“Yes, let’s do it!” she said.
“Ready?”
“One, two…”
“Spirit Kings!” we both called out in unison. A shimmer of green and golden light immediately filled the room.
“Daisy!”
“Lynn!”
The Nature Spirit King and Earth Spirit King both appeared at once, their hands outstretched; then they both hesitated, their arms wobbling awkwardly.
It seemed as though they wanted to embrace us, but weren’t sure if they were allowed.
I smiled and held out my palm, showing the matching rings to the spirit kings.
“We made these rings to show you our gratitude. Will you accept them?” I turned my eyes to the Nature Spirit King. He looked down at me with the warmest, happiest smile I’d ever seen.
“Of course, Daisy,” he said. “We’re usually the ones doing the giving, so to receive gifts from our beloved children… We are truly blessed! Would you do me the honor of placing the ring on my finger yourself?”
I nodded and took the Nature Spirit King’s left hand.
“Since they match, it should go on the same finger as ours. The middle finger,” I said, slipping the ring over his smooth finger until it settled into place.
“Thank you, Daisy.” He placed a kiss on my temple so softly that I could feel his warmth, even through my hair. We held our hands side by side to admire how perfectly the rings matched.
I looked over at Lynn and the Earth Spirit King doing the exact same thing with their own hands. We all looked at each other and the four of us burst into laughter. The whole room felt like it was enveloped in a gentle, glowing happiness.
Once the Spirit Kings had left, Lynn and I settled her payment for crafting the rings and pendants and my share for the materials and the labor. Once everything was sorted, she waved goodbye and left the workshop.
Now I was alone with the three pendants sitting neatly on the table.
It was great timing, it turned out—Katya had come by today to go over the accounts, and she was probably out on the bakery terrace right now having lunch. This would be the perfect moment to give everyone their gifts.
Pendant of Fortune
Classification: Accessory
Quality: Best
Status: A pendant imbued with the power to attract good fortune and repel misfortune. When danger is near, it will subtly guide its owner to avoid harm.
Feeling: I’ll bring you happiness!
The pendant was about the size of the first joint of my pinky, and it was a small oval, thicker in the middle in a way that made it look almost plump. On the surface was a delicate engraving of a shooting star and crescent moon, giving it a sweet, charming appearance. The round fitting on top was a bit oversized; it was strung on a chain now, but it could be swapped out for a choker or bracelet if desired.
Lynn told me she’d chosen the shooting star motif because it felt right for a pendant of fortune—like a wish coming true. It was the kind of accessory that would look good on anyone our age, regardless of gender.
“Miina! Marcus! Katya! I have something for you!” I called out to the three of them as they sat together in the bakery, now settled from the lunchtime rush. Miina and Marcus looked surprised.
“We’re just your staff. You don’t have to go to such trouble for us!” Miina wrung her hands nervously.
“She’s right, Miss Daisy. You already pay us more than enough. We couldn’t possibly accept…” Marcus began, looking troubled.
“Please listen,” I said. “These are pendants to ward off misfortune. I’d be in big trouble if anything ever happened to you while you were out running errands or minding the shop, so you’d be doing it for my sake too. Please, won’t you wear them for me?”
“Oh, Miss Daisy! I’m so happy you think of us that way!” Miina’s eyes filled with tears, and she flung her arms around me in a tight hug before taking the pendant. She put it on as a necklace immediately.
“A-are you sure it’s all right?” Marcus asked hesitantly.
“Don’t be silly,” I said, pressing one into Marcus’s hand. “You’re my precious friend too.” He looked so embarrassed as he wore it that the tips of his ears turned pink.
“And this one is for you, Katya. It’s thanks to your help I was able to open the workshop at all, and you’ve kept it running smoothly ever since. A pendant of fortune is meant to bring blessings, so it should bring good luck for your business. Please take it.” I held out the final pendant to her.
“I’m not formally an employee of yours, though. It wouldn’t feel right to accept it without payment,” Katya protested, every bit a merchant’s daughter.
“No, Katya,” I insisted. “You’re my friend and ally. What’s wrong with giving gifts to your friends, huh?” I pressed the pendant against her chest.
“A-a gift from a friend…” She turned bright red, lowering her face so I couldn’t see, and then slowly fastened the pendant around her neck. “Friends… We’re really friends? She’s…my very first friend…” She kept her face lowered as she whispered something under her breath. I wondered if she didn’t have many friends her own age; she looked totally flustered.
But now that everyone I cared about was protected, I could finally relax.