Follow the River [Shoto Todoroki x Reader: Fantasy AU]

Chapter 6: Long Lost

Sorry this took so long to post! I was taking a break to outline the rest of the story first. Now it's finished.
Not beta'd. Beware. But enjoy, please.

Toshinori Center wasn't too far away. Speaking of farness, Izuku's mind was someplace else as Shoto and (Y/n) spoke on either side of him. So much had happened in a single day; he went from a broke and lonely teen slave bound by the economy to a well-off adventurer hanging out with his two new friends. Was that the right way to say it? He didn't know, but that's what he hoped for. New friends and an amazing adventure ahead of him!

"At least it was close," Izuku said as they neared the huge sign signaling the entrance to Toshinori Center. "But this is the last tourist attraction in this area. If we keep moving, we'll have to go a little far."

"The further the better," Shoto replied, and Izuku remembered that he was a wanted person. "I'd like to see the magic items here. We should split up for now."

He had taken Izuku's word for it when it came to Toshinori Center hosting bundles of flashy and powerful magic items. He hoped that maybe he could find one that will further his goal of overtaking his father's throne one day. He decided that even if he didn't find anything here, there were even fancier places near the border of Yuuei, quite far from there, that he had never gotten to see.

"Good idea. I want to buy some clothes," Izuku said. "These are getting a little small... and smelly." He pulled his shirt off of his chest. It was a bit sticky now that he was out in the sun for so long.

(Y/n) looked off to the side and saw a shop that caught her interest when she read the wooden sign dangling over the front. "I know where I want to go. See you guys back here in... two hours?"

The boys nodded. Thankfully, all three of the teens went in different directions.

"A rune tattoo shop.." (Y/n) tilted her head at the sign. It jogged her memory but the memory never revealed itself in full. Curiosity got the best of her, and she took in the antique design of the shop as she stepped in. A bell rang as she opened the door, and the person at the front desk didn't even flinch, his head down.

"Welcome." He yawned. "Uh, how may I help you?" His voice was monotonous and obviously uninterested at the task at hand, not even having the courtesy to look at his customer.

The knight pursed her lips inside her helm. "I'm new around here and I was just curious about all this." (Y/n) walked up to them and they turned. It was a male with blond hair, but not as ashy as Bakugou's. There was a black lighting bolt in his hair, which was rare to see. Not too many citizens got weird dye jobs like that. Well, for the Prince, it wasn't too weird. It's one of the reasons he's so recognizable after all. "What are those things?" (Y/n) pointed at the wall covered in different 'scribbles,' embedded in wooden plaques.

"They're.. runes," the receptionist said. "They're examples of what kind of rune we can tattoo on you.."
He yawned again. "Well.. some."

"What's a rune exactly?"

He stared at the knight. "Uh.. read the paper on the door. It may help you."

(Y/n) did so, a little irritated.

'Welcome to the best Rune Tattoo Shop in Yuuei. What's a rune? It's basically a permanent magic charm on your skin! But be careful: it's super painful, super expensive and the more it fades away, the less powerful it is. Not for the faint of heart! More information at the desk.'

More information at the desk? This guy doesn't want to tell her anything! She wondered if he knew describing how terrible the whole thing is actually driving away customers too. She couldn't imagine anyone coming in here to actually get a tattoo done.