"This is where we part ways," Lancelot said.
"So that's it?" Luxe paused briefly. "After everything, you're just going to leave us here?"
"Don't be dramatic; besides, it seems you all are going to be safe here. Goodbye," Lancelot said. Turning back, his hand was raised and waving.
"I guess we don't have a choice," Luxe murmured. Afterwards, he shifted his gaze, looking in front of a heavy, double timbered gate flanked by high, imposing defensive walls.
Behind him were twenty-five students who followed and simply believed Lancelot.
"So what are we going to do?" A student spoke, his voice high and mighty.
"We'll find a way. Don't worry. Like how I solved the case about the academy, I can easily solve this too."
"If you say so. But then what about food?" Someone else chimed in the back.
"Yeah, you can't survive on an empty stomach!" Another agreed, setting off a chain reaction of nodding heads and vocal support of the students.
"Let's go inside. I'm pretty sure they're offering some food," Luxe suggested.
Then the students chatted, their heads nodding. After long consideration, everyone agreed.
"Let's go!" Everyone said in unison.
Luxe advanced a step, knocking twice.
"State your name and business!" Voice low and measured.
"We're travelers. Just going around then and there," Luxe said.
"You may enter. But mind your step. Give my guards a single reason to doubt you, and you will find yourself outside the walls until sunrise."
Finally, the guards opened the gate; its iron hinges shrieked, a violent, metallic wail that shattered at midnight.
Luxe and everyone else stepped inside, their eyes scanning wide. Immediately past the threshold on the left, the air fills with earthy scents of fresh soil, sweet overripe produce, and crushed herbs. Stalls are piled high with vibrant crates of fruits and leafy greens. From the right, the atmosphere shifts dramatically to the hard, heavy hammering of steel. The metallic tang of iron, the heat of small forges, and the smell of tanned leather and dyed wool hanging outside near the clothing shop.
Rising directly behind the commercial stalls are clusters of tightly packed, modest homes, their chimneys puffing out a faint smoke into the sky above the bustling market roofs.
Luxe and the others strolled through the town, their eyes sweeping the streets. Then they came to a stop as soon as they saw the food market crowded with civilians, where loud banter swarmed the area.
"I'll go first. All of you wait here." Luxe instructed the group before stepping into the crowded market square. He ignored the deafening roars of the bustling crowd, eyes focused filtering through the chaos until he singled out a small stall nestled alongside the fruit stalls. He strode forward, his eyes dropping in the neatly arranged fruits before he lifted his gaze to meet the vendor. "Greetings, Mr.?" he paused for a second.
"Julio. My name is Julio."
"My companions and I are weary travelers, venturing across the realm to eat some of the finest foods. Pray, would you allow me, a humble traveler, to taste your fine fruits?"
"Save your breath, youth, and clear out. I've no desire to involve the guards, but I'll do it if you linger. Vagabonds and travelers have robbed me blind before, and I am a fool no longer."
'I expected this. he thought.
"I apologize for not telling the truth, our errand here was to dine, as we are starving after a long journey just to come across a town. Would you allow us to partake in your harvest? Just enough for our stomachs to fill."
"So be it. But if you drifters cross me or take me for a fool, the town garrison will ensure you never see the outside of these gates again. Come."
Shortly thereafter, Luxe and the others were invited to Julio's house to dine in.
Altogether they are seated near the long wooden table. The deafening silence broke as Julio called out.
"The food's done."
Julio came back and forth, placing the foods on the table. Each food was served warmed, aroma from the platters rose, completely filling the entire rooroom,d the hungry travelers were wrapped in a warm blanket of savory scents.
Finally, Julio came back, holding one last plate and then he placed it on the table.
"You may eat now." He said.
After that, the twenty-five travelers and Luxe feast, their each bite was followed by a warm smile.
"It's the best day ever!" A student shouted, holding a warm cooked chicken.
Everyone lunged for the food, filling the entire room with a chorus of cheers and the chaotic clatter of silverwares.
"Thank you for helping us, Mr. Julio," Luxe murmured, setting down his cup.
"I do look gruff but I have a good sense of heart." Julio replied with a faint smile.
"Don't worry Mr. Julio, we shall pay you back."
"No need, you already paid me in full."
"I did?" Luxe said.
Seconds later he blinked slowly, as a heavy, hazy fog rolled over his mind. The room spinning as his eyelids grew heavy as lead.
Why? He tried to say a word even to whisper but it remained trapped as a mere thought.
On The Forest.
If I had included him, he would be such a pain and sooner or later, he would find out that I just use him. Lancelot pondered, as he walked relentlessly in the middle of the forest, and his black shoes about to reach its final stop.
But he froze as if he saw a ghost. He narrowed his eyes, and from a distance, a figure stood on the top of the tree. Its torso resembles a raccoon dog and behind its back is an attached tail.
The figure jumped down, slowly stepping forward to Lancelot. Each step the figure slowly emerged from the dark.
Shortly after the figure was finally enlightened by the crescent moon from the sky, the figure stood in front of Lancelot, its limbs striped like a tiger and then its head tilted to the side, a wide smile formed its face red and looked like a monkey.
Lancelot raised his hand and fingers placed between his temples.
"I might have bad luck."