75 Chapter 20.5 extra : Mind Games (1/2)

[EXTRA CHAPTER.]

It's a beautiful day in the busy town of Sēnklyr.

We gathered near the market and hid under the shadows in an alleyway.

The excitement creeping through me is like a jolt of energy. This is it, I thought. We finally found him!

We finally found the Collector we longed been trying to track.

”Are ya' ready?”

”Yup!” I answered, looking at Emis as I comb my hair neatly over my shoulders.

”Just take your time girls, he's only getting away! Oh look, he's gone. Perfect!” Scias throws his hand in the air.

”Don't sweat it, he's not getting anywhere! Scias is only excited since we've been tracking this person for so many years!” Aide chortles as he pats Scias's shoulder.

”Be careful. He's wearing the Rail necklace.” Emis warns me, her face grim.

”Refresh my mind, what is the Rail necklace?”

”It's an eye of a pureblood kid he killed decades ago with the ability to change color when someone lying touches him. He cut it out and put it in a round stone-like vial and made it his necklace.”

I cringed, ”That's sick! That evil son of a b—!”

Emis just chuckles and shrugged.

I look at Faram as he just stood there all the way from the back. ”I'm going...” I told him.

He nods, ”Remember, just because someone is kind doesn't mean he won't hurt you.”

I caught a laugh in my throat. I know he means that to warn me not to change my mind and reconsider this mission. ”But aren't you kind to me, Faram? Will you hurt me then?” I beamed at him, tilting my head to the side.

He sighs in exasperation, ”Don't use your mind games on me. Now, go! We'll keep on watch.”

I stepped out of the alleyway and into the crowd of people, a basket on one hand and a hood on my head. I made my way towards a fruit vendor and my eyes caught a glimpse of colorful balls of candy.

I yelped in glee and began to buy some fruits and a bag of candy. I can eat the candy some other time, I thought. I handed my payment over and as I lift my eyes, I smiled at the realization someone is standing behind me. I can feel his leering eyes. The malice is reeking out from his labored breathing that he tries to hide so well, it's a deep shaky breath that quivers in such perverse thrill. I can almost feel his touch from behind.

Mission for today commences now.

I casually turned around and bumped into the man.

”Waa!” I gasped, lost my footing and fell to ground, my basket rolls out the disarrayed content.

”Ah! I'm so sorry, miss!” A soft voice of a man uttered as he went down on his knees to help me. ”I didn't see you! I was so busy and...”

I studied the man before me. He has a chestnut colored hair and a kind-looking hazel eyes with a tinge of green that gives out such warm gaze. He has a tiny flat mole on the the right side of his chin, just near his thin lips. His shirt seemed to be ironed neatly. He looks very presentable with a rectangular glasses which he pushes by his temples with a finger. Overall, he looks decent and a vibe of a cool intellectual man would surely be a common first impression whoever meets him.

But way pass those kind eyes and cordial smile, I sense the sharpness in them. He didn't even blink as he talked. He's watching. He's eyes grazes all over and keenly studying all angles and details from my face down to my shoes. Yet ever so discreetly, he manages to appear normal.

But as he helps me pick up the fruits, I caught the whiff of a manic thrill in his eyes, a split second that spilled his true self, a lascivious thirst waiting to break free and touch me.

”...so umm, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to! Are you hurt?” he concludes, reaching a hand to help me stand back up. I grabbed that hand but he covers mine with his other hand before he pulls me up to stand.

He took a deep breath before letting go. A moment to pause and take it in. He blinks ever so slowly and then sets his eyes back to focus on my face.

His thought are leaking, 'I found you!' So it would say. A voiceless phrase that is screaming from his empty gawking eyes.

”I'm fine. I wasn't looking too, I'm sorry.” I bowed down deeply before him.

”Ah! N-no need! It was entirely my fault. Please, stand up!” He says in a flustered tone. ”D-don't bow like that! I really and genuinely didn't notice you there!” He rubs his nape, bashfully.  A smile flashes for a moment, unnoticeable to the untrained eye. The fleeting smile of a deceitful fox. ”I hope you're not hurt!”

He hands me my basket back, a gentle hand over my shoulder. ”Thank you, you are most kind, sir!” I smiled at him, swirled at my heels and began to walk away casually.

”Wait— are you new around here?”

I paused.

Ah! Such a persistent fool.

Thank god, I suppose.

”Y-yes. I'm actually traveling by.” I answered him, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

”Are you traveling alone?”

I just tilt my head curiously, ”Umm...”

”Oh! Umm, sorry! You must think I'm creepy for asking that! Just forget about it! I'm actually a local here. If I can help you with anything, don't be shy to ask! Anything at all! I wouldn't mind helping.” He says, walking closer. ”My name is Gyro, nice to meet you!”

I look at the hand he offered.

”Umm... You can call me Ri.” I answered, accepting his handshake. I felt his grip tightened firm, around mine. He went on talking, ”I just can't help but notice your eyes and hair is... well, are you a pureblood perhaps?” I can see his pupils dilating as it ogles at me. ”A rare Arcanian breed...”

He slips.

”I mean—! It's really rare to see a pureblood nowadays. This alone is such a blessing to someone like me.”

I tried to pull my hand away but he kept it there, just still shaking it as his eyes peered to my face. Does he even blink?

”Umm, my hand.” I pointed out with a frown; brows furrowing.

He almost jumped off his feet, ”I'm so sorry!!! Ah! I'm embarrassing myself here! Hahaha! Anyways, are you perhaps buying supplies for your next travel? I'm actually buying my grocery!” He says, taking a small piece of paper with scribbled lists of things. He shoots it back to his pocket even before I could read them. ”I also like those fruits you chose. It's good for a travel when the meat is scarce, yes? It gives me plenty of energy for my work around the shop so I end up buying a dozen at times, even if meat is available. Oh! And you can drop by my shop with your comrades if you want. But do be careful around here, there are a lots of people who would charge travellers insane amount just for a tour or even a question! You'll never known what kind of person you're meeting... Such a dangerous place indeed.” He sighs, not missing a beat to stare directly at my face.

Somehow, he actually takes pride talking about himself with the last sentence. He even warns me of the danger despite himself. He's really reeling the conversation to how he wants it to go. For sure, he's expecting me to ask or react to the last sentence he just stated.

”Shop?” I asked him, instead. ”You have a shop?”

He points out to the opposite direction, ”I sell maps and books, some few scrolls too.” He puts his hands down and gave one cordial smile. ”I wasted your time enough, sorry for all the blabbering. I usually just become talkative when I'm nervous. Umm, have a nice day, Miss Ri!” He scratches the back of his head, bows down and turned about face.

I watch him walk away.

I casually groped at my pocket and noted that my coin purse is gone. Oh great! He's not only a creep, he's a sticky finger too!

I just took the opposite direction and went on my own way. I kept my eyes straight on the road ahead with the sensation that's someone is following behind me.

I turned to one corner and head to the next street. I wonder if he will make contact? I continued traipsing to the central square where lots of vendors can be seen. I strolled leisurely for few more minutes. Gyro seem very patient, I though. I can feel his eyes watching me. He's still following but he hides from plain sight and keeps a safe distance.

What a stalker.

He's taking this bait really easily. He's too blinded by the situation because he wouldn't let the chance pass after seeing an Arcanian pureblood. A single glance is all it takes to pique his interest. He can't resist his habit of collecting purebloods. This is his life after all and right now, for him, I'm a walking trophy to be collected.

After few more minutes, I paused, and tried to buy something in a stall. I groped at my sides. I gasped, tensed my shoulders up and looked around. I began to track back my footsteps, looking bothered and restless. I decided to head back to the market.

”Miss Ri!” I hear running footsteps behind me.

Ah, finally.

”I'm so glad I found you! You forgot this!” He says, showing me the coin purse. ”I didn't know how to contact you so I kept walking around the market to look for you!”

Liar.

”Sorry for causing you too much trouble, Mr. Gyro! Thank you!!! I thought I lost my money back there!” I hanged my head, fidgeting my fingers over my grasp over my basket.

”Are you perhaps Aerrandria of Greenrun?”

”Who?” I tilted my head to the side, one brow arched to an end. He was about to touch my hand nonchalantly but I let go of the basket and I crouched down to pick it up. He pulls his hand away immediately. ”Sorry, what were you asking?”

He has heard of me...

But he's asking that just to catch me. I think he's growing suspicious.

”Ah, forget what I said!” He lets out a nervous laughter.

”I don't know how to repay you though. I don't have that much money with me right now. Umm, you can have these fruits instead though?” I bated my lashes and looked away as I reach the basket over to him.

”Actually, why don't we grab something to drink instead?”

He's really asking a child so casually when he actually around his forty's? I guess he can be this aggressive.

”I need to go back now. I can't stay out for long... But I insist, please, you can have these fruits.”

”No need! How about tomorrow? You can even invite your comrades. It's my treat!”

”I don't think I can, my comrades might not like it either, I'm sorry.” I said

”Such a shame. I guess this is goodbye then!” He scratched the back of his head.

What will you do now, Gyro?

”I'm really sorry for all the troubles.” I bowed down briefly. ”It was nice meeting you, Mr. Gyro.”

He just seem calm and smiled so warmly at me. Behind those eyes, I know he's trying to calculate a plan. I'll push a little bit more.

”Ah! I should go now! I just remembered we had to leave this town soon! I lost track of time again!” I hurried to ran away

But surprisingly, I got pinned down in place.

I look back and realized his hand had grabbed my wrist.

”Ah! Sorry! I... didn't know what I was thinking!” He instantly lets go.

”I need to hurry. Sorry! Bye, Mr. Gyro!”

”Ah wait! Perhaps I can help you. I know a lot of detours around town.”

I let a beat of a second pass. ”Alright. I need to get to Mugcart Taverns, do you know a shorcut I can take?”

”A yes! I know that place, come on!” He grabbed my hand and dragged me along with him.

”Mr. Gyro, it's okay! You don't have to go. I already wasted your time!” I hollered but he won't let go and just went on running. ”Mr. Gyro?”

”It's alright! You need to get there soon, right? Just trust me!”

Such a persistent and aggressive move. I guess, I'll just let him.

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He pulled me towards an alleyway and kept running without looking back. His grasp around my wrist is tight and it clenched tighter as we head deeper and deeper to the alley.

”Umm, are you sure about this?” I asked him but he didn't respond.

We took one corner and into another. Turning to a narrow and steep alleyway that seemed like labyrinth. And then he slowed down as we soon reach a dead end.

He finally stopped in his tracks and released me.

”This is...” I murmured, barely inaudible as I pulled my free hand close to my chest while tightening my grip on to the handle of my basket with my other hand. ”Mr. Gyro, it's a dead end.”

”Not for me.” he says

”Let's head back!” I abruptly turned around but his hand grabbed my shoulder and pushed me to the wall.

”Mr. Gyro?!”

”Even if you scream, no one will hear you!” His decent guy façade is taken off and all I see now is this guy who smiled so wide but it never touches his lewd eyes. The madness inside him is brewing and the rise of tension is turning him on. I can see hair on his arm stood on ends as his hand grabs my chin.

Before I could have even reacted to his touch, a mist spreads out from his hand.

So he's a high tier water magus, huh?

”Good night, my love.” He uttered and I slowly closed my eyes and dropped on the floor unmoving.

He began to chuckle on his own.

I can hear him gasping a deep and long breath as he gave out a throaty laugh. Like a child, he can't help but jump around and giggle before turning back to me and carrying me on his arms.

”Finally, an Arcanian! This is really my day! Imagine all the possibilities we can do together. We have so much to try together, my love!”

He swivels around and was about to walk back the path but he notice from the corner of his eyes, something moving from the shadows.

The guttural groans and croaking sound echoes as though they came from the deepest part of the sewers. He looks around, trying to decipher the sound and study what it is that's moving there on the wall before us.

Two white dots appears from the shadows. The clouds above began to cover the sun, giving more shade to the alley. Another croak, and then a hiss.

Gyro took one step back, alarmed at the idea that's a dæmon is now watching him like a prey. But he didn't run away, he was adamant to fend it off. The darkness on the alley grew and grew. The temperature began to drop and a screech now echoes all around him.

A cold sweat rolls down his nape.

The two dots of eyes began to multiply in all areas of the wall. They hissed and croaked again as they began to crawl down from the walls. Long black tongue drapes down from the hundreds of sharp teeth seen in their mouth.

Fear began to eat Mr. Gyro. The stench of terror from him is seeping out from the tremors of his arms and to my body. The negative energy he's giving is feeding me more and more as he tried to walk slowly backwards with eyes frantically watching the shadow dæmons that's now has reach the ground and began to stand up on their hind legs, stretching up to fifteen feet high.

He fasten his hold on me as if protecting a child.

Time to drop the acting, I thought.

”Just unhand me, they don't like it when someone steals their mistress from them.” I told Gyro.

Surprised, Gyro shot me a look as I flip my lids open and glowered at him.

He throws me down and gasped as he tried to walk farther but he's already cornered by my creatures.

”Impossible! N-no one can... no one can resist my sleeping mist!” He uttered under his breath. The panic in his eyes spelled danger. He's about to snap.

”I suppose your mist is too weak.” I shrugged, slowly getting up. Curled my back straight and nudge at my shoulders until the relaxing crack emits.

”Who are you?” He says in a flat tone.

”We already pass that! Don't you remember? I told you, you can call me Ri, Mr. Gyro. But you don't have to fret. I didn't came here to kill you. I just need you to answer some questions about several years ago. It's related to Cerguz, y'see? Do you still remember the guy?”

His head tilts down but his eyes watched me sharply, ”You're... from Ouboros?”

I pulled my mask out my small bag and put it on, ”I'm glad you still remember! It's about the information you gave to Cerguz over a decade or so. You told him where to find an Ergus clan named Dyllan. They had two wonderful pureblood sisters named Noriin and Paulin! They're from Ialnis originally but when we went to check the place, it's deserted. By any chance, do you still know where the Dyllan clan must be living now?”

”That mask... who are you?”

”Ignoring my questions, I see.” I sighed. ”Okay then, I'll answer yours and then later, you answer mine! Fair enough?” I smiled warmly at him.

His eyes cautiously watched the dæmon surrounding us.