Phantasmagoric

9

Four guards were waiting outside my room when I stepped out in the morning, They seem to be the escorts the Duke was talking about yesterday. To be honest, I wasn't looking forward to going outside. Thinking about who might recognize Alzbeta, and answering them I don't know who they are, already brings me small panic attacks. Knowing their faces and knowing their names are different matters altogether. 

But when I think about how patient and kind Diane has been these past few days gives a pang in my chest. This is probably what they call conscience. 

Diane made me wore a light brown dress that reaches my ankle and covers my arm. To be precise, it is too hot for my standards but old medieval times are keen on conservativeness so I couldn't really argue. She chooses to braid and then make my hair a bun as a hairstyle for today's walk. Black boots seem too extreme to wore but I liked them better than the heels she always makes me wore. A simple black carriage was waiting when we went down. I'm glad the Duke didn't prepare an extravagant carriage that might catch any unwanted attention. 

The streets are buzzing with people from different walks of life. Merchants shout to attract the masses are echoing where ever you turn your head. Children running and almost tripping are free to do whatever they wanna do in the streets. I could also see mothers scolding little children when they got too naughty.

Have people been always like this? Back in my place, people walk without a care whos walking beside them. People just pass each other as if they're all non-existent. Almost all of them looks at their phone engrossed on social media and their job. You could barely see people conversing with each other. Seeing this happening in front of me feels almost refreshing. 

I guess I was too tense inside my room that now, I could feel the relief that's filling my body by just being around others. I didn't realize I needed this. Ah... I really need to say thank you to Diane.

Lost in my thought, I wasn't aware that I was already away from my companions. When I looked around, I couldn't see them anymore. Same crowd and streets but the people I was with arent there. I don't know if I walked too fast or walked too slow. With the last turn around, I realized I don't know what to do. I could feel the tightness in my chest when I think that I'm lost. I could feel a panic attack building to burst outside like a dam. I covered my ears with my hands and closed my eyes. Suddenly, someone touched my hand. The person grasps it tightly and guided me through the crowd. I opened my eyes and as I was looking at his back, with his light green hair flowing together with the wind, I almost felt safe. He safely guided me to the corner of a street.

"Stop crying." He told me and then handing me a handkerchief. I wasn't even aware that I was crying until he told me. This just made me cry harder. He was probably feeling flustered and panicked seeing a girl crying that he couldn't see any other way to silence me but to put my head in his shoulder. It almost felt like he hugged me. I was shocked making me stifle my tears. After a couple of minutes, I stopped crying altogether. He distanced himself from me and looked at me while holding my shoulder.

"Are you done?" I only nodded because I was embarrassed.  When I looked up I saw his magenta eyes looking straight at my face. It was my favorite color before and I could tell it would still be my favorite now especially seeing his eyes... 

"You looked like you were lost there, are you alright?" He tilted his head slightly which makes him looked cute. This makes me smile lightly which caused him to look at my lips. He blushed lightly and let go of my shoulder.

"I am. Thank you for helping me..."

"You shouldn't thank me yet, you're still lost. We have to find the people you were with, describe them to me."

I proceeded to describe Diane and the four knights we were with. We then walked around asking people if they have seen them. While walking around I noticed how people, both vendors, and commoners alike, would greet him as if they're familiar with him, he also shows great familiarity with the streets. I guess he lives around here... 

"Where exactly did you last went with them?" 

"I think it was a jewelry shop?" That's all I could remember. No matter how I scurry my brain, I couldn't remember the name of the jewelry shop. 

"There's at least a hundred of jewelry shop in this place." I looked at my feet when I heard what he said. I know how disappointing it is to ask a question and receive an unsatisfying answer.

"It's fine. No need to look so down. We could look at the jewelry stores nearest where I found you."

We turned around and retraced our footsteps back to where he found me. We continued asking people and sooner someone pointed out something.

"Oh, think saw one who looks like that. Think I saw them turn at the corner of that herbs shop."

My heart lightened up at the thought that I finally found them. The boy grasped my head once again and we proceeded to walk towards the corner that the vendor said but only to pass it. When I looked at that corner, it looked like menacing and dangerous. Is that why he hold my hand?"

"That was dangerous. Don't believe guys like that."

"What exactly happened?"

We stopped walking and he looked at me eye to eye again.

"He was trying to get us kidn*pped. If we continued that corner, I don't know what could have happened to us." I shivered at what he said. I'm getting scared again.

"It's fine. I'm with you and now you know. So you should just be careful from now on."

He smiled at me as if comforting me. It eases my heart and I thought that I was lucky he was the one who found me and not someone with ulterior motives.

He looked at someone behind me and said, "Looks like we found them." I let his hand go and turned around. True to his words I could see Diane struggling at the middle of the crown until she saw me. She almost looked like crying as she almost runs towards me. I smiled widely and turned around to the boy once again but he wasn't there anymore. It was the unknown crowd once again.

I wasn't even able to get his name...