Kien looked up at the bustling market. Knights and commoners all walked the streets in fashion. Kien stood up and wiped the dust and dirt off his dark tunic. He sighed, thinking they only kicked him out for his overwhelming power.
As Kien walked down the bustling market, he swiped forward to pull out his menu.
[Name: Kien]
[Age: 17]
Kien continued to scroll, "Come on man. Where is it…? Oh there it is."
[Market Status: Open/Exit?]
[Open]
[Totties Tavern: Blacklisted]
"Well fuck you too," Kien mumbled under his breath.
He looked over in the corner of his eye. Kate cradled herself, sobbing under a bridge just past the market and in the grass field. Kien clenched his fist. He knew what to do.
He walked over, chest high and chin up, as he swiped the menu back.
Kate looked up at him. Her eyes are still a fountain of sorrow.
"Look. I just wanted to say. Y'know. Like it was just like." He began to sweat. 'Come on think of something Kien, you're the smartest person around!'
Kate tilted her head. "Are you ok?"
'Panic mode! PANIC MODE! Oh, god. Now what do I do? I say I am ok and then I come off as a idiotic weirdo or I say I am not ok and I come off as a little bitch!'
Kien pulled together all his might and spoke in the deepest voice he could. "Hello there m'lady." He could see daisies tunneling around his eyes.
"You're an idiot." Kate snickered. Kien fell. "But hey. At least you cared enough to visit me."
Kien sat up in excitement. He rested up against the bridge side, a distance from Kate. "I have changed. From now on, I will be kind and respectful to everyone."
"So the beating actually helped?"
"Yes, m'lady. Of course it did."
Kate mumbled. "So can we talk about my proble-?"
"Oh my god no one cares about your problems!"
"Didn't you just say-"
"Yeah, well I changed my mind!" He pulled out his menu and summoned an apple in his hand.
Kate barked back at the chirping birds that passed by. "You know who may just be the most insufferable asshole I have ever met."
Kien looked at her and smirked. "Kinky."
"Oh, shut up!"
There was a short pause. "Who were those men anyway?" Kien asked.
"They are just some childhood friends that you embarrassed the shit out of."
"Whoopsie daisy."
The water under them formed small waves. On the bridge, Kien could hear travellers chattering alongside their footsteps.
Then, after what felt like ages, Kate broke into laughter. It wasn't the fake kind either, just true and honest laughter.
"You really are something." She continued to laugh even louder, "Like, I mean, what messed up childhood did you have growing up?"
"Ouch woman," Kien whispered, "That hit deep. That hit real deep. Actually if you could stab me right now that would be more shallow than the hole you just put in me."
Kate opened her inventory. She pulled out a golden ring with shiny red and green emeralds. "Take this." She flicks the ring like a coin into Kien's open hands. It bounces off his palms but eventually catches it after a struggle.
Kien looks closely at the ring. "Look, I know I am irresistible, but please control yourself."
"I'm widowed asshole!" she sighs. "Anyway, that is an Ultimate Manifest."
"An Ultimate what now."
"Just put it in your inventory." Kate demands. Kien obliges.
Her eyes narrow on the running water below. "I'm too old for what trouble that thing brings."
"Ooo, I wonder what I can sell this for."
Kate stands up and slaps Kien on the head. He winces.
"Ouch. Fine I guess I won't sell it."
"It was my husbands. You know the guy you couldn't help but make fun of."
Kien shrugs, "What's the point in people if you're not going to make fun of them?"
Kate mumbled under his breath, "God, I hate you so much."
"What?"
"Nothing!"
Kien stands up next to the river edge.
"Have you ever heard of an Adventurer?"
"You mean those people who always want their tiny sword sucked by a prostitute?"
"Yes, exactly!" She pauses. "That ring can give you power, Kien."
"Why do I need power!?" Kien interrupts. "I'm not just the smartest person alive but the flashiest, funniest, and did I forget to say flashi-"
Kien leans backwards and falls into the running water. The river begins to drag him towards the morning sun. "Hel-bwghh. I'm going to die- bwghh."
Kate now smiled more than ever before. "Wait, is that crocodile!?" Kien screams, "Kate! Kate! A crocodile is biting my balls off! Kate!" Kate continues to smile.
A voice echoes from on top of the bridge. "Hey are you ok down there?" A young lady asks.
Kate smirks. "Oh, I'm fine. Just listening to some music."
"Music?" The lady asked.
"Kate! There's a shark behind me! Kate!" Kien screams even louder. "My dick Kate! Help save my masculinity!"
The lady reached her arm out, "Grab on. I'll help you up." Kate grasps the hand.
Kien continued to scream. In the background, another voice screamed with him.
"Wait, Creig, is that you?" Kien asks mid panic.
"Kien?" Creig questions while drowning.
"Well shit. How are the kids?"
"There great man, how's your…" Creig slows down. "Party…" He backtracks his thoughts. "W-Wait not like tha-"
"I'm gonna kill you Creig!" Creig begins to scream. His screams mix with the water he is choking on.
Kate and the young lady walk on the bridge together. "So why were you down there?"
"No reason." Kate replied. "Just talking to an old friend."
Kien's maniacal laughter overshadowed their conversation alongside Creig's screams. "Eat my balls Creig—" Kien freezes. "Wait. The ring. Oh shiiiiit!"
The river drags him away as Kate sighs, brushing a tear from her eye. "He's going to die before Chapter 3."