Chapter 339 – A Fishy Deal

Chapter 339 – A Fishy Deal

Kai triple checked the plaque on the door, making certain he was in the right place. His patience with bureaucracy was already thin when his time wasn’t counted, and he had been ping-ponged between the department for Uniform and Distribution and the office for Robe Enchantments and Alterations.

Why does the Admin building even need three different places for uniforms and tailoring?

At last, he had found the Fitting and Companion Tailoring Office. The door was left ajar. Slowing his heaving breaths, he knocked and entered a cramped room, watching that Hobbes sauntered inside after him.

A woman with graying hair sat behind the desk. She was too intent on her embroidery to notice his arrival, wearing an intricate shawl with a fringe of beads. Her hands threaded the needle so quickly a colorful hummingbird seemed to come to life under his eyes.

It was one of the smallest offices. Rolls of silk, brocade and other shiny fabrics lined the walls, covering any shades of burgundy, burnt orange, yellow and green from the students’ uniform, and more in the room behind her desk.

Approaching, Kai gave Hobbes an encouraging pat and cleared his throat. “Uhm… Excuse me.”

“Blessed Moons! You gave me a fright.” The clerk jolted in her seat with a gasp. “I didn’t see you enter. Why didn’t you knock?”

I did…

“I’m sorry.” Kai put forth his most polite smile to move things along. “I saw the door open and entered without thinking.”

“Well, no matter now…” She dipped her head to look at him over a pair of thick, enchanted glasses. “What can I do for you, my dear?”

Her eyes moved to give him a once-over, lingering with disapproval at the creases on his uniform and his ruffled appearance. He was sweaty, his clothes crumpled and his hair spiked since he woke up this morning. What else was he supposed to do when he had to literally run to keep pace with his schedule?

“I’m here for my familiar. I was told he needs to wear a collar.” Kai took out the note he had demanded from the last office. This was the right place—he had it on paper.

The seamstress squinted at the scribbles. “Mhmm… Yes. You came to the right office. It’s good to see that not every youth waits until the deadline to take care of their companion. We wouldn’t want a repeat of last year…” Her wrinkles deepened with a wince. “A student mistook a bonded viper for a wild beast. You can imagine how that went…” She prattled for a few minutes about a series of accidents ranging from the comical to the conspiratorial and tragic. “Forgive me, my dear. What did you say your name was…?”

“Matthew Vernon.” Kai gestured down at Hobbes. “Here to get a collar for my cat familiar.”

“A cat familiar? But that’s wonderful!” Her voice cheered. She slowly went to peruse a drawer filled with documents. “Teenagers your age always want to bond the flashiest and deadliest companions. If more people picked a friendly pet, we’d all be better off. Gods know, there is enough bloodshed on Elydes.” She sighed with a rueful look. “It reminds me of my old Midge. You know, she was the prettiest little thing. Always chirping and preening…”

Failing to find his name, she moved to a different drawer without ever halting the flow of words.

Spirits have mercy on me.

Kai drummed his fingers below the tailor’s desk; his nails left shallow half moons on the lacquered wood. This was the first break in his schedule in three days, and an hour was already gone.

“Oh, here!” The woman triumphantly raised a folder from the third drawer, and he nearly cheered aloud. “Matthew Reece Vernon… A cat familiar… yes. Have you brought your pet? It’s much better to take proper measurements than to have to come back.”

“He’s…” Kai looked down, noticing the distinct absence of a silver feline.

Hobbes! Get your fluffy ass here, this moment! We’ve made a deal. You know promises must be kept.

A deluge of indignant grumpiness flooded his mind, and a silver blink appeared at his feet. Kai bent to pick up the ball of grumpy fur before it could think to slip away. The cat slumped into his hand as he lifted him onto the desk. “This one here is my familiar, Hobbes.”

“Mroooow,” Hobbes growled, blinking his large violet eyes.

Stop whining. You weren’t reluctant when I bought you thirteen different plates of fish. You ate the fish, now’s your turn to fulfill the deal.

“Aww! Isn’t he beautiful!” The woman raised her jeweled hands, already smitten. Her voice climbed an octave. “May I pet him?” She asked and didn’t wait for an answer before reaching out.

“Meew.” Hobbes sprawled onto the desk like a wounded soldier, maintaining his grumpy facade while reluctantly conceding to have his belly rubbed.

Always so dramatic.

After a minute of scratches, Kai cleared his throat. He couldn’t help thinking of the pages of notes, homework and essential books he had to read in his dorm. “For the collar…”

“Oh, forgive me, my dear.” The old seamstress cooed, unsure if to him or to the purring cat. “We’d better get him a proper collar before someone thinks of kidnapping this handsome deary. I must absolutely learn the name of the breeder.” She booped Hobbes before pulling back and regaining some decorum. “Now, about the collar. Right… Let’s see what we can do for you. We must find the best fit…”

The beads of her shawl tinkled as she moved to pick up a long wooden case. Her springy movements made Kai suspect her old-lady act was just a way to fuck with him.

“Excuse me, deary.” She gently nudged Hobbes aside to set down the box. Unlocking the lid with a theatrical tap, she revealed rows of ribbons and bands in every color and material, going deeper than the size of the container.

“Let’s see, let’s see… For a cat this size, I’d suggest something classic. Here we have one of the standard collars offered to the students.” She picked a thin burgundy collar with a steel buckle and an empty tag; both the leather and the metal enchanted for durability. “We can modify every part to your specifications. Naturally, changes over the base model aren’t covered by the academy. But how can you not splurge a little when you’ve bonded with such a handsome boy?”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Right…

Kai sighed. People at Raelion had a dangerous conception of cost, but concessions had been made to get Hobbes here. “What are the choices for a custom job?”

“First, we should select the base color. With his lustrous silver fur, a powder blue or moonstone white would go well. An amethyst purple to match his pretty eyes could also work…” She nimbly displayed a selection of colors in a gradient order.

Pick whatever you want. Remember, the sooner you choose, the sooner we can leave.

Hobbes watched the display from his lounging position.

For a second, Kai hoped his familiar would be too lazy to move without Space Magic. Alas, the gods had no mercy. Stretching his paws, Hobbes nimbly stood to check the materials.

“You’re going to choose yourself? What a smart boy.” The seamstress seemed delighted to indulge the cat, taking out five variations for each band Hobbes sniffed or pawed.

His Royal Fluffiness sauntered the length of the table, happy to have a new servant added to his retinue. Leather bands and silk ribbons covered every inch of space before he tired of the game and selected a deep purple band, almost identical to one of the initial options.

“Wyvern wing leather. An excellent choice.” The seamstress nodded approvingly at the winner.

“Mrow.” Hobbes swished his tail as if that were only natural.

Great, now we can—

“Now, for the buckle and tags.” With a single wave, every other band flew back in the case. “Purple leaves open many options…” She took out another box. Every piece inside glowed like a low-yellow metal or bone—several spanning higher into the grade.

Kai suppressed a curse.

I should have known…

The shiny bits immediately got Hobbes’ attention. Only a few were real contenders; nothing but silver would work with his fur. He took a little longer to select the shape of the tag, settling on a thin strip that would be sewn onto his collar.

“Of course, Moonlight Silver! I couldn’t have chosen better myself.” The seamstress petted the smug bastard, matching the buckle and tag with the purple leather.

The polished metal looked almost white—of course, it had to be a peak-yellow material.