60 Chapter 16: Port City Akshilheim 3 (1/2)

When we covered a distance, we sneaked towards one alley, away from the sight of the guards behind. Aide swings her arm across Scias' head then shoves him hard, ”What the hell were you thinking saying a seventy year old woman having three young children?! And a traveler at that?— That sounds too suspicious!”

”I did said three different fathers! Ho ho ho” he laughs haughtily with his old woman voice.

”That's not what I mean...” Aide hauled a sigh in exasperation while shaking her head.

”Deep inside you wanted to get caught, didn't you?” Emis says low.

Scias went silent for a moment and eyed Emis tentatively. ”Honestly, I'm curious about those hovering objects...” he finally says perhaps pertaining to Osteell's machines. ”I want to try taking down one of those but I don't directly want to stir trouble! I swear!”

”You're too careless.” Emis says in defeat. She sounds a little wan. ”If we got into trouble back there, we'd have to clean up thoroughly again!”

”You talk as if you don't enjoy that at all. Last time you went in a frenzy!”

”True, it is fun for me but Faram doesn't like it when I do stuff just to add things in my army.” Emis shrugged casually.

”We're on the same boat, except those hovering objects doesn't seem convertible!”

”No way, I don't want those weird stuff in my wonderful collection! Though the guards were my preferential palate.”

”Look who's talking about stirring trouble now! Hahahaha!!!” Scias cackled.

What the heck are they talking about? I thought to myself just watching them.

”Ignore them, Aerra.

—Anyway, let's wait for Faram here and then head to the bazaar. We have to get Aerra a change of clothes!” Aide says, perching to a crate.

And almost just after she said that Faram appears in a blink of an eye from behind us. He didn't said anything. He just walked up to us in silence.

”Welp! That the call! Let's move out” Aide stood back up and began to lead to way through the alleyway.

———

The morning sunlight has beamed over the roofs of the buildings

The morning sunlight has beamed over the roofs of the buildings.

Nothing really changed from the last time I've been here except for the increased guards on patrol.

The streets were still dusty as ever and the sky above us are partly covered by the canopy of different yet colorful cloths, giving a shade to the streets of the bazaar. Buildings here and there are mostly hard-cornered concrete. No designs or what so ever except for the flashy ones that seem to be establishments of merchants and their guilds. Their roofs were colorful and shaped like icings. The rest of the stall were just made up of wood and simple materials just enough to make the stand to accommodate their merchandise for display.

As I scouted my eyes around, Aide placed her hand on my shoulder, ”We're here!”

I looked and realized they were about to step inside an apparel shop.

”Time to dress you up!” says Aide with a suspicious looking smile. ”This will be fun!”

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I stepped out the fitting room and found Scias and Emis just idly standing by, waiting. Aide rubs her hands together, ”Here's my masterpiece!” she rejoiced.

They studied me head to toe.

”Why do I have to play as a boy?” I glared at Aide, deadpan.

”It's easier to hide your identity, that's why! Besides, it looks good on ya!”

I just sighed in response.

I get her point.

Aide made me wear a wig of blonde short hair with side swept bangs and fringed ends. A typical hairstyle for a young boy. And then a simple black garb that allows me to move easily despite the multi layered clothes I had.

Underneath, I have a bandage wrapped tight around my chest, making it hard to breath. But it's effective for hiding my gender. I'm not really curvaceous so it's not a problem.

Oddly, this looks kinda cool. I thought as I studied the mirror. I do resemble my twin brother in a certain angle though.

I look at my feet and noticed the equipment I wore by my ankle had successfully overlooked the doll shoes I wear. It's not that noticeable.