“...You knew I was cheating.”

The mask seemed to change their voice to be semi-robotic, it was impossible to tell who they were.

“True.”

“But you still won… How?”

“Well I can’t use wind magic for starters. Show Status: Custom skill”

High-Level Knife throwing

“This skill. It apparently works on darts too.”

“But you… Who are you?”

“I’m Rein.”

“That’s not what I meant… I… Need to ask-”

“Nuh uh we’re not going to do what you ask us to…”

Mel spoke up again and answered for me, I wasn’t going to stop where this was going though.

“What?... Can I at least know the reason?”

Their voice sounded of defeat, didn’t argue and accepted what was said.

“-except if you show your face!”

“Huh?”

“You can’t be trusted if you can’t show your face… Also I’m betting you're a girl trying to seem intimidating and I want to see if I’m right.”

“No, you're right…”

She put a hand on her mask and lifted it up.

“Double right…”

As her hood fell down, her red hair stood up with her two black horns poking through the top. She closed her red eyes and fell to her knees while at the same time a shriek came from Mel.

“Wait! Please, give me a chance to explain!”

“Yesss! I knew it!!!!”

“Huh?”

“I knew you were a girl!”

“That’s it?”

“Mel doesn’t care that you’re a demon if that’s what you're confused about. Well, neither do I.”

“Really?”

Mel threw up a peace sign.

“Yeah! No sweat!”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“In that case please listen.”

She lowered herself even further.

“I can’t tell this to the guard, or to the guild… but my people are being sold as slaves… With your skills, Rein, please come to the slums at dawn tomorrow-”

“-Can’t. I’m busy.”

“Wait please… I’ll give you a reward… I’m desperate here…”

“Sorry, I have a tight schedule.”

I walked off as she stayed on the floor behind me.

“Wasn’t that a little mean?”

“It’s too early to get involved with her.”

“I… guess you're right.”

“Anyway what I said was true.”

“You’re busy doing what?”

“You’ll find out.”

I made my way to the open market. There were stalls, buildings, people selling everything from food to tools and daily necessities. I walked into the entrance of a certain bakery as the bell above the door rang.

The bakery had goods of every variety on display. Bread and buns of different and strange colors being baked filled the air with a nostalgic smell.

“Hello! What are you looking for today?”

A ginger girl with a friendly smile was holding a hot metal tray in their hands as they ran in from another room.

“Do you happen to have any energy buns in stock?”

“I do! Right in my hands in fact. Is this your first time coming here?”

“You could say that.”

“Well these buns are specially baked. They have a rare seed baked in that gives you the stamina to keep going for hours! Let me put these on to cool.”

She used a spatula to give one a flip before putting the first on the cooling rack.

“So how did you hear about us?”

I froze for a second, but the warm nostalgic air kept me going.

“A girl I used to know, she loved coming to places like this.”

“What was her name?”

“Ayla.”

“Ayla… hmm… Sorry I don’t recognize it.”

“I know…”

My voice cracked.

“I’m just talking to myself here…”

She finished placing the last one down.

“So how many would you like?”

“All of them.”

“All of them?”

“All of them.”

“But… These are four per gold coin… They're very expensive.”

I reached into my storage and pulled out a stack of 8, then put it in her hands.

“That’s fine.”

An astonished look was wiped out in a second.

“Thanks for your business!”

She put the entire rack on the counter.

“Would you like a bag? Or a few…”

“I brought my own.”

Every bun disappeared in front of her eyes as I held out my hand as the astonished look came back.

“Ah…”

I turned to leave.

“Please come again! And please enjoy!!”

The bell behind me rang once more.

“Why didn’t you ask what I wanted?!”

“You know fairies only need mana.”

“I’m NOT a fairy! I’m a spirit! A very important spirit!”

“Well you look like one now.”

“I’m the noble and just spirit of reincarnation! Melphelia!”

I snorted.

“Noble…”

“Shut up! I didn’t know spirits get their race defaulted to fairy!”

“Yeah, yeah…”

I tossed her jar up and caught it again.

“Ah!”

I wandered over towards the center of the market.

“Wait, less importantly… Who is Ayla?”

“Just someone I made up on the spot.”

“Huh… I thought it would be juicier than that…”

I made a disappointed face at her when I reached a large stone building.