"This... isn't for sale?" Anasthasia uttered in disbelief.
Nearly the vendor stumped from the further creased of her brows and now puffy eyes, but she still cleared her throat and asserted her decision, "Yes, I'm sorry to disappoint you—"
"...Why?"
"This is only meant for display of attraction." Her red eyes glistened with concern, gaze—downward and not batting an eye anymore.
'My instincts are screeching; it's a lie.' She pondered as she pressed her lips so thin.
Noticing the intense gaze, the woman shuddered and then stunned in place. Her fingertips wiggled, and a subtle bead of sweat formed on her forehead.
"May I ask why it's on display?" Anasthasia's voice ran cold, which slowly seeped unto her soul.
"—I—This is because the item reserved for someone—" Stuttering, caused her eyes to lit ablaze.
"So someone purchased it then…" Anasthasia said nothing further, despite having doubts on this item she truly wanted, she trailed off her tone. She shut her eyes as she inwardly sensed her soul crumble.
Anasthasia was about to wrap her talk for this day, and then she twisted her heel. There was no need for sightseeing on this face, leaving the area was the best choice, but she stopped when Lucy chirped at the vendor.
"—How much?"
"Little girl, I hope you understand that it's—"
"—I hope I made myself clear, just how much is this item?" Her emerald gaze pierced her soul deeply, so clear to witness the bobbing movement of her throat.
"I said it's reserved, please don't bother further. I shall entertain other items except this. Please scurry away if nothing else mattered." Her eyebrows furrowed, flicking away her hands as though they were nothing but pests in her sight.
Things didn't go well to Anasthasia. Breathing heavily, she clenched both her jaws and fists from it, but she preferred not adding fuel to the fire, it could place Lucy in a dilemma.
Her hands grazed over her shoulders, and her finger slowly tensed as she cued to drag her out of the situation before it turned worse. Which caused her to coo in her tone, "Lucy, don't worry, this isn't that important. I'm sure—"
"Hmm, what are these two ladies doing in front of the stall?" his loud and boisterous voice rang, which could venture the deepest part of the canyons, had caused the vendor, and Lucy cringed. Anasthasia narrowed her eyes, seeing how Lucy cowered and curbed right beside her, and then back to the five grown men.
Scrutinizing, Anasthasia noticed how their scars deeply etched their sun-kissed skin. Those smeared from their faces down to their bulky body. Her eyes glinted as soon as the man, at the center, shuffled forward.
Looking up close, she had to arch her neck a little as she witnessed how his figure cast a long shadow, enough to give shade from the sunlight.
'Judging by their rugged look and their demeanor, they are mercenaries. Not ordinary ones indeed. Those weapons and armors tell me something.'
After this, Anasthasia's eyes glued over their bags.
'They are also carrying huge and heavy bags too; I wonder what's in it.'
"Miss, is there something going on here?" His voice echoed once more, "Do you have a problem with this woman over there?"
He hoisted his arms and pointed in nonchalance. Blue eyes darted his scarred muscles enough to snap a wolf's body into half by his sheer strength.
The pressure turned so domineering and overbearing, every after a couple of words, uttered cause Lucy to squeak in silence, trembling in place.
"No, we don't have problems at the moment. We're here for sightseeing." She asserted with confidence in her tone, "My little sister just wants something nice."
"I'm curious about what your little sister wants." Which, in turn, gave a wraithful smile. His semi-golden yet crooked teeth bared and flashed in front of her, breathing out so putrid.
"Its that rod over there." Anasthasia casually pointed her slender finger over the little ceramic rod.
The mercenaries group guffawed so loud that she felt vibration assaulted her body and a subtle shake of the ground. But none of those affected her, as she felt the tight grip of Lucy from her side.
Anasthasia narrowed eyes, reflecting on her thoughts, 'Why do these people on the streets don't care about how obnoxious—So that's how it is.'
"What are you smirking for, Miss?"
"No, please do carry on. What about you, what brings you here?"
He laughed out loud. "We're here to retrieve the item we have taken a liking to." Caused him to grin. "A coincidence that is, because we are here to retrieve what we reserved earlier, right, woman?"
"Y—Yes, of course!"
Soon as he glanced to the side, the woman shuddered, with her face drained out of vigor. Frantically grabbed the rod and handed over to him.
"Thank you so much." With the item on his hand, he gripped, albeit not strong enough to shatter in pieces.
"We'll take our leave!" They turned around and continued to howl in glee.
"Oh, before we leave." He stopped his tracks, screaming, "Men!"
From both ends, two men screamed in response. They moved fast and hauled their bags towards the vendor. Ruthless, they poured out the pool of gold coins from the leather sack bags, filling her stall from the wealth on the brim.
He leered back to the vendor, smirking, "I thought I should give this to you. Extra coins from doing us a favor, though that what we gave earlier wasn't enough. I hope that helps!"
"Y—Yes, many thanks to the valiant mercenaries!" She tried to force a smile despite her eyes screaming in agony.
"You want this, right?"
"Hmm…" Anasthasia hummed in a soft tone but rewarded with their jeers and mockery.
"That's if you have this amount of money!" Soon as the man from the center finished his speech, his men sneered without shame. They also chimed into the conversation.
"Such spoiled brat must know their place!"
"Too bad, only our leader can take what's rightful his!"
"That's enough." He waved his hand with a smug grin on his face, "We must behave in front of these noble ladies with respect, or their pride won't be able to handle it."
Finally, they turned for the last time and stomped away with immense pride.
From what transpired, Anasthasia quipped in silence, 'You may be able to fool others, but you'll never fool me!'
She dawned her eyes at the invisible film several feet away from her; the distortion deemed visible for a few seconds and vanished in thin air.
'A combination of sound isolation and invisibility barrier. I'm interested in that item. Just watch out!'
Anasthasia snapped her senses as she remembered the tight grip of Lucy. Turning around, she saw her eyes tightly sealed, wobbled, and slowly let go of her. However, with her reflexes, she twisted her heel and grabbed her by the arm.
Seeing that she caught up to her falling state, Anasthasia's heart loomed in panic.
'This isn't good!'
'Surge!'
A bright light sunk to her chest. Lucy, who fainted, flashed her eyes with an adrenaline rush. She stood upright, remaining alert, and vigilant as she surveyed her eyes.
"Sister Ana! Those men—"
"They're gone now. We're safe."
She saw how the vendor had her palms massaged her forehead's temples, groaning in acute pain.
"T—They're scary." Lucy squeaked.
"Don't worry; I got this. We don't want to ruin our strolls from their lingering presence, right?"
"Yes!" Lucy made a firm salute, earning a hearty giggle from Anasthasia.
"Then, let's go!" She started to stroll, which had Lucy pranced in glee, catching up to her.
"I have an idea of where to go, Sister Ana. I'm sure you'll like it there."
"Sure, whenever you are ready."
Both of them made slow strides. They were pointing their fingers here and there, marveling at the sight of every bustling activity on the streets. With that said, Anasthasia delved deeper into her thoughts.
'Quite a show-off right there and then. Those mercenaries never appear in my zone the second time around. They messed the wrong one!'
"Sister Ana, are you sad?"
"No, why would I be?"
"I'm sorry that I didn't get to buy you that—"
Anasthasia reprimanded, "Ridiculous! You don't have the money, and even if you buy that—"
"Excuse me, I have the riches, which more than you could imagine." Lucy retorted, rolling her eyes from her remarks.
"It's afternoon now. We have to go to the places you picked or we'll go…" Anasthasia had her cheeks bloom with crimson shade; her voice suddenly came to a whisper.
"Home!" Lucy squealed right away.
"Yes, so we must get to it. Plus, Freidmirth may be awake at this time."
"Freidmirth?"
"That's right."
"The dragon!" Her eyes flickered as she asked for more, "But why would you call him Fried?"
"...I feel like it."
'Can't tell her I love fried chicken, which clings back to my mind.'