Errant Star Sundries, Radz-at-Han ~ A Tense Early Evening
1st Day of 5th Umbral Moon
Perspective: Noémie Clement
-All containers must be labeled with exact content and proper method of handling. Include all potential hazards and instructions in case of accident.-
That was one of the first things that I was taught when I first joined the Errant Star Sundries. While the more cynical would point to it being merely a method of reducing monetary loss, it was more to protect us employees. Among the myriad of mining and quarrying companies, the Errant Star specialized in the more magical and arcane materials, things that could detonate if you so much as looked at it funny.
Of course, there was always going to be an exception, and the exception this past month was a was small crate tucked into the far corner of the storeroom. By the container only, it would be easily missable, but there more than a few conspicuous wards set up around it. Unlike the other shipments we've received, it was personally carried in by my boss, owner, and founder of the Errant Star, Quentin Deschamps. He had walked in, a wild grin on his face, placed several powerful arcane wards on it, then finally told me that he and he alone would handle when the time came.
The reason for the secrecy eluded me. More than a fair share of rare metals, magicked stones, and esoteric implements have passed through our halls, and being responsible for keeping tabs on our stock, I generally was given at least the slightest hint as to the contents if I wasn't allowed to be fully privy. All I was allowed to write down in the ledger was the following:
-Special Parcel - To be hand-delivered.-
Of course, today had to be one of those days that could serve as an excellent example of why we were such sticklers for proper labeling.
As scheduled, we had a large order to fill for the Four Seasons, one of the most prominent apothecaries in Radz-at-Han and owned by the Fuyo clan, one of the few Domans living in Radz-at-Han. The Errant Star had a long relationship with that shop, Quentin being a longtime friend of the Fuyo family, and especially with Tadashi Fuyo, the father of the family. Even I myself was a good friend of one of the daughters, Chiaki Fuyo, who ended up being the liaison who would pick up their weekly orders.
This time around, however, was plagued by a pileup of clerical errors, errors that caused the crate that was meant to be handed off to be filled with all the wrong items. Thankfully, Chiaki was as diligent as always and opened the lid, allowing us to spot the grave mistake and quickly compose the proper contents. Sure, she was a childhood friend, but it did not make that frantic half-hour of tracking down and packing any less awkward.
Even though Chiaki had walked out the door with a grin as large as the crate she held in, I was still drowning in embarassment as I fixed up the storeroom that was thrown into disarray. As I moved boxes and crates and coffers, I kept mentally recounting the number of crystals and stones we had packed; despite checking twice, no, three times, there was still a lingering doubt that I had miscounted and not given enough. Over the sound of shuffling sundries, I could still hear the front door open and close, paying it it no heed until I heard Quentin speak, in his usual cheery voice, a dreaded line.
"Well well, Miss Fuyo. You came back earlier than expected."
In the safety of the storeroom, there would be no one to hear my deflated and embarrassed sigh. Definitely, definitely, there was a miscount.
"Apologies, Master Deschamps," replied a soft voice. "My impatience got the better of me, and I wanted to square away this matter as soon as possible."
I blinked, not sure of what I was hearing, except that it was not Chiaki's voice at all. A mix of of curiosity and worry quickly bubbled as I swiftly strode to the entrance of the storeroom and peeked into the lobby. In the distance, I saw a Raen girl clad in what looked like a worn and faded poncho and bandanna, sporting a cold glare on her face, and carrying with her what I suspected as a staff, all wrapped up in rough linen cloth. If the girl in front of me was a daughter of the Fuyo family, there was only had that unmistakable appearance and demeanor.
"F-Fuyuki?" I asked, incredulous. The chilling stare on the other girl melted as she looked towards me, turning into a smile as she bowed in the way that the people in the Far East did.
"Ah. Noémie-chi. It's been too long." Fuyuki replied, her voice rather chipper. Too long indeed...it was five years since she had left for Eorzea without a single word, and I hadn't seen her since. But before I could say anything more, Fuyuki spoke up again. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid this time I'll be only here for...a short while."
Only a short while? Again? I had to frown. Chiaki would always tell me after the fact that Fuyuki had visited, and even then, it seemed like the youngest of the four Fuyo sisters only returned to drop off whatever treasures and tomes she had acquired from her various jobs in Eorzea. I found my earlier voice stolen by the disappointing news, though thankfully Quentin was quick on the draw and proceeded with business, motioning for Fuyuki to follow, then pointed to me as if to tell me to prepare the ledger again.
"Thankfully, I figured you would need a little bit more." Quentin laughed as she stepped through the doorway to the storeroom. As Fuyuki followed after, I could see her eyebrow raise, rather amused. It was a silently-asked question that was swiftly answered. "Well, if your project failed, you'd need more to try again. And if it succeeded, you'd probably were in need to make far more. And so, I figured I could save you some time and cut out the middleman."
Something wasn't adding up. If Fuyuki had put in an order, I surely would have been able to see it. From what Chiaki had told me, Fuyuki had branched out from the family's trade and dove into metalworking, so I had expected Quentin to turn towards the metal section of the storeroom. But as he kept walking on, suspicion slowly crept up on me as I tailed behind my childhood friend.
"I appreciate the forethought." Fuyuki replied, starting to chuckle. "I gave myself enough time for a length chat and note-taking session. So if you have have I was looking for already, what I am to do until the next ferry?"
Immediately, my mind had an answer. "Well, your sisters miss you so much, Fuyu."
"If they miss me that much, then they should go back to practicing their aim," the white-hair girl quipped before chuckling. The retort was immediate, but that chuckle was short lived as Quentin added in.
"And your parents, too."
I looked to where Quentin had finally stopped and flinched in surprise, though in hindsight I shouldn't have been so surprised. Right in front of the magick-bound crate. Even though the mystery of that crate was finally to be revealed, I felt a certain sense of unease instead of relief.
"Then they can keep missing for all I care."
Fuyuki shot back with a more bitter retort, her face back to that icy glare. I knew her well enough that she was still joking for the most part, but I understood why there was still a little bit of vitriol left. As far as I was aware, the decision to journey to Eorzea was making good on an ultimatum that her family did not expect her to take. Thankfully, Quentin also took it in stride as well as he kneeled in front of the crate and started to dispel the wards.
"...look, I know Tadashi has been always been a stubborn, prideful man. But after you left for Eorzea, something in him broke. He really was at a loss for...a few years really." Quentin explained. Fuyuki sighed and shook her head, walking up to stand behind Quentin and watch the wards being dispelled. From the start she was gifted with magicks, and constantly curious about it. Meanwhile, I took a step back, tapping my fingers against the wall nervously. I wasn't expecting to get caught in family matters.
Quentin continued to effortlessly dispel the wards one by one, affording him the luxury of talking at the same time. "Want to know something? A while go, maybe a few months, he commissioned a small box to hold your letters in. Not too big, but still sizable. Black lacquer, with silver inlays in the shape of snowflakes."
From where I stood, I could see Fuyuki grind her teeth and shake her head. I stepped forward and placed a hand on my friend's shoulder and it seemed to have an immediate effect, at least easing the tension in the air until a sharp snap pierced the air. Both of us flinched and looked to Quentin who was dusting his hands with a chuffed expression before picking up the crate and walking over to the two of us.
"Here's the deal," Quentin chuckled, handing over the crate to Fuyuki as he spoke. "Stay in Han a little longer and at least greet the old man. And if it doesn't go well, I'll give you a refund."
Fuyuki grimaced and shook her head, replying with a faint laugh, "...you know I wouldn't have the heart to come back for the gil."
"Of course I know. And I know where in Kugane to send it anyways."
There was a wicked smirk on Quentin's face, and in horror I looked to Fuyuki for her reaction, only to be taken aback by the sight of a similarly twisted grin. My boss nodded and gestured at the crate, and to sate my curiosity, walked back to Fuyuki, peering over her shoulder as she opened the box. At first the sight of the stones seemed unremarkable, like lumps of dirty snow. Then, the realization hit me.
"W-white Auracite?!" I exclaimed, my voice echoing off the walls of the storeroom and causing Fuyuki to flinch, nearly dropping the box. After a quick apology from me, the Raen shut the lid and nodded with a tired smile.
"Indeed. This bit was bound for the Isle of Val before it...vanished." Quentin winked at the last word before becoming serious again. "Long story short, since the original recipient had, ahem, no longer a need of it, I was able to take possession of it for only a...nominal fee. The seller seemed to not appreciate the value of it as much as one would have expected, but that's business."
"And the fee?" Fuyuki asked, matching Quentin's serious face. "I only brought the original amount you quoted, but if you have it here-"
My boss shook his head and smiled. "I had your order ready long before you came to ask. But if you insist on paying the difference...go see your old man."
A wry smile spread across my friend's face as she tucked the crate under one arm and reached for a small sack of gil with her free hand, unceremoniously throwing it into Quentin's hand. "Well. Since you insisted."
Quentin smiled brightly and nodded to me. I rolled my eyes with a grin as I took out my notebook, scratching one line and replacing it with another:
-Special Parcel - Paid in Full.-
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