Dong
Dong
Dong…
The light and crisp sound of the morning bells rang six times as everyone slowly woke up groggily. Compared to last night, the mood this morning is night and day. In contrast to their mature behaviour the previous night, they are now genuinely acting like children, refusing to get out of bed, hiding from the sun and the got-up-but-am-going to lie down again.
This only lasted for about a quarter of a bell before they slowly got their hygiene bag and slowly made their way to the public restroom to freshen up and begin their new day.
As for Samantha, she had already woken up and gotten ready by the time the sixth bell rang. Perhaps she is still unhappy about the previous night, but she has yet to even look at or talk to me.
Instead, she has been helping Old Eddie wake up the younger children.
As for me, I did what I did best.
Watch.
I scanned the surrounding area from the roof like a higher being, watching a fool's work.
Like the invisible hands of fate turning the cogs-
"Son of a, hey you delinquent, get off my roof!" An angry shout came from below before pebbles could be felt tapping my bones.
Turning towards where the rocks were thrown from, I spotted an average-built man with an angry expression and a basket full of pebbles as if this was a norm for this man.
Seeing a mortal actually dare to do something like this to me, a lich, a nightmare that terrorised the entire world years ago, is now being stoned by a nobody.
As a little punishment for throwing pebbles at me, I lifted my head slightly, just enough for him to see the embers in my sockets.
"You delinquents think it's funny to dress like Red Rose every day and hang- "
Upon seeing the embers burning, he stopped mid-sentence as his furious expression slowly turned. Till only pure terror remained on his face. Only he knows what he saw.
"mo- mo- monster", he muttered under his breath while unconsciously taking baby steps backwards until a bump caused by uneven stones caused him to trip and fall back, waking him up from his daze.
"Ahhhh!" he screamed as he made a quick dash back into his house.
Bang
Bang
Bang
Sounds of hammering could be heard outside his house as pieces of wood could be seen blocking the view into his home.
"Heh", I chuckled before returning to the alley.
Similar to how I behaved, the surrounding people only paused for a moment. Disturbed by his sudden scream before going back to their own activities as if this was a regular occurrence in this place.
Huff
Huff
Huff
Old Eddie panted as he scaled up the wall. "Your Lady says that they will need to leave now to catch your boat". He informed me before turning back down.
However, before he did so, he paused, hesitantly turned back in my direction, and said.
"Whatever, you quarrelled with her last night; I suggest you apologise first. After all, happy wife, happy life".
"Wha- We-" Before I could respond and explain our relationship, Old Eddie had already climbed back down from the rooftop back to the ground.
"Sigh"
I gave myself a self-deprecating smile at the current misunderstanding others have of us.
Coming down from the roof and landing next to Samantha, I asked,
"Alright, where to?"
"Follow me"
As Samantha took off without a glance back towards me, at the same time slipping off without anyone noticing.
Just as we were about to board the boat, a familiar shout came from the back, stopping us as we turned around.
"Wait!"
the children yelled for us to stop as they came running toward us.
"Huff, Huff, Huff", They panted when they stopped in front of us before continuing.
"We want to wish you all a safe journey", as they came forward one by one, hugging us and wishing us a smooth journey to our destination.
When it came to the triplet's turn to hug me, they together took out a crude-looking bracelet that looked like it was made in a hurry by unskilled artisans and wrapped it over to my wrist as a thank-you gift for saving them.
After doing so, their faces turned beet red as they quickly turned around and ran back.
As the triplets were the last ones that hug Samantha, they also whispered something into her ears. Where even I, who have heightened senses, could not hear what they were saying as if they were speaking worlds away from me.
Honk
Honk
"Hurry up!" the captain of the ship called out to us, breaking me away from my focus on their conversation and Samantha's conversation with the triplets as we got up and boarded the boat waving everyone goodbye while sailing off into the infinite ocean.