CHAPTER 16: THE NIGHT MARKET
1451 Words
"It's gone." Kev looked around to check if there were still other shadows hiding somewhere, but he felt nothing. The empty field is quiet, only the sound of trees and gushing wind could be heard. "Why are you so lucky... not so lucky running into that creature?"
"I-I don't know," Yin replied. "I-I was walking past to find a place to hide when I bumped into it. I-it just let out a loud roar then it strangled me and lifted me in the air." Yin continued coughing.
"Are you all right?" Czarina asked Yin. She checked his neck and rubbed his chest. "You look like a mess!"
He nodded. "I think I am." He coughed again to catch some air.
She hit Yin's arm using her hand. "You ran like a mad man and we lost you. Be thankful to Maple, we found you!"
"Ouch! That hurts!" Yin rubbed his arm. "You really love hitting me. I am still hurt and wounded, you know."
"What exactly is that thing?" Czarina got worried and ignored Yin's complaint. "This is my first time seeing a shadow figure. I never thought such a creature existed."
"Shadows are created from the Nedos' black magic," Maple answered. "My father told us a story about it, the dark magic and the isolated clan. They can do things you can never imagine could happen, even creating such creatures like that shadow."
"Can you get up?" Kev asked Yin. "Do you want to go home now? We can find that Night Market some other time."
Yin shook his head. "No, we are already here. Let's find that market. I'm okay now." He slowly stood up, Czarina held his arm to help him. "Thanks."
"Are you sure you are okay?" she asked to confirm it.
"Yes, I am. I was strangled but it wasn't that bad." He touched his heck. It has a dark bruise, the shape of a hand.
"Let me heal it." Maple went closer to Yin and placed her hand on his neck. "Look up." Yin did what he was told. He looked at the red full moon. "It's really bloody and scary red. What's with the bloody full moon?""
"Same as your neck," Czarina said, teasing her friend. "You should be careful next time and stay closer to us. Running around alone will put you in danger."
"I know, sorry." He scratched his head.
Maple's hand released sparkling lights, healing Yin's bruised neck. "Done." Maple smiled. "Be careful next time. Listen to Czarina."
"I will." He sighed. "How can I win over the two of you?"
"Let's go," Kev said, interrupting the possible argument between the girls and Yin. "Let's find the Night Market."
They all walked along the major road and secondary road but they did not find any market in the capital.
"Is it in the capital?" Yin asked. "Is it not possible it could be somewhere else?"
"That underground market needs buyers, those who can afford to buy without a second thought." Maple looked around. "It should be around here." She knelt again and touched the ground using her right hand. She closed her eyes and talked to nature to find the path going to the Night Market.
She let out a wide smile when the trees responded to her. They whispered in the air to pass the message to her.
"What? Why are you smiling?" Kev asked. He fell in love with her sweet, innocent smile.
"I found it." She stood up straight and looked at them with jolly eyes. "It's right over there." She pointed at the dark alley in between the meat shop and the vegetable shop.
"Let's go." Kev walked ahead, then Maple, Yin and Czarina followed him.
"Your power is so useful." Czarina couldn't help but to admire Maple's power. "You can heal injuries, you can find people and places, you can also protect yourself using your vines."
"Thank you." She lowered her head and her eyes became misty. "Some people find it weak and useless." She showed a bitter smile.
"Don't mind them. Your elemental Earth power is one of the most amazing powers I have ever seen." Czarina raised her right hand. "I swear, no sugar coating."
Her face lit. She held Czarina's hand. "Thank you. That boosted my morale and confidence." They walked together while holding hands, following Kev and Yin.
"This is a dead end," the prince said, facing the brick wall. He looked up, checking how high the wall was, about ten meters. It's a building's wall.
"No." Maple walked towards the wall and raised her hand. "Watch." She touched the wall but it seems it sucked her hand.
"There's a portal on the wall!" Yin said in shock.
"The trees said they saw someone crossing on this wall." She signaled her friends. "Let's go." She went first. The three hesitated but they still followed Maple on the other side of the portal.
A very busy Night Market faced them. All people they see have face covers such as face masks, scarf or a hoodie. A lot of stalls are on both sides of the street, and there is a walking path in between.
"This is an enormous, never ending long street of shops and stalls!" Yin exclaimed.
"How can we find what we are looking for?" Maple asked.
"Let's check all the shops around, but first," Kev paused. He raised his hand, different masks were floating on his palm. "Let's wear this to protect our identity."
"Good job!" Czarina took the mask with a red flame design, while Yin took the blue masquerade. The prince wore the black mask while Maple took the scarf to cover her face.
"Now we can buy whatever we find useful." Kev used his storage ring again and took out a handful of money pouches. He handed one pouch to each of them.
"This is too much, Kev," Czarina said. She felt shy because of the prince's generosity.
"Don't mind it. Let's do more and find what we need." He winked before he walked ahead. Czarina just shook her head and kept the money pouch.
- Writer
