"Try this, Micha."
He tried it.
"This too! It is delicious, believe me!"
He tried that too.
Michaelis was dragged by Rezal everywhere, to every vendor there. Rezal had been given the chance, and he really took it when Michaelis said to show him what's best here. Now, Rezal showed everything to him.
It looks like Rezal has come to this kind of occasion often enough to know his way around here.
"I'm full."
"No! You haven't tried their strawberry shortcake yet! The pancake, the grilled salmon, the herbal tea with banana, and more!"
Michaelis felt like vomiting after trying various kinds of food, from a sweet one to a spicy one. His stomach will burst open if he continues to eat more.
"I can't anymore."
He collapsed, and Rezal panicked and then caught him.
"Wait, wait, no! Wake up, Micha. Don't die on me again! I'll stop; please wake up!"
Rezal carried him into a less crowded place and placed him down. He has eaten too much food. He is the one to blame, though.
"I don't want to kill you because of food this time! So, don't die!"
Rezal looked around to find something to make his friend feel better.
"Wait, here. I'll fetch something for easy digestion! Don't move, and don't follow any strangers! Get it?!"
He just nodded. Even speaking would make him feel like crap. Michaelis touched his stomach, which had expended too much. Damn, this is his first time eating this much. He should have self-control. But the food looks so good. If given a chance, he would want to try all of those foods that he has not tried yet, but he should know when to stop.
He just hopes he won't get any stomachaches tomorrow. His schedule for tomorrow is busier than usual.
"Here, drink this!"
Rezal arrived after five minutes while bringing something. Rezal gave him a cup of water. He didn't look; he just took it and gulped down whatever the liquid was. After the first gulp, he coughed.
"What... what is this?"
"Peppermint tea. It's good for digestion; my mom always gives this to me when I am eating too much food."
"What?"
"What are you doing? Drink it fast when it's still hot. You will feel better after this."
"But I can't—"
"Micha, don't be stubborn. You'll get a stomachache."
Michaelis frowned and looked at the peppermint tea in the cup.
"Fine, we'll go back home after this."
Rezal just nodded his head. Michaelis took a deep breath before he gulped down all the tea in one go. He coughed afterwards, though.
"Good boy."
Rezal patted his back, and he gave a sideways glare at Rezal.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Peppermint tea does not taste that bad."
"I never like tea."
"Is that so?"
Rezal took the cup from Michaelis' hand and just shrugged. Well, what can he do? This tea would help Michaelis, whether he liked it or not.
"Don't be picky at a time like this. Let's go; we have spent too much time outside."
Michaelis huffed but obeyed eventually. The tea did indeed help him a little, but his stomach was still full.
Rezal helped Michaelis stand up. They will need to go to a secluded place before they can use the teleportation stone to go back to the palace. It will cause confusion if they use it in the middle of all these people. Not many people can manage to acquire a teleportation stone; it is costly.
Besides, they will be caught if the guards patrolling the area see them using this magic item.
"How was today?"
Michaelis shrugged while following from behind Rezal.
"Good, I guess."
"Hey, show some appreciation that I've brought you here. You are having fun!"
"Yes, yes, thank you, Young Master."
"You're welcome!"
Michaelis just shook his head. It's already late at night, but Rezal is still energetic. Why is this kid so full of energy? Does he know what tired is?
"You know, we could come here again without sneaking out when we both finally enter the academy. Though I will need to wait a year before you come in."
Rezal blabbered in front of him while he was walking behind Rezal and looking around the still-lively city. When will the festival stop? Aren't all of these people tired too?
"But, hey, maybe you could ask for a recommendation from one of your teachers to enrol earlier. That way we could study together, right?"
"Hm."
"I'm sure you could get the recommendation easily. Or you could even ask my father. You are a royal after all; I'm sure it will be a piece of cake for you. Besides, father said he knew the principal."
The voice of Rezal was slowly becoming distant and muffled. Oh no, the effect is taking place. His sight also seems blurry. He should have known the effect would work faster because he had drunk a cup of tea, not just a sip or two.
"Rezal."
Even his voice is slow right now. Rezal has been taking more steps ahead of him.
"So, I think it is better like that. I could help you—Micha?"
Buk!
Rezal looked back to see that his friend had already collapsed and that a stranger was catching him from falling to the ground. Rezal widened his eyes and ran quickly towards Michaelis. He snatched Michael from the stranger.
"Micha, hey, wake up. What happened?"
Worry is evident on his face. No, this isn't supposed to happen. Why would this happen to Michaelis all of a sudden? It's his fault. It is his fault. He should have been aware of his surroundings and prevented this from happening!
"Hey kid, calm down."
"What did you do to him?"
Rezal hugged Michaelis tightly towards his body and scowled at the stranger.
"Woah, I didn't do anything."
The dark-green-haired stranger raised his hand in a surrendering manner.
Rezal did not let his guard down even a bit. He quickly placed Michaelis on his back and searched for his hidden sword.
"I saw him walking wobbly just now. He should have fallen to the ground if I didn't catch him fast enough."
Rezal squinted his eyes. Not believing this stranger at all. Why would Michaelis suddenly collapse if no one had done anything to him?
"Look, kid. Your friend must be tired because he falls asleep while walking. Don't look at me like that. I really didn't do anything."
The dark-green-haired stranger is still trying to convince Rezal. He didn't want to be accused of something he didn't do, obviously.
Rezal calmed down a bit and tried to process the situation. He managed to hear the soft breathing of Michaelis from his back, and he let out a relieved sigh.
'He really scared the sh*t out of me. He just fell asleep?'
Rezal still did not put his guard down and looked at the stranger, whom he assumed was in his 20s or older. He cleared his mind to look around for anything suspicious, and when he was sure that this stranger in front of him was easy to deal with, Rezal brushed away the scowl on his face with a grateful smile.
"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. Thank you for helping my friend, sir."
"No need. Just make sure to be more alert next time. Besides, children should not be out here too late."
"We are about to go home. Thank you for your advice."
Rezal bowed a little and walked away. It would be better if he did not engage in any more conversation with this stranger. He might expose their identity, and that is bad for Michaelis more than him.
"Be careful on your way home!"
He stopped and looked back. He smiled a little and continued walking to the spot where they landed when coming to this city just now.
Rezal let out a sigh.
"Micha, you should tell me if you're sleepy. You make me worried, idiot."
He shook his head. If he knew, he would have carried Michaelis from the start. But Michaelis did not look sleepy a few minutes before. He also did not know that Michaelis is someone who just collapses everywhere when he is sleepy. He learned something about his friend today.
The soft snoring of Michaelis makes him smile.
'At least he had fun today.'
"Rezal?"
Michaelis shifted on his back. Rezal hummed and tightened his hold on Michaelis.
"Just keep sleeping. I'll bring us back to the palace."
"Hm, tea."
"What?"
"Tea, make me sleepy."
Michaelis just let out a slurred sentence, but Rezal managed to catch what his friend wanted to say. Michaelis fell asleep again.
"Hah. You should have told me before all of this happened, idiot."
That's why he never saw Michaelis drink anything but milk. Michaelis is sure to be a peculiar one.
×××××
The dark-haired man looked at the back of the two retreating figures. He licks his lips. His golden eyes shone slightly.
"He looked much better and stronger than before."
He smiled, showing his hidden fangs.
"Glad he read it. This white gem will be mine."
Next time, they will meet again.
The man walked away before dissipating from the festival without leaving any traces behind.