ONEIRAL: The Witch, The Book and The Mirror

Chapter 5: Can't you feel?

"Remind me again why are we going to town, so early?" Korem yawned.

"I already told you, I need some stuff" she replied "and stop complaining! I asked if you wanted to stay but noooooo" she said, flapping her hands dramatically in the air.

"Well, what was I supposed to do alone all day?!" he pouted.

"You're always alone all day! I barely leave my room!" she exclaimed back.

"Well fine, yes! Anyway, I don't know why we have to come so early"

"It's not that early, I don't even wake up early! Besides, it's important"

"Are you telling me why are we going?"

"Look, we're here!" she exclaimed, pointing to the start of the main road leading to town, and the few wooden cabins that were already visible. She started walking faster, while Korem just sighted and hurried to match her pace.

A few minutes later they were in town, at the entrance of the market. There were clouds in the sky, and the cold wind blew and whistled between the stands, blowing people's cloaks away and threatening to blow away the sails over the place. The sails produced all grey shadows, instead of the usual colorful mosaic they projected in the floor. Sel held her hood with one hand while she reached into her bag with the other, pulling out a folded piece of paper.

"Here" she said, handing him the piece of paper "we need to get the items in this list. You have two free hands and you are more careful, so you're in charge of the list!" she indicated .

"What are you using your hands for?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Holding my hood in place of course" she stated, matter-of-factly.

"Whatever for?"

"Well, you see, I have these things called horns, which normal people don't have, so they draw a lot of attention, and we really don't need attention" she said, talking and gesturing as if she was explaining something to a child.

"Fine, but you'll lead the way, I barely know this place" he agreed, letting out a long sight.

"Sure, what's first?"

"Willow bark. Why do you need willow bark?"

"This way, follow me" she replied, bolting into the direction she pointed. They spent the rest of the morning walking around the market, buying all sorts of plants, roots, flowers and salts, Sel jumping from one place to another, while Korem watched her warily all day. He knew nothing about magic, he didn't even have magic for crying out loud, but he knew something was not right. Locking herself up yesterday, sudden excursions to town, a very specific list, and a set of various ingredients that were most certainly part of some sort of spell or potion. Every time he mentioned it she changed the topic, which only made him more suspicious, but he figured he'll have to wait and see, considering he wasn't getting any answers asking.

----------

"Alright! Food time!" she announced at what she must've identified as lunch time (given the fact that the cloudy day made impossible to discern the actual passing of time). She grabbed Korem's hand, tugging him along and between the people, stopping when they reached an arrangement of old wooden chairs and tables in some sort of garden. It wasn't particularly pretty, but it provided a comforting atmosphere. They put down their respective bags and seated facing each other in a small, squared table, which was slightly hidden from the rest by some trees in one corner of the garden.

"What are you going to order?" Korem jumped in his seat and turned to see a waiter standing behind him, watching them indifferently.

"People need to stop sneaking up on me" he muttered under his breath, but was ignored by both of them.