Chapter 99 - Tailoring Advice
But before they chose the suit, Idin narrowed his eyes as he continued studying Amukelo's outfit. Something was off. It looked good—better than anything Amukelo had worn before, but there was still room for improvement.
After a moment, he tilted his head slightly, his gaze shifting to the lower half of the outfit. "It looks good," he admitted, "but the fit could be better."
Amukelo, who had just finally started to relax, groaned inwardly. "What now?" he muttered.
Idin ignored him and gestured toward the shopkeeper. "The jacket is fine, but the pants—they're a little too long, and they're too wide around the calves. The way they drape makes the whole thing look a little... unfinished." He turned to the shopkeeper. "Can you tailor it?"
The shopkeeper, an older man with sharp eyes that had clearly seen their fair share of poorly fitted clothing, nodded thoughtfully. "Of course. I can make the adjustments. Shouldn't be too difficult."
Idin nodded approvingly, but then added, "How long will it take?"
The shopkeeper scratched his chin, then shrugged. "I can have it ready by tomorrow."
Idin immediately shook his head. "No, no, no. We need it by this evening."
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. "This evening?" He let out a small chuckle. "That's a tight deadline. I don't do alterations while the shop is open—it's too distracting. I'd have to stop every time a customer comes in."
Bral stepped in, clapping a hand on the counter. "Look, we really need it by this evening. We'll pay double if you can do it."
The shopkeeper's eyes narrowed slightly, considering the offer.
But before he could respond, Amukelo interjected, his brows furrowing in confusion. "Wait, wait, wait... Why do WE need it? I'm the one who has to wear this thing, and I still don't even know what I need it for!"
Bral glanced at Bao, who was already giving him a knowing, unimpressed look, her arms crossed. Her expression screamed: You're going to regret this.
Seeing no other option, Bral leaned in close to Amukelo, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I'll tell you later, when she's not around."
Amukelo let out a long, tired sigh. "Whatever." He rubbed his temples before adding, "But you do realize I have no money, right? I spent almost everything I had on joining the facility. How the hell am I supposed to pay for this—let alone pay double?"
Bral, grinning widely, slapped him on the back. "Don't worry, I'll lend you the money."
Amukelo stared at him flatly. "And I'll have to pay you back, won't I?"
Bral's grin widened. "Exactly! But trust me, you don't even know it yet, but you need this."
Bao, at this point, had given up entirely. She let out a deep sigh, rubbing her temples. "You two are exhausting."
The shopkeeper, still watching the exchange with mild amusement, finally spoke up. "Alright, fine. If you're willing to pay double, I'll do it."
Idin nodded, satisfied. "Good."
The shopkeeper held up a warning finger. "But listen—I'm not guaranteeing it'll be done exactly in an hour. My best estimate is that it'll take about an hour, maybe two at most, but if something happens, you'll just have to wait a little longer."
Idin shrugged. "That's fine. We probably won't be back too soon anyway."
Bral grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "Perfect. Now, let's get moving. We've got a lot to do before the evening."
Amukelo, still entirely confused about what exactly he had been roped into, could only shake his head in reluctant resignation as they left the shop.
As they stepped out of the tailor shop, Bral stretched his arms high above his head, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Alright, we've got about three hours till our classes," he said, rolling his shoulders. "And two hours till Amukelo's big moment."
Amukelo, still very much in the dark, frowned. "What big moment?"
Bral, predictably, ignored him completely. "I'm starving. Let's eat something, then hit the bathhouse, and after that, we'll come back here."
Amukelo let out a frustrated sigh but didn't push further. He knew Bral by now—if he wanted to keep something a secret, there was no prying it out of him.
So they made their way to a nearby pub. The place was lively, filled with the sounds of clanking mugs, laughter, and a faint tune played by a bard in the corner.
They found a corner table and sat down, quickly placing their orders—a mix of roasted meats, stewed vegetables, and warm bread. Idin, as usual, opted for something extra large, while Bral insisted on getting a drink to "enhance the meal."
As they waited for their food, Amukelo turned to Idin, a curious look on his face. "Hey, how did you know all that about the suit?" he asked, leaning forward slightly. "I mean, Bral, Bao, and I were struggling to find something good, and then you just walked in and solved it in an instant. And I won't lie—it really did look better than everything else I tried."
At this, Idin's entire face lit up. His eyes practically gleamed with enthusiasm. Before he could speak, Bral and Bao immediately groaned in unison.
"Oh no," Bral muttered, rubbing his temples. "Here we go..."
Bao, her expression already weary, rested her chin in her palm. "We'll be here for a while."
Idin ignored them completely and straightened up proudly. "You know, I actually like this stuff a little bit," he said, grinning. "If you want, I can give you some general advice."
Amukelo, oblivious to the warning signs, nodded eagerly. "That would be great."
Bral facepalmed hard. Bao shook her head, already regretting her life choices.
"First of all," Idin started, "you have to understand your body shape."
Amukelo blinked. "My... body shape?"
"Yes," Idin nodded sagely. "You cannot be fat and look good, no matter what you wear."
Bral grinned and said, "Yes you can."
Idin continued, completely unbothered. "But when you're slimmer, yet clearly muscular like you, Amukelo, you also need to adjust to that. For example, colors matter. You're lean and defined, with striking white hair and red eyes—colors like bright pink or yellow will clash horribly and overwhelm your appearance. They draw too much attention away from your natural features."
Amukelo blinked again, completely overwhelmed.
"The combination you're going to wear—black pants and a black shirt—is perfect because it grounds your figure, providing a sleek silhouette. Black naturally complements lean physiques like yours, accentuating muscle definition without exaggeration. Now, the deep blue jacket is a smart choice because it contrasts beautifully with your white hair and adds richness without being overly loud."
Bral, watching Amukelo's brain slowly implode, grinned in amusement. "You're getting all this, right?"
Amukelo, who absolutely was not getting all of it, just nodded slowly.
Idin was far from finished. "Metallic elements, such as subtle gold or silver detailing, enhance this refined look by catching the eye just enough, signaling sophistication without becoming gaudy. They add just enough flash to make an impression, but not enough to scream 'I'm trying too hard.'"
Bao, who had heard this kind of rant before, sighed deeply, picking at the table with her fingernail.
"But most importantly," Idin went on, "your confidence matters more than anything." He leaned forward, fixing Amukelo with a serious look. "You could wear the best clothes in the world, but if you slouch or hesitate, you'll look out of place. Stand tall, shoulders back, move deliberately. Own the space you're in, and people will sense your confidence."
"And lastly—always tailor your clothes. With your build especially—well-toned and athletic—it's crucial that your clothes fit perfectly to highlight your hard work. Never settle for loose or overly tight fits. A suit is like armor—it should feel personal, protective, and powerful."
By the time Idin finally finished, Amukelo just sat there, staring at him blankly. He tried to follow, but he wasn't able to absorb all what Idin had said, and the rest was just floating around in his mind in utter chaos.
Bral, holding back laughter, patted Amukelo on the back. "You got all that, rookie?"
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Amukelo, completely lost, nodded hesitantly. "So... the fit we chose is good."
Idin, clearly proud, nodded with satisfaction. "Exactly."
Bao, rubbing her temples, sighed. "Let's just eat."
Amukelo, grateful for the change of subject, dropped his head onto the table with a groan.