Lauren is an avid player of the famous MMORPG Red Ocean Online and has been playing since its launch 7 years ago. When she receives the news that her beloved virtual world will be shut down, her biggest fear is losing her favorite NPC, Amara, who sh...
The market street was busy, with many noisy vendors and hurried customers walking back and forth. It was a lively and even adorable scene, but Darka couldn't enjoy it at all since the news of the guard officer was still swirling around in his mind. Daena was the girl from before, actually rather irritating and stubborn, but he hadn't wished her any harm. Even though he had bound Daena with the chains, they would fall apart in a couple hours and the girl would probably go to Fawn. Maybe she was still there and didn't tell anyone.
Miko was commenting on the products as they passed by the stalls, but Darka just waved absently.
— Sir... Are you tired? We can stop and rest, maybe eat too.
— What? Oh. Sorry, Miko. — Darka recovered himself, lifting his hair and tying it in a ponytail. — Did you say anything about eating? I think I'm really hungry, the smell of the food here is driving me crazy.
The two chose a stall that sold some kind of broth with leaves and what looked like shrimp. Darka lowered his mask a little to smell the aroma better and his stomach tightened.
—Aren't you hot in that mask, sir? It will be difficult to eat with it too, isn't it better to take it off?
— Ah... damn. — Darka lifted the mask again. — It's just... I have these huge marks on my face, you know? Then people don't like it, they think it's weird.
— But how absurd! Mr. Darka is very handsome!
— I didn't say I was ugly, Miko. And you're still calling me mister, stop.
Miko took out of their bag a piece of gauze and a small roll of tape that Darka identified as one of those stickers that you put on bandages. Motioning him to get down, Miko began to cover the marks on their friend's face, while the gauze was wrapped around his nose.
— With this here you can hide it! And the mouth sticks out, so you can eat too.
— Cool, I'm giving the Reita from TheGazette vibes. — Darka smiled as he felt his face. — Thanks Miko, now I hope they don't reco... con... confuse me with someone else.
The two sat on the bench next to the stall after buying the broth, and watched some soldiers passing in a group along the street in an intimidating manner.
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— Miko, do you know the "princess of Talphen" they're looking for?
— Not personally, but they say she is very kind and polite, despite being a little impatient sometimes.
— Kind and polite? Ha, she's a great liar too.
— Liar? Unlikely, sir. The governor is very strict with her education, I don't think she would lie.
— Anyway, I think it's unfair to put the blame on me, she's old enough to know where she's going. That thing about the right to come and go, she must just be exercising her right, y'know? — Darka grumbled.
