Atlus opened his eyes to the swaying canopy of leaves above him. He found himself lying under a tree with his legs and hand under a green bush. The sound of a murmuring crowd made it clear that he was not in a desolate place anymore.
He sat up, remembering being knocked out by a spiky-haired guy. However, that had been on a street with no people or trees around. As he peered out of the bush, he saw an alleyway at one end and tents with people bustling around at the other.
He was near a market.
Someone had carried his body through the alleyway and dumped him in the bush.
But Altus had other things to thin about. "What type of magic should I learn? Or does it depend on the potion?" Atlus excitedly put his hand inside his pocket, but it was empty! He checked all his pockets, but all he found was the green pellet.
He heaved a heavy sigh as the feeling of defeat washed over him as he lost the potion.
However, that had been a free potion as far as he could recall. Didn't that mean he could get it again? He clenched his fists, noticing his blue fingertips.
Before giving him the potion, the middle-aged man had asked him to put his fingers on a mushy board that dyed his fingers blue.
"Oh no! They know I took a free potion, and these fingers are the proof. I need to wash this color off," Atlus thought to himself as he rubbed his fingers.
He rushed towards the nearest shop, a tent with large tables underneath that displayed different types of fish. Most of the fish had similar shapes but different sizes and colors of fins.
The shopkeeper, a big bald man named Bruts, was wearing a white apron with faded red spots all over it. "Just ask your old man to hand over the map," he said to a lean man standing next to him.
"Dad is a stubborn old carp, thinking I am not good enough. He says Fran ain't good enough either," Leanon replied.
"What kind of man doesn't dote on his grandson? Our sons and us could've dominated the fish trade. What a shame," Bruts lamented.
Atlus noticed a bucket of water near the table with the fish. He immediately tried to put his hand inside, but Bruts caught his arm.
"What the hell are you doing, kid?" Bruts frowned, noticing Atlus' dirty clothes.
"Water is free," Atlus said, trying to push out his hand, but the bald man's grip completely overpowered him. He couldn't move a muscle in his right arm.
"Seems like this one is uneducated," Leanon snorted. "Must be a bandit."
Bruts pulled Atlus' arm to check it, but his laugh was cut short as he noticed no 'B' imprinted, meaning the part about Atlus being a bandit wasn't true.
"Come here, kid." Bruts pushed Atlus, trying to take him away from the tent. "You bandit, you need a beating," he said loud enough for Leanon to hear.
Leanon noticed something amiss. He had noticed Atlus' shoeless foot and suspected the kid was new to the island. "If you're not a bandit, then work for me," he said directly to Atlus, placing his hand on Bruts' shoulder.
"I found him first, mate. He will work for me," Bruts pushed Leanon's hand away. "Mind your own business and focus on acquiring the map."
A lady nearby overheard the men's conversation and rushed forward when she realized the situation. "Why would you work for these rude men when you can come to my house? I will feed you four meals a day."
A few more people noticed the commotion and left their shops to hoard over Atlus.
"It should be the boy's choice to work for whoever he wants. Come to my house, boy, I have a daughter. You two might become friends," a lady said, interrupting the commotion.
Another person chimed in, "I will take you as my son-in-law."
"I am a wealthy person, and I want to adopt you. Come to my house, and you'll have an elder step-brother," a man said.
Brutus tightened his grip on Atlus' thin arm, demanding, "Boy, weren't you interested in my bucket of water? You work for me, don't you?"
"How dare you threaten him in front of all of us!" someone exclaimed.
The crowd turned against Brutus, and the boy was freed from his grip.
Atlus couldn't believe what was happening. Why were so many people offering him deals? Everyone was approaching him with a smile and open arms, as if he had to choose, and one of these people would adopt him.
All because he was poor and not a bandit?
Suddenly, a cloaked figure cut through the crowd and approached Atlus. It was a long cloak that hid the entire body, with a hood that cast a shadow on the face. This person was taller than him.
The figure opened the cloak to take him inside, and the sound of the crowd lessened. As the figure showed them an insignia of a whale, the murmurs turned into under breath complaints.
Atlus felt a hand around his shoulder as he was led out of the crowd.
He was inside the same cloak as that person, and the heat inside felt extra warm. The person pushed him out of the cloak, and he saw two cloaked people standing side by side.
One was the same height as him, while the other was taller. They were now behind a tree that blocked anyone from seeing them.
Both lifted their hoodies together to reveal their faces. They were both women.
The taller girl who saved Atlus from the crowd looked at him threateningly and asked, "Which island did you come from?" She couldn't help but glance at Atlus' feet.
"Leave him alone, Harriet," the girl with brown eyes said, smiling. Her glossy hair bounced merrily, as strands of hair fell over her shining pearl jewelery. "Atlus, what are you doing here?"
Atlus took a step back as he remembered her name was Maple Finch.