"Speak of the devil..." The Lady mused.
"One after the other you lot..." Metas remarked, sighing.
"It's not my fault you lot decided to stay in... What is essentially my home, thank you very much... Don't be surprised when the master of the house actually appears in his house." Jura grumbled, tossing away a dismembered tentacle resting on his shoulder towards the outside.
"Those buggers outside should take care of that." The old codger muttered.
'You really are just like him...' The Lady's words echoed in Metas' mind.
'Do I sound like that to everybody else? Anyway...' He thought.
"Well, since you're already here, I'd like to trouble the 'master of the house' further and waste a bit more of his time." Metas answered.
'Maybe I do...' The former shadow knight gulped.
"Ask. No errands and nothing that conflicts with my orders." Jura brushed some more dirt off of himself before entering.
"How am I supposed to know what conflicts?" Asked Metas.
"Speak. And I'll answer to whichever way I see fit, what would you have me do that you could not anyway? It better not be to change your bandages or bring you food as a result of your injured state." Jura exclaimed.
"Nothing a dusty old man like you should be fretting over, a mere question." Metas retorted back.
'Those two don't hold anything back... How scary...' The White Lady thought, overhearing.
"A question, eh. I suppose I could answer a few, did you ask Her already? Never mind, I can barely understand the cryptic monologues she goes on." Jura headed towards the kitchen.
"Do we have any spirits left?" He asked the Lady.
"No, just tea." The Lady remarked.
"Pour me some when you're done." Jura answered.
"Ehem. I'd like to ask about what happened these past several days in the kingdom. Specifically... The times you interfered... Why you interfered..." Metas struggled to get the words out, and yet he saw it through.
"Ah, something I'm beginning to regret doing." Jura put a hand on his head and closed his eyes.
"Having doubts I see. About whether you'll make the right decision in the conflict ahead? If that's the case, her advice should've well sufficed." Jura remarked gesturing towards the Lady.
"Right?" She stepped forward with her arms crossed.
"Still... How do you know when to decide?" Metas asked.
"It's quite clear cut to me. Orders are orders, disobey them at my own peril." Jura remarked.
Metas' gaze was firm and solemn, it was unbroken as he silently waited for another answer.
"As for me, choosing whether or not to interfere... Of course if you're choosing to do something the rewards better be worth it compared to the consequences." Jura said
"Is that tea ready yet?" "In just a bit." The Lady answered Jura.
"And if there's little to gain, and plenty to lose?" Metas asked.
"Look, if you're wondering about whether to evade your destiny or not, there's no avoiding an encounter with the flame court. But as your role in Lodeleth's future, do as you please." Jura remarked, walking towards the kitchen.
"Do... as I please?" Metas asked, confused.
"Here you go." "Thank you..." The Lady poured Jura a cup of tea.
He sipped before answering. "You've turned your back on the kingdom, and it turned its back on you. You don't owe them any form of help, although... If you feel guilt about any form of inaction... You can choose to suppress it, or do something about it. About your siblings... If you continue to get involved, it might get worse for them. But there's no telling what'll happen to them if you leave."
He turned towards the Lady. "See? That's how you do advice. It's not supposed to be confusing..."
"But where's the fun if they're not left to figure it out by themselves?" She answered.
Metas looked down. He studied the Ruler's Regalia in his hand in contemplation.
"Young man, would you like some tea to help you think?" The Lady asked.
"Sure, I'd like a cup." said Metas. The Lady brought a cup to Metas.
"I'll just leave the pot here. I'd invite you to use the matches, but I imagine you could heat it up yourself." She snapped her fingers to imitate Metas' ignition of flame.
"Hmm. Leaving soon?" He asked, after taking a sip.
"Things have been hectic as of late. No thanks to all of you lot." Jura exclaimed.
"Have things really been in flux across the... realms because of... what we did?" Metas asked.
"It caused a drop in the water. A ripple in the still stream. It caused... may cause a stir." The Lady remarked.
"For what it's worth, you're not making an unwise decision getting out now." Jura said, before gulping down his cup.
"Let's not delay much longer, Jura." The Lady sighed.
"Agreed. If you have any more questions, leave them for later. Or don't, you could probably resolve them yourself if you thought about it more." Jura raised his arm, as he and the Lady went for the door.
"Mhm. Old man... Thanks." Said Metas.
"No problem kid. Just don't cause me trouble, don't break anything, don't make this place dirty. No headaches." Jura exclaimed.
Sigh. Metas put a hand on his forehead.
_______________________________________________________________________
The clamor of townsfolk was prevalent in the path leading to the town square. Worried murmurs and disgruntled whispers were widespread, but were drowned out in kind by excited chatter and curious conversation.
Stalls lined the streets, selling food, and and goods, or showcasing various curiosities. Though the corners and back alleys were frequented by more opportunistic folk, no overt criminal action was tolerated by the guards that formed a long trail of watchful eyes. Their shifty gazes scanned the citizens back and forth which unnerved a few, yet did not detract from the cheery mood.
"Woah, they have all sorts of things... here! Is that even food? And there's all sorts of people playing music, dancing... It's nothing like I've ever seen before! Well, there was something like this... But comparing 'that' to this just seems, yuck." Yuria exclaimed to the others through their mental communication network, marveling at the sights around her.
"It's.. a bit too noisy for my taste. But I suppose it won't hurt to look at a few stalls as we pass by?" Ellyn responded.
They were all a distance away from each other as to remove suspicion from any direct contact with one another, but maintained conversation through mental contact.
"I remember events like these. Back then, it was too easy to rife through someone's pockets or to hustle some tourists out of their coin. But that was only in-between jobs. Crowds like these often meant someone needed extra security or made people easier to follow." said Kieron.
"Saying" that, her eyes scanned and surveyed the surroundings though nothing seemed amiss.
"Strange. Several dangerous incidents just happened and they're doing some sort of merry event? Is it to try to cheer up the people?" Felkin wondered.
"To raise the people's spirits... That might be the official reason the kingdom makes stuff like this. But really it's just to distract from the chaos and prevent a panic, though mostly not to the benefit of the people. I just wish they spent the funds elsewhere, like for rebuilding and stuff." Said En.
"Rebuilding..."
Felkin breathed in and closed his eyes. He could feel the dismay and disquiet from many of those that surrounded him.
The displaced were going further into town to seek aid or to find new professions or trades. Families brought their children to distract them from their present circumstances; though for those whose parents had passed, older siblings were now the ones responsible for the younger.
"You..." A rosy-cheeked drunkard muttered as he stumbled into Felkin.
"Sorry." Felkin apologized, but he walked forward without facing the man.
"Young man, you..." The drunkard remarked.
"Yes... Good sir?" Felkin asked, turning around and maintaining his composure.
Kieron could spot the nearby interaction from with a keen eye, and put a hand on her sickle accordingly.
hic "It's... nothing. I just thought you were... the one that sold me those vegetables yesterday." The drunken man mumbled.
"I see. I apologize for the... misunderstanding. Have a good day, good sir." Felkin managed.
"It's fine..." The man stumbled away.
Felkin and Kieron breathed a shared sigh of relief.
"What's the matter, still rattled from earlier?" She asked him as the two of them independently continued further.
"It's..." Nothing. Felkin almost said.
"The people, I hate thinking how we... I... somehow contributed to their suffering. Even if it's not directly my fault, and even if I stopped it from being worse. I guess I still feel quite bad about it..." He shyly remarked.
"Hmm. Admitting it is impressive. So, does that mean that you're not feeling anymore guilt about what happened? I suppose if you did arrive a bit faster and won a bit cleaner the destruction would have been lessened..." Kieron teased.
"Hmph..." Felkin pouted.
"If 'we' did better..." Kieron continued, with a serious tone.
"I... didn't realize... Well, I should've." He answered, putting a hand beside his head.
"I'm not heartless after all. I know this conflict has... had nothing to do me, but even I hoped for a better outcome, even though we won." She answered.
"We did the best we could, the both of you. That's why we should keep looking forward and focus, that place should be right ahead. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a guard outpost, maybe we can learn more about what they know about us." Said Ellyn.
"Right." Yuria responded.
The young witch sighed.
'I couldn't help enough, earlier. But... maybe we can still help the people now, even just a little...' She secretly thought.
"Please! We've lost our homes, the kingdom won't aid us, please, spare some coin for a poor woman and her children!" A beggar cried.
Yuria's head turned towards the sound of sobbing, and she quickly scampered over. She reached into her person and retrieved a handful of coin.
"Here." Yuria looked around cautiously before handing them over.
"Thank you, thank you..." The woman profusely expressed gratitude.
"You, over there! " A guard's voice rang out, grabbing the attention of not only Yuria but her compatriots.
"Eep!" She exclaimed.
'Found out!' She gulped. Yuria stood there frozen, the others unaware of what was happening.
"Was that any one of us?" Ellyn checked up on the others from her group.
"It's not me. Felkin, En?" Kieron asked.
'Why was I the first name?' Felkin thought to himself.
"No one's spotted me." He remarked, moving towards the source of the voice from earlier.
"Wasn't me, neither." Said En.
"Then we should move on to avoid suspicion-" Ellyn was cut off.
"It was me. I thought I could give some alms on the sly, and I seemed to draw attention of a guard who now approaches towards me. Fleeing or fighting would give us away immediately, so I should talk my way out of it, right?" Yuria formulated her thoughts and expressed them with a hint of nervousness in the shaking of her voice.
"Oh." Said En.
Kieron exhaled. It was a deep exhale, blowing air through her mouth. She reached for the crescent-shaped ivory blade she had concealed.
"Felkin, stop. Let's watch from afar before doing anything drastic." Kieron exclaimed, guessing Felkin's intentions correctly.
"Mhm." Felkin stopped in his tracks, having strode towards Yuria's direction.
"Yuria... you are right, but..." Ellyn tried her hardest to show restraint in her voice.
"Sorry... I know. I'll... try not to do anything else that'll lead us getting caught and might hurt other people." Yuria remarked with a heavy dose of regret.
"First... Let's worry about the problem at hand first." Said Ellyn, hand on her head.
Yuria looked down at her feet meekly.
The guard neared, and the conversation the party had passed in mere moments in their minds.
Felkin was silent. He knew it was an action that necessitated reprimand, but could not bring himself to criticize Yuria. He knew he shared her sentiments and could easily have made the same decision.
Yet he didn't. He felt a slight tinge of... pride? Superiority? And yet the sensation was washed down with a dose of self-hatred for doubting his friend, while knowing he was one mistake away from being in the same position.
"Be careful, Yuria. If something happens, we're here." He reassured her.
"I'm on standby I guess." Said En.
"Mhm." She answered.
"Don't encourage these beggars! These good-for-nothings roam the streets with their palms up begging, instead of working!" The guard exclaimed.
"Can't you see we're running an honest business here! People like you are the reason we don't sell enough goods!" A nearby merchant yelled.
"Back then, they said that too..." Yuria recalled the days where she lived on the streets.
She held her tongue, tried best to hide her scowl and started an apology.
"I'm sorr-" "Please, forgive her! I was begging, and she troubled herself to..." The woman apologized in her place.
"Actions like this jeopardize the divine order and law of the kingdom!" Another guard yelled.
"It's because of you knights that we citizens became like this! Aren't you all supposed to protect and serve the citizens of the kingdom?" A nearby beggar yelled out.
"Are you all traitors to the kingdom? Are you helping the rebels?!" The first guard screamed.
"This is causing a stir, I don't like where this'll take us..." Kieron remarked.
"Honestly, these guys are way too eager to get into a fight." En sighed.
"Everyone's on edge, tense. With all that's happened, it only takes someone to blame it on for it all to boil over." Ellyn exclaimed.
"E-Everyone! Let's not fight! Everything's just a misunderstanding, it's my mistake please!" Yuria cried out.
"You don't have to apologize, girl! It is they who wronged us!" Another discontented citizen yelled out.
"They're too eager to speak on my behalf..." Thought Yuria.
The commotion started drawing a crowd around her. And though the ebb and flow of foot traffic was in a state of near-constant flux, the members of the party were standing attentively still. They readied themselves for an incoming battle, though they did not stand out at all to the untrained eye.
"Everyone, let's all calm down!" Yuria raised her arms and tried in vain to control the commotion.
As the agitated parties began closing in on each other, a loud stomp and a flash of flame silenced the mob. Some of the guards and soldiers already had one hand on their blades or had their arms outstretched to ready their flames.
"Soldiers, stand down!" A stern voice exclaimed, drawing the attention of citizen, beggar, and guard alike.
The guards backed off, still tense and uneasy but respecting the figure's authority.
"Knight Ashley, we..." The inciting guard lowered his head.
"What is your purpose here, soldier? It is to maintain peace and order, is it not? To protect the kingdom, the crown, including its citizens? And now you are starting a commotion, which leads to violence in the streets amidst a celebration meant to uplift the spirits and encourage the commerce of our kingdom. Do you mean to disturb or upend this?" Ashley asked, her reprimand was serious, but she did not raise her voice more than necessary.
The guards appeared embarrassed and ashamed, and did not offer any retort to their apparent shameful conduct.
"Miss Ashley, we knew you were one to understand our plight. These guards should be stripped-" An impassioned displaced citizen was interrupted by Ashley raising her hand.
"I... have words for you and the others as well." She spoke earnestly as she walked forward to speak to them.
"Whew, good thing there's someone with sense that can talk the crowd down..." En remarked.
"For both the crowds' and guards' sake." Kieron exclaimed, taking her hand off her weapon.
"Agreed." Felkin sighed, also relaxing from a combat-ready stance.
"I knew the soldiers don't necessarily look favorably on giving to beggars, but I didn't know they would be harsh to this regard... I guess I haven't been out there as much recently." En exclaimed.
"Resentment and discontent has been piling up a while, that's why banditry and... more unfavorable or perilous lines of work have become more popular." Said Kieron.
"You all know... picking a fight with the guards isn't making your situation any easier." Ashley remarked with an exasperated sigh.
"It's their fault, they started it first!" A man remarked.
Ashley looked back cautiously to see if the irritated guards had heard the statement and raised her hand to signal "hush".
"No matter who started it, more violence isn't going to solve anything and it's not a fight you can win." Ashley warned.
"We... have the nu-" "You have the numbers, yes. But how many bodies will fall in a battle you don't have to fight? Laying low is still the best option since... it's forbidden to beg in the main streets, Lodeleth has been a much more dangerous place of late, it's best not to lay down your life in vain." Ashley implored.
"Many of us... lost our homes, not just from the latest disasters, in the lands turned into battlefields in the war." A woman exclaimed.
"Many of us are old... some are just children, we can't handle the labor work here, and even to those that can, they can't afford a week's worth of food with that week's same wages with the taxes being imposed onto us. That's why... many turn to the back alleys, stealing, gambling. But we don't have the rigor for those either." An elderly man exclaimed.
"Begging is all we can do, we're not criminals and they treat us like we are. We don't hurt anyone, and people that give us anything they do because they want to. Are we supposed to sit here and take it?" An impassioned man remarked.
"To tell you the truth, yes. There's been attempts... to do something, but the situation remains... as it has always remained. Still... this remains the safest option. Surely there is somewhere that can use an extra pair of hands? One that can make use of an elder's wizened mind and years of experience? A riot in the streets can only lead to bloodshed, who knows how many innocents can be caught up in it." Said Ashley.
"Miss Knight, you've... helped us many a time in the past before. So you are not ignorant to our plight. However, we recognize that the side you're taking is where you are belonging to. Their side, the kingdom's side." A small but unwavering voice resounded from an elderly woman's small frame.
Ashley's eyes widened, her mouth opened but no sound emerged. She closed it once more, knowing she could not offer a retort.
"We know, there's nothing you can do, we appreciate all that you've done for us... But your involvement with us shouldn't be more than necessary. We can... handle ourselves from here on out, we don't need your pity." The elderly woman remarked.
The group turned and walked away from Ashley who was still feeling conflicted. 'How... could they be so confident- no, careless...' She thought.
"Don't... go looking for trouble, especially fights you can't win!" Ashley called out to them.
"Worry not, miss knight. If we fight... When we fight, it'll be a fight that we'll surely win." A man from the group remarked.
'I've heard tell of rebels and uprising, don't tell me even the common folk are involved in it?' The knight thought.
Yuria stood there and listened to the entire conversation. Her attention was turned towards the plight of the people, and a slight tinge of guilt in her hand in it.
"We should disperse before they start getting suspicious, crowd's leaving too." Kieron remarked, urging the others.
"I was just listening if anyone mentioned any more rules we needn't not break, since there isn't any, let's continue." Ellyn responded, her eyes on Yuria.
"Glad it's over." Said En, walking forward.
Felkin was listening attentively as well.
Yuria turned to leave.
"Wait! You." Ashley called out to her.
"Eep, not again!" Yuria whimpered, surprised.
"Yes ma'am? I'd... like to apologize for the trouble I caused, and I'd like to thank you for resolving it." She remarked, as she turned around.
"No, I'm the one who needs to apologize, in behalf of those soldiers." Ashley bowed in apology.
"Oh, alright then..." Yuria shyly scratched at the back of her head.
"Are you one of those who were displaced?" Ashley asked, bending down to talk to Yuria.
"Ah, yes... I lost my home, but I had some coin left over and so I recognized their plight..." The young witch exclaimed.
"Well, the mistake is understandable. However, you should be more careful around these parts. Your parents... are they..." Ashley asked cautiously.
"They're not around..." Yuria looked down and clutched at the hem of her dress.
"I see..." Ashley remarked, sadly.
"But, I have friends! People I know in the city, so... I'll be fine, I guess." Yuria exclaimed.
"Well, I suppose you should go running off to them, then. The kingdom's... not a very safe place, so stick together." Ashley advised.
"I will, miss knight." Said Yuria. She turned to leave when Ashley spoke up once more.
"Though, if you find yourself in a spot of trouble, just say the name of 'Knight Ashley', that'll... earn a few good graces in some circles at least. I hope." Ashley remarked, unsure.
"I'll keep that in mind." Yuria turned to leave once more.
"I... didn't catch your name." Ashley asked.
'Damn lady, please let me just leave!' Yuria was eager to blend back into the crowd.
"It's... Ellyn." She remarked.
'Got to keep my story straight.' Thought Yuria.
"Mhm." Ashley exclaimed.
Yuria paused, bowed, and walked off.
'She couldn't possibly be... The rumors and orders from command are one thing, but who knows what the reality of the situation really is... In any case, I'll keep her appearance in mind.' Ashley thought, recalling the description of the fugitives that included Yuria.
"Yuria, let's go." Ellyn called out, keeping an eye on the young witch.
"Mhm, coming." Yuria meekly replied.
She adopted an unsure expression as she furtively proceeded down the street, with her head facing towards the ground.
"Our destination is still some ways away, let's focus on our secondary goal first," Ellyn remarked.
"From what I remember, and from what Henry tells me, the market here should have all of the stuff we need to buy back at the base." Said En.
"Just relay it to me, En. I'll handle it. It might be better if only one of us brings the supplies back so the others can sneak in more easily." Felkin offered.
"But it might draw too much attention if they see one person hauling too many goods; and lifting what someone of their frame should not be able to lift. Let me take half." Kieron added.
"A quarter," Felkin responded.
"A third," Kieron replied.
"Third sounds good. I'll start here, and you start there?" Felkin asked.
"Sure," Kieron answered.
"What was that about my 'frame', do I not look like I could lift heavy things?" Felkin asked curiously, looking down at himself.
"Maybe someone like Metas, he looks the part. You're... Ah, but don't worry about it too much, if we're talking about strength alone, you could probably juggle wooden tables without breaking a sweat." Kieron remarked.
"Hmm." Felkin exclaimed. "Now, where do we start..." Said Kieron.
"We're running out of wine, also we need more.." The two began canvassing the market stalls based on En's instruction.
"So..." Yuria remarked.
The other members of the party were standing about in the public square while the shopping was being done. En, Ellyn, and Yuria milled about and feigned taking in the sights, sounds, and occasionally perused the stalls to avoid suspicion.
"What you did was a risk, but... We couldn't have possibly known what would have happened. So... don't beat yourself up too much about it." Ellyn remarked.
They stood facing away from one another. In close proximity to one another, but to the crowd, they simply appeared like two strangers going about their day.
"I'll... keep that in mind. I'll also try to be more careful." Said Yuria.
"Alright, then... let's-" Ellyn spied a glance from far away.
'That gaze... something's watching, but it doesn't seem like we're found out yet.' Thought Ellyn.
"S-Something wrong?" Yuria asked.
"Felkin, Kieron. 3 o'clock. My 3 o'clock.' Ellyn exclaimed with a serious tone.
The two immediately stopped buying goods and went on alert. Though the shift in their body language was minuscule, they relied on their senses instead of moving to look directly towards the person of interest.
"Felkin, can you see them? I have to turn around and I don't want do that just yet." Kieron asked, carrying a bundle of items in one arm.
"I can. Can't recognize them, I don't think they're one of the ones Metas warned us about. By the way they're walking... And that blade at their waist, even if they're plainclothed... They're a shadow. I think." Felkin managed out of the corner of his eye.
"Woah, you can figure that out from that far?" En exclaimed.
"W-what should we do?" Yuria asked.
"Nothing yet, don't panic. En, can you do something?" Ellyn asked.
"To mess with his memory or make him look the other way, I'd have to slip the crystal in his pocket or something. But that means sneaking up on him..." En answered.
"A shame someone would probably come looking if he just up and disappeared. Going to be pretty hard with this crowd too." Said Kieron.
"Good thing killing's not the best option here, but... Ellyn, should we just proceed without doing anything? Dealing with them could be more trouble than it's worth." Felkin remarked.
"Though we could use this opportunity to gather information that only the shadows know, but how..." Said En.
"Nabbing him and tying him up is out of the question. Not enough risk for the reward, and we might jeopardize the reason we went to town in the first place." Kieron answered.
"We could try following him, however... Letting it be may be the wisest choice." Said Ellyn.
"Maybe... someone else could use their crystal and put-pocket it. Then we can get that shadow off of our backs, or maybe tail them, or know what they know." Yuria suggested.
"That... could work." Said En.
"But you're not suggesting you yourself are doing it, right?" Kieron interjected.
"No, no... But... It's your guys' decision what to do." Yuria answered.
"Whatever it is, I'm ready," Felkin remarked.
Ellyn sighed and focused on her thoughts.
'Why am I the one leading this group... If Metas were here, no wait, he'd probably defer to me, too. The safer option is to leave it alone, is it? Is it safer to influence the situation somehow? And this chance to get information that only the shadows, the higher-ups know... Damn it.' Ellyn's thoughts quickly flashed past.
'I'm... the one who's making a decision here. I... need to make the right one. They're counting on me, so... All of them...' Thought Ellyn.
"Your decision?" Kieron asked.
"We're... proceeding." Ellyn remarked.
"I take it that means you have a plan in mind?" Kieron exclaimed.
"I do. On my signal, follow my lead..." Ellyn remarked.
The shadow stood in the middle of the crowd, his gaze was watchful, though his mind was preoccupied on other matters. Besides the hidden blade on his waist, he carried a small pack slung over his shoulder.
'Things... have truly taken a turn for the worse. The war rages on, and all of the internal conflicts in Lodeleth... It hasn't happened yet; but when orders for the shadows differs, will we have to choose for ourselves?' The shadow thought.
He looked around, almost absentmindedly. The shadow checked his surroundings, naturally cautious as per his sharpened instincts honed over the years.
'Still... those fugitives could still be lurking about, and the rebels... Dealing with them will be paramount no matter how the kingdom's power struggle goes.' He thought.
'But first... what I've come here to do, best not tarry long. Hmm?' The shadow remarked,
He felt a subtle crawling sensation on his shoulder. Reflexively, his hand shot out behind him to crush it flat.
"Hmm." 'Must be nothing.' He remarked, looking upon his unsullied hand.
A group of children suddenly ran past the distracted shadow knight. The pack he held came loose when he reached to swat a "bug" behind him earlier, and dropped to the ground.
'Hmph, kids... I still feel everything in my pockets so they haven't picked it or anything.' He sighed and picked his belongings back up.
'I'm getting clumsy.' He looked around suspiciously.
'I'd better get going.' The shadow knight made his way through the bustling crowd and out of the busy market square and into the town's alleyways.
He walked past beggars and the homeless, past gamblers and hoodlums, and to a secluded path enclosed by stone walls leading to a desolate isle.
The shadow knight stood still for a few moments, listening and observing his surroundings. After being satisfied that there were no listeners or pursuers nearby, he raised his hand and rhythmically tapped on the stone wall with his fist in a unique pattern.
Another shadow knight, clad in their black garb and armor, revealed themselves from the alley's umbra.
"Do you have it?" The armored one asked.
"It's right here." The plainclothed one opened their pack and handed the latter knight a sheet of parchment.
The armored shadow thoroughly read the page up and down, front and back, and then crumpled the sheet into a ball. Within their grasp, the knight burned to ash the article of secretive importance.
"Those fugitives... seem to hail from the unlikeliest of places within our kingdom's territory." The plainclothed one exclaimed.
The armored one paused, in slight confusion, then answered.
"One from a rundown village on the outskirts of the kingdom's territory, another hailed near the uninhabited tundra on Lodeleth's border. Strange bedfellows. And not connected to the rebel force already existing."
"That we know of. They might be new recruits, or joined up with them already. Wouldn't be surprised." The plainclothed one remarked.
"Still, a group with a witch who escaped from being burned at the stake, an inventor from the snow lands, a former shadow, and a relic wielder from who knows where... Threats are sprouting from lands all over, that's not accounting for the war, and... the matters in the capital regarding our superiors." The armored shadow answered.
"Getting the information relayed spread us thin... The shadows have been busy doing work in all corners of the kingdom, and without. We're lucky we don't have conflicting orders... yet." The plainclothed one remarked.
"Hmm. It's good to have discussion once in a while. Especially since we're not allowed to speak this freely in front of our superiors, though it'd be best to cut it short. We can't hear or see anyone listening but there still might be..." The armored one spoke cautiously.
"You're right, I don't know what came over me." The plainclothed one answered.
"I'll be following my orders. You follow yours." The armored knight said, and the two parted ways.
The plainclothed shadow walked out of the alley, and emerged into the bustling streets once more.
'Almost forgot to get rid of this.' He set fire to the cloth pack and tossed it on the road below.
The cloth caught fire, and the flames fizzled out almost instantly with a small puff of black smoke.
He turned his head as if responding to some faint sound. Though there was nothing of note that he observed.
'Must be getting antsy... The kingdom's in a perilous state lately.' The shadow surmised as they continued off.
Down on the ground, Felkin's extended blade slowly slithered forward, coiled around the orange crystal, and dragged it back to his hand, away from the busy crowd's view.
As the group of children continued playing in the street, Yuria walked past and plucked another orange crystal out of one of their pockets in one swift motion.
"Huh?" The child seemed to be freed from a trance. "Hurry up!" Their other friends called out, and the young one was none the wiser.
Yuria secreted her crystal away as she whistled nonchalantly.
"Both crystals gotten?" En asked.
"I have the first one back," Felkin remarked.
"Other one's with me," Yuria answered, who regained a slight amount of her previous vigor.
"So, went without a hitch." Ellyn breathed a sigh of relief.
"Expecting it to go sideways?" Kieron asked.
"Maybe I did, but now that it's well and done, we did learn about some... concerning information." Ellyn remarked.
"They know where we're from... They already know we're here... We can't... afford to make anymore mistakes can't we? We should maybe... get out of the kingdom as soon as possible, maybe there'll be less trouble for us and the kingdom both, then." Yuria exclaimed.
"Well... We'll be able to talk about that once we reach that place Metas led to." Said Felkin.
"As for me, I'm pooped. We were right in me not trying to take direct control or ask anything firsthand. Just making subtle mental suggestions to someone like that took a lot out of me, not to mention making the crystal invisible to their eyes... I need something sweet..." En mimed wiping sweat off his brow.
"Before anything, the groceries. Do you still have them, Felkin?" Kieron asked.
"Didn't need to drop them. Got them right here, still have yours?" Felkin asked.
"Had 'em when I was tailing that shadow. Even helped to seem unsuspicious." Kieron exclaimed proudly.
"Alright, alright, you two lovebirds, take care of the supplies, and then we can decide on what to do next." Said En.
"Wha-" "Huh!?" Felkin and Kieron reacted in almost unison.
Kieron looked around to see a few onlookers confused and alarmed at her sudden exclamation.
"D-don't say things that'll make us react in a way... in a way that will make other people look at us with suspicion!" Kieron exclaimed, turning red and walking off in a huff.
"R-right, I'll be getting the rest of what we need to buy, now..." Felkin strode away with an unnatural speed.
"Wait, Felkin! Don't be so conspicuous! And... I'm supposed to be the one taking care of what we still need to buy!" Kieron changed course.
As the two left to cross out the remaining items needed to restock Jura's abode, Ellyn, En, and Yuria were left to lounge about in the market square once more.
The young witch stood, watching the festivities commencing around her. She watched families taking their children out for a stroll, as well as friends, young and old, purchasing from the stalls.
She watched them joyfully witness the various minstrels and traveling performers present around her. Yuria marvelled at the wondrous sights and sounds of joy and music around her.
But Yuria then noticed that things were not as jolly as they seemed on the surface. The usual beggars aside, she also spotted various passers-by with fresh injuries, burns, and bandages wrapped around their bodies. She bore witness to tearful reunions, as well as townsfolk haggling and struggling to buy the cheapest of goods in the stalls.
"Metas said that this celebration was made to be some sort of big distraction to the people, right?" Yuria asked.
"Well, the kingdom likes to put a positive spin on that fact by stating certain festivities are to 'uplift the people's spirits', but due to what recently happened and the ongoing war, yeah, they did. They pretty much do it regularly now." En remarked.
Yuria's previous delight was replaced by unease.
'Even stuff like this... has some motive behind it. But... I wonder if I'll get to live free and enjoy something like it, well... ever. After we get away from the kingdom... Will they, will we still...' She gazed longingly at the groups of friends having fun.
Her train of thought was broken by a voice from a man running one of the nearby stalls.
"Little miss, I've seen you going around and looking at a lot of the stalls and not buying anything." The shopkeeper remarked.
'Is he suspecting me?' Yuria's mind went to her being suspected.
"Are you one of those who just lost their homes? That might be why you're going around and looking at all of the products without buying anything. I'd love to give you something for free, but my family's been struggling as of late so..." He remarked.
"Yes, I lost my home in the fires recently, but... I wouldn't dare ask for something for free, so..." Yuria shyly remarked, rubbing her arm in a self-reassuring measure.
Though a delectable aroma wafted through the air and drew her attention, her head turned towards the pastry of desire.
Sniff, sniff. Yuria spied the shelf of baked goods that lay just beyond reach behind the shopkeeper.
"This caught your attention?" The shopkeeper asked, retrieving a plate with a steaming slice of pie atop.
"Oh, I..." Yuria muttered.
"It would be suspicious if someone stood around here for quite a while without buying anything," Ellyn said towards Yuria, having observed her from a short distance away.
"So..." Yuria answered.
"So go ahead, I guess. That... goes for all of you, too, everyone. Feel free to buy from the stalls... But not too free." Ellyn scratched behind her head.
'But wouldn't this defeat the purpose of buying as little as possible so we could sneak back in easier? Well... I don't want to pick a fight with everyone now. And maybe with the recent turn of events... Maybe... I need this. So if I'm buying something to keep, or even eat... It won't have to be a lot...' Kieron concluded.
"Hmm?" She exclaimed, noticing something out of the corner of her eye.
"What's this?" "Pork sausages, sir." "And that?" "A block of cheese." "Mhmtffrmm..." Felkin remarked as he handed over a handful of coin.
He tore off a piece of the sausage he carried and then ate a mouthful out of the block of cheese in his hand, all while bringing a box and a few cloth packs in tow.
"Felkin! Don't..." Kieron stopped herself from reprimanding the young man when she observed him from afar.
She saw a certain spark of light in Felkin's eyes. He scanned each stall, savored each sight and sound, exuding a quiet excitement.
"Kieron, look! Those people make this really unique music, I think they might be travelling performers from a foreign country, and have you tasted some of the things they have on here, you should try them." Felkin exclaimed.
"Felkin... It's your first time going to one of these, huh." She answered solemnly.
"Well... For me now, it is. I... really don't know if I went to one before, or if I'll go to one again. You, Kieron. Have... you gone to plenty of these before?" Felkin asked.
"I, well..." Kieron paused. "A few times. A lifetime ago, it feels like." Flashes of her life played in her mind, from sorrow and regret, to triumph and belonging, returning to more sorrow and regret.
"And if you did go to one in the past, you probably enjoyed it." She added.
"Maybe I did." Felkin shrugged. "And Kieron... I'll hold back on buying too much, and... Helia is planning something big, she's turned some merchant guilds to her side. From what Metas told us about the council, and what we heard from the shadow earlier..." He added.
"It means there's almost certainly a power struggle we can take advantage of, good one, Felkin." Ellyn exclaimed.
"Acting like a dumb customer, and having really good hearing pays off." Felkin said proudly.
"You heard that just now, didn't you?" En asked. "Maybe..." Said Felkin.
'But Kieron is right, if I buy too much, it'll be suspicious too. And I need to save the coin I have. Not for me, but... for them. What would they want? What would... She want?' Felkin thought, walking down the street and around the square, perusing what the area had in store.
Kieron adopted a similar train of thought as she explored the square.
'I probably shouldn't buy too much for myself, don't really need much, in this land at least. Hmm... Giving the others gifts and establishing goodwill is probably wise, I've made some good inroads with the group, I likely should do more if I'm sticking with them longer... Particularly that Metas, knight that he is... Former knight, I should say. But aside that... What... would 'he' want?' She asked herself.
En witnessed Felkin's slight spree of delicious indulgence.
'Felkin's got the right idea, but maybe Kieron and Ellyn will be mad if I cause too much of a ruckus or clean out all of these stalls.' En "breathed" a breath of fresh air. Not that he needed to, but wanted to.
En saw the exuberance of human joy and activity. The bustle of commerce and the tangle of emotions, mostly positive ones, and everything combined, everything human, deeply fascinated him so.
'I love this sight. People having fun, er... mostly. Well, even if this was made to take the people's minds off of the corrupt governance and all of the bad stuff, it doesn't mean I can't enjoy it, right?' En thought.
He went to a stall and bought a handful of salted meats, which swiftly turned into a mouthful of salted meats, and a stomachful of them. (Does he have a stomach?) Sweets were the next to fall victim to his appetite.
Though he was indecisive about what to try next. As he debated on what next to spend his coin on, a group of young street children approached him.
'I hope these kids don't try to rob me... I know that could happen because I've pickpocketed alongside groups of children like this in the past.' En thought.
"Are you... new around here?" One of them asked.
"Well... In this town, yes. I... lived in a town in the kingdom, but that place is gone now, so I'm here." En explained.
"Mother tells me not to spend too much coin in the fair here, so if you just lost your home, it'll probably be better not to buy too much stuff, I think." A young girl remarked.
"It's alright, I'm... not really alone, and it's not my money I'm spending, really." En brushed it off.
The children shrugged. "If you say so. But mother will be angry if I spend too much like that. My siblings are all spendthrifts and look where they are now." She answered.
"Siblings... huh." En thought back to them.
'How long has it been since I've thought of them, since... I've been with them. It's been years since I was with the flock, since... I've been home. I suppose no matter how long I'm here... I'm no human.' He thought.
"I suppose my friends will get mad if I spend too much. What're you all up to?" En asked.
"Well, we're playing some tag, maybe hide-and-seek later, we... asked if you wanted to join, I guess." A boy asked.
"Sure, I'm game." En enthusiastically remarked, walking off with them.
"Mrmmf." Yuria exclaimed, eating the last bite of her pie.
"Hrmpmf?" She crunched on something small and brittle inside her mouth.
She retrieved a small seed, which she carefully studied, wiped with her clothes, and stuffed inside her pack.
'Good thing I didn't chip my tooth or something, but... If I'm gonna buy something to eat, it might be better to get some bones, or seeds, or something. But if it isn't dried or clean, it might smell or attract flies. In that case... Why don't I just get something for the others?" Thought Yuria.
Ellyn herself also scanned back and forth the stalls, but had a different outlook compared to the others.
'I've walked back and forth and these stalls... With how expensive the fare is with these trinkets and treats... You could buy a day's worth of meat and vegetables, or clothing, or hunting tools... How extravagant and wasteful... A day's work or a single hunt in the forest, and all of that will amount to...' Ellyn then sniffed the air.
'I can smell the sugar in some of those things, and the fat... Eating those often will definitely be detrimental to one's health. And... and...' She took a big whiff of air.
'It smells absolutely delicious. It is alike a predator that attracts prey with a lure, or how a hunter uses bait. I'd best be careful not to fall prey to its charms. But maybe... Just a little won't hurt." The huntress cautiously purchased a small piece of honeyed pastry.
'Mmm! And that's how they get you. First your money, then your life. Deliciousness is a deadly weapon in the city, it seems.' Ellyn gazed at the hubbub all around her, not used to the noise of the city.
'This noise... This sight, the old man took me to something like this, well it couldn't hold a candle to this. Just... a small event in the village, and the food there... I'd but all forgotten the taste. Maybe a bit of indulgence isn't so bad, once in a while.' She smiled contentedly.
'This place, these sights are quite unique. It would be a shame not to see them again, or to miss them in the first place. That reminds me, it is a shame that Metas... No, he's probably seen many such events in the past, or has he? He's worked as a knight his whole life and being with the shadows...' She ruminated.
'In any case, since he isn't here, it would be wise to bring gifts to him, but... what would he want? What would the others want? We... really don't know much about each other, it seems.' Ellyn was deep in contemplative thought.
This consensus and slight dilemma on gift giving was shared by the others.
'I want to buy something for the others, but... I don't know what they'll like...' Thought Yuria.
'I've been with Felkin for a few days, and the others far shorter than that, and so there's been sparse time for conversation. Should I ask? No, perhaps I should just abandon this idea after all, who knows what paths we'll lead after we're out of the kingdom, maybe it's just as well not to be too close to them.' Thought Kieron.
'I haven't talked to the others much, to know about them... Maybe I should have... If I ask, it might show that I'm not paying too much attention...' Thought Felkin.
"Hey, everyone, I wanted to buy something for each of you, but I'm not sure what all of you would like, so I wanted to ask what you all want... If that's okay with you." Yuria asked.
"Oh!" "Um..." "Well..." Kieron, Ellyn, and Felkin exclaimed in almost unison, respectively.
"You... needn't not spend such funds on me." Kieron exclaimed.
'So, she doesn't want... anything? That's...' Thought Felkin, saddened.
"Maybe... it's best that you spend it for yourself, Yuria." Said Felkin.
'So does that mean he'd rather not get any gifts...' Thought Kieron, saddened.
"Just... buy what you want, Yuria." Ellyn remarked.
"Oh... What if I want to buy gifts for all of you guys?" Yuria asked.
"A box of sweets for me please!" En exclaimed joyously.
"Alright! Just... If anyone wants anything else... I guess, I'm not... forcing anyone, just..." Yuria shrugged and awkwardly went on her way.
"If... you can find some polishing oil for my arm... That'll do." Said Ellyn.
"S-some extra cloth wraps for my arms, I guess...Said Kieron.
"An extra set of clothing for me, in case I lose these again," Felkin remarked.
They both thought of something trivial, yet something that they can use, and Yuria can buy.
"I'll... see what I can do." Yuria remarked happily.
"I... don't like being guilted into things, but I suppose I can let this one be, this time..." Kieron remarked.
"That reminds me, what would you want, Yuria?" Felkin asked.
"Huh. I... hadn't thought of that." The young witch was briefly stumped. She thought for a few moments and then responded.
"Food, clothes, a house, what else would I want... If I had to ask, my gift would be to spend more time with you all in places like this!' Yuria happily exclaimed.
"Isn't that a non-answer?" En asked.
"Well, can I revoke my answer earlier and say that instead? If that's an answer I can say, then we shouldn't spend unnecessary money, right?" Kieron joked.
"Mhmm... It is a real answer to me." Yuria remarked, feigning a pout.
"That does kind of seem like a free gift since we're going to stick together with each other." Said Felkin.
"For the meantime." Ellyn clarified.
"All that I've experienced... It has been hard sometimes, we've gone through some tough times, but... our time together really has been a gift, for me at least. Well, for the meantime, I suppose." Said Yuria.
"I think that just says that the rest of your life has been so much worse," En remarked.
"Oh, I guess so. Well, if you want something to spend something on for me..." Yuria said.
She ran up to a nearby stall.
"Excuse me, mister. Um, when is there going to be a festival like this one?" Yuria asked.
"Well... This was arranged on short notice, but there's going to be one real soon, it's for when we celebrate a thankful harvest to the Dragon." The man remarked.
"Yes... The Dragon... It's very important to the kingdom." Yuria exclaimed, pretending to understand.
"Supposedly, a long time ago, the Dragon fought alongside the founders of Lodeleth, and the flame of the Dragon made the earth sprout new life, and that's why certain types of plants only grow in the kingdom, but that's what they say at least. Now it's just a celebration we hold every year, though it might be delayed due to... Well, it might happen real soon." He exclaimed.
"Is that so? Well, let's hope it'll continue, that way everyone gets to have fun and enjoy themselves, right?" Said Yuria.
"I wish everyone had your same positive outlook, little lady, that being said would you care to buy a-" "Here." Yuria handed over some coin, then greedily snatched a small morsel of roasted fish.
"So there. There's a celebration!" Said Yuria, munching on it greedily.
"If you all are moving out of the kingdom, won't we miss the festival?" En wondered.
"It doesn't have to be this festival, or even a festival at all! If we're together, it's all alright for me." Yuria said happily.
"In my village, there's these seasonal beautiful lights in the sky... That's one thing we can all see." Ellyn suggested.
"Mhm, sounds like a plan!" Yuria exclaimed.
Kieron was silent.
"That reminds me, Metas always eats some fish, right? I wonder if he likes it." Felkin commented.
"Besides that, I've only seen him sharpening that weapon of his, but I don't know if that can be done with that relic anymore..." Ellyn remarked.
The party spent the next minute figuring out what a good gift for Metas would be to no avail, and eventually separated to stroll the grounds independently once more.
"We'd all had our fun, but I think it's near about time for us to continue. So everyone buy what they want for themselves, or for everybody they want." Ellyn announced.
"Alright!" "Mhm." "Understood." Yuria, Felkin, and Kieron responded respectively.
"Right, I've almost tried everything to eat here." Said En. He busied himself as he neared in sampling everything the bazaar had in store.
Yuria hummed a tune as she walked back and forth, not being able to fully figure out what to buy for the others, but enjoying herself nonetheless.
Meanwhile, Ellyn was waiting for the others and inspecting the things she had already bought.
Lastly, Felkin and Kieron were preoccupied and were picking up speed in their stride as their thoughts were in flux in deciding whether to buy gifts... for each other.
.From what he's said earlier, he's... hesitant to receive a gift, he might even take offense to it. Though... he's been making a habit of prioritizing others over himself, tch... I just need to give him something to.... She paused in thought.
.Yes, to repay my debt. And after leaving this kingdom... He can be free from all of this killing... hopefully. From someone whose hands are stained with innocent blood. For me to attack him and to not only spare my life but to protect me....' She noticed an item atop a stall's table nearby.
'Hmm?' She saw a small bracelet interconnected with beads, with a small crescent moon atop a sun in the middle. Kieron thought back to the events in the crumbling desert world.
'I've... inherited this power, and some of the hopes of the tribe as their descendant... Only us few survivors know anything about it. It's like... it never happened. Heh, I'm starting to sound like Felkin.' She remarked.
"Miss? Are you interested? This little trinket could be yours for cheap. Though things like these have not been selling well due to their connection to... Ah, let's just say that they're on sale." The shopkeep scratched at the back of her head and managed a laugh.
"No, no... I'm just browsing." Kieron remarked, raising her hand in refusal.
"Alright, then." The shopkeep shrugged.
She looked down at her wrist, at her arms bandaged with cloth wraps.
'There's... No place for a beautiful trifle like that on a killer's arm.' Kieron lamented.
'From what she said earlier, she... probably doesn't want someone to buy a gift for her. She's... tough like that. But... I have to repay her somehow, for sticking by me even though she could have left earlier.' Thought Felkin.
'Now because I've dragged her into this mess... She's caught up in the chaos of the kingdom because of my selfish desires. After leaving Lodeleth... Maybe she can be free to decide on her own instead of being with me. Trouble... seems to follow me after all.' Felkin remarked.
"You there, good sir! Would you like to have a souvenir from the Kingdom of Lodeleth?" A nearby vendor asked.
"Hmm?" "Would you like to keep a piece of Lodeleth's history? You can have it right here with this piece of petrified Dragonwood made into a locket." He raised a small stone and showed it to Felkin.
"Dragonwood? Isn't... that expensive?" Felkin asked.
"Not at all, good sir. Dragonwood in this form is no longer valued by the Kingdom for official use, only collectors fancy it now. These pieces are formed from ancient Dragonwood and are extremely durable, even fireproof! Yet are hard to make into anything useful, thus are only be able to be sold as trinkets." The vendor answered.
'Something that can't be easily broken... After leaving the kingdom, this could be a reminder that I've been here, something that I can keep, but...' Felkin sighed.
"Maybe... some other time. I'm... sorry for causing you trouble." He remarked, walking off.
"No problem, young man. I'm here if you want to change your mind!" The man called out to him.
'Maybe... I should just accept that nothing is permanent, and let things be, rather than cling to things like that... If I'll buy her a gift without her knowledge... No, that's not right. I've decided, I'm not going to-' In being lost in his thoughts, he bumped into and collided foreheads with a young woman walking in front of him.
"Oh, sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and..." "Sorry! I didn't look where I was walking and..." The two of them exclaimed at the same time.
"You!" Wha-" Felkin discovered Kieron in front of him, as shocked as she was.
"You're uh... a stranger." Felkin said, unsuredly.
"Kieron, I thought you said not to cross paths with one another!" He exclaimed.
"Yes... Hello." Kieron remarked awkwardly.
"I did say that, to you, and you didn't follow it!" She exclaimed.
"And now, the both of us weren't paying attention and now we have to deal with it." Said Felkin.
"Did you two... actually not notice each other?" Yuria remarked, bewildered.
"You two who have been very perceptive, distracted. I'm actually impressed!" En exclaimed.
"Well... play it off. If you two don't know each other, then just act like it." Said Ellyn.
"Is that so?" Kieron asked. "I... suppose." Felkin responded.
"Hello... Miss, I think we haven't been, acquainted yet." Felkin reached out his hand slowly towards Kieron.
"Hi... Mister, may... I know your name?" Kieron asked, a bit awkwardly.
"It's...." He looked around cautiously. "It should be... alright, right?" Felkin asked.
"I... guess?" Kieron remarked.
"Felkin, pleasure to meet your acquaintance." He exclaimed. Kieron reached for it and shook it.
"Mister Felkin, nice to meet you. I'm Kieron." She answered.
The two of them looked around nervously and then back at each other.
"Uh... What do we say?" Felkin asked.
"What do we do?" Kieron replied.
"Would it be more suspicious, or less suspicious, if we just walked off separately after this?" He remarked.
Ellyn made a suggestion. "Well, now that the two of you have met each other, it saves the trouble and the hassle of being apart, right? It's probably best to take advantage of this situation."
"Then... let's walk now?" said Felkin.
"And talk, I guess? It would be strange if we just stare at each other like this, for a while." Kieron added.
The two stopped being so shocked and tense and slowly began walking side-by-side.
"There's... a lot of stalls, huh." Said Felkin.
"That's how you make natural small talk?" Kieron scoffed in disbelief.
"I'd... like to see you try! I... don't really have a lot of knowledge or experience on it." He fired back.
"Ah! Well..." Kieron was slightly taken aback and felt guilty about what she had said.
"Yes, there are many things that they're selling from... all over, all kinds of products." Kieron tried.
"That was supposed to be better?" Felkin remarked, with utter shock, with no hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Grr... I didn't have much chance to do it either recently, and that response was based on what you said anyway, so..." Kieron exclaimed back.
"Alright, alright. You are two idiots who don't go outside or talk to people." En remarked.
"Not fair, you've lived decades more than us." Felkin reasoned. "And you spent all that time talking to the same two people, not really a master of social conversation, this one." Kieron added without missing a beat.
"Ack." En remarked, feigning damage.
"That's it, guys! Instead of pretending to talk, why don't you two just... Well, talk like you always do?" Yuria suggested.
"Oh, right, that's..." "Obvious." Felkin and Kieron spoke one after the other.
Felkin inhaled and deeply exhaled.
"So..." Felkin remarked. "So..?" Kieron answered.
"How... are you holding up, with the recent events in the kingdom?" He asked.
"Fine... as fine as I can be, though I'd be better after all of this has been resolved." She answered.
"I'd... like to apologize, Kieron." Said Felkin.
"Hmm? For what?" She answered.
"For... being the reason that you're here in the kingdom now," Felkin remarked. "And in danger." He added.
"You know... I was the one who chose to go with you to Lodeleth, so don't assume on my behalf, please." She meant it in earnest, but spoke with a slight hint of irritation.
"I... can handle myself, here." Kieron continued, using telepathic communication.
Kieron sighed. "Actually... I'm the one who needs to apologize."
"For what?" Felkin remarked, confused.
"You... troubled yourself with sparing me, then you kept me alive in that desert, then the trouble I caused..." She enumerated.
"Trouble? Instead of saying sorry, it sounds like it would be better if you thanked me for helping you with all of those things, right?" He asked, stopping in his tracks.
Kieron halted as well to listen to him.
Felkin looked at her directly and continued with telepathic messaging. "But you've helped me a whole lot in surviving in that desert and helping those people, and you risked your life fighting Grisham, and with the flame elemental..."
He remembered that the others kept what happened to his body after the battle with the Flame Matriarch a secret. Felkin's voice trailed off.
"And- And... instead of apologizing for endangering me, you should just thank me for helping." Kieron shrugged.
"Thanks-" "Thanks-" The two of them said at the same time. They paused and stumbled in their speech.
They averted their gaze from one another and then looked back. The two started chuckling, but then stopped as onlookers began to stare at them.
Kieron and Felkin stopped laughing and simply smiled.
"Still, I'd like to make it up to you." "I want to make it up to you somewhat..." Felkin and Kieron remarked in almost unison.
"Pfft..." Kieron covered her mouth as she stifled a laugh.
Felkin looked back with a contented smile.
"Why not just buy each other gifts so that you can be even?" Said Yuria.
"Just... to repay any 'debt' you might have to me." Said Felkin.
"So you're not obligated anything towards me anymore." Said Kieron.
They both begrudgingly agreed, much to the satisfaction of Yuria.
"But what gift do I buy for you..?" Felkin asked out loud.
"Nothing special, just pick the first thing you can get, no need to trouble yourself with it too much..." Kieron muttered.
"Hmm, what's that?" Felkin pointed at a nearby stall.
"Oh, that's..." Kieron recognized what was on display.
"You recognize it?" Felkin picked up and raised the solar-lunar bracelet and turned towards Kieron.
The shopkeeper recognized Kieron, and it caught their attention.
"Ah, miss from earlier. Have you changed your mind-" The shopkeeper saw Kieron looking downwards shyly, and paused.
"I... might have mistaken her for another customer. Are you interested in that piece, good sir? It's on sale right now." They added.
"Hmm. Curious." Felkin looked at Kieron with a curious expression, and then shrugged.
He continued. "Anyway, doesn't this remind you of... that time? If it was me, I'd get it as a remembrance, but... Maybe what happened is not something that should be remembered fondly..."
Felkin frowned.
"No, no, it's fine..." Said Kieron, meekly putting her hands behind her back.
"You two... have been through a lot, eh." The shopkeeper remarked, observing keenly.
"Well... we've only just met, right?" Felkin remarked with a smile.
"Relatively, I guess." He added.
'That isn't... far off from the truth.' Kieron thought solemnly.
"Thank you for your patronage, sir." The shopkeeper exclaimed.
Felkin handed the trinket over to Kieron, who almost immediately pocketed it.
"Not going to wear it? It'll look good on you." Felkin remarked nonchalantly and honestly, without teasing.
"Shut up..." Kieron retorted half-heartedly. After a few seconds of mulling it over, she brought it out and wore it, neatly sliding it over her left hand and onto her wrist.
"There, happy now?" Kieron muttered, flustered.
"If you really don't want to do it, I won't force you... But from what I can see, I'm happy." Felkin remarked.
"Well, now it's your turn..." Kieron put her hands on Felkin's shoulders to push him forward. She had recovered and was in a teasing mood.
Kieron pointed at another stall across the road. "Ooh, how about that!"
She had gestured towards something, though Felkin might have already been looking at it from a distance.
"This is..." Felkin paused as the two of them went right up to the stall.
"Petrified Dragonwood, right? I heard it's really sturdy and fireproof to boot." Said Kieron.
"Looks like I don't have to do the selling myself, even the customers are helping me now." The shopkeeper exclaimed proudly.
"Ah, good sir! Have you returned to reconsider? Has the young miss there changed your mind?" They remarked, leaning back.
"I... suppose, but do I have to wear it...?" Felkin said as Kieron exchanged coin for a Dragonwood pendant.
He turned red and appeared slightly shy as Kieron brought it out, put the small chain around his neck, and threaded it to a length that is not too tight nor loose.
"If I'm wearing this..." Kieron briefly raised her wrist to show the bracelet. "You should be wearing that." She pointed towards the pendant resting on his neck.
"Mhm." Felkin agreed with red cheeks and a small smile.
The two then continued their stroll, with Kieron's stride being ever more lively, and Felkin's being more relaxed.
"Everyone. It's time. I'll go on ahead and meet with our contact with Felkin, and all of you stick around nearby as planned." Ellyn remarked.
"I'm ready..." En remarked with a sigh.
"Alright!" Yuria exclaimed.
"I..." Felkin turned towards Kieron.
"We're heading there." Kieron asserted.
The two made their way down the street towards the back alleys. Though the task ahead was their supposed focus, they could not help but take in the city around them.
The breeze carried the zeal of human activity, mostly savory scents of food, drink, and flowers, with the stench of the streets wafting on the side. The sound of merry cheer and song was carried in the wind.
"Hey, Kieron... Walking like this, just spending the day in peace together... Is it what regular, normal citizens do every day in the kingdom?" Felkin asked.
"Although fairs like this are somewhat common, it's not like every citizen can afford it," Kieron remarked.
She smirked as she looked back to see his frowning face.
Though she answered him seriously, nonetheless. "I... suppose. Yeah, this is what normal looks like, almost... feels like."
"Do you think my life could have been something like 'normal'? Do you... wish your life was..." Felkin hesitated.
"We... can't return to the past, things can't go back to what they used to be anymore... Normal's... a faraway thing for us, all we can do is... pretend, I guess." She answered.
"But... we're actually here now, right? We... We ate, bought gifts, and had fun, even if the rest of our lives is... chaotic, and dangerous, we're doing something normal and not having to pretend." Felkin reasoned.
"For a little, just maybe for a little... I..." She paused and faltered.
Kieron walked ahead of Felkin, with her head down.
He reached towards her, his arm extending towards Kieron's shoulder, but he lowered it once more.
"Kieron! I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I... take back what I said! And-" He called out to Kieron and ran after her.
She stopped and took a deep breath before looking directly upwards. She had her free right arm covering her eyes.
"No, it's fine. I'm fine." Kieron clicked her tongue, sighed, and lowered her arm.
"Do you... Need some water?" Felkin asked, using his free left arm to retrieve a waterskin.
"No, I-" Kieron answered, but as Felkin began to put it away, Kieron reached for it once more.
"On second thought, give me that." He handed it, and she greedily snatched the waterskin and chugged it down.
"Ah. Phew..." Kieron stood there for a few seconds and calmed herself down.
"All good?" Felkin asked.
"Yeah, let's go. Let's not keep them waiting." Kieron picked up the pace once more.
As they walked together, Felkin saw the minute shaking of Kieron's hand. His hand raised slightly in pure instinct, though he noticed it and stopped himself from doing so.
Felkin looked straight ahead, though his gaze was in front of him, his mind began to dwell on troubling matters elsewhere. His breathing became slightly erratic, and his free hand began to twitch ever so slightly.
Kieron noticed and grabbed his hand. Felkin's attention was brought back, his eyes widening as he looked towards her. Her fingers brushed against the burns on his hand.
"Oh, you looked like- I just, I..." Kieron began to move her hand away, but Felkin gently clasped his fingers onto hers.
"Don't... let go now..." Felkin's eyes met Kieron's, and he looked away in embarrassment.
"Alright, I won't..." Kieron grasped tighter.
The two of them walked forward, hand-in-hand, though their gazes faced away from one another.
"How'd... you know that, well..." Felkin remarked.
"I saw earlier that you reached for me, and... I thought you needed it. And... maybe I needed it too." Kieron remarked.
The sensation was familiar to Felkin, it was a lingering feeling that he had felt before.
'I feel like... this has happened before. And this memory is more recent, it's not from before. And... Kieron, she did it like it was instinct. Did she... hold my hand just like this when I was out?' He thought.
'He was... shaking. Just like when he was unconscious earlier. He was in pain, just like the rest of us. Whatever I can do for someone who woke me up from my stupor, free me from my shackles, if it's just a little bit of comfort...' Kieron thought, as she looked down on their interlocked hands.
She then looked towards him and curiously posed another question.
"I... have a question." "What is it?" "How did you know that this bracelet was something I wanted?" Kieron asked.
"I... saw you looking at it, and your reaction to it. How... your eyes lit up, or something." Felkin said, with slight hesitation.
"You... were really looking at me that closely?!" Kieron exclaimed, with one part bafflement, one part concern, one part flattery.
"Well, what about you, Kieron? How did you know I wanted this thing?" Felkin remarked, flustered.
"You know... I was watching you for your reaction when you looked at the stalls..." Kieron's pace of speech slowed as she continued.
"Wait. You..." Felkin stopped, in shock.
"Now that we've cleared that misunderstanding, let's go?" Kieron asked.
"Alright..." Said Felkin.