Cecil inhaled sharply.

It's there. It's the energy dampening lanterns.

She panicked, searching around the stalls wildly, noticing that they owned the same lantern everywhere. The awareness of their conundrum struck her so hard, she collided right into Zasiok who had stopped a moment ago. 

"Woah." 

Zasiok balanced himself in time, catching Cecil who was stumbling, his eyes fixed on Alric who entered a shop.

"Za-Zasiok, wait--" Cecil began to say, only to be pulled away gently, her words cutting off.

"He went into another shop, let's hide." Zasiok advised, going back to the alleyway and no one paid them any attention.

Zasiok observed the entrance of the shop intensely, looking out for any irregular movements. However, he was interrupted when Cecil tapped him on the shoulder, and he swiftly turned, completely alert. 

 At that moment, Zasiok noticed how close they were to one another and his eyes widened. On the other hand, Cecil did not seem bothered about it, even leaning it when he jolted back, whispering into his ear.

"Dampening lanterns," Cecil warned. "It's all around us." 

Zasiok flinched back, the ear which Cecil whispered into growing hot. However, he couldn't afford to dwell on it, immediately trying to conjure his own fire element. 

It failed. 

He shot his head back up, the horror evident in his eyes and Cecil nodded back at him in confirmation. 

"We are being led into a trap by the king," Zasiok said, realisation dawning on him. "Shit!"

"We need to get Alric," Cecil spoke hastily. "Or we need to get Xue to come back." 

Cecil made a move to exit the alleyway, wanting to dash into the shop. At that moment, there was a sharp glint in Zasiok's violet eyes and he pulled her back. 

"Cecil, wait!" Zasiok hissed out. "We are being watched!"

"Wh-what?"

Being a personal bodyguard of royalty, especially those of high position, spying and assassination was inevitable. Thus, Zasiok has been trained and hardened in such ways, spotting his own kind didn't require any sort of effort from him. 

In fact, he already knew they were being watched from the very start. However, he didn't think much of it, since he could fight them off without breaking a sweat.

However, with the lanterns here, it was a different case.

Zasiok scowled, gesturing to a few people in the crowd for Cecil to see. 

"Straight ahead, street stall, crouching by the corner in torn clothes."

"To our left, guy looking at the shoes on the table, carrying a black backpack." 

"To our right, similar to our left but wearing a black headband." 

In total, Zasiok managed to point out six different figures watching them. Cecil could feel the tingling sensation of fear creeping up her body. 

"You knew they were spying on us all along?"

"I did, but I was confident we could fight them off if the need arises, but now..."

"...the lanterns." Cecil finished his sentence with a sigh.

Zasiok nodded. "They had been planning quietly, patiently, when to make a move."

Her onyx eyes drifted over to the shop Alric entered, concern written all over her face. 

***

"Ya need anything?"

This shop was different than the previous shop he had been to, it was the same interior design but it appeared more rundown. Some of the shelves were in a sorry state, hence, the owner decided to find an empty wooden barrel to stuff his wares inside. It was up to the customer to dig through the various items to find what they desired.

"I heard that you sell cursed items here?" 

The owner, who was a rugged, bearded man in his forties, smoked his cigar, grinning impishly at Alric's question. "That I do, most customers don't ask for these, imma bring them out." 

Alric nodded innocently. 

"Don't ya go stealing when I'm gone." 

"I-I won't!" 

The owner disappeared into his storage room, and Alric browsed the store curiously, not at all discouraged by the unsystematic placement of the products.

Kai: "You think the robe is being sold as a cursed product?" 

Alric: "Yes, it was a trick I overheard some merchants discussing." 

Alric went on to explain in his mind, that some customers utilised this method to prevent their items from being found anywhere, and for it to remain safe. Selling them as "cursed" products, no one would be crazy enough to buy cursed items. Moreover, these same customers usually bribed the merchants to keep these "cursed" items safe, thus, the same merchant would exaggerate details about its "curse", making people fearful to even touch them. 

Kai: "I guess being a wandering merchant has its quirks." 

Alric: "I'm--"

Kai: "Don't say you're sorry again!" 

Alric: "I-I was just trying to say I'm thankful for people not noticing me eavesdrop on them..." 

Kai: "...oh."

 Alric: "I'm sorry for making you think that way!" 

Xue: "..."

Kai closed his eyes in resignation, covering his face with his palm. 

Since Xue wasn't the main host of the body currently, hence, he didn't care if they conversed since he could shut them out easily; just like what he wanted to do now. 

The owner came back into the shop, carrying two wooden crates and digging into them, taking out a few items. 

"Choose your pick," the owner said, tossing the cursed items onto the oak table. "I'll explain that item to ya."

The deduction that Alric made was completely correct, among the cursed items, there was a black robe. Its material looked fine, and Alric reached his hand out to touch it, knowing that it would feel feather-like soft as well. 

"I wouldn't touch that." 

Alric paused, looking up.

"That robe has many blood spilled on it, and particularly, vile blood. A warrior owned this cloak, and he felled many of his opponents in this robe. Many of his opponents were despicable men, and..." 

Alric knew the typical "curse" storyline that they utilised, pretending to listen while he inspected the robe. He noticed something strange about the robe just then, at its center where it parted, his eyes could discern that something had been sewn over the sides. 

It was yet another skill he had picked up, due to his unintentional honesty, he managed to save a tailorist from being cheated, and as a form of repayment, the tailorist taught him some tricks while helping him to recover from the beating he received. 

Just like that, Alric had learned how to distinguish between the quality of clothes.

"...so, touching it would be--"

Alric touched the robe with his fair fingers, marvelling at the soft material. 

The owner choked on his saliva.

He couldn't believe that this man had actually touched the robe willingly! 

This same man then moved his fingers to where the robe parted, clutching onto the sides of it and tugging harshly at it. In an instant, the material that was sewn over the sides was torn apart by a deafening, ripping sound. 

Kai: "..."

Xue: "..."

The owner stilled. 

"I knew it! It was sewn over!" Alric became excited, since he proved his assumption right. "I am so lucky they sewed this in a hurry, I can still spot it!"

If they were steady and detailed in their sewing, Alric wouldn't be able to see it since he wasn't an expert after all. 

 "Y-yo-you..." the owner stuttered out in shock.

Suddenly, as if being whacked in the head, Alric recognized his actions and gasped in horror, releasing the robe as he bowed profusely. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" 

"You bastard!" 

The owner reached out to grab Alric by the collar, and Alric yelped, glancing down in fright as he was unable to look the owner in the eyes. At that moment, he spotted blood stains at the exposed part of the robe. 

It was a small, bloody handprint. 

"Bl...blood. It lo-looks like a child's hand--" 

The owner shoved Alric away, and Alric stumbled back, falling to the ground. He observed as the owner clutched the robe to his body, blanching as he shivered violently. 

Seeing a rugged man, especially in his forties, shivering as if he saw something traumatic, it left Alric stunned. 

"So-some-someone come out, and ki-kill this bastard!" the owner snarled out, his voice still trembling. 

The backdoor of the store slammed opened, a group of ruffians barging in, dressed in casual clothes that blended in with the everyday crowd. 

Kai: "Move, Alric!"

Xue: "Let me take over."

Kai: "It's too late to switch now! Just run, Alric!" 

Xue: "If he would stop staring, it's not too late." 

The ruffians marched over to Alric, their movements swift. Alric shuffled backwards as he hastily pushed himself up, scrambling out from the shop with a shaky yelp. His mind was swirling and he couldn't comprehend the two voices in his head properly. 

Xue: "He didn't hear me."

Kai: "Well, he heard me." 

Xue: "..." 

The crowd avoided Alric who was running away like a madman, yelling in horror. The ruffians brandished their swords and axes, barking at the cowardly wandering merchant. 

Help meeeee! 

The cowardly merchant was on the verge of crying. 

***

Cecil kept her eyes locked on the shop entrance, like an eagle eyeing its prey. The moment she saw Alric bolting out, along with a group of ruffians chasing behind him, she dashed forward. 

Her heart was pounding. 

She was the one who brought Alric out, it was her responsibility to keep him safe. 

She even promised him!

Zasiok reacted as well, until he caught a glimpse of someone peeking out from the roof of a building. It was a shop not too far away, and they wielded a bow, shooting an arrow in their direction. 

It's already heading this way! 

Zasiok didn't think twice, lunging for Cecil who was out in the open.

"Cecil!"

He wrapped his arms around Cecil's body tightly, completely shielding her body easily. The next thing Zasiok felt was a stabbing pain in his shoulder, making him grunt, his face twisting. 

Cecil gasped, her ears picking up a whooshing sound. She had trained at the academy enough to associate it with an arrow. She clutched onto Zasiok's arm and glancing up at him, her heart drumming with anxiety. 

She turned her head, her eyes zooming in on the arrow sticking out from his shoulder, blood spreading around his shirt quickly. 

Cecil covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide in disbelief. 

***

《 start 》

You were the first person to comfort me, in that dark, dark dungeon. 

You cooperated in being my hostage. 

You warned me not to falter. 

You almost died because of my master.

You committed treason for me.

You said helping me was worth the effort.

You were the first...to protect me in such a way. 

You were the first, for so many things. 

You are also the first person, that I want to protect with all my life, Cecil Lan. 

《 stop 》