"Praeditians wield different weapons, no weapon is superior to the other,"
Chapter 11: Collision
Capital,
The vicinity outside was just as impressive as she saw it was the first time. She walked through the streets careful enough not to get too far from the building she was supposed to be inside waiting.
Eliana soon enough found herself looking through the different items sold by merchants across the streets. "Wow." They were designs she'd never seen before.
Rings with attached bracelets lining across the back hand to the wrist, a locket with a key, an earring with a sophisticated design. A lot more was displayed and all of it was just as beautiful as the other ones.
"Good day young lady! You can find all kinds of charm items right here. Jewelry to match your abilities and even spell books!" An old man, a merchant, advertised his products as soon as Eliana arrived at the seventh stall so far. "Just pick whatever catches your eyes." He finished.
Eliana nodded and gave the old man a small smile. She looked through the items he displayed. Eliana picked up an earring, in the shape of a crescent moon, the other half a sun and the two sandwiching a star in the middle all made out of gold. She eyed the jewelry thinking why it was so simple compared to the other once, it stood out because it was too plain.
"Oh! You pick the Sol and Luna Embracing Electi." The merchant exclaimed.
Eliana raised her eyebrows, "What is that?" She asked, looking at the old man.
'Electi?'
The merchant frowned a little at her questions, but quickly explained. "This piece is called Sol and Luna Embracing Electi. It's an art form of hope created by an unknown artist. The piece is about the sun, us the people, the moon representing the demons finding peace-truce by the embrace of the 'Electi' which is the star. It is a symbol of finding peace between two nations at constant war." Eliana was surprised by the deep symbolism of the jewelry.
"Fascinating..." She let the earrings dangle on her hands bringing it closer to her to have a better look.
"To be completely honest, this jewelry was not from the local trades I usually buy from. I found this beside a river bank near the Central." The old man confessed. "So, for you miss! This will be no more than ten coppers!" He added, sounding like it was the best bargain there will ever be.
Eliana was interested but she didn't have money. And she was still grasping at the name of the jewelry piece.
"Say, what does elec--"
Her voice halted back to her vocal chords when the earrings were taken away from her hand at a speed.
"A thief! Come back here you bastard!" The merchant tried to throw his shoes at the thief who was already hot on his heels away from the old man's stall.
The situation quickly escalated in Eliana's mind. What she did next was not a surprise. She ran after the boy.
As she followed the thief, she noticed it was just a little boy. He was wearing dirty clothes smeared with black stains. He definitely looked like he was around eleven or twelve years old. Nevertheless Eliana was able to get closer to the kid.
"I got you kid!" She reached out her hands to grab hold of the boy's shirt.
Just as Eliana was about to touch the little thief, the kid swung his hand back aiming at Eliana. A gush of wet liquid splashed on Eliana's collarbone leaving her in shock. She was taken aback but kept running slightly slower than before.
She couldn't believe it, the water, it came out from the kids hand out of nowhere. She doesn't recall the kid holding anything but the stolen jewelry. It was a mystery but Eliana focused on bringing back the item. After all, she did want to buy it.
She realized the kid managed to leave the gap wide far from her. It was always this wild goose chase she finds herself in, recalling her encounter with Knight Jester at the mall. What would be the odds if she'd bumped into someone like before, she thought silly.
"Give it back kid!" She shouted frustratedly, speeding up desperately trying to catch up. Her dress made it harder to run in big steps.
She sped up once more but to her constant unfortunate fate she collided hard, painfully and crashingly against someone. The impact made her fly back tumbling on the ground harshly.
The surroundings went quiet. Everyone stared in shock at the girl grunting in pain laying on the ground dirtying her beautiful dress. And stared in horror at the man she collided with, he was on the ground but unlike the girl he had his left knee supporting himself crouching down clutching his chest, that slightly knocked his breath from the impact.
"Oh dear gods!" The people immediately helped up the poor Eliana who was dizzy from the collision. "Are you okay young lady?" Asked the kind bystanders who lifted her up from the ground.
She nodded her eyes closed and her right hand massaging her throbbing forehead. It felt like she crashed against a rock. "I'm okay." She gestured gratitude to their kindness.
"Thank you."
Just as the people were helping Eliana the other party was a heartbeat quicker than them from reacting.
"Young Lord!" Men dressed in deep red-almost black, uniforms reached out to pick up the crouching young Lord on the ground.
Before they could touch the young man, he raised his left hand showing he can manage himself. He patted his wide chest, the pain subsiding, and stood up, his spine straight.
He was a tall young man dressed in fine clothing, a red uniform with gold knots attached to the polo. His cufflinks were gold as well, a black pants and clean black shoes. A deep silky dark green cape hung on his back. He looked clean and noble.
"You collided with me?" He eyed the girl who had her back against him.
Eliana felt the crowd stiff and quiet. As she heard the deep husky voice behind her she couldn't help but feel scared. She shivered. She gulped down her fear and decided to face the person to apologise before facing the guy.
She blinked. Standing in front of her was an attractive, stunning, handsome man. And by the looks of it he didn't look like he was more than twenty years old, probably a lot younger. He had a lean body frame, a wide shoulder, perfectly sculptured jaws- she noticed was clenching. His hair was long jet black like ink and his emerald eyes were sharp, looking at her like they could slice through. Eliana had to look up to meet his green eyes, he was that tall.
"Are you not going to apologize? Stop staring." His deep irritated voice brought Eliana back to her dilemma. Wow.
She cleared her throat feeling her heart hammering in her chest. "I'm sorry. It was an accident." She said, her voice surprisingly steady and clear.
The young man eyed her suspiciously. "Do you know who I am?" He asks, his eyes glued on her ocean blue ones.
"Um, no?"
Eliana knew he could be someone. His clothes shouts all of it! From his cheesy cape to the body guards behind him. The crowd silently gasped followed by a few murmurs. Eliana noticed this, and it was enough to confirm this man's high status.
"I'm sorry sir, I am new here." She added, hoping she could talk her way through. She did a little bow to make her act convincing.
The young man stared at her in scrutiny. This made Eliana feel conscious and awkward; she looked anywhere but him. After almost thirty seconds he broke his gaze and turned to look at his men. "Let us depart." Then they left, entering a carriage not far from Eliana and sled away.
The crowd dispersed back to normal. Eliana stood in the middle a bit dazzled from what happened. She facepalm herself remembering her stupidity, the thief and the earring. Also remembering The Great hall.
"Lord Wistal!"
She took off back to where she should've been.