Bracing myself to move, which, might seem like a very dumb thing to do...given how easy it might be to walk. But it wasn't. It wasn't, for me at least.
So...with a breath of relief, I stood up and went to the stall with plushes as a prize.
There wasn't a line...which is normal since most players were at the duel center. However, a player was playing before me, so I might as well watch him and wait for my turn.
This...was a 'hit all three bottles and win a prize', game. I never know if this is rigged or not, so it's better to wait and see.
"Hello, you up for a game?" The stall owner smiles, giving me a ball. I look at the ball and look at the stall owner with a curious look on my face.
"How much is it per ball?" I ask, and she immediately gives me the price board, a greedy look on her face. "1 ball for 2 copper pieces, you can also get 5 balls for only 9 copper pieces!"
I look at her with hesitance and then look back at the player. "I'll think about it," I answer, making the stall owner pout. "It's up to you..." She says, looking at the player with me.
He has...5 balls. He shoots his first ball and misses.
It doesn't even hit the bottles.
Even on the second and the third ball, he still misses!
This is crazy! How is he going to win a plush?
And now, on his fourth try, he manages to hit a bottle, but only one of them...which is alright, I guess.
At least the game wasn't rigged in the slightest, given how the ball only hit the top bottle...
Finally, on his fifth try, he topples all three of them.
I smile from the distance seeing the player win on his 5th try...which results in him being praised by the 3 girls beside him. Presumably, they were the girls in his harem.
The store owner congratulates the player and lets him choose one of the plushies...which I also indulged in watching. I have to know what types of plushies there were.
The woman then opened a box, showing a variety of plushies...from cute animals to pretty women. However, I was focused on one in particular.
My eyes widened, seeing a plush that looked exactly like Rosalina! It was a pillow-sized plush that featured her cold eyes and the clothes that she normally wore. The Rosalina plush was scowling, with a slight blush on her cheeks. I have to get it! It's the only one I plan on getting!
"I'll take the woman with the red eyes for myself," The player says with a smirk, causing my jaw to drop...he actually wants that plush?!
The three beauties beside him pout, possibly because they expected to get the plush for one of them...but alas, it wasn't the case.
The store owner, sees my expression, and then back at the player who won...grins at the both of us and prepares the plush. "Sure, here you go!" The store owner smirks, giving the plush to him.
She gave it to him!
And the worst part?
I can't do anything about it!
I try to look at the other plushies available, but she shuts the box before I can even look at the other choices in detail. He walks away, making me feel soulless and stuck in the stall...and if you're wondering, what the store owner is doing? She's just looking at me with a wry smile.
...I can't blame her though, it's very well deserved.
"So? You wanna buy a ball or two?" She grins, and with a resigned sigh, I nod.
"Give me 5," I grab 9 copper pieces out of my bag and give it to the owner. "You should have done this earlier! Haha!" She says, getting the copper pieces happily and giving me 5 balls.
Damn, these merchants...
...I then focus and calm myself, as she organizes the bottles back on the table. "Hit them whenever," She remarks, staying beside the box of plushies. I frown slightly and grip one of the balls with intensity.
I have to do this well...I only have 5 tries.
I use my first ball, and miss miserably! The trajectory of the ball didn't even reach the bottles! And the worst part? The owner was laughing at me!
Gritting my teeth out of frustration, I use my second ball, and I miss again...but the trajectory is better now! It's closer to the bottles!
...and with my 3rd attempt, I managed to hit the bottles by the side, clearly showing that my accuracy is getting better. I just have to concentrate even more on my 4th attempt.
Finally, in my 4th attempt, I got it right, and all 3 bottles toppled right over!
The owner whistles, looking at me with a happy smile. "You're good for a newbie! Most of them only get it at or after 5 balls! Most did it out of luck! Haha!" She says heartily, but it only irritates me...maybe it's because of her shrewd personality.
"Well then, pick your plush!" She says, opening the box once again. This time, I look at the choices intently, my brows creasing. I look at her and sigh. "Do you still have a plush like that man got earlier?"
She ponders, but then shakes her head. "No...but there is one that looked like that girl," She thinks, and then looks for the plush buried deep in the chest.
"Here you go," She presents, showing a plush of a woman with red hair and black eyes.
Notably, this plush had the same clothes that Rosalina wore...but with a slight variation.
This one was more refined.
But that's not what was most appealing to this plush. It was the face of the plush. It was that of an old woman...albeit, in chibi form. Which was clearly shown through the visible wrinkles on her face.
Growing curious, I look at the plush with curiosity. "Where...where did you get this?" I ask, and the owner only shuts down momentarily, looking at me with hesitancy.
"I...I have no idea. I don't recall how it got here either, but it did," She answers, her eyes wide...and her tone odd and robotic.
"I'm sorry...but it's like my memory is clouded. Will you get this plush though?" She asks, returning to her normal personality.
If you didn't know...that change of personality scared me.
It reminded me of ghosts or someone getting possessed.
It was so drastic that it made me shiver in fear!
"Umm...well...yeah, I'll just take this plush then," I laugh dryly, hoping she won't possess my body like a ghost...and thankfully, she just gives me the plush and thanks me.
"Come back from time to time!" She laughs, as I walk away with a fake smile and fearful steps.
Did I just survive from something close to a ghost encounter?
Yeah! Definitely!
But still...what was up with that change of personality? And who exactly is this red-haired old woman?
I'm not sure...but maybe Rosalina can answer my questions when I give this plush to her. It feels ominous, yes, however, it might also be something that Rosalina might treasure.
I mean, think about it.
The plush has clothes like hers...and might secretly be some great elder of the sect!
Or, better yet, the progenitor of the sect!
I don't really know, but I'm hoping that whatever the outcome, it's something good.
So for now, let's stop with the festival games and focus on the duels and PVP...because I still believe I don't deserve to have fun in lively places. I think it might take some time before I do.
But oh well, I have a long journey ahead of me...maybe that will change in time.