As Vallia, or rather, Lia, led Ryo through the bustling market, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She navigated the crowded stalls with ease, her bright smile and infectious laughter drawing attention from the vendors and patrons alike. Ryo, on the other hand, felt like a fish out of water, his awkwardness only amplified by Lia's effortless charm.
They stopped at a small food stall, the aroma of exotic spices and roasting meats wafting through the air and making Ryo's stomach growl with anticipation.
Lia chatted with the vendor, a stout woman with a warm smile, ordering a dish that Ryo couldn't quite follow. She paid for the meal with a few coins, her fingers moving with a practiced ease that belied her carefree nature.
As they waited for the food to arrive, Ryo couldn't help but wonder what Lia's true intentions were. Was she simply being kind, or was there something more sinister at play? He glanced at her, his eyes narrowing as he searched for any sign of deception. But Lia's expression was as open and cheerful as ever, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she chatted with the vendor.
Ryo's doubts were momentarily forgotten as the vendor returned with a steaming dish, the aroma wafting up and making his mouth water. Lia's eyes lit up as she took the dish from the vendor, her hands moving with a practiced ease as she arranged the ingredients on a small plate.
"Special, just for you," she said, her voice dripping with excitement. Ryo's eyes widened as he took in the dish, his mind racing to identify the various ingredients. Some were familiar, others decidedly alien, but a few he recognized from the cookbook he had read in Calignia.
The dish itself looked like a compact, fantastical creation, with intricate patterns and colors that seemed to dance across the plate.
Ryo's curiosity got the better of him, and he leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the dish as he asked, "What is this?"
As Lia presented the dish to Ryo, she announced, "This is 'Aurora's Kiss,' a delicacy from the eastern provinces." The dish was a masterful blend of flavors and textures, with tender, rose-petal-infused meat, crispy, fermented vegetables, and a subtle, shimmering sauce that seemed to dance on the palate.
As Ryo savored the dish, he couldn't help but watch Lia, who ate with a quiet, refined elegance. Her table manners were impeccable, and she switched seamlessly between chopsticks and cutlery, her movements a testament to her poise and refinement.
Her face, too, was a picture of serene appreciation, her eyes closed in rapture as she chewed, her lips curling into a gentle smile.
As Ryo's gaze lingered on Lia, she opened her eyes, catching his glance. A soft, teasing smile spread across her face, and she asked, "Is it good ~nyu?" Ryo's response was hesitant, his words tumbling out in a stuttering rush. "Y-yeah...it's...amazing." He wasn't lying; this was, without a doubt, the finest meal he'd had since arriving in this world.
As they finished their meal, Lia asked, her voice tinged with a hint of mischief, "May I still tag along?" Ryo couldn't bring himself to refuse her; she had, after all, helped him out, and her company, though a bit unsettling, was undeniably engaging. So, with a nod, he agreed, and Lia joined him, her face aglow with satisfaction.
As they strolled through the market, Lia stretched, her lithe body unfolding like a cat awakening from a nap. Her eyes sparkled with contentment, and her smile seemed to radiate a warm, golden light. Ryo watched her, his curiosity piqued by this enigmatic girl, who seemed to embody a contradictions: carefree yet refined, playful yet poised.
As Ryo and Lia navigated the bustling market, they passed by a food stall that seemed to be doing a brisk business. Ryo's gaze wandered over the crowd, his eyes scanning the sea of faces until they landed on a man who stood out from the rest.
The man's hair was a striking feature, with white locks cascading down one side of his head, while the other side was a deep, glossy black. His attire was a sleek, dark leather ensemble, adorned with intricate stitching that seemed to shimmer in the fading light.
A dark cross tattoo on the man's cheek added to his air of mystery, and his eyes seemed to bore into Ryo's very soul. They were a deep, foreboding grey, a color that seemed to hold a thousand secrets. Ryo felt a shiver run down his spine as their gazes met, and he realized, with a sense of dismay, that this was yet another person he couldn't seem to shut out.
As the man finished his meal and prepared to leave, a small, carefree voice pierced the air. A young boy, laughing and playing with a small, intricately carved toy, came tumbling around the corner, his eyes shining with joy. In his haste, he failed to notice the man standing in front of him, and the two collided, the boy stumbling and falling to the ground.
The man reacted swiftly, his movements fluid and economical. He reached out, stretching his arms to scoop up the boy, who gazed up at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. "Be careful, you could have hurt yourself more," the man cautioned, his voice low and soothing.
As he spoke, a comforting smile spread across his face, and the boy's tears began to dry. The child smiled up at the man, his eyes shining with gratitude, and replied, "Sorry, sir. Thanks."
As the man's smile vanished, his expression transformed into a cold, calculating mask. He spoke in a detached, menacing tone, "But you know, just to make sure you wouldn't be as thoughtless again..." The words hung in the air like a dark promise, and the atmosphere around them seemed to grow heavier, as if the very shadows themselves were coalescing into a malevolent presence.
The man's fist flashed out, striking the boy with a sickening crunch. The child's eyes widened in terror as he stumbled backward, his small body crumpling under the onslaught.
The man's blows rained down upon the boy, each one landing with a brutal, wet thud. The sound was like a rusty gate scraping against concrete, and it seemed to grate against Ryo's very soul.
The crowd around them was frozen in horror, their faces pale and aghast. Some attempted to intervene, but the man's gaze was a palpable force, a cold, dark energy that repelled them. They were transfixed, unable to move or look away, as the boy's cries grew weaker and his body began to slump.
Ryo, too, was paralyzed, his mind recoiling from the brutality unfolding before him. He thought he wanted to help, to intervene, but his body seemed rooted to the spot.
A voice in his head whispered that he didn't want to get involved, that it was too disturbing, too dark. But was that really true? He thought he didn't want to help the child, but the words felt hollow, even to himself.
Vallia's usual smile had vanished, replaced by a look of distaste. "How unpleasant," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the sound of the man's blows. For some reason, her words seemed to galvanize Ryo, and he felt himself moving toward the man, his legs carrying him forward as if of their own accord.
The man's gaze flicked toward Ryo, his eyes narrowing as he took note of the newcomer. "Isn't that enough?" Ryo demanded, his voice shaking with a mix of anger and revulsion. The man's expression didn't change, but his fist paused, hovering in mid-air as he regarded Ryo with a calculating gaze.