Once the clerk brought out the two mannequins, Alwyn shooed him away. He made it quite clear that, if his services were needed again, which would mean that the robes weren't exactly as he wanted, then it wouldn't be very... ha, 'good.'
Linnie and Liora both went into two of the dressing rooms, taking the clothes with them. Liora was still a little shaken, but she put on a smile as she went behind the curtain.
Excitedly, Linnie held the robes out in front of him. It came in many layers, and was a lot more confusing and complex than any other item of clothing he'd ever put on.
It made him feel like an aristocrat.
He giddily slipped out of his clothes and into the ocean of cloth. Despite the sheer amount of material, it wasn't as heavy as he expected.
He had always wondered how Alwyn wore his thick, flowing robes at all times. But as he put them on, it became obvious.
There was some sort of enchantment similar to the one that was on his poncho. It was clearly much more advanced, since not only did it keep away cold, but it also kept away the slightly stuffy air of the shop.
Linnie felt perfectly comfortable as he slipped into the robes.
The fabric, though thick and sturdy, was incredibly soft and satisfying to touch with his skin. The form of his robes was a bit different from Alwyn's, and the color was too.
It was the first thing he noticed—the heavy, midnight blue. The robe had a loose outer coat which fell just past his hips. The sleeves were very wide, stitched with faint geometric embroidery. Along the shoulders, chest, and wrists, there were straight trails of pale purple.
It matched his hair.
A strangely colorful belt with interesting patterns of oranges, reds, and golds, wrapped around the robes and strung down on either side, flowing with the rest of the fabrics.
Under that was a simple inner shirt, pale gray and made of a light, breathable fabric. Baggy trousers tucked into layered wrappings around the calves.
It wasn't elegant, but clearly built for climbing, running, sprinting, or any physical activity a wizard may need.
Across the chest ran various leather straps and belts, crossing diagonally. Linnie assumed they were meant to hold potions and charms and whatever wizards carried around... which he didn't have. Strangely, Alwyn didn't have any such straps, just his three, thick leather belts.
They probably served a similar purpose. Or, were supposed to. Alwyn kept everything in his hat, anyway.
The boots were... his least favorite part. The wild boy could count on his hands the number of times he'd worn shoes, and he hated them every single time.
They were thick and uncomfortable leather. Weren't there any enchantments to aid in the comfort? He guessed not.
And then there was the scarf. It was a deep red that was similar to his poncho, soft and oversized, and long enough to wrap around his neck twice with fabric still trailing. Its contrast with the rest of the navy blue robes was quite striking.
He liked it quite a lot.
Finally... the hat.
A hugely oversized, soft-brimmed, pointed abomination in matching blue. The edges curled a little, and it looked impossible to wear without looking ridiculous. Like a fruitcake.
Linnie lifted it and tested the weight. It was light as paper, just like Alwyn's. He put it on, and it fit... perfectly.
Everything, while oversized, was perfect. That's how wizard robes are meant to look, after all.
It took him a good while to get fully fitted. It was awkward, since there were way too many straps and belts for a damned robe. He hoped it'd get easier with time.
The sleeves swallowed his hands. The trousers ballooned, only tapering at the ankles. The belt took two tries to knot correctly. But once everything was in place, once he checked himself in the large mirror...
He didn't look like a complete bum anymore.
He looked like someone who might just actually cast an impressive spell. And that was enough to make his chest tighten.
Not in a bad way, of course. Though, he couldn't help but wonder what he'd look like in a suit of armor, instead.
In the mirror, the colors harmonized, swirling together. The deep blue swallowed the light of the dressing room's lantern, while the sash glowed in it like embers.
The scarf hung idly from his neck, and the hat—slouching and oversized—gave him an odd silhouette.
He touched the fabric at his sleeve, feeling how the layers moved with him. It was like he was underwater, the way the robes flowed through the air dramatically.
'Ah. I'm really... a wizard's apprentice,' he thought. 'Damn, do these shoes hurt.'
He stepped out from behind the curtain and faced Alwyn and Aliza. Alwyn had a bright grin plastered on his face.
"Well, at least that bastard does some good work. You like it?"
"Yeah, I do."
Aliza brought her hand to her mouth. Her milky white eyes were a little glossy at the sight.
"It reminds me of my first time getting robes... you look great, dude."
She patted his shoulder, hesitating to let go of the robes. Linnie wasn't too observant with these things, and didn't realize it was envy. Not a malicious envy, just an unfortunate longing for what he had and she'd lost.
Then, Liora stepped from behind the curtain, smiling wide.
"How do I look?"
Her robe wasn't like his at all.
Instead of a deep blue, hers was a warm brown. The fabric looked lighter than his, softer, and the edges were frayed in a way that looked sort of comfortable. Not that his wasn't.
The sleeves were even more ridiculous than his—huge and drooping, wide enough that if she lifted her arms, she might start flying.
Under the robe, she wore shorts, which he didn't even know were allowed as 'wizard attire.' They were dark blue, barely visible beneath the oversized coat.
Her belt was quite like Alwyn's, except, the individual belts were smaller. The layered straps and buckles clicked faintly when she shifted her weight, and were certainly as much as a pain to put on as Linnie's.
Her legs from the ankles up to just above her knees were wrapped in white, bandage-looking cloth.
Linnie didn't know, but these were traditional battle-mage leg wraps that protected the legs and offered even more reliable physical protection than that of his or Alwyn's trousers, thanks to the tight fit.
And they were sure to protect her from the sun. There wasn't an exposed part of her body, really, with the wraps and the skirt-like robe.
He wasn't sure how the clerk had known, or if it was purely coincidence, but these were also a lot better for the girl who was quite prone to injury. If they tore, it was no big deal.
And then there was the hat.
Like his, it was enormous and crooked, casting a shadow across her face and down her pale white hair. It was crooked, sagging heavily to one side. A metal buckle sat on the brim. It didn't seem to have a purpose, and was purely decorative.
Of course, none of that was the strangest part. Wizards, while not common, were not unseen. Most people had grown used to the eccentric style of the magic wielders.
No, it was her in the clothes. To Linnie there was no difference between him and her wearing these robes. In fact, he thought they suited her much more than they did him.
But to others... her skin—a golden brown, deeper now against the warm robe, and her wild white mane that spilled everywhere, nearly reaching her feet, and refused to be contained by the hat. And her golden eyes, almost unsettling, like someone's pet fox was dressed up for a theatre play.
Her grin revealed her teeth, small and sharp; her canines far too large. Oh, screw being a southerner, to think of what people'd do if they learned she was a Siaryn on top of that! The horror.
But she truly looked like she belonged in it. She hadn't earned it, really, or trained for it either. But Alwyn decided the clothes were hers, and he was a wizard, so the world better accept it.
Or they'd face the wrath of The Everflame Wizard.
Linnie blinked slowly.
"...You look," he said, trying to find the right word. "Like... something."
"Is that good?" Liora laughed.
Aliza bent down and patted her shoulder just like she'd done to Linnie.
"Yeah, it's definitely good," she said.