Lys and Mira slipped out the front door, closing it with a soft click to avoid alerting Elara. They tiptoed down the stairs, Mira stifling a giggle as Lys exaggerated his sneaky steps, crouching low like a thief in a play.
Once they hit the dirt path outside, though, they straightened up, the tension melting away. The afternoon sun warmed their backs, and a light breeze rustled the leaves on nearby trees. No more sneaking around, they were free from Elara.
Mira grinned and looped her arm through Lys's, pulling him close as they started walking away from the house. "Finally out! Mom didn't even notice," she whispered, though her voice was normal now.
Lys chuckled, adjusting his pace to match hers. "Yeah, mission accomplished. Now head to the market. It'll get dark soon. Shops might close."
It was mid-afternoon, about two hours from evening. The village was winding down from the day's work, women trudging home with baskets of laundry or tools from the fields, their faces tired but content. Lys noticed that most people uses basket's to carry around things. Which might look weird from his early point-of-view, but to them it was very normal.
-----
As Lys and Mira walked, people kept looking their way too much, making them a little uncomfortable with this. A group of women passing by glanced at Lys, their eyes lingering a bit too long on his body, like hungry wolves spotting fresh prey. One even slowed her step, smiling coyly at him, but Mira noticed and quickly shifted in front of him, blocking their view with her body.
Lys paused, taking her words in. He glanced down at himself, really looking at his own body for the first time in a while.
His shirt sleeves strained slightly against his arms, where muscles had started to define themselves, firm and noticeable, not the scrawny limbs he remembered from his early days here. His overall build felt tighter, more solid, like his body had caught up to the system's boosts without him realizing. The stamina and strength stats weren't just numbers; they were changing him physically. He flexed his arm experimentally, feeling the subtle power there.
"Huh," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "I guess I Have changed a bit. Didn't notice till now."
In his mind, he flashed back to his past self, when he was Alex, the weak and worn-out boy from construction work and loneliness. Now?
Now he was Lys, stronger and healthier, drawing eyes that would have been impossible before. It felt good, empowering even. "No wonder the women are staring at me. They must find me sexy, right?"
Mira huffed, but there was a playful pout on her lips. "See? That's why I have to protect you. You're like a shiny toy everyone wants nowadays. So, just stick close to me, okay?"
Lys laughed, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. "Alright, alright. My guardian angel. Lead the way."
----
They continued down the path, the village houses thinning out as they approached the market square. The sounds grew louder, chitter-chatter, haggling, the sizzle of food on grills. As they turned the corner, the market came into full view, and Mira stopped suddenly, her eyes widening in shock, as if she had never seen such a crowd in this market before.
"Whoa," she breathed, staring at the bustling scene. The usually quiet market was overflowing, stalls packed with goods, people shoulder-to-shoulder, new faces mingling with the locals.
A gust of air blows past them, along with it, rich scents hit them like a wave: roasted meat of various small-sized monsters skewered on sticks, spices wafting from colorful sacks, fresh-baked pastries, and exotic fruits from traveling vendors. It was chaotic but alive, with laughter and shouts filling the air.
Lys took it in too, nodding as understanding dawned. "Yeah, it's way busier than usual. Even just the day before yesterday, this was way too quiet. The news about the guild must have spread by now among the others. Maybe that's why it's so lively all of a sudden, people from other villages coming in, new shops setting up. Everyone must get ready for the boom. Don't you think?"
Mira nodded slowly, her arm still linked with his as they stepped into the crowd. "It's….Kind of am.. amazing. I've never seen it like this. Look at all the colors, Lys!" She pointed to a stall with vibrant dyes and threads, her eyes sparkling.
Lys thought to himself while smiling, 'Now that's what an other-world village market should look like.'
Back on Earth, markets were sterile supermarkets or online orders, nothing like this vibrant, sensory explosion.
Now that he saw this scene, it felt right, like he'd truly stepped into a fantasy. It felt like he was always meant to be in this world. Like it was always here, waiting for him. It's just he came here too late.
He tugged Mira's shoulders, saying, "Come on, let's explore it. What do you need first?"