LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 7: Who is She?
Junior and his entourage crossed the city gates, the lively streets welcomed them with their usual bustle. Merchants called out their wares, their voices blending into the general hum of the city.
Wooden carts stood in neat rows along the cobblestone streets, brimming with produce, textiles, and handcrafted trinkets. The warm aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the sharp tang of leather from a nearby tanner's stall, while the clang of a blacksmith's hammer echoed faintly in the distance.
Junior's eyes wandered across the streets with a quiet intensity. The city was alive, full of energy and purpose, but he couldn't ignore the weight pressing on his thoughts. Despite the vibrancy, he couldn't shake the grim image of these same streets crumbling under the chaos of a monster invasion.
His gaze lingered on a group of children laughing as they splashed water from a fountain, their carefree joy only deepening his unease. "This city isn't ready," he thought grimly, clenching his fists briefly before letting them relax.
The knights flanking him walked stiffly, their armor gleaming under the sunlight. Their presence alone drew the attention of the townsfolk, and soon the whispers began to ripple through the crowd.
"Is that the prince?" a merchant murmured to his companion, barely audible over the chatter.
"Why is he here?" another whispered, their tone tinged with unease.
The murmurs grew, and while most people gave the group a wide berth, a few bowed or stepped aside respectfully. Junior's jaw tightened as he caught snippets of the whispers. "What would I expect? They're still scared of me". Shaking his head slightly, he muttered to himself, "Let's not worry about this for now. I'm here to investigate."
Helen, walking beside him with her usual calm, glanced over. "You're drawing attention," she said in a low voice, her tone cautious but firm.
Junior smirked faintly. "What did you expect? The city's scared of me."
Helen raised an eyebrow, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd. While fear was evident in their stares, she noticed a subtle difference. It wasn't just fear; there was curiosity too,an unspoken question about why their prince was here and what he might do.
The group came to a stop in the bustling central square, where a large fountain stood as a striking centerpiece. The knights tightened their formation around Junior, their watchful gazes scanning the crowd. Junior moved toward the fountain, resting his hand on its cool stone edge. He stared into the rippling water, his reflection staring back at him. His thoughts, however, were far away.
"Why are we stopping here?" Helen asked, folding her arms.
"I need to get a feel for the city," Junior replied, his tone distant. "I need to see how people live, what they're doing, how they act. This place is a lot more than just buildings and streets."
Helen studied him for a moment, surprised by his insight. "And what do you hope to find?"
"Answers," Junior said simply, his gaze lifting to the horizon. "And maybe... something I don't even know I'm looking for yet."
Before Helen could question him further, a commotion erupted nearby. A hooded figure darted out from an alley, clutching a loaf of bread tightly to her chest. Behind her, a burly shopkeeper stormed out, his face red with anger as he shouted.
"Thief! Stop that girl!" his voice bellowed across the square, silencing the bustling chatter.
Junior turned his head, his sharp eyes following the girl as she weaved through the crowd with surprising agility. The shopkeeper trailed far behind, his bulk making it impossible to keep up.
"There are still people struggling to survive in this world," Junior thought, his gaze narrowing. "But stealing... no matter the reason, it's still wrong." Without a word, he moved toward the direction she was fleeing.
"Junior, wait!" Helen called out, but he stopped abruptly and turned to the two knights beside him.
"Catch her," he ordered, pointing in the girl's direction.
"Understood, sir," the knights replied in unison. In an instant, they disappeared in a blur, their speed leaving a breeze in their wake.
Junior blinked in surprise. "They're using magic... impressive." Without wasting a moment, he took off in pursuit, his legs pumping hard against the ground as he kept his eyes locked on the fleeing figures with Helen right behind him.
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The hooded girl glanced back, relieved to see the shopkeeper had fallen far behind. She slowed her pace slightly to catch her breath, but a strange shift in the wind caught her attention. Turning her head, her eyes widened in fear as she saw two knights closing in on her with impossible speed.
Panic surged through her, and she tried to pick up her pace again. But her earlier hesitation had cost her momentum. Her foot caught on a loose stone, and she fell hard to the ground, scraping her palms as the loaf of bread tumbled from her grasp.
Before she could scramble to her feet, the knights had her pinned. She struggled against their grip, her voice rising in desperation. "Let me go! Let me go!"
"Sorry, young lady, but we were ordered to catch you by Prince Junior," one of the knights said firmly.
The mention of Junior's name made her freeze. Her struggles turned to panicked sobs. "Prince Junior? No... please, no! I don't want to die!"
"That's harsh," Junior said as he approached, slightly out of breath from his brisk walk. Helen was right beside him, her expression unreadable as she observed the scene.
Hearing Junior's voice made the girl's fear spike. She let out a sharp shriek and fainted on the spot.
Junior stopped in his tracks, staring down at her in disbelief. "Huh... did she just faint?" he asked, his tone a mix of confusion and amusement as he looked at Helen.
Helen crossed her arms, glancing at the unconscious girl. "It seems your reputation precedes you."