Chapter 12: Echoes in the Market
The lift doors opened with a soft chime.
"Wait, Shinra! We'll use the lift,"
Ryken called out as Shinra headed for the stairs.
Shinra paused, turning back. "Lift? What's that?"
Before he could ask more,
the elevator descended with a hiss.
The metallic doors slid open.
Shinra's eyes widened as he stepped inside.
"Yooo…
it lifts us into the air? Like when those guild members flew in the battle! This is crazy!"
Ryken just smirked.
"You'll get used to it."
They reached the 10th floor. Ryken unlocked the door of apartment 1002.
It wasn't grand, but it was enough.
A mid-sized hall with a small balcony greeted them. To the left: a bedroom, a modest toilet, and a simple kitchen tucked at the end of the hallway. It was a comfortable space—simple, clean, and finally theirs.
The moment the door creaked open, Shinra ran straight to the balcony.
"YOOOO! What a view!" he shouted, the city stretching endlessly beneath the starlit night, the wind tousling his hair.
He turned to the small dragon on his shoulder.
"Hey, buddy, look at this! This is our new home."
The dragon let out a sleepy yawn, curled up tighter on Shinra's shoulder, and drifted back to sleep.
The next morning
Ryken stood at the door, adjusting his coat.
"I've gotta report back to headquarters," he said, tossing a small pouch of coins to Samy.
"Alex already gave you some funds, but just grab essentials, alright?"
Samy nodded.
"Yep. See you later. Have a good one."
As the door clicked shut,
Samy sighed,
looking around the room.
"Hmph. Everyone keeps commending me… What have I done?"
He glanced toward the couch, where Shinra was still yawning and rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Hey, Shinra. Get ready. We're going shopping."
Shinra's eyes lit up. "We're finally going to explore the town?"
"We're going shopping," Samy repeated, glaring. "Get ready."
The dragon, still curled up, snored softly as they stepped out, leaving him behind.
A few minutes later, both stood outside the building—only to realize they had no idea where the market was.
Samy looked around in confusion.
"Uh…"
Just then, a teenage boy walked past. Samy raised a hand. "Hey, excuse me!"
The boy stopped. "You guys new here?"
"Yeah.
Just moved in yesterday,"
Samy replied.
"Could you tell us how to get to the market?"
The boy gave him a curious look.
"Are you a guild member?"
"No."
"Then… why're you dressed like one?"
Samy scratched the back of his head.
"I don't have any other clothes."
The boy shrugged. "Whatever. Just head left, take the first right—you'll find the taxi stand.
They'll take you straight to the market
. And when you're coming back, just ask to be dropped at Port Street. Your building's name, if I remember right, is Horizon Blooms.
It's written at the top."
"Thanks! What's your name?"
"Peter. I live on the 10th floor room 1005."
"Oh cool! We're in 1002. Nice meeting you, Peter!"
The day was bright.
Cool wind brushed through the wide streets of Elyasia as birds soared across the sky like threads stitching heaven to earth.
The market was massive—more like a city within the city.
Streets brimmed with stalls, vendors, and shops stretching into multi-storied buildings.
One area sold clothes, another food, and yet another specialized in enchanted trinkets and gear.
Shinra's eyes darted everywhere, his excitement impossible to hide. "Whoa! So much stuff!"
Samy chuckled. "Let's get clothes first."
They made their way to the clothing section. Samy, always frugal, picked a few cheap sets—simple tunics and pants, nothing flashy.
They continued through the market, weaving through the crowd, heading toward the household goods section.
Then, a hooded man brushed past Samy—hard.
"Hey! Watch it!" Shinra called out, annoyed.
But the man didn't stop. He muttered something inaudible under his breath… then vanished into the crowd.
Samy staggered.
His vision blurred. The world spun.
"Samy?!" Shinra shouted,
grabbing his arm.
"Are you okay?!
Did he do something to you?!"
Samy didn't answer.
A strange smile spread across his lips—one tinged with fear… and something else.
His hand moved on its own, jerking toward Shinra's chest like it was going to strike.
Before it landed, a nearby storekeeper rushed forward and caught Samy's arm mid-swing.
Smack!
The storekeeper slapped Samy across the face.
Samy blinked rapidly, as if waking from a nightmare.
He stared at Shinra in horror.
"D-did I… hurt you?"
"No," Shinra said quietly, still in shock. "Are you okay?"
The storekeeper stepped between them, eyeing Samy suspiciously.
"You alright, kid? What the hell just happened?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"You on something?
Took a cursed potion or one of those cheap illegal manashocks?
You blacked out like a junkie."
"I'm fine,"
Samy said,
shaking his head.
"Thanks… and sorry for the trouble."
"Hmph." The man grumbled but backed off.
"Watch yourself next time."
They left the market early, without buying everything they needed. But there was a problem—Samy had forgotten the way home.
He looked at Shinra. Shinra looked at him. Silence.
"…You forgot, didn't you?" Shinra finally asked.
"…Yeah," Samy muttered.
And then—
A voice called out behind them.
A familiar voice.