Extraordinary - A WMMAP Fanfiction

Chapter 2 - Revised Version

"Your Majesty, where are you going!?" An old butler exclaimed, cold sweat running down his wrinkled back as he nervously looked at a young man in a dark hood.

Each year, a grand ball was held to celebrate the founding of the Obelia Empire, most nobles normally attended such a grand event, either using it to socialize and have fun, or further increase their influence.

But after attending such a grand ball for how many years, Anastacius had grown tired of the boring event, and decided to attend the commoners festival instead. Of course, that decision entirely came on a whim he had the night before.

With one last glance at the old butler, Anastacius' grin grew wider before he teleported himself out of the Emperor's Palace and into a secluded alleyway.

Anastacius turned towards a heavy crowd, hearing the hustle and bustle of the Obelia citizens. In truth, Anastacius himself didn't know why he suddenly had this ridiculous whim. He was bored, but he wouldn't just come to a commoners event for nothing.

But something told him last night that he had to come here today. He was a noble, he wasn't supposed to be here, but he wondered what had beckoned him to come here today.

Lost in thought, Anastacius failed to notice how his feet unknowingly moved on their own, heading into a direction that was unknown to him until he finally felt something bony hit him, causing him and whatever it was to fall.

Anastacius loudly groaned from the impact, glaring at the woman in front of him in anger.

The woman was filthy, and malnourished. Her skin had sunken and her bones were already as visible as can be, she looked like she could faint or die at any moment. Not only that, but this woman seriously needed a shower, she smelled of a dead rat rotting inside a dumpster.

Anastacius wanted to push her away in repulsion, to tell her to get off of him until she suddenly snapped her head up, eyes connecting with his.

Anastacius felt his breath hitch, his eyes widening like saucers as he silently looked at her extraordinary eyes. Her eyes shone emerald with a slight tint of gold underneath her green, and he felt himself being lost in them. Everything about her felt so dull and lifeless, yet her eyes seemed to shine more brilliantly than anything he's ever seen before.

"I caught you!" An unknown voice yelled out, causing Anastacius to snap out of his trance, head looking up to see a royal knights take hold of her arm, grip tightening by the second as he started to drag her somewhere.

Anastacius wanted to call out to her, to take her hand in his. He didn't know why. He just...felt like it.

"Stop!" He commanded before having realized what he was doing.

"Do you need something?" The knight questioned, raising a single brow.

Anastacius internally scoffed at himself. What was he doing? This wasn't like him, "Let that woman go." He commanded, causing the knight to slightly scoff at his arrogance.

"Listen here, it might not have been that big a crime, but this woman still stole from someone, so I'm taking her to prison." The knight explained, "Don't interfere."

Anastacius felt annoyance build up within himself. While it was understandable why this knight doubted his authority, it still annoyed him to no end to be treated just like any other commoner.

"What did she steal? I'll pay for it."

The knight scoffed, pointedly glaring at the woman beside him as he silently ordered her to explain it herself.

Anastacius directed his gaze to Callista, watching as she nervously shifted in place, eyes wandering near the place they both fell on earlier.

Anastacius turned to look at bread. A single loaf. It must have fallen off when they bumped into each other. But the sad part was the fact that the bread she had stolen was smaller than his palm. It was clear that she wasn't exactly into stealing things. Why else would she take such a pathetic piece of bread?

Anastacius snickered in derision, "Your taking her too prison for that?"

The knight flushed red from embarrassment. He knew that she stole something, but he didn't know that it was something as pathetic as that. The stall owner made it sound like Callista stole some precious jewel she owned.

But unknown to the knight, the stall owner was actually into mini bread, which was why her stalk was filled with it. The knight had been so preoccupied by the thief herself that he failed to notice exactly what she had stolen in the first place.

The knight watched as the man's lips turned up into a sneer, mocking him for thinking of the worst when the situation wasn't actually as bad as the stall owner made it out to be.

Anastacius approached the beet red knight, handing him a single gold coin as he then took Callista's filthy hands into his unblemished one.

A gold coin for that piece of bread was too much, but Anastacius didn't care.

After being dragged by the mysterious man, Callista continued to silently stare at his broad back. She wondered why he saved her back then? Was it out of pure intent, or did he have some sort of ulterior motive?

Callista shook her head. No, he saved her, so she should at least believe that he's a good person, she owes him at least that much. She didn't know where he was taking her, but she hoped it was somewhere pleasant.

Preoccupied with her own thoughts, Callista failed to notice how Anastacius stopped in his tracks, resulting in her lightly bumping into him.

She looked up, wondering why he suddenly stopped until she finally noticed how Anastacius was handing money to an older man behind a stall.

Slightly tilting her head to the side, Callista silently watched as Anastacius took a kebab in his grasp before shoving it in front of her face.

"Here," he slightly lifted the kebab higher, signalling for her to take it, "You need to eat."

Anastacius focused his gaze on her expression, counting each one he found. Excitement, Confusion, Happiness, and Surprise.

Anastacius smiled at the many emotions she held with that one expression. He found it adorable in a way.

With shaky hands, Callista gratefully received the food he bought her, "Are you sure I can eat this?" She asked, voice slightly hoarse from dehydration. The only time she was ever able to drink water was when it rained, but unfortunately, it hadn't rained in awhile.

Anastacius watched as her eyes seemed to shine even brighter than before, his gaze focused on the glint in her eyes as she eagerly looked at the kebab in her grasp, "Of course." He grinned.

Feeling her heart tickle with excitement, Callista gratefully took a piece, humming in satisfaction before Anastacius started to drag her to another stall for more food.