Albus Alistair POV:

“It’s crowded.” I whispered, holding closely to Tadashi’s long sleeve. “Very, very crowded.”

One would think that, because of my social standing and rank as a noble, surely I’d be, well, social. And, in a sense, that’s correct. Really it depends on the situation. So if, for instance, I’m attending a gathering from within the village; I’d engage in conversation with the other children, the adults; talk, laugh, play, everything a child would normally do in such a joyous atmosphere. It’s possible that the culpability lies within the atmosphere and its stimulating air. It’s only logical that my body gives in to the stimuli; mature or not.

There’s plenty of other possibilities that have yet to been accounted for, though, regarding atmospheres; such as the familiarity already established beforehand. One wouldn’t just wander into a strangers home, an unknown atmosphere, saying, “Wow, nice home here, mind if I celebrate with you guys?”, it’s just unheard of! The familiarity and acquaintanceship is what makes the intrusion welcome.

So, to be suddenly thrusted into a large, and I mean LARGE home, to thousands of strangers I don’t know; people whose past is unknown, is frightening. People walking past me, and they do so with a mysterious air, as I, a new person intruding in a new atmosphere, am unsure of the peoples values and intentions. It’s possible that they have done things as heinous as the existence of my child-like father!

That’s frightening, is it not?

But, as weird and contradicting as a statement it may be, a part of me is interested in finding the truth within these… aberration-like people. To find what makes someone, someone; what led them to becoming who they are now; their story, their life story is what intrigues me.

Like a book; the spine and hard cover is the skin and bones of a person; the exterior of a person. The pages etched with details of life is the interior; the blood, the organs, the mind, the consciousness, the soul; its stories and what’s been experienced. Ergo the development of the book; continuing until the last chapter; the cadence, ending with a soft breath.

I suppose such an ending varies with each person.

But that interest within me; to know further, is clouded, covered over; or to say covered over isn’t correct. The interest has been completely, wholly, entirely overtaken by a wave of, what was the word again? Ah, social anxiety! Yes, my interest in people has been completely overtaken with social anxiety, drowned by a tsunami, further drowning until it’s been entirely dissolved.

Anyways, as one may tell, we’ve made it to the city.

My father and mother took the carriage to the Allen manor and told us to go adventuring around the city. We were dropped off as soon as we entered the large walls. To say that they kicked us out of the carriage and abandoned us is true, to say the least.

The center of Krumore – where the king’s Castle is – would take at least two days to reach. That was how vast the city within the walls were.

‘That bastard didn’t even tell us how to get to the Allen manor.’ I thought to myself, clinging my body to Tadashi’s as to not get swept away by the crowd.

“What happened to all the big talk about wanting to go out of the village? Not so big now, are you?” Tadashi teased expressionlessly, picking me up by the armpits and placing me on his back.

‘Nghhh, how degrading. My skills with a sword and magic are top notch, even after only two weeks of learning magic. I can hold my own in a fight against my father – whose skill is ranked grade S (holding back of course). Yet here I am, getting teased and carried in a piggy back position by my emotionless older brother, who is very doting, contrary to his seeming emotionless nature.’

“S-Shut up!” I stuttered, crossing my arms. “I wasn’t exactly prepared to be left stranded in the middle of all this chaos so suddenly.”

“Well, it’s not all that bad. I may not remember how to get to the Allen manor, but he did give us a chance to adventure around the city, right? We could even buy souvenirs.”

“With what money?” I queried, resting my chin atop Tadashi’s soft golden hair.

“What do you me- that bastard.” Tadashi said flatly, turning his empty pockets inside-out.

“My point exactly.” I sighed. “I suppose this is his way of getting vengeance for me haggling- I mean striking a deal with him.”

“You didn’t even try to hide your mistake.”

“Still,” I continued, ignoring Tadashi’s remark. “to think that I accepted the deal of him giving me money after we reached the manor. I can’t believe he’d utilize loopholes against his own child! How low can he possibly get?!”

I can admit I was naïve to accept such a deal. Goes to show that I did inherit my genius from that man, but I still have a lot to learn it seems.

My rare praise to my father rose a curious question in my mind regarding the term “genius.” It was a sudden thought that could very well be an intrusive thought: ‘Come to think of it, he did say something about our eyes being the main reason why we got a noble title; the very thing attributing to our ‘genius’… Is that why, because of the Alistair eyes, I noticed his eyes looking so sad at the cliff. To me it was obvious he was lying when he said he just stumbled upon it… Is that another ability of our eyes?’

Probably not – no point in thinking about that now. It’s already passed…

“Do you want to go look around or go straight to the manor?” Tadashi asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Mhh, let’s look around a little bit. I could probably remember how to get to the manor if I see something familiar.”

The last time I came here I was close to three years old, so I doubt I’ll remember anything, but walking around will probably help us.

We can’t get anywhere by staying still, after all.

Tadashi walked while I remained on his back through the roads filled with concession stands. The sight was fairly similar to the village… with the exception of the absurd amount of people that filled the sidewalk. The road was stone; filled with carriages, and bystanders walking aimlessly store to store.

This truly is a center of commercial living.

I’ve learned a little bit, here and there, about the economic failure that took place during the past great wars. Over 100 different currencies have actually collapsed and are obsolete. Their relative countries fell for that reason; if not by the destruction war brought, the money to fund such war was their downfall. It’s painfully tantalizing to catch a glimpse at another’s riches, to be fueled by envy, but to have such envy devour you instead; desolation at its finest.

Currently there’s a shared currency between the four countries that still stand: The gold, silver, bronze, and the copper coin. The coins don’t have an official name stating the countries cooperation, but maybe that’s the point of the coins namelessness?

Commerce between the four countries are extremely close, but, oddly enough, I’ve never seen a dwarf, elf, or a spirit. It could just be because I’ve spent a majority of my short life in the Alistair Village, and not many people visit the village unless to see my father, but maybe some people, regardless of their familiarity through trade, still hold past resentment from the past wars. Perhaps they only trade because they’re aware of their potential collapse without cooperation.

Not allies or friends; but not foes or enemies.

‘A simple business relationship and nothing mor-’

My stomach growled.

“Let’s get some food.” Tadashi suddenly voiced.

“How long have we been walking for?”

“About thirty minutes.”

‘I’ve already eaten on the mountain, but all this indirect socializing has made me hungry. Who would’ve guess that being around people is more tiring than training by myself.’ A trickle of a sigh escaped from my mouth. “How are we going to eat without money?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Tadashi gave me a thumbs up, and an uncharacteristic-like smile that would bewitch any woman in an instant. “Let your older brother handle it.”

Disgusting. If only he smiled like that to other people. If he did he would get a wife immediately, but no! He chooses only to show that smile to his family. What a weirdo… I guess it isn’t all that bad getting spoiled…

‘I do kind of feel like royalty.’ I superciliously thought, flipping my hair.

Almost as if Tadashi heard my thoughts, he stopped by a group of good-looking women.

“Excuse me, young ladies, but do you know any where my little brother and I can get some food?”

“Oh, um…” One of the girls responded, turning to Tadashi. Her eyes flitted across Tadashi’s body and landed directly – better to say homed on me. “Cuteee! That little boy on your back is your little brother? He’s so cuteee!

‘Is he trying to embarrass me? Whatever. I’m too hungry to fight back. I’ll play along.’

“Big brooother,” I whined as cutely as possible, “I’m hungryyy.”

“I know, Little Albus,” Tadashi patted my head, leaking a malicious hint of ulterior motive, “these fine young women are going to tell us where we can get food.”

“AHH. So cuteee!” All the girls exclaimed. “Follow us, there’s a really good place we can show you!”

‘Embarrassment? Yes, my innards are writhing in embarrassment! Values? Morals? Pride? Chivalry is dead! Long gone! What good are those tiny fetters compared to the felicity food offers! Free food! In who’s mind would free food not be something sought after? World hunger would be solved if food were free! So! To do something like feigning as an adorable child for free food; a pitiful, nigh-disgusting little brat… it’s a little sacrifice for the greater good! For the greater good of my stomach, I say! Perhaps the consciousness granted unto me was to realize my own faults, and to fix them for the very attainment of free food!’

“We don’t have any money, is that ok?”

“Don’t worry about it!” Answered a girl with short black hair. “We’re not so cold-hearted that we’d let such a cute child go hungry.”

Geh…

‘Self-consciousness is a virtue? Hah, I make myself laugh just thinking about those words…How bliss ignorance would be…’

“Thank you very much.” Tadashi and I said in union.

Tadashi and I really make a good team. Not trying to sound narcissistic, but both Tadashi and I are pretty good looking. So much so that we could bewitch people like this pretty easily. I never tend to do so, as it hurts my pride way too much. Tadashi, on the other hand, is negligent of this hidden power that is extremely potent to women. He’s too immersed in his books and, if not his books, me. But he does have this certain thing, should the need arise, where he does something else that isn’t very character-like of him. And, when he does, it’s not as though it’s a frivolous act, he, despite his appearance, does it with care.

He cares.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, so the saying goes.

We followed the women to an outside food vendor that had tables surrounding his little white hut. One of the women ordered for everyone, and large plates of an odd food came out; the meat was shaped into a disk, but much thicker. The meaty-disk was then placed in between two toasted buns accompanied with an odd array of toppings and condiments; cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a much sourer cucumber diced into small and thin disks (oddly tasty), and there was this sauce…