Entering the food hall, Alan was still immersed in his thoughts about Master Venatus's words when suddenly, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Alan, over here!" Armis signaled him from a nearby table.
Alan composed himself and walked over to join the group. Without wasting any time, Aurelia asked Alan with curiosity,
"Hey, what happened? Why did he ask you to stay?"
"Is everything alright, Alan?" Armis added, concern evident in his voice.
Alan plastered a smile on his face and responded to their inquiries with a humble tone.
"Nothing to worry about, everything's fine. He just scolded me for pulling such a reckless stunt. He said it could have seriously injured me and warned me not to do it again, that's all."
Aurelia let out a relieved sigh upon hearing Alan's explanation, but then her expression turned to one of frustration. She gently punched Alan softly, scolding him,
"Of course! You could have gotten yourself killed, you idiot."
"I apologize, please forgive me," Alan said, remorseful for his actions.
"Alright, but please don't do something like that again, Alan. We could have lost a valuable teammate and friend," Armis added, placing a comforting hand on Alan's shoulder.
"Okay, guys, let's get back on topic," Lyco interjected, "What are we going to do for the festival?"
Despite being physically present with the group, Alan's mind was still preoccupied with thoughts of Master Venatus's plans. Even though he had outwardly displayed confidence and defiance, inwardly he grappled with uncertainty about what he would do if Master Venatus followed through with his threats. What was the man planning that could potentially expose Alan's true identity? Lost in his thoughts, Alan stared at his plate of food, the questions swirling in his mind like a storm, dancing in front his eyes.
"What do you think, Alan?"
"Dance!!!"
The sudden collective call from his friends jolted Alan, and he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. The group looked at him, initially puzzled, before wide smiles spread across their faces. Armis gave Alan an encouraging pat on the back.
"Good idea, Alan."
"Yeah, it's unique. I bet no one else in the academy is considering performing a dance," Aurelia chimed in, her enthusiasm adding to the collective optimism.
"Yeah, it does sound nice, but what kind of dance?" Lyco's question brought the group back to reality, introducing another challenge to overcome.
Alan observed his friends' expressions as their initial excitement was replaced by uncertainty. Another problem had arisen, and Alan sighed inwardly as he took a bite of his food, pondering the newfound hurdle they rose to them to overcome.
NEXT MORNING,
"Is that what you're wearing?" Armis exclaimed, eyeing Alan's outfit for their day out. It was a makeshift robe crafted from his cowl, typically used to conceal himself in the shadows during surveys. Beneath it, he wore the pants of his uniform along with rugged brown boots—his only pair, accustomed to the wear and tear of all terrains. While practical, the sight wasn't particularly appealing.
"You're hardly one to judge," Alan retorted, gesturing to Armis's attire. "Look at that old pleated overall you're wearing."
"What's wrong with this? I used to wear it every day. It's perfectly suitable for an outing," Armis defended his choice.
"Yeah, well, so do these!" Alan retorted, gesturing to his own attire.
"You both look ridiculous!" Aurelia scolded as she entered the room, visibly disappointed with Armis and Alan's argument.
"I didn't know we were supposed to wear our nightgowns," Lyco teased as he emerged from behind Aurelia. Armis and Alan glanced at Aurelia, who looked stunning in a knee-length skirt that showcased her beautiful legs. She wore a cute strapped sandal on her feet, paired with a snug white cropped overall reaching just inches above her abdomen, the top snugged her breast tight accentuating her curves, teasingly revealing a hint of cleavage near her neck.
On the other hand, Lyco sported a sleek white shiny overall that reached his thighs, paired with baggy pants and high-rise black boots that suited his stature perfectly. Armis and Alan couldn't help but compare their attire to that of their friends, feeling a sense of oddness wash over them as they glanced downward.
"I guess we know where our first stop will be," Aurelia said, her disappointment evident in her voice as she approached Armis.
"Huh?" Armis and Alan exclaimed, puzzled by her statement.
"Come on, let's get both of you some nice clothes," Aurelia said, forcefully dragging Armis and Alan by hooking her arms with theirs. They were led out of the room, followed by Lyco's chuckles as he continued to poke fun at them.
The group exited the Academy after obtaining their leave from the administration counter near the entrance. Aurelia led them to the central market at the east of the Relic Tower.
Alan scanned the bustling surroundings, noting the familiar sights he had observed from the rooftops but had never explored up close. The market was alive with people engaged in buying and selling various goods. There were shops selling fruits of all kinds, some familiar to Alan's eyes while others seemed completely foreign. He picked up an odd-looking fruit, red on the outside with thick tendrils that had a green hue on the tips. Curious, Alan turned to the shopkeeper and inquired,
"What kind of fruit is this?"
Before the shopkeeper could respond, Armis stepped in from behind.
"Oh, this," he said, taking the fruit from Alan's hand, "this is a Draco fruit. It's very sweet on the inside and has a bit of a tangy taste, but it's considered a delicacy for salads."
"It was freshly picked yesterday from the 9th floor. Only 2 gold coins," the shopkeeper added, revealing the price of the Draco fruit.
"2 gold coins!" Armis exclaimed, surprised, quickly placing the fruit back.
He exchanged a glance with Alan, who wore a curious yet puzzled expression.
"Well, you did say it's a delicacy, probably because it comes from the Relic Castle, right?" Alan remarked, seeking clarification.
"Right," Armis replied, his gaze fixed on the Draco fruit as if he'd never tasted it before, but curiosity stirred within him. Alan noticed Armis's interest and held out two Draco fruits toward him, asking, "Want it?"
"Huh?" Armis hesitated, but recalling the manners instilled by his aunt and parents, was about to decline before Alan moved forwards and passed the fruits to the shopkeeper, urging, "Please pack these two."
The shopkeeper nodded approvingly,
"Nice decision, young man. You're sure to enjoy these. We are the only shop in Pompeii that sells Draco Fruits, the freshest," before she wrapped them in a thin sheet of fabric and passed them back to Alan.
Alan, determined to share the experience, shoved the fruits in Armis's hands, insisting on Armis taking them and paying for the fruits before Armis could protest.
"But Alan, I c—" Armis began, but Aurelia's call interrupted him.
"Hey, guys! Come here! I found the perfect shop for you!"
"C'mon, Armis," Alan urged, walking ahead. Realizing there was little he could do to change the situation, Armis stowed the fruits in his knapsack and followed Alan to the shop, leaving his protest unspoken.
"See, it looks nice on you, right, Armis?" Aurelia complimented, admiring Armis in the outfit she had chosen for him. It was a white overall, cropped at the abdomen, paired with beautifully sewn, white tight pants that extended just an inch before Armis's heels, accentuating the muscular cuts of his legs.
Under the top, Armis wore a black tank top that stretched to his biceps, with white gold bracelets snugly fitted on his forearms. His white boots completed the ensemble, giving him an air of royalty. Even Armis himself was surprised by his new look.
"You look so cool, man!" Lyco remarked, admiring Armis's transformation.
"I know, right? He looks like one of those royal guards," Aurelia added, sharing Lyco's sentiment.
"Really?" Armis replied modestly, his cheeks flushing slightly at the praise.
"How do I look?" Alan emerged from the dressing room, draped in a black outfit. The top part was covered by a long buttoned robe, its collar detailed with shiny gold thread. Below, he wore skin-tight pants of the same shiny black color, paired with strapped heel sandals. The ensemble, combined with Alan's complexion and serene blue eyes, almost made him resemble a beautiful woman.
"Dude, if you were a woman, I would marry you right on the spot," Lyco teased Alan, kneeling in front of him and holding his hand.
"Back off, creep!" Alan kicked Lyco away, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm going back to change!" Alan hurried back towards the dressing room, flustered.
"No!" Aurelia intercepted Alan, blocking his path. "Don't listen to the twerp, Alan. You are rocking in this outfit!"
"Really?" Alan's blush faded as he looked to Aurelia for reassurance.
"Yes, Alan, you look good. The color and design suit you well," Armis chimed in, emerging from behind him.
"A very fine statement from the young man," the shopkeeper emerged from the hanging outfits, beginning his explanation.
"These outfits are not only beautifully made but also poison-resistant and can handle the wear and tear of many rugged environments in Relic Castle."
Alan's eyes widened with surprise as he turned his attention to the shopkeeper, along with the group. "Really?"
"Yes, my good sir," the shopkeeper affirmed, "they are made from the coat of a high-level griffin found on the 25th floor. The Raider slayed the beast so beautifully that it retained all the magical properties of the creature."
"They are made of what?" Alan exclaimed.
"Really? From a griffin? That's incredible," Armis added, sharing Alan's surprise.
"Yes, young man," the shopkeeper confirmed. "Pair them with a set of well-crafted armor made by an experienced defense wielder, and they can take you from floor 1 to 30 without even a scratch on them."
Alan felt the fabric of his outfit, trying to absorb the significance of the elements the shopkeeper had just explained. With rising curiosity, Alan posed another question,
"You mean to say that this fabric I am wearing comes from the Relic Castle?"
"Oh yes, my dear sir," the shopkeeper replied, showcasing various outfits made from creatures native to the Relic Castle. "Not only these, but we also have cloaks made of Armard Bird feathers and jackets made of pygmy dragon's skin."
As Alan gazed intently at the fabrics before him as Aurelia jumped forward and inquired, "So how much for these?"
"Oh… with the new customer discount, they will cost you about 500 gold coins each."
"Huh!!!!" Alan and Armis exclaimed in shock.
"Sure, we'll take it. Here," Lyco stepped forward, handing over a sack full of gold coins to the shopkeeper.
"Pleasure doing business with you," the shopkeeper expressed his gratitude with a mischievous grin on his face.
After the payment was made, Lyco and Aurelia made their way towards the exit, while Aurelia called out to Armis and Alan, "C'mon, guys, let's get something to eat," as she exited the shop.
Surprised and shocked, Alan and Armis exchanged puzzled gazes before following her out of the shop.
"Lyco, hold on!" Armis called out to Lyco, halting him in the middle as Alan and he approached. "Forgive me, Lyco, but I'm not sure if I can accept this."
"What? Why? Don't you like it?" Lyco responded with a puzzled expression.
"No, we like the outfits, but we're just not sure if we could repay you for them anytime soon," Alan added, echoing Armis's concern.
Hearing this, Lyco chuckled and turned before resuming his walk, saying, "Ah, never mind. Consider it a gift for all the things you have taught me and for being good friends."
"But Ly—" Armis started to protest, but Lyco cut him off. "I said don't worry. My family is loaded. The outfit I'm wearing," Lyco gestured at his overall, "costs twice as much as both of your outfits combined."
Astounded yet not surprised by Lyco's boasting, Alan followed him side by side with Armis. With piqued curiosity from their earlier encounter with the shopkeepers and Lyco's benevolence, Alan asked Lyco, "So, what exactly is your family's business?"
"I think you already know. We're librarians at the great library of Pompeii," Lyco declared proudly. "We guard the knowledge brought to us by our appointed Raiders from the Relic Castle and sell the information to different academies and institutions. We are recognized by the church of Roiran itself. So, you know, we're kind of a big deal in Pompeii."
"And what about Aurelia?" Alan inquired, his gaze shifting to Aurelia, who was engrossed in conversation with a tall child in ragged clothes, who was selling her something. As Lyco turned to address Alan's question, Armis noticed Aurelia as well and decided to join her.
"Oh, Aurelia? As far as I know, her family imports exotic fruits and vegetables from the Relic Castle," Lyco revealed, shedding light on their friend's family background. "I heard they are the biggest in that business."
Alan contemplated deeply on the paradoxical dependence of the people of Pompeii on the resources of the Relic Castle, despite their underlying fear of it. It struck him how the entire economy of Pompeii seemed to orbit around, or intertwine with, the Relic Castle. This intricate connection was the very foundation for the flourishing Academies and the occupation of Raiders in Pompeii. Raiders served as the vital bridge between the industries and businesses of Pompeii and the abundant resources of the Relic Castle.
"Look at this, Alan. Isn't it beautiful?" Aurelia held up a crimson crystal, its facets gleaming in the sunlight as she dangled it in front of Alan's eyes.
"What is it?" Alan asked.
"This is a rejuvenating crystal. It's said that if you keep it close, it can heal and protect you from disease. It's a rare find, only discovered on the higher floors of the Relic Castle," Aurelia explained, as she palced the crystal proudly around her neck.
"It suits you," Armis remarked, admiring the crystal.
Lyco smirked, adding, "Yeah, it gives you that majestic cow vibe," before striding ahead of the group.
"Lyco, that's not nice," Alan scolded but Lyco stayed unperturbed by the reproach.
"I'm starving. When are we eating?" Lyco interrupted, his stomach grumbling impatiently.
"Oh, I heard about this restaurant," Aurelia pointed towards a row of dilapidated eateries where the girl who sold her the crystal stood. Alan surveyed the place, noting its less-than-inviting appearance, but Aurelia persisted, "Despite its looks, it's known for serving one of Pompeii's delicacies. Let's give it a try!"
With that, she took Armis and Alan by the hand, leading them towards the restaurant.
Thirty minutes passed after they'd placed their order, and then the waiter arrived—a man with a protruding belly and spit dribbling from the corner of his mouth—as he set down their dishes. "Here are your four Pompeii special broths," he announced, oblivious to the disgusted expressions on their faces.
Despite the waiter's appearance, the bowls filled with meat, boiled eggs, and sprouts looked delectable. "See, I told you, right? Let's dig in," Aurelia exclaimed enthusiastically.
Everyone eagerly picked up their spoons and took a sip of the broth. But the moment it touched their tongues, a wave of bitterness and the foul odor of rotten meat overwhelmed their senses. Each of them spat out the bite instantly. Alan reached for his emergency water bottle and took a gulp, swishing it around in his mouth. Armis grabbed the bottle from Alan and did the same, followed by Lyco and Aurelia.
In a fit of rage, Aurelia seized the bowl and hurled it at the waiter, who remained unfazed as she yelled,
"What the hell was that?! What did you feed us? Horse feed?!"
Her intensity was such that the thread of the crystal around her neck snapped, falling to the ground. Armis retrieved it, but Aurelia continued her tirade, berating the waiter who remained nonchalant. As the waiter turned to leave, Armis examined the crystal, noticing that the pattern and skin were easily coming off with the dust. He sniffed it and realized, his expression turning grotesque as he turned to Alan, "It's cow dung," he declared loudly.
Shocked, Alan turned to Aurelia, who had just calmed down. As Armis showed her the supposed rarity, she quickly snatched it from his hand, examining the white ball with crystal particles and paint dusting. Alan enlightened her, "It's dried cow dung."
Horrified, Aurelia let out a disgusted scream, hurling the piece of dung to the ground. She poured water over her hand, wiping it furiously on the table. "Ewww, eww, ewww!!!" she exclaimed in disgust.
"The cow got scammed with cow dung!! What a sight!!" Lyco teased Aurelia with a taunting voice, followed by mocking laughter.
Enraged, she glared at Lyco before swiftly turning to look for the little girl who had sold her the supposed crystal."Where's that little brat? She was the one who suggested this shithole too."
"Bill..." At Aurelia's yelling, the waiter brought the bill, looking at her with a stern gaze. Even more enraged, Aurelia yelled at the waiter, "What the hell is the bill for?! We didn't even eat that garbage you called Pompeii special, you moron!!"
Hearing her reaction, the cook, a tall man with frizzy facial hair and a bald head, emerged from behind the waiter, as the waiter muttered, "Or beat," prompting the threat of violence if Aurelia and her friends didn't pay the bill. Seeing the maliciousness in their eyes, Armis and Alan took their guard up, while Lyco got off his chair to join them.
Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, Alan noticed the little girl jumping around on the roof of the restaurant, trying to make her escape. Without hesitation, Alan backed away from the group and dashed toward the alley beside the restaurant before telling his friends, "You guys handle this, I'll catch that little brat."
Leaving his friends behind at the restaurant, Alan wasted no time as he darted into the alley. With the agility of a cat, he scaled the walls and leaped across rooftops, his keen eyes scanning the surroundings. Spotting the girl ahead, he closed the distance with determination. With a forceful leap, turning into lightning speed, Alan closed the distance between him and the girl in snap.
The sudden appearance of Alan startled the girl, causing her to falter briefly before skilfully regaining her footing.
"You don't want to do that! Stop now!" Alan's voice echoed after her, but the girl paid no heed. Despite his commanding voice, she responded with a nervous chuckle, her smirk betraying no hint of anxiety.
"Tee hee, Look down mister," she teased before leaping down to the alley below, effortlessly rolling to her feet and disappearing into the bustling crowd. Alan slipped in an attempt to back off hastily from the edge but caught the edge of the roof, in time before he could have fallen down.
Alan's heart raced as he watched her escape, his frustration evident in his clenched fists. Hanging from the ledge of the rooftop, a grin emerged on his face, contradicting the frustration evident in his glare.
As the girl fled through the dense crowd, Alan pursued her relentlessly, navigating the throngs of people with determination. Spotting her ahead, he swiftly retrieved a dart, his movements fluid and precise. With a powerful leap, he rose above the crowd and hurled the dart at her with precision. The dart found its mark, striking her leg with a swift and fierce speed.
The girl stumbled and fell to the ground, face-first. In desperation she attempted to regain her balance, reaching out, inadvertently grabbing onto the clothing of a passerby and causing his pants to slip down.
Alan approached the scene, but halted midway as he witnessed the girl rising from the ground, crying out in pain and clutching her injured leg. His gaze shifted to the man looming over her, his anger palpable as he accused her of theft.
"YOU AGAIN!!! You little thief!!! I finally caught you!!!" The man's voice boomed with fury as he grabbed the girl by the neck, his grip tightening as she struggled to breathe. Despite her distress, she clung to her knapsack tightly against her chest.
Alan watched from a distance, observing as the man yelled out and gathered his fellow shopkeepers.
"See Men, I finally caught our little thief," the shopkeepers declared.
"Yes!!! She stole some Draco fruits from my shop this morning, don't let her go!!!" Another Shopkeeper grunted in agreement.
"Bring her here!! Let's show her what we do to thieves in Pompeii!!!" a man's voice echoed from the nearby shop, as the others dragged the girl into the alley for punishment.
Alan watched silently, his expression unchanged as he strolled through the nearby alley.
"It's about time we show you what happens when you steal from us!!!" The man's words were followed by a heavy thud as he hurled the girl against the wall, causing her to fall onto her back while clutching her backpack tightly.
"So what should we do with her? Huh?" The man who caught the girl turned to his companion for suggestions.
"We should hand her over to the royal guards; they will punish her," the other shopkeeper suggested.
"Yeah, but first let's give her a beating for all the goods she has stolen from us."
"Yeah!!!" All the shopkeepers agreed in unison.
The girl watched in apprehension as the men approached her with malice in their eyes, closing her eyes tightly as she hugged her knapsack, bracing herself for the impending beating.