At this point, it's becoming a routine for her to just stare at the timer when she wakes up in the morning to whenever she's alone which is 95% of the time.
When the system warned her about the consequences of her choices, she didn't take it much seriously. Not until this morning, when she woke up to see more points deducted.
[ Points Remaining : -80 ]
"God damnit, for fuckin what? Sleeping few minutes more than usual??" She complained in her head while the maids were finishing preparing her for a day out with Leisha.
Sici wanted to quickly visit the bookstore. The more she familiarized herself with the world, the more it would help her brain think of more clues.
Since they were going to the commoner's district, they both had to dress up in casual clothings of the commoners to not attract attention. Wearing simple outfits in grayish colors.
They get off the carriage midway to their stop, walking the rest of the way.
The bookstore was located in the busiest part of the town and yet the store was empty. They have loyal customers and somehow it's never busy. Therefore, customers and readers adding more value to this by being loyal.
Leisha runs off inside the store first while Sici is busy observing her surroundings. She never thought she would like a busy place like this where no one's bothering to waste a glance around them, everyone busy with their own life and story as they keep on running off to their destinations and fulfilling their tasks for the day.
"It's hard to believe this is just a game...." She slowly mutters under her breath.
She felt greedy, to know why they were like that in a sync. To know what drived them like that, what kind of willpower. Hoping that knowing so was going to help her find her own willpower to go on with hers.
As she was about to go in the store, someone pulls her back harshly making her bump onto his chest.
She faces up to see the person and ends up glaring, "What do you think you're doing, Luke?"
He seemed out of breath as if he was chasing after them, "Why are you here alone?"
"Alone? You think I came alone here?"
"I don't know! That's why I'm asking," he said agitated, letting go of her.
She pushes him off and goes inside without bothering to give him an answer. He was going to find out soon anyway when he walks in.
Leisha was cheerfully talking to a woman, who was the store owner. She also returned the same level of enthusiasm while talking to Leisha. Probably cause she doesn't know the true identity of his.
Sici paused at the sight and smiled seeing Leisha's carefree talkative side, "That's how it should be."
On the other hand, Luke was surprised to see she came here along with Leisha and witnessing a new side of his.
"So this is where you went," Luke said, "Skipping your training."
Leisha gets startled, "B-brother?"
He didn't expect to run into Luke, specifically here of all places.
"You think you have time to fool around?"
Leisha looks down, dejected, "Sorry, brother."
Sici didn't like his tone and the expression Leisha was giving off, specially when they just arrived and it already seems like Luke was going to drag Leisha away.
So she decides to take the matters of the situation in her own hands. Starting with a smack on Luke's head.
"WHA-" His shout gets interrupted.
"Ahem. Silence please. Half of this store is being used as a library," the owner said as she went back to the counter, giving them some space.
They move inside from the entrance to avoid disturbing the people coming in later.
Luke glares at Sici and whisper shouts, "What in the heaven's name do you think you're doing woman?!"
"First of all," she smacks him again, "It is sister to you. Not woman."
"Stop it!" He says backing away from her, "Have you seriously gone mad??"
"Maybe so," she replied back nonchalantly, keeping her hand raised high to smack him again, harder than last time.
Luke immediately takes protection behind Leisha while he is still trying to grasp the situation. He never saw his older siblings behaving this way. He felt an odd feeling of tingling inside him which he couldn't describe. The feeling was positive though.
"Leisha, move," she ordered.
Leisha awkwardly laughed and tried to move away but Luke had a tight hold on him by his shoulders, not allowing him to do that.
Sici shoots a glare at Luke for using Leisha like this.
Leisha tried to plea on his brother's behalf, "S-sister, why are you doing this?"
"Yeah, you tell her!" Luke thought, supporting him inside.
"I will not repeat myself," she said showing more menace.
Leisha felt shivers down his spine. He takes a quick glance at his brother with pleading eyes, "Brother, just apologize."
Luke argued, "What did I do to apologize?!"
"Oh, I will give you a list right here and now," she replied.
"Compromise here with me, why are you doing this?" He said as he backed away more along with Leisha.
"You really want me to repeat myself?" She dared him to try.
Leisha whispers something to him, making him bite down his bottom lip.
"No, sister..." He said closing his eyes.
She finally lowers her hand, brushing her hair behind her right ear, "Didn't catch that. Repeat yourself."
He growls, "I said sister! What more do you want?"
She ignores it and continues from where she had left off, "Secondly, that was no way to treat a child. You seem to forget your place even in public."
He furrowed his eyebrows, keeping his silence.
"I brought him along with me. So I suggest you fix that mouth of yours before jumping to conclusions."
"What about you then?" He asked, letting go of Leisha.
"What?" She asks.
"Shouldn't you have at least informed me?" He frowns.
As always, Sici finds his personality switch weird. Couldn't he just stick with doing one thing? Why show he's worried from time to time? It still didn't stop Sici from remaining how she was so the thoughts were useless yet frustrating for her.