Chương 115: Chapter 111 - Denied Access???

"Chelsea," Passion growled.

"Why are we in a dress shop?" The shop was bright, warm, and entirely wrong for Passion. Soft fabric hung from polished racks, and the front windows were arranged to catch the morning light through layers of white, blue, cream, and pale yellow cloth. Passion stood just inside the doorway with the posture of a woman preparing to walk away and leave Chelsea behind. Chelsea, on the other hand, looked perfectly pleased with herself.

"Because you deserve a dress," Chelsea replied simply.

"You're gorgeous and easily rock that Valkyr set. I bet you would be stunning in a white dress."

"Absolutely not," Passion replied.

"I am a warrior, Chelsea. If the other girls even heard we walked into a dress shop, let alone I tried one on…" Chelsea turned to face her fully.

"I don't play this card very often so here it goes." She cleared her throat, stepped closer, and looked deeply up into Passion's eyes.

"Please Passion? As your pair it would make me so happy." Passion looked down at her Havoc with frustration written across her face. Chelsea knew the moment she had won, though Passion seemed to hate realizing it.

"Fine. I will try on one dress. For the record, this is for you and not because I want to." Chelsea disappeared into the shop before Passion could change her mind. The saleswoman stood near a side counter, straightening a row of folded shawls. She looked up when Chelsea approached, and her practiced shop smile appeared at once.

"Oh, hello, how may I help you?"

"Hey there, I am in dire need of your assistance," Chelsea said. She led the woman back toward Passion, who remained near the entrance with her arms crossed and her expression set. The saleswoman's smile faltered for just a moment as she took in Passion's height, shoulders, and general unwillingness to be there.

"I need something that will fit her, and I cannot stress this enough, you have one shot. She has only agreed to try on one dress for me."

"Goodness, I will see what I can do," the woman said. To her credit, she did not look afraid of Passion for long. She took out a measuring cord and approached with professional focus. Passion endured the measurements with the same expression she might have worn while being examined for injuries after battle. Chelsea stayed nearby, quiet but delighted, watching the woman note Passion's shoulders, waist, arms, and height with growing concentration. Afterward, the saleswoman moved through the shop with new purpose.

She examined dresses from several racks, lifted each one toward Passion from a distance, and either returned it immediately or draped it over her arm. Chelsea let her work. The woman clearly knew what she was doing, and Chelsea had no intention of interfering with art. By the time the saleswoman returned, one arm was full. She started to sort through the choices again, but Chelsea placed a hand lightly on hers.

"Don't bother. I'll take all of them." The woman looked up at Chelsea in confusion.

"All of them?"

"Yes ma'am, I trust your eye for color, and I already agreed to get her to try one on, I'd rather have her do that when we are back home in our room." Chelsea stopped talking. That had sounded much more romantic than she intended.

"Uh how much do I owe you."

"Chelsea, don't waste your money on me."

"You deserve to be spoiled sometimes," Chelsea replied.

"How much?"

"For all seven? Uh." The saleswoman looked through the pile, her lips moving faintly as she worked through the total. Chelsea waited patiently. She wanted to ask how much each dress was and do the math herself, but that felt too close to taking the moment away from the woman. She kept her hands folded and let her finish. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"They total twenty one gold, Miss," she replied. Chelsea handed over the gold happily and stored the dresses in her pouch.

"Thank you so much," Chelsea said.

"Have a wonderful day." They left the shop a few moments later. The morning air felt cooler after the warmth inside, and the noise of the street returned around them. Chelsea wrapped her arms around Passion's left arm and leaned into her as they walked.

"Now, what would you like for a job well done on the exam? We need something to celebrate."

"Chelsea, you just bought me seven dresses," Passion replied.

"Oh hush, those are for me. I have been dying to see you in something other than the same old armor. I'm asking one of my closest friends, what do you want?"

"I, uh…"

"Anything at all. Name it." Passion looked away from her.

"I grew up in a warrior village. We didn't have pretty dresses. What…" She started to blush.

"What is something that would go with a dress?" Chelsea's smile softened. By the time they walked out of the jewelry store, Passion looked overwhelmed enough that Chelsea almost felt guilty. Almost. The little wrapped boxes in Chelsea's pouch held twenty two new pieces. Some were for Passion. Some were for Chelsea.

"Chelsea, that was so much money!"

"You're worth every copper. Plus I got myself some stuff too."

"Chelsea, seriously. You didn't have to get me anything. I just answered some questions. It's not worth all of this."

"Just shut up," Chelsea said, leaning her head against her large friend.

"We have one last quick stop to make, then we'll head back to Valhalla." Passion did not argue again, though her hand kept drifting toward the pouch where Chelsea had placed the jewelry. Chelsea pretended not to notice. There was no reason to ruin the victory by making Passion admit she was excited. They walked a few blocks through the city until they reached a large stone building with polished doors and serious-looking guards stationed near the entrance. The inside was clean, orderly, and quiet..

A young woman in the lobby greeted them as they entered.

"Welcome to the West Branch of the Nordrak Bank. How may I help you?"

"Hi there, I am Chelsea Wixx. I need to make a few deposits into some accounts anonymously." The young woman's polite expression faltered.

"Wixx?" she asked through her furrowed eyebrows.

"Adriane Wixx is my mother. I have full authority over our finances."

"R-right. Do you have any identification?" she asked. The skepticism was there, but so was fear. Chelsea could not blame her for either. A demon girl walking into a bank and claiming authority over Wixx finances sounded suspicious even to Chelsea, and Chelsea was the demon girl. She handed over her guild card.

"Also, I have full authority over the account of Ivy Leaf. Can you let me know how much is currently in her account?"

"Y-yes Miss," she said with a bow.

"I can fetch her information. Let me also grab our branch manager to assist you with the deposits." Passion stood beside her, quiet now. Chelsea could feel the question waiting there, but Passion did not ask it. Not yet. She had errands to finish before returning to Valhalla.

"Please, have a seat in our lounge area." The young woman said, returning. She gestured to a large circular couch off to the side of the lobby before hurrying away with Chelsea's guild card. Chelsea and Passion crossed the polished floor and sat. The couch was firm, expensive, and shaped so several customers could wait without being close enough to hear one another's business.

Clerks worked behind the counters with careful efficiency, and guards stood near the doors pretending not to watch the demon girl and the Valkyr sitting in the middle of the room. Passion leaned back and studied Chelsea.

"What's it like in your head?" Passion asked.

"I mean it. You don't know any of these people but you just walk in and get them to do whatever you want and you're nice to everyone and how? How are you this way?" Chelsea shrugged.

"Just have to know what you're talking about. If we walked into a sword specialty shop, I wouldn't know a short sword from a long sword. I'm sure you would though. Knowing the subject matter is huge. Take this place for example. It's just a place to store money and move it around. Once you get how it works, it's easy."

"You seem to know everything about everything though."

"That's where you're wrong. The places we've gone today are places I specialize in," Chelsea replied.

"This is just what I'm good at." Passion did not look entirely convinced, but she did not argue. Chelsea folded her hands in her lap and tried to look patient. The truth was, she liked places like this. Banks and guilds made sense. Contracts, accounts, investments, ownership, deposits, ledgers, and paperwork all had rules. It was comforting in its own way.

"Miss Wixx?" They both looked up. An elderly woman approached them with Chelsea's guild card in hand. She had a composed face, silver hair pinned neatly back.

"Good afternoon. I was told you wanted to make a few deposits into an account and check on an account for someone name Ivy Leaf? Is that correct?"

"Yes Miss, that all sounds right," Chelsea replied with a smile.

"We are happy to take care of the deposits but unfortunately it appears that Miss Ivy Leaf removed you from her account. It didn't list a reason. Just that she requested to be the sole owner of the account." Chelsea sat very still. For a moment, the words did not fit together properly. Ivy had removed her from the account. Ivy had gone to the bank and asked for Chelsea to no longer have access. There might have been a sensible reason. There had to be one. But Chelsea could not find it quickly enough.

"Why would she do that?" she asked Passion. Passion looked just as confused as Chelsea felt. Chelsea forced herself back to the matter at hand and looked to the elderly woman again.

"Uh right, well. For now can you please deposit two thousand gold into each of the orphanage accounts here in Nordrak? Anonymously, please. Also, can you please deposit three thousand into Ivy Leaf's account?" Chelsea asked.

"Certainly. We can take care of all of that for you. You don't need to wait around. It will take a few hours. If needed, you can check back in with us later today."

"That's fine. Thank you so much. I really appreciate your help."

"Yes, of course dear," the old woman replied. Chelsea stood, and Passion rose with her. They left the bank and began walking back toward the temple. The city had not changed while they were inside, but Chelsea felt less steady moving through it now. The orphanage deposits were good. She had done what she came to do. Still, the news about Ivy's account sat in her chest and would not move.

"Why would Ivy kick me off of the account?" Chelsea asked.

"Maybe ask your mom when you write to her?" Passion replied.

"That may be all I can do," Chelsea said with a sigh.