Chapter Two

The shopkeeper looked on quietly as Xiao Fei's face burned bright red. The teen eventually stammered out an apology and quickly turned away. The shopkeeper didn't realize he was so terrifying to youngsters these days. He sighed with heartache and annoyance. He had always been viewed as some kind of monster NPC to the players, and all of the NPC's revered him too much to become friends with him due to some of his past...adventures. He always knew this type of life and had become quite lonely in his old age.

The shopkeeper actually didn't know how old he was. All he knew was that he's been the shopkeeper ever since he can remember. The fact that he has forgotten must mean he was very old. However, while he described himself as an old man, others still saw him as a stunning youth. He looked to be in his mid-twenties with dark cunning eyes and a sly smile. Coupled with his ever changing mood and mysterious aura, most thought him to look like some kind of beautifully wretched madman.

The shopkeeper decided he might as well get some shut eye if the group was set on taking a break. So, he promptly cozied up to one of the boulders and immediately fell asleep. Many from the group of youngsters that sat off to the side of him kept their vigilance against him. Every time the shopkeeper so much as twitched they all collectively held their breath. Eventually, as the sun sunk lower and lower into the sky, the group relaxed their vigilance and one by one succumbed to their fatigue. They were all exhausted from walking through the desert without rest.

Once the last hormonal youngster fell asleep, the shopkeeper cracked open an eye. He needed to find that stupid NPC blogger and ask why he requested a holy artifact in a beginners instance. He also didn't know why the dumb idiot didn't meet at the requested location. The shopkeeper felt a headache coming on. He couldn't babysit the youngsters for too long. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to get his compensation from the idiot blogger and make a hasty retreat from the overly dramatic ending sequence of the instance. The shopkeeper looked down at his smooth hand and eyed a certain ring on his finger.

The ring was made up of a brilliant red stone that was so dark it looked like blood and a golden band with intricate carvings. The shopkeeper used his other hand to twist the stone clockwise and disappeared from the side of the youngsters.

The shopkeeper's vision filled with darkness. He grinned.

...........................................

Nyanko: Did your hubby give you the ring? Please tell me it's on your ring finger.

Shopkeeper: Do I look like I've had a proper conversation with someone recently? Who would give me a ring. Idiot

Nyanko: Aww don't worry you won't be a sad and crotchety old man soon ;)

Shopkeeper: What's with that?! Don't just decide things by yourself!!

Hubby: ... ;)

Shopkeeper: ....