"Hey Maou, how about we take a break?" Shelly asked, stepping out the wheelwright shop.
"Yeah, I'm hungry," Maou answered.
"Oh! And we could do some sightseeing too." Shelly added excitedly. "But lemme check how much money I have left."
She pulled out her coin pouch from behind her pants. Loosing the knot, she counted a total of thirty copper coins. Shelly sighed, having remembered she gave a majority of it to the baker. A rushed decision but not one she regretted.
"Well… we might have to skip the food part for now." Shelly hid her pouch.
"Huh?! Wait, why?" Maou quickly asked.
"I doubt any tavern has much on the menu for thirty copper." Shelly walked forward.
"So what now? No food?" Maou asked his voice nearly wobbly.
"Stop worrying. I have more money back at the Inn." Shelly rubbed Maou's head, comforting him. "Let's just walk around for a bit."
She held Maou's hand and the two gazed at the new surrounding. There were many sights for the eye to see especially for two people who had never traveled to a city before. Large beasts pulled heavy carts that carried either people, goods, or other caged animals. Smaller birds piggybacked on larger birds without aggression. People with feathery wings, horns, scaly skin, short and thick fur went about their lives surrounded by different races, yet still peacefully coexisting. The beauty of diversity was stunning. Sometimes Shelly and Maou couldn't help but stare a little too long, leaving some people feeling uncomfortable.
The many buildings were beautiful and creatively designed, despite almost all of them being made out of the same wood and brick material. The majority of buildings in this area were some kind of shop with customers entering and leaving. Other people worked in open spaces like a group of roofers fixing the rafter atop a building, or a bunch of carpenters sawing large unrefined lumber into smaller pieces of wood to create furniture and other wooden items for sale.
"Hey look, the market." Shelly pointed ahead of her. "We can get some stuff to eat here."
Shelly started jogging forward and Maou followed behind. Like a motif, the loud shouts of goods and their prices by vendors, people pushing handcarts up and down the streets, the crowded spaces, the stench of animals slaughtered and not slaughtered, traces of trash everywhere, women gossiping about the business of others and mothers dragging small children along as they hurried from stall to stall, seeking the best and cheapest goods.
"Clack! Clack! Clang!"
A handcart full of bundled carrots came speeding down the lane, forcing people to rush out the way or get run over.
"Make way! Make way!"
Shelly pulled the oblivious Maou aside, saving him from incoming harm.
"Woosh!"
The cart flew by, swaying Maou's hair with its speed.
"Woah there, that was a little too close." Shelly placed her hand across Maou's upper back. "Make sure to stay aware. I don't want you getting hurt."
Maou nodded and held Shelly's hand, staying closer to her.
"Fresh Bananas Here!!! 10 copper a hand!" A male vendor yelled, catching Shelly's attention. "Brand New Bananas Here!!! 10 copper a hand!"
Shelly approached the man's stall. It was stacked with bananas green, yellow, and a mixture of the two. They were all neatly packed according to their color, green next to green, yellow next to yellow, and mixed colored in-between.
"Hey, can I get two hands, please."
"Yellow or green?"
"Yellow please."
He turned to his stall and picked up two of the yellowest bunch he could find.
"20 copper ma'am."
Shelly gave the coins to him as she received the bananas, handing them to Maou. While the man was preoccupied with Shelly with his back turned, a shirtless boy as tall as Maou snuck up behind the vendor. He swiftly snatched a bunch of yellow bananas but unfortunately the man caught a glimpse of him and he quickly grabbed the child.
"You Again!" He exclaimed, tightly squeezing his little arm.
"Ahh! Let go, you're hurting me." The boy cried out.
"Didn't you learn your lesson last time, huh?" The vendor pulled the bananas from the boy. "Fine, I'll make sure it gets through that thick skull of yours this time."
Enraged, the man stretched his thick arm backwards, preparing to strike justice into the child. But before he could swing, something held his arm back.
"I'll pay for it." Shelly grabbed his wrist.
"Huh?" He looked back at her confused.
"I'll buy it, so there's no need to hit him." Shelly pleaded, releasing his wrist.
"Tsk! Fine!" He reluctantly released the boy.
Shelly handed him her last ten copper coins and she took up a bright yellow bunch of banana. She crouched and handed it to the boy while patting him on the head. Stunned, he just stared at her smile face.
"My name's Shelly. What's yours?" She asked.
"Jabez."
"Wow. I really like that name." Shelly eyes widen. "Did your Dad give you that name?"
"No, I don't have a Dad." He replied, hugging the bananas tighter.
"What about your Mom?" Shelly asked.
"She's sick." He answered.
"How about brothers and sisters?"
He shook his head as repressed emotions started to surface. Shelly noticed the boy's dirty and wore down pants with holes here and there. He wore no shoes, rather he had no shoes to wear. He reeked a horrible smell, bones visible under his dirty and bruised skin with marks from being hit for stealing so often.
"How sad this world is." Shelly brooded. "The powerful sit at the table of wealth and comfort while the powerless slither the cold floors, eying for any crumbs that fall at their mercy. Why should a child have to worry about their next meal?"
Shelly motioned her hand for Maou to come closer to her.
"Hey, do me a favour." Shelly took the bananas from Maou and gave it to the boy. "Give this to your Mom for me, okay?"
Jabez stared at the three bunch of bananas in his arms with unbridled disbelief. He looked up at Shelly as if asking her to confirm what he witnessed. She nodded and his head slowly hung lower, the slight sounds of sobbing being heard. Going further, she went to her knees and pulled him close to her, hugging him warmly with a hand rubbing his back. Tears splashed on the bananas as they pressed against a young burdened chest.
"It's gonna be okay kiddo." Shelly wiped away the tears rolling down his cheek. "Things will get better someday, I know it will. Don't give up, alright?"
"Thank you…. Thank you so much." He muttered while rubbing his eyes, burning this memory deep into his mind.
"Hurry and get back to your Mom, I'm sure she's really hungry right now." Shelly urged, getting off her knees.
She brush away the dirt from her clothes as Jabez turned around and start jogging with a smile on his face and a fresh seed of hope planted within him.
"I wanted a banana to eat." Maou sulked, his arms dangling to his side. "Did you have to give him all of it?"
"Oh come on, it's not a big deal." Shelly patted Maou on the back. "We'll eat after we get back to the Inn."
"Haaaa!" Maou sighed loudly, hunching his back.
Just then, the vendor called to them.
"Hey Missy! Catch!"
Shelly caught a bunch of baby yellow bananas tossed by the man. She paused, looking at the bananas before she smiled and politely bowed, showing her thanks. Maou's sulkiness quickly switched to joy and he followed Shelly in thanking him.
Moving on, the two walked further up the market until their ears were met with a pleasing melody. It came from the centre of a growing crowd. They became curious and drew closer to the magical sound. Squeezing as far as possible into the crowd, Shelly caught glimpse of a petite blonde girl.
She completed her song and the crowd went wild with praise and shouts. Then she raised her violin bow into the air, urging the crowd to silence.
"This final piece I got from a dream. And in that dream, there was a pond, and on that pond swam a dying swan who met a baby swan trapped in a net. The dying swan used the last of it's strength to save the little one but then a miracle happened, the baby swan used it's power to heal the dying swan. The two became friends and wandered the world together, gaining friends and enemies, helping the helpless, healing the sick, protecting the weak and fighting against evil." She placed the violin against her neck, readying her bow. "It was a story I loved so much, it brought me to tears, and so I call this one: "The Tale of the Two Swans."
She slowly pulled her bow across the violin string, skillfully starting off the mellifluous tune that followed. Her playing captured the crowd and pulling more people to her.
"Shelly, I can't see anything." Maou complained, tugging at her pants.
Shelly lifted Maou by the sides, sitting him around her neck. Higher up, he could see the blonde girl clearer. She dressed in a modest white tunic and black dress with a cute grey bow in her hair. Maou gauged the crowd, witnessing people mesmerized and women slightly teary eyed by her performance. The flow emerging from the violin made Maou slightly sway his head side to side, similar to people in the crowd. They enjoyed the song untill the end, when the blonde lady finished her performance with a polite bow to the audience, sending them into a loud cheer. Maou clapped his hands, delighted by the entertainment. Then suddenly, Shelly started moving through the crowd without warning.
"What's wrong?" Maou asked looking down at Shelly, her face focused.
"Can't explain right now, but just wave at that man wearing the cloak heading to us." She ordered.
"Huh? Why?"
"Just do it, trust me."
"Uh, okay."
Maou spotted the cloaked man and energetically waved to him as they went passed eachother. His focus unconsciously shift to Maou but he quickly looked away, hiding his face. In the short moment they crossed paths, Shelly's sticky fingers swiftly snatched something from the distracted man.
"My pouch!" A woman shouted. "I can't find it."
Everyone became frantic, clutching their belongings and money tight. The cloaked man wasted no time and hurried through the crowd, escaping suspicion. Shelly removed Maou from her shoulders and approached a worrying lady dressed in full white.
"Hey, I think you dropped this." Shelly held out a small leather pouch.
"Oh thank Kalos!" The lady happily sighed. "Thank you so much. I thought someone stole it."
She received it, hugging the pouch dearly. Her clothing reminded Shelly of Mother Theresa as she dressed in entirely white garments from head to toe.
"Can I have your name please?" She asked. "Mine is Karin D'Arc."
"Wow!" Maou excitedly exclaimed, moving closer to her. "That's a cool name!"
"R-Really?" She asked a little flustered.
Maou aggressively nodded in response causing her to blush and cover her lower face.
"M-Mother gave it to me."
"So you're an orphanage kid too?" Shelly asked.
"Oh good gods! You too!" Karin cheerily exclaimed.
"Yeah, but I'm from the countryside, about a week's journey from here"
"But that's so far!" Karin looked worried. "Why would you leave home? Don't you miss your family and friends?"
"Well, sometimes I do, but I'm searching for my younger brother."
"Younger brother?" Karin asked.
"Yeah, his name is Kelly." Shelly answered. "We got separated as kids."
Karin took a step back, covering her mouth.
"It can't be…." She gasped.
"I-Is something wrong?" Shelly questioned, surprised at her reaction.
"You lost your parents in a traumatic incident that caused you and your younger brother to forcefully separate but fortunately you became an orphan that years later sets out on a journey filled with ups and downs, that led you to meet this cute little child who now accompanys you exploring the world while still living in hope you will one day reunite with your long lost brother."
Karin ranted, words sprinting out her mouth and sending Shelly through multiple levels of confusion combined with dumbfoundedness.
"Uhm…. How did you–?"
"Please! Let's become friends!" Karin moved uncomfortable closer to Shelly's face. "I can tell you have a lot of interesting stories."
"Uh… you're too close." Shelly tried backing away.
"Are you free today?" Karin asked, moving closer again. "Let's be friends and–!"
A shout blasted towards the three, making Karin's body freeze and face turn pale.
"KARIN!!! There you are!"
It was another nun dressed in full white fumed, speedily pacing towards Karin, except she was hardly taller than Maou. Karin, overcome with fear by this familiar voice, quickly turned around to immediately start bowing, begging for pity.
"I'm sorry Big Sis Cheryl!" She started whimpering. "Please forgive me."
Cheryl stood before Karin, body and facial expressions pissed. She grabbed her by the head, forcing Karin to stare into her deathly eyes.
"Do you have any idea how much I suffered looking for you!?" She clicked her teeth. "People thought I was a "lost little girl" and even called me "cute"! Did you hear that clearly?! Me! A Grown Woman! Called Cute? and treated like a kid!?"
"I'm sorry Big Sis. Please forgive me." Karin whimpered again with wobbly eyes
Cheryl sighed releasing Karin then turned to Shelly and Maou
"Haaa! My apologies. I hope she didn't bother you too much." Cheryl lowered her head.
"No, no she didn't." Shelly answered. "We were just chatting is all."
"Well, it was nice meeting you but we have to go." Cheryl tapped Karin as she walked off. "And don't think you've gotten off the hook so easy. When we get back you're on toilet duty for the rest of the day."
"Noooo! Please Big Sis, anything else but that!" Karin chased after Cheryl, nearly teary eyed. "The toilets stinks!"
"Tsk! Keep complaining and I'll make it three days!" Cheryl snapped.
Shelly watch the two until they were far off then thought to herself.
"Hmm, I guess it's true. Short people really do have quite a temper."