"I wonder when they will reopen."
Amara continued to wipe the products on display and only shrugged her shoulders. Why was she asking her anyway? Sometimes she felt that the woman was deliberately letting her hear about her escapades with the baker.
It was already two days after that night, but Azer hadn't returned. The bakery was already fixed. But there was no sign of them returning. At night, she would often stir in her sleep and unconsciously peeked over the window.
But the building across hers had never been so silent before. Her heart would sink every time she would recall the woman's words. She was itching to know. Day by day, hour after hour that passed, she got anxious, doubtful, and pained.
She couldn't help but think of many what-ifs. Like, what if he wasn't genuine?
Although she clearly remembered Azer saying that he'd be gone for a few days, she couldn't help but wonder if he had met the woman before he left and even gave her flowers. What was worse was that her insecurities were the root of all her anxiety.
Comparing herself to the woman disturbing her peace, anyone will certainly choose who's prettier.
"Laura? Is that you?!"
Another young woman who was passing by the store peeked her head in the door with widened eyes.
"Oh! Mirabelle! How good to see you!" Laura, looking overjoyed, went to the door and greeted the other woman.
'So, Laura is her name,' Amara thought to herself. She made a mental note to remember that name.
The unknown woman's eyes glanced at her. She frowned and whispered to Laura.
"Oh, I bought from her before. And I really like her vases so I thought of coming back," Laura answered. She looked at Amara, "That's right! I haven't introduced myself to you. I'm Laura, and this is my friend, Mirabelle."
Mirabelle ignored her and scanned the store instead. Laura smiled at Amara awkwardly, "Sorry about that."
"No problem."
"Your name is…?"
"Amara."
"Oh! Nice to meet you, Amara," Laura smiled at her sweetly. She returned the smile, but not as wide as hers.
"I don't think I see your lover around here anymore. Did you fight with him?"
Amara flinched when she heard Mirabelle. Surprised was etched in her face. Did she know them? Did she know that bastard?
Mirabelle looked at her with uninterested eyes. Her arms folded in her chest. She clearly showed hostility towards her, although Amara didn't know why.
"Eh? So, you have a lover...? That's good to hear!" Laura's face brightened. She almost leaped on her spot and shook her hands if only she wasn't wearing working gloves.
"No…that's—
"If you fought with him, you should appease him. He's the only man who wants to date you, you should reconcile with him as soon as possible. Who knows if he started to properly think things over? It'd be your loss if he left you."
Mirabell talked as though she cared about Amara, but her eyes were condescending and her voice sounded sarcastic. Did she think Amara was so naïve not to sense her malicious intent? Her hands clenched the spring caliper under the table.
"I don't think that's any of your business," Amara replied sharply.
"I'm just concerned about you. He looked so in love with you," Mirabelle covered her mouth but a snort still escaped.
"Mirabelle!" Laura scolded her friend. She glanced back at Amara with apologetic eyes.
"What? I'm just trying to look out for her."
"And who do you think you are to do that?"
The two women froze. They glanced back at Amara behind the counter table and were surprised to see her displeased expression.
"I don't even know you. I only met you today and you're already talking as if you know me or that bastard. Are you perhaps stalking us? What? You're jealous that someone was so in love with me and you're not?"
"How dare you!" Mirabelle seethed in anger.
"If you're not going to buy anything, then can you leave? Unlike you who knows nothing but gossip and stalk others, I'm trying to do business here. Please, leave," Amara threw the caliper on the table and took off her gloves.
"I don't think that's a proper attitude a seller should show towards a customer."
Amara paused. She moved her gaze to the other woman. Laura was not smiling anymore. Instead, she looked at her like a proud noble would look at a mere commoner.
'Now, she's trying to show her true colors,' Amara thought.
Laura sighed, "I know Mirabelle is in the wrong here. However, it's not right to threaten us."
Threaten them? Amara looked at them with confusion. They looked scared like a cornered rat by a cat. She laughed in disbelief. Her eyes caught the caliper. Did they think she was threatening them when she threw that tool?
"I'm not sure what you're talking about. But, just let me clear one thing," she went over to the table and stood in front of them. She didn't want to misunderstand. She didn't want false rumors to reach Azer. "I don't have a lover. At least, not the bastard you were talking about."
"Hmph. You're just lying. You followed him everywhere with that ugly smitten face of yours—
Bang!
The three of them jolted at the sound that came from the backdoor. Amara looked back and saw Vida, carrying two boxes, entering the backdoor. She glared at the two and threw the box on the floor.
Thud.
"Sorry for kicking the door," she turned to Amara. "I didn't know you have ugly customers. You should clean your store after they leave, lest their ugly appearances and rotten personalities ruin your beautiful vases."
"What? Who do you think you are?! Don't you know who you were talking to?! She—
"Mirabelle, that's enough!" Laura glared at Vida and pulled her friend. She glanced at Amara but the latter only raised her eyebrow.
They were at the door already when Vida followed them. Amara tried to stop her, but she was told to just wait inside. Vida pushed the two women out and shut the glass door behind her, then she grinned like a devil, drilling her obsidian eyes into Mirabelle.
"That bastard you're looking for, ugly lady, might be dead already. You should be careful walking in the street from now on. They said a serial killer is on the loose. Look what happened," she pointed her lips at the bakery before leaving the two frozen in their spot.
"Let's have lunch, Ara!"
***
Shadows ran and glided past the trunks of the trees in the forest that borders the kingdom of Leymar. Beyond that forest is the Empire of Semaria, the land of witches and wizards. The two kingdoms have signed a bilateral trade agreement regarding specific services that each can offer.
Leymar, known as the land of wolves, is a constant support of Semaria in terms of state security and weaponry. They supply high-grade weapons made from bones, pangs, horns, and other materials they get from monsters they slain, while the empire of Semaria, whose land is filled with magic-wielding individuals, gives services in terms of magic, and supplies them potions, spells, magical stones and such.
"Your Highness, at the cliff!"
Azer nodded at Hans who was running a few meters away from him. The black-clad men behind them continued to throw poisoned needles, but none was able to hit the targets.
The cliff ahead is a hundred meters high, and beneath is the forest that belongs to Semaria. The border ends on that cliff, and some lives will as well.
Reaching the clearing, Azer and Hans stopped. Before the men caught up to them, the two already shifted into wolves. Being an alpha, Azer's wolf appearance was twice as big as the normal werewolf.
It was black as ink and stood on all fours taller than humans. His silky and luscious fur danced with the wind, and his grey eyes shined sharply. He leaped when an arrow flew in the sky and dodged it. Then, he landed straight above the man who fired the weapon, and without any hesitation, ripped the man's head from his body.
The assassins who witnessed him hesitated to attack, but behind them was Hans, a brown wolf, who was already burying his pangs in their comrades.
"Die, monsters!"
The two wolves both growled in anger.
Some people still call them monsters just because their wolf appearances are similar to some canine monsters that come from the Crimson Forest. But those creatures are called monsters because they were born inside that evil forest, they breathe miasma that turns their reason into insatiable hunger.
Werewolves are different.
The one who shouted ended up killed. Before he could even unsheathe his sword, Azer already lunged at him and bit him in the sides, before throwing him in the cliff. The rest were killed one by one until no one remained.
"We should have kept one man alive, at least," Hans commented while scanning the dead bodies. They talked through the mind link, a communication link between those who belonged to the same group.
"There's no need. These men are in the same group as the one you caught."
"Then, wouldn't it be dangerous to go back to Avendelle now, Your Highness? If they knew where you were staying, the people of Avendelle might get involved. That could lead to a bigger problem."
An image flashed in his mind. Now that those after his life knew that place, then there's a possibility that they'll go back. What if they found out about her? Hell will break loose if she ever gets harmed.
He needs to go back and protect her. He needs to see her immediately.
"Inform the mage we're meeting him now," Azer ordered Hans.
At the moment Hans howled to the moon, Azer jumped from the cliff. The hermit mage living beyond those woods can teleport them to Avendelle, a kingdom opposite to their continent.