"I am home! "
I whispered softly as I put my head into the tunnel, I had dug before escaping the dungeon with a flashy grin.
"And, I bought souvenirs! "
"Girl, you are back? " The fellow acquainted prisoner was clearly surprised. And, as though life had almost lost his voice he squeaked.. "But.. Why?"
"I will cause trouble for my family, if the officials knew I had escaped, that's why.."
I dusted the dirt of my gown as my face shrunk like a squashed tomato.
Ugh, I hate how muddy my clothes had gotten. I cannot wear Cinderella's pyjamas- *cough, maid gown anymore since I am back to the dungeon. And, So, I was forced to wash and stitch the exact same dress I had worn last night before my escape.
One day. It has been one day, 24 hours 3 minutes, 6 seconds, since I had escaped and returned back here.
'Anastasia-chan.. W-Will.. you be.. alright..? I couldn't spend much time with you, either? And, you are returning back to the dungeon, right? Are you sure, it's OK?' Mary had squeaked in a seemingly earnest way, but anyone can tell that was just a facede and what she really is worried about is, the special pills I had borrowed from her.
She was clearly pissed off and probably even hates me for messing up her job, even though she is not willing to show it.
And, I do not have any right to criticise her, having left half the way without a notice, taken some special magic pills, 'accidentally' slipped from the stairs and.. Well, to be more appropriate.. destroyed the entire Alchemist shop.
Yup, let me rephrase it. She definitely hates me now. And, that's why I thought it might be better if I sneak out, before I cause anymore trouble for these sweet employees with a lamb.
"Ah, so even the tyrant princess has people she cares about..huh?" smirked the prisoner as I dusted my clothes.
Slowly, the magic that had hitherto held the thread clone, dispelled in the presence of the original's arrival, with little red sparkles gleaming around.
"Shut.up, Are you silly? Of course, I like my family."
I cleared my throat abruptly. I was careful in not blabbering useless words.
"They are the only ones who would feed and allow me to sleep all I want. It would be so troublesome if they are gone. I will have nowhere to....umm.. sleep.. And.. eat with..and.. for nothing more." I quickly finished grumbling as the prisoner starts let out a little light hearted chuckle.
The gleaming moonlight accompaned by the dark night and the gloomy cell bathed on his laughing face.
And, I noticed the ice cold eyes penatrate through his shiny dark bangs as he pulls them off so slowly yet arrogantly that my inner fangirl almost squeaked.. "So cool!.."
"What..?"
"A-Ah.. Nothing!" I stammered blushing and looked back at him.
He was clearly much, much younger than how his voice had sounded. Though he looked a bit older than me. His clear cut abs revealed through the tatters of the dirty red coat that had covered them, looked so fascinating. And, gazing at him with that beautiful moonlight gleaming on his breathtaking smile. He was.. My cheeks burned again at the very thought of what I thought of him..
He was..very hot!
I shook my head abruptly.
Ahahah.. What's wrong with me? Since when did I become so perverted!!? Is it because in my other lives, I had often spent too much time fangirling, cute guys? Is that it? Just, habitual infatuations? No, no, no, that's not it! It must be.. Ah, I knew it! It must be my recent influence to the perverted prince!... Huh? Wait..that reminds me.. ?
"Mr Cool guy..?"
"Huh..? You meant me?.."
"Yes! Did anyone else beside you, noticed I had escaped?"
"Oh!..No.. I guess...What can I say, that little creation spell you had chanted was pretty powerful after all.. The guards did come for the late night check up as usual. But, since you are always seen either sleeping or simply staring at the blue, they were never really able to distinguish your remarkable clone..."
A cynical smirk abruptly plastered on my face
"It might been because they have already analyzed your daily habit and routine all this week or... " he abruptly noticed my smirk and muttered softly.. "Or perhaps already fallen into the trap of the wrong impression you wanted them to have on you.. Correct?"
"You really are smart.. Aren't you?.. Mr Cool guy.. " I smirked wider as he does the same.
But, neither of us said anything.
Silence filled in. And, the sounds of the atmosphere like owls hooting, prison guards arguing and rats scurring piped on my ears.
I quickly settled down on the floor and without a second thought opened all the bag of alchemy, I had borrowed from Mary right before the prisoner's eyes.
He raised his eyebrows.
"Aren't you a little.. way too unguarded while looking into those powerful portions and pills, especially when a dangerous man like me, is sitting next to you?" He asked as I grinned with a cheerful smile sticking on my lips.
"Nope" I answered confidently.
"Huh?.. Why..? "
"It's because by sensing your own manna while I sit next to you, I already know you are much powerful than you seem to appear, Mr Cool Guy.."
"....."
"...So.." I continued simply ignoring his blank expression. "It will be a great insult for powerful villian like you to even make an attempt of stealing a few menial pills from a lowly creature like me.. " I said plastering a fake pout over my face.
His eyes widened in surprise for a few seconds but was immediately dissolved by the laughter escaping his lips.
"Haha, that's very clever, young girl. Boasting your opponent by lowing your own posture in order to protect what is really important! A pretty smart strategy.."
I didn't talk back, instead simply resumed digging into my bag again.
Damn! I grit my teeth. I can't do anymore mistakes like how I did, now. I had somehow made it seem like it was intentional but.. I need to be more careful about this creepy guy.
It might seem like the man doesn't have any ulterior motives now, but.. As he, now seems to simply look impressed by my tactics, I can see that he is doing the same with me too. No one has ever been able to decipher my true motives so accuratly, like this young stranger.
'Praise your opponent so, they let down their guard and when that happens you can have complete power over them'. That's what he was doing all along.
I gulped. He is not to be misjudged easily.
I slowly took out a healing pill (I had borrowed from Mary) and swallowed it in order to tender the minor wounds I had got while entering the tunnel. And, this was when my eyes suddenly widened being caught in a surprise at how those pills immediately reacted on my body.
"Hmm.. I see, you are being wary over my presence. Nice.." chuckled the fellow prisoner in cocky manner, trying to catch my attention..
"But, what are you gonna do with those Spirit Markings you have on your arms..?" ..And, he really did.
"Huh? Spirit marking..?"
I blinked as the scars I had received from the black cat I saved in the enchanted forest, gleamed with red magic, especially on the part it had licked it.
A little band that almost looked like a bracelet made out the stars found on the black dark sky were now beautifully decorated around my wrist. I blinked in surprise. It glowed, yet was so dim that it is almost gonna die out in a few seconds like a flickering candle light.
"What do you mean?"
"I am talking about the spirit marking on your spirit animal, of course. The healing pill you have taken in just now, must have immediately reacted to your body and activated the spirit marking you have gotten on your scars.
The mark of the contract, that's formed by expressing your love (feeding) to the animal which reciprocates it and granting it a name, is beautifully being circled around your wrist.." He said rubbing his chin.
"...?"
"... Don't tell me you didn't realize this..?"
"....Ah...It's just.... Eh..? Eh!!? ..Whaaaaaaaaat !??"
I paniced abruptly putting my palms over my chin and buried them, completely startled and astonished by the entire idea.
.
.
.
"A-A Contract with a S-Spirit Animal. A Spirit Animal !?! But..but when!?..Kyaaaa! " I squealed like a fightened cat.
C-could it be..?.. From, The black cat, I had saved from the fairy!!?? Oh, dear, now I understand why mom told me to not talk with strangers. Ahww..I abruptly scratched my head.
This is so messed up!!!?