The group made their way down the small hill they found themselves on, walking forward till they found a well paved path leading in the directions of the town.
Oz led the group towards the town as for once Lucas's feet weren't stabbed with some small rock of forgotten twig. "Coin. Remind me to get some shoes" Said Lucas as Coin quickly nodded his head, though Lucas would bet against Coin actually remembering.
A gentle quiet settled over the group as they got closer and closer. Lucas had a tiny feeling of nervousness as he got further from the wilds he was familiar with and closer to civilization.
He didn't know what he would feel when he eventually found people. Maybe relief, a little joy. But being nervous wasn't something he would have thought of.
The quiet was broken when Oz spoke up. "So between you and me, tell anyone who asks that those two" pointed at Coin and Ruby "Are tamed beasts and not wild animals you found off the shore" explained Oz as Lucas nodded along.
"I guess a wild animal would put someone on edge" said Lucas, walking closer to Oz's side.
The town gate came into view as Oz stepped forward to talk with the guards while Lucas and the penguins stood to the side.
"Well, well, if it ain't the town fool himself. Find that little folktale of yours" Said the thin guard with enough smugness to piss off a whale.
"No. Seems you were right" Said Oz without any hint of emotion as their voice took on a monotone sound.
"Hear that Marc. He didn't find Jack. Which means one rook for me" Said the tall guard as 'marc' passed over one silver coin but not without cursing the other man. "Now who's the boy there and his pets?" asked Marc while Oz replied that Lucas was just an assistant.
While Lucas didn't mind it that much it did sound a little lame, but he could get used to it.
The guard stopped their questioning and let them through as Oz dragged Lucas to a nearby inn.
A small hanging sign displayed the words 'The roller's stone' at the sight of it a question slipped into Lucas's head.
"Is everything rock themed here?" Asked Lucas as Oz gave a small nod before pushing through the door to the inn and hurrying upstairs. Oz pulled a small key from his pocket and put it in.
A small click sounded as they went through the door and into Oz's room.
Oz finally stopped dragging them and flopped onto the bed with a noticeable sigh and an even more noticeable frown.
"Lucas you don't think I'm a fool do you?" Asked Oz as they stared up at the roof.
Lucas was stunned at the sudden switch but he would deal with it as best he could. Now Oz didn't seem like a fool, though fools would go looking for some fruit based on a rumor.
"Umm…no?" Replied Lucas hesitantly. The look on Oz's face shifted before settling on a simple frown.
"I suppose that sounded believable enough, though I do have a question" Said Oz as they sat up staring at Lucas who was standing near the window. "Would you be willing to become my assistant for as long as we travel together?" Asked Oz as they studied Lucas' expressions.
Lucas stood there. Face blank as his mind ran overtime, okay maybe Oz is a fool. But Lucas could work with fools, and having a job would be nice. Frankly he had no reason to decline, at least not one he could think of off the top of his head.
"K. Don't see why not" Said Lucas. A hint of colour came back to Oz's strangely pale face. Which he supposed was a plus.
"Soo..what now?" He asked as Oz got back up "I'm running low on supplies and you are in need of clothes that don't look like run though rags…" rude but noted "...So I say we go shopping, I have a few places in mind anyway" Explained Oz as them and Lucas left the Inn. Coin and Ruby staying inside.
The two made their way past the main road and onto the sidepaths that led deeper into the town. Passing various buildings till they looked to be in what looked like the cheaper part of town.
They kept going past as the buildings grew less stable and more raggedy. Stopping only when a building in surprisingly good shape in comparison to its neighbors raised its head or was roof a better word?
"Lucas. You wait here while I go inside and talk to the shopkeep. She doesn't take too kind to strangers, I'll fetch you when I get the go ahead from her" Explained Oz as Lucas nodded along before leaning against the wooden wall of the shop.
Oz went in and a few minutes of what Lucas hoped was Oz being successful. They came out with a small smile and waved Lucas over to follow.
"Word of advice. Don't stare too much" Said Oz as they opened the door for the both of them to come in.
passing a small front desk.
"Why? Is she amazingly stunning or horribly ugly" Teased Lucas, the two going down a surprisingly long hallway.
"No. She's…a tad different is all" Said Oz before going quiet for a few seconds before sighing "actually…from what little I know of you. You probably won't be able to help yourself. Just don't be obvious and if you get caught come up with a good excuse"
Now that Oz had sorta explained it, Lucas's couldn't help but be curious. He was expecting something kinda human. Maybe missing an arm or leg, or an eye. So he would be subtle about it. Ahh. Who was he kidding, Oz was right. Lucas couldn't be subtle for the life of him.
"Come up with a good excuse" shouldn't be too hard. Lucas's mind raced as his legs stopped.
"Oh I was just admiring the flowers" no that was beyond stupid. The only flowers around here were weeds and grass. Plus he's inside. What chances are there that she has a flower pot?
A tall lady stood in front of Lucas as he milled through his thoughts.
"You have something on your face"
It might get him out of any trouble if he stares for too long. Let's go with that.
She coughed once. Then twice. Before sighing and speaking.
"Hello?" Asked the tall lady, dragging Lucas out of his thoughts as he stared at the woman in front of him.
Dark purple flowing hair that ended at her neck along with horns that curled like a ram's sat atop her head with black pools surrounding purple dots making up her eyes.
While the rest of her skin shore a cerulean blue. She wore a simple apron with a beige shirt and black pants underneath.
"Alchemist. you keep odd company. If I didn't know any better you seem to accompany yourself with the deaf kind of man" Said the tall lady looking over her shoulder at Oz. Lucas caught himself staring and clamped up. Walking to Oz's side.
"You interrupted him during his thoughts, of course he would be shocked" Oz said as they began the introductions.
"Misia, this is Lucas, my assistant. Lucas, this is Misia. A seamstress" Said Oz as they gestured towards the two.
"You cut me short, alchemist. A lowly
seamstress couldn't do a quarter of the magic I do" Complained Misia as she eyed up Lucas.
"That's about right" Mumbled Lucas as he looked around the shop.
A room filled with various yarns that took on any colour ranging from dark browns to fiery purples. Loose clothes filled the place giving it more life than it already had.
Overall the place was a mess. But an organized one. Besides, Lucas liked the chaos. The lack of empty space gave him a nice tingly feeling in his brain. "Misia I need clothing for one-"
"You mean two. The boy wanders in rags, yes. But you bore me to death with your plain ware. Simply an insult that you parley with me in such a boring outfit" interrupted Misia as she took a step back and held out her hands making a picture frame.
Oz went to argue but Lucas stopped them "it could be fun" he said as Oz sighed before resigning themselves to their fate.
"Pick two colours. The both of you" Ordered Misia.
"Blue and gold" Said Lucas. Voice teeming with wonder
"white and black" Answered Oz. A voice full of anguish.
"Eh. Boring choice for the alchemist and plain for the assistant but colours I can make miracles with" Said Misia as she raced though her endless shelves. Grabbing fabrics and needles alike.
"We should go. Her process takes focus and time" Whispered Oz as they reached into their bag. Grabbing a bottle filled with a white thick liquid and putting it on a small side table.
"What's that?" Asked Lucas as they walked their way down the long hallway. Passing the small counter and making it to the door.
"Remember that sleeping potion from a week or so ago? That's our payment for the clothing" Answered Oz. They walked away from the clothing store and poor homes back to the main street.
Guiding the duo though the bustling main street. Lucas eaves dropped on the conversation going around as they passed by.
"I hear that Matthias-" a gossip of old crons bore him, not worth listening to.
"I swear! Some strange birds came and stole a sausage! Don't give me that look, Marc!" Yelled a foodstand owner. Strange birds and food? Now Lucas just felt it was obvious who the culprit was.
"Come back Percy don't go near the mad man" Muttered a mother, grabbing her child and pulling them close as Oz walked by. Rude.
"mama says the mad man would eat his own foot if it could help them find the tear" A gang of kids whispered as Oz wandered by. Hey! Oz wouldn't. He hoped they wouldn't at least.
As Lucas listened in, most conversations were normal everyday life. Though a concerning minority focused on Oz, most demeaning or words of warning.
Lucas took offense as most were just plain lies. Overreactions or just plain hate. As they made it to their destination. He already had enough of this town and their stupid rock themes, too much spite was building up and Lucas could tell he would pop sooner or later.
He needed to blow off steam. Thankfully the store was right there.
Their stop greeted Lucas with the view of an otherwise empty looking shop. Not in terms of items but in customers. A ghost store.
"The rocking emporium" was first off a horrible name. Second, the town ticked him off even more with the rock theme.
"I think I'm sick of it" Said Lucas as he and Oz ventured into the store with a bell announcing their arrival.
"Sick of what?" Questioned Oz as Lucas gestured to the sign outside. Oz stared in confusion, Lucas gestured twice only to be met with the same reaction. "Nevermind" He mumbled.
Lucas toured around the store staring at the trinkets that stuffed the store shelves. Various small machines like a wind up toy bird or a lighter covered the store.
It looked like an orderly line of workers ready to be commanded. Which was nice. Compared to Misia's unnamed store, Lucas liked this less.
He eventually landed on a camera while Oz bartered with the cashier. It caught his attention since he was hoping to find one. Though the problem with getting one was obvious.
Lucas was poor.
Thankfully Oz was not.
Leaving the store with the camera in hand as well as other trinkets made the whole trip seem well worth-it. 8 out of 10 would do it again. Maybe get funds next time.
The sun had started fading as they approached 'the rollers stone' pushing through the crowd that had formed outside as drunks started appearing left and right.
They made it in as Oz got them a table. And ordered food from a bar maiden, the food came as well as some fat balding drunk man came along with the lady much to her annoyance and shame. She muttered a quiet sorry before the man spoke up.
"I thought I told you to never show your face on the ground floor fool" Said the fat balding man as he spat in Oz's food with a bit of his spit landing in Lucas's food.The bar maiden had tried to tell him off only for the lady at the bar to call her away.
"I am eating. I believe if would be in your best in-" Tried Oz in their monotone voice
"Did I say you could speak! It's tough enough that they allowed a lunatic like you in here after you kept making a fool of yourself" Interrupted The fat bald man as he rambled on.
"Worse is that you can't catch the hint! We didn't mind the first time! All adventurers take a shot at looking. But you've tried sixteen times! And refuse to even help when our children are sick an-"
Lucas had stopped listening the moment the man had spat in Oz's food. He wouldn't act if Oz wouldn't. It was their decision after all, if they didn't mind then they didn't mind.
But Lucas minded. He minded a lot, he just needed an excuse, and spitting in his food was one hell of reason to act. And so he did.
Lucas could say he wasn't thinking straight when he grabbed the knife to stab the drunkard with. But who was he kidding? It took intent for what he was about to do.
Lucas was trying to kill him.