Our heroes are outside a shop in Howlingrift. In fancy gold lettering it reads, Idonia's Antiques. "I guess this is the place." smiles Adie, "Let's go in." They head inside, the smell of expensive perfume surrounding them, as the door closes behind them. "Phew," frowns Galen, "This place stinks." Edeline elbows him, causing him to yelp. "May I help you?" asks a woman's voice.
Standing behind the counter is a woman who looks very dignified, wearing the finest silks, and a huge jewel stone ring on each finger. Her blonde hair seems to compliment her blue eyes, yet she gives our group a disgusted stare.
"Um..." says Faeda, stepping forward, "I've come here to buy a lamp." "My dear," said the woman, just noticing Faeda for the first time, "Of course! We have plenty of precious items here. Just one moment... I have to deal with these people first."

Galen: "What does she mean by that?!" W('O')W
Faeda: "Huh? Oh, ma'am... these are my friends. They're with me." (;^_^)
Woman: "You mean- You know these people? And you travel with them? ...How... nice..." (>_>)
Galen: "What does she mean by that ?!" W('O')W
Edeline: (u_u)
Oar: (-_-)
Woman: "Welcome to my store, young lady and... friends... I am Lady Idonia, the 3rd! My family has been in the antique business for generations and have always traveled far. So, you're guarantee to find the best and most unique antiques here in all of Serenity!" (^o^)
Adie: *whispers* "Gee... this woman brags a lot. I wonder if her and the bandit are related." (>_>)
Vi: "Yes, I wonder that too..." (<_<)

"I'm Faeda." she smiles, introducing herself to Lady Idonia, "And this is-" But the woman is uninterested in the others. "Faeda!" the woman smiles, "What a pretty name! I adore it!" "Um, thanks." says Faeda, nervously. "Now, follow me, dear." she smiles, "I have my best antique lamps in the back." "Great." nods Faeda. The others start to follow the woman, but she stops suddenly and thumbs her nose down at everyone, except Faeda. "It will be best," she said coldly, "If your friends stay here, near the front entrance of the shop, standing directly on the mat there. I don't want mud tracked through my store."
"WHAT???" thunders Galen. "I-" frowns Faeda, but Edeline puts a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Faeda." nods Edeline, "We can wait here. Go get that lamp." "Right, dear." nods Lady Idonia, "You don't need a crowd to pick out a lamp." They both quickly disappear into a back room.

Adie: "What's that lady's problem?" (u_u)
Oar: "Obviously, we're not rich or classy enough to enter her store."
(-_-)
Adie: "But she doesn't know us!" (;u_u)
Edeline: "Galen, what are you doing?" (o_O)
Galen: "I'm wiping my feet across her floor, on purpose! Gah, I wish I really did have mud on my shoes!" W('O')W
Vi: "Well, your sorta scuffing the fine wooden floors." (^_^)
Galen: "Really? Gotta move faster then..." o(^_-)O
Oar: "Well... maybe she's not wrong about Galen's class." (-_-)
Galen: "HEY! Who's side are you on???" W('O')W

"I don't get it," frowns Adie, "How come she's so judgmental of us and not of Faeda?" "Faeda is of a royal family." explains Vi, "Therefore, she is dressed in the finest clothing and carries herself a certain way. And people, like Idonia, will often respect her." "Yeah..." says Edeline, deep in thought, "I guess we do look like a weird bunch... and not only to the snobs." "What are you talking about?" frowns Galen. "Well," explains Edeline, "There's me, the woman in armor, which is clearly not the known class in this town. And there an weird looking Warrior Monk." "HEY!" growls Galen.
"And one crazy-looking Mage and a strange elven-girl." nods Edeline. "Hey!" frowns Adie, "Stop calling names!" "Well," shrugs Vi, "I am Elven... and many do view my kind as 'strange'." "I'm NOT crazy looking!" shouts Adie. "And then there's you," nods Edeline, looking towards Oar, "Hey... what are you, anyway?"

Oar: "Careful... you almost sound like the snob." (-_-)
Edeline: "No... I mean... what class are you?" (o_O)
Galen: "Yeah... you never did mention it. Let me guess, you're an Archer?" (O_o)
Oar: "No... And it's not necessary for you to know my class." (-_-)
Adie: "Aww! That's not fair, you know ours!" (>_<)
Vi: "You wish for us to trust you, yet you refuse to share anything personal with us." (>_>)
Oar: "I never asked for anyone to trust me. We made a deal, remember? As long as you keep your promise, I have no need to be trusted." (-_-)
Adie: "Wow... you're no fun." (u_u)

The door opens and Faeda carries a huge bronze lamp into the room. Lady Idonia smiles, as she heads behind the counter. "You'll LOVE that lamp for years to come." she nods, happy with her sale, "Your great grandchildren will most likely inherit it." Faeda smiles. "Nope," grins Galen, "This lamp will only last three seconds." He grabs the lamp from Faeda and tosses it in the air! Everyone gasps, as time seems to move in slow-motion, the lamp slowly descending towards the floor. "No!" screams Lady Idonia, trying to reach for it... But in mid air, Galen kicks it, exploding the lamp into many little pieces!
Among the broken shards of a antique lamp, were the magical shard that Faeda seeks. Galen grabs it from mid-air, as the rest of the pieces hit the floor. "There we go." he nods, satisfied with himself, "Here, Faeda." "But..." she says in shock, "You broke the lamp." "I can't believe this!!!" shrieked Lady Idonia, "Animals! Thugs, you are!" "Relax, lady." waved Galen, "Faeda bought the lamp, it was hers, so you shouldn't worry." "That lamp was over six generations old!" stormed the woman, "It was the lamp of the Great Prince of Ivy Castle!!! You scoundrel!!! Get out, get out, GET OUT!!!"

Edeline: "Galen, have you lost your mind?" (o_o)
Adie: "I mean, seriously..." (>_>)
Vi: "What were you thinking?" (u_u)
Galen: "Relax, we can't get in trouble, Faeda paid for it." (;^_^)
Faeda: "I don't understand... Why would you do something like that, Galen?" (o_O)
Galen: "Well, I knew we didn't need the lamp, just the shard. And I wanted to see the look on that snob's face!" o(^_-)O
Adie: (;u_u)
Faeda: (;^_^)
Edeline: "All of that trouble, just to make some lady angry?!" (o_o)
Galen: "Yeah! What's wrong? I thought it was the perfect comeback!" (^_-)
Oar: "But breaking that lamp, so suddenly... even I think that's was a little over the top." (-_-)
Galen: "Ugh... I'm stuck with wimps." (u_u)
Edeline: "Yah... and we're stuck with a crazy man." (>_>)
Galen: "What did you call me???" W('O')W

"Hey!" smiles Adie, "Does this mean we get to shop now?" "Oh, right." nods Faeda, "I forgot about that. Yes, we have some time to shop!" "Yay!" cheers Edeline and Vi. "Ugh," frowns Galen, "What are Oar and I suppose to do, in the meantime?" "Why not do some shopping too?" suggested Edeline. "Yeah," growls Galen, "Like that's any fun." Oar frowns. "What's the matter, Oar?" Adie asks, "You do have gold, right?" "No," he answers, "I have no use for riches." "Don't be silly," waves Adie and grabs his hand. She places a few gold into his hand, "Here. Look around and spend it on something nice for yourself."
"Why-?" asks Oar, suspicious of Adie's gesture. "Because," she nods, "That's what friends do for each other. They share and want to make sure everyone's happy." "F-friend?" asks Oar, confused by the whole concept. But the girls were already running off to shop, giggling and squealing, leaving one annoyed Galen and one dumbstruck Oar behind. "That's just great." grumbles Galen, "We're stuck here for the rest of the day!" "She called me a 'friend'?" Oar says in awe, looking at the coins in his hand.

Galen: "I just had a scary thought! Faeda has loads of gold, we may be stuck here for weeks!" (o_o)
Oar: "I've read about 'friendship' in my books... but does it truly exist?" (-_-)
Galen: "Let's just walk around... we might find a pub." (;u_u)
Oar: "But... I was always sure that 'friendship' was pure fiction. This is very odd..." (-_-)
Galen: "A nice meal and a round of drinks might be fun!" (;^_^)
Oar: "It's as if I'm stuck in the middle of some fictional story..." (-_-)
Galen: "What are you babbling about?" (o_O)
Oar: "Maybe we all don't exist, not really. Maybe we're all just characters and someone is writing our fates!" (-_-)
Galen: "ARE YOU MAD???!" (o_o)

"Gah," frowns Galen, "All of this over a few coins? I'd hate to see what would happen, if anyone would give you a birthday gift!" "She called me 'friend'." nods Oar, "It's a very big deal... and very confusing." "Why?" frowns Galen, "Haven't you had a friend before?" "No." Oar answers, simply. Galen stares at the guy, as if he was from another planet.. "Is it so odd?" says Oar, now sounding bored. "Well..." thought Galen, "What about the monsters on The Bone Cliffs? Aren't they your friends." "Hardly," waves Oar, "It's really a stretch, to call them my 'family'." "But..." says Galen, "They listen to you and they bought you those books..." "Not out of friendship," Oar says, now resentful, "They fear me. That's all."
"Wow..." says Galen, "You never had a childhood pal. That's awful. I mean, as a child, I had Edeline to challenge in fights and stuff... Wow, and I thought I was alone. You really didn't have anyone to-" "Save it." says Oar, coldly, "I don't need your pitty." "It's not pitty!" growls Galen, "I'm also trying to be a friend! That's what friends do! They share each other's problems, hopes, and fears!" "It's all pointless." shrugs Oar, putting away his gold, "What's the point of chasing a sentimental dream? 'You cry on my shoulder and I'll cry on yours'? That kind of weakness is enough to make me sick."

Galen: "...You're... kinda messed up, aren't you?" (>_>)
Oar: "I don't know what you mean..." (-_-)
Galen: "Hmm? Maybe we're both over thinking this." (;^_^)
Oar: "How so?" (-_-)
Galen: "Adie gave you some gold and called you 'friend', right?" (;^_^)
Oar: (-_-)
Galen: "And now you're acting so weird over it." (^_^)
Oar: (;-_-)
Galen: "So, it's not that you're such a tough guy and all... and the friendship thing isn't all that complicated to you. What you're really wondering is... does Adie like you!" o(^_-)O
Oar: *mumbles* "That's odd... he think he sees something in my love-life, but is too blind to see that two girls have an interest in him." (-_-)
Galen: "Don't worry! I think she does!" o(^_-)O
Oar: "Don't be a moron so often, Galen." (-_-)
Galen: "You wanna say that again?!" W('O')W

Galen is ready to fight, while Oar is highly uninterested. "I'm not worried about 'love'." explains Oar, "That's another thing I'm not sure exist. But this friendship thing does has me a little rattled, I admit." Galen eyes are swelling with tears! "Stop pitying me!" growls Oar. But Galen isn't paying any attention to Oar, he is staring right past him and towards a cart, located across the street. "Galen?" frowns Oar, becoming a little worried, "Are you okay?" "F-F-F-" stammers Galen, drooling, "Funnel Cakes!!!"
"What?" asks Oar, "Is that some type of creature?" Galen shrieks, as if someone stabbed him in his gut. "Are you SERIOUS?!" he jumped, nearly ready to strangle Oar, "You never heard of a Funnel Cake?!" "No," Oar says, backing away nervously, "I never even read about such a thing in my books." "YOU HAVE TO TRY ONE!" thunders Galen. He grabs Oar in a tight headlock and pulls him over to the cart. "Crazy monk!" yelled Oar, "Let me go!"

Galen: "Five cakes, please!" \(^o^)/
Edeline: "Hey, guys. What's going on?" (^_^)
Oar: "Edeline! Help! Save me from this crazy monk!" (o_o)
Edeline: "Galen! What are you doing now?!" (;u_u)
Galen: "FUNNEL CAKES!" \(^o^)/
Edeline: "Oh, boy... Galen! Galen! Let go of Oar! Galen!" (;u_u)
Galen: "What? I'm teaching him the wisdom of the Funnel Cakes..." \(^o^)/
Oar: (o_o)
Edeline: "No... you're choking him, over a stupid snack!" (;u_u)
Galen: "Edeline!!! ...Don't worry, Funnel Cakes, she didn't mean it." (>_>)
Oar: *mutters* "I don't get it, what does two smart and beautiful girls see in this fool?" (o_o)
Edeline: "Galen! Don't make me pull my sword!" (;u_u)
Galen: "Fine! We're having guy-fun and here you come to ruin it... mom!" (u_u)
Oar: *choke* "Who was having fun?" (o_o)

After shopping, our heroes enter the town's stables that evening, to get their horses. "Where to next?" asks Adie. "Oh," says Faeda, taking out the Key, "Let's find out!" The Key floats in mid air, as Faeda lets go of the shard, much like one would release a dove. The shard floats towards the Key, the whole stable lights up, as the shard connects in place. Everyone watches in awe, but also all of the horses watch with baited breath, unafraid but very interested.
Vi and Faeda listens to the unheard song and the light slowly fades away, making the dimly-lit stables seem more darker than before. "Well?" asks Oar, "What did it say? Where are we to heading to next?" "ID" answers Faeda...