Once they finished eating, they decided to keep walking, since they still had half an hour before meeting Don at the entrance of the forest.
Improvised stalls lined the area around the central statue: fabrics hanging from ropes, open chests displaying gems, knives of various sizes stuck into wooden boards, daggers with carved hilts, rings laid out on worn velvet.
Elanor walked slowly, hands clasped in front of her chest, looking at each object as if it were a small wonder.
"Can all of this… be bought?" she asked softly.
Max smiled.
"Yes. They're set out so you can look at them, and if you want, you can buy them."
She stopped in front of a jewelry stall. A necklace with blue beads, an engraved copper bracelet, rings with small stones.
Then she looked at him.
"Max."
"Hm?"
"Pick something."
He blinked.
"Something?"
"Yes," she said naturally. "I want to give you something. For… helping me clear my head. For getting me out of the castle."
Max laughed, uncomfortable.
"You didn't have to."
"I want to."
He looked away toward the items. Pure instinct. Numbers, effects, statistics. The system responded immediately, overlaying information on every piece he looked at.
[ +5 Strength. ]
[ +8 Agility. ]
[ +3 Endurance. ]
He closed his eyes for a second.
'They're useless to me.'
He knew it. Every item that increased base stats was useless for him. His skill made it clear: no equipment could directly improve his attributes.
He opened his eyes again, looking for something else. That was when he saw them.
A pair of simple boots, light brown leather, with runes almost worn away on the soles.
And next to them, a dull gray ring, without shine, resting on a plain cloth.
He stepped closer. The descriptions appeared.
[ Featherfall Boots ]
[ Defense +2 ]
[ Slightly reduces fall damage. ]
[ Allows slow descent when jumping if activated. ]
[ Daily uses: 2 ]
[ Muted Silence Ring ]
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
[ Generates a fixed area where produced sound is significantly reduced. ]
[ Does not eliminate loud noises. ]
[ Daily uses: 2 ]
Max raised an eyebrow. They weren't impressive. No one would fight over them. Precisely because of that…
'Either of these could work.'
He turned to Elanor.
"I can't decide."
She tilted her head.
"Between which ones?"
"Those boots… and that ring."
Elanor studied them carefully. Then she smiled.
"Why choose?"
Max opened his mouth to reply, but she had already stepped forward to the stall.
"Excuse me," she said kindly. "How much are they?"
The merchant looked up. She was a dwarf, blonde hair tied into two thick braids, strong arms, alert eyes.
"The boots are seven silver coins. The ring is five."
Elanor nodded without hesitation. She reached into her cloak and pulled out her old coin purse. She placed two gold coins on the cloth.
"Don't worry about the change."
The dwarf froze for a second. Then she looked up, surprised.
"…Thank you very much, miss."
She bowed slightly and, after rummaging under the counter, pulled out a simple necklace: a plain chain with a small emerald hanging from it.
"For your kindness."
Elanor took the necklace carefully and smiled.
"Thank you very much."
Max watched the scene in silence. He felt something in his chest, a sense of gratitude.
He put away the boots and the ring.
"Well," he said. "Shall we keep going? We've got about half an hour before meeting Don again."
Elanor nodded.
***
They walked a little farther, blending into the crowd.
That was when it happened.
A sharp tug.
Elanor let out a small cry when she felt something ripped from her waist. Her body reacted a second too late.
"—Hey…!"
Max turned just in time to see three small green figures moving away through the crowd.
Goblins.
One of them was carrying the old leather bag, the same one where Elanor kept the gold coins.
Max's chest tightened. Fear. His body moved on its own. He lunged forward and threw himself onto the last goblin, slamming it against the cobblestones.
"—Ah!"
They rolled. Max grabbed it by the shoulders. Then the kicks came. The other two goblins jumped on him, kicking his ribs, his back, trying to make him let go of their companion.
Elanor stood frozen.
Everything else stayed the same.
People kept walking. A merchant kept haggling over a price. Laughter sounded a few meters away. No one intervened. It was as if what was happening in front of her didn't exist.
She saw Max on the ground. She saw the kicks. She saw the fear in his clumsy movements.
And then… she saw it.
One of the goblins pulled out a dagger.
And she, without thinking, decided to do something.
A wind spell burst from her hand without words or control. The gust lifted dust, fabrics, and leaves. The cloak covering her was blown away.
Her red hair was exposed.
The wind hurled the three goblins into a nearby stall of helmets and shields. Metal clashed, rolled, scattered across the ground.
"That hair…?"
"It can't be…"
"Wait… wind magic…"
Elanor was breathing hard. She looked around, realizing it was already too late.
All eyes were on her.
Max stood up, aching. He saw the goblins struggle to their feet… and then run off with the bag.
He followed them with his gaze for a second.
Then he felt Elanor's hand on his arm.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling. "You were… very brave."
Max swallowed.
"They got away," he said. "They took your bag."
She looked in the direction they had fled. Then she gently shook her head.
"It doesn't matter," she replied. "They'll need it more than I do."
She then turned toward the wrecked stall. Bent helmets, fallen shields. A bearded dwarf stared at the mess with his arms crossed.
Elanor approached and took out another old pouch. She set it on the counter.
"I'm sorry," she said. "For the damage."
The dwarf looked at her. Then at her hair. Then sighed.
"No need," he replied. "The princess can do as she pleases. I understand the situation."
Behind them, two elderly elves whispered to each other.
"What is she doing outside the castle?"
"That's not befitting of her duty…"
Before Elanor could react, Max stepped forward, picked up the fallen cloak from the ground, and placed it over her shoulders, carefully covering her hair.
"Why don't you keep moving?" he said firmly.
The elves looked at him, surprised… and walked away without answering.
Elanor lowered her gaze.
"…We have to go back," she said softly. "Before this gets worse."
How should the King find out about Max and Elanor’s secret outing? [ Thanks for reading :D ]
