Old book smells fill up the room. The concentrated smell makes feel pleasant inside. I toss sixty copper coins unto counter, making small clanging noises in the otherwise dusty silent shop. The person behind the counter wore a large witch's hat, big enough that I can't discern whether they're male or female.
"Thank you for doing business. We also buy information. The more useful it is, the heftier the conversion in coins", the person slowly says. Even their voice wasn't particularly feminine, nor was it masculine.
I nod at her, my veil fluttering slightly, and then leave the shop that seemed outwardly like a regular bookshop. I walk a few streets and converge with Obrecht, who was hiding by the corner. Together we walk deeper into the darker sides alleyways.
Looking sideways, his countenance was handsome even when it was shrouded in the shadows of his hood.
Thump—
I grabbed Obrecht's shoulder and press him on the wall at the darkest corner. Lifting from the ground was a shadow veil that hid us.
A few seconds later, we hear footsteps that were soft enough to ignore for the normal person. If I wasn't sensitive to their own shadow, I wouldn't have known that we were followed by people; most probably from the information cabinet called 'Reincarnation', whose boss and owner have never been seen before. Their shops are all over the continent except up north where there wasn't much cities.
"...What are you doing?"
A hand snakes around my waist, pulling me closer than I was before. He kisses me deeply all of a sudden. When I get the chance to breathe, Obrecht had moved on to kissing my neck down to my bare shoulder.
I catch the hand drawing irregular shapes just above my tailbone. Because the blouse was too short, not only were my shoulders bare, but a portion of my stomach and back were exposed as well.
"Nothing", Obrecht whispers.
A couple of voices resounded, as if the people that chased it went backwards just to check. When they leave, I dissolve the veil into black wisps and breathe out in relief.
"...I think they're gone."
"...I think I'm at my limit", Obrecht mumbles as he gives me a backhug, his face buried on my shoulder.
"You have a limit?" I tease him.
He glances at me with eyes that slightly darken. "Of course I do." He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "It's hard when you're so clueless. I forget sometimes that you are. Don't worry, I'll be more aggressive from now on."
"...?" Aggressive?
I try to decipher his cryptic words but a bite on my ear completely disarms my ability to think.
I give him a baffled stare and he answers with a hoarse voice, "I think, no maybe I'm practically sure by now...I get turned on really quick if you slam me on hard surfaces."
I blush at remembering the times I've slammed him down on the floor from the bed. "This—This doesn't count!"
"We can try?"
"..." And have me deal with the consequences?!
He answers with rattling smile. I had no choice but to try and change the subject.
"Ngh...when are you giving me my coat back", I unconsciously let out a whiny tone, making me all the more red. "More than that, until when am I supposed to wear this 'dress'?" I pull away yet another naughty hand from my back that had somehow stealthily crept inside my blouse.
Obrecht hums in discontent. "You're right. The amount of people looking your way is exasperating."
I flick his forehead gently. "You're the one who made me wear this", I kindly remind.
"I shouldn't have done that", he grumbles.
I pat his hair. It's too late for that anyways. As long as he genuinely regrets—
"I should've just let your wear it when we're alone. Or maybe it's better not have anything to wear at all? Which option do you think is better?"
"..." I take it back. This man has no shame.
"Ah, hey, don't go. Where are we going?" Obrecht laughs as he catches up to me.
Going on the opposite direction, we find come back to market street to ask for the cheapest lodgings.
One thing I understood after roaming around for a day was that buying the produce of the side-walk vendors and stalls at the market stall in exchange for good information was cheaper than paying for the tour guides that suddenly jump on you like vicious vultures looking for an opportunity.
"Is this the shop", Obrecht questions, eyeing the structure.
One recommendations we got from an accessories vendor was to rent one of the warehouses instead. He said that inns and lodgings would either already be full or fully reserved at this time because of the upcoming festival. The Sorcerer-kind celebrate a lot of festivals all throughout the year.
It would be a bit pricier than the normal warehouses or floor rents far from market street, but it was more advisable in terms of location accessibility and transportation. Of course, this information wasn't obtained for free. In addition to this tip, the seller gave me a bagful of copper coins, all in exchange for the sparkling silver headpiece I wore.
Sometimes, I wonder if I sold it off cheap... I couldn't have, right? Haha...
...If the headpiece was more expensive than a silver coin... I'm sorry, Laris.
"Let's go in first, Ob. The shop owner should have the contact information of the building owner."
Pushing the creaking door, the ceiling bell gave a few—
Tingling~
"—that? What do you mean I can't take it?! I've been renting it for months! How can you suddenly just raise the price!"
"And I'm telling you, your rent date has already expired! That was two weeks ago!"
"That's why I'm telling you write me up a new lease—!"
"With the same amount of rent fee?! Are you mad? Did you really think I'll let myself go bankrupt with you?" A tall man asserted as he crossed his arms in dismay in front of a young curly-haired lady.
There didn't seem like any customers inside the shop; probably scared by the thought of getting mixed up with other people's affairs.
"Look here, lady, I gave you low rent before coz of my compassion. Now, anymore than that, is just straight of taking advantage of me", the man added passionately.
"And I appreciate that, but—"
"If you really appreciated it, then stop trying to do underhanded tricks against your competition and look for better ways to sell your damn persimmons! Your competitors aren't even selling the same fruit, goodness sakes! They're selling apples!"
"Now listen here!" The young lady in the hood fumed. She looked oddly familiar, however, I can't exactly say who or where I've seen her. She seems just as passionate as an old person with her way of healthy competitive bantering.
The person behind the counter, who I'm guessing to be the shop owner, sat with a gloomy face as he watched the two people argue in front of him.
He rolls his eyes and ends up seeing us. His face lights up and then slips past the two people who didn't seem to notice his absence.
"What can I help you with", he rubs his hands as he greets us.
I turn my head to the side, not really wanting to answer him because of his intense staring. Obrecht comes up from behind and 'inadvertently' blocks me out of the shopkeeper's sights.
"Hello", Obrecht greets just as friendly. "I was wondering if you have any floors or rooms above that we could rent?"
"Ah~" The shopkeeper's attentiveness deflated at realizing we weren't customers. "You'd have to talk that out with the building owner. You've got luck though, he's over there." He gestures at the tall man arguing with the old lady.
Obrecht converses more with the keeper over how much they usually rent and the kind of people that frequent the shops in this area. Their talk was hushed compared to the yelling people by the counter. For an odd reason, I keep feeling like I know that lady.
At the same time, she huffs angrily and turns her head abruptly to the side. Our eyes meet.
"..." Ah. I think know you after all.
I squint at her. She acts as if she didn't see me, however, I already saw that flash of recognition in her eyes. A vein pumps by the side of my neck.
"..." Don't think you're getting away from me twice, old lady.