บท 19: The Market Caste
He swallowed, goosebumps rising, cold sweat trickling down her temples and trembling in her legs and hands. It was unexpected that Xavier would dare to pull a knife in a public place and frequented by customers from both locals and migrants.
Unfortunately at this time no one was watching them, no one was passing by, and even if they were, they did not dare to take risks and let them solve the problem in a way that no one knew.
"Alright, alright, at least put that damn knife away!" The vendor tried to fight back but in the end he was still a loser who only moved to bully those weaker than him.
Xavier lowered his hand and twirled the kitchen knife with his fingers before putting it into the sheath. His smile seemed to widen as he succeeded in bullying the people who often toyed with his patience.
"As you know, this market is vast and sprawling. But I bet you didn't know that the vendors here have their own caste as per the agreement."
"Caste? Covenant? I didn't think such a system could be implemented in such a disgusting village." Xavier marveled slightly while observing the surroundings.
His mouth clucked in annoyance when the newcomer said something that was factual but could not be changed anytime soon. "Unfortunately, I am the lowest caste vendor. If you want to find some information that can help you, you can go to the western part of the market, near the square. The highest caste of vendors are there and there are even vendors who only build a small building as a place to consul or sell information."
"Selling information... "
"Doubtful? You said you don't really need money, right? You can pay for any information and each one is divided into different fees, depending on how important the information is."
"As a poor old fool, you know your village well enough." Xavier clapped his hands, showing his appreciation.
"If you're done insulting, I want you to leave here. I don't want to see you again until either of us is dead." Sellers tried to contain his anger but he could imagine the risk.
Even though Xavier almost put a kitchen knife in his mouth, it was still just a joke he often played on his comrades-in-arms. Not forgetting to give a little information for a little pay.
"You don't have to pay me a single coin, you idiot. Even the rotten apple you brought is worth more." His hands squeezed tightly together. In the end, he was still despised by the comers he could not possibly conquer.
'Oh, I had forgotten that this trip I have a partner.'
While leaving the market and heading for the next place, he decided to go with the goddess who had split up. They had already agreed on the market behind him as the rallying point.
Time went by and Xavier still did not see the bridge of his partner's nose. His eyes were a little tired from continuously observing the person in the white robe. It should have been conspicuous but a market was a market, it was always crowded and it was hard to spot one person in the middle of the crowd.
Until where he could see the white robe floating at the edge of the crowd. Travelling on tiptoe feet trying to avoid the puddles. Not a few people were still watching her lh, but the figure behind the white robe continued to walk fast, ignoring the whispers of suspicion and the few people who tried to stop and engage her in conversation.
The figure behind the white robe looked at Xavier who was looking at him too. There was a slight relief and his heart unconsciously smiled as he approached him.
"You're acting like a suspicious person. Your cover could be blown and we could be kicked out of this village."
"I don't want to do this either!" Cytherea retorted in a harsh tone, her gaze downcast, and her breathing ragged. "Just wearing this barbaric robe is torturing me."
"Every deed must have a payoff. It's still lucky your disguise didn't show or we wouldn't have got anything."
"I already refused to stand my ground here. But... " Cytherea decided not to continue the conversation and asked an important question. "By the way, it looks like you got what you wanted."
"That's true but not completely. We should go to the other side and find a useful informant."
"No wonder."
"Then, what did you get besides the neighbourhood's suspicion and sweat?" Xavier quipped.
Shaking her head and slightly resigned. "I'm sorry but I tried. Let alone getting information, I was even advised to leave this village..." Then Cytherea explained her conversation with the blacksmith.
"At the very least, you asked him about the clarity of the witch's whereabouts. Seven miles is a long way but we can still reach it if we find a mount that makes our journey easier."
The goddess scratched her head. Such a question did not even cross her mind and chose to protect herself from the threats of the locals.
'Do I really deserve to be called the Foolish Goddess?
"Never mind. You must have your own reasons." Xavier won her over and walked in the designated direction. "At least I've imagined what we'll get there."
They walked together but kept a little distance. This time Xavier took the lead and the goddess was embarrassed to show herself in front of her partner. She chastised herself too much for her mistakes while Xavier did not nudge her failure at all.
Brooding like this failure was the end of everything. It could not even be called a beginning when there was nothing for them to do but to seek information and recruit at least one talented witch.
It did not take long to get to the square. They could see hundreds of people walking on it in a hurry and colliding. None of the residents' activities were interrupted even though the condition of this gathering place was not much different from the rest of the village.
Next to Xavier and Cytherea was the market canal where conditions were a little more pleasant. Where there were no annoying poor sellers trying to rip off the shoppers, but quite the opposite. There the transactions and flow of activity were a little more structured and conducive.
"Don't tell me this village has two sides."
"You're naive. Evil and disgusting things still happen."
Xavier pointed at the shop that had just been robbed but was left alone by hundreds of people as well as the piles of rubbish that were buried underground but were beginning to overflow due to the sheer volume.
"This village remains one. It depends on how the people in this area organise their lives a little more favourably." Xavier explained.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง