Leith shook his head. "No, you haven't made anything difficult at all!" He assured her. "I enjoy a break from the usual. You'd think it's very interesting down here, what with such different sights, but when it's all you've grown up around, it's completely boring sometimes. And with my status, I'm expected to be proper, sociable, and remain inside the city without an escort of some kind. Maybe that's why I'm always out so much. I was just getting away from everything when I was caught and brought to your aquarium. Now I've got a friend, so it's much more interesting here than out there."

He moved ahead once again and this time, twisted to swim backward. "I think you'll appreciate the artisan sections." He commented. "Jewels, metals, statues of gold and platinum and sculptures of marble. It's all protected with a type of clear gel that's rubbed on every piece of jewelry and decorative item, and it protects the item from erosion over time. Things lose their shape or imagery very quickly in salt water rather than fresh water, you know." He laughed, more to himself. It was nice to be able to show someone around and be able to talk to them. Maybe he could actually be himself around Camilia.

"It sounds amazing," Camilia commented as she followed him. Now that he'd started to describe some things, she was looking forward to seeing them. She hesitated slightly when something else occurred to her. "My presence won't bother anyone, will it?" It made sense, at least to her; after all, it was kind of obvious she wasn't one of them, even if she looked like it for the moment. She didn't want to make anyone uneasy because she was around. She would have slowed down a bit, but she was still being pulled along by her wrists, and it didn't make much difference.

"Of course not." Leith assured her. "Foreigners come around all the time to the kingdom, usually to sell their goods or visit family, and sometimes they do stay for good. Sometimes they're even similar to you, humans who needed to escape misguided and wrongful trials above water. And considering what you've done to receive that possible trial, as in, helping me get back here, you'll be regarded with respect and, if you prefer, be left alone." He went ahead as they fell into the main street. Ume kept an even pace with Leith as they approached a circular cul-de-sac that was buzzing with activity.

"Here's a merchant area." Leith said as they approached. "Where foreigners come to share their own jewels and buy others from us. Most of the time the jewels they bring can't be found within a hundred miles of the city. Outside this area is the city's jeweler merfolk. Shops are everywhere around here and they specifically sell jewels of multiple cuts, styles, sizes, and forms. Usually you can see odd or rare gems here, when the shop owners manage to get some good things from the traveling merchants or when their own travelers return from other kingdoms." Leith was greeted when he was recognized, never directly approached, but when others saw him, they called a welcome or hello, which he returned. They also spoke quickly to Camilia; word had quickly traveled, and they knew who she was already.

Camilia couldn't help but blush a little as she caught the greetings from everywhere. She wasn't used to being recognized on sight, and it was both unnerving and flattering at the same time. Of course, it didn't help that she was essentially being caught gawking at everything, but she couldn't help it. She was fascinated by the merchant's market, and she wanted to take a look at everything. Ocean floor or not, she still enjoyed shopping, even if it was 'window shopping.' Even better, Leith had said it was a jeweler's market. Camilia had a bit of a fondness for jewelry, even if she didn't wear much of it, and she loved admiring it.

"It is always so crowded?" she asked Leith after a few moments. It seemed like there were people everywhere, and she couldn't tell if it was normal, or if it was because Leith was there. It seemed like both options were entirely possible.

Leith flipped over and whistled at Ume. She released Camilia's wrists and began crawling along the laid stone walkways and road. "It's usually pretty busy, especially this week. All throughout the Atlantic, merchants travel from one kingdom to another to trade and sell goods for one week. It's only got about a day and a half left, so it won't be terribly busy after tomorrow." He went around to one of the store windows ahead of them and looked through. The window was curved slightly outward, with glowing stones set in around to give the gems and jewels a glow and sparkle.

"Come on without Ume." He said, waving his hand. "Here you'll be able to test your tail much easier, and with more challenge. Challenge keeps your tail strong and keeps you steady after a night of sleep. Besides, I think you'll like what you see here." What was through the glass included various teal, blue, and green gems. Some clear, others opaque, and a few shrouded with white marbling.

Camilia blinked when she was suddenly on her own. She hadn't been expecting that so soon, and she kind of just hung there, a bit wide-eyed.

"Like, right now?" she hedged, wrapping her arms around her waist and curling in on herself a little. Nope, she was not comfortable at all. Not that it was Leith's fault, of course, but still. She was sure she was going to make a complete fool of herself and probably run into someone in the process. Likely several someones, in fact. Oh yes, she was still insecure. That wasn't likely to change any time soon.

Leith went forward a bit and grabbed her as someone flitted by, creating a sudden current that would knock even the most experienced swimmer off balance had they not expected it. Keeping a solid grasp on Camilia’s wrist, he pulled her forward and out of the middle of the road. Drifting onto a quieter street, they were surrounded by more permanent stores and shops and not approached nor passed by quite as many shoppers and sellers. On either side, bright windows lined with a glowing blue-white algae showed off gems and settings in several dozen colors, and various metal chains and loops. Plain gold was predominant, dotted here and there with silver, platinum, and bronze and copper tones.

Leith approached one of the windows. “We’ve got a variety of gems and jewels from all over the ocean, and many on dry land.” He said. “Some you can’t find anywhere but here, or in very small villages. It’ll be easier for you to learn how to swim in a place with no current...” He moved to the door, a plain glass thing emblazoned with a coat of arms colored gold and red, and opened it for Camilia. “While you learn you can look around as well. Maybe you’ll find something you like.” As he spoke, Ume flitted by and scuttled into the shop.

Camilia blinked as she slowly followed him into the shop. She felt awkward and ungainly as she moved, trying hard not to knock anything over or bump into anything. The wares in the store looked incredibly expensive, although she really wasn't the best judge of such things. Hadn't Leith said that precious metals and stones were more common below the surface? Hesitantly, she looked around, although she kept well away from any tight spaces for the time being.

She did pause, however, when she passed a simple silvery chain with a single blue gem hanging from it. The chain looked sturdy enough for daily ware, and the gem was polished rather than cut. Her tastes ran towards the simplistic, and the single chain and gem appealed to her. It was still far too nice, however, so she didn't do more than look at it.

((Lord, sorry about not getting to this and the other for so long! Helping a couple friends, and I've got a bit of a pushy newer partner. Those aren't good excuses, though! Still, sorry!))

Leith meandered around the glassy shelves. Popular among many were the colors of the royal family, gold and teal. Many chains and bands were gold, as one could catch many types of teal gems and stones set into rings and bands. Tailbands were especially popular, crafted to look like above-water vines or little octopi and squid. They didn't hinder one's movement despite the carefully engineered shape of the tail, but they did catch the eye, especially as some were custom made.

Drifting toward where Camilia was, he found her studying a rather simplistic necklace. "You like the small things I see." He said, lifting it off its display and studying the gem. It was a drop shape, the tip capped with silver to hold the chain. "You don't see much silver around---it seems everyone prefers gold or bronze." He handed it to Camilia. "If you want it, I can... er..." He looked around as Ume flitted into view. "Ah! Come here." He lifted the tiny octopus and grabbed a small string-held bag from beneath Ume, setting him down again and digging about. Finding several coins, he also handed them to Camilia. "That ought to do it. If you don't get a crown back, ask for it, eh?"

Glancing at the door, he found someone was waving to him. A young boy with a tail of silver, holding a bag and pointing to it. "I'll be right outside." He added, flitting away.

He was out the door before Camilia could reply, although she did try to.

"Wait a second--!" She held the coins and the necklace in her hand uncertainly, looking between them and Leith outside. Then, just as hesitantly, she turned and made her way up to the counter to pay for the necklace. She wasn't entirely sure what she was doing (how would she even know if she got a crown back? She didn't know the currency!) but she would give it a shot, at least.