Not long after leaving, the smell hit them in the face.
It wasn't 'loud' or 'aggressive', like street food from a big city or a large festival, no, it was warm and heavy, carrying a rich aroma that drifted lazily through the air, forming a very homely feel.
Petra's steps slowed down.
Her nose twitched as she turned her head.
Mm…? As a legend in her own regard, Petra was fundamentally incapable of ignoring such a good thing!
"…Food," she murmured.
Crapsley noticed the little leader's sudden interest and guided the group off the main road, through a narrow side street, down a short flight of stairs, and towards a low-lying stone building. Its open storefront was partially concealed by a small curtain, hiding only the upper bodies of the diners inside. It was a small restaurant, and the sharp sound of sizzling immediately spilled out. Inside, large iron pans hissed over steady flames, while two cooks moved through the cramped space with practiced twists.
They were mother and daughter, both beastmen with dog-like features, wearing simple, well-used aprons as they hurried back and forth preparing the food.
Beastmen, as you should already know, were a human-like race with animalistic features.
Both girls, one old and one young, had small dog-like noses and long, floppy ears that hung down on the sides of their heads, bouncing up and down with each step. Aside from that, their faces were basically human, except for the small tails hidden beneath their clothing.
This 'arrangement' was common for most Beastmen!
The girls sat down on a long bench that faced the counter.
"This is one of Old Hand's specialties," Crapsley said proudly—for the ninth time today…
"Hidden in the cracks and crevices of town are countless food stalls like this one! Some of the best in the entire Empire, if you ask me! Hahaha!"
The dog girl, the older one, the parent, turned at his voice, gave him an odd look, then scanned Petra and her party. After a sympathetic sigh, she just smiled and turned back to her daughter. While Soryn narrowed her eyes, the rest of the 'naive children' took a look at the menu…
They ordered quickly!
A moment later, a thick, hand-sized wrap was set before each of them, wrapped in rough paper, and already darkened by oil. The crust was deeply browned, golden, and crisp, crackling faintly beneath their fingers. The instant Petra tore hers open, a rush of steam billowed out, carrying the scent of char and spice. Juicy grilled chicken and strips of roasted red peppers spilled into view, buried beneath a generous layer of softened onions and fragrant garlic sauce!
Petra took one bite—
Her eyes went wide! Mm-hot! So good! Mm-hot-hot-hot! She immediately took another bite, completely ignoring the heat, or at least tried to, and repeated this cycle!
Luna ate neatly, blowing on each piece before taking small bites, Lilly chewed thoughtfully, appreciating it, and Wind, who should have been the most noble, ate like an adventurer… Excluding Soryn, all the girls looked at her with some confusion as the 'maid with the best image' spontaneously scarfed down the food like a little glutton.
She wasn't like this at home…
The tips of Wind's ears reddened, but she didn't stop. With a snort, she turned her head away. In truth, she had been here before, and she missed it a lot!
Around them, the locals stood and ate the same meal, chatting casually as they did. The rhythm of daily life flowed on without pause. It wasn't fancy, but it was fulfilling. Petra understood why people liked this place so much!
After they finished eating, they moved on, and the day continued to quietly slip past…
* * *
Crapsley clapped his hands together.
"Our last stop," he announced!
The building they stopped before was large and rectangular, with wooden walls and a stone foundation. Its brick frame was reinforced with specially treated stone, and the twelve pillars were each formed from an ancient Inkwood tree. Large decorative talismans fluttered from the eaves, swaying gently in the breeze, each one the size of a large flag. The spiritual energy leaking from the building was unmistakably unique, the signature aura of 'embossed rune-work'.
Runes were either engraved or embossed—
The difference was simple, the channels formed from rune engraving 'held' spiritual energy, but the markings formed from rune embossing utilized 'surface tension'.
Both methods had distinct feelings.
Talismans, or more specifically, anything that involved 'drawing' out runes, used this method. (Embossing…)
-
Inside the building—
Sealed shelves line the walls, as wooden racks filled the floor.
The smell of ink and paper was prominent.
Common paper products were sold in bulk, along with basic magic manuals on the lower racks, and above them, treated and pressed talisman paper was stacked in small bundles, with each sheet faintly flowing with spiritual energy. Near the top, high-level talisman paper was sealed behind runic glass in specialized cases, separated and displayed by function and form.
In the center of the room—
Glass cases displayed hundreds of talisman pens, all aligned in neat rows, from simple wooden handles, to bone, silver, and crystal-cored shafts, with elemental stones and customizable materials available. A dedicated section held interchangeable nibs, offering different carving tips, enchantments, pen heads, and custom points depending on preference.
To the side—
Rune and talisman manuals for beginners filled narrow bookshelves, explaining stroke orders, activation methods, balance, and common errors, almost like a calligraphy notebook.
Ink stones and bottles of magic ink lined the back wall, labeled by their elements and conductivity, as well as durability and lifespan. In addition, several shelves held sealed tubes, practice slates, and protective tools, along with dozens of other things...
Crapsley lowered his voice as they walked in.
"Old Hand is famous for this kind of thing—he said for the tenth time today… Unlike the cloth and clay trade, talismans are far more popular amongst travelers! Talisman crafting was one of the first trades here, and It's been practiced for hundreds of years, even going back to the time before the migration!"
He continued explaining as they moved through the shop.
"When the first migrants settled the southern region, magic tools were scarce, and weapons and armor took time to forge, but talismans could be produced quickly by anyone with the proper knowledge and paper! Back then, they were used to heat homes, reinforce buildings, ward off beasts, dry clothes, and even preserve food! Skilled experts appeared over time, but ordinary settlers needed practical solutions immediately, and talismans filled that gap!"
Petra wandered the aisles, poking at the glass displays, "So these are like… disposable spells?"
"Exactly," Crapsley said proudly. "Simple, reliable, and cheap enough to replace and reproduce! They are great for those with bad talent or poor spirit roots! Hahaha!"
He patted Petra on the back with his heavy hand.
Petra winced and leaned away, narrowing her eyes at the uncle like a cat.
This uncle was too touchy!
Petra didn't like to be touched, firstly, because she just didn't like it, and secondly, she had to always retract her 'physique' to prevent it from hurting people.
This was the problem with overly friendly people!
Petra snorted and walked away.
After some time, she found the others looking around.
Luna lingered near the pens, while Wind examined the quality of the paper, and Soryn quietly studied the finished talismans, her gaze sharp and calculating.
Out of all of them, Soryn knew the most about talismans.
Many people assume that talismans were just a tool for the weak, weapons used by mortals to challenge the strong, but in truth, the opposite was often the case, with talismans frequently used by powerful individuals against an 'equal' to secure victory when facing uncertainty, a bit like a trump card. When the 'weak' relied on them, a backlash could cripple or even kill them, and at the very 'peak' of power, such tools became unnecessary altogether.
Anyways…
-
Time passed—
After a short while, the girls regrouped at the entrance, the bell chiming softly as they stepped back out into the streets…
* * *
The sun hung low, causing shadows to stretch across the streets as lanterns flickered to life one by one.
Dusk was approaching…
To the side of the street, the girls had gathered together, forming a small circle to talk.
They had visited a few more places, but the day was finally ending, so they concluded it by talking about what they had enjoyed throughout the day.
Lilly was particularly excited about the clothing—
Meanwhile, Wind was still finishing the food from earlier that she had saved. Unlike the others, she hadn't been able to finish it at the stall, so she packed it away. Being naturally small, regardless of how much she enjoyed it, her stomach was just too tiny, so she often had to wrap her food up for later.
Petra was checking her pockets, quietly counting the talismans she had 'borrowed', and Soryn crossed her arms, leaned against a nearby wall, and listened. Even she was having a good time.
-
Petra puffed out her chest proudly.
"What a good day!" she declared, nodding to herself as if that somehow settled everything…
"We found good food, bought new things (The Talisman Books), and didn't even get scammed once!" That last part made Lilly chuckle—
Getting 'scammed' was a common occurrence for Petra…
This little master was completely oblivious to her surroundings. It had gotten so bad that she needed frequent reminders at home!
Petra kicked her toes against the ground, swinging her bag at her side. They had picked up quite a few things, and each of the girls was carrying at least one extra bag of 'junk'. Because 'things had changed', they didn't bring the ants with them, or at least, they didn't need to…
"This town isn't bad," Petra added in a cute voice. "It's kinda boring, but in a cozy way. It's too bad we don't get winter here, because this would be a nice place to celebrate it!" Petra could imagine herself holding a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day and looking out the window.
"We should come back someday," Lilly noted.
Everyone agreed.
Petra nodded.
The conversation naturally drifted, hopping from stall to stall, stop to stop, and what they liked, from food they wanted to eat again, to vague plans that made no sense.
Above them, the sky slowly darkened…
The streets slowly emptied.
The day was ending.
Petra looked up to the sky, squinting. "Mm," she hummed. "What a leisurely day." If she was going to leave home, an eventless day like today was ideal.
For a moment, everything felt right.
But then—
"Mm? Hey… wait. What? Where did… uh… what's his name…"
Petra looked around like a naive little tot, suddenly realizing that the adults had disappeared.
Where was he?
He seemed to have said something about going to get something…
When would he be back?
Suddenly—
Petra froze.
Her hand slid to her side—
And touched nothing…
Pat-pat-pat… Her pale palm patted again and again—
Nothing…
Again—
Nothing!
Again—
Nothing—!!
Silence…
Petra: "…"
The Girls: "…"
Petra: "!!" Her eyes suddenly widened!
"…Eh!?"
She looked down.
Her bag was gone!
The money pouch that had been hanging comfortably at her hip, the one she had been swinging around all afternoon, the one tied to her satchel, the one stuffed with snacks—
It was gone!
Petra's mind froze.
She stood there, staring at the empty space like the world itself had glitched and her brain had broken!
She turned slowly, black eyes darting left and right. Her mouth opened, then closed as the color drained from her face.
It was… an absolute overreaction!
But…
"I-I… got robbed?" The words came out as a faint, disbelieving cry!
Lilly blinked, "What?"
Luna immediately looked down, then smirked.
Wind frowned and Soryn's eyes sharpened.
Petra grabbed her head with both hands. "Wait wait wait—how!? I was right here! We were together! When did that even happen!?"
It wasn't really about losing her things.
What bothered her was that she hadn't noticed at all.
She was bad at sensing things, sure, but having something taken directly off her body without even realizing it was… a bit embarrassing.
Also, what kind of monster could do such a thing!?
Her eyes even started to redden slightly.
Again, a complete overreaction! And she looked at the others with a horrified expression. "…How did none of us notice!?"
- Silence…
Then—
"…Where's the 'guide?'" Soryn asked with a strange smile, her expression clearly reading 'I told you so'.
That snapped everyone back to reality.
They turned…
Crapsley Kastone, the 'wandering guide' was gone, yes…
The street behind them was empty, yes…
Was he the culprit…
Yes…
Petra's heart sank.
Seriously…?
Did that tubby conman seriously rob her? Seriously…!
"No way," she muttered.
A moment later, Wind pointed down the street. "There."
Down the street, at the far end of the road, a figure was sprinting at full speed, coat flapping wildly, kicking up dust as he ran like his life depended on it.
It was—
Crapsley…
Petra stared, almost feeling the, 'Woop-woop-woop-woop-woop!' sound, from a certain red lobster…
Her brow twitched.
"…This is exactly like Yuna, right?" she said flatly. "Exactly the same dust cloud and everything, right—?"
"You know what they say," Wind mumbled. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree…"
"You got played," Soryn added with a smug smile.
Luna crossed her arms and looked at him with dark eyes.
For a brief moment, none of them moved. They just stood there in collective disbelief.
Then…. Petra waved her hand weakly. "I mean… It's fine. He didn't take much. Mostly snacks, and some plague formulas, and… uh…"
She paused.
Mell looked at her. "You keep plague formulas in your bag?"
Petra: "..."
The Others: "..."
"…Okay, maybe a few important things…" Petra's face turned red.
Another pause…
In a low voice, Petra added, "I think there were a handful of supreme-grade Spirit Stones too…"
She lowered her head.
"…Probably."
They were just about to discuss what to do next when a sudden shout erupted from the direction Crapsley had fled.
Then another—
And another, another, and another…
Heavy boots thundered against the old stone, not the distant kind, no, the very close kind, or the approaching kind! Mm, yes, a wave of guards burst into view, armor donned, and weapons drawn, their expressions already annoyed and angry...
Petra looked over.
She tilted her head.
She blinked.
Once, twice, then she paused…
She squinted her eyes as the guards poured out of the side streets, their formation growing as they ran.
Why do they—almost seem to be coming this way…?
Lilly: "..."
Luna: "..."
Wind: "..."
Soryn: "..."
Petra: "...?"
The sound of boots got louder—
Much louder…
They really do—seem to be coming this way…
They really do—seem to be…
They really do…
They—
Petra blinked again.
"…ah?
Lilly swallowed hard. "They're not slowing down."
Soryn narrowed her eyes. "They're pointing at us, aren't they?"
Wind frowned. "Why are they pointing at us?"
Petra stared for another 'very long second'.
Then—
"I think…we got reported," she said, completely deadpan…
The Girls: "?"
The Girls: "..."
The Girls: "!!!"
They had completely forgotten! They were all wanted criminals! Damnit Petra!
"Yeah, that tracks..."
The guards shouted something unintelligible, and several hands went to their whistles.
Metal rang as stone was stomped.
"…Oh." Petra's eyes widened a little.
Soryn turned sharply. "Run?"
Petra inhaled—
Then screamed, "RUN!"
Woosh! They exploded into motion as they bolted down the street, guards shouting behind them. The elderly population watched in amusement as a group of young girls were chased through town by a pack of Imperial guards.
-