The Secrets of the Aorta Ruins

Chapter Eleven

"So, some technology store next please? Is there one here?" Becca asked.

"Nope, we'll have to head to the next city for that request," Dare said, leading the way being sure to point out land marks as they passed them. Becca had her checklists out, marking things off and taking lots of pictures on her flip phone. Becca couldn't help but notice that the headmistress was still walking a few steps back ever since lunch.

They started down the stone road to the next city. It was a short walk but about half way there the stone transitioned into a dirt road. This city was slightly more inland than the first they had visited; there weren't nearly as many docks or stores here. Behind the city, was a large farm. Becca noted this was more of a town than a city, despite what her map and Dare said. She could hear some sheep baa and one cow mooing happily. Becca wondered if the sheep here provided the locals with the supplies necessary to make the clothes for the stores they had just shopped.

"How would a small town like this have electronics to sell Dare? How would they even make them?" she asked curiously looking around the small farm town. They certainly weren't making them out of cow's milk or sheep's wool.

"I have no idea Becca. Aren't you curious though?" He said laughing.

"Yeah but we're surrounded by farms. They aren't making electronic goods here, no docks so they aren't importing them," she tried to think of another answer, but she didn't have one. Becca noticed the headmistress pick up her pace to catch up to them.

"Well Rebecca, since you've asked they usually get them from the city we just left imported, or they get them from Izirak which is the" the Headmistress began to explain.

"The capital city of Shadefall, predominately inhabited by Dwarfed miners. Makes sense now. They would have the necessary supplies to make all kinds of things!" Becca continued for her, remembering from one of the books she had been reading for fun.

"Very good," noted Davina, slowing her pace behind them once more. Becca had never been behind in history before and took it as an insult that Davina said she was and it was going to take so long to catch her up in it. She had been loving how much she was able to learn in the subject at Ravenwood about different cultures and countries though that she wouldn't have learned staying in Aldenmoore. If that was meant to be a punishment from her parents, so far it had been failing.

"Well, there you go Becca," Dare said laughing at her enthusiasm again.

"I like learning stuff like that," She said, wondering for the first time if that was a bad thing.

"I know you do. And it's kinda cute how excited you get about it," he shyly admitted.

"Do you really think so?" She asked. Both of them were now bright pink in color at the conversation.

"I do, he said," holding open one of the shop doors for her, "I believe this was where you are wanting to go," he said with a smile. Becca smiled at him, not use to someone holding open doors for her before heading inside. The store was small, but the shelfs were full of boxes of things waiting for Becca to want to spend her money on them.

"Hello, is there anything I can help you find today?" the man tending the shop was small, but not small enough to count as a dwarf. Becca wondered if half-humans existed and added it to a growing list of questions for Davina.

"No thanks," Becca answered cheerfully, but watched as Dare headed over to the counter to chat with him anyway. Becca glanced at all the newer shinier toys with the larger prices tags near the front of the store before heading into the back looking at things along her way but not looking at anything for too long. Once she got as far back into the store as she could she finally stopped and began looking at the shop's wares. She knew this would be where the older, and therefore cheaper items would be.

She didn't know much about computers except that she wanted one. She looked at a few of the ones that were marked down, trying to compare them. The information on the models were almost another language to her. She looked over to the shopkeeper who still had Dare talking his ear off, but was watching her, almost knowing she was confused about something. Finally, she picked up the box that contained the cheaper laptop computer and brought it up to the cash register.

"Are you sure you don't need help with anything?" he asked her. For a moment she debated asking him for help, but she was almost positive he would try to talk her into the more expensive computer either way.

"Well, this one should be able to play music on it, right?" Becca asked trying to sound more sure of herself than she really was.

"Sure. Any of the ones we sell can. Is that all you're wanting to do?" He asked her, scanning the computer.

"Well, I'm sure I'll surf the internet for school a little bit too," she said.

"This is should be fine then," he said happy to help. Becca watched the price come up on the screen. It was marked cheaper than the display was marked in the back. She handed him the money for it rang up, adding on the accidental protection too.

"So, this whole trip was for a new computer?" Dare asked on their way out of the store.

"No, I wanted to come exploring and get a new computer," she said happily carrying her bags until Dare noticed. Becca watched as he stretched his hand out towards the bags.

"Why don't you let me carry those for you?" he offered. Becca handed them over happy with a smile. No one other than her dad and brother had offered to carry things for her before. The little things he had been offering to do for over the day began to stand out in her mind. Opening doors, forcing her to allow him to pay for lunch, and now carrying her bags. Dare truly was a gentleman.

"You know Dare, whoever it is you're going to ask to prom is going to be one lucky girl," she said happily, near skipping down the road. She had spent longer shopping than she would have liked between the two stores and the sun was already beginning to set. She had been wanting to do more exploring.

"Kids, unfortunately it's time to start heading back," the Headmistress said. Even she seemed to be having a good time and would have liked to stay out longer too. The walk back was quieter and less exciting than the way out and even seemed quicker than the journey to the cities. Most of the lights in the castle were already off in the castle by time they returned. The headmistress left for office and Becca and Dare went into her room.

Becca hung her new dress up on top of the closet without opening it before getting to what she was more excited about; her computer. She watched as Dare was already making himself comfortable in her room in case she needed help getting it set up. He already took the box out of the bag and placed it on the bed for her.

"I didn't open it, I left that for you," he said smiling. She smiled back before carefully opening the box and looking everything in it over. She tossed the instruction book to the side for the moment, which Dare picked up and began to look over. Becca watched as he just skimmed the book, not looking as though he really needed it. She guessed she would though. She carefully placed the laptop itself on top of her desk, expecting it to be heavier than it was for its size. She set the power cord up behind it next, plugging it in before pressing the power on button. She followed the set-up instructions, not needing Dare's help but happy he was there just in case until she got to her desktop screen.

"It works!" She said excitedly.

"Well of course it does, its new," he said laughing, "Do you plan on using it tonight?"

"No, its already late and we have to go back to classes in the morning. Do you have any CDs I can borrow though?" she asked.

"Yeah, a whole bunch. Let me show you how to shut the computer down and then I'll go grab them for you."

"You mean I don't just hit the power button I used to turn it on?"

"No, definitely don't do that," he said, showing her what to do instead. He disappeared out the door and Becca used the time to ready herself for bed. She pulled on a pair of her comfy pajamas and brushed her teeth before there was a gentle tap on her door before Dare let himself back in, placing a book of CDs on her desk next to the laptop. He stared at her for just a moment before wishing her a good night and making his way back out the door.