Chapter 284: Velvet Foxes, Silk Screens, and the Shop That Velira Suggested
Chapter 284: Velvet Foxes, Silk Screens, and the Shop That Velira Suggested
Elyn’s POV
"What does it look like it is?" I asked him.
"Like you are giving that," he said, gesturing at the carton I held out, "to me."
I rolled my eyes at that. "Oh wow, who would have thought? You’re so smart."
I paused and then added, "Of course I’m giving it to you. I can count on one hand how many foods you actually eat. This is specifically for you, since you liked the first one."
"I didn’t say I liked it. I said it didn’t taste bad," he replied.
"Same thing."
"It is not."
"Zorathys."
He looked at me for a moment, then sighed again and took the carton from my hand.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he did so, and I can’t even deny that I had a similar look on my face too.
He used one of the pick tooths and took a bite from the purple pocket. I watched as he chewed slowly, and I’m not lying when I say it felt like he took an hour just to finish one.
But thankfully, it took less time to finish the others.
"Not bad, right?" I asked him just as the carton and pick tooths disappeared from his hands.
He stared at me, then gave a small nod. "Perhaps."
Before I could respond to that, Velira gasped loudly.
I turned and noticed she was pointing at a building across the market square.
It was a large structure, easily three times the size of the stalls around it, with a curved roof that swept upward at the corners like the wings of a bird mid-flight. Red and gold decorations hung from every available surface — silk tassels, paper lanterns, and wooden plaques carved with creatures I couldn’t quite identify — swaying gently in the breeze. Demons were walking in and out, their arms full of wrapped packages, their faces bright with satisfaction.
"We should go there," Velira said excitedly. "They sell clothes. Beautiful clothes. High quality clothes."
I looked at the building.
Then at Velira.
Then at the building again.
Zayrion adjusted his glasses.
"That store is run by the fox demons," he said, his voice carrying that measured calm he always had. "I’ve been there before. Mama brought me one time to observe."
He paused, then added, "I can get us VIP seats too."
I gave him a look. "Really?" I asked him.
He nodded seriously, his glasses catching the light.
"Yes," he said.
I turned to Zorathys, who looked wholly unimpressed.
"If I go as myself, I could probably get us the whole building," he said. "And let’s not even start with Firefly, who could get us the whole street."
I rolled my eyes. "Are you boasting to a child right now, Zorathys?"
"Do you know what said child has done in this realm, Firefly?" he asked me.
"I don’t, and that is not the topic of discussion right now," I told him pointedly. Then I turned to the others.
"Do you want to go to the store?" I asked.
"Not really," Azerion said, his cheeks stuffed with what I could only assume were more purple pockets than what had been bought for him.
And honestly, I wasn’t even surprised. Besides, in the demon realm, the only issue when it comes to stealing is when you get caught.
"I want to go," Velira and Thalira said at the same time.
"I’ve always wanted to go," Velira said. "They sell quality materials, and even succubi buy from them too."
"Me too," Aziren said with bright eyes.
"I guess we don’t have a choice then?" Retheris asked Brixton. "We’ll be dragged to the store either way."
"Um... I want to go too," Brixton said, shocking Retheris.
I chuckled, then turned to Zayrion. "Lead the way."
"Aren’t you going to ask me?" Zorathys spoke up with a raised eyebrow.
"Nope," I told him.
Zayrion had just started walking when Zorathys’s shadows enveloped us, and then we were in the store.
The transition was seamless.
One moment we were standing in the market square, and the next we were standing on polished wooden floors that gleamed beneath the light.
I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the sudden shift in atmosphere.
The store was breathtaking.
The ceiling soared high above us, supported by wooden beams carved with intricate patterns, spiraling vines, blooming flowers, and foxes in various poses. Some foxes were running, their tails streaming behind them. Others were sitting, their heads tilted as if listening to something only they could hear. A few were curled in sleep, their bodies forming perfect circles.
Paper lanterns hung from the beams at staggered heights, their soft glow casting warm pools of light across the space. The lanterns were painted with scenes too, foxes dancing, foxes feasting, foxes watching the moon rise over mountains that looked like waves frozen in stone.
The walls were paneled in wood so dark it was almost black, but thin veins of gold ran through the grain, catching the light and shimmering like threads of silk. Sliding doors lined the walls, their frames made of that same dark wood, their panels made of paper painted with more foxes.
The floor was covered in woven mats — soft underfoot, their edges bound in dark fabric. The mats were arranged in neat rows, guiding customers through the space without walls or barriers.
It was very fox themed to be honest.
The entire place smelled faintly of sandalwood, incense, and expensive fabric.
Soft instrumental music floated through the air from somewhere unseen.
"This is quite different from the store we went to at the beast demon territory, " I told Zorathys.
"This is like the center of the fox demons fabric store, it’s huge and the Fox themed decorations are all to get the succubus annoyed...as usual." He whispered.
I chuckled at that.
Then I turned to him.
"Have you been here before?" I asked him.
He stared at me lazily. "I’ve been everywhere and nowhere firefly."