"Ah, what a stretch?"
Cedric walked to the house, yawning with his cap in hand. He had just finished training and now he was tired.
He entered the building and started going up the stairs when he saw Nolan coming down.
"You're back?" Nolan said, walking past Cedric without sparing him glance.
"Is she awake?" Cedric asked.
"Mhmm." Nolan nodded, walking out of the building.
"Was he up there all this while? It's been a while though," Cedric mumbled to himself before continuing up the stairs.
He stopped in front of his door, but looked at the rest of the stairs going upwards. He wondered whether to go check on Liana or not.
He made up his mind and jogged up the stairs and stopped in front of Liana's door, he raised his hand to knock but hesitated a bit.
He breathed in and drew it back. Immediately his hand went forward, the door swung open and Liana was coming out hurriedly, making him unintentionally knock her on the forehead.
"Oww!" Liana groaned, putting a palm over her forehead with eyes closed.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Cedric apologized, waving. "It was a mistake."
"I know. I know," Liana said, waving a dismissive hand. "I just rushed out. It's my fault." She fully exited the room and closed the door.
She had changed from her uniform to a simple cream-colored gown with flower designs on them.
Cedric looked at her curiously. "You're going somewhere?"
"Uh, not really," Liana replied, twisting the key in the lock. "Just a walk."
"Oh." Cedric nodded. "Well, I came to check on you. How are you feeling?"
"Good."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Her answers came faster than they should, as if she was in a hurry to get somewhere. "What really happened? Sylvia's worried."
"Hit my head when attacked by a demon. Tell her I'm fine. I'll be back."
She walked past him hurriedly, going down.
Cedric turned back, watching as she descended the stairs. Something was wrong with her.
… …
Outside...
Nolan was leaning on a building, eyes closed when Liana walked up to him and stopped at his front. "You're late," Nolan said.
"What do you mean I'm late?" Liana complained.
"Nevermind," Nolan said, pushing off the wall and walking forward. "Follow me."
Liana fell into step behind him with a frown. "Where are we going?"
She was unhappy, yes, because she didn't want to do any of this. Nolan had asked her to dress nicely and follow him to a place where she would help him get something.
In return, he would teach her one thing.
"Just keep shut and follow me," Nolan voiced.
"Don't act like I'm your slave. I'm just helping you do this because—" Liana's complain was cut off.
"Because I'm also helping you. We're both benefiting, so just shut up."
"Don't tell me to shut up, idiot."
"Alright then, keep barking."
Liana clenched her fists, drawing one back as if planning to hit Nolan from behind, but she closed her eyes and took a deep breath in and out, calming herself down.
Besides, people passing by started giving her strange looks, so she just dropped the hand and followed him quietly.
After five minutes, the duo got to the market area and there, Liana couldn't help but wonder what Nolan brought her here for.
Was he going to buy something and make her carry it back? No. He wouldn't dare… right? Right?
But to her surprise, they went deeper into the market, reaching the edge of the market where the stalls were fewer.
However, Liana couldn't keep her focus as she often received glances and weird smiles from a few men.
She was beautiful, yes. But the dress she put on made her look even more dazzling.
At some point, she had slowed down after getting carried away by some flowers and Nolan had walked farther.
She was still staring when a voice cut through her trance. "Beautiful, aren't they?"
"Hm?" Liana looked up to see a young man—long brown hair, broad shoulders, a firm jaw and a smile that would make the heart of any girl skip a beat. He was holding out a flower to her—a Daisy.
Yeah, Liana wasn't "any girl," and she just blinked.
"Oh yes. Indeed they are," she smiled, looking at it. "Is that for me?"
The man nodded. "Thank you?" Liana said, about to extend a hand when a certain someone's head poked up between.
Nolan stood between Liana and the man with a bored look. He raised his hand and gripped petals of the Daisy flower, squeezing them and yanking them out.
The man frowned, irritated by Nolan's intervention.
"What in the world was that for?!" Liana voiced angrily, looking at the squashed petals on the floor.
"Who's this fool?" The man asked.
Nolan stood there, blinking like he hadn't just gotten asked a question.
"Sorry, we came together. I don't know what's wrong with him," Liana explained, glaring at the back of Nolan's head.
Though he was just staring, he was doing something else none of them knew.
Nolan had already seen when the man was approaching Liana, but waited until he did what he did, all for the sake of testing something out.
[Talent: Friend - Instantly calms a target and makes you seem trustworthy and familiar]
[Copy? Y/N]
It was exactly as he understood it. Moreover, he's seen this guy countless times, making girls act all weird and turn red, so he knew very well it was a talent.
"Y"
[Added to Library.]
'So Talent's are automatically saved in the library, huh?' he thought.
After copying, Nolan held Liana's hand and dragged her off, leaving the man with twitching brows.
"Poor luck today, huh? Seems she was with her man." The owner of the flower shop laughed. It was his cousin.
… …
"Let go of me," Liana grunted, pulling her hand free. "What is wrong with you?"
"I didn't call you out to take flowers from random guys in the streets," said Nolan without turning or stopping.
Liana put a hand on her forehead, frustratedly as she followed him. 'I should have just refused this,' she thought.
Nolan suddenly stopped and she did the same beside him, looking up to see where he had brought her to.
It was a smithy.
Why did he bring her here, dressed like this.
Here questions were answered soon when Nolan said, "I want you to help me speak with the owner, like you're interested in him, loosening his guard. I don't care if you wish be… seductive. then ask for—"
"What?! No. Absolutely not." Liana protested. "I'm not interested in this."
Nolan blinked, then continued anyways. "Then ask for the gold compass that's on the shelf behind him, at the very top."
"Did you even hear me at all?" Liana raised her hands, exaggeratedly.
Nolan blinked again. "I'll be waiting by the side, to take care of the rest."
Liana's brows furrowed in annoyance. "Do you not understand what 'no' means?"
"Shall we cancel our deal then?" Nolan asked. "It's just a simple task, I—Alright then, you can go. I'll do it myself."
Without a word, Nolan walked off and entered the smithy, leaving her outside by herself.
He saw the owner—an obese man with arms the size of hams and rough beard. "What do you want, mister?" the man asked, voice unkind and irritated.
Nolan remained there by the door, tapping his feet, mumbling something to himself. "5... 4... 3..."
The door opened again and Nolan let a razor thin smile play on his lips.
"Hellooo," Liana's voice came as she walked past Nolan to the counter, where the owner sat up with a sheepish grin on his face.
His plan had worked. He had made her doubt herself before coming in and she fell for his bait so easily.
Now his focus returned to the reason why they were here. At the very top of the shelf behind the owner. The Compass.