Hello my few, but beloved readers. I have a new chapter for you today! I took the advice from the comment's in the previous chapter and shortened my paragraphs while giving the dialogue their own line.
I hope you enjoy my story! Please leave a comment if you find anything wrong or have any suggestions.
Enjoy!~
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When I pulled the door open, a cool fall breeze caressed my face and fogged up my glasses, but instead of cleaning them with a cloth, I waited a few seconds for them to adjust to the temperature. When they cleared, I was greeted by the sight of trees losing their leaves. All the bright reds and yellows, along with the dull shades of brown of the trees, it was a beautiful sight to me and each time I see it only solidifies my love for the fall season.
I then took my first step of the day, and when my foot fell upon the cobbled path I heard a crunching sound under my foot. Peering down I noticed even more leaves had fallen since the day before. While pushing my glasses up the bridge of my nose I took note that the groundskeepers will have to work hard today, just like the day before, to rake them all up.
Thanking the fact I wasn’t stuck with such a tedious and futile task, I sucked in a breath of the chilly morning air through my nose, holding it for a few seconds before finally exhaling through my mouth.
With that small breathing exercise completed I began walking my way through the estate, heading for the front gate. I only managed to walk about half way from the servant’s quarters to the front gate before sounds of wood hitting wood caught my attention. The sound came from the direction of the training yard where the estate’s guards train.
‘How curious.’ I thought to to myself, ‘Most of the guards should be eating breakfast, or eating dinner after retiring from their night shifts. I don’t know of any guard who would pass up a meal or sleep just to spar.’
After weighing the options I opted to ignore this sound, while concluding it was just Lord Raingrip training his son, Maxwell Raingrip.
While I continued my walk to the front gate I laughed softly and murmured, “Lord Raingrip has been like this ever since his father died in battle three years ago. I can’t imagine the feeling of having my family’s noble status lowered, just because I wasn’t as powerful as the previous head.”
I shrugged slightly at my own comment and mumbled on, “Then again I wouldn’t know the feeling of being a noble, or having a father…”
The last part of my comment trailed off and soon I found myself at the gate. When the gatekeeper spotted me he greeted, “Hail Theodor. Are you going to the Arch Wizard’s today?”
While turning towards the graying gatekeeper I pushed my glasses further up the bridge of my nose and assumed a straight posture, “Good morning, Mr.Prescott.”
“No need to address me with such formalities Theodor.” The graying gatekeeper chuckled.
While keeping my straight posture I peered at the smiling older gentleman, “I must apologize, but old habits die hard.” With that said, I eased up my posture and smiled along with the graying gatekeeper. “Yes, I’m making my way over to Mrs.Enhana’s estate, she is going to teach us a new offensive spell today.”
“Oh?” Mr.Prescott chuckled, “Then I better not keep you waiting.” He then got up from his gate house and walked over to where the gates open and close. Before reaching for the ring of keys on his belt he glanced over and said “Say hello to Elicia for me.”
“Of course.” I replied with a matter-of-fact tone.
He then removed the key ring and skillfully grabbed the right one before unlocking the front gate. The graying gatekeeper then pushed one of the wrought iron doors out enough for me to slip through and said, “Better not keep your teacher waiting.” He then began twirling the key ring with his right hand.
After a slight bow, I strode through the opening and continued my journey to Mrs.Enhana’s estate.
I walked past many mansions and small castle like structures, belonging to other nobles of various standings, before I reached the upper wall gates. There wasn’t much traffic at this time of the day, because most of the nobles were either sleeping or enjoying a decadent breakfast, and since there wasn’t any pompous nobles around to scald them for appearing “Improper as guards for the nobility residency quarter.” The guards would act a bit more lethargic.
After approaching the already open gate, one of two guards standing watch asked for a clearance pass. I then reached into one of my overcoat pockets and pulled out a small slip of paper with the Raingrip seal on it, and handed it to the guard.
He casually took the slip of paper and glanced down at it with disinterest before handing it back to me while saying, “Clear.”
I took the slip of paper and placed it in the same pocket and began walking past the gate.
The sight that appeared before me as I walked through the gate was of many businesses having carts unloaded and crates carried in and out of their shops. I pushed my glasses up and noticed many smells filling this section of this city, some smelling sweet, some savory and also the nose curling smell of horse waste. One wouldn’t go anywhere within such busy parts of the city without smelling horse excrement, there was far too much carts and carriages passing through.
I braced myself and stepped forward.
While dodging busy shopkeepers and workers, as well as horse shit, I turned towards one of the many streets that branched off the main road and walked down it. After a short and uncrowded walk, I ended up in front small shop. The shop had a wooden sign above the door that had a picture of a loaf of bread.
I stood there for a good thirty seconds as I tried to muster up the courage to open the door. “Alright Theodor, you can do this. All you have to do is buy a slice of bread, and ask her to the festival. Nothing to it!” I whispered to myself.
After my small pep talk I made sure my azure hair was slicked back before I removed my round glasses, making sure there was no smudges before placing them back on. After confirming that nothing was out of place I crept up to the door and grabbed the doorknob with a shaking hand.
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As I opened the door the aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries overwhelmed me. My mouth began to water within seconds of the scent surrounding me, but when my eyes fell upon her, my mouth instantly dried up.
The excitement I showed this morning wasn’t because of Mrs.Enhana teaching us a new spell, although I’m somewhat excited about that.That’s just what I told everyone to mask my enthusiasm, in reality it was because of this moment.
Next week is the fall harvest festival, although the crops this city grows are mostly alchemy herbs and plants, which are harvested at various times during the year, we still celebrate the fall harvest because it gives people an excuse to skip work and get drunk as well as allow vendors to sell their wares. It’s also a time that many men and women use as a date night. Especially the younger men and women.
This is because the week before is known as the “competition week”. A week where the young men compete with each other in order to win the affections of the young lady they are competing for.
It's an unspoken and unofficial holiday of itself, so not all people do this. But a lot of the hot headed young men like to show off and the girls enjoy the attention they receive.
As my storm gray eyes locked onto her deep sea blue eyes, I froze. She gave a small, but very bright smile that could melt any amount of layers of ice off the hearts of any potential customer.
When her smile hit me, it felt like the warm sun on a hot summer day, causing my heart to beat at a fast pace and my palms to sweat. I then tried with all my might to take a step forward while attempting to give her a smile in return.
After returning an awkward smile and walking in a clunky fashion towards the counter, I stuttered, “C-can I ha-have a sl-slice o-of brea-bre-bread?”
When she heard my stuttering she placed a pearl white hand, with no blemishes, over her mouth and giggled in a very cute manner. I tried to look away in embarrassment but my eyes were caught on her firey red hair, showing her excellent affinity to the fire element, that was bound loosely over her back.
“One slice of bread? Coming right up!” She exclaimed after she finished her giggling.
I was broken from my trance when she spoke. I coughed softly to try and ease the tension. She then took out a loaf of plain white bread and began slicing it, I unbuttoned the top of my overcoat and reached into my vest to retrieve a copper piece from my coin purse.
After grabbing the payment for my breakfast I noticed she was still slicing the loaf of bread, most likely for other future customers.
It was then that I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth, mentally hyping myself up to ask her to the festival, and right before she finished I managed to say it. “Will you…”
She stopped and turned to me with a questioning look on her flawless face.
“Go to the Harvest Festival.... with me?” I said with the most angst I’ve ever had.
She placed a finger on her chin and looked up with a thinking face “Hmmm…. Okay.” She replied nonchalantly.
I stood there flabbergasted. Elicia Prescott, the girl I’ve had a crush on for the past few years, agreed to go with me to the Harvest Festival. I was elated and overjoyed, and I thought my heart could stop at any moment.
After standing there with a blank expression on my face for a good three minutes, Elicia finally asked, “Are you okay Theodor?”
Broken from my trance by her voice, I slapped the copper piece down on the counter, causing Elicia to jump a little, and I ran to the door. But before I opened the door I shouted “I’ll see you the day before the the festival!”
With that out of the way, I threw open the door and ran out like a madman. As I ran through the small street to get to the main road, I failed to notice the shadow that’s been trailing me from the shadows since I left the nobility residency district.
When I finally made it down the main road and to the outer gates, after about fifteen minutes of dodging and weaving past people, carts and whatever you may see on a busy market row. I was greeted with a line of people going in and out.
I thought to myself, ‘Damn it! I might be late to Mrs.Enhana’s estate if this line doesn’t move soon.’
That’s when my stomach started growling, ‘Damn it all! And I forgot my bread.’
After what felt like an eternity, but in reality five minutes, I asked one of the people, a fat merchant holding a pack mule’s reins, in line “What’s the hold up?”
He turned to me and grumbled, “The damned city lord issued an order for the guards the vet the people going in and out of the city, because something about an influx of spies.” The merchant then looked away in annoyance.
I just shrugged and decided to do something I might regret later. But it was worth it so I wouldn’t be late.
So I stepped out of line and walked passed the disgruntled citizens and merchants, most of them gave me the evil eye for cutting them off. I just ignored them and continued to the gate.
When I reached the the front of the line I saw three tables with a few guards checking the paperwork of various people trying to leave. Because I was short on time, I shuffled next to another merchant, who had a whole cart filled with goods he was most likely going to export, that was being vetted.
Disregarding his already annoyed glare, that turned red with rage, I placed my hand within my coat pocket and pulled out the slip of paper with the Raingrip seal on it before handing it to the overwhelmed guard.
The guard looked at it for a moment before pulling a chart out to check for authenticity. After a few minutes of him doing this he placed the slip down and took out another slip of paper and stamped it before handing me both of the slips.
I pushed my glasses up with my left hand while taking the slips of paper with my other hand. After glancing at the new slip of paper I began to walk through the gate.