A Great Morning

Chapter 10

-XXX-

Stern

-XXX-

A dimly lit alleyway, far off from the main street.

It seemed like the kind of place where petty crimes happened.

And I was right.

Standing in the dead centre of a group of five thugs.

I sighed. Perhaps I’ll add another death to my list today.

At least my suffering wouldn't be alone.

I glanced to my left.

There was that ginger-haired noble, Adrias Vale. The guy those thugs were really after.

Then my eyes scooted over to the right.

Couldn't forget the reason we were here in the first place. Laurel Ains, the former med-student.

Her gaze locked onto me as her face dripped with sweat. Slowly, she reached out a hand.

“Hey, Scar—”

“Don’t.”

In an instant, her arm retracted. Her lips sealed shut.

-XXX-

It was around the evening, and the sun began to lower.

SKRRR—!

“Laurel, slow down—”

Her grip on my wrist tightened.

“IT’S ON SALE. I CAN’T!”

“At least don’t drag me,” I muttered, yanking my arm away.

A scoff escaped my lips as she ran towards a fruit stall, her eyes sparkling.

Eventually, I dragged my feet towards her.

Out of all the things she could’ve gotten addicted to, it was the drefura fruit. They were literally just green dragon fruits.

THUD.

She slammed her hand against the counter, leaving a jarring impact.

“FIVE DREFURAS!”

“No, we’re not spending all our money on this.” I pulled on her shoulders, trying to get her away.

Laurel joined her hands together. “Four?” she pleaded.

I shook my head. “No.”

“Three?”

“No.”

“Two?”

I let out a sigh. “Fine.”

Her face brightened.

“Yay!” she squealed, throwing her hands in the air.

Whatever. The faster I dealt with this nonsense, the sooner I could get to searching.

I slipped my hand into my purse, taking out a few coins.

“Commoner?”

A voice came from behind us.

Laurel instantly turned her head. “Huh?” She tapped a finger on her cheek. “Sounds like someone I know.”

I shifted my gaze, looking back.

There stood a man covered from head to toe.

I glanced at Laurel who seemed as confused as me.

“Sorry?” she repeated.

SWUSH—!

The cloak slipped off the man’s head, his fingers hooked into the cloth.

The sunlight revealed ginger hair. Beneath it, emerald eyes sparkled.

In an instant, her eyes widened.

“Adrias?” she called out, tilting her head.

As in that noble?

“I didn’t expect to meet you again.” The words left his mouth, flat and disappointed.

Completely unfazed by the energy, Laurel shot out a hand.

“Same here!”

He stared, confused.

“Are you expecting me to ‘shake hands’ with you?”

She nodded. “Obviously. It’s how people greet each other."

“How commoners greet each other.” The noble pouted. “Don’t lump me in with the lot of you.” He shut his eyes, turning his head away.

“Another practice, thwarted by this world’s culture.” The med student stood frozen, stuck in place.

He lifted an eye open.

“You.” He shot out a finger. “Who must you be?”

I blinked.

Wait, me?

“She’s my friend!” Laurel jumped beside me. “Her name’s Scarlett.”

“I see.” He brought his hand to his chin. “I feel pity for her.”

“HEY!”

“So do I.” Didn’t even realize I uttered the words till they left my mouth.

“NOT YOU TOO!” she cried, shaking me back and forth.

I’d gotten used to it.

The noble stared, likely silently judging everything. Can’t blame him.

Finally, a groan erupted from his lips.

“How many drefuras do you want?”

“Huh?” Laurel stopped shaking me, her grip loosening.

His foot tapped against the ground. “Answer honestly.”

“Well,” she put a finger on her chin, as if in deep thought.

Her eyes brightened. She raised both of her hands, opening all of her fingers. “I’m craving ten.” She huffed, a grin plastered across her face.

“That’s all?”

“Yep.” She nodded proudly.

The noble walked up to the stall, dropping a small leather bag tied with a red ribbon.

“Ten drefuras,” he told the man sitting behind the counter.

Laurel blinked, running next to him. “Wait, really?”

He raised an eyebrow, a look of confusion on his face. “Do you want me to take it back—”

“NO!” she shouted, a bit too quickly.

I continued to stand where I was. A sigh left my lips.

It’s impressive if she’s already befriended a noble here.

Well, if they are friends.

-XXX-

I could feel my appetite dropping by the second.

Just by watching her eat.

I slumped against a wooden bench, while Laurel sat beside me.

She was munching away like a wild beast. Not a single care for self-image.

A nearby family took one glance at her and went the opposite way. Not an exaggeration.

I want to go the opposite way too.

The noble sat on another bench, his face scrunched as he stared at her.

Laurel finally slowed down.

“Mmhmhmh!” Her voice came out muffled, mouth still stuffed with fruits.

His face still grimaced as he turned his eyes away. “Could you repeat that?” he asked, barely keeping a composed look.

She swallowed the mouthful.

“Thanks for buying me these!” Laurel beamed, a smile on her face.

He paused, his gaze falling on her just for a split second.

“You shouldn’t. It’s barely an issue for me,” Adrias coughed out, a hand covering his mouth.

She’d already bitten into the next one. “Mmhm!”

No one understood that.

I shifted my body, facing the noble sitting on the other bench.

“Mr. Adrias Vale,” I called.

He lifted his gaze to meet mine. “Adrias is just fine.”

The formalities dropped pretty quickly…

“Well, Adrias,” I crossed a leg over my other. “Why are you here?”

“What do you mean by that?” he asked, tilting his head.

“In this city.” I motioned to the streets around us. “I doubt you’d just come alone.” After all, he was a noble. He’d at least have one bodyguard.

Yet he was walking out alone.

“You’re right,” he admitted, his foot tapping on the ground. “I came here to get peonies for my sister’s marriage.”

Laurel told me that already.

“Where is she?”

“At the capital,” he answered.

The capital… No idea where that was.

CREAK!

Adrias stood up.

“I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Laurel finished the last drefura, gulping the final piece.

“Already?” she blurted, about to stand up.

Immediately, I put a hand on her shoulder, yanking her back down.

“He’s a noble. Unlike us, he’s got more important duties,” I whispered into her ear.

“Running a flower shop’s important too!” she scowled.

“Yes, yes,” I waved my hand dismissively. “I know.”

I got up, a scoff escaping my lips.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Adrias.” I lowered my head. “We should take our leave too.”

I turned around, dragging Laurel behind me, a frown still on her face.

We’d barely taken a step when—

“Wait!”

Both of our heads turned around.

He twisted a stray strand of his hair around his finger. “I can stay for a while longer.”

He froze.

“I mean—” The noble frantically shook his hands in a panic. “There’s this restaurant I heard about here.” He rubbed the back of his neck, rambling on, “I’d like to know the way.”

“I know that place!” She jumped instantly.

I arched my brow. “How’d you know what restaurant he’s talking about?”

She flashed a smile. “Ashlynn told me there’s only one restaurant worth going to here.”

CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

Gravel scattered beneath her shoes as she ran forward.

“There’s a shortcut, we won’t have to walk that far!” she squealed, gesturing towards an alley.

I sighed, my shoulders slumping. I didn’t trust those words at all.

Took a quick glance at the noble. His face told me he didn’t either.

But for some damn reason, we went along anyway.

-XXX-

And that’s how we ended up here.

Should’ve just trusted my gut.

The grimy alleyway wasn’t inviting at all. Neither were the shady men with sharp blades in their hands.

“Well, isn’t that the Vale heir?” one of the thugs called, his voice dripping with contempt. In his hand, he gripped a dagger.

“How much do you think he has on him?” another sneered, blocking our way out.

“What about the other two?” A scarred thug’s gaze fell onto Laurel and me.

A shorter man swung a stick in his hand. “You think they're with him?”

“I saw ‘em in the market together, even on the benches,” the skinniest of them all barked, his face twitching into the spasm of a smile.

Jeez. Can I just leave?

I mean, they’re only after that noble, right?

Shoes gently hit the ground as Laurel tiptoed her way towards me.

“Scar…” she whispered, as a bead of sweat ran down her forehead.

A scoff tugged my lips. “Laurel, I am never following directions from you again.” I groaned.

“I know…” she frowned, her head dropping.

I glanced towards Adrias to see how he was doing.

My eyes narrowed. He didn’t seem panicked at all. He was composed. Calm even.

Aside from the way his foot faintly tapped against the ground.

It didn’t read to me like fear. It felt more like annoyance.

His eyes darted around, as if he was looking for something… or someone.

What was it?

CREAK!

The noise instantly drew my gaze towards it.

The scarred thug approached us with a blade in his hands. It was pretty dull, but I’d still rather not get hit.

“If you don’t want things to get messy,” he snorted, stepping closer. “I’d suggest you drop everything you have.” A chortle erupted from his mouth, loud and vile.

I yawned, covering my mouth with my hand. This was getting tiring.

The skinnier man began to walk circles around the noble. “So, whaddya have?” He spat onto the ground. “You filthy noble.”

Adrias crossed his arms, a sigh escaping his lips.

“I have no need to listen to you,” he scoffed, turning his head away.

Silence.

Everyone stared.

…

“What?” The thug blinked once, then twice.

“Did I stutter?” the noble snapped.

“I—” the skinny man stammered, at a loss for words. “You nobles have no idea what it’s like in a real fight,” he growled, standing before Adrias. Their faces were inches apart. “You’ve never fought a day in your life.”

“Sounds prejudicial.” The noble’s foot tapped against the ground. “But it's true.”

Why the HELL is he provoking them?!

I stepped back, glancing around me. That thug was still blocking the way out.

Damn it. This guy’s attitude’s gonna get me killed.

I snapped my gaze towards Laurel, maybe she had something… anything?

…

She was watching the entire thing wide-eyed. Starstruck. Her legs were fidgeting as she squealed excitedly.

Am I the only one who doesn’t want to die here?

The man began to fume, his fists clenching. “Then, you better give us all you have,” he said through gritted teeth.

Adrias paused, bringing his hand to his chin. As if he was actually thinking about it.

I sighed. Maybe I won’t die after all—

“Denied.”

The word left the noble’s mouth. The silence lingered in the air.

…

I turned my head towards the skinny man, agonizingly slow.

His eyes were red. A vein bulged from his forehead. His fists clenched further, enough to draw blood from his own palm.

While the noble still stood there, his head turned away. He hadn’t even looked at the man in front of him. ONCE.

Laurel was still watching the entire thing like it was live entertainment.

Our way out was blocked off too. The hell was I supposed to do?

Damn it.

I pulled a leg back, a trail of dust flying.

Placed my hands in front of my chest, curled into tight fists.

Laurel glanced at me, her face brightening. She copied my movements in an instant.

Adrias still refused to look at the man who was inches before his face.

A sigh tugged my lips.

Guess we have no other choice.

SKRR—!

The thug bolted, his fist just grazing the noble’s face when—

THUNK.

A hot puff of air followed.

Everyone stopped.

The blade flew so fast, none of us could even react in time.

A knife, buried deep into the wall, barely passing through the gap between the thug’s fist and Adrias’ face.

The thug grew pale.

While a smirk crept up on the noble’s lips. He finally stopped tapping his foot.

“Finally,” he muttered, raising his head in the opposite direction.

The one where the knife came from.

“Took you long enough.” His voice remained unfazed.

“Reese.”

SHKK—!

A knife cut through the air.

The thug fell back, an arm wrapped around his neck as he struggled for air. He flailed desperately, like a bug drowning in water.

That’s when I noticed the purple strand of hair.

“Could we drop the weapons now?”

That voice. I’d heard it before.

Another thug ran from behind, clutching at a wooden plank. He aimed straight for the back of her head.

THUD.

A kick was all it took to snap it clean in half.

“Jeez, the quality of wood here is awful.” she murmured.

My eyes widened.

Eyara Feigns.

Her gaze shifted to the noble, her flat mouth curving in a grin. “Didn’t take too long,” she chuckled. “Did I?”

“If you were a second late, you would’ve been,” he ranted, stomping his foot.

The man in her grasp was hurled to the ground.

“Perfect timing.” She fixed her glasses on her nose.

“No,” he walked up to her. “Not at all.”

I stood there, frozen.

All that searching… just to find her like this?

Guess it was a bit disheartening.

I sighed.

She paused, her eyes locked onto the thugs.

Her lips parted. “I’ve heard of some people looking for an Eyara feigns.”

Laurel jumped, literally. “YES!” she squealed. “That would be us!”

“I see,” she glanced towards the med student. “Too bad then.”

‘Too bad?’ I paused. What does she mean by that—

Then, a silent chuckle erupted from her throat. “There’s no Eyara Feigns here.”

I blinked. Staring at her.

“Just…” she turned around.

The thug who’d been hurled onto the ground was still there, gnawing on the gravel as he struggled to get back to his feet.

Fuelled by rage, he grabbed a metal pipe. His breathing was ragged and furious.

And then—

His feet left the ground as he lunged towards the woman.

“Reese Myers.” The words hung in the air. Loud and heavy.

The skinny man froze. His rage vanished. His lips quivered with fear while his face grew pale.

THUD.

He dropped to the ground. Horrified. His entire body shook as he scrambled to get up, his foot slipping beneath him.

The other thugs were white. Frozen in place.

The lady’s eyes locked onto them. A cold, piercing gaze.

SKRRR—!

They ran. Fast.

Leaving only the skinny man, trembling in fear.

She kneeled down, inches away from his face. Her gaze met his.

“Aren’t you going to run?” she whispered into his ear.

The man’s eyes widened. His breath hitched. He scrambled, grabbed at anything he could, just to get up.

He scampered away, his foot slipping as he forced himself to run as fast as he could.

…

The sight was something else entirely.

My gaze slowly fell on the woman.

Eyara Feigns—

I shook my head. No.

Reese Myers.

The woman I’d been searching for weeks.

Was finally in front of me.

…

Just who are you?

~A Great Morning~