Raizer saw the scene, giving a soft laugh.
- "This girl, she's not ashamed to sit on your lap, is she? Ever since she was a child..."
Raizer says in a low tone, looking nostalgic. Slady just nodded.
- "I'm used to it, Shaphira always stays here too." Slady says with a sigh, putting her shopping bag on the floor
- "I'm still impressed by the fact that you have a demon as a daughter, it's impressive." Raizer says, trying to be more respectful.
- "I know, but she's important to me, so I don't care." Slady closes her eyes a little.
- "I know that, I'm not going to question it."
Raizer says, watching his daughter on his friend's lap, knowing that the girl is safe in his arms.
- "You know..." the old man said more seriously, adjusting himself in his chair.
- "Since my wife died, Elisa only had me to trust. I'm glad she's comfortable with you, Slady."
Slady was surprised by Raizer's more serious tone, but he completely understood.
- "I know that, I'm glad I'm being a good person for her."
Slady said, with his usual emotionless tone, stroking the teenager's hair, giving it a little caress.
Elisa held on to Slady's shirt, snoring more in his lap, showing trust and comfort.
- "But I'm also glad you can trust me, Raizer." Slady said, looking Raizer in the eyes.
Raizer was surprised by Slady's sincere words, giving a small smile
- "Slady... I really appreciate it, you're the only friend I have left in this world." Raizer said sincerely, but he also felt sadness.
The old man poured himself some more wine, drinking it more calmly and slowly, wanting to make the most of the taste of the drink.
- "When everyone from *our group* left, I felt lonely. Elisa was only two years old when her mother died."
- "My daughter would have to grow up without a mother by her side, besides the fact that I had her too late... I don't have much time to teach her everything I know."
Slady just remained silent, letting Raizer release his feelings, but also, he seemed to remember some things from the past...