The Story of Trade Store of Unusual Items
(FNTX)

It's all started when Beiyue was Five. Exactly Seven months before the Fated Day where her life turned upside down.

She followed her mother walking around Linhuai City. They were visiting stores after stores, to find a nice dress to wear for Winter. Beiyue was closer to outgrow her old dress, the skirt actually showing her ankles, so her mother thinks to get the dress now rather than later. It won't do to mess with people's schedules, and her mother didn't want to bother the Royal Tailors, even though she technically has the privilege of it.

Her mother was talking with the store clerk in front of a fabric store. About various kind of fabric, their materials, and patterns. Which color, which pattern design, how long she wants it, how many, etc.

A five years old Beiyue was not interested in such talk. So she looked around, trying to find something interesting to keep her thought for a while. Her eyes were somehow drawn to the store across the road, near the end of the alley.

The store itself was old with nothing special. The plaque was unreadable. A good part of the wall was weirdly dark. Almost black, she should say. The color was leaned towards dark rather than bright color other store has, giving it an elegant and mysterious aura that Beiyue can feel with all those distance between them. Because of that, the store stuck out like a sore thumb, yet no one gives it a passing glance.

Unable to control herself, Beiyue slipped out from the store, crossed the road, and walked to where the store was located. The closer she was to the store, the more she feels. The store is emitting a strange captivating aura that beckons her to come in and take a look. When she arrived in front of it, she realized that the weird part of the wall was not a wall. It was a window covered in glass. Like the mirror in her mother's room but different. It was see-through. She pressed her face to the window and peered in.

The inside looks weird but nice, and there were cases where various items are displayed, but the style was not one she recognized.

Curiosity unbidden, she knocked on the closed door twice before entering. "Hell? Anyone here?" She tentatively called.

She jumped that once she let go of the door, it slammed by itself. Huh. That explains why the door is closed.

Looking around, Beiyue unintentionally let out a gasp. The store was more marvelous and unique, now that she was inside. The furnitures are made from carved dark woods with a gorgeous design. The painting that hung from the wall was so life-like, Beiyue swears they were moving. Plants are growing from the floor, wrapped around the pillars, and several spots in the wall, reaching the ceiling. The items were displayed on cases with a velvety red pillow.

Beiyue was eyeing a big beautiful golden ball that oozing with Ki, but not the kind she was familiar with, when a melodious voice spoke,

"Ara Ara... I hope you aren't planning to buy [Dragon's Orb], little guest. Someone had staked their claim over it."

Beiyue whirled around.

The one who addressed her was a strange woman. She was tall. Taller than her mother. In fact, she was as tall as most adult men. Her hair was silver, with matching eyelashes, flowing down like a curtain of silks with nary accessories except for a blooming pink flower on her head. She was wearing the palest pink dress under a pure white robe. The way she wore her robe was odd, as she tied it at the waist with a very wide and long gray sash, and the robe slid over her shoulder and now rested on her elbows. A fox settles comfortably in her arms.

She looks like a ghost.

ReaBeiyue's face turned red when she realized she had been staring, and quickly bowed. "M-my apologize!"

"Ufufufu..." The woman laughed. Her purple eyes glowing and sparkling as if she was happy... for some weird reason that sent chills down on Beiyue's spine. "It never matters, little guest. I do, however, wonder what is it that you seek. Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

"A-about that... umm... I..." Beiyue tweedle with her finger. "A-actually... I was just looking in... but then my body move! M-my apologize!"

"It's alright. It's alright." The shop owner waved her concern off. "Goodness. You are easily flustered, aren't you? What an adorable kid. Aren't I right, nee, Ruo?" She scratched the underside jaw of the fox, who let out a "Yip!" as if agreeing to her.

Beiyue flushed red and pouted.

"Alright. That's enough teasing." The shop owner smiled and settle her fox on her shoulder. "It might be late, but welcome to [Trade Store of Unusual Items], I hope we can find something suitable for a princess like you."

Beiyue startled. "H-how did you know I am a Princess?" She never introduces herself, right?

"Oh, sweetheart, I know many things. One of those things is that you are bound with unique fate." Beiyue gulped at the knowing smile and the way those purple eyes looking at her. "But that's for another time!" The shop owner clapped her hands. "Let's find something to your liking, ok?"

Beiyue... have no idea what to do, or what to pick.

She settles for a set of hair decorations with blooming red roses with black leaves that felt real yet softer than silk.

Roses that would later tie her fate with the store.

~~XXX~~

Ka-ching~

"My my." An eleven-year-old Beiyue rises up. Only her floor long hair covered her nude body. "To think I would fall asleep while bathing... and to dream that day, too... this is quite a premonition. I wonder what the future had for me."

Stepping out from the bathtub, Beiyue picks the prepared towels. One, she uses to wrap around her body. The other, she uses to dry her hair. Without shame, she walks out of the bathroom to her bedroom. Opening the wardrobe, she pulls her chosen dress and began to put it on.

First, the red underwear with gold linings, then the white socks, then the plain azure inner dress with a small sleeve. Tied a thin red sash to secure the inner dress. Then the outer dress with wide long sleeves, wide enough to reach her knees even when she lifted her hand. The dress is black with a golden and white butterfly pattern along with blood-red blooming flowers at the skirts, sleeves, and shoulders. She secured the outer garments with azure waist brocade dotted with white dots to resemble a starry night and tied a red cord over it.

Her hair was tied up. With braids decorated both sides of her head, Beiyue pulled her hair and tie it up with a big, long ribbon, that even after she tied it into a big bow, there's still enough left, hanging over her shoulders. She woven those to her sidebands braid, finishing it with hairpins decorated by red rose over black leaves at end of the braid.

She then looks at herself in the full-body mirror.

"Fu~" Beiyue smiled and touched the mirror.

It morphed. The glass is having a ripple effect before Beiyue's reflection disappeared, leaving only a colorful kaleidoscope in its wake. What was once a mirror, now a gate.

Without any hesitation, Beiyue walked in. Passing through the corridor, paying no heed to the swirling illusion around her. As she strode forward, her hair floating as if the wind blew them. Slowly, they turned from night dark to the color of freshly spilled blood. Making her black ribbon and black flower hairpin stands out.

Reaching the other end, she paused before a door. Her hand touching the door's handle, feeling an unfamiliar sensation among familiar feels.

Shadows gathered around her. Swirling, before taking shape on her red hair. Forming a veil that covers her face from nose above, effectively concealing her identity.

Smiling, Beiyue pushed open the door. On the other side, was a store, filled with elegant yet strangely decorated items. The light comes from the floating lantern... and from the glowing flowers that grow on the walls and ceiling. Her entrance startled the person who sat on the couch.

"Ara~ It seems we have a guest." She smiled, clapped her hands together. Gracefully strode and sat on a small, fluffy couch across her guest. Nodding her head to the Wolf-masked maid when she pours down a fragrant tea for her. "My apologies esteemed guest, and welcome to my humble store. What can I do for you?"

"Ah. It was nothing." Her guest averted his eyes. "My apologies, but my legs brought me here. I am sorry for the inconvenience. I... shall take my leave."

"Fufu~ Why in hurry, esteemed guest? Your presence here is no mere happenstance. No." Tilting her head, Beiyue continues. "Things like [Coincidences] and [Happenstances] doesn't exist. There's only the [Inevitable]."

"...are you saying I'm here because of Fate?"

Beiyue simply raised her cup. "Why don't you tell me?"

"...if I do, can you help me?"

"Of course. This is the store where most unusual and unexplainable stuff ended up at. One of our stuff definitely can solve whatever problem you had. Maybe I'll send someone to help to smooth things along." Beiyue smiled.

It's beautiful but also mysterious with alluring feels.

"After all this is [Trade Store of Unusual Items]. Please don't be shy telling me your story."

TBC