Lacking Emotion

Chapter 7

"What do you mean you can't tell me?!" the old man —Charlie— whined. He kept on asking the same question over and over and over and over again for the past three years.

Soma pushed out his little chest and placed both hands on his hips, "It is of national importance! I can't just simply sell it out if your only going to offer me booze. And don't you think I'm a little too young for that?" three year old Soma responded.

Charlie walked away with a muffled sob leaving his mouth.

Poor guy.

Soma on the other hand, walked to the table where he grabbed his bag and ran out the door. Before shutting it behind him he yelled, "I'm going to the shop!" and with that he left.

The street was pretty crowded today, especially because of the fact that the festival is this weekend. He raced down the trail, dodging people left and right. Trying to reach his destination.

He could hear the other shop keepers shout at the people to come and take a peek at what they have to sell, their goal is to sell out before the end of the week. Aka the festival. This place is chaos.

Now your probably wondering why exactly everyone is going crazy over such a silly thing...

Well, the day the festival is held, is the day the 70 reincarnated individuals were born.

Soma was really confused about this though. Wasn't it 71 who were reincarnated?

I'll ask Granzoul when I get there.

He increased the power in his legs and speeded like a speed demon down the next turn. A small shop came into view. Here in Tuta, everyone and everything was so... midd evil. If that is even how it can be put?

They still didn't believe in 'indoor shops'. Sure there were some here and there but the majority preferred tent like thingies. Soma asked Granzoul about it and he claimed (with his fist over his heart) "Why I am simply following the path of our ancestors! It is tradition in my eyes!".

That wasn't very helpful so Soma just dropped the subject.

Granzoul slightly glanced behind him and disappeared out of view. When soma got close enough, he found him cowering in a pick nick basket. How he got in there is still a mystery to this day.

"Ah! Mas—er little boy... You startled me!" the mini Yoda scolded.
"Hey, whattcha doing in there?" Soma spoke, immediately catching some people's attention. Whispers started to spread like wild fire before Granzoul made a dramatic exit out of his fort and tackled Soma, covering his mouth.

"What did I tell you about talking like that in front of ears?!" Granzoul whispered/ yelled at him. The green blur jumped up and shouted "FORGIVE THIS YOUNG LAD, FOR HE HAS ACCIDENTALLY BITTEN HIS TONGUE! CONTINUE AS YOU WERE!"

You could hear people groan in disappointment as they turned and left. Granzoul sighed in relief before wiping the sweat from his face. He turned to Soma with a death glare, but it disappeared as fast as it appeared when he saw his little master knocked unconscious on the ground.

He panicked and crotched down to his level where he placed his ear on his chest to listen to his heart beat.

Out of nowhere, Soma shot up, "BOOOO!". Let's just say Granzoul may have beaten the record of the cow that jumped over the moon.

A while later...

Granzoul was nowhere to be seen. He left, without saying a word to Soma, with a scoff expression on his face.

Soma mentally chuckled as he remembered facial expression. One word.

Priceless.

Boredom was quite... well... boring, so Soma decided to roam the city streets. As he was walking he heard a high pinched sneeze. He nearly jumped out of his skin as he jolted up, almost tripping.

Once he recovered his footing and his breathing was back to normal, he crouched and picked up one of the dozens of apples on the ground.

He stood up straight and handed it to a little girl that looks to be a bit younger than him, "Here" he spoke softly. She froze when she saw him. Something flashed through her eyes for a second but little Soma couldn't quite make out what, so he shrugged it off.

"T-thanks" she shuttered as she looked away with light pink cheeks. They spent the rest of the evening gathering the fallen apples. Once they were done, it was already dark outside and the stars were scattered over the midnight blue sky.

She kept apologizeing and thanking Soma for his help over and over. And everytime he would wave it off.

"Umm... Forgive me for asking... but will you be coming to the festival?" she kept stealing glances of him but Soma didn't mind because he thought she was just shy.

He nodded, it would be his first time going to a festival in Tuta so of course he would go.

"Promise?"

"Of course. But then you have to promise me something too" she was confused but agreed to it none the less.

"You have to tell me your name"

She looked taken aback. Taking a step back, she forced a smile, "Maybe next time. My father is probably worried sick, I should head back". She said her good byes and ran along the road.

Well he could understand what she meant. He didn't want to even think about how the two at home would react.

After a while of walking, he was about to knock on the door when it suddenly burst open and a hand grabbed his shirt, yanking him inside before the door was shut closed and barricaded.

In Soma's eyes, the world was slightly spinning, but he could clearly make out the tall figure of Charlie towering over him.

Silence dominated the room before it was broken by a growl, "WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?! WE SEARCHED THE WHOLE BLOODY TUTA FOR YOU, YOU KNOW THAT??? I WAS SO WORRIED!! WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOU AND I COULDN'T GET THERE FAST ENOUGH-- OR YOU COULD'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED OR MAYBE EATEN BY A GIANT LIZARD OR--"  Soma cut him off.

"I was out helping a friend" only those six words were needed to turn Charlie's mood into the exact opposite.

"Wait. Wait. Wait! You made a new friend? Awwwwww!!! I'm so proud of you!" he went to hug Soma but was shoved out of the way by a scowling Granzoul.

"As much as I'm surprised and relieved to hear that, Master Soma. That does not give you the right to stay out late, nor does that give you permission to do so without telling one of us" Granzoul crossed his arms, staring straight into the eyes of the child he raised.

Ah, shit he just pulled the parent move on me. I have bad to think of something before this gets out of hand!

Soma can clearly recall a few times where he would end up being 'watched' by Granzoul. Truth be told, it was more like having a dwarf breath down your neck. Every. Single. Hour. Of. The. Day.

For two months none the less! He was about to raise the bar to three months but Soma threatened to never speak to his loyal follower ever again, so it stayed at two months.

"I understand I am at fault here, but I had good reason to do so..." he spoke with confidence lacing in his voice.

"And what on Tuta would that be?" Granzoul questioned with a raised brow.

"It's quite simple actually. You two are rather too protective for my taste and I had to take a breath before I suffocate in this house--" he rambled, but regretted it once he opened his eyes.