EMRYSA

Chapter Five (I)

Under the high sun, casting its golden rays upon the lively scene, the hour had arrived at noon. Amidst the bustling crowd and vibrant market stalls of the fair, nestled among the colorful array of shops, stood The Acolyte Boutique. Its presence beckoned passersby with an air of mystique and enchantment. The boutique's facade, adorned with intricate carvings and gilded accents.

Within the intimate space of the boutique, Ciara stood with an air of nonchalance, her eyes reflecting a lack of interest in the surrounding wares. Prudy, on the other hand, exuded an infectious enthusiasm and delight, her eyes shimmering with excitement and pleasure as she explored the items on display. Morgana, with an unwavering focus, directed her gaze toward her magi-slate, engrossed in who knows what. The Ickies, their mischievous grins lighting up the room, infused the atmosphere with their boundless energy and youthful exuberance.

“Welcome to The Acolyte Boutique! How may we assist you on this mystical day?” A young woman greeted them. “Um, we are here to buy some clothes,” Dicky declared. “Yes that is what people come here for.” The boutique staff responded, wearing a warm smile. “Ignore him, can you show us the men’s section please?” Ricky requested. “Of course. Tobbs, please accompany these young gentlemen to the smaller men's section,” the boutique staff instructed. Ciara provided the Ickies with Gaius and Mordecai's clothing measurements, emphasizing that they should refrain from venturing into the ladies’ section. Additionally, she cautioned them against causing any mischief.

Within the confines of the ladies' section, Prudy persistently presented Ciara with various outfits to try on. Despite her reluctance, Ciara found herself reluctantly donning the fifteenth dress of the day. This particular garment was a resplendent pink gown adorned with intricate ruby embellishments. “Amazing! You look absolutely radiant,” Prudy exclaimed with genuine delight. However, Ciara, who had always found dresses and gowns uncomfortable, voiced her hesitation. “I’m not so sure. It feels a bit itchy and—”

Prudy interjected, “Nonsense! I'm buying it for you. Enough with the shirts and trousers,” she declared, resolute in her decision. Ciara regarded her with a skeptical gaze. “Isn’t that what you’ve been wearing? Isn’t that all Morgana wears?” She questioned, her tone tinged with judgment. Prudy quickly crossed her arms in a defensive stance, ready to explain herself. “Well, yes, but that's because of the contest,” she clarified. “Imagine trying to outrun a wilddeoreon in a ball gown. And let's not mention Morgana's choice of outfits. We share a room with her.”

“You win,” Ciara agreed and admitted defeat. After concluding their time at The Acolyte Boutique, they departed and resumed their exploration of the bustling fair. They indulged in various purchases.

Growing weary from their wanderings, they stumbled upon two vacant benches and gratefully took a seat. In order to decide who would be responsible for procuring nourishment, they resorted to a lively game of rock paper scissors. Unfortunately, Ciara and Prudy ended up as the losers.

“Alright, you handle the food, and I’ll take care of the drinks,” Prudy proposed. They sealed the agreement with a hearty steel strike before parting ways, leaving Morgana in the company of the mischievous Ickies. “I know why you are always on your magi-slate,” Micky said to Morgana with a smug smile. “What?” She asked him. Leaning closer, he whispered a revelation into her ear, causing a sudden shock expression to manifest on her face.

“Buttermilk bread, cheese cake, cream cake, fruit cake—” Ciara mumbled to herself, “— why don’t they just say everything cake?” She groaned, her brows furrowing and her lips pursing in annoyance.

Burdened by the towering pile of purchases, her vision obstructed, she inadvertently collided with a passerby, causing her to stumble and tumble to the ground. Fortunately, the food she carried remained unharmed, sparing her from any additional mishaps. With haste, she offered her sincere apologies and turned her attention to the person she had unintentionally collided with. To her dismay, it was none other than Princess Sage, who wore a visibly irritated expression upon realizing who had caused her stumble. Coming to her aid, Buttercup extended a helping hand to lift her up from the ground.

“Pay better heed to your surroundings, you lowly peasant. Look at what you've done to my gown,” Sage disdainfully pushed her hair aside, her displeasure evident. “Guards, apprehend her!”

Ciara stood her ground, refusing to let the two guards lay a hand on her. Drawing upon her honed combat skills, she expertly engaged in a fierce altercation, swiftly countering their advances. With agility and precision, she deftly maneuvered through their attacks, turning their own momentum against them.

In a swift display of strength, Ciara effortlessly executed a flawless flip, sending both guards sprawling onto their backs. As they lay there, disoriented and defeated, she calmly brushed the dust off her blouse, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Princess Sage.

Sage let out an exasperated sigh, clearly unimpressed with the guards’ incompetence. “You two are utterly useless,” she muttered in disdain. Turning her back on them, she called for her loyal companion, Buttercup, to accompany her departure.

As she made her way out, Sage couldn't resist a final act of petty spite. With a deliberate and vindictive step, she crushed one of Ciara's desserts under her heel, smearing it into the ground. The act served as a parting gesture of disdain, a clear message of her disdain.

Leaving behind a trail of ruined sweetness, Sage strode away, confident in her ability to inflict small but noticeable slights upon those she deemed beneath her.

“Out of all things to step on, it had to be my warm apple pie," she muttered, a tinge of frustration in her voice. A familiar face approached, extending a helping hand to lift Ciara's desserts from the dirt-covered ground. It was Arc, a warm smile spread across his face as he reached out to assist Ciara.

“I saw everything,” Arc said, his admiration evident in his voice. “You were truly remarkable. I must apologize on behalf of Sage for her disgraceful behavior.”

Ciara's cheeks blushed slightly as she spoke, her voice tinged with bashfulness. “Thank you. Are you here alone or...?” Her words trailed off, uncertain yet hopeful. Arc's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with warmth. “No, I’m here with Fizz and Warwick,” he replied. “Actually, I was on my way to the warm apple pie stall. Would you like to join me?”

Ciara's bashfulness melted away, replaced by a hint of excitement. The invitation felt like a small but significant gesture, a chance to share a moment with Arc amidst the bustling fair. Her lips curved into a smile as she nodded in agreement. “Sure, why not?” she replied.

At the warm apple pie stall, Ciara approached the elderly stall woman with a polite smile. “One large slice and a whole pie to go, please,” she placed an order. The stall woman nodded, her weathered hands swiftly preparing the order. “Alright, here you go,” she said, placing the pies in front of Ciara. “That’d be fifty-five gold coins.”

As Ciara reached into her purse to pay, the stall woman’s smile widened, revealing a charming gap between her teeth. “I added a little extra for you and your handsome beau,” she remarked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. Ciara's cheeks flushed with surprise, and she quickly corrected the assumption. “No, no, you are mistaken,” she clarified, glancing at Arc standing beside her. “Arc, tell her.”

Arc, wearing a playful smirk, stepped forward and handed the stall woman the coins. “Keep the change,” he said with a generous tone, his eyes meeting the stall woman’s appreciative gaze. As they made their way back, Ciara couldn’t help but address the lingering question in her mind. “Why didn't you correct that pie lady?” she asked Arc, her tone curious. Arc glanced at her with a playful glint in his eyes. “I didn't see a need to," he responded, his voice with a hint of mischief. "In fact, I took it as a compliment."

Ciara raised an eyebrow, a mix of confusion and amusement on her face. "A compliment? But we're not a couple," she pointed out, her words laced with gentle teasing. Arc chuckled, his stride matching hers as they walked side by side. "True," he admitted, a warm smile playing on his lips. "But sometimes it's fun to let the world imagine what it wants. Keeps things interesting, don't you think?"

Ciara couldn't help but smile in response, a newfound appreciation for Arc's carefree spirit washing over her. Perhaps there was more to their playful banter than she initially thought.