Hyacinth's mouth was wide open. Her and Reggie had just walked into a grocery store that had the produce section right in front of the door. He didn't know why but Reggie felt a sort of pride from seeing the look of shock on her face. "Do you not have produce stores in your world?"

"We have markets but not anything close to this size. Not even in the capital." Hyacinth was amazed with the amount and variety of options. "I knew your cities were bigger than the ones I am used to but..." Hyacinth didn't finish her thought. Reggie took her by the hand and led her further inside.

"I guess if you aren't used to it, the scale could be a little daunting." Reggie didn't have any experience outside of his own world. "Anything you want to try? I am not sure if you have similar fruit or vegetables in your world. Grab one of those little bags from that stand there and put things in it you like." Reggie was pointing to a stand with a roll of plastic produce bags on it. Hyacinth pulled on the end. "See those little dots in a line there? That's the edge of the bag. Tear it along that line to detach it."

Hyacinth did as he said and when she finished detaching the bag from the roll, she threw her arms in the air in triumph. "I did it!"

"Good job. Now go pick out some fruit and put it in the bag. If you want to get more than one kind, you will need a separate bag for each different fruit. Don't get too many, though, because we may not be able to eat them all before they go bad." Hyacinth nodded before heading off to look around. Reggie grabbed his own bag and put a few apples in it, then added the bag to the cart he was pushing. A few minutes later, Hyacinth returned with 5 bags of various fruits. She put them in the cart next to the apples then looked at Reggie. "What's next?"

They spent the next hour gathering everything on Reggie's list, as well as a few things Hyacinth wanted to try. "I think we are done with groceries. Let's go pay and take them home." Hyacinth followed Reggie up to checkout and helped him bag their items once he explained how to do it. They walked out of the store carrying several bags each. Luckily it was a short walk home. "Why do we have to carry everything?" Hyacinth complained. "You know I can store all this in my magic space." Reggie stopped and stared at her. He felt kinda dumb for not thinking of that, but since he wasn't used to having magic he felt a little better. He placed his bags on the ground with hers and took a step back. Hyacinth pulled her staff seemingly from nowhere and waved it over the bags. They all immediately disappeared.

"This will probably make our day a lot easier. Why didn't you snap your fingers again like you did last time?"

"Putting one item away is easy, but when it's a lot of stuff like this I need to use my staff to channel the magic." Reggie nodded. The explanation made sense, though he still wasn't clear on the details. They walked the rest of the way home and once in the kitchen, Hyacinth waved her staff again to make the bags reappear. They spent ten minutes putting everything away before heading out to their next destination. Hyacinth needed a bed, and there were also the kitchen items Reggie wanted. He had made a list to make sure he didn't forget anything but it wasn't very long since he wasn't sure what else they might need. The next location was in the opposite direction of the grocery store they visited so it made sense to come home first. Not that it mattered since Reggie didn't own a vehicle so they could only carry so much. At least that was his original thought but since they had Hyacinth's magic space they should be able to get everything else all at once.

Hyacinth was just as enthralled with the department store as she was with the grocery store. Reggie was bombarded with endless questions to identify everything Hyacinth pointed at. Made it take longer than Reggie wanted to but he also expected this might happen so he wasn't angry with her. It actually helped in the long run because she asked about things that made Reggie realize he needed to add to the list. It took over two hours but ultimately they walked out with everything they wanted plus a few extras. They found a secluded spot away from people for Hyacinth to place everything in her magic space and then headed home again.

"I will make dinner when we get home once we get everything organized and put away." Reggie was excited to put his new kitchenware to use. He wasn't a great cook but he knew enough to get by. Having the right tools helps, too. His small apartment had limited space for things like cookware. He was glad he would have more options now that he had the space.

"Are you going to make, what did you call it...cheeken?" Hyacinth was intrigued by the chicken Reggie selected from the grocery store. She was almost more excited about the meat section than the produce section.

"It's called chicken, but yes, I was thinking of using it tonight for dinner." Hyacinth grinned like a little kid at christmas. Reggie didn't know why she was so interested. Maybe they don't have many meat options in her world. Or meat is more of a luxury item. I need to talk to her someday about her world. Wonder if I could visit? Reggie realized he was spacing out again and snapped back to reality as they walked up to their house. Reggie was the first one through the door but before he could take another step Hyacinth suddenly pulled him back hard. Then there was a bright flash that blinded Reggie and he could hear Hyacinth casting some sort of magic. Then a loud noise like a small explosion occurred somewhere ahead of him just before he lost consciousness.

Reggie woke up staring at a ceiling he recognized. He was in his bedroom though couldn't remember how he got there. He started to sit up but his head hurt and he fell back down onto the bed. No one else seemed to be around. Reggie sat up again but slowly. The pain was bearable this time. There was a noticeable bump on the back of his head. Voices were starting to carry up the stairs, one of which he recognized as Hyacinth. Slowly, he made his way out of the room and down the stairs towards the voices. Hyacinth was sitting on the couch in the living room next to a woman Reggie didn't recognize as they drank tea. He sat down across from them as they were chatting, interrupting the conversation. "What happened? Who is she?"

"This is the friend I was telling you about that can help us get into the lab. She has a habit of attacking me for fun with various nonlethal magic spells and skills." Hyacinth took a sip of her tea before continuing. "I was caught off guard and when I pulled you back from the stun spell I pulled too hard and you hit your head."

"That explains the bump on my head. Did something explode? I vaguely remember a loud noise." Reggie continued to rub the bump on his head while leaning back in the chair with his eyes closed.

"Yes, well sort of. I fired a spell back at her that ended up colliding with her follow up spell. When some spells collide, they explode." Reggie opened his eyes after Hyacinth's reply and glanced over to the doorway looking for any signs of the explosion. Hyacinth followed his line of sight before it dawned on her what he was looking for. "I fixed all the damage with magic. It wasn't all that much since it was mostly just loud when they collided but the shockwave did crack some windows. Glass is easy to repair if you know the right spell."

Reggie turned back to the woman sitting next to Hyacinth. She had been silent since he came down and didn't seem all that apologetic. That's when Reggie noticed her ears. They were pointed. She was also incredibly good-looking and looked very young. "Are you an elf?"

The woman smiled gently as she introduced herself. "My name is Tegan Greenleaf. I am a forest elf from Azoria." She picked up her tea cup and took a sip but she seemed as though she didn't quite know how. Like a kid trying to imitate something they saw one of their parents do. Reggie was having a hard time looking away. He had never met an elf. Until a few minutes ago, he thought they only existed in fantasy. They were usually depicted as well-spoken and graceful but that was not the impression he was currently getting.

"An apology would be nice. I don't appreciate being attacked in my own home by someone who is supposed to be an ally." Reggie glared at Tegan then looked over to Hyacinth. "Thanks for saving me, I guess. Even though you accidentally knocked me out."

Hyacinth slumped down in her seat looking apologetic. "I am sorry about that, and I didn't really save you. At worst you would have just been knocked out but it happened anyway so please don't thank me." Reggie closed his eyes again and leaned back. Then he remembered he was going to make dinner. It was still light out and didn't seem all that late so he must not have been out for very long.

"My head is killing me. Any chance you have a spell for head injuries?" Reggie looked to Hyacinth expectantly. He wasn't sure if healing magic existed or if she could use it.

"I know a minor healing spell that should help though it might not entirely eliminate the pain."

"That works for me." At Reggie's request, Hyacinth got up and walked over to Reggie. Placing her hand on the back of his head, she closed her eyes and chanted something quietly to herself. After a couple seconds, most of the pain faded away. "Wow, thanks. It's almost completely gone." Reggie rubbed the spot where his bump had been. "The bump is gone. Nice."

Feeling much better, Reggie sat up and stretched. He felt much better and would have no problem handling dinner. Reggie stood up and walked into the kitchen. "I am going to make dinner. Shouldn't take too long. Is Tegan going to join us?"

"I would love to. Do you have anything to drink?" Tegan responded before Hyacinth could get a word in.

"We have some juice and milk in the fridge and also water from the tap."

"I meant alcohol. I don't want juice, that's for pussies." Tegan had stood up and walked into the kitchen as she replied but now looked disappointed. Reggie wasn't a big drinker, though he did enjoy the occasional beer. He hasn't bought any since they moved. Hyacinth walked into the room carrying a bottle of something.

"You can have some of this, Teegs. I forgot until just now that I had this in my magic space." Tegan grabbed the bottle and smiled as though she had just won something. Looking at it closer, Reggie wasn't actually sure it was a bottle. More like a narrow jug. It didn't appear to have any sort of label on it.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you, Sin. Always have the good stuff." Tegan pulled off the top and started drinking it straight from the jug.

"We have cups, you know."

"Don't bother. I have been trying for years." Tegan ignored Reggie's and Hyacinth's comments. She chugged the bottle then slammed it down on the counter before sitting on a stool.

"Got any more?" Tegan was looking at Hyacinth expectantly. Hyacinth stared back for a second as though considering how to answer.

"I think you have had enough for now. We need to discuss the job." Tegan glared at Hyacinth but didn't argue. I was starting to wonder how she was supposed to help us gain access.

"Hyacinth says you can help us gain access to the lab at the Marlino Corporation offices. How? Reggie was cutting vegetables but paused to look at Tegan and wait for her reply. She seemed slightly out of it and was gently rocking back and forth on her stool. Is she drunk? How strong was that stuff?

"..."

"Tegan! Pay attention. Tell Reggie why you would be good for this job." Hyacinth was losing her patience. Tegan seemed to snap back to reality as she suddenly stopped rocking and sat up straight.

"Whatever, buzzkill." Tegan seemed annoyed but then turned to Reggie. "Hyacinth here is a wizard, meaning she specializes in magic. I am a thief. I specialize in a combination of magic and stealth to get things done." Then Tegan disappeared. Reggie stopped cutting veggies again, wondering what happened.

"Where did she go?"

"I am right here." Reggie jumped when he suddenly heard Tegan's voice right behind him. He turned his head to see her wearing an expression one could only describe as mischievous. Tegan walked back over to the stool and sat down again.

"Ok, I get it. You are able to move without being seen. How do you plan on using that to get us in the lab?" Reggie was actually pretty giddy about it. He had always wanted to be able to move in stealth like a ninja. Tegan was basically a magic ninja.

"Hyacinth told me they use electronic keys to access secure areas. For this I can go one of two ways. The easiest one is to grab an access card off some unsuspecting employee that works there. The second way is slightly more complicated but basically involves me sneaking in to use their system to create access keys for one or both of you."

"I was actually thinking about that first option, but if the employee notices his key is missing we would quickly be caught."

"True, that is a risk involved with option one. It may be the easiest way to gain access but is more short term. You would get one chance to get in and find whatever you are looking for."

"Makes sense. I want to say we only need to get in once but can't be certain." Reggie had already thought this far. They would get a few hours to investigate the lab but wouldn't be able to go back again. Security would likely tighten after that making it harder to get a second chance. "I think we should go with option two. We aren't in a rush so I don't mind doing it in a way that means we could potentially return if the need arises."

"I agree with Reggie. You want your usual fee for this, I assume." Tegan nodded at Hyacinth's comment. Maybe a little too enthusiastically.

"Is that like gold coins or something?"

"If this were just a job from the guild, yeah, but I have a special arrangement with Hyacinth." Tegan was using her mischievous face again as she looked back at Hyacinth who seemed uncomfortable and was squirming in her seat a little.

"Why are you looking at Hyacinth like that? Hyacinth, what's wrong? Is her fee something weird?" Reggie didn't know what this arrangement was but it sounded like he wouldn't like it.

"Don't worry about it, Normie." Tegan still had the same look on her face.

"I need to know. It's obviously making Hyacinth uncomfortable. And what's with the nickname?" Reggie glared at Tegan. He didn't like her messing with Hyacinth. However, it turned out it wasn't as bad as he thought.

"It's nothing weird. My family owns one of the best distilleries in Azoria. That jug I gave her earlier was one from my family's company. She likes me to pay her in alcohol."

"That's all? Then why are you acting like prey about to be caught by a predator?"

"I don't get along with my family. I am the only one who didn't go into the family business. I generally don't interact with them unless absolutely necessary." Hyacinth looked down like she was embarrassed or ashamed. Reggie didn't have any family left. He was an only child. His father died in a car accident when he was 4 and his mother ended up getting cancer when he was 14. She fought for several years but shortly after Reggie graduated high school, the cancer won out and she passed away. He would give anything to talk to his mother again.

Reggie shook his head to clear his mind. He was fighting back tears as he thought of his mother. Wiping his eyes, he went back to making dinner. The other two didn't say anything but were looking at him with kind eyes. It wasn't pity. Reggie somehow knew they were empathizing even though he hadn't said a word about his mom or what happened. He was about to say something when a timer went off, signaling dinner was ready.

"Food's ready. Grab a plate and get some grub." Reggie was glad to have the distraction. He took his food to the table and sat down. Hyacinth was still watching him while she dished herself up. Her and Tegan sat down at the table with him and started eating. Reggie took a deep breath before looking up from his plate at Hyacinth.

"Sorry. I lost my mom a few years ago. You talking about not getting along with your family made me think of her and how I would love to get the chance to see her again. You may be fighting with them right now, but at least they are still around. I don't know all the details so I will respect your decision but I still envy you." Reggie finished speaking and feeling a little better started eating. Tegan and Hyacinth also silently ate their food. Eventually the air cleared and light conversation broke the silence. Once they were done eating, Tegan went back to the living room with a second jug that Hyacinth gave her while I cleaned up. Hyacinth walked up to Reggie as he was loading the dishwasher.

"I'm sorry about your mom." Hyacinth hugged Reggie from the side with both arms as he held a pan in one hand. He stood there silent and unmoving until she let go then went back to loading the dishwasher. Reggie was fighting back tears again but it was a little easier this time.

"Thanks."