"Really." I thought. If anything, it would seem as if we're different person too.
"..." I glanced at her again, she was happily enjoying her time as the magicians showed her some tricks.
"Emi." I called. "Hm?" She turned, tilting her head with confusion. "Are we going already?" She assumed. I nodded my head, handing a hand. "Okay!" She said, happily holding my hand as we walked. They had given her a treat for watching their performance.
"Mm... Yum!" She said, gripping on the treat as she tasted it. It is as if she had tasted something new. Either way, of course I would drag away from whatever they're on.
Their performances were unsettling, too... Entertaining yet too entertaining.
I heard they had said about learning it in just one minute. However, that still didn't catch a bit. How come they can learn a new trick in just one minute without any mistakes on performances?
Instead, they had excused their mistakes as a "process" in mid of performance and others would nod it off and move on until they drop another.
They were definitely not fond from any of it. Right—children take it as inspiration, admiration..., a way forward.
The sight from a child.
"Maria..." She holds on to a handcrafted basket, muttering her name. She glanced at me and took another. "Sir Endrick, can we get these?" She asked.
I blinked twice, nodding to her request. "Oh, quit acting, Endrick! This is not the real world; you could just decline that request without any reports, no?" Not so fast Endrick, you already bought it.
Holding them tight in her hand as she brags. "I'll give one to her, maybe she will likes it." She smiled, glancing at them every minute.
How sweet of her, to think about her friend—"hey, you two!" what's with their voice so loud in the morning?
With a blink of an eye, I was on the ground. I reached out to rub the bleeding bruise on my cheek. "Ow, that hurts..." I thought, looking up to see it was those guys from before.
"Sir Endrick!" The baskets were laying down as they hold her. How should I say it? Hmm... "Too much is happening." I figured.
Everyone is staring while I was on the ground, helpless. Just staring at them makes me sick, it is embarrassing.
Who would like to get stared after a punch?
That x-ray ability from before was... Unnecessary, too. It was out of sudden.
Just what do I do? I'm small compared to them. Plus, my bones are probably numb right now. Should just surrender and sit on the ground like the poor guy I am.
Ahem. "What do you guys want?"
"Are you seriously asking that? An ordinary guy like you should stay back out of our business! Hopping on to someone's business, who do you think you are? The hero of this kingdom?"
"I bet you don't even know what this girl has done!"
What nonsense is he talking about? This bald guy has the audacity to call me an "ordinary guy", and what does he know about her?!
I do not tolerate any names towards him, too. "... What?" Raising an eyebrow, he laughed at my face. "How pathetic can you be?"
For someone like him, he sure does have the survival instincts of something... If I were to have his abilities, I would use it to escape from this situation.
For now, I'll stay quiet for some time. I stared at them. "Are your parents dead?" I'm convinced each one doesn't.
"Huh, what's your problem with our parents?!"
"What's your problem with me defending the girl?" My eyebrows narrowed. This might be the stupidest argument ever, especially with me. I don't know how to argue back to someone.
"What does this have with her?!"
"Probably because your parents are the one who raised you. Unless you guys are orphans, that excuses why you have little to no moral in life."
Isn't that one thing about common sense? Moral is part of our life as humans anyways. With no moral, you might just go to jail and stay there until you're old.
"... Tch, you're one of those."
"And so, what if I'm one of those kinds? Chasing down a child without any reason given, you might just put me to court if I'm in the wrong."
"You...!" His eyes wide, scoffed. He laughed, clenching his grip on her collar. She yelped, looking at me in terrified.
"Then, that's a deal!"
"However, if you dare take turn for mercy. That would only happen in your dreams." I calmly gave him a small smile.
Despite that, people were gossiping around town. Have you seen it? I nearly got myself into a death wish, challenging with some big dudes.
They sure do have those same genetics, too. With masculine body and sharp jaw, they want to scare people with their pointed muscle or something?
That's possibly the case.
That leaves with Emi thrown at the ground. In the gloomy alley, they walked out with pleasure. Which is ridiculous to describe how they look actually.
Laughing it off while bullying us both like minions.
"... Shit." I chuckled at their walk. Describing it like that makes the situation unserious for some reason. "Emi." I called, knowing she had fallen asleep after sobbing.
"Emirica Weiss..." the random name popped up like scenarios. "Consider your name different." I ruffled her hair quietly as I held her.
"I should take her home." In any moment, we both might sleep here.
Still, I feel offended by his fist for touching my clean cheek. It wouldn't be so messy if it were for them to suddenly appear unannounced.
Next time, I might bring self-defense weapons for sure, or else this happens again. "Embarrassing."
I glanced over to the ground, to have a shattered glass. I took a quick look at myself. "Holy shit, I look terrible." Messy hair... Visible bruise marks on the face...
Didn't I get a bruise on my forehead yesterday night? Now I got a whole failed face surgery.
I still need to go in court for justice, then looking like this would worsen the embarrassment. Just imagine the audience watching my pathetic face...
"Is he okay?" Heh... "Hopefully he gets justice! Those guys were horrible to them." Just imagine. "Right? Poor them..." The audience observing and guilt runs.
I get it. Those guys wanted satisfaction and pleasure from cries. "Cries." Sounds about right—maybe more deeper than some basic clues.
They are uneducated boys! Is my only assumptions for now.
"Sir Endrick!"
"Yes?" I glanced over to her, snapping out of my thoughts. "It is Maria!" She pointed, she seemed to be studying... Outside? She gave my sleeve a small squeeze, pouting.
"Can...?"
"Go ahead." I answered. Despite her unsure felt, she went up to her in excitement. "Maria!" Running up to sit beside her on the bench.
"Emi..." Startled from her approach. "What are you doing, Maria?" Asked, Emi. Glancing at the opened book in her hands. For a moment, Maria stuttered.
"I'm studying..." She answered. "Studying?! You're real diligent!" She complimented. "Right..."
"Where are you parents?" I asked. Her shoulders jumped, looking up at me. "They're inside." She answered, nervously.
"Inside?" She nodded. "To buy some stuff..."
I raised an eyebrow, taking a quick look at the entry door. Her eyes don't quite look by insight as they look, there's no fear screaming in them. Did they take her independently?
"How old are you?" I asked. "I'm seven-year-old." Seven?! Emi is seven-year-old! I assume they're at the same age in this. Cause I don't tolerate any changes from their information.
Is this kingdom that safe enough to let a child outside, siting by themselves though? Definitely not. Emi had nearly been caught at the start.
Rethinking back to what they would do to her if I hadn't stepped in. Would she be dead? What did they actually wanted from her that time? My head was sprouting with questions.
Questions that I didn't question from the start. I had stepped outside without thinking twice. "Too much." I mumbled to myself, shaking off the thoughts.
Perhaps they're doing it for her to have independence at a young age.
"Oh, I wanted to give one of these!" Emi said, holding out one of them to her. "What's this?" She asked, placing the book down before holding it.
"If we have any picnic plans!" She answered, with joy and confidence. "Picnic... Plans?" Emi nodded quickly, smiling.
"Can we really do that?"
"Of course!"
"Right?" She turned to me, a hint of plead in her face. I sighed. "We need the approval from her parents first."
"What?? Approval from her parents..., only for picnic plans?" She frowned. "Aw man..."
"You'll just have to wait" we chuckled at her frown, she scoffed in disappointment. "I want to have a picnic with her..."
Maria reached out to caress her back. "It's okay, Emi." She said, softly. I nodded in agreement while Emi starts having her eyes swollen in water.
"But..., but..." She stuttered. "I'll ask my parents later about it." Her eyes instantly lit up at her response. "Really?!" She nodded.
"Yay! Maria is the best friend ever!" She said, hugging her close. "Yeah...!"
Weird and strange. I could've sworn they're meant to be doomed, not this close. Somehow... I want to rip them off from my sight. Observing them like a punishment.
The intensity around them is hell, too. "As long as she's happy." She should be happy for her sake, right? "... augh." If only it was her, I guess.
Something's off, I can't quite explain what it is.
Emi get off, it is my turn.
"Now, Emi. We should get going." They turned, stopping their "lovey-dovey friendship" moment. "Oh, right..."
"Bye bye, Maria." She said, waving at her as she follow me on the path.
"Bye..." a silent wave in return from her
Emi was getting too close, real close. Getting her involved to a situation like that is unacceptable..., somewhat pisses me off.
I'm really not a pedophile, if you think about it...! "She's too pure. Not just her."
Plus, when will I ever get to meet that old luxurious man? Couldn't I just write the lines to appear in that fog just like him? My flashbacks might've had kicked in too hard.
But this is too early. I have to be patient about the story!
"My flashbacks might've had kicked in too hard."
"Hah?" Glancing at me in confusion. "Flashbacks?"
"Nope, you heard it wrong." I laughed. "I said I wanted a complimentary flashlight, since I can't quite see in the dark." Lying is better in this. But either way, it is not a lie, too.
"But it is morning right now?"
"My eyesight isn't so good as you think they are." I said, pointing at my eye. "Blurry?" I nodded, smiling warmly.
"Oh, okay" Leaving me behind to open the front door. Unfortunately for my house, it has no keys.
There's nothing special in there anyways.