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“AND, with that, we’re finished.”
Gordon shuffled the stack of paperwork Olivia had filled out on the desk to even it out.
“Ah, done, finally…” Olivia leaned back heavily in her chair.
After saying hello to Harrison, Gordon took her to meet all the other artificers in their workrooms, greet the sales staff on the first floor, and finally returned to the second floor. Waiting for her in Gordon’s office was a veritable mountain of paperwork ranging from entry to the Artificers Guild to registration with the Artificer’s Association of the Royal Capital. She’d written so much her hand hurt.
Gordon smiled wryly. “It’s because the royals live here in the capital. All magic-related occupations are strictly regulated.”
“Really?”
“Yep. It’s just the lot you’re given, working with magic in the capital.”
Olivia shook her numb right hand, realizing the many frustrating things in the capital. She also started thinking about how it was nearly lunchtime when a gentle knock rapped on the office door.
“Come in,” called Gordon, and the door slowly opened to the elegantly beautiful woman with light brown hair from before. She was wearing a classy blueish-gray dress.
She smiled softly. “Hello, Gordon.”
“Ah, Rose, what can I do for you?”
“I was thinking I might invite Olivia to lunch today. Would that be all right?”
“Ah!” Olivia’s eyes popped at the offer. She had thought it would be nice to make friends with her, the only other woman at the shop, but never expected an invitation from her.
Gordon looked happy. “Of course. We’re finished with work. Feel free to steal her.”
Rose nodded, then turned her smile to Olivia. “Would you be all right with setting out now?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Is there anything you can’t or don’t want to eat?”
“No, nothing in particular.” Olivia was nervous as she replied, but Rose smiled.
“All right. Shall we go then?”
“Yeah.” Olivia stood, looking at Rose with gratitude. She was sure Rose was going out of her way to be friendly.
Rose smiled softly. “We’ll go out the back. This way.”
The two stepped out of the shop and walked along a wide, bustling street lined with tall buildings on both sides. Outside was pleasant, and the soft green buds on the trees lining the street gleamed in the gentle spring sun.
Rose stretched and sighed as they walked. “The weather’s so nice today.”
“It really is,” replied Olivia. She looked up at the sky, eyes narrowing against the springtime sun. It almost seemed like the air was pleasantly cool here compared to Daregas.
As they walked, Rose pointed out a cute shop on the road. “That’s the most popular patisserie on the main street; their orange cake is famous. Oh, and the shop there on the corner makes business cards. You can pop in there and make an order if you need some.”
She pointed out all sorts of stores and offerings as they walked, detailing the shops Olivia might find useful or the restaurants with good food.
Olivia felt a little on edge but was filled with curiosity as she listened.
They turned onto a somewhat narrow street and walked for a few minutes to a stylish restaurant boasting a patio filled with rows of tables and white umbrellas.
“Here we are,” Rose announced. “Let’s go in.”
Olivia was amazed by what she could find in the capital as she looked up at the fancy sign. She’d never seen a place so elegant in Daregas.
The restaurant was bustling with the lunchtime rush as classy ladies engaged in bubbly conversation over their food. A friendly server led Rose and Olivia to a table on the patio. They sat across from each other and looked over the elegant menu.
“The lunch set here is so good. There are three options to choose from,” explained Rose.
Olivia’s heart thumped. She was certain the food was good. Look at that menu and the clientele!
After they had ordered, they started chatting again.
“Where are you from, Olivia?” Rose asked.
“I’m from Daregas.”
“Oh?” Her eyes widened. “That’s near where I’m from. I’m from Leeds, only two towns over.”
“What? You’re not from the capital?”
Rose chuckled softly at Olivia’s surprise. “No. But maybe I look like I am; I have lived here for seven years.” It turned out she was also the daughter of an artificer with a magic item shop in Leeds. “My father is a friend of Gordon’s. He introduced me to him seven years ago and asked if I could work at his shop.”
Olivia told Rose how she had been introduced to Gordon through her father too as a feeling of kinship toward Rose grew within her. She’d been tense having lunch with such a mature, more experienced coworker, but having something in common made her feel more at ease.
After some time, the server brought out their food. “We have the spaghetti carbonara set and the spaghetti in butter mushroom sauce set.”
Olivia’s eyes sparkled as the server set the steaming food in front of her. Her heart leapt with joy at the sight of the thick chunks of bacon and the aroma of rich cheese.
“It looks so good!” Olivia twirled the pasta around her fork, and her eyes shot open when she popped it in her mouth.
It’s amazing! It’s even better than I expected!
The smooth cream sauce coated the pasta in the ideal ratio, matching excellently with the fragrant black pepper used as an accent, and the rich bacon was fried exquisitely. It all worked together beautifully.
And the pasta is perfectly al dente. It’s so good!
“You seem to be enjoying that,” noted Rose with a happy smile as she watched Olivia dig in with a joyful expression. “I didn’t have it this time, but their Hamburg steak is also wonderful.”
That gave Olivia something to look forward to.
“That was delicious!” exclaimed Olivia once they finished eating.
“I’m glad you liked it.”
They continued talking as they sipped the complimentary black tea.
Ah. That really was a great lunch.
Olivia drank her tea, feeling satisfied, while Rose watched her with a smile. Now more acquainted with one another, they shared a small ice cream dessert as they gabbed more.
“My mother was angry at my father for practically brainwashing their daughter into loving magic items,” divulged Rose. “Did you have any of that?”
“Yes! Oh, and did you ever get any magic accessories with odd self-defense functions?”
“I did. I once broke out into terrified sweats when I tested a pendant, and it shot out flames.”
They were having fun reminiscing about their “artificer’s daughter experiences.”
“Thank you for today,” exclaimed Olivia. “The food was amazing. I’d love to do this again sometime.”
“Me too. Should we head back?”
And so, they made their way back to the shop, their steps light.