Norbert pushed as hard as he could go, hearing Luck screaming in the wind, a joy to her voice Norbert hadn't heard before. Smiling with her, Norbert forced power through his legs, feeling the ground crack and bend under him as he went even faster than before. He was feeling Lucky grip his neck for dear life.
Nearing the bend, Norbert slowed down, going to a brisk jog; now, with the wind no longer howling in their ears, Norbert asked, "Hey, do you have any idea who Elizabeth is?" Norbert asked.
Luck just leaned forward. "Elizabeth, who?" she said, Norbert hearing the teasing tone in her voice.
"Elizabeth from the casino, how many other Elizabeth’s do I know?" Norbert said, raising his voice slightly to add anger to it.
"Oh, that Elizabeth. I have nothing to say about her," She concluded. Waiting, Norbert didn't hear anything else; opening his mouth to rebuttal, he was closed off, her hands moving from his neck to cover his mouth. "And you can ask the other Luck when you get back—enough about the stuff in Masanu. Show me everything you have here," She finished.
Norbert sighed. "Yeah, I'll show you as much as I can and eat all sorts of food while we are here", Norbert relented.
As Norbert saw the first shops ahead, Luck jumped off his back, walking into town together, flipping his backpack to the front. He stopped outside the convenience store. Norbert walked up the wooden steps, the door opening and creaking again.
Sitting behind the counter, as always, was Frank. Waving, Norbert took a basket in one hand. "Anything in particular that looks interesting?" Norbert asked, taking some biscuits, crackers, and a pack of assorted lollies before walking to the fridge.
Luck just shook her head. "All of it is so colourful, can't even begin to imagine just picking something and not all of it", She finished, whipping her head back and forth, asking Norbert questions about everything there.
Walking to the fridge, Norbert picked up chocolate milk, watching the rest of the fridge, wondering what she might like. Pointing to the fridge, Norbert asked, "Any flavour your feeling like?" Norbert asked her.
Looking around at the coloured bottles, Luck spoke, "Something orange flavoured, assume that is?" while pointing to a bottle of Fanta. Norbert nodded as he picked it up and put it in the shopping basket.
With everything for a little snack along the way, Norbert took out the items so Frank could scan them as they walked about town. One at a time, he beeped them, placing them in a bag and calling out the price. Norbert just tapped his card, hearing the confirming beep it went through.
Frank passed the bag over. "Sure you aren't forgetting something?" He asked while raising his eyebrows and looking between Norbert and Luck.
Norbert stood there for a second, trying to think about what he could be talking about. Frank just indicated to the side to the adult section. Shaking his head, Norbert took the bag "You dirty old geezer" As he stepped out the door, the creaking accentuated Frank's laughter, which dulled down when the door closed behind them.
Norbert continued to shake his head and put the bag into his backpack, happy that he had brought it. As he tossed it over his shoulder and wondered where next to take Luck, he looked at her, noticing she was wearing the same clothes.
"Just curious, are you able to change your outfit?" Norbert asked, fingers crossed that it would be the answer he was looking for that would not put a hole in his wallet.
"Nope, no magic over here for me to use, remember," She said, flicking him on the forehead in turn before she jumped off the porch over the steps and onto the footpath, skipping and whistling a tune as she continued to look around.
Norbert chased after her. "Wait, what do you mean no magic."
Twirling around, her hair blowing around her as she started walking backwards, "Exactly what I said, you can even check with your eyes. There isn't any magic. All of this you see is natural; it does exist."
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Not believing her words, Norbert changed to mana sight, stopping as he was plunged into darkness. As he twirled around, nothing had any colour at all. Holding his hands up to his face, Norbert could see a faint web going through them. Focusing on his body, he pumped energy through it, seeing the veins glow brighter and brighter purple before he snapped back to viewing the world as usual.
Inspecting his hands, Norbert could faintly see some purple light there, dissipating the following question on his mind. "Then how can I still use my energy?" Norbert asked.
Continuing to walk ahead, Norbert walked beside her as they walked through the town. "As that's internal, it isn't sucked away by the void of this place. It's also created by the food that you ingest. Takes longer for it to build up, but it's there," She finished.
Norbert just nodded. "So, I need to get you some clothes. We can head to a store on the way back. For now, we shall continue to adventure" he grabbed her hand and started walking faster, pointing at the next store he wanted to show her, the pub.
***
After walking around the entire town, picking up things to get along the way, Norbert took her to the hill with the lone tree. Out past town, overlooking all of it and the surrounding area, they sat under the shade.
Norbert points out that Jack grew up about work and uni life like the train going past and the train station, people and places.
Whenever she needed something to be explained, he would stop and let her know, even bringing out his phone and showing her there and sharing the drinks between them, their laughter rolling down the hill, Norbert smiling.
"You know, it's nice that I can just be open with you, that you know both sides of me now, and there isn't anything I need to hide from you," Norbert said, taking a sip of his milk and taking a handful of lollies, placing a snake half in his mouth as he slowly chewed it down.
"A bit of time to relax is good for everyone, just to unwind and decompress", Luck responded, lying next to him and taking some lollies.
As they continued to chat idly, Norbert asked, "Is there anything on your mind, Luck?"
Luck waved her hand in the air. "Nothing you could help me with. Well, you're already helping me with it. Just continue your actions, and it will all work out." She said
Norbert thought about what he had done, just going around with the Frontier, bouncing from place to place without ever really having something to go with. Slowly, or more recently, he quickly grew in power, one elixir at a time, as he continued his rampage.
As Norbert thought, he remembered the people he had killed, now just taking it as a part of the job as he smashed it down, not wanting any dark thoughts to interrupt the time he was having. "And what exactly is that?" he asked her, trying to distract himself.
"Growing stronger and spreading the word of Lady Luck," She said, placing both hands under her head.
Norbert just nodded. "Guess all of those casino games and flipping the coin did impact people" Luck nodded in agreement.
As the two of them now sat in silence, the sun setting over the horizon, just needing to head back for the day, having bought the clothes that Luck would need before.
Standing up, Norbert held out his hand for Luck, grabbing it as she pulled herself up. Taking the bags, they walked down the hill together, taking their time as they strolled back to Norbert's place. Knowing that people would be seeing them together, probably all the gossip around town by now.
Feeling his phone vibrate, Norbert pulled it out, seeing it was a text from Jack asking about the girl he was walking around town with. Taking a selfie with the two of them, Norbert sent it to him with the single word "Luck" before he put his phone back in his pocket, dismissing the swarm of texts he received.
Walking down the driveway, the lights for the house were all on. The two of them slipped inside, putting the bags of clothes and necessities in Norbert's room before un-tagging them and putting them in their proper place for the next week until they left.
Walking down the stairs again, Norbert sat down for dinner, taking his plate from the kitchen and putting it on the table, everyone else already milling about.
Zoe was annoyed at Norbert as she stared at him across the room. Norbert was watching, whispering to his Mum, "What's gotten her all tied up?" Norbert asked.
Turning around and seeing that Norbert was looking at Zoe, she responded, "Wanted to hang out with you and Luck today. Annoyed that you left before she could tag along", his Mum replied.
Norbert grumbled to himself. "Probably just wanted something from Frankie's", He supplied, only receiving a nod in return.
As everyone sat down, Cassandra turned to Norbert. "So, what did you do today?" She asked the two of them.
***
Zoe laughed as she went forward on her push bike. "Come on, slowpokes", She said as everyone else walked back. With everyone having some time off, Norbert's Dad thought it would be suitable for all the kids to have a day outside together.
Cassandra and Luck walked together, chatting behind him as Norbert tried to overhear what was being said, hoping nothing suspecting would be said out loud about Luck. Jessica walking next to him, just eyed his behaviour, knowing that he was acting weird but not caring.
"So, where did you meet her?" Jessica asked.
Norbert focused ahead, processing the question. What was he going to say? Out of everything said before, where they met up wasn't agreed. Fingers crossed, Norbert began, "Well, it's a long store …"
Jessica responded, "Well, I have enough time now, so spill it."