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" And… what are we having for dinner?"
" Miso Soup."
" Seriously?" Nigel groans in frustration as we leave the still buzzing market that had fireworks displaying in the sky as part of the celebration and ongoing circus. " I can't have any more liquid, I just drank seaweed soup prepared by the Samantha Stakes. You know her right? She's the female chef who won the heart of the King of the West, Ricardo Valentine."
" I don't care about Samantha or Ricardo." I say as Nigel who was walking behind me gasps in shock.
" How can you say that Echo?" He rushes to my side. " I mean at least whisper it if you're going to say something that horrible… if anyone hears you're a hater, they'll throw you in the Mid dust dungeon for hating."
I roll my eyes at Nigel's words and I'm soon knocked out of my boredom when he gasps in awe. " Echo, look! Over there!" Nigel points at a building and I'm forced to look too.
" Stop pointing Nigel." I hiss in annoyance and he stops.
" That's a tavern Echo. That's a tavern."
" And why do you think that would matter to me?"
" Because… taverns are so fun, you get to see real men arm wrestle and also drink alcohol. I know we're not at the proper age for alcohol yet but let's just go to the tavern, Martha never let me near there but now that I'm on this incredible adventure, maybe I can…"
" Let's go." I say and Nigel's countenance is suddenly covered with incredulity.
" Are you for real? Why thank you, Echo!"
" No need to thank me. I only agreed just so you can shut up."
" Arr..so mean." He drops his head down probably sad as always when I say something that's true as he lazily walks towards the tavern and I follow beside him.
" Children aren't allowed into the tavern. It's got age restrictions and you both don't look any older than ten years old." The man standing in front of the tavern and guarding it, says looking down at both I and Nigel.
" I will be 14 in 11 months! Watch your mouth!" Nigel argues.
" Get lost, brat." The man spits and then lifts his gaze from us both.
" I guess it's a no then. Shall we go have the Miso soup I spoke of?"
" No. I'm not giving up just yet, Echo." Nigel says as he lifts his sleeves like he wants to fight the doorman.
" What's up with you?" The doorman looks back down at us and just before Nigel can lift his fists to call for a fight, someone steps out of the tavern, and when I look at him, it's a boy our age, maybe older but still a child like we are.
" Now who's this lovely young lady?"
" Huh?" Nigel shifts his gaze to the other stranger who seems interested in… me? " Stand back Echo, a pervert's right in front of us and as the guy I am supposed to protect yo—."
" Move aside you junkie." He pushes Nigel aside so I'm the one in front of him.
" Junkie?!" Nigel yells in question.
" You're not??" He turns back to look at Nigel and scans him. " Then were you just born as an abnormal being?? Let me enúnciate in a more painful way… im-be-cile."
" Who are you calling an imbecile?!" Nigel points at him in anger.
" I said im-be-cile. Not 'imbecile'." The stranger doesn't fail to enunciate again and I swear I see a vein popping in Nigel's forehead and I can't help but smile. I made Nigel sad but this stranger here sure made him angry. " Why are you smiling Echo?! Your friend's been harassed! This is the perfect time to step in!"
" This pretty lady doesn't seem to even care if you would disappear." The stranger turns to me. " Let me introduce myself, my name is Reginald, I am 16 yrs old and I am the owner of this tavern."
Nigel gasps and I see him bubbling with excitement behind Reginald. " Th-th-the OWNER OF THIS TAVERN??!" Nigel questions as Reginald turns to him with thin eyes clearly fed up with his annoyance. " Can I come in?! Please? Pleaseeeeeeee."
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" Yikes… has he always been like that?" Reginald questions as I watch Nigel go around the room asking grownup men to arm wrestle with him.
" Been like how?" I ask.
" So… cringe?" Reginald shakes his head obviously trying to get Nigel off his mind.
" I don't know. It hasn't been more than three days since I met Nigel."
" Three days?! And here I thought you two have been friends since childhood."
" Is that how it looks?"
" From a mile away, yes!"
" Hmm. Then I shall limit my conversations with Nigel I suppose." I whisper.
" Huh?" Reginald asks wanting me to tell him what I just said but I shake my head.
" Does the tavern perhaps have a map?" I get up from the chair I was sitting on before as I look around.
" A map?" Reginald asks as he looks around too. " You mean like the architects' drawing plan?"
" No. A map of the country."
" Ohhh that?? I think we have that. Otis!! Come here boy!" I notice a young boy who seemed younger than Reginald who was serving the guests soon rush over.
" Get this fine lady standing in front of me, the country's map. The one my stupid grandfather gifted me."
My pupils soon dilate when I hear him say 'stupid grandfather'. How dare he call a grandfather stupid?
" Old men and their fashion sense? Who gets their grandkid a map for a birthday present, Christ."
" At least your grandpa can give you gifts."
" Huh?" Reginald raises his brow in question.
" Dare call an old man stupid ever again and I will beat you to a pulp."
" Whoaaaa. Way to go Echo." I turn to the servant boy Reginald called for and I see it was the so-named Otis hyping me up.
" Huh? How did you know my name?" I question.
" Yeah, how?" Reginald asks too.
" That kid over there mentioned early he was let in because his boss had his eyes on a girl name Echo. Forget about that.. that's the first time I have seen anyone threaten Reginald. I'm impressed Echo." He gives me a thumbs up grinning like a fool.
" Say my name with a whisper." I dust my dress. " Come on Nigel! We're leaving."
" So soon? Don't you need the map anymore?" Reginald teases like my life depended on the so-called map of the world—it did but I won't show it though.
" That's right! I heard some new travelers entered the village earlier this evening. Is it the both of them?" Otis questions with an ecstatic look in his eyes.
" It's obviously them." Reginald says rolling his eyes not liking my presence here and Otis' too.
" Then hang on let me get the map for you." I watch Otis rush to go get the map as Nigel approaches me clearly tired.
" Let's get going Echo. I'm exhausted." Nigel yawns and then drops by the chair behind me.
" I'm waiting for someone, Nigel. It'll have to wait."
" Really? Who's that? A new accomplice?"
" A what?"