At the Pawn Shop
"This is very valuable, you know."
"Hmm... but it looks suspicious. You're just a kid - did you steal this from your parents?"
Damien sighed and clapped the pawnbroker on the shoulder.
"Relax, uncle. It's just a button from my shirt. It's not that expensive to me, so it's fine. And... I don't have parents. Or maybe I just don't remember having them."
"Ops... sorry about that..."
"It's okay - I don't mind."
Damien smiled softly, letting him know he was truly fine.
"This is worth 1000 Ringsol," the pawnbroker said.
Mike, who'd been sitting on the sofa beside them,'s eyes went wide.
"What?! 1000?"
"You heard me right, sir. We'll buy it for 1000 Ringsol."
"How do you have something like this? If you don't have parents...!"
"I work. What else?"
"But you... you look like you're 16 years old!" Mike scanned Damien up and down.
"Yeah, 'cause I am 16."
"How can you work at 16?!"
"Just do."
Mike's face twisted into a scowl.
"Sorry, but I'm not scared of you."
"Whatever. What are you gonna do with the money?"
"Sell all the buttons on my shirt."
"Huh?!" Both the pawnbroker and Mike froze, shocked.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No... you have 7 buttons. That means if you sell 'em all, you'll get 7000 Ringsol?!"
"Okay... so?"
"Do you know what that means? You could buy a whole mansion with that kind of money!"
"Ouh."
Damien didn't flinch - he was used to buying fancy homes back in his old world, but he'd never guessed these buttons would be worth so much here.
"Wow. Looks like I'll survive this universe after all."
"Huh? What did you just say?"
"Nothing. Btw, what's this place called?"
"Oh! This is Willow. The town of Willow."
"Unique."
"Hey... where do you live?"
Damien's face stayed calm, but inside, his heart was racing.
"Here in Willow too."
"Really? I've never seen you around before."
"Uh... I used to live in the West! Yeah, the West side."
"Ooooooh."
"So... where's your house exactly?"
Screw me! Ugh, what do I do?!
Damien's panic spiked - he pretended to feel dizzy, swaying slightly.
"Damien!" Mike jumped up, alarmed.
"Ugh... my head... it hurts..."
"Alright, alright, don't think about it now. You must be feeling unwell - maybe it's just a coincidence."
"Sorry... I can't answer that. You're a stranger, after all."
"Oh, right. That's okay."
Wait a second, Mike thought to himself. Aren't you a stranger too?!
"So... I'll head out now, yeah? Or do you want me to stay with you?"
"It's okay - you can go home. You stayed up all night looking after me, so you need to rest."
"I don't mind - I want to help."
"Even so, thank you. Really, thank you so much."
"Bye, Damien! Hope I see you again soon!"
"Byeeee!"
Mike left the shop, heading back to his place.
Damien took a long, shaky breath.
"Okay... so what is going on right now?!"
To be continued...