Martitia departed after some time, leaving Norbert sitting staring at the statue in the fountain. Norbert just waved away as Obsius played with the light in his hand. Looking up at the statue, Norbert remembered their conversations playing back in his mind. What would that mean for him if people were so hesitant to follow her? Would he soon be caught in a bind, and unable to get out?
Shaking his head, Norbert remembered last night that he could make enough money to buy everything he had and made it out without any injury. Not to mention the multiple times Norbert received elixirs from her.
Remembering the freedom that he was following the path he was on, not chained to any whims. Pulling out his coin, Norbert looked at it, examining it from both sides. The golden of the coin shone in the wind, and knowing it wasn't worth the same as gold here, I did not even try to trade it for anything else.
He looked at the heads on one side, looking out to the queen's side, staring regally forward. On the other, the word dollar is written on it. Norbert held it between his fingers, flicking it, causing it to rotate between them.
Norbert exclaimed to the statue, "Heads I continue, tails I stop." Norbert flicked the coin into the air as high as it could. Losing sight of it, Norbert just held his palm before him. "Well, what's it gonna be?" He said to the statue.
Feeling the coin land in his hand, he covered it and palmed it over to the top of his other. "And the result is", Norbert shouted, other people starting to look at him. "Heads!" he shouted, jumping into the air.
Obsius flapped his wings and landed on the statue's head, giving the stink eye at Norbert. Excusing himself to the bird and those around him, Norbert said to the statue, "Well, it looks like we'll be in it for the long run then."
Standing up, Norbert turned around, waving to the statue. As he left, a droplet of water came from the jug she held, falling out and landing inside the fountain. Obsius are flying off and away, cawing out. Norbert waved at the bird as it flew off into the city trusting the bird to return when needed.
Walking down the winding path, the cobblestone under his feet, Norbert followed his nose. Still having enough time left in the day before he would need to return, Norbert looked around, following his nose, not knowing where to go.
Further and further down, Norbert went, finding pieces and trinkets catching his eye. Through the markets Norbert went, finding store owners presenting their wares—necklaces, rings, armour, weapons and food. The scents and smells overwhelmed Norbert as he looked from one place to another.
Looking out further, Norbert saw down the hill; the city spread out before him. Going down, it went out, Norbert seeing fields of rolling hills and trees dotting the landscape. A road leads out, winding between the buildings, going past the gate and between the hills.
Norbert stood there, looking out and seeing the world, wondering what else could be there. Just over the horizon and out there, already seeing some of it, what else could he only dream of?
Slowly walking down the hill, Norbert whistled to himself, staring off at the hills in the distance, calling him to run as fast as he could, the wide streets and building undulating roofs begging out to him. Shaking his head, Norbert's view was cut off by the wall. Looking up, Norbert could see it being many meters tall, finding a gate with an average thickness of a couple of meters. As Norbert just stared at the construction, the stones must be shipped one at a time and set in place due to their immense size.
An airship horn blasted above his head; at least it would be easy to move items out here, Norbert thought. Walking along the base of the wall, Norbert trailed his hand. His gloved fingers picked up the grooves on them. Etched in each stone, Norbert stepped back, seeing it make a wave going from one brick to another.
Not recognising it at all but assuming it was something to fortify the walls against such beasts he had seen in the forest. And remembering great beasts the mention of a T-Rex, still not having found anything like it so far.
As Norbert turned around, walking along the road to Martitia's residence. Stopping, Norbert went and bought a meat skewer from the stall owner. Giving him an extra copper, may as well be generous. Biting into the skewer, juice dribbled down his cheek as Norbert tasted its salt.
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His tastebuds activated from one stall; Norbert looked at the next place to eat. The smell of candy wafted out of a shop as the door opened. Stopping again Norbert in his path, he looked out the window.
Pink writing scrawled on the front, Norbert wishing he could read it now. The outside stone of the building was also pink, the mortar in between the bricks used was a darker pink, making the entire place stand out compared to the normal grey colouring found by their neighbours Shrugging his shoulders, Norbert headed inside, the bell tinkling above his head. As he stepped in, Norbert smelt the sugar in the air.
Remembering the shop that Nassan took him to before Norbert looked around, recognising the candies there. Poking around, Norbert saw ones of all different colours, recognising the ones that changed the colour of your tongue.
Hard candies that needed to be chewed were soft, jelly-like, long, and trim. Norbert just looked, not knowing which one to start with. So making the wise decision, Norbert walked up to the counter. The wood around Norbert was dyed pink to match the same as the sign outside. Tiny shelves waist high stood, creating aisles in the centre of the room and around the edges. Looking inside the shelves, Norbert saw more lollies for him to look at.
Rubbing his hands, Norbert went to the counter; a girl far younger than he was sitting there. "Anything tickles your fancy?" she asked Norbert.
She looked at her noticing her pink hair and the pink dress she wore—polka dots on the dress of white created a pink effect on her and noticing the blush on her cheeks also gave the girl a warm and open look. Leaning on the counter, saying, "Well, what happens if I want to try all of them first?" he asked.
The girl's smile went even more comprehensive than before. "Mum", she called out into the back room. A woman wearing pink as well but with blonde hair appears behind the door frame. "He said he wants to try them all. Do we do that?" she asked her mother.
The mother entered the room, looking at Norbert and his black clothes. "That would be fifty coppers, depending on how many bags you would like to have" she questioned Norbert.
Nodding his head in acceptance, Norbert pulled his coin pouch off, took a silver coin out and placed it on the counter. The girl's eyes widened, and Norbert said, "This should cover it, I would also like to take some back so my party can have a taste."
The woman stepped forward, swiping the coins into her pouch. "Gloria, please show …" she asked, looking at Norbert.
"Norbert", he provided for her.
"Thank you, Norbert. Around the store, let him have the full experience. And yes, you can try some too." She said to her daughter. Gloria instantly got off the chair and came around to the front, dragging Norbert to the front of the shop. Going along with it, Norbert began to have a rundown of all the candies in the shop.
***
Leaving the store, having had more sugar in one time than ever, hoping his teeth would be fine as Norbert brought a sack around. They showed how some of the candies were made, but sadly, they could not use any of the appliances needed. Norbert wondered once more what people with no magic did in this world, how they would even function.
Popping a candy to suck on in his mouth, knowing his tongue would be multi-coloured from his experience today. Steadily walking around the sun going down, Norbert no longer idly walking around but trying to get back as soon as possible cut through the streets.
Recognising the buildings now, Norbert positioned himself in the right direction. And there before him was the house. Walking up the steps, Norbert opened the door, the doors swinging open as Norbert looked around.
Finding everyone else there just sitting around, one playing a song on a string instrument, Norbert was not sure the exact type as the music filled the air. Several of the people joined in singing to each other.
As the door closed behind Norbert, everyone looked at him. Staring at the bag he had, Norbert walked to a table and dumped the contents, allowing the candies to roll around it. Everyone stared at him as he walked over to the bar and sat on a stool.
"Well, that's for everyone, so dig in," Norbert said. A round of cheers escaped the room. The music stopped as even he went forward and took a handful. As the first person had one, they exclaimed, "It's the Pink Pair's store."
A hiss of yesses came from others as they all joined in. Martitia also stepped forward, selecting several and putting them in her hand as she sat beside Norbert. "Already told these guys, so just let them have their candy. It's a good way to end our stay here." She said
Norbert just looked at her, hearing the candy click in his mouth as he said, "What do you mean, end our stay?"
Martitia smiled. "Tomorrow, we're heading out again to a new town to stop a herd of wild raptors destroying a village." Popping one into her mouth and just looking.
Norbert nodded, excitement growing in his belly at finally seeing a dinosaur. Thinking about the T-Rex again, Norbert had to ask, "Speaking of raptors I’m curious about T-Rex’s, were are they located?" Norbert hoped the translation would work well.
Martitia responded, "They are further out to the east, where the desert tribes and their underground cities. Far away from where we are now."
Norbert just nodded, still excited that he might see a raptor tomorrow.