s o l o m o n

t w o

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The Sun had risen over Soledad hours before, blanketing the desert kingdom in warm rays of sunlight. From her spot behind the counter, Yusa could hear all the commotion and blended voices coming from the marketplace. It was cacophonous, the jumble of sound that made its way to her open window, but she had been in this spot many times before on days that the marketplace was busy, and she'd learned to distinguish different parts of the noise that she found interesting. The small curtain in the window had been tied in a knot at the bottom and rested on a metal screw in the wall to allow the daylight in.

She was alone in the shop. When she awoke, she was surprised to find her grandfather had been sitting in the stool behind the counter, seemingly drowsy though he wouldn't admit how tired he was after presumably staying up all night. Upon opening the front door, she was relieved in finding no trace of the two thugs that had followed her home in the night. Knowing her grandfather, if she told him it was unnecessary to have stayed up all night as it was unlikely the two Masked bandits would have broken in, he would not take it kindly. So, she thanked him and gave Ciro a kiss on the cheek.

"This isn't the first time I've stayed awake through the night." Ciro eased himself off of the stool, little by little on account of his sore joints. He grabbed the cane that leaned against the concrete wall to balance himself.

"Yes, but you're getting older. I'm certain it's not healthy for you to pull all-nighters." Yusa tried helped her grandfather though it was clear by his brushing off of her hand that he insisted on not accepting aid for the task.

"Nonsense. I'm as young as they come." The sound of his joints popping upon straightening his back seemed to contradict his statement.

"I think they come younger..."

Yusa's voice had been quiet enough that her grandfather must not have heard her. Either that or he simply chose not to get himself tested after a night of sitting awake and doing absolutely nothing.

"I'm going to get some rest. You can handle the shop for a few hours by yourself." Ciro had begun toward the stairs as he spoke. It didn't seem as though he were asking her to run the shop but rather stated it as fact.

"What about—"

"You can take a break when the Sun is directly overhead." Ciro peered over his shoulder. "For an hour and a half and then you open up shop again."

An hour and a half? Grandfather's feeling generous.

"Okay! Good morning, grandpa." She wished him a good rest, earning a lackluster wave of the hand from the older gentleman before he disappeared behind the curtain and up the stairs.

★

Odessus is a merchant city in the southern district of Soledad. Bustling with businesses, almost all places of retail and various services are successful here. Located in Odessus is Ciro Yokazi's Repair Shop, one of the many establishments in this city that have become a part of the it's character due to the shop's many years of activity. Every other day, a street-side market can be found on the main road of Odessus where vendors offering various goods and services set up their stalls. Some stalls are standalone businesses while others may be extensions of current stores, restaurants, or any other possible trade in order to advertise their venture.

Yusa loved the marketplace, the chaos of it always made her feel some form of comfort. The yelling and disorder that happened every time the market opened up was an odd source of contentment. She had grown up going to the marketplace and listening from the window, just as she did now. She was at ease amongst the mess of energy as she had been in it for most of her life. Someone not native to this sort of environment might feel otherwise.