A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020, everyone ! Thank you a lot for the 4000 reads and I'm terribly sorry for all the time I've taken for this chapter !

But here's my resolution of 2020: I won't only write more than usual, I will also finish this book this year before starting the sequel book of NINEPATH TRAVELER, and I've already wonderful ideas in there ! And also: I'll be learning to speak japanese too !

Because I feel quite bored while writing my A/N, I decided to write some headcanons about Travis at each chapter intro, instead of making another long blablabla. There it is.

#Fact 1: If Travis had enough money to buy and play Pokemon Sword and Shield, he would choose the fire starter Scorbunny, cause it fits him so well.

I've finally got in my hands Pokemon Sword that I ordered at the day of release, and I spend such good moments while playing it ! I love to see wild pokemon walking in the grass in the wild areas, and honestly, the cut of the National dex doesn't bother me at all.

And of course, like any pokemon games, we have one or several rivals to fight, and one of them has caught my eye: Bede. Seriously, he looks like Therion a lot: he has white shaggy hair, a purple coat, and he also shared the cocky behavior of our beloved thief.

I don't know if Gamefreak has been inspired or not by Therion's design from a Square Enix game, but I'm really surprised about Bede's design. Furthermore, I play the game in French, so most of the pokemon and trainer's names are different from the English names. And guess what's Bede's french name ?...

Travis.

Without joking.

Why, Gamefreak ?

Anyway, let's begin this chapter with Yusufa !

~Third's POV~

Somewhere, in a dark hidden street...

"Hey, it's me. I got to Sunshade...", said the man while holding a blue magic ball.

"Good. You know what you have to do, right ?"

"Of course. I already have one of the crystal, and I shall soon find the other one. Trust me."

~At Sunshade's tavern~

~Yusufa's POV~

"Please, sir !"

"C'mon, you brunette ! Don't you want to stay with a gentleman like me ? HIPS !"

Actually, I got problems with a customer: I can say that he seems to like me a bit too much for a dancer. It was a quite elderly man, whom a scar was replacing his missing eye, most of his teeth were crooked and all of his fingernails were so dirty that they were black. His face was all red and I preferred not counting back how many pints he has drunk, because he was smelling so much like beer that I'm pretty sure he was consuming 80 percent of the tavern's brewery alone !

He was gripping me by the arm as I tried desperately to break out, but I wasn't strong enough.

"I'm sorry, but I can't stay with you any longer... I have to reach out the other customers !", I shouted while trying to be polite.

"Oh, don't be so sad. I swear you will have fun with me ! He he he ! BURPS !", he smirked, as he looked dazed.

"Ngh ! You're hurting me sir ! I beg you !... Let me go !"

"No wayyyyyy !!!... I'm the first one to have rent you before the others ! All of the other dancers are already with someone, so stop moaning and dance me a show again ! It's only the third one !!", he grinned while contemplating my outfit with his crazy eye.

"Aaaahh !"

I slipped on the ground, just next to a waitress who has almost toppled her tray in surprise.

"Huh ? What are you doing ?! I asked for a show !", retorted the unconscious one-eyed man.

While people started to gather around the scene, some guards finally intervened and grabbed the abusive customer's arms.

"HEY ! WHAT ARE YOU..."

"Sorry, pal. You're way too much noisy for a noisy customer.", said coldly one of the guards.

"Maybe you will have more chance outside... with the flies !", joked the other.

"NO !! HIPS ! You can't throw me out like that ! I've waited for 2 hours to get my place !", he yelled while they brought him to the exit.

I sighed while trying to recover.

"Yusufa !", I heard Primrose voice who came after me, as she helped me to get up. "Are you alright ?!"

"Yes... Thank you, Primrose."

I checked the state of my arm and make sure we haven't stolen me a jewel when I discovered in shock the state of my clothes.

"Oh no... My top is all stretched and ripped now ! I can't dance with that anymore ! I have to go back to the dorms and change myself !"

"Hmm... Yeah, I think there must be an extra top in the clothing closet. Just try not to take too much time before Helgenish come back.", she advised me.

"Okay !"

So, I looked around me before I went outside.

I heard Helgenish had to deal with some business today in Sunshade, but I was sure it wasn't only related to the tavern, and that it was a question of money. I don't know how long it would take him, but I have to hurry before he knows that I'm late. I just don't want to get a telling-off again today...

The top of my dancing outfit was clearly in a bad state, but thankfully it hasn't been completely ripped out, else I would have been ashamed for life a front of the customers ! I already feel quite ashamed to work here in the first place...

Working as a dancing girl in that place was sometimes like a nightmare for me: it was possible to meet tons of weird guys amongst the customers, like pervs and even fugitive criminals. I always make sure to smile cheerfully at the customers without trying to disturb them, but there are always ones who would disturb me in my work.

I must say I really have trouble for those kinds of men, and while Primrose didn't have any problem with them, the other girls would avoid them without hesitation and preferred to go over other customers who are far more delightful and gallant. Even worse, these three girls would sometimes "advice" these men to call me instead without my knowledge...

I could even say I was the unluckiest of the dancing girls: I might be a pretty good dancer like the others and know how to act like a lovely woman, but I had sometimes trouble in the hardest dances and I'm not very good with the improvisation. Indeed, it happens sometimes that some customers frighten me, so I couldn't really focus on my shows.

Our master Helgenish would always lecture me after he saw one single wrong step I've done, whichever if it was my dancing skills or my manners to seduce the other customers, even if I thought I did well. I hated that man: he would always inspire me fear and disgust whenever I see him or hear his loud voice, and the only thing I wanted is to run away from that city forever !

The problem... is that I can't. I was trapped in that city, and if ever I tried to flee, Helgenish will know it in a way or another, and no one ever escapes him...

However, I think Primrose looked to be the only person to face him although he wasn't really aware: she was such an incredible actress ! Without problem, she can pretend that she would regret her mistakes, and she was fearless while talking at our master. Indeed, it seems that Primrose was his favorite dancer like he somehow owns her a few respect.

Me, I liked her: since the first day we meet at Sunshade, she was always quite nice and caring with me despite her very mature side, unlike every people living in that city of pleasures like the others dancing girls who would sometimes mock me for fun and that monstrous Helgenish.

She had supported me several times when I was upset, she even taught me how to paint my fingernails and to do good makeup, and, of course, how to improve my dance, as she was genuinely great at it ! I had no idea how can she be so good at acting and how she can perform a dance with so much grace, but once I've heard from Helgenish's mouth that she knew how to dance since her childhood.

Honestly, where did that girl come from ?

Actually, I've been quite worried about her for a while, as I found her pretty confident lately. Indeed, I've noticed something was wrong last time she has danced on stage, like she was off for a moment... Yeah, I've been used to see her dancing that I can see when she didn't dance as good as usual.

I know I shouldn't interfere with her personal business, but after every time she helped me when I was in the need, that would be stronger than me to give her a helping hand in return, because I care for her well-being. I have the feeling she was hiding something from us and Helgenish...

FWIIIII !!! FWIII !!!

Some guards whistled while contemplating my appearance, as I felt quite disturbed despite I answered them with a fake smile.

I have to hurry...

~Meanwhile~

~Travis's POV~

"Eight... Nine... Phew...!", I slowly stopped my abs, before breathing on the ground.

I was actually at a few city blocks from the place where Primrose lived, just a front of a dead-end down the empty street.

I was warming up by practicing some exercises, remembering the movements of a man from the real world I've seen once doing the same before continuing his jogging. It seems he was doing that just to feel better while running, and this is what I was looking for too while training.

Now, I tried to do the hard exercise which some people would have trouble with it, as I stood on four limbs to push-ups.

"One... Two...Ngh !"

I slowly sat back, breathing calmly, as I already started to feel exhausted, even if I wasn't sure to have taken the right way to do some push-ups.

Training was pretty hard ! Especially with these heatwaves, no matter if I was in the shadow of a wall or not.

When I was training with Sir Olberic, he advised me to train each day to get stronger and mastering my powers, and that practicing at this rhythm was the best way to develop my reflexes.

Yeah, I wanted to improve them in a way or another: I want to know how I did to detect the danger and act quickly by pure instinct. I think it was pretty cool to have caught a falling potion in the air !

For the moment, I don't know how I could be better at that, but I remembered Sir Olberic has told me a piece of useful advice: the more I find myself in situations forcing me to use my reflexes, the better I could master them.

So, I stood up alone in the narrow street, when I faced the wall with determination and crossed my fingers.

GZZZTT !!!

I activated my powers, with less electricity covering my feet than usual, and ran towards the wall and jumped, but I suddenly stopped.

SBAM !

"Ngh !"

I slammed on it and fell on the ground, but I managed to get up.

"No, that's not enough."

All that story prevented me to focus better on my training. It's always the same weird thing: wherever I go, I arrive in a place where crazy things are happening. And even this desertic and dangerous town continued to hide me a few secrets, with that guy who kept that kind of precious stone. I would have never thought Primrose's father would know about that crystal, and what that thing was for.

Primrose was such a woman who was nicer than I expected: despite the fact she was working in a place made for pleasing adults, she shows still a soft side towards me. Indeed, she looked to know more about men than I would imagine and didn't seem to be the kind of person to be pushed around. She just beat an entire group of bandits at herself !... With my help, of course !

Seriously, I found her very beautiful and pretty, even if I still preferred Ophilia. She even liked jewels, and I was pretty happy she accepted my gift, which wasn't even too expensive so I would have still enough money to go to Atlasdam. But I can say I was very surprised she kissed me in thanks...

Anyway, I wasn't unhappy to have met that girl, although I already knew her when I saw her pixelized appearance on the Switch... But now, we have to work together and find that crystal which that man possessed, that crystal which must have a link to her past...

I never expected this girl would hide so many mysteries about herself, and this discussion I had with her made me feel bad so much.

Her story was really heartbreaking: all these days where she has to flee from them, all these days where she has to dance for a man who would abuse her more that he gave her food... It broke my heart to learn that tragedy has destroyed her life when she was still a child...

In reality, I think her story was much sadder than mine... Her father got killed without any reason and she has neither done anything bad to them. It hurt a lot to imagine everything she has endured after that night... but it hurt me even more to see her personality greatly changed since that tragedy, and it scares me that she couldn't be happy anymore...

Talking about that, I clearly saw a lot of hate in her eyes. I could feel how much she must have been traumatized to witness with her own eyes her father dying... Her father whom she loved a lot. I couldn't believe how much she was determined to avenge her father by finding and killing those who have murdered him.

She explained to me that despite she hasn't seen her faces, she has noticed that they all got a big tattoo representing a crow on either the arm or behind the neck.

This man with the crystal... he could be a crow !

Yes. I've well noticed the same tattoo that Primrose has described on his arm when he was eating. I could have told Primrose the man I've spied was one of the men she was looking for years... But I preferred to say nothing.

I knew how much killing these dangerous criminals meant a lot for her, but when I listened to her speaking about them, when I felt her deep will to get her revenge... it's like she wasn't the same person.

In my opinion, when I was living like a tramp in the real world, I was sad and unhappy to be alone in the misery, and no one ever paid me attention and gave me a helping hand... but deep down in my heart, I never wanted to blame anyone.

And progressively, I started to understand how it must be for Primrose to feel hatred for her father's murderers, and to want to avenge him by killing them too for accomplishing her faith. However, after everything she told me the misfortune she has known, all the abusing she endured for years from the evil man whom she dared calling him "master", it seemed that she was suffering because of her thirst for revenge.

I couldn't believe she has gone so far to look for the men who took her father away from her, and how much she must have changed due to that horrifying tragedy. All that for reestablish her father's honor, so he could rest in peace... but what about her ? Will she be in peace too ?

I can't stop worrying about her, especially after I've spied that man with the mark of the crow, whom despite his gluttonous appetite, I felt in him such a powerful menace... And if he was in that town, maybe the two other crows should be there too and being as threatening as him...

Maybe Primrose wasn't like any woman with her dark superpowers and her impressing dancing skills, but that doesn't stop me to fear the day she will find that man with the crystal, and if ever he was as powerful as the man with the yellow helmet... I feared that... like her father... !!!...

No... I don't want to think about this...

That's why I thought it was better to not tell her the truth when I could.

I calmed myself and stayed focused on what I was doing.

I must find a way...

When I was fighting those bandits with Primrose, I noticed that I never ran too close to the walls because I was afraid to hit one while running at lightning speed. Maybe it was by pure reflex or to make sure I wouldn't fall, but it seems that running as fast as the thunder wasn't an easy thing.

So, I have a very good idea ! When I was in the real world, I remembered to have seen an ad, through a window full of televisions, a gameplay of a Super Mario game which has been released recently, and I remembered it could be played with the Nintendo Switch, which is the same game console I've found where I discovered Octopath Traveler in that abandoned building ! So, in theory, if I could learn how that Mario game worked, it should help me in the game I was !

All I have to do is to put myself in the shoes of a famous video game character like Super Mario !

What I remember from the footage I've seen, is that Mario was running in a big city when he threw his cap like it was a boomerang, but I've thought that it would be impossible because that doesn't exist in Octopath Traveler, especially those with eyes !

No. What I wanted to do is what Mario has done next: after jumping on his own cap, he went towards a building and jumped towards the wall. When I saw that, I thought he would slam himself on the wall, but that wasn't the case: he quickly kicked off the wall and jumped higher in the opposite direction ! That was incredible !

Of course, I tried to do the same after I saw this, and I got a pretty good bump that day... but now, I got my superpowers to help me !

"Okay... Let's try it again."

GZZTT !!

I ran again in direction of the wall, but I jumped sooner than before, and my jump was much higher.

I then touched the wall with my feet and tried to bounce.

"Oop !"

However, I felt quite frightened, and my wall jump only gave me a few centimeters of hight, before I fell right away.

"Ngh !"

I got up, and walked back to my starting point when I decided to take more time to focus myself.

Too bad ! Each time I tried to run towards the wall, I would always slow down the more I came closer, and lose confidence in myself.

Though, I have to do it.

"Come on, Travis ! You just got to believe in yourself !"

Actually, I wanted to focus on my powers in general. It was very cool to run at lightning speed, but I also wish to jump in every sense, wall by wall, just like how would do a ninja !

Indeed, it was also Primrose who inspired me to improve my speed: I remember when she avoided and counter-attacked each of her foes without problems... while dancing. While dancing !

Yeah, maybe it looks like a crazy idea to jump like a video game character, but if I have to prepare myself at any danger, like this mysterious man with the crow tattoo I've seen, I need to try anything to get stronger !

Primrose promised me that when she will be free for a moment, she will join me back for we could both look together for that man and the mysterious crystal he was keeping. So, one way or another, the path that we're one leads to him, and we will have to fight him and defend himself.

Indeed, if this man was a murderer like his two comrades, he must be pretty strong. If Primrose couldn't always protect me from him, so I will make sure to get even stronger to not only defend myself, but also to protect her in return.

Why does the crystal interest him so much ?

If that crystal belonged to Primrose's father according to the visions she had, so I have a little idea why he wanted to get rid of it. Maybe he was afraid the crow men would find it and take it from him, which could explain why he has been killed...

But was it really the true reason for his murder ?

Who was the other man whom Primrose's father gave him the precious stone in her vision ?

And if her father wanted to hide the crystal, how did it end up in the hands of the crow men ?

As usual, I get more questions than answers, and it's frustrating me a little bit. However, I won't get an answer if I just stay still at doing nothing. If I could improve my skills right now, I and Primrose will have more chance to beat the crow man, and we could get him to tell us the truth about the crystal, why they have killed Primrose's dad, and of course, if he knows anything about the game and the yellow helmet man, that would help me a lot.

GZZTTT !!

I was ready on my marks, my hands well placed on the sandy ground.

Let's get serious, this time !

I ran faster than before, without paying attention to anything else as my eyes were focused on the high wall, but I wasn't scared anymore to hit the wall.

I was 2 meters away from the wall, ready to jump.

"AAAH !"

I suddenly slipped, failing my jump, but before I was about to fall on my back, I managed to put my feet on the wall.

I won't give up !

Then, with the electricity covering my feet, I felt more, more, and more strength in my feet, so I pushed very hard on the wall and

GZZZZZTTTT !!!

I was now propelled backward at high speed, like a rocket, as I couldn't stop spinning like a cannonball flying through the long narrow path.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH !"

~One minute ago~

~Yusufa's POV~

I wasn't far away from our dorm when I got distracted by a weird rumbling sound.

"Huh ?"

I suddenly bumped into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry... !!!"

My attempt of apology was cut off as I was pretty shocked to see the weird-looking customer who annoyed me sooner at the tavern.

"Well, well... Look who's there...HIPS !", he grinned at me, showing his unhealthy teeth as he was still smelling the alcohol.

He slowly approached me, as I slowly stepped back until my back was up against the wall.

"Y-you again ?! What are you doing here ?!"

"Me ? The guards might have expelled me from the tavern, but I'm still not banished from the city yet ! He he ! And you, cutie ? Why are you wandering here alone on your own ?"

"I'm sorry, but I have to go !", I answered him, trying to stay calm even if he started to frighten me when I was about to leave.

"HEY !"

He suddenly grabbed me with all his strength.

"NO ! LET ME GO !", I shouted while trying to struggle at my best.

He brought me at the closest hidden street, and pinned me against the building, gripping tight my wrist.

Oh no ! Not again !

"Where do you think you're... HIPS !... going ? I told you that I wanted a show from you !", he watched at me closely with his big single and disturbing eye.

"P-please, leave me alone !"

My heart started to beat as much as this man was scaring me.

"Oh, I like her already...", he said to himself. "I would like so much to have someone like you. Just become my girl, and you see, you will make people jealous with a man like me ! HA HA HA !", he smirked while contemplating over me.

I was lost: I couldn't escape him and no one was there to help him... What could I do now ? Accepting his request and letting him having his fun ?... In that street ? Just to avoid being harmed ?

Why was I too scared to defend myself from any stranger ?... Why can I not manage to impose myself ?...

Honestly, I'm sick of all these people criticizing me behind my back. I don't want to be the victim again and again, and letting people making fun of my weakness.

I... won't... let him !!

Like how Primrose would do, I won't give up easy anymore !

I started to rebel against the abusive man.

"STOP THAT YOU THUG ! YOU... YOU DON'T EVER DESERVE TO SEE ANY GIRLS DANCING !!!", I watched at him with furious eyes, when he gripped me tighter. "Ngh !"

"Watch out, girl... If you refuse to obey, I..."

"aaaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHHH !!!!"

SBUMP !!!!

Suddenly, something went at full speed from the end of the street, and hit directly my attacker who released me immediately.

Everything went so fast: the thug was propelled so far by the blow that he landed on the alley.

"NEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIGHHH !"

A couple of horses pulling a cart quickly drifted at the right in fear of the man they have almost stepped on, surprising the driver, as the cart fell apart with all the merchandise onboard which just broke.

Now, I was finally free. But what just happened ? What was that thing which hit my aggressor like a projectile ?

I looked down at my feet and discovered... a child ?!

!!!

A young little boy was lying on the ground, and looked unconscious after the shock.

I quickly bent down to check him if he was alright.

Is that... the boy who went on stage last night ?

Sure, it was him. But I was mostly concerned about his state and his situation. How did this kid end up being launched like a cannonball ?

Poor little one...

I couldn't let him alone in that state.

So, as he was still knocked out, I picked up the boy in my arms and carried him carefully in my dorm.

While going back to home, I observed the driver, who looked pretty tall, was thankfully fine, but he wasn't very happy towards my aggressor.

"YOU DAMN IDIOT ! YOU WILL PAY FOR ALL MY STUFF !!!"

"But !... It wasn't me ! It was..."

"AND THIS ONE WASN'T ME, MAYBE !!!"

SPUNCH !!!

He gave him a blow right into the face and started to beat him up, while I quickly went back to the dorm with the boy.

~Later~

~Travis's POV~

"Hmm..."

What happened ?...

All I could remember is that I was training myself, but I slipped while running...

However, as I started to wake up, the last thing I could remind is that when I fell, I was finally able to do a wall jump, but not in the same way that I wished for.

At this moment where I pushed on the wall with my electric feet, I felt like to have been "flying through the air" just like... a soccer ball ?

And then, how did it end ?...

Oh yeah. I bumped into someone, and so I've been knocked out.

I hope the person whom I hit is alright... Where am I, by the way ?

"...!!!"

I was lying on a bed, in a bedroom with 5 other beds but almost no light due to the closed window, but I quickly understood I was actually in the dorms where Primrose and the other dancers were living here.

"What ?!... How ?!... Why ?!..."

I was pretty confused but also worried because I shouldn't be in that place at this hour.

"I have to go !"

I quickly got up from the bed, as I noticed I've quickly recovered despite the shock I received, but it was a huge miracle I haven't landed on another wall.

Now, I must go before someone else than Primrose sees me here and would report me, as I didn't really want to look like a troublemaker a second time to these dancing girls.

I walked quietly but quickly to the main room, only to be surprised as I saw a girl standing in the doorway.

"Oh ! You're already up ?", said the person, who was a little surprised as well.

Too late !...

I slowly stepped back, quite embarrassed.

I recognized that young woman: she was one of the dancing girls I've seen performing on stage in my hidden barrel, the one wearing a blue outfit and who has short brown hair like Tressa. She also looked to have Primrose's age.

I was afraid she would denounce me to her evil master, and that he would understand Primrose wanted to keep me there.

I stayed calm when she spoke with a soft voice.

"Hey... It's ok. I'm not a bad person."

This girl looked pretty nice, but should I trust her like Primrose ?

I don't know, as she told me to not be noticed by neither her master or the other dancers.

I stayed calm and asked.

"What... what am I doing here ?"

"I... I found you unconscious at the street corner, not far from there, and I better thought to take you home."

As I expected...

She then asked me.

"But you... What were you doing alone outside ? Shouldn't you be with your parents, little one ?"

The girl didn't look to be annoyed by my presence: instead, she looked caring and slightly more welcoming than Primrose. But even if she looked nice, I still hoped I wasn't annoying her at all...

I noticed a bruise on her wrist, as I started to be worried.

"Your arm..."

She quickly hid her bruise and frowned.

"... It's nothing !... I..."

"I was sure ! I must have bumped into you !"

"No, it wasn't...."

"I'm so sorry ! I didn't mean to hurt you !"

"But you haven't hurt me !"

"Please, don't lie to me because you feel bad for me !"

"I swear I'm not lying, just calm down !"

I took a deep breath, feeling bad for the young woman, as I understood I was being crazy.

"...Sorry."

She bent down at me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"It's ok. It happens to everyone to feel responsible for the misfortune of others, no matter if we are guilty or not."

I guess she was pretty right. I would always feel guilty if anyone is harmed because of me, but it was stronger than me: after all these years of being ignored by people in the real world... I just don't want people to forget me again because of my mistakes...

Gargggle !

Suddenly, my stomach growled, as I blushed out of embarassement.

The blue lady smiled.

"Oh, you're hungry little one ?", she asked me, but my stomach answered before I could, as she stood up and said. "Come. I'll get you some fruits."

"Are there any apple left ?"

~Later~

I was sitting at the same place where I've eaten my breakfast with Primrose, waiting patiently for the lady who was looking for some fruits.

She then brought something on the table

"Sorry, we're out of apples for the moment. I'm pretty sure it was one of the other dancing girls who have finished the last one.", she told me, as I decided to stay silent when she said. "However, there are still some bunch of grapes."

She put the plate on the table, as for once, I quickly recognized the fruit which looked like exactly like in a book I've read.

"Oh, I heard of that one ! Isn't it the fruit which is made of many other fruits as small as pearls ?", I asked curiously.

"Mmh mmh ! You can serve yourself, enjoy.", she told me gently, while sitting at my right.

Thankfully I've read enough books to know hat fruit was considered to be delicious.

So, I took a small grape and started to taste it.

"Mmhhh... Delicious !", I smiled.

"Glad you like it.", told me cheerfully the girl.

It was juicy, fresh, and sweet...

Then, I felt something hard inside my mouth.

CRUNCH !

"Crunchy on the inside."

She chuckled.

"That's the seed."

I felt quite surprised but swallowed it anyway.

"Me too, I'm quite hungry, you know.", told me the girl while taking a few grapes at once.

As I did the same, I said to the girls.

"T-thank you, miss..."

"Yusufa."

"Miss Yusufa. I'm Travis, by the way !", I told her cheerfully.

Yes ! I finally spelled her name right, for once !

"Well, nice to meet you too, Travis !", she said happily.

As she started to eat, I asked her again.

"So, you said that you've found me unconscious in the street, right ?"

"That's right. But to tell the truth, I haven't really found you alone by hazard."

"What do you mean ?"

"Err... I don't think you would believe me if I tell you.", she answered me positively.

"Oh, I'd still like to know, if you don't mind.", I insisted on calmly.

She hesitated for a while.

"...it's like... you were flying before he bumped into something."

"I was flying ?"

"Yeah, but not like a bird. I mean... like we throw a rock with a catapult, but without catapult, of course !"

"Oh, ok. I think that makes sense !"

So, I was right: I was well being "catapulted" when I jumped over the wall like super mario. But even if I wasn't supposed to do this, what I have done was incredible. It's like my feet were acting like spring shoes without springs ! But I don't think Super Mario would use springs in any of his games...

"By the way. Sorry for yesterday at the tavern. I didn't really want to scare you."

"Oh, it's ok. I wasn't just expecting someone would arrive on stage during the act, although children aren't allowed on the tavern."

"So, you don't really care if I broke the rule ?"

"No way ! However, I would have more freaked out if it was an adult instead !"

"I see.", I said, still feeling quite bad for her when I asked. "It isn't too hard for you to dance in front of customers ?"

"Yeah... But one day or another, we finish to forget them when we are too busy dancing, me and the others.", she answered quietly.

"Me, if I have to dance a front of a crowd, I would feel weird with all these persons staring at me !"

"Hu hu... Maybe because you have trouble to believe in yourself !"

"Yeah, you're right !", I giggled with her.

Yusufa was pretty nice, and I was happy to have found someone else to befriend in that town. However, I was still wondering how did she get that bruise on her arm. I hope she too wasn't abused by her master...

I took the last two grapes of the fruit when I had an idea.

"Hey, look Yusufa !"

I put each green grape a front of my eyes.

"My eyes became green !"

She giggled at my joke.

"You're such a funny boy !", she answered me happily, when she said. "Wait, I have to put my earrings..."

She then looked for another grapefruit and took two grapes who were both still attached to a twig, before placing them next to each of her ears.

"What do you think of my look ?", she asked me funnily.

"Ha ha ha ha !"

She laughed as well, when I took another grape and tried to eat it.

"Ouch !"

"Oh my !... What's wrong ?!", asked a worried Yusufa.

"I... I lost a tooth !..."

I then dropped the grape from my mouth over the table like it was a tooth, and we looked at each other.

"Pfffffff.... HA HA HA HA !"

~A few minutes before, at the tavern~

~Primrose's POV~

"Thank you for the money, my good sir ! Smooch !", said my colleague Melissa, a few leaves in hand, while kissing a customer's cheek.

"He he... You're welcome, sweetheart...", he blushed sligthly before leaving the place.

It was almost midday. I and the rest of the dancers were finishing to collect tips from customers, but I started to be slightly worried because Yusufa wasn't back yet.

This isn't like her to take such time...

Thankfully Helgenish was busy with a business outside Sunshade at the moment, especially when he absolutely hate slow and incompetent work.

Anyway, I stayed calm and finished my dance, cheered by a few regular customers, before they pay me.

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP !

"One more, my lady, please !", cheered one of the drunk customers.

I noticed from far the stagehand man waving at me and the other dancing girls when I turned back to my spectators.

"Thank you... You're all so kind... But sadly, I have to go. Maybe another time...", I told them with an innocent glare and a soft voice.

After taking the money from them, I joined the others and we gathered around the stagehand man who brought a big empty pint.

"Good work, ladies. Would you put all the tips you have gathered in there ?", he asked calmly.

The girls did what he asked and filled the pint with all the coins they collected with their shows until it was half-filled.

Melissa giggled proudly, making the two other jealous.

"Huh huh huh ! I'm the one who has collected more money ! What about you, Primrose ?"

With the few leaves I got in hand, I deposed them inside the pint over the rest of the collected money.

"A few leaves, is that all ?", asked Melissa with a sneaky smile.

"No."

I put inside the pint the coins I gathered from that table which was the closest to the entrance.

Then, I put a good fistful of coins given by a wealthy noble.

And then, the money collected at the table kept by a traveling shepherd.

Without forgetting the leaves offered by a retired soldier.

And the money from the group who were playing card games.

And of course, a few extras from the people who enjoyed my performance.

Plus some customers who wanted one or several more shows for more money.

It took me more time than the others to put the coins I've gathered inside the pint, but now it was so full that it started to overflow over the top, leaving the other girls speechless.

"Mmh... I guess I'm not too far from my personal record.", I said calmly.

~Later~

The stagehand man finally permitted us to go home after the half-day was over, and I could already notice my three colleagues in green at the exit.

I went towards the exit and listened to their conversation.

"Aaaahh... Time for a well-deserved break !", said Melissa while stretching out.

"Why don't we go shopping outside ? It seems master Helgenish is too busy with business, so we should take advantage, girls !", proposed Violet.

"Oh yes ! I would love to ! But we don't have any money to pay even a piece of bread !", continued Ellie.

Melissa then smiled proudly.

"It's okay, girls ! I've kept some tips I've collected which the stagehand man hasn't noticed ! Ha ha ha !"

She showed at the girls a small fistful of coins she was hiding with herself. It must have been probably stolen from the pint while the stagehand man was turning around...

"A-are you mad ?! Master Helgenish would kill us if we steal him his money !", freaked out Violet.

"Relax, girls. As long as that boar earn thousands of leaves per day, he would never notice that only a few coins are missing !", she chuckled cockily when she proposed. "I've heard there was somewhere a traveling vendor who was selling some cute expensive jewels, by the way !"

"Oh, but you will again take hours to choose a jewel that you might not ever finally wear !", complained Ellie.

They all noticed I was there listening when Ellie asked me.

"Aren't you interested, Primrose, to do some shopping ?"

"No, I don't want to take some risks to be in trouble like you girls, and I don't need to buy anything.", I answered calmly and wisely, while thinking at my new bracelet.

"What a shame..."

"Forget her. I'm sure she still prefers to be in her thoughts.", said Melissa.

They giggled while heading to the north of the city.

I guess they haven't still understood what risk they are taking...

It happens some days that we have an exceptionally a break of an hour at lunchtime, while Helgenish was dealing with some important business in the city. However, that doesn't mean that we were completely free, as he would be really pissed if one of us is late. One day, if these three girls continue to profit behind his back, they might end like Clara...

Anyway, I still haven't found any clue about one of my father's murderers, but I think today I'll get more chance to put the hand on one of these damn creeps.

I was more determined than ever to finally stick my dagger right into the heart of one of these crows, and this time, no matter what would happen, nothing and no one can stop me to find them.

NO ONE.

At the moment, the only track I have was the man whom Travis said he has seen with that famous crystal...

Was he sure of who he has seen ? If yes, who was this person ?

Honestly, I could have never expected I would somehow need the help of this young boy I just met. Okay, he's pretty cute and nice, and I loved the bracelet he offered me, but I couldn't always look for him after I'll be done with the crystal man. I wouldn't have more time to take care of him like I was his nanny, I'm here to kill a man.

After that, I would like to find someone else to take care of him until he could go to Atlasdam. The problem is that the city isn't full of people loyal to Helgenish, and this kid would be in trouble if we learn that he spent one night in my dorm.

Though I must admit that he already knew how to defend himself at his age, and he was pretty special. His magic was also special: I remembered that sometimes some scholars would work with my father, and it was pretty common to see them using thunder powers, but his powers were totally different from normal lightning. Indeed, I felt in him a huge magical power surrounding him, and I never saw such a unique ability. It might be like the dark magic I've learned: an uncommon power that only a few people could master.

I never heard about such strange magic... Did someone has taught him how to master this power ? If yes, who could be able to do so ?

That was weird... The more I spend time with that little boy, the more I would feel more calm and positive... I knew we, dancing girls, weren't allowed to befriend customers and spectators, so it would explain why we wanted some company. If I have to be very honest... this boy alone was the best public whom I've never danced for.

However, I wondered why he too wanted so much to look for that man he saw, and how he could know such things about these pillars of light appearing from nowhere. By the way, he didn't know a lot about the man he has spied on. Maybe he too hasn't expected to be following that stranger with his weird compass... but what if... the man he has followed... was one of the crow ?

Perhaps...

I clenched my fist while containing my anger as I was thinking about that theory.

Yeah. It would be obvious if one of the crows and the man Travis has followed were the same and unique person, especially because he should own the crystal which my father wanted to get rid of.

But if he was really one of the crow men, why did Travis haven't told me about him ?

If this boy was really as smart as I thought, he would have been able to notice the crow mark on his arm, or behind his neck. Unless he wanted to hide something from me...

Anyway, I still cannot confirm if he was really the man I was looking for, and I need to ask Travis about it. I could already see an imminent danger coming if this boy has really spied on one of my father's murderer... So, I have to profit from my break time to find that person and the crystal.

In any case, if ever this kid really knows something about my father, I have to do anything to keep him safe...

I finally arrived a front of my apartment, as I have to get prepared before we start looking.

I have to make sure neither Helgenish or the other girls know where I go, and that I was hiding Travis with me...

If either Melissa, Ellie, or even Violet learn that, after they have been humiliated last night, there's no way they would hold their tongue...

But what if Yusufa finds about him ? I'm not sure what she would do. I know she might be quite okay with kids, but...

I opened the door, when I saw two familiar persons.

"GRRRR ! I'm a pimply monster !", roared Travis playfully while holding a bunch of grapes against his face.

"Ha ha ha ! And me, I'm the witch with pointed fingernails who will eat all your grapes !", shouted Yusufa playfully while holding a pair of an empty bunch of grapes towards Travis.

Have... have they just already befriended ?!

They both noticed me and gasped.

"Oh ! Primrose !", they shouted together and immediately stopped their games.

"What... are you doing ?", I asked them annoyingly.

Were they playing with food ?!

They both freaked out.

"That is not what you think !"

"I swear I didn't want to annoy her !"

"Please, don't tell anyone !"

"She just gave me something to eat !"

They both looked embarrassed and guilty.

I kept calm while closing the door when I interrupted their explanation.

"It's fine, Yusufa... I know him too. You don't have to freak out."

"Ah, really ?!"

She sighed, while putting the rest of the fruit on the table when I spoke to Travis.

"And you, Travis ? What are you doing here ?"

"Huh..."

"Let me guess... Have you hurt yourself again ?"

"... yeah, just a few bruises. But that's ok, thanks to her."

"I couldn't leave him alone on his own, Primrose.", told me calmly Yusufa, as she added wisely while putting a hand over the boy's shoulder. "And also... he saved me."

While Travis was pretty confused, me too it seems I missed something.

I guess we have one more person on our side, this time...

I crossed my arms.

"Alright. I would like both of you to explain what happened... during our lunch."

~A few explanations later~

We were all three eating some fruits for lunch, like grapes, pineapples, or pears, all staying calm as we enjoyed the fruits while discussing.

"So, you didn't want to let this man abusing you, Yusufa ?"

She nodded calmly, looking quite upset.

"Since I work here, our master Helgenish wasn't the only person who often scared me... Some clients would sometimes be able to disturb me with a simple glare, but it was the first time someone really attempted to harm me. I was afraid, more than I thought I would be, and I always thought when that day will happen, I could be too terrorized to do anything to fight back... but I wasn't.", her expression looked more confident as she explained."I didn't want to take anymore, so I decided to oppose that man, but even though it was brave on my behalf, I was more scared than ever. If Travis wasn't there..."

She didn't finish and stayed calm when I said.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have let you go alone."

"No, Primrose. It's me who should have been more careful when I was outside."

I looked at Travis, who was taking pity for Yusufa, who asked her.

"Anyone else hasn't tried to help you ?"

I answered at her place.

"Sadly, all the town guards were already pretty busy with Helgenish's stuff, and doing their mission is more important for them than dancing girl's safety."

"Not cool.", he responded while eating a few grapes.

Despite the ambiance, Yusufa stayed positive has she continued.

"It was stronger than me, Primrose. I wanted to be like you, at this moment, even though I wasn't as cunning and audacious as you were. I wonder if it would have changed anything if I haven't fought back or not..."

"You were just behaving like natural, like how anyone would do when he thinks he's in danger.", I told her while taking a piece of pineapple.

"Yeah. You're not wrong.", she smiled a little.

Thankfully Yusufa was lucky enough to have crossed Travis's path, even if it was by pure accident. I just wouldn't forgive myself if anything happened to her...

CRUNCH !

While he was eating, Travis stared curiously at my feet.

"By the way, Prim ? How have you hurt your foot ?"

"Well..."

"I hope it's not Belgenish who..."

He looked pretty concerned, but Yusufa interrupted him.

"Helgenish has nothing to do with her wound.", she sighed, before revealing him. "It was the other dancers who have put a thorn inside her sandal."

Travis's eyes widened in shock.

"But that's so awful ! Why would they do that to you ?! Were they just... jealous because you're a better dancer than them ?"

"Kinda. I must admit they sometimes couldn't bear I have more spotlight on the scene than them.", I answered him.

"And me too, they would sometimes make fun of me...", Yusufa added silently, a frown on her face.

The boy sighed.

"I'm so sorry for you two... I can't stand what Helnegish and these girls are doing to you. I would like so much to try anything to help both of you..."

This boy has such a heart, as Yusufa smiled.

"Thank you, Travis. But you know we can't leave Sunshade for escaping Helgenish and his men. And even if we do, how we will be supposed to cross the desert ? Without enough food, enough water, and not to mention all these monsters we can appear from anywhere. We couldn't even count on the carriage which arrives in the next few days, cause Helgenish would know it if we tried to leave the city."

"Yeah, you're right...", he mumbled, when he checked again my wounded foot. "Are you covering it with just a tissue ?"

"Yes. It helps to dress my wound.", I told him gently.

"It was my idea ! I gave her my handkerchief !", smiled Yusufa proudly.

"Oh, okay. But shouldn't you use something like a salve over your wound before covering it ?", he asked me.

"Yeah, but we don't have any of this, in Sunshade.", I answered him.

What a nice advice for a 6 years old kid... I wondered how he has learned that apothecary's skill...

"We could still use some unused dancing clothes to cover that kind of injury, but I don't think Helgenish would appreciate.", said Yusufa.

"Like when we wear some clothes to protect ourselves from the hot sun ?", asked the boy.

Me and Yusufa both nodded when he looked at our dancing outfits.

"Err... Tell me, girls: you were these dancing skirts to only cover your chest, am I right ?"

"Yeah.", I answered, watching him weirdly

"And it's also surrounding your arms, right ?"

"Of course. Why are you asking this question ? Don't tell me you already have a soft spot for girls at your age..."

"NO NO ! Not at all !", he blushed slightly in embarrassment, when he explained. "I was just wondering... how do you do to raise your arms like that ?"

He raised his arms up, trying to reach the ceiling.

"Oh. You mean when we do this ?"

Me and Yusufa both raised our arms above us, but our skirt was still well covering our chest while the skirt's suspenders surrounding our forearms were slightly pulled when we do so.

"It's elastic ?!", he exclaimed.

"Of course, it's elastic. Else, how could we dance properly ?", I said annoyingly.

"Ah... Sorry about that ! I just wanted to know and... I was afraid that when you dance, everyone at the tavern could see... what girls like you don't want to show. Because... I think that's wrong for people to want to see that, right ?"

"Aww... That's really nice, Travis.", told him Yusufa while ruffling his hair, when she asked. " By the way, you still haven't explained to us how you have hurt yourself, kitten."

"K-kitten ?!", he exclaimed.

"Oh, sorry ! I called you like that after seeing you on stage last night. Is that bothering you when I call you "kitten" ?"

"...kinda.", he responded with embarrassment...

I smiled and slightly chuckled when he spoke.

"I was... training."

"Why do you want to train yourself ?"

"Because Prim told me this city was pretty dangerous and...", he looked at me like he was about to say the truth, but I nodded for a no before he tried to find an excuse. " It was also dangerous outside with these monsters. When we travel, I think it's pretty good to learn how to defend ourselves against the desert's ferocious beasts."

"So, you want to travel through the country ?", asked Yusufa who became slightly excited.

"I already do ! And even that my dream is to discover the world in all its splendor !", he smiled proudly.

"That's sound really amazing !", answered Yusufa while finishing her pear, when she continued. "Me and the other girls aren't allowed to leave the village, and sadly, Helgenish is way too busy to consider going on tour with us. So most of us have almost spent our entire life in that vast desert... That's why honeslty, I'm always excited when I listen to stories of great cities and beautiful landscapes of green plains. I even heard some rumors at the tavern about travelers who would tell tales at people to inform them of what they have visited."

"Really ?! I wanna meet one too !", exclaimed Travis happily.

"Unfortunately, we don't see a lot of these kinds of a person wandering in Sunshade, and we see even less nowadays.", I said while checking my wound still covered with the tissue.

"Yeah. And by the way, Travis, aren't you too young to travel on your own ?"

"I'm old enough to visit the world alone !"

"Really ? After getting your arm sunburned ?", I retorted him calmly.

He became quite embarrassed.

"Ok! I know I should have been careful with that... But it was just a simple mistake !"

"A bigger one, and you would have never reached Sunshade at all.", I warned him quietly.

He sighed when Yusufa consoled her.

"You know, Travis, everyone makes mistakes, because this is what makes us humans."

"Mmh... maybe."

"Even dancers can sometimes make wrong steps while dancing, no matter if we only a few days or several years of experience."

Strangely, I've never seen Yusufa being so nice towards someone besides me, but I'm so proud of her to be sympathetic towards a kid.

He looked at her amazingly.

"Can you make a little dance for me, Yusufa ?"

"Of course !", she smiled proudly.

So, she performed some classic dancing steps, before finishing with a twirl.

"I know I might now be as good as the others, but..."

"What do you say ? I think you dance pretty well !", said Travis cheerfully, calmly interrupting her.

Yusufa was quite surprised by his words, as he asked.

"Is there something wrong ?"

"... No. Thank you. It's really kind of you !", she looked really touched.

After checking my wound, I said to the boy.

"Yusufa isn't really used to hear such nice comments like yours. Our master Helgenish always trains us to make sure we are doing our best."

"You know what ? I think you two are already doing your best !", answered Travis, making us smile at his comment.

This boy would make such a nice gentleman in the future ! Indeed, in my own opinion, I think dancing for a younger audience would be more positive than an adult one mostly interested by the dancing girl's appearances than the style of their dance.

For Yusufa, I think she just got such a good experience while dancing for a young child, she who has been disturbed by drunk customers who were staring at her beautiful shape and too often being abused by Helgenish because he didn't find her dance as amazing as he wished to be.

Normally, all these shows being proposed by a large number of the country's taverns, especially in the Sunlands, weren't kid-friendly at all, but I guess this boy was a unique exception.

Yusufa then asked me.

"And you, Primrose ? I don't really know much about you. Do you know something about how the world looks like outside Sunshade ?"

I hesitated when Travis answered happily.

"Of course, she does ! She even came from..."

"Travis.", I interrupted him seriously.

I have to remind him no one else should know where I came from.

"...sorry."

Yusufa was pretty confused.

"One minute... Do you know where she came from ?", she asked Travis.

"Well...", he tried to ignore her.

!!!

Suddenly, I felt a painful headache.

"Aaaahh !..."

"Primrose ! Are you alright ?!!"

"Primrose !!"

I felt my eye hurting me again.

Another vision !

FLASH !

"Sir Geoffrey !"

SLASH !

"AAAAARGH !!!..."

I could see again my old home, during that fateful day, where a lot of my father's guards were ruthlessly slaughtered in the main all.

That scene was disturbing and looked so real despite it was just a vision.

Then, my eye hurt me more, where I closed my eyes and reopened them again.

I was now again in the body of the little girl I was 10 years ago, hidden in my father's office while witnessing my father, deeply injured, as he was surrounded by... them.

"I'm afraid you've been poking your nose into the latter."

"I have only done as my convictions bade me do. I have no regrets."

SLASH !

"Father !"

My scream was so loud that I almost thought I screamed for real when my eye hurt me more, and I found myself in a familiar vision.

"Father ?"

I could hear again that childish voice of mine echoing through the corridor...

I peered again at the same door and watched on the same side.

Then, I saw my father again, with the other man, as he gave him that red-orange crystal.

"Be careful with that. Make sure no one finds him."

Then, for once, I was able to open the door wider, and to penetrate inside the room, when I finally saw the other man.

"It's okay, Lord Geoffrey. You can count on me."

FLASH !

I was back in the present, breathing heavily on the ground.

"Primrose !... PRIMROSE !"

I could hear Travis's yelling worryingly, while my head was resting on Yusufa's lap, who was scared for me.

"Are you alright ?!"

I calmed myself, still shocked of what I witnessed.

"It's okay... Ha... I'm fine..."

"Thanks the twelve gods... It's stopped..."

Strangely, Yusufa didn't look to be frightened because of my plague... Indeed, she was most worried about my sake.

That man...

Finally, I discovered the man whom my father gave him the crystal.

However, I had no idea who was this man, especially because my father would work with countless people from the country, and he didn't look familiar to me at all.

Who was really this man ?

"Primrose ?... Can you walk ?", asked me Yusufa.

She and Travis both helped me to stand up, as I checked at the windows.

"It's okay, Prim. No one else has seen it.", said Travis.

"I've seen him."

"Who ?!"

"You know who.", I responded to him.

As he was first confused, Travis immediately understood and was shocked.

"Okay ! I get it !"

"Who... Who are you talking about ?!", asked Yusufa.

"Do you think he has the crystal with him ?"

"I... I don't have any idea. All we have to do is to figure out what it means !", I told him, while still recovering from my crisis.

"Yeah, but where do you think he is actually ?!", the boy exclaimed.

Yusufa, who didn't understand anything of the situation, intervened.

"Wait... What are you talking about ?! What is that story with the..."

Bip ! Bip ! Bip !

Suddenly, something from Travis's bag made a weird beeping sound.

He quickly looked for something inside, and picked the strange silver compass he showed me before. We noticed a red dot that has now appeared inside the tool.

"Hey ! There's a signal again !", Travis shouted.

"What does it means ?"

"If we need to find the crystal, we have to go in the way the compass is showing us. Just like a map, you know !", he explained to me, before stowing back his tool and picking up his bag.

"Okay ! We have to go now !"

We were about to leave, as I still got my dagger I was hiding, and Travis almost reached the door when someone grabbed my arm.

"Primrose ! Wait !"

Yusufa was calmly retaining me to go, but I didn't want to try squirming.

"Yusufa..."

I felt quite bad for her: she must have listened a little too much about our plan, but I don't think it was her main problem.

She looked at me with a worrying look.

"In you state, I can't leave you going anywhere. Indeed, Helgenish might come back at any time, and you're will be grounded if he discovers you're missing !"

"It's ok... I'm not trying to escape Sunshade... I'm just sneaking out for a while before going back to work... Now, please I must..."

"But you have been already missing for a while in that morning ! If you keep sneaking out, you will have huge problems to deal with !"

I sighed, understanding her worry, especially after what the other guy tried to harm her.

"Yusufa..."

Before I could explain, Travis intervened.

"Listen Yusufa. I know it might be hard to explain, but we have to deal with a bigger problem than Helgefish. If ever we don't do anything, a lot of people who never did anything bad will be in trouble ! Do you understand ?"

Travis...

We could really say he knew pretty much what I wanted to tell her. Indeed, there's no way I could tell Yusufa that everything will be alright and nothing else...

Although his words of comfort, Yusufa stayed hesitant.

"It's ok... He'll be fine if I stay close to him.", I said will putting both hands over Travis's shoulders.

"I see... But even, if it's just for a while, just make sure to back before Helgenish's return."

Travis looked up at her.

"We will."

I calmly nodded to her, even though my words weren't enough to erase her worrying, before saying to Travis.

"It's time."

"Mmh !", he nodded.

We both left the dorms and went outside.

Actually, the city wasn't as crowded as usually because most of the citizens were eating. However, there were still the merchants occupying the travelers with their merchandises and some guards were having a drink outside the tavern.

I was still verifying if Helgenish, one of his men, or even the 3 other dancing girls were around, while Travis was checking his compass, as I asked him.

"Do you know how to use that thing ?"

"Of course. It might be the second time I'm using it, but I told you it's working like a map. Maybe we should call it a "co-map-ass" !", he answered me.

"Whatever. Which direction that thing is telling us to go ?"

"Let's see... I guess we must go there."

He pointed me at the left, but because he looked quite hesitant, I wanted to be sure.

"Give me that."

I took him the compass and observed the red light shining inside the tool's glass.

I lived in that place for years, so I was used to knowing Sunshade by heart, from the limits of the city to the most hidden poor neighborhoods, and I thought I must be the one watching the direction shown by that magic compass and finding that crystal.

Then, I finally figured out its location.

"The catacombs. Follow me."

"Okay !"

We both crossed the city, ignoring the guards whistling at me while making sure to not meet Helgenish or the other dancing girls who could snitch on me.

As we walked, we went closer and closer to the crystal's location according to the indication shown by Travis's compass, just like we were in the middle of an orienteering race, and we finally arrived a front of the entrance of Sunshade's catacombs.

"The crystal must be inside."

"Wow... are they the catacombs ? What do we can find here ?", questioned Travis, impressed by the look of the place.

"It's a long underground old of several centuries, which has been served to bury the oldest tombs during the ancient times. It's also a good place to hide bodies..."

"To hide... bodies ?", flinched out Travis.

"The place is generally unauthorized to the public, and even Helgenish has strongly unrecommended us from entering. I also heard some rumors that he might be one of the few people to go there sometimes."

"Ah ? Do you think he might be in there ?"

"I doubt it. He's already really busy in the city with the tavern and all. And..."

"Mmhh... What a nice rest... !!!", a yawning voice interrupting me.

Next to the entrance, there was an old man with a white beard and dressed in a yellow tunic and a turban, sitting cross-legged as he was stretching his arms.

"Who's that ?", asked Travis.

"Him ? He must be the guardian of the place... Wait..."

He looks familiar to me...

We approached him, when he noticed us, me in particular.

"Oh !..."

His face blushed at my sight, as he was admiring me with big eyes.

"Err... Greetings, my lady. The weather is really hot, don't you agree ? He he !", he spoke to me friendly, while I understood he didn't want him to know he was admiring me.

"Yeah ! I agree, sir !", answered Travis, while wiping out a few beads of sweat from his face.

The guardian's eyes widened as he saw Travis, before he suddenly stood up.

"Eh... no ! No no ! No no no no no ! I can't let anyone entering here without autorization !"

He stayed a front of the entrance, determined to not let anyone going in, but I could still see him blushing in his work.

Was he really doing his work ?

What a weird man...

Wait... could he be ?...

I observed him quietly, as he watched us suspiciously.

"...!!!"

There's no doubt !

"This man..."

"D-do you know him, Primrose ?!", exclaimed Travis.

"It's him... The man whom I've seen my father giving the crystal... it was this old guardian !", I mumbled to him.

"What ?!"

I wasn't dreaming at all ! He was well the man I've seen talking with my father 10 years ago, or at least in the vision, I got a few minutes ago. Although the fact he was much older than the person I've seen with my father, I was more than sure it was him.

But what was he doing here while keeping this sacred place ? Is he a resident of Sunshade ?

"Are you sure it's this... old man ?", whispered Travis, quite hesitant.

I nodded to him, as we both watched his compass again.

"The red dot doesn't point at this man, else it would be very close to the center.", said Travis.

"Yeah, I think you're right. The only way we could find that crystal is to go inside the catacombs."

I gave him back the compass when the guardian shouted at us.

"Hey ! Are you deaf or what ?! I told you can't go in there !"

"I guess that won't be easy to have a free tour...", said Travis.

"Perhaps this man could help us."

We have to inquire him if he knew some pieces of information about the crystal, so I spoke to him kindly while using my acting talents, smiling at him.

"So, you're the guardian of that place ?"

"Who else do you think I could be ? It's been 10 years since the city of pleasures gave me the mission to keep the entrance of these ancient catacombs from any intruder. To make sure I fulfill my job, I stay here 7 days a week, and 24 hours a day.", he explained proudly.

"You're doing the watch while you are sleeping ?"

"Sleep... No ! What are you talking about ?! I would never sleep in my mission !", he said angrily but nervously.

"You were just sleeping, sir."

"Ah !", he freaked out. "You saw nothing, okay ?! I was just snoozing for 5 minutes ! That's almost nothing, but I was still present in my workplace ! Okay ?!", he was going wild, trying to be serious even if he looked quite goofy.

The problem is that 5 minutes is long enough for letting anyone going inside without he notices it !

Seriously, has this man really worked for my father 10 years ago ?...

Travis asked the old guardian.

"What's so special inside that place, sir ?"

The guardian said happily.

"Ah, it's a pleasure the young generation of today still wants to learn more about the story of the Sunlands ! Nowadays, I swear that more and more kids prefer to swing with a sword instead of cultivating their brain cells. Indeed, when they will become adults and have kids at their turn, they will undoubtly want to do like their parents, and after people should not be surprised that..."

"Sir !", Travis interrupted him annoyingly.

"Sorry. Hum hum ! These catacombs aren't only a place which serves of tombs for the city's ancestors, we are also keeping the most valuable treasures gathered at Sunshade for generations. We have for example the sword of an ancient hero whom I forgot the name who has defended the village from lizardmen during 3 days and 3 nights, and also some armors made of a dragon's scales which has been offered as a gift for a marriage alliance."

"Do you know if there something which looks like a shining crystal in there ?", I asked him.

He still observed at my outfit, his face becoming slighlty red, when he answered curiously.

"Err... A crystal, you say ? Let me thinking... I have no idea, sorry ! I might be the guardian of that place, but the place is at least 10 times older than me and I don't know everything which is stowed in there."

We both frowned when I said.

"Are you telling us you don't know why are you really keeping that place ?"

"No no..."

"And who has given you that mission ?"

"I...I have no idea, I swear of my life !...", he apologized annoyingly, starting to make me mad despite I was pretending to act nicely, as he shouted. "Err... Wait wait ! I might know the person who gave me this job !"

"Really ?"

"Honestly, I'm just 20 percent sure, but I think I might know something ! He he!", he grinned while staring at me again.

I calmly sighed, but at least we now knew it was someone who asked him to keep that place.

So, I questioned him again.

"Who ?"

"Err... It was the municipality of Sunshade who charged me to do this job for a few years."

"Only the municipality of Sunshade ?"

"Yes... Er no no ! I think I remember... someone told me to do this job, and hide something important ! But I can't remember why ! Sorry !"

Finally, we are now sure it was my father who asked this man to move at Sunshade for keeping that stone in pure safety.

I have to know if he knew anything about my father, so I think I'm gonna help him to refresh his memory.

"Have you known someone named Geoffrey Azelhart in your life ?"

"G-geoffrey Azelhart ?!", he exclaimed surprisingly, before he said. "Sorry, I don't remember !"

Seriously ?!

"Excuse me again, old sir... I really need to know... Can you try to remind if that name was familiar to you, pretty please ?", I insisted him calmly, smiling by trying to be nice to him like how I do with my public.

He grinned weirdly and blushed.

"He he ! Of course, my dear !... Well... Geoffrey Azelhart... Do I know someone named like that ?..."

He was thinking for a while, but he gave up.

"S-sorry ! I can't remember !... At 60 years old, it's too hard for me to remind someone I met one single day ! Or two... Or three... You know, me and the memory, that makes two of us, sweetie !"

Why did my father give the crystal to him ?...

Anyway, we're losing time discussing with that man, so we have to move on.

So, I took a seductive posture, as he was immediately fantasizing over me, and spoke to him kindly.

"Oh, it's fine... It happens to everyone to have memory holes, you know..."

Especially the elderly like you !

"He he he ! You're right, my lady !", he blushed again.

I giggled.

"Thank you too for everything you told us, nice sir.", I then spoke in a quiet shy manner. "You know, it's been a really long time I'm working at the tavern and that I dance for a hundred persons per day. Indeed, I was always so busy that I never had the opportunity to know more about the culture of that beautiful city which is Sunshade. As a consequence, I feel sorry to have annoyed you with those questions..."

"Oh no no no ! At the contrary ! He he he ! It has been a great pleasure to answer these questions, sweetie !", he answered, his face red like a tomato.

I got him !

I acted like I was touched by his words, so I said slowly while smiling and showing my hip.

"I see... You know what ? You have really convinced me about these catacombs, so... would you like to permit us to visit that sacred place ? Mmh ?..."

The old guardian's face became redder, and while I watched at him innocently, he mumbled nervously.

"Well... I... You're such a... How can I... !!!"

However, he suddenly gasped and shook his head, when he got angry and yelled desperately while closing his eyes.

"No no no ! Stop doing that ! I can't permit you to penetrate in a place forbidden to public ! I swear it in my honor of guardian and I won't change my mind anymore !"

He crossed his arms, standing a front of the entrance.

"What ?!", I mumbled quietly, confused that my charm hasn't worked.

Rare were those who could resist my charm, and despite his perverted tendencies, he was determined to fulfill his mission.

No way ! I was so close !

I felt pretty angry to have failed, especially when I really needed to seduce that man.

For now, I couldn't insist again because this old guardian's will was pretty strong. Indeed, there's no way we couldn't enter without he alerts the guards and we're losing time to find the man Travis has seen. What are we supposed to do ?

"Sir ?", said a small voice.

It was Travis's voice who was talking to the guardian, still angry.

"What again ?"

Travis watched innocently at him with big eyes, and spoke while acting like a beaten dog.

"You know... I have spent hard moments these last days: I crossed the desert by foot although I had almost no provisions, then a monster attacked me as he wanted to eat me alive and can you guess where I have to hide to escape it ? Inside a barrel."

"Oh...", the guardian listened to him with guilt.

Wait, Travis... Aren't you...

He continued his story.

"But then, I found myself inside the tavern by pure coincidence, and a bad man has to throw me outside although I didn't want to do something wrong... Indeed, this morning, bad bandits wanted to steal everything I have, and even if I managed to escape them... I'm always afraid to meet one of them... This is because I wanted to forget what I've been through that I want to go inside these catacombs with my friend Primrose... Please, sir... Let us going in, and after we swear we won't annoy you anymore..."

Oh my !... Those blue eyes... He looks so sweet !

I was surprised by his sudden cute look that I almost had a goosebump !

I understood !... He is just doing that on purpose !

Travis looked so incredibly adorable that even the guardian couldn't resist watching his sweet eyes.

"I... Oh... I can't..."

He tried to close his eyes again, but it was too much for him to watch such a sweet little boy like he couldn't say no to those eyes.

"Ok ! Fine ! You won ! I give up ! You two can go in there !", he finally shouted nervously and wasn't blocking the entrance anymore.

"T-thank you again, Mister guardian !", smiled Travis with still his puffy eyes.

We finally entered the place and went down the stairs in a dark way, as Travis has really surprised me.

I couldn't manage to use my beauty and seduce the guardian, but Travis just used his cuteness to make the old man succumb at his own charm ! I'm pretty sure girls would scream internally if they could see such a face !

"Well done, Travis...", I mumbled to him, but still frightened by his own cuteness.

"Thank you Primrose... You know, I wanted to do like you, but I never expected it could work !", he said nervously.

"Hm... There's no way it would never work."

"Ah ?!... Why ?!"

"Who knows.", I answered him.

I smiled and pinched his cheek, making him blush.

~Meanwhile, outside in the streets of Sunshade~

~3rd's POV~

"He he he... And one more case settled ! Now, I'm sure I won't hear from him anymore !"

Helgenish was walking alone through the streets while counting all the money he has "earned" during one of his business. The more leaves inside his bags, the more he would grin.

"After all, no one in that town can't even look down at me !", he said cockily.

While he turned, he bumped into someone and yelled.

"HEY !!! WATCH YOUR STEP YOU... !!!..."

The large man suddenly stopped screaming at the sight of the man a front of him.

"It's been a while, Helgenish...", spoke coldly the man.

It was the man with the black coat which was hiding the crow tattoo on his left arm, whom in terms of size comparison, Helgenish seemed pretty small towards the muscular crow.

The large man spoke nervously.

"Y-you ?!.... Well, he he ! W-what a good surprise !... I've never expected to see you here..."

"It's no time for salutations. I've come here to find something which looks like this."

He showed him the red-orange crystal discreetly, surprising the tavern's owner, before stowing it back in his pocket, and requested.

"I must order you to find a crystal that looks like this one as soon as possible."

"You mean... Right now, sir ?! It's just, actually... he he... I've never seen that kind of stone in my entire life, and I'm pretty busy with the feast..."

The crow approached Helgenish menacingly, making him freaking out as his back was against the wall, as he spoke.

"You're disappointing me, Helgenish. I haven't crossed the desert on feet to fall out over a trifle. If ever you are as useless as my comrades thought you would be, maybe you might want to know the same fate as all these dancing girls who displeased you..."

Helgenish sweated in fear and exclaimed.

"Fine ! Fine ! I'll see what I can do, but I can't promise..."

"I don't you to promise, Helgenish... I want you to accomplish my request for the fastest possible. I must have the other crystal to do you know what, for the well being of the world. Understand ?"

"U-understand... But that means... the destruction of Sunshade is near, right ? How will I be supposed to..."

The crow chuckled.

"I know you well. You can still take your money and your dancing girls in a safe place and start all over again. By the way, this is exactly the goal of the person whom I and my comrades are actually working for... To start all over again and establish a new world."

~

A/N:

About Travis's remarks about Primrose's skirt which he thought that people would see... you know what I mean... if ever she raised her arms, I was slightly inspired by Jasmine from Aladdin, with the blue top she wore, and the fact I thought we could see her #### when I was a kid. NO, I WON'T SAY THIS WORD !

Anyway, I wish you a nice start of 2020 and see you soon for the next chapter !