Villain Path

Chapter 32. The villainy will not leave you

Shen chose to attend the wedding as the next assignment from the list of the Lords, to do this it was necessary to fly to a neighboring big town which was not nearby. Having taken off a little after noon, they were in the city only at sunset.

"Finally!" Shen said, stepping on solid ground, "After such a flight I am ready to enjoy hiking for a very long time!

Al looked at him and grinned as he watched him stretch pushing Volchara off his shoulder awkwardly. The spirit touched the ground and turned into a medium-sized dog. Al continued to quietly gaze at the teacher. He began to inspire a certain special awe in this new crimson outfit. At the same time he began to seem even more detached from the world. Al so wanted to hold him somehow to keep him on this earth, in this world. He was very afraid that he could disappear at any moment! He seemed somehow otherworldly. After what he felt then, looking at his nasty face and hunched figure, Al continued to watch him very closely as if he was afraid that if he looked away, the teacher would disappear. He didn't understand Shen and could not predict his actions. He was not sure that the next moment he would not stand up, hurting himself again. He did not think that the teacher was doing this out of immense kindness, no, such a thing had never occurred to him. But it would be better if he was just naively kind! It would be easier that way. But Al felt that he was doing this because there was some flaw inside him. Is he really cursed? Or, maybe, thinks he's cursed. Al was afraid that Shen actually just wanted to die.

"Al! A-al! Hey!"

"Ah?" Al flinched and blushed crimson. He realized that, having gone into his thoughts, he was still staring at Shen and he noticed it.

"I told you to go and ask the merchant where the Gur family lives."

Al immediately darted away, rejoicing at the opportunity to escape.

"In... in the western part of the city, over there", Al waved his hand, trying to catch his breath. Running to the merchant and back was not far away, but he tried very hard, covering the distance of almost three jumps, "From here about fifteen minutes walk."

"I see..." Shen drawled, "Well, go ahead!"

They had already walked for about half of the way, when Muan, out of nothing to do, decided to start a conversation:

"And what are your plans?"

"None yet", Shen said calmly, "I hope we don't have to stay for the wedding. Although ... Actually, it would be interesting to attend the wedding."

"Have you never seen a wedding ceremony?" Muan wondered.

"No. Is it so strange?"

Muan shrugged his shoulders.

Shen wondered if this was strange. He just has never been to a wedding in his own world. Of course, he had a general idea of what was going on there. And at the same time he was not fully aware of the rituals and ceremonies that are performed there. Is it weird to live for thirty years and never go to a wedding? Not that he was never invited. He had the opportunity three or four times to open this veil of secrecy for himself... But because of some mental anguish, he never went. To some extent he considered it more an achievement than an omission.

And now... he thought it would be fun to attend the wedding. And if it doesn't work out, that's okay. Hmm... Has he really become somehow easier to relate to life after his stupid death? Yes. A new, lighter worldview gave Shen true pleasure. But he could not control it and was afraid that one day it would simply disappear. And Shen will again appear on the stage, who bothers too much over trifles.

At the corner of the crossroads there was a thin man sitting with his head lowered. He looked like a beggar; there was even a bowl for donations near him. Shen glanced over at him and decided he would be fine enough to ask directions.