C9 Lost in Town 1/2

It's already evening and I'm still walking in this what they called 'city' right now. The structures built around here were so high and were viciously vegetated by gigantic plants and trees.

From the looks of it, it would seem like some kind of plant outbreak happened here. It's surprising that these parts are still populated by humans and were actually quite civilized.

A literal 'urban jungle', it's confoundingly beautiful. The aura this town give, I mean.

I kept wandering everywhere as I walked back to what they called 'hotel' where I was staying.

Char is my name, and I have come to this strange place for one reason!

"I'm lost."

I'm tired.

I want to go to my room and play video games.

I want to go back to my country.

"I shouldn't have gone to that arcade without bringing a map. It was fun while it lasted."

The so called 'animations' inside the 'virtual reality games' in this city were quite similar to my home, so playing games lets me experience a nostalgic feeling deep inside. I really want to go home and bring those games with me then let everyone experience the adventure at home but I still have a lot to do here so I'll leave it for next time.

"Can this place be it? Why do they all have to look the same anyway?!"

Tall buildings here! Tall buildings there!

Minutes passed while walking and I found myself standing in front of another building similar as to where I was staying.

"Please let go! Don't be such a drag!"

"Mister! I have three kids! Aren't you ashamed of yourself!?"

"Ha!? What are you talking about? We already talked about this last night! Stop saying weird stuff! Someone might misunderstand!"

"Help! Somebody! Anybody! This man! He kept me up all night and now he's gonna take me away to go on another all-nighter!"

"Waa!?"

"Seth, we're running out of time!"

At the entrance of the building were three people. One man around his teens was pulling a woman around her 30's or maybe 40's? which was clinging to the handle of the entrance door. The other one was an adorable little long haired girl, probably around 10-14 years old just standing, staring at them, arms folded together like some kind of boss.

Is that guy some kind of procurer? We had those people that sell prostitutes too back in my country and I hated the way they do things and just get away with it just because the law allows it.

"Why don't you help me, then? That way, we can easily take care of this mom"

"You're too cruel! Even after what happened last night!?"

"Seth! hurry up! People are staring!"

The adorable kid looked a little different from the people populating this city. The circlet she was wearing to hold her hair neatly was a perfect fit to her out of place image.

I want to help her but there are two of them and only one of me and the old woman looks somewhat a pain in the ass.

I thought to myself.

Is that little girl the mastermind of their business? She's going to be quite a beauty when she grows up, but she's far too young and cute to be included in such business.

*Shiver

The laws of this country were way scarier than I thought.

I felt a chill running down my spine when the adorable little girl gazed my way with her eyes slit narrow, as if she heard the thoughts I had about her and her company.

"You!"

A clever grin turned the face of the little girl as she pointed towards my direction.

"Me?"

I asked while looking left and right if there were others watching this, but to my dismay, there was none.

"Yes you! Come here for a second."

Am I gonna be turned into one of their products!? Is this how things work in this country!? They pick up girls from the side of the street and buy them or something!? I love the games they sell here but it's not like I want to be turned into one too!

"Why!?"

"Hurry up, I just want to take a quick look at you!"

Inclined to her somewhat frightening request, I stood strong to take a stance and grabbed the circlet I was wearing from my head which transformed into an orb.

"I refuse!"

I gallantly said while raising the orb floating on my hand to cast a spherical shield around me in the case that they'll go violent.

Dark smoke oozed out of her body for a while as she grew angry but disappeared after she calmed herself down.

She walked towards me with a straight to smiling expression as if to mock me.

"That black smoke! Stop! I will not hesitate going offense if you step any closer!"

"Try me."

Back in my country dark smoke leaking out of one's body was a sign that you are one of those evil black winged creatures that lurks around the world doing whatever they want.

There wasn't that much distance between us, so after taking a few steps closer, she was already in front of me.

I tilted my head down because of the significant height difference between us and said:

"You couldn't possibly be one of those guys. You're way too adorable! Would it be okay if I brought you home with me? I can definitely take care of you, this way you won't have to stick with these kinds of business."

With a semi-irked-semi-tearful face, the little girl said with seriousness in her voice.

"Oooh? Is that some kind of insult? *sniff I may be this small but you shouldn't say stuff like that to me."

*ssshhh

The smoke came out again.

Looks are deceiving! She may look like she's about to cry but she's definitely one of them!

I jumped backwards and strengthened my shields but the little girl's nerve was strong, she still stepped closer with pure determination like a kid standing up for herself against a bully. If that makes me the bully then I'll trade my life for this adorable scene... or just half of it.

"I am the great archwizard of the capital! You may look cute but I will not let you do as you please!"

*gasp!

"Wha-!? How did you? aw! aw! aw! Hey! stop pulling!"

After walking through my shields like it was nothing, she stood still for a while and tiptoed so she could grabbed my hair to pull my head closer to her level then looked straight into my left eye.

I stared back into hers and…

*badump *badump

… What is this feeling? It's like all my worries were being washed away.

*badump *badump

Her eyes! I saw her clear and beautiful emerald green eyes! I can see them!

"I was right. You're not from here, are you?"

After those words came out her mouth, she let go of my hair.

"..."

How did she know? Is she perhaps like me? That could be the case if I payed more attention to her appearance.

"Seth leave the mom behind, we're taking this girl with us instead."

"Ugh... is that so? Okay! Mom, don't leave the apartment okay? We're coming back after we're done so stay still.

It was their mom! It was a misunderstanding, but where were they going anyway? and why do I count as a replacement?

This little girl was without a doubt far stronger than me, so I kept quiet as I was scared of being brought back home without completing what I had to do first.

"I'll do it, if you bring some cake when you get back."

"Mom we don't have money to buy some cake."

"Do you have money we can borrow?"

"Ahh, here you go."

I took my pouch filled with coins from the arcade money changer person and handed some to the little girl who asked.

The money here was different from back home so I had a little trouble convincing the cashier to change my money. I was lucky that they accepted it as it was but sadly, it didn't value much.

"Thank you very much! Mom, here's money, go buy something to eat and go back inside after you're done."

Were they really penniless that they had to ask a stranger for money? But they're living in a hotel, one night costs a lot of money already, how much more if you'd stay for a year or more?

The woman who was crying earlier stared at me and gave me a gentle smile, probably as thanks. I smiled back at her in response but quickly averted my eyes because the way she looks at me had a similar feeling to familiarity even though we just met.

"By the way, what do you mean by you're taking me instead? Where are we going?"

"We are going to a graveyard!"

A graveyard!?

"I refuse!"