18 Chapter 18 - Which One? (1/2)

Steering them through the town of Tariak, Kenji enjoyed the sights.

Peasants were as busy as bees, guards marched relentlessly, and the air smelled as rancid as could be expected of a place without plumming. Unfortunately, that led to Kenji stepping into several 'accidents'.

At least Tenko didn't mind, sniffing of the air with interest, staring openly at everyone. Making oh-so-many quake in fear upon seeing her literal moons for pupils.

Violet was affronted by the entire town's existence. Holding her nose, she would constantly form crystalline shoes and replace them whenever they got too dirty. That proved to be a near-constant state of being, and thus she was constantly refreshing her feet to leave a trail of purple crystal that a train of beggars picked up greedily.

”Can you stop that Violet? Or do you really want to become the Beggar Queen?”

”I can stop whenever I like. You just focus on finding me a suitable room to sleep in, and an acceptable feast to partake of.”

”You're that hungry, with that waist-line, where does it go?”

”Never mind where it goes!” Violet hissed, her nails becoming crystal claws, ”I am tired, I am hungry, and I want a bath. A bath you hear me! It will be hot, soapy and with several scented candles!”

Kenji took a step back, as Violet's lilac eyes welled with tears.

”Ok! A bath, I get it, I'll find us somewhere with a bath!” Kenji didn't know why this was so important, but be damned if he would be the reason such a beauty would start bawling in the streets. Already the merchants on either side were giving him nasty looks.

”How can you make such a pretty nun cry?” one of the beggars hissed. ”You're a bastard,” then the beggar spat on him and ran. Really fast. Really Reall fast, in fact, Kenji seemed to notice what he had thought of as a busy bustle was more like everyone was just walking at a faster movement speed than he was.

”You there, merchant! Fancy a bet?” Kenji rummaged in his pouch, but only had golden coins.

”Eh, mind swapping these for some silvers? Because I want to bet one in an arm-wrestling contest with you afterwards,” Kenji grinned. The merchant whimpered.

”Holy Knight, how could I ever compete with you with these fat arms of mine?” he whined, ”but if it were for a gold coin...well, may the Wellfaring bless me.” Grinning ear to ear, Kenji slapped down the gold coin and raised a hand.

”Kenji, are you sure?” Tenko whispered, ”his so much higher a level than you.”

”Eh?” but it was too late, the merchant grasped Kenji in a crushing grip, his fat feeble hand pushing Kenji's down as easily as a child. The merchant smirked, as he snatched the gold coin away.

”The hell- yes, information collection complete,” Kenji announced, walking away as fast as he could before the merchant could offer any more bets. Knowing how vulnerable he was to gambling, and with only 4 more gold coins to his name, Kenji had to get them away.

”How could you tell his level?” Kenji whispered, Tenko putting a finger to her bottom lip.

”It's part of my [Eyes of the Moon] trait. I can see peoples levels and classes, as long as they are not hidden. That Merchant had his real class hidden for example, and his skills were too simple to be all of them,” Tenko shrugged, Kenji going pale as a ghost. Did she know he was actually a hunchbacked old man wearing his dead friend like an old shirt?