The flowery path in front of me seems surreal. Each step that I took felt like the butterfly inside my stomach flew excitedly. The closer I got, the more vibrant its colours were, and there were many happy faces all around. It felt somewhat like a festival. I thought to myself what I great place to live. I felt giddy inside.
There were many delicious and interesting foods all around me. Hence, I tried some to satisfy my satisfaction. This was a pleasure that I was glad I could experience. Before in my original life, I have never eaten food properly, but merely just to fill my stomach. Since I believed I had no time to indulge and usually when I am eating, my mind started to wander around. Therefore, there have been few occasions where I didn't realize that I ate food with no proper seasoning. So now, I wanted to enjoy and experience these mouth-watering flavours.
Though the further I went down, the more unlike it seemed. The occupants here seem less fortunate by the looks from the clothes and their appearance, even the atmosphere felt different. I am not sure whether I should keep on venture deeper down the path. Through observation, I saw that most of the sellers here have sweet potatoes on their food stand, which is called the peasant's food. I have read before that sweet potatoes are easy to grow and it could survive the hot weather. Besides, it has plenty of health benefits, which made a great choice to consume. I didn't know why they called it like that. There were many ways to cook it, they just probably didn't know it yet. Nevertheless, they were also some with other vegetables and flowers, but totally incomparable to sweet potato. I also bought several foods here since I thought I could share them with Laura.
Then, as I strolled further, I passed an adorable girl who tried to sell her sunflowers, and from the way she appeared, I knew that she was malnourished. She, who was barely stood straight, tried to persuade everyone there with a bright smile on her face. However, they just brushed her off with a single glare. Even with this consequence, she never stopped smiling and kept on persuading. I wonder at that time how a person could be that strong. For me, who complained that I had a miserable life, have nothing compared to her, at least I had food on my plate. I felt ashamed of myself. I believed everyone has their own struggled, but at that time, if I was in her place, I knew I couldn't stand there as strong as her. Each person will eventually confront their own demon, and a person by the side-line couldn't stand as strong as the owner of the demon itself, but merely supported it only because they were the main lead in their own story. I took a deep breath and swallowed my feelings deep inside before I called for the child. I showed her a smile and asked about the flowers.
"What a beautiful flower you got here? It is one of my favourite flowers, is it alright if I buy all of this?"
The girl who has been standing there since morning trying to sell the flowers, but with no luck approached her, was astonished by the words that she heard that seems like a dream. With the feeling of surprise and blissed, she hurriedly replied with joyous beyond-border.
"Of course, my lady."
"Do you mind telling me your name?" I asked.
"It's Felicity, my lady."
"Okay, Felicity. Here is your pay, and make sure to keep your money hidden, okay. Here, I bought some cakes, but I don't think I can finish all of this. So would you like to have some of this?"
I reminded her with the feeling of worried that something might happen since she was just a child. I don't have power or anything, so I believed that was the only thing I could do. Moreover, with all the food that I bought, I felt like I should share some with her. At first, I thought of asking her to eat with me, but I just remembered, even in my world children shouldn't blindly follow a stranger. So I didn't want to bring out a habit in her.
"Are you sure, my lady? The cake looks nice, but is it okay for me to have it?"
"It is fine, Felicity. I don't mind at all. I am more than happy that I can share things that I like with you. Just like you share your sunflowers with me."
"But, my lady. You bought the flowers from me. It is different."
"It is fine. Here take it. I am more than delighted that I can share it with you."
Even with the rejection that she gave, the sweet fluffy cakes made her lose the battle. I knew I won the moment I looked at her when I showed her the cake. However, I have to remind her one more thing before I continued my journey.
"Before I go, Felicity, remember, it is not acceptable to accept food like this because you didn't know what their intention is. So before you take anything, observe first, okay? I know I am also a stranger and seem suspicious to you, right? And I don't know how to convince you otherwise. So it is your decision to decide if I am a bad person or not. Okay, I should go now. Take care, Felicity."
I patted her head as gently as possible and smiled as brightly as the morning sun to ensure her that I am fine with whatever she chose.
"Thank you. I believe in you, my lady. I am happy to meet you today."
She bowed her head and thanked me with a big smile on her face. With that being said, I continued my journey, feeling pleased. I observed the town carefully. The further I went, the more it seemed like a different place. Though there were still some middle-class people here. Besides, there were a few children working all the way through this lane, like washing dishes, carrying heavy loads, shining shoes, and such, where at that age I believed that they should not be working. Where are the periods of growth that they should have experienced? This seems like they skipped everything and straight became an adult. I felt heavy, miserable, but the most, I felt determined. I would like them to be happy. I want to make a difference. I knew I didn't have much power, but with the assets that I have, I might have a little chance. However, I shouldn't just bull over and acted on impulse. I have to plan first. Even though it was an unfavourable situation for me, with no power and little knowledge of this world, I determined to flip the card and make it my win.
In the other part of the town, there were two dashing men, walked graciously while bickered with each other. This situation was normal to these two people because they were friends since they were small.
"Leon, I told you many times already, didn't I? Before you go out, make sure to bring someone out with you. What if anything happens to you? Do you want my head on your tombstone?"
"Stop exaggerating, or do you think I am weak? Are you committing treason in the open right now?"
"Of course not. You are stronger than any of us, but it doesn't change the fact that you can't go out alone."
"I am hungry. Meat skewers!" Leon ignored and rushed towards one of a stall that sold meat skewers.
"Stop ignoring me. Don't you think you can change the subject on me? Please listen to this humble servant."
"Okay. Okay. Let's go."
The knight sighed as he followed behind Leon to the stall.
At that time, I felt like I couldn't wait to go home, as if I was worried that the bottle of my ideas would spill. Nonetheless, I would still look left and right in hopes of, in the midst of observing, I would gather some more ideas. Suddenly, I saw Felicity and a boy around her age were harassed by two adult men. The boy tried to protect Felicity, but he was just a boy with a small figure who looked like he couldn't even protect his own body. I have to help them, even if I am not strong, I wanted to do something. I couldn't just ignore them and walked away. Then, without realizing it, my feet moved faster than my brain, and by the moment I grasped the situation, I was already in front of those men. I passed my handkerchief to Felicity without averting my gaze from those despicable men.
"Stop! What are you doing?!," I shouted to the men with unwavering eyes as I stopped myself from trembling.
"You better walk away. This doesn't concern you."
"I will be taking both of them with me," I demanded.
"Stop! You can't take them. Both of those brats should be thought a lesson. Now move along"
"Give it back her money! Give it back!"
The boy interrupted the men with furious eyes. Those shameless men took the hard-earned money from Felicity, so the boy tried to get it back. I could see the boy's face was bruised and as well as cuts on his arm. Despite that, the boy still stood strong in front of those men.
"Who are you to take their money? You are just a robber who robs a defenseless child. Aren't you both ashamed of yourself? Pathetic."
I continued to respond to those men who thought they could act that way just because they were bigger and stronger than those two children.
I was furious, but I tried to recollect my mind and tried to negotiate with the men so they would release both of these children. I didn't want either of them to be injured anymore. I knew at that moment it was not my right to negotiate because it felt like I disrespected the children. Yet for me at that time, I believed that backing out from a fight was essential when the benefit you had was less than your loss. There were many variables that I should have considered. However, the boy was furious, and he tried to fight with one of the men in front of him and it seems like no one could hold him back. I tried to act fast by stopping the boy, but the man was faster. The strong and callous hand struck me aggressively, and the boy was shocked when he saw me drop down on the cold and dirty street. It was so painful to the point I felt like my body was torn apart. Then the boy started to hold back his stance and tried to fight back with all his might.
As heaven listened to our prayer, a couple of men came and helped us. They fought with those two wicked men. I was relieved as I saw both of the children were saved. Then I just walked away as I believed I was not needed anymore. I was staggered a little and my body swayed a bit, but I tried to find my stance and walked home. I believed that this pain was nothing compared to the pain that those children felt.
At the scene, Felicity and the boy begged the saviours to help me, but I was no longer there. They didn't see me because I walked through a small corner of the road, which was nearer to the place that I fell. Also, they couldn't notice me because the path was blocked by wooden boxes that fell down and only a small path was opened, just enough for me to pass through.
As soon as I reached home, I hurriedly took a bath and prepared myself to go to bed. I didn't want Laura to see my bruise, so I decided to hide it and prepared myself alone. Laura came to check on me as the sun bid farewell, she saw me on the bed and went out to continue her work. I was in agony the whole night, but I tried to sleep it off.