Well, Torchline was very, very different from the Greatwood.
The ocean was wonderful. Definitely the best thing she'd discovered so far in her travels; she never wanted to leave it again. It seemed to have a soul of it's own, moving up and down the shore, and for the first time she'd understood the way other Fae had spoken about the woods being alive, about feeling a current of energy running through the nature.
Unfortunately though, the beach was not just her and the ocean. The place was crawling with shady types. Skulking thieves, sleazy merchants. She wanted to stay here for a while, and it was becoming abundantly clear that she wouldn't survive for long hiding and hurriedly talking her way out of things before flying away.
She needed a way to defend herself, and quick.
Jiao had heard from a few people now about a strange new business that had opened on the beach - two Grounders, they'd said, grumpy, weird types but with good enough stock. In a wagon. It was the best chance she had at getting something bespoke; she'd heard there was a man there with very good creation magic. So, most valuable things she had in a bag around her middle, she approached the wagon.
Walking around, looking for anyone who could be this shopkeep she'd heard about, she called out: "Hello...? I'm looking for the um...R&R shop...? Or something like that?"
Jiao
And the bittersweet of every new defeat
Is I'm stronger than before
