12 Flea Market

The sun was yet to rise, the morning was still a misty dawn.

The guard's head fell on his chest. He was unlucky with his schedule this week; he was assigned on night duty for five days straight. Then on the sixth day, today, he was assigned on the morning shift. He had no proper rest yet, so his eyes involuntarily closed as he stood guarding the palace gate. After a minute or so, the serene morning was disturbed by his loud snore, proving that to sleep while standing was possible after all. His grip slowly loosened on his spear as his body relaxed and tilted to the side.

Alyssa and Kiva was hiding at a distance, eyeing the dozing guard at the entrance. Alyssa's features were hidden in a black hood. Her face was covered in the shadows so no one would recognize her as she attempts to go through the gates.

"Lucky us," Kiva whispered. "easy peasy escape."

Kiva was not wearing a hood. She had no need to hide. She could walk straight to the gate and go into town in her own volition, she won't be questioned. But the Princess had stricter rules to follow--- as Alyssa is underage and not yet technically cured, it was not safe for her to go around town.

They hid in a corner, trying to be as quiet as possible. But Kiva, with her adrenaline, scraped her feet on the asphalt--- loud. They looked at each other nervously.

The guard jerked awake as he heard a scuff in the dark. His suddenly alert eyes hovered within the vicinity.

Alyssa and Kiva flattened themselves on the wall.

"Show yourselves!" The guard bellowed with his raspy voice.

He grabbed his spear tight as he walked.

Alyssa closed her eyes and grabbed Kiva's hand in nervousness.

But the guard pivoted the opposite direction as he walked towards the bush. "Ah!" The guard jumped from shock as Cici--- Zenalda's Maltese dog--- emerged from the shadows with a bone between her teeth. "Aren't you a little too early for a hunt?" Cici exposed her belly, awaiting to be touched. He obliged and patted the dog.

While the guard was occupied on the opposite side, Kiva dragged Alyssa and sprinted to the gate towards the Kingdom's capital--- Sintopris.

Alyssa and Kiva giggled. They ran a few blocks away from the palace then slowed to a stroll on the street.

The sun was rising in the sky as it caressed both of their faces. Morning was good to Kiva; it was the time of the day where she is the most beautiful. Sunlight made the freckles on Kiva's cheeks more palpable. Her golden eyes and her shoulder length ginger hair made her look like the epitome of summer.

On the horizon were silhouettes of abandoned skyscrapers--- remains of the time before. And what separated the Kingdom from the forsaken old cities was the ten feet tall wall. The wall surrounded the Kingdom around like a barrier. The height of the wall was enough to protect them from the savages beyond. They were not imprisoned by this wall, rather they were protected by it--- as what Queen Kathy would say to those claustrophobic citizens.

This is the paradise Queen Kathy built, a paradise where eternity is promised to those who are fortunate.

The townspeople were just starting their day, some were preparing for their store to open, some were walking towards their workplace.

The road was narrow, just enough to fit a car. But cars rarely crossed the road, they were rare. Cars are oftentimes considered as junk; it had no use if there was no fuel to run it. A few bikes can be seen but the most common transportation was to walk.

"Is the flea market open? Maybe we're a bit too early." Alyssa removed her hood.

"Nah, the good ones are already open."

"If you say so, but what kind of battery do we need anyway?"

"Umh," Kiva rummaged through her pockets and produced an old battery. "This!" She showed it to Alyssa.

Alyssa took the battery from Kiva. "What's wrong with this one?"

"Dead, probably."

Alyssa returned the battery and Kiva tucked it into her pocket.

They walked for about fifteen minutes or so before they reached the flea market.

It was a chain of stores. The either side of the road was filled with makeshift tents that ran until the end of the road, it was as far as the eyes can see. The vendors were busy preparing to exhibit their goods on their table. Alyssa and Kiva could find anything they could ever need in here, and maybe more. But rare products are hidden from the view, some vendors had hidden compartments below their tables and if you say the right words, they would show it to you.

Alyssa was carrying a heavy purse in her pocket, ready to be spent.

"Stay close, we don't want to be mugged." Kiva warned in a low voice.

"As if, who would dare."

The sun was rising on the horizon and people were starting to swarm the road, hoping for a good bargain. A young man bumped into Alyssa's shoulders. But the young man did not stop on his tracks to apologize, he just went on his way. Alyssa was not recognized by the crowd; she rarely went out of the palace. And that was why Alyssa liked to sneak out of the palace from time to time. For a moment in here, she was not a princess, she was just an ordinary citizen among the sea of people. She was invisible and there was no mocking look from the crowd addressed in her way. People are busy with their own lives; people had no time for useless gossips. Alyssa liked that.

Alyssa window shopped with a light heart.

One middle-aged lady was selling wooden goods--- wooden utensils like spoon and fork, wooden artworks for the wall, and even wooden combs. Kiva sauntered her way on the tent, Alyssa followed. Kiva grabbed a pair of combs and studied them. Alyssa took a comb and surveyed it too.

"Made of pure sandalwood, strong and aromatic." The vendor endorsed her product.

Alyssa caught a whiff of the comb and confirmed that it did smell good.

"Should we buy each?" Kiva was already picking from the array of combs.

"Well…. yes," Alyssa nodded and eyed each of the combs with fresh eyes.

They spent some time in picking the right combs until they decided to settle with a pair of combs with hilts that were painted with intricate golden flowers.

"How much for these?" Kiva asked the vendor.

"Fifteen Rigs for two."

"We'll get it." Alyssa grabbed her purse and paid for the combs.

The vendor wrapped it nicely on a paper for them.

"Thank you." Alyssa smiled at the vendor.

They walked for an hour as each gradually managed to carry a bag of goods. But neither had the battery they came for--- they got derailed from their purpose but they cannot be blamed. In their defense, each tent they visited had an allure like a temptress, they had no other choice but to take a look.

"Sweet floss for a treat! Sweet floss!" A vendor announced.

Even in the morning, children piled on a straight line to buy the famous candy.

Alyssa heard the vendor's call.

"What is that?" Alyssa pointed at the line.

"Ah, that! Some kind of candy." Kiva squinted at the distance.

Alyssa pressed her lips and gulped.

Kiva noticed it. "Let's go! Let's fall in line too!" Kiva grabbed Alyssa's free hand and led her at the back of the line.

Alyssa peeked in front with curiosity, she saw the vendor giving a fluffy pink cotton on a stick to a kid. She never had one before. Alyssa pressed her lips to keep her from drooling.

The line moved fast, and the vendor was ready to serve Alyssa.

"Bubblegum or strawberry?" The vendor asked.

Alyssa's brow furrowed with the option in front of her.

"We'll get each of both." Kiva chimed in, she smiled at Alyssa.

"That's four Rigs."

Alyssa grabbed her purse and paid the vendor.

Kiva and Alyssa took a stick each.

"So…. which will you eat first?" Kiva smirked.

"Hmmmm," Alyssa pondered. "this." Alyssa hovered her bubble gum puff.

Alyssa ate it fast and she took the strawberry puff from Kiva as they took a stroll on the road. Both tasted sinful--- Alyssa wondered if this what clouds would taste like.

"Now," Kiva rubbed both her fingers. "let's look for the real deal."

"Yeah, before we get dragged to the palace." Someone must have noticed it by now that I was missing, Alyssa thought.

"So, about that marriage proposal." Kiva brought up a topic that was bothering her.

"Yes, about that…" Alyssa scratched on her temple. "I had no choice. I named Ziloh to protect my honor. I don't want to get married Kiv."

"Oh…" Kiva finally understood. "Is that what it's all about? The acting game with my brother?"

"Er…yes, kind of. But he doesn't know it yet, that he had an upcoming battle with Sisa's nephew."

Kiva shook her hand. "Oh, don't mind him. He can handle it." Kiva suppressed a laugh.

They sauntered on one of the tents that were selling various old and forgotten technologies of the time before--- from electric cigarettes to electric pot boilers he had it.

"Can I help you ladies?" The man in the store inquired.

"We were just wondering if you can help us with his?" Kiva produced the battery from her pocket and gave it to the vendor." We need two of those."

The vendor twirled it on his hand as he surveyed the item. "This is rare, double A." The vendor returned the battery to Kiva. "I can guarantee that even if you visit all the stores here, you won't find one like that. I would suggest hiring a scavenge hunter. If you have Rigs to spare that is."

"Nah, we will find one," Kiva assured Alyssa.

"Thank you." Alyssa said as they walked away from the tent.

"I mean, look at all of these stores!" Kiva circled around in the middle of the road.

"You're probably right." Alyssa backed away before she could be propelled by Kiva's outstretched hands.

That's when a man bumped into her shoulders so hard that Alyssa was forced to take another step back.

"Hey!" Kiva stopped spinning.

"Watch where you're going, girl." The man argued, he was standing too close to Alyssa.

"I don't think it was my fault. "Alyssa argued back.

"You are on the way." The man loomed in front of Alyssa, not giving her space.

"As this is a free road, anyone can walk here." Alysa's voice was rising, a few of the crowd glanced their way.

The man was trying to pick up a fight with a young woman. It was a normal scenario in this area.

While Alyssa and Kiva was occupied with the looming man, a young girl on pigtail sneaked her way into the scene. The young girl slowly dug her hands in Alyssa's pocket where the purse was. Alyssa would have noticed the touch had she not been pre-occupied.

But Alyssa only felt the emptiness on her pocket when the young girl suddenly tugged out her purse. They were professional pickpockets. The man, who was in the middle of their argument, ran in sync with the young girl. But the girl ran in the opposite direction.

Kiva looked back and forth at the running figure and Alyssa . "You got mugged!" Kiva shouted. "We got mugged!" Kiva announced.

Alyssa and Kiva did not notice the young girl at all, so they ran to pursue the man.

"Isn't that Duchess Kiva?" The crowd murmured. "Another victim?" A woman in the crowd said.

Luppy was eating his apple on the side when he saw the girl's hand crawl its way into the young woman's pocket. But Luppy did not say anything, he just observed the scene and waited. The young girl succeeded and pulled a bulging purse out of the young woman's pocket.

Confirming Luppy's suspicion, he threw his half-eaten apple and chased after the girl.

Luppy knew this road well, it was his second home after all. He ran with a smile on his face, he was confident that he could catch the girl--- outrun her even.

And he did.

Luppy, a blonde twelve-year-old boy, was standing in front of the young girl.

"Yna, give it to me." Luppy reached out her hand for the purse.

"No," The young girl hugged the bulging purse.

"You know the rule." Luppy walked a step closer to the girl.

The girl, dejected, hesitantly gave the purse to Luppy.

"Go." Luppy ordered as he tossed the purse in the air.

The girl ran as told.

Luppy surveyed the street before he walked into an enclosed area. He opened the purse and emptied it on the floor, he counted the coins one by one. It was one hundred and fifty-six Rigs to be exact--- his suspicion was right, they are rich. He returned the coins in the purse and walked back to where he came from.

He was looking for a pair of raven and ginger hair. And it was not hard for him to find them--- a crowd formed around the two young women. The one with the long black hair was hunched and out of breath.

"Duchess Kiva, is your servant okay?" One of the crowds asked.

"Some beast took her purse!" Kiva announced.

"It happens every day in here, "One woman informed. "those poor souls who had no jobs succumb to stealing."

"Well, he was unlucky that we are his victim today!" Kiva stomped on her feet. "He'll pay for this."

But Alyssa held Kiva's arms and shook her head.

Kiva exhaled--- a reaction out of habit. "You know what, never mind. He probably needed the money anyway."

"You're gracious, Duchess!" A woman in the crowd said.

"Bless you, Duchess Kiva." A man in the crowd added .

Luppy decided to enter the scene.

"Is this yours?" Luppy tossed the purse in the air.

"Yes!" Alyssa's eyes widened. "How did you get this?"

"Followed the man," Luppy touched his nose. "Then he threw it on the road. He noticed me following him."

"Oh, thank you…" Alyssa's head tilted to the side.

"Luppy, my name's Luppy." Luppy returned the purse to Alyssa.

The crowd rejoiced and dispersed as the problem was already solved.

But Luppy stood on his ground.

Alyssa and Kiva then proceeded to visit each tent, still searching for the battery. But the vendors just repeated what the first vendor they inquired to said, they will not find this kind of battery on the flea market. But they were determined to look for it until the end of the road--- or until somebody from the palace would show up.

Alyssa did not notice that Luppy was loitering behind them, but Kiva did.

Kiva nudged Alyssa to the side and gestured to the boy behind them. "His waiting for his reward." Kiva whispered.

"Lipy is it?" Kiva beckoned the kid closer.

"Nooo," Alyssa laughed. "Luppy... it was Luppy. Right?"

"Yep, Luppy." Luppy walked closer towards them.

"Thank you for your service." Alyssa handed thirty Rigs to Luppy.

Luppy took it without hesitation and kept it into his pocket.

Actually, Luppy was observing these two for a while now, it was obvious from their colorful clothes that they are not from this area. He had suspicion when he noticed the ashy complexion of one of them that they were from the palace. And he was right, one of them turned out to be a royal zombie, the best kind to milk money from.

Thinking that it was the perfect time, Luppy asked the thing he had been intending to for a while now. "Are you looking for double A batteries?"

"Yes, why?" Kiva placed her hands on her hips.

"I can get it for you." Luppy tapped his nose.

"Where?" Alyssa asked curiously. "How?"

"My brother's a scavenge hunter, he can find it for you." Luppy said with his chest out.

"What do you think." Kiva whispered to Alyssa's ear.

"Take it. Besides, we never hired a scavenge hunter before..."Alyssa lowered her voice. "Maybe we can use their services the next time we look for something."

"Okaaaaay," Kiva nodded. "then how much would it cost?" Kiva addressed the kid.

"You need two, so…" Luppy pretended to count his fingers to calculate. "Three hundred Rigs."

"That's absurd!" Kiva protested.

"A fair price for risking your life beyond the walls, Duchess."

Kiva and Alyssa eyed each other in understanding.

"Okay, but we only have around a hundred Rigs in here." Alyssa fished her purse.

"Don't worry, you can give the rest once I give you the goods."

"Can we even trust you?" Kiva tipped her weight to the side.

Alyssa began to count her money.

"I returned your purse. I earn my money by doing decent jobs." Luppy pounded on his chest." You can trust me, Duchess."

Alyssa needed no other explanation; she gave a hundred Rigs to Luppy.

"Thank you, meet me here after three days and you'll get your goods."

And that is how Luppy made a deal. Instead of earning just a hundred and fifty-six Rigs, he earned a total of three hundred and thirty Rigs. He also took a mental note to give a fair share to the young girl earlier for helping him have their trust.

Now, he would just need his brother's help.

Done with their purpose, Alyssa and Kiva decided to go back to the palace.

Alyssa went home with a very light purse.