King of Hearts

23.

Only 15 minutes have passed, and Val is already having the time of her life. Theoretically, they haven't done much yet, but the amazing street performers and euphoric vendors, and just the beauty and energy of this city are overwhelming. In a good way, though. 

Val and Dánica have stopped watching a group of girls dressed in pink and purple clothes, showing a lot of skin. But it isn't about the costumes, it's about the spectacular performance. The tallest one is making music with a gold tambourine and has been singing to it. One has been dancing and walking on a row of glass bottles. In heels. Another lady has a talent for balancing on a vertical ladder. She's standing, climbing up and down, doing little jumps, and moving it around. And the last one was doing some acrobatics on bars which must have been at least 20 feet tall. The show was very impressive, they just had to stop.

Val and Dánica now enter the famous Serpent Market, which is a market that spreads throughout half of the city, as Dánica said. Various vendors try to catch their attention by yelling about the superiority of their products and why they should definitely buy something. While passing a stand full of colorful dresses, Val decides to stop here.
"I think I might need a dress. Not that the one you lend me is bad, I just want a dress that is mine." Val feels uncomfortable constantly using Dánica's clothes, especially since she already owns not many. Although she's not planning on staying here for a long time, she wants to at least own a dress of her own. Dánica gives her friend a bright smile.

"You know that I don't mind at all. But I understand, you want to have something that is yours. Even if you bought twenty dresses, however, you're still welcome to borrow some of mine", she says in her angelic voice.
"The same for you." Val gives back with a happy smile and hooks her arm in hers.

There are dresses of all types, short and long, puffy and slim, simple and extravagant. Val doesn't know what she's looking for, she just wants something cute and comfortable. After a long moment, Val finally comes across a burgundy long dress that reaches her ankles. The three-quarter sleeves are enhanced by white lace, like the white-collar. The dress comes with a dark brown belt at the waist. It's pretty, not too much and not too boring. And the price is agreeable, according to Dánica.

Dánica told her that both have 4 000 letins, which is Senfira's currency, divided into silver and gold coins. The dress costs 500 letins, which isn't much as Dánica said. Val can't figure how to read the coins since there are no numbers but symbols, like flowers, mushrooms, or a shoe. But Val trusts her friend, so she lets Dánica manage the money.

Every stand they pass they buy either a souvenir or something to eat. Val has bought two porcelain cats – she just had to –, two pairs of shoes, plain brown ankle boots and simple black flats, and a sparkly butterfly necklace. She also bought a lot of street food, so she spent 2 100 letins today. That's already more than half of her wage. Dánica, on the contrary, only spent money on food, wanting to save up as much as possible.

It's already 1 pm when the girls sit outside of a café called "25 o'clock". "Shall we go to the main shopping street in the center of town? Although, the prices are much higher there", Dánica suggests while sipping on a luminous purple drink. Val ordered some plain green tea.

"Well, we can go have a look, we don't need to actually buy something." Val answers. "As if you're capable of doing that", Dánica pokes Val flashing a playful smile. Val pouts jokingly and they both laugh. Sometime later they make their way deeper into the city.