The Ranch

Wakey Wakey (3)

Tih decided to go for a short walk, which from an outsider's perspective, would look like a bullet train. Usually, Tih wouldn't even be able to be seen, his image would flash by, but after a month without moving, Tih's body has become stiff, lowering his abilities.

Tih walks around the circumference of the island a couple time, letting an hour pass by. Bored of the scenery, he decided to look through the Central Market. Tih likes the market, because every time he goes, he can see something he didn't see before.

Walking through the maze of streets, chatter fills his ears and the orange glow of the lamps fills his vision. The smell of tasty food fills his nose. Tih enjoys the atmosphere of the night market that's like a never-ending street festival.

Tih stops paying attention to his surrounding as his sight is taken up by the glittering food. He's using his instincts to bypass people and not run into anyone. That is until he sees the familiar cotton candy and even his subconscious is occupied by the memory of the delicious taste. He ends up ramming into a large back, knocking it down and landing on top.

An angry but familiar voice fills his ear, grabbing his attention," You! How dare you! Do you even know who you just ran-" The man's voice pauses as he turns his head to look at the person that knocked into him. "Tih!? Oh god, You're awake!! Are you ok!? I-I heard what happened, I'm so sorry. It was entirely my fault. I tried visiting you, but there was never any answer..." The man turns around to inspect the child for injuries. He caresses Tih's cheeky in a worried, motherly manner, a frown on his face. "I heard you've been in a coma for the past month. The medicine and doctor's bill, let me pay for it. It's my fault that man took notice of you in the first place. Ah! And although he survived, you don't have to worry, I've already made sure he won't be able to take revenge, you don't have to worry about that."

Tih sits on Phillip's lap as his words overlap and he tries to explain. Tih listens patiently, but the smell of food drift back into his nose. Now that his own personal piggy bank is next to him, Tih doesn't hesitate or really even think about it, before he gets up and pulls Phillip's sleeve to follow him. He leads the anxious man to a kabob stand. Standing in front of the cart, he turns to look at Phillip with emotionless blue eyes.

Phillip looks at those large blue eyes that match the child's chubby pale skin. Understanding the gist of what Tih wants, he orders two kabobs. Handing one to Tih, he eats the other himself," What else do you want to eat?"

Tih drags Phillip around for the next hour, until Tih's belly is completely full. They end the street food meal with a smoothie and decide to walk around for digestion purposes.

"When did you wake up? Today?" Phillip asks.

Tih nods slightly.

"What! Really? Should you be walking around absorbing all this food? Aren't you tired?"

Tih nods.

"Argh, you should have told me in the first place!" Phillip rubs the back of his neck in distress. "Will you be okay walking back to the dorms? Do you want to sleep in one of my building instead? I really don't think you should be walking around like this after being in a coma for a month." Phillip wears a genuinely concerned expression on his face.

Tih nods in agreement. He really was tired, not because of the coma, but because he ate too much food and was ready to go into a food coma.

"Okay, you can sleep in one of master's buildings... There should be some empty rooms in that building." Phillip leads Tih to one of the building his teacher owns. He gets two bedrooms from the workers. Phillip's infamy is well-known, especially among the workers. None of the workers would dare to deny the owner's student of what he wants.

Phillip continues to talk to Tih as they get ready to sleep for what's left of the night. "The Newbie Tournament is coming up, are you participating in the individual or class tournaments? I don't think it's a good idea, considering you were just in a coma." Phillip brings up the tournament that takes place in two days.

He talks as he tucks Tih into the bed. "Ah...are you in any combat classes? If you get picked for the class competition, it can't be helped, but you should try to lay low. It's fine if you don't get in the tournament, I can still introduce you to some instructors that are looking for promising students." Phillip persuades.

He glances outside and notices there's only a couple of hours until the sun rises," Try to get some sleep. If you need anything, I'll be in the room to your left. Good night." Phillip ruffles Tih's curly brown hair before leaving the room.

Tih shuffles under the covers before closing his eyes and falling into darkness.