Now that Caldor and Idriseth are together, everything seems to be going right for once. Cal is still bitter and angry after what happened to his guildmates, but he tries to put it all aside, move on, and focus on the new life path that's in front of...
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Getting a simple setting made was surprisingly easy, as the local blacksmith just took Caldor's coin with barely a second glance and out of a heated-up, thin, steel wire made framework for the stone, creating a hoop at the top for a cord, which she also supplied—one of black leather. The blacksmith hadn't been very talkative, which on one hand was good since Cal didn't have to lie his way through a conversation, but the silence had put him on edge. Thankfully, she also worked very fast, so he was leaving before he knew it.
Picking out some clothing was less simple because the one clothier in the small town had hardly anything fitting someone of Idri's stature, so Caldor just ended up choosing the nicest tunic and trousers he was offered. They were just as black as Idri's robes, so Cal hoped the dragon wouldn't hate the new clothes. He wanted to get this right.
Caldor had been about to leave at that point, not wanting to explore the town too much without Idri who was waiting for him just outside, but then he remembered he still needed to get Idri some shoes, and so he quickly searched for a shoemaker instead.
Along with a pair of boots, Caldor also ended up getting a satchel to carry the spellbook as it was also on offer, and after a short, passive-aggressive exchange with the shoemaker concerning the authenticity of the silver coins, Cal was leaving the town as fast as he could, his hands full of clothes.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd bought clothes in general, let alone this many, but he knew that the only reason he was excited about it was that he was doing it for Idri.
Cal ended up finding the dragon much closer to the town than where he had been when Caldor had left, which was difficult not to grin at. It was a risk to be this close since someone could see have seen him, but it was very endearing to see him so eager to see humans living their normal lives.
It did make Cal a bit sad they wouldn't get to visit Redreach in a long time. There were a lot of places he would have loved to show Idri.
"Beloved!" Idri greeted him, his eyes full of delight but also anxiousness. As ever, Cal felt his cheeks heat up at the pet name. "You are here much earlier than I thought."
"Did my best not to keep you waiting," Caldor replied, smiling at him. He put all of the clothes and satchel on the ground and reached into his pocket for the stone and setting. As he slid the pebble into it, he smiled, noting that it looked quite elegant, despite the stone being so common.
Though, now it had the power to visually change a dragon into a human. Perhaps it wasn't so common anymore.
Idriseth took the necklace when Caldor offered it to him, running his fingers over the setting before slipping the cord over his neck. Seeing Idri's horns and wings disappear was still jarring, even though Cal had already seen it happen. He still wished they didn't need to do this, but at least like this Idri should have an easier time dressing himself without the wings in the way.
