With his current inventory depleted and solid agreements established with the major nobles for tomorrow's barter transactions, Noah decided he had earned some genuine downtime. The shop could remain closed for a few hours while he explored Esta and experienced what the city had to offer beyond constant business negotiations and combat training.
He no longer needed to hide Lola or maintain the careful pretence that she was simply a mysterious assistant. The kingdom had grown accustomed to her presence after the king addressed the matter of the demons and the extremists.
"Want to explore the city properly?" Noah asked her as he locked the shop door behind them. "We've been so busy with business and training that I haven't actually experienced Esta as anything other than a workplace."
Lola's ruby eyes brightened with genuine pleasure at the suggestion. "I would love that. The last time we did this, I had so much fun."
