Chapter 1: Intentional Meeting

Strolling along with her long black hair tied back from her face, her eyes darted around the marketplace searching for something to satisfy her rumbling stomach. She spotted a store selling varieties of fish and shellfish. She hadn't had seafood for a while. Another had colorful fruits, some she'd never seen before. Fruits were always her favorite on the food pyramid. A meat shop almost made her stop and stare. The inside-out bunnies hanging from hooks on the display window nearly made her gag... or, at least she thought they were bunnies.

At the moment, she hungered for something sweet. A fruit, she decided while heading towards the colorful fruit rack.

The raccoon scurried ahead of her and pounced onto the fruit rack. It clamped its teeth into an orange, then bounded past her as she arrived. The store owner did not even notice. He had his head resting on his arm, his eyelids only opened halfway at the most.

Her icy blue eyes followed one fruit after another, the rainbow of colors almost blinding her under the sun of that beautiful spring morning.

She reached for a green pear, but it took her a moment to realize that someone else had beaten her to it. Her eyes drifted up slowly, her hand still claiming the pear.

"That pear looks the most delicious, doesn't it?" a male voice said. Her eyes met up with his caramel-brown eyes, glinting in the sun. "But you can have it, I fancy mangos more." he moved his hand and picked up a ripe mango.

She stared at him blankly for a moment as he got the attention of the store owner.

"I'll take three mangos and three pears... oh, and an orange." he bagged the mangos in one bag and the pears in another. He didn't pick up an orange.

He handed her the bag of pears. She hesitated, but took it anyways, just because she was low on money. On her last mission, the old man kept his money locked up.

"Thank you." she gave a half-assed bow.

"Traveling?" he asked.

She nodded, a bit uncomfortably.

"Ah, I just arrived yesterday." he brushed his blonde hair from his eyes and held out a hand. "My name's Ezylana... or Ezyl for short."

"Angie." she smiled, or more so smirked, politely. "What're you doing in town?"

"Just passing by." he replied. "And yourself?"

"Business."

"Oh really?" he seemed so interested. Angie wasn't sure if he was actually some idiot or trying to pick her up. "If you don't mind me asking, what kind of business?"

"I do mind." her face shifted into a complete smirk. She thought by then he'd give up and go away, seeing how most guys would when they see a girl make that face. But to her hidden surprise, he just smiled.

"Your business, right." he looked around. "Pretty day, don't you think? It's perfect for... a walk? How about it?"

Angie arched and eyebrow. "Why not." she shrugged, just to see what this guy was up to. "Where to?"

"How about just around town? It's not a big town, so unfortunately, no park."

"Sure." she said, backing away from the rack, but waiting for him. A strange look swept across his face as he walked towards her.

Walking side to side, it was silent for a moment.

"So, where're you passing by to?" Angie asked.

"Libraries." Ezyl replied. "I'm looking for alchemy books."

"...Alchemy?" she tried to hide the grimacing look under her fake interested face. "...What's so great about it?"

"Nothing really." he shrugged. "I think it's a terrible thing."

"Really?" she almost interrupted him, and quickly shook off the sudden surprise.

"Yeah, why?"

"I feel the same way." Angie gave a friendly look. "I mean... I know half of alchemy is used for good, but there's still the evil part, right?"

"True."

"But... why are you looking for them if you think it's bad?" Ezyl chuckled at her puzzled look.

"To tell you the truth..." he stopped, glanced around cautiously, and leaned close. "I steal them to burn. I try to get rid of them"

Angie stared blankly at the thought.

"I do the same thing." she smiled.

"No kidding?"

"I'm serious." she laughed under her breath a little. "This is strange... My name is Evangeline, or Eva, actually. I don't give real names at first. It's been hard around... sneaking around burning books."

"Tell me about it. I tend to keep a low profile." he grinned. "So where're you staying? Green's Inn?"

"Yeah." she nodded. "Speaking of which... I need to drop things off and do a bit of stuff."

"Mind if I come along? My room's on the second floor."

"No, not at all." a grin stretched across both of their faces.

The inn wasn't very far, considering it was a small town. Their rooms were both on the second floor, two rooms away.

End