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CHAPTER 8
Pearl squeezed her nose and instinctively narrowed her eyes. She knew that voice.
She could recognize that deep suave voice from anywhere.
Slowly, she lifted her head up, only for her eyesight to be graced with his blissful appearance.
For a man who had black hair, his was spectacularly long. It plunged down from his neck down to his back, and a few strands were left to fall down his fair-complexioned forehead.
Those slim long lashes always left her with a feeling of envy each time he blinked. It fluttered effortlessly like a leaf dancing to the tunes of the wind.
Regardless, they were not as breathtaking as the divine features all embodied as one on his handsome face.
His fathomless crystal blue eyes that never failed to leave her mystified, his tall attractive nose, his jaw, sharp and short, and would be deemed as high regard by the ladies.
And those full lips of his, they were naturally pink.
Staring like a dazed fool was not Pearl's initial plan but standing before such a handsome man wasn't one too.
One look at him and he left her brain a wrecked mess.
The sheer smell of him was enough to assault her nostrils and brain a thousandfold and leave her clueless as to why he would emanate such a lustrous vibe even dressed like a pauper.
"We meet again, Pearl," his deep voice rang out, breaking her from her mild state of trance.
For a moment there she had almost forgotten herself but thanks to him, she got her mind back.
"Aye. We meet again."
"What are you doing here?" Zale questioned. The moment he did that, he regretted the words as they came out as foolish, rather than wise.
"I am here for the bread, as usual, genius." It was simple, she was using his words against him.
Not that he cared to be honest. He only found her cuter by the minute.
"Yes. My bad."
"And you?" She asked, taking a step back to get a better view of him.
"Same. I thought to try out the very bread you spoke of," he responded calmly and placed his hands in his pocket.
"Hmm. Good then. You will like it; I promise you that."
"Aye las," the baker called out to Pearl.
He had not expected the outcast girl to be nice enough to recommend his bread to someone knew and have them come for it
But seeing it happen, his heart was filled with joy.
"Sir?"
"Thank you," he said with a smile before sending his determined gaze at Zale.
"What would you want to have good sir?"
"Let him try the chocolate bread and the cinnamon. I bet he would like them."
Zale's eyes held a glimmer of hope at her recommendation.
So far, her help had proven useful, even down to his negotiation with the innkeeper.
It was a good thing to listen to her anyways.
Having placed his order with the baker, he returned his attention to her and was about to question her when Pearl beat him to it.
"So, how did it go with the innkeeper?"
She wasn't expecting him to answer straight up but a part of her hoped he did.
He seemed interesting to speak to and so far, he hadn't told anyone about her which was safe if one carefully thought about it.
And he was the first male to be this close to her and not think of her as a cuckoo, a cracked human being.
This was something most of her age mates did and it hurt her.
Simply because she once spoke to animals to do her bidding when she was young after a bully attacked her, since then he spread words to the other children and from there to their parents, about her being a witch.
Although magic wasn't entirely banned in the realm they lived in, it was mostly associated with the term witchcraft even though there were other kingdoms she was sure of, that didn't frown on such.
On that note, she kept a safe distance from them over the years, to free herself from their trusting and simple-mindedness.
It was also why her mother forbade her from using her true powers.
The stigma on her was already so much that she lost playmates and future friends.
The sheer thought had haunted Lotus so much, it pained her she could not convince them to see Pearl for the angel she was.
'Be careful. Never show them who you truly are. Your powers are a gift, not a curse. They do not know what gem you are but to keep safe, avoid using them.'
Stuck with those words all her life, Pearl resulted in the one thing she knew how to do best.
Retreat. Hide. Stay alone.
It was safer, reassuring to be precise and more so good.
Safe from harm in the forest, she learnt to love her powers and control them a bit.
Of course, with her mother's kind of warning, it was hard to break her rule but as she grew, she became more daring until she met her best friend, Scarlet.
Scarlet was the only one who did not think of her as weird. Simply because she knew nothing about her powers or strange actions.
She kept it from her and she intended to do so.
"Pearl," Zale called out once more, sensing her distraction.
"Yes?"
"Nothing much. How are you? Did you learn your fighting today?" He asked.
He had hoped to change the topic to something more suitable that would present him with the opportunity to get to know her.
Rather than answering directly, she breathed out, her shoulders slouching as she did so.
"An advice, Zale. Get yourself a new set of clothes."
"What?"
Before he got the chance to figure out what was wrong with his clothes, she bade the baker goodbye and left the shop.
"I'll be back," he informed the baker and ran after her.
"Hey, back there, what did you mean?"
She stopped walking. Her head lowered with her left hand raised by the elbow holding the basket where she placed the loaves of bread covered with a napkin.
"Look around you, Zale and then take a good look at yourself. Tell me, What do you see?"
Like an attentive student, he did as he was told, carefully observing the few people around.
"And?"
He was no daft not to understand what she meant. He did and he was grateful.
Due to how many years ago KaiKane visited the human world, the idea of clothing he had was clearly outdated.
"Your outfit rings out, 'I am not from around here but definitely not from this era,' kind of feeling. I would do you well to get a new set, don't you think?"
Rather than feel ashamed of his errors, Zale smiled at his mistake.
How could he have forgotten that part? What was he expecting when KiaKane said he visited the human kingdom?
That was a time before he became his father's chief advisor. Ever since then he dedicated his time and life to the service of the throne.
Casting one long look at his outfit once more, Zale shook his head.
'To be schooled by a human girl. Smiles, what is my life turning into? She gets more interesting with every meeting.'
Having said that in his mind, Zale lifted his head once more.
No longer did Pearl stand before him. She was long gone from his sight, disappearing into the crowd of people in the marketplace.
"Thanks, Pearl. Until next time," he muttered gently.