Future of Calamity [Under Rewrite]

Chapter 2 - Family

As Velvet once again reached the village centre, she locked her eyes on the large multiple roofed house that signalled the store. Outside of its banisters, a girl with twin-tailed brown hair was seen taking care of the resource-filled sacks outside the premise. Next to her, a pair of whimpering Akita Inu dogs were resting at her feet. The black-haired woman gained a slight smile upon seeing her long-time friend, as the white inu ran over to her.

"Niko! Here for groceries?" Velvet openly asked the girl, as the person in question turned in the direction of the voice. She wore a much more proper but still comfortable, outfit, with a mixture of bright natural colours like lime and orange. Niko's shoulder-length hair rested gently on her shoulders, tied in lemon-yellow cloth as a makeshift ribbon.

"Yep. And you must've been out hunting," she answered with amused glee, her onyx eyes shifting as she approached.

In response, Velvet rested the two bags of produce against the steel gate, and knelt down to give the waiting dog some attention. "Yeah. It was a good haul. Especially, with Arthur's help."

Putting on a slightly sarcastic voice, Niko cheered on the young huntress, "Look at you, Lady Breadwinner! If you were a boy, I think I'd be in love," she joked.

Stifling a chuckle at her friend's antics, Velvet responded assuredly, "Good thing I'm a girl."

Feigning a shocked expression, Niko scanned Velvet's 'rugged' attire. "Oh yeah? You oughta do something about your style, then."

Understanding the girl's underlying jab, Velvet bashfully stroked her head of messy raven hair, multiple strands recoiling in motion. "Ah, yeah... I kinda broke my comb," she explained, a hint of embarrassed red hueing her pale cheeks.

"So get a new one," Niko exasperatedly pushed. Turning her gaze to settle on the display table at her side, two specific objects stood out to her: a beautiful and articulate brazen compass in working condition, and a similarly golden and elegant comb.

Placing a hand on her chin in thought while Niko shoved her hands on her hips in a dramatic fashion, Velvet thought about the purchase. "Sure, I'd like to, but..." the woman was abruptly cut off when her friend called out to the salesman working off at the bench.

"Hey Mister!" she loudly shouted, "How about a sale on combs for the pretty girl?"

Shaken out of his stupor, the store-owner confusingly questioned the two, "Hrmm? You two need something?"

As the man walked over, Velvet denied her friend's attempts at a bargain, "I'm fine, Niko. I'm just here to pick up medicine for Laphicet."

Now caught up on her needs, "Oh, Velvet. I already told Arthur, but... I'm afraid the medicine hasn't come in yet."

Bewildered by the strange situation, the girl yearned for a reason, "What? Why not? Is it because of the daemons?"

The owner solemnly nodded. "Seems like the daemonblight's really taken a toll on the city. There's even a group of them lurking around here now."

"When's it coming, then!?" Velvet desperately asked.

The man stood still, brows furrowed as he sadly relented in giving the answer, "I can't say. And I don't know how much it will cost," he stated, crossing his gloved arms and looking away from the worried sister.

"Oh no..."

Niko let out a disgusted sound, and crossed her arms in an angered manner, "Ugh, what is WRONG with Midgand? Don't they have army or something?"

"Those guys? The daemons already routed them a while back."

Niko's anger suddenly disappeared, as the fear of the reality steadily settled in. "...But we're safe here, right? After all, your brother-in-law's an exorcist." She asked, turning to Velvet, who trustfully responded with a confident nod.