'Ahem, let's be patient, or I'll end up getting chopped off right? right?' Lucifer silently mused grinningly as he took out the coins and handed them over to the guard.
The guard nodded nonchalantly at him and let him through the gates into Lumiera Town.
Stepping across the threshold, Lucifer could almost feel a sensation shift in the energy of the air. Unlike what he had seen beyond the gates, it vibrated much more densely with life and only a few among them could be seen as commoners, while others were Ascendent.
The town was so clean; each of the buildings seemed to be constructed well, with dozens of charming two-to-three-story houses all aligned in neat rows.
Unlike everywhere else, the streets were free of any debris and in each interval, poles stood, each hinting at a purpose beyond mere aesthetics. These poles, he realized, were not powered by conventional electricity as on Earth but by magic or Electric Stones, infusing the town with a soft, radiant glow. However, considering it was daytime, only some of it was being operated in some dark places.
Everywhere he turned, life pulsed vibrantly; families strolled along the pathways, children laughed and played in the open squares, and shopkeepers engaged with customers in spirited negotiations over their wares. The air was rich with the sounds of commerce—the mingling voices of bargaining echoed like a symphony, vibrant and full of life.
Still, one thing was visible….that was discrimination among the people. Well, for sure, this thing was not a problem in this place but all over the world.
Well, this was not Lucifer's problem nor he was a justice maniac to help others. If he saw profit out of torturing people, he might do that instead of wasting his time on some shit.
Roaming the busy streets of Lumiera Town, Lucifer, then, was painfully aware of the several glances that were being thrown his way. Some just passed him on the street, regarding him with thinly veiled interest, expressions that were telling more than mere curiosity, and there was a trace of disdain overshadowing their interest.
'Hmm, why the fuck are all these buggers staring at me like I am a street dog or something. Shall I gouge out their eyes?' he muttered to himself, as his icy demeanor detached further at that thought.
Yet, as he continued walking, his annoyance was quickly compounded by an unwelcome realization— a foul odor had begun to cling to him, a result of his neglect.
'Tsk, this won't do. I need to find the nearest bathhouse and scrub this filth off,' Lucifer concluded, forcing a wince at his own disheveled state.
With a sense of urgency, he turned his strides toward the nearest bathhouse. The entrance exuded a warm, inviting steam that wafted through the air, tinged with the refreshing scent of herbal oils. Entering it, he was greeted by a serene atmosphere, far removed from that chaotic energy outside.
Refreshed and rejuvenated now, he came out of the bathhouse after a good wash. His skin now looked revitalized and fresh, from whence before only dirt and grime had settled. More striking, however, was his outfit in fitted black clothes that seemed to hold themselves on his lean physique.
More than sharpness, this attire gave him an undercurrent of intensity that translated into confidence, clinging subtly to menace. He felt that now he could command attention, not just for the new look, but also for the presence of the coldness that he developed.
Now, with his frame clean and his impressionable attire, he felt a thrill all over his body to remind him of who he really had been. There was no warmth in the demeanour; he was not here to make a playground. He clenched his jaw and walked into one of the nearby hotels, to fill his stomach and then plan his next move through this new bustling environment.
However, just as he was about to go to the nearby hotel, a sharp voice from a neighbouring stall suddenly pierced through and caught his attention.
"Hey, young lad! Come over here! Got a first-class skill book manual with me! Practiced this properly and it'll definitely make you powerful!" The stall owner bellowed, his drive almost jolting into the rhythm of the chatter in the crowd.
Lucifer raised his eyebrow, hearing the unexpected voice coming through him.
'Huh? Who in the hell does this guy think he is? If your skill book manual is that great, then use it yourself and be strong, too. What the hell are you screaming at me for?' He shrugged off the enthusiastic sales pitch, his disinterest palpable.
Not far down the street, another vendor seized his attention with an even more absurd offer.
"Hey, handsome boy! Do you want some pills? Have high-quality ones! Here, watch this! This will make you strong enough to take on ten opponents of your rank!" the vendor shouted, his voice cutting through the throng like a blade.
'Then why don't you swallow the pill yourself and go fight your mother?' he scoffed inwardly, shaking his head at the alarming mix of desperation and audacity the vendor displayed.
Still, not wanting to lose the 'precious' customer in front of him and not caring about Lucifer's indifferent face, the salesperson began to double down on the offer.
"Hey, lad! You seem so young and full of vigour. So, how about this pill? When consuming this, you can fight 24 hours non-stop, when you are in bed!"
"Ahem, Hehe… interested? Want to buy some?" The salesman's eyes twinkled with mirth as he cast a sideward glance at Lucifer, almost as if he was saying to Lucifer to prove his manhood.
For a moment, something in Lucifer stirred at his offer: interest, desire but he quickly dismissed any latent desire.
'Hold up, this guy almost let me drool all over some ridiculous gimmick. Gotta get out of here before this shithead might sell me some shit that I am not even considering.'
Seeing the salesman's nonstop piercing glance, he turned sharply this time, accelerated his step, and vanished within the crowd.
"Tsk, what a spineless kid he is…" the salesperson muttered under his breath, casting a disdainful look at Lucifer's retreating figure. "How can you ever hope to become a perfect man if you pass up opportunities like this?"
Lucifer, however, took no heed to the idle insults as the lively buzz of the market faded behind him.
'If not being ugly shit, I would have peed on your face, Tsk,'
Just as those thoughts swirled in his mind, Lucifer collided with someone, his moment of distraction costing him dearly. Before he could react, a punch slammed into his face, sending him sprawling to the ground. It stung, but the impact was minor—he had simply been caught off guard, his defences down.
[Ding gained 1 Hatred Point (Hate)]
[Ding gained 1 Hatred Point (Disgust)]
"Watch where you're going, bitch! Didn't your mother gift you with an eye?" the boy fumed, his face twisted in anger as he looked over Lucifer.
Lucifer lay on the ground momentarily as he tried to assess the situation with a detached curiosity. He then tilted his head back to see the fool who dared to strike him, out of nowhere.
Then he saw, a red-haired boy with crimson eyes—fierce, but compared to Lucifer's own cold gaze, those eyes seemed dull and lacking in true malice and the confidence radiating from that boy was almost laughable for Lucifer, which was reminiscent of a young master that wanted to prove himself for the world.
Thus, the boy became more beatable in Lucifer's eyes.
"Tuh!" Lucifer spat on the ground beside him, as he was ready to go wild at any moment.
"Tch. Is that the best you've got?" Lucifer replied with a sarcastic tone, while amusement began to flicker in his icy gaze.
'Well, here come my hatred points,' he thought to himself, a dark thrill coursing through him.
Seeing the sudden unfolding confrontation before them and sensing the tension in the air—the crowd around Lucifer began to murmur, eyes widening with interest as they bore witness to the impending clash.
Lucifer, if he was a normal one, then he would just let it be. But there was a certain satisfaction in seeing the fury boil over in another, especially when it painted him as the villain—yeah, Hatred Points.
Rising slowly to his feet, he dusted off his clothes and kept his piercing gaze fixed on the boy, whose bravado was beginning to falter and at the same time anger began to rise from the boy, while thinking nobody was being arrogant in front of him.
"Listen, kid," Lucifer continued, his tone low and measured, "if you're looking for a fight, you should at least bring something more than a punch to the face. Let's see if you've got the guts to keep standing after this."
"Wow!" The crowd stepped back as they saw the rising tension, yet anticipation buzzing in the air.
Here was Lucifer, unbothered and cold, inviting chaos with an unapologetic grin.