"Uh, are you sure you're aware that this is a necklace, not a headband?"
Raghnall grumbled as he constantly adjusted the thing on his forehead. He really wanted to take it off but a single glare from Inna was enough to make him abandon the thought.
"Now, now, you wouldn't actually remove a gift I bought for you with your own hard-earned money now, would you?"
Inna mocked him with his own words. Then, as an addition, she decided to sarcastically compliment him.
"Well, it looks good on you."
Inna snickered as she looked at him through her shoulder. He looked absolutely ridiculous that Inna couldn't help but feel satisfied whenever she looked at it.
Back when they were in by the small sidewalk shop, what caught her eye was a necklace with a personalized name pendant. It looked handmade so she thought that it was customizable.
And she was right!
It was a necklace that can be customized to have a certain word of the owner's choice as its pendant. Apparently, the shop keeper, using magic, can bend the metal wires to form a certain word. And with an additional fee, he can even make the words glow using magic for a period of time.
So, after tricking Raghnall into giving her money, she bought it and decided to choose a very cute word for her revenge.
The word 'Servant' glowed brightly on his forehead under the night sky as they made their way around the town.
Numerous students peered at both Inna and Raghnall as they walked past them. They both looked so ridiculous that even the local villagers turned their heads at the sight of them.
To the eyes of others, they certainly looked crazy. A girl with incessantly ringing bells that rang ridiculously loud as she moved, which annoyed the people around them, was walking side by side with a man who wore a necklace on top of his head with the word 'Servant' glowing brightly.
As they walked, Inna saw her and Raghnall's reflection by a shop's window and she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
They certainly seemed crazy. But at least Raghnall looked more retarded than her.
And to think they went around town shopping, eating, watching magical dance performances, and playing some magical shop games with their current ridiculous selves. Inna could only chuckle as she wondered what they must have looked like and what the people around them must've thought as they continued to merrily prance around the town.
Raghnall tugged on their joined hands, signaling her to stop walking. They've long held their hands together ever since Raghnall nearly lost Inna in the crowded audience of one of the magical dance performances they'd watched.
And to Raghnall's relief, Inna didn't seem to mind him doing it since she felt that it was her fault for venturing away from Raghnall even for just a short while. So, she figured that it'd be more practical to actually grab onto him to avoid her getting dragged somewhere again by the crowd.
So, as natural as breathing, they held hands as Raghnall guided her to a huge and bustling shop.
"A restaurant?"
Inna observed the shop's signage excitedly as she patted her stomach. They've been eating a few snacks here and there at some stores so Inna wasn't that starved. But they've never got an actual full meal so Inna was heavily excited and curious to see what different meals she could taste from the restaurant.
Raghnall smiled as he tugged on their hands again.
"It's dinnertime so I figured you must be famished. C'mon, I've got a table waiting for us with all the food on their menu. It's on me."
Then, he lightly guided her in entering the restaurant.
But looking at Raghnall from behind, Inna sighed as she recalled his words.
All on him, he said…
And to think he was proclaiming himself to be a commoner back when they first entered the academy.
He really just abandoned his act completely, huh.
Inna smiled weakly as Raghnall talked to a man with an apron. The man acted like a waiter as he politely guided Raghnall and her to the second floor. And as they walked, Inna noticed that the whole area was packed. She couldn't help but look at Raghnall in amazement as she gestured to all the people.
"How were you able to get a table when it's this packed?!"
Raghnall gave her a small wink as they approached their table.
"Let's just say I know some people."
But her question was answered when she saw a huge painting of Favian and what seemed like to be his family together with him in the restaurant's wall.
Inna chuckled as she eased onto her seat that was offered by Raghnall.
"Okay, Mr. Mysterious. I know it's Favian who helped you. Is this his family's?"
Raghnall shook his head.
"He used his own money to help the owner continue his business. The owner was about to get bankrupt but Favian saw something in him so he decided to help him out. And after just a few years, this place became the best restaurant in the village that some travelers even visit this village just for their food."
Inna widened her eyes in amazement.
"Guess Favian had a knack for business, huh."
Raghnall nodded in agreement. Inna was about to open a new topic for some chit chat when she felt intense stares directed at her.
She looked behind to find the source but with how packed the second floor was, she had trouble pinpointing who exactly was staring at her. When she gave up on searching, Raghnall finally noticed her unease.
"What's wrong? You feeling okay?"
Inna shook her head slightly as she spoke.
"I feel like someone's staring at me. It's weird. I can't find who it is since the place is quite crowded. But I know it's somewhere behind me."
Raghnall softly tapped her hand that rested on the table hoping to reassure her.
"They'll most likely look away when you're looking for them like this. Don't worry, I'll try to look. But if ever you can't take it anymore, we can always leave."
Inna smiled thankfully as she tried hard to ignore the sinking feeling in her gut that came from the animosity of the stares.
She had a feeling something bad was going to happen.
But she chose to ignore it since this was one of the rare days where she can actually have fun. She didn't want to be a party pooper on their rest day.
Meanwhile, Raghnall tried to peer at the direction where Inna felt she was being stared at. And just as he suspected, he saw Eldora Academy students in one table by the corner staring at her back menacingly.
Raghnall clicked his tongue in irritation and seeing Inna's obvious discomfort, he decided to do something about it.
He discreetly grabbed eight needles from his pouch and after casting various spells, the needles suddenly darted into the direction of the students.
The students were too focused on Inna that they were unable to focus on the approaching needles to their eyes. When the needles were already dangerously close, they finally saw them but it was already too late. The needles were about to pierce their eyes.
But just at the last moment, the needles fell limp and a small cloud of magic suddenly erupted.
Then, a voice simultaneously echoed inside their minds.
'Look again and I'll drill holes through all your eyes, mongrels.'
They immediately turned their heads away at the warning. And seeing them do so, Raghnall felt a satisfied smile creep up his face. Then to celebrate, he grabbed a bottle of his favorite wine that was already prepared on the table. After filling his cup, he got Inna's cup and was about to pour the wine when he remembered something, making him stop.
"Uhhhhhm, sorry, I forgot to ask. Do you drink wine?"