Prologue - The best Artisan of the whole Peninsula
“Artigiano”
A simple word on a simple, wooden, signboard on a simple unknown shop in northern Italy.
She bit her lips under her hood, thinking about the hassles she passed through in order to find it.
Italy, let this be know, is a really chaotic place. You know that little doggerel that ends with “hell is where everything is organized by italians”? Well, it’s the simple truth.
And the 2 month, 7 days and 18 hours she had spent looking for that single, anonymous shop proved that.
Fearfully she opened the door, gazing at the dusty darkness inside.
The shop sure looked abandoned, tons of dust were covering the impressive amount of goods casually stored inside.
Dolls, toys, telescopes, bicycles, crossbows, typewriters, paintings, they were all laying higgledy-piggledy on the shelves, each one with a small cardboard pricetag.
She walked inside leaving traces on the floor covered by a thick layer of dust.
-Definitely, nobody has come here since a long time- . She thought, walking toward the counter on the other end of the shop.
-The prices are still in lire (italian currency before the euro) maybe it’s just another flop-.
“Long time we don’t see each other Principessa”.
Startled, she turned towards the voice.
Behind the counter, was standing a little man.
He looked like he was in his early fifties, judging from the grey stripes that ran through his brown hairs.
He wore a hilariously big overall on a dirty white shirt, from which a squared , rough face sticked out.
In all honesty, he looked quite silly.
But his eyes….
His amber eyes were shimmering behind his glasses, proud and severe like blazing embers.
She gave him a heartful smile “A long time indeed judging by your beard and your attire, back in the old days you had a much higher consideration of your appearance”.
“I’m not a freelancer anymore, I don’t have to impress my next amphitryon, so I can indulge into some…...indifference about fashion” he said, stroking his his prickly beard.
He slowly walked towards her as she took off the hood of her coat, revealing a beautiful pale face, framed by long, pink hair.
He smiled back “My word Celestina you get prettier each time I see you” he said, standing on his tiptoe (she was a good foot taller than him) in order to kiss her on the cheeks.
“*SMACK* Bella mia! Che ti porta qui? come stanno tutti dall’altra parte? e cosa….”.
“Ehmm….per favore” she quickly interrupted him, making him blush.
“Oh, sorry, I keep forgetting that you ponies speak english. I was just asking how’s everyone doing and why you came here after over eight decades, eight decades without even a single letter for you” he asked a little irritated.
“Well, everyone is fine, the ones who are still alive at least….and sorry about the letters but the dragon that worked for me died and I’m still looking for a substitute”.
“Understandable”.
“As for why I am here, I have a job offer that might interest you what do you think of-”
She was hushed by him “Nononononono, in that case we can’t speak here, I’s a bad thing to discuss of work with an empty stomach! off to the baretto we go” he said cheerfully, picking up his coat “You still like sweets do you?”.
“Due cappuccini e delle pastine per favore” he said to the waiter.
Celestia looked around.
He had brought her to a little cafè not too far away from his shop. It was small but cozy and a fantastic view of the hills that stood green and calm in the distance.
“Is the stressful italian life troubling you?” he asked with a smile, startling her.
“No, is just…...good to be here once again even for a little, Italy can really do wonders to a tired soul”
“I know, I know, but don’t tell it around, we don’t want more extra-dimensional god around here” he said with a chuckle “Oh! here comes the treats”
The waitress arrived and put in front of them two cappuccini and a tray of sweets.
He took a sip from his cup leaving a thin trace of foam on his mustache.
“Alright! now that we are set we can finally talk about business! I assume you need to commission me something, Si?”
Celestia took a bite from a bombolone “Yes and no, I want to offer you a full time job as court master artisan”.
He coughed soundly nearly choking himself.
“You’re one of the best crafter I know, an the only one still alive, and I need your abilities” she continued as he quickly recompose himself.
“I’m sorry, I’m just...flattered” he said taking a sip of his cappuccino “Obviously i gladly accept, just give me a week to settle some affairs”.
Pointed at her with a pastry “So, why such an urgent need of my skills?”
Celestia casually leaned on the back of her chair “A series of pleasant events brought a new member inside the royal family” she said “And I need you to make her new regalia”.
He choked for the second time.
