When I walked out of the hotel, I found myself on the bustling roads of Radan.
Workers in their uniform were coming back from their work.
Young men and women could be seen.
Some were couples, while others were siblings or husband and wife.
It was a beautiful sight to behold.
Muah…
…haaa
I take a deep breath, and surprisingly, the air is fresh despite the fact that people were working in factories.
"Where should we go, Liam?"
"Hmm.., I don't know, sister."
"Master, how about going to the commercial district?"
"Not a bad idea, Alina. Let's go with that."
We started walking towards the commercial district, and I asked my sister how the air is so fresh despite the factories.
"Sister, why is the air so fresh despite the many factories?"
"That is because Liam, unlike normal fuel, monster cores found in the fallen world are used to run the machinery."
"Sister, what is monster core and fallen world?"
"Every monster has a core inside it, ranging from red to purple. Monsters' strength depends on the number of cores and the colour of the core."
"Red to purple?"
"Yes, red to purple."
After that, I asked more questions and learned a lot.
Like the colour of the core range from red, orange, green, cyan, blue and purple. Each monster with the same core can have a different strength.
For example, newborn monsters have a deep red colour core and are weaker compared to an adult monster with a bright red core and many other factors.
Additionally, monsters can evolve their core to gain a skill, and on rare occasions, they leave one of their skills in one of their bones upon death.
As I was digesting the information I learned, we arrived at the commercial district.
"Sale! Sale!"
"One stick of kebab for only one kottar!"
"fresh fruits!"
"Buy one, get one free!"
The district was bustling with shouts from the customers and sellers. It was filled with people.
Shops, stands, and vendors occupied both sides of the street.
"Master, this is the common district. The higher district won't be so noisy, so let's go there."
'This is a common district, huh?'
'I love it.'
"No, Alina, this is fine."
"Do you wanna buy something specific, little bro?"
"Yes! I wanna buy that kebab."
I said excitedly with a clear glint in my eyes.
"Sir, three sticks of kebab please."
"Oh ho, young ones, you want kebab."
"Yes."
"Here, it will be three kottars."
My sister bought three kebabs, one for each of us, that cost three kottar.
Kottar is the currency this world uses to trade, and one kottar is equivalent to one Australian dollar.
Munch~
'Hmm, pretty reasonable price considering the taste.'
"How do you like it, Alina?"
"It is amazing, master."
Alina answers with a delighted expression and a smile on her lips. I was pleased to see the expression on her face.
"You look nice while smiling, so smile more instead of wearing that serious expression on your face."
"Huh, Uh… yes, master."
"Hey! I am here too, you know."
My sister said that with a pout on her face, for being neglected.
After that, we ventured some more and found a talisman shop.
The store owner was an old woman with white hair and wrinkles on her face.
"Come, young ones and buy a talisman for your beloved and yourself."
The old woman urged us with a calm voice.
'I do have pretty bad luck. Considering my previous raid ended with no treasures. Maybe I should buy one for luck enhancement.'
With that thought, I went to her.
"Hey, lil bro, I don't think you should trust her. You might be scammed."
Clara said that with a hushed voice, worrying the old woman might scam me before I left two together to enjoy the cotton candy on their hands.
"It doesn't matter, sis, if I get scammed, I can only blame my luck."
***
"So, what do you want, young man?"
"I want something to boost my luck in the shape of a necklace. Oh, and …"
After hearing my request, the woman searched for a while.
And…
"Here is your charm, young man. I didn't have any necklace with luck enhancement, but this can do the job."
The old woman showed me the charms I requested.
Mine was a bit different from what I requested, but other than that, everything was fine.
I paid the old woman for charms that cost me 15 kottar and rushed back to the girls who were still eating cotton candy with pleased smiles on their faces.
***
Alina was happy.
She enjoyed spending time with her master.
The one who saved her and gave her powers to assist him in fighting Baba Yaga.
'…you are one of my chosen ally to assist me in defeating the BABA YAGA.'
'The Baba Yaga?'
'Yes, the BABA YAGA.
They are an evil organisation that worships the BABA YAGA. You are one of their victims.
For an innocent to live a happy life, I wet my hands with the blood of evil. Oh, the child of the great tree, will you assist me in vanquishing the evil worshippers?'
Though he didn't know her well enough and didn't ask about her past, he still cared about her.
He gave her the warmth that she had long forgotten about.
After her rescue, he asked her to come with him to the banquet.
'Alina, come with me to the banquet?'
She was happy.
Very happy.
She didn't know why…
…but that didn't matter.
So, she went along with the boy who saved her.
They travelled in a carriage.
'Beautiful.'
She saw beautiful scenery. Even though it was not her first time, it felt different watching the scene with the boy who rescued her.
She arrived at Radan and shared a room with her saviour's sister, whose name was Clara.
Knock~
Knock~
The door was knocked so she went to see who it was.
She saw her saviour upon opening the door.
'Would you like to come with me to sightsee?'
She and Clara took the offer without hesitation.
They walked but didn't have any place in mind to visit, so she suggested going to the commercial district.
So, they went and arrived at the common district.
Clara bought them kebabs.
And…
She ate it.
She didn't have much expectation.
But…
'Delicious.'
The kebab was delicious.
She ate it with a delighted expression, and her saviour saw that.
'How do you like it, Alina?'
'It is amazing, master.'
'You look nice while smiling, so smile more instead of wearing that serious expression on your face.'
'Huh, Uh… yes, master.'
She got a compliment.
She blushed but didn't want others to see.
So…
She lowered her head.
They walked and had all kinds of food.
Soon they arrived at an old shop.
The shop's sign read 'Talisman and charm shop'
Her saviour went to the shop to buy something.
She secretly glanced at him to see what he would buy.
Then…
He came back with a smile.
***
I showed my sister Clara and Alina the charms that I bought.
Mine was a black ear piercing, which will supposedly help me boost my luck.
And…
"Here I bought them for you two."
"What does it do?"
"It is supposed to be a protective charm."
"Really?"
"Yes, stop asking questions if you don't like it, give it back."
"NO! When did I say I disliked it?"
"Oh, Alina, here is one for you too."
"Um, thank you, master."
"Do you like it, Alina?"
"Yes, master."
"You don't have to force yourself. If you don't like it, Alina."
"N-no, I love it, master, after all…"
…'You are the one who gave it.'
I didn't hear the last part because she mumbled it to herself.
'As long as she likes it, I don't mind.'
I had chosen a protective charm for them to keep the evil away from them. Both were in the form of a necklace.
'I wish I too had gotten a necklace.'
Clara's charm was shaped in the form of a shield, and Alina's was in the shape of a dove with open wings.
"Let's head back. It has gotten dark."
"Yes, master."
"Yes, lil bro, let go."
D-DAYS: 1.5
***
BONUS CONTENT
-JAMES POV-
Yawn~
"It has gotten pretty late."
With a blurry eye, I look out the window to see that the sky had turned black and the moon was hanging over the city of Radan.
"Where is Liam?"
He did say he wanted to go out.
"Is he with the girls?"
I got up to wash up and went to the girls' room.
Knock~
Knock~
"Oh, James, it is you."
"Who else if not me? And what is with that necklace?"
"Oh, this, Liam bought me a gift while you were asleep."
Clara said that while puffing her chest as if to say, 'heh, see I got this while you were busy sleeping.'
"OUCH!"
Looking behind her, I see Liam getting a piercing on his left ear.
"What the Hell?!"