"Everyone, everyone! Come here and take a bite! This is our newly made caramel glazed cassava balls. It will bring fourth luck to those who will try this! Hurry up before it gets sold out!"
A young man with a long raven black hair calling the crowds attention. Speaking confidently, many people did not bother purchasing one or two, making the young man's smile widened. While some was still doubting over his words.
"You can't fool us! What makes your product so special? Where is your proof?" A random customer who was also watching asked.
"Right, that's the question I like to answer!" The young man snapped his hands when suddenly, the three dogs appeared in front of the man and starts barking loudly, which made the rest to stepped back out of fear of getting bitten.
"As I said, luck is the best option, it will drove away any negativity that affects in your everyday life."
"Could you stop talking and get this animals out of the way?!"
"And also, luck requires patient. Think that these guys as a bad luck that will ruin your day. And just by the scent of this food," He deliberately took a piece of needle and took a first ball of the food and using the food's scent, the dogs went behave, then the young man smiles and added, "luck will protect you."
The crowds who were amazed by his performance, clapped their hands as the young man bowed to everyone.
'Of course, it's obviously a food that they would react like that!' He lampooned inwardly.
When suddenly, a group of thugs barge in and pulled his collar. A stinky and foul smell from their mouth was blown into the young man's face that he was on the verge of vomiting.
"I see you've grown a business now, heh? But I think you missed something, young lad." An old man, who is a head of the group, was grinning from ear to ear.
Meanwhile, the young man seems calm about the situation and his smile was still written across his lips as he responds a deprecating laugh.
"I don't think so. Mister, perhaps you're the one who missed something." Just then, he quickly pricked both of the old man's eyes and without hesitation, he grabbed the stack of money and ran away.
"HEY! GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK! YOU RASCAL!" A vendor who were the owner of the caramel cassava balls shouted.
Yet the young man was laughing prominently. As he can guess, the vendor's reaction today was all hopeless and hilarious that he couldn't bring himself to laugh more.
"Coming through!"
He was constantly running across the crowded street. Didn't think of anything but to escape from the hands of some loan sharks chasing the guy.
At his current state, he can run as fast as he could. With a lean built body, it's obvious that he quite got the stamina and a flexible body to overcome difficulties in physical.
"Ling, you brat! How dare you trying to pull a trick on us?! Do you think you can escape?! Never!" A yell that is full of rage roar up from behind him.
However, he continued while laughing as if the old man's face become hilarious to his eyes. People give ways to him, some of them bumps him.
"Hey, watch where you going!" A voice of a lady can be heard but he just give off a smile.
"Sorry!"
He never stopped as his smile turned into a grin as tapping his bag with plenty of coins.
'Tch, trick? As if you're victim!' Ling lampooned inwardly.
Seeing a wagon full of fruit that was being carried by a vendor, he prepared himself and as he took a leap, he snatch away three of the apples with his dusty, long and slender veiny hands and successfully left the crowded place.
——— ° ———
He was recently walking to the riverside. With no more buildings, far from the town and the sun rays peeking in the leaves of the tall and thick green trees surrounded the area, the young man was feeling the calm and warmth. He whistles along with the little birds in the forest as he throw his apple and catch and throw and catch.
As trying to remember his current life, he is now free. Can't remember since when did he got so free. However, when a memory crossed his mind, a bitter smile left in his lips.
The times when he's with his brother
"It's been a year, isn't it? Abraham." He muttered.
Calling his brother's name, Arron felt nostalgic. It's been so long since he didn't hear his brother's voice, advise or even scolds. And there will be no more.
After the last moment with his family, only the two of them survived. And yet, last year his brother left him too. He just disappeared without any trace. Arron can't help feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. He hates his brother so much as he hate himself for failing to save his mother and his youngest sister.
Arron shook his head to make the thoughts go away and feeling refreshed when he can finally hear a water flowing from meters away. It's been a while since he successfully left the seemingly chaotic town.
Stepping into the stone with the water running above it, he took a glimpse of his reflection. A topless young man with long raven-like black hair, fair skin and a dusty face he saw.
"How horrible, I bet you will start your sermon as seeing me like this too." He said while chuckling then splash it on his face.
Arron was in the middle of his business when suddenly, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him that makes him flinch in surprise.
'What was that?'
He silently pull himself out of the water and slowly but deliberately, he sneak in where the sounds came. And just then, the bushes shakes for the second time.
Preparing himself with a dagger he draw that was placed in his leg, he lunged to charged in the area while pointing out his weapon but immediately stopped as he heard a loud squeak.
In front of his eyes is the frost like scorpion that was already raising its tail. It seems to be frightened as much as he is right now. Seeing the unusual tiny species above the rock, Arron felt confused as if he were mistaken the scorpion to be such as big as a wolf that can be able to make such a noise.
But much of that, the way the sun reflect in its skin was likely how the sun ray hits the frozen lake, making the young man left an impression about the creature.
"Woah, am I lucky today? I can't believe such a cute animal like you showed up to me. I wonder how you cost." A smirk formed his lips, thinking about the idea of its price.
Arron decide to go near of the scorpion, drawing out his hands like he's trying to tame the little beast, "Come here, little boy. Don't be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you. Come on, twik-twik~!"
"If I were you, you shouldn't do that to an especially to some unfamiliar animals." Another voice spoke from behind him. It was a calm yet cold voice.
"What—"
Before Arron could react, he was already thrown to the ground in a split of seconds. The young man tried to process on what happened but the impact broke his thinking as he landed for the second time.
"Ahhh! Help!" He pleaded to the stranger,
"Ro'an, you can drop him now."
And the force around Arron seem to stopped. He then quickly chased his breathing when he can feel something was gripping in his feet. But then, the problem is everything he saw is an upside down. Moreover, the huge figure conquered him was a figure that is similar to the little scorpion.
"Ahh... What is this thing...?" He cried out as feeling dizzy that in any moment, he'll going to pass out as his exaggerating idea blurted out about his blood running to his brain.
Meanwhile, the scorpion seems to understand the command and immediately dropped him down. Then it pick the dagger Arron just dropped and throw it at the stranger that has flexible speed immediately catch it before peeling the apple and took a bite.
As the young man still lying below, holding his left temple with his hand, a footstep began to walk toward his direction. But with the sunlight hit on his eyes, he could hardly scanned the surroundings. Just as he knows, a pair of boots stopped at the top of his head as its figure blocked the light.
And for the first time in his life, he was seeing a creature—no. He was seeing an ancient race that thought was only exist in various mythologies or in wild imagination.