The store was getting out of hand.

  There were 20 foot candelabra hanging from the ceiling, I was on a 7 foot dais, the store was so bright it was hurting my eyes (I was used to working in the dark, ok?)

  As if that was not enough, I was so nervous I was sure I must be standing in a puddle of sweat beneath my cloak. After Karla, I hardly recognized anyone.

  Yet they all knew me.

  Why did they all know me.

  And more importantly, how?

  I worked in a cursed goblin store.

  A cursed goblin store that was now a ballroom.

  I didn’t feel like my mind had finally snapped under the strain, but did people even know when they went crazy? Or did it just happen one day and they just continued about their lives?

  I squinted at the next noble sycophant. He looked sort of familiar.

  I squinted. Why did he look familiar? I felt like the answer was there, dancing at the edge of my thoughts.

  Wait.

  Tickaroo? Tiqaro?

  I couldn’t remember his name, but I was pretty sure he was the noble to whom I had made a delivery with It.

  The one who had the symbol in his home.

  The symbol that matched the mage who collapsed the mine.

  The symbol that matched my kidnapper.

  I leaned forward. It was so bright in here a moment ago, but now I could barely see.

  The man shifted uncomfortably and I squinted harder, trying to make out his features —

  “Beeg!”

  Startled from my thoughts, I glanced up to see Stupid standing at a the top of a staircase.

  A staircase.

  The store had probably grown it just so she could stand at the top.

  She looked… adorable in her powder-blue dress.

  Matilda had done her up wonderfully, with a soft blush and matching lipstick — a striking contrast from her usual favorite of flash-bang pink.

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  Not to mention it was actually on her lips, rather than meandering across her face.

  Her hair was done up sweetly — which meant it was probably a wig. It was still cute nonetheless, tied as it was into two pig-tails.

  Stupid was positively beaming.

  I really, really owed Mrs. Blurtz.

  Thankfully I was now relieved of my guest greeting duty. I had no idea if I actually was, but this seemed the perfect excuse to escape the growing dais. And maybe get Stupid to calm the store down before it started flying… or worse.

  I tapped my wooden leg against the platform, and the store happily lowered me. I knew it was happy because it started growing more lights around Stupid, causing her dress to sparkle.

  “Stupid!” I cried, “Happy Birthday!”

  “Oh Beeg!” she cried when I finally made it to her, “Stupid loves the dress! Eez so pretty! Happy Birth Day, Beeg!”

  I blinked while Matilda snorted. “Uhm, it is your birthday, not mine?”

  “I know, silly! But it is still my Birth Day, and it is Happy. So — Happy Birth Day, Beeg!” she exclaimed again.

  I couldn’t help but smile.

  “Thank you, Stupid.”

  “Uh Beeg, why eez there so many people? And what happened to Old Man Mageek Store!?”

  “You can thank It for the guests,” I grumbled. “And I was hoping you could stop the store, it just keeps growing,” I finished in exasperation as a new staircase started growing around a pillar.

  It didn’t even go anywhere. It was just a staircase around a pillar that ended at the ceiling.

  “Stupid likes eet,” she giggled. The store creaked in response, and I knew it was hopeless.

  At that moment, It decided to join us.

  “Beeg,” he nodded. “Stupid, Happy Birthday.”

  “Fanks, It! Stupid loves the party!”

  It smiled. “I thought you might.”

  “Hey It?” I croaked. “Am I dreaming? Or dead? Or hallucinating? What is even happening right now?”

  I worked in a dingy, filthy goblin store with barely enough light to see.

  Why was I now standing in a ballroom with music and dancing and gaudily dressed nobles?

  And why was everyone acting like staircases growing out of pillars was normal?

  “Just enjoy it, Beeg,” It monotoned sadly. “Let us remember a past that once was. Tomorrow, things will go back to normal.”

  I drew up short, staring at It in surprise.

  “Does that mean… this is an illusion?” I asked in confusion.

  “Beeg, your world has been small. That is ok. You will learn the world is not small. You live in one of the nine-magical capitals of the world, after all.”

  He gestured to those around us.

  “You’ll learn to take things in stride.”

  “Take things in stride?!” I heard Vaarg’s voice bluster next to us. I looked around in bewilderment, but there was no Vaarg. A quick glance told me he was still at his counter.

  “Itzemus, don’t think I will soon forget this!”

  It smiled, and slipped off into the crowd.

  I could have sworn he winked at me.

  “Eez… eez Beeg going to ask Stupid to dance?”

  I froze.

  “Uhm, I have never danced — “

  Stupid tugged on one of her ears, looking up at me with eyes the size of saucers.

  I’ll just pretend this is a dream. What could go wrong?

  “Mi’lady, May I have this dance?” I asked with a bow, offering my hand.

  “OF COURSE, BEEG!” Stupid screeched in excitement, causing several onlookers to chuckle.

  I took my friend by the hand and hobbled onto the dance floor.