A fountain surrounded by green trees, the leaves a stark contrast to the crimson Ruberis leaves found all around the city.
"We're pretty much outside the city, that's your secret spot Boss?" Daniela asked, hanging behind Martin.
"Yep," Martin glanced at Daniela, "You don't like it?" he spoke while setting her down at the edge of the fountain's basin.
Daniela settled down, "It's better than what I was expecting."
"What were you expecting, let me guess, some boring spot under a tree?" Martin said, stretching.
"Hehe," Daniela laughed awkwardly, "no, not at all."
"It's written all over your face," Martin replied with a small chuckle.
"I'm pretty young."
"Young doesn't mean to believe everything you read."
"Boss, you told me yourself, readers want something they can aspire to be, not who they are."
"I guess it's even more applicable to a child like yourself," Martin spoke, his eyes softening.
"You seem like the guy to have seen a lot of the hard stuff," Daniela tugged playfully.
"Hard doesn't even cut it, but I've seen people face worse than what I had."
"Oh, are you gonna tell me your backstory?"
"No, not everything happens like in a novel you know?"
"I don't believe you."
"Why not? Have you had any experiences?"
"Yeah, just now."
"Now?"
"Yep, I had this handsome gang boss give me piggyback through the city at the stroke of midnight."
"Ahem," Martin's cheeks flushed red.
"If this isn't something out of a novel, what is it?"
"But in novels, it's the male lead the one who helps the female lead."
"If I'm the female lead, then you're my male lead."
"Well then I'll be the male lead for the princess cursed with the Curse of Unending Chatter."
"Are you going to slay dragons, climb mountains and kill Eonborn to save this princess from her curse?" Daniela ever the dramatic, blabbered on.
"You read way too much fantasy romance."
"But it's written based on history, experiences and events. The authors don't make up this kind of stuff now, do they?"
"They do, all authors make up stuff," Martin said.
"The only things they do make up are names for stuff and maybe a few fantastical elements and maybe life events...?"
"See, even you don't believe it."
"It's not that I don't believe it, it's that I haven't seen the world, I can't say something purely based on things I've read in my room."
"What do you mean?"
"Are you interested?"
"A little, I want to see it from your perspective."
"Hm... How do I explain it?" Daniela paused, letting her hand into the fountain, the cold water smooching her fingernails, a shiver going up her.
"Not getting the right metaphor?" Martin added, sitting beside her.
"Got it. So you know how people drink to numb the pain, maybe you're familiar with it?"
"No, I don't drink."
"I don't believe you."
"What were you saying?"
"Ah, yes. It's this simple, people drink alcohol for the kick, or as a means of escaping the pain."
"Not everyone."
"Yes, there are few that drink for health and stuff, or for enjoyment, but they drink in moderation, maybe one glass per day."
"Continue."
"I can't drink just because I feel like, can I?" Lies, I always drank when I felt like it.
"That's up to you, but, Yes, you shouldn't."
"Yep, it can cause as much harm mentally as well as physically," Daniela flicked some water from the fountain, a ripple forming along the surface.
"And... your point?"
"Just like how I can't try to destroy my body with alcohol without a clear reason, I can't judge the world based on text and imagination."
"That's the most sensible thing you've said all night."
"I'm very smart, I know, don't praise me."
"But I never did...?"
"Has anyone ever told you," Daniela said, raising a hand, "you're like this grumpy old man who can't take a joke at certain times."
"I guess I'm the clueless Male Lead, here with the chatter box Female Lead," Martin said, the moonlight flashing on the two, the water gleaming bright.
"Nah, I wouldn't call you the clueless one, you're more like the... I don't know, I've never seen someone like you Boss."
"Really? You've never met the stoic handsome guy?"
"But you're more silent and stupid."
Viens bulged out, "Huh? Is that how you talk to the one who helped you walk around?"
"Hey, no need to blow up, I was just teasing."
"It's not that fun, maybe a bit moderate is fine but..."
"Fine, fine, I'll stop. I still need you to carry me around."
"Again? Where should I take you now, home?"
"Not yet, the night is still young, take me somewhere else."
"Where?"
"You pick."
"Not again."
"Do it Boss, you're the leader of the underworld, take me somewhere."
"I thought you said you wouldn't believe everything you read in a novel?"
"Are underworld and stuff fake?"
"I'm not even talking anymore," Martin stood up, kneeling in front of Daniela, showing his back.
"Say the magic words," Daniela playfully teased.
"Would my sweet cutie pie get on, daddy will take you to the land of dreams," Martin replies, his voice coarse and emotionless along with his expressionless face.
"Not cute," Daniela said.
HOOT HOOT
An owl on a nearby tree growled, its yellow eyes piercing at the duo.
"See, even the owl agrees," Daniela added.
Daniela grabs around Martin, wrapping her hands around his neck, and Martin positioning her legs not to make neither of them uncomfortable, slowly stands and starts walking.
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CHATTER CHATTER
The tavern hummed with conversation. The sweet scent of food and alcohol penetrated anyone who entered the tavern.
A girl in a black cloak sat there, twisting a glass with an amber liquid and an ice cube in it.
The princess has some amazing talent, being able to use synthesis, unconsciously at that, the girl laid her head flat on the counter, pushing the glass off.
Maybe she's a genius, someone chosen to be one with magic, should I teach her reflux?
"You look tired, the palace works too much?" the bartender asked, a man in his thirties, his hair left messy and untouched, his face clean shaven.
"I'd rather not talk about it, it's tiring just thinking about it," Wyge replied, half awake, slowly lifting her head.
"Alright, I won't pry."
"Give me another," Wyge downed the half empty glass and placed it down.
"Alright."
She's no longer cold, always smiling. Something changed overnight.
TAP
The bartender placed another glass in front of Wyge. She gives a silent nod.
Strange, I never saw anything that indicated her dying her hair, nothing nowhere, is there something else?
I'll keep an eye on her, but it's not necessarily bad, I kind of like her better now, maybe a good change.
"Hey, Wyge."
She looks at the person who greeted and sees the princess.
Am I that drunk? Wyge thought as she looked at her drink. "Hey there princess."
"Woah, I never thought you had this much stress at the palace," Daniela said.
Wait, this voice, "Wait, princess! What're you doing here?"
It was the princess sitting near her.
"The night was way too boring, I couldn't sleep so I got out."
"How? I have the keys."
"Magic bullet."
...
"Don't tell me you smashed through the gates," Wyge sighed, nodding her head.
"Actually, Yes. I've had quite the adventurous night, I met this handsome guy, a bit old though."
"Heyy! I'm right here," Martin said.
"Alright, I met this handsome guy who gave me a piggyback ride, took me to this fountain in the middle of somewhere, and now brought me here."
Wyge clears her eyes and looks at Martin once more, sees him sitting beside Daniela. She jumps off the stool and bends before him, "I greet the Lustrous Serpent."
"Pfft, what's that, Lustrous Serpent? What kind of dumbass name is that Boss?"
Deep piercing eyes fell on Daniela, eyes filled with contempt. Wyge herself looked at Daniela, her eyes full of fear.
"Huh? What'd I do now? Boss?" Is this going to be one of those cliche scenes where he stares at everyone and they go back to doing their stuff?
"Calm down everyone, she's special," Martin voiced his thoughts, the stares going down.
"Well, I expected something else Boss," Daniela slightly patted his shoulder.
Wyge couldn't believe her eyes, the princess having a lighthearted conversation with someone strong and influential.
"Wait, Wyge did you say princess?"
"Yes sir."
Martin stands up and bows, "I greet the second Princess of the Empire."
"Oh, come on, we're beyond that aren't we, this is getting kind of cliche."
"Princess, maybe a little respect," Wyge placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Respect? I respect him, he's my Boss. Right? Now why don't you stop with that," Daniela points at Martin.
"But you should know since you've read many novels," Martin laughed in mock, "I can't just walk away like that."
"Please, can you not do that, please Boss?"
"Alright, I won't."
"Was this why you weren't patrolling?" the bartender interjected.
"Yeah, I saw her blankly looking around lost."
"In my defense I was looking around."
"In your defence, you could have had a bad night had you not met me."
"Who cares, I met you, right, Wyge?"
Daniela turns back to look at Wyge but notices she wasn't there.
"There, down on the floor," the bartender pointed from beyond the counter.
Daniela and Martin looked at the floor together, noticing Wyge sprawled sprawled across the floor.
"Classic Wyge," Daniela nodded her head, "This is the second time she's fainting from shock."
Martin stands up and walks towards the now on the ground Wyge, picking her up and putting her on a chair, one the bartender pulled out and put up ahead of time.
"So princess, is the palace that boring, pretty sure the emperor isn't boring," Martin said.
"He isn't, it's just that he's been a bit... he hasn't been himself for some time, I'm trying to get him back in shape."
"Is he alright?"
"I'm not that sure, but enough about him. Why'd you bring me here?"
"To tell you I don't drink alcohol."
"That's it!? You carried me all the way here, from the other side of the town all the way here to tell me you don't drink, crazy old man."
"Old man! I'm not even that old," Martin brought his face close to Daniela.
"Oh yeah, then tell me how old you are?" Daniela pressed back, Martin's breath falling on her.
"Thirt—"
"Old man," Daniela cuts in.
"I didn't even finish," Martin retorts.
"Anything above thirty is an antique piece."
"Really? You've been on a streak, hitting me all night."
"Well, be glad I wasn't hitting on you."
"What?"
"What?
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Awkward silence fills the two, the chatter around the tavern continuing.
Wait, Martin? Lustrous serpent? Isn't he that guy who was killed off by—
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