Sinbad, this is Crystal.

Chapter 18

For quite possibly the hundredth time in the past thirty minutes, Crystal scoffed. 

"Definitely not that one."

Rurumu dropped the dress in exasperation and sighed deeply.

"Crystal, you know you're going to need to decide on a dress eventually," she reasoned.

Crystal paced around the store, grazing her fingers past random hangers pretending to look at dresses. It wasn't that she didn't think they were pretty enough, she just didn't see the point in her going.

"Why do I have to go anyway? Didn't the invitation address only Sinbad?" Crystal pleaded. 

"King Rashid's birthday gala has become one of the most spectacular festivals in the kingdom of Balbadd. He reached out to Sinbad this year, yes, but he also said that he would like to discuss some more economic matters with the Sindrian Trading Company," Rurumu went on. "Besides, the king knows you better than any of the rest of us."

"That shouldn't matter though. Ja'far's coming and he only met the king briefly."

"Ja'far's going with you because he's practically an encyclopedia. He'll be able to help you and Sinbad when you're talking with His Majesty."

"So we have the head of the company and his most intelligent advisor heading to Balbadd. Rurumu, I still don't see the point of me going. I'm not even sure I want to go, I feel like I'm finally progressing with my training. I don't want to stop now."

"Crystal, you don't have to worry about training. You've progressed farther than any warrior I've ever seen. You're learning from three completely different people: a dungeon capturer, an assassin, and an Imuchakk fighter. You are more than capable."

"Yeah, but-"

"And we both know men are helpless. With you there, their chances of messing up the entire exchange diminish exponentially," Rurumu finished with a smirk on her face.

Crystal laughed. "I guess that means you think Hinahoho is pretty useless then?"

Rurumu chuckled. "He is amazing with Kikiriku, but sometimes he is just too confused for his own good."

Crystal continued to laugh with Rurumu. They had come to grow so close over the years. Crystal considered Rurumu like an older sister, someone she could unconditionally trust. 

"All right, Rurumu. You win. Let's find me a dress for the party."

Rurumu embraced Crystal. "Splendid! Let's keep looking then."

"Right!"

Crystal and Rurumu scoured nearly every store in this shopping plaza. They had bought many pieces of fine jewelry, everyday clothes for the long trip, even a fuzzy blanket for Kikiriku, but no dress seemed to fit either of the women's expectations. 

As they approached the final store they had not checked, Crystal began complaining to Rurumu. 

"Ru, if we don't find a dress in this next store, I am going to Rashid's party in a curtain."

"Crystal, if we don't find a dress in the next store, I won't even care."

The final store they walked into was shabbier than the high end ones they recently went to. The lighting was warmer and there were clothes of all different styles. Some big and fuzzy and others small and breezy, ranging in all different colors and shapes. The only other person in the store was an old woman with long black hair and black eyes. Once she saw the two of them, her face cracked into a million-coin smile and she opened her arms to welcome them inside.