The Man with Odd Glasses

The little girl gets up early in the morning to see the red head still asleep. She tries closing her eyes but she is already wide awake. Getting up from bed, she changes clothes in the bathroom. She combs her hair just as the red head told her to since it tends to get really messy and in the way. Putting aside the comb, she puts on her shoes then walks outside the door after having left a note to tell him she has taken a walk.

It would seem strange that she can just go outside like that but he never really did forbid her anything yet.

Outside, people are setting up their stalls. Only those working are awake. The rest of the people will be out later on.

Money is something everyone has to work really hard for in that village since it had been affected by the war despite not being part of it. The reason they're here is because of that, to record the events in the war from neutral ground.

"Hello there, little girl. What are you doing alone and up so early in the morning?" says a voice that sounds familiar.

She turns around in surprise too see the man wearing odd glasses. It is getting irritating to look at. How she'd want to throw it away.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Mr. Mikk," she replies politely but a bit uneasy since there could be problems if he finds out her different personas. The dangerous aura around him is still there which makes things worse. She is hoping he won't affect their work and her training.

"I expected you," he says with a knowing smile. "and your red head companion."

"You know him? How and why?" she asks curiously with the shocked expression hidden calmly.

"I knew him by a different name in the past and quite a different character he was," he grins.

"Are you part of the clan?" How else could he know about them?

"I'm part of a different clan," he replies. "Why don't we take a seat? You will probably like to talk about a lot of things."

"Sure," she agrees reluctantly as the red head did tell her like a parent would 'to not talk to strangers.'

The Portuguese man finds a bench. He offers her a seat like a gentleman would to a lady which she finds contrasting with the way he looks. She sits and he beside her.

"You don't have your umbrella today?" he casually asks.

"It is not that hot compared to the previous town," she replies like a child would then her tone suddenly changes to a serious one that is focused. "Will you kindly not stray from the real topic? If you would not tell me then say so. I have to return."

Her mismatched eyes hold seriousness in them as her tone is turning into but it blends to indifference as she retains her composure.

He chuckles at her reply.

"I was only asking since the umbrella just reminded me of my niece. She is just a few years older than you but more childish. You are too serious for a little girl just as an apprentice of Bookman should be. You are his, aren't you?"

"I... how do you know things if you're not part of the clan? Other people shouldn't know that much."

"I have my ways. I did meet him back then and his predecessor used to be on our side of the war. I heard pretty much a lot of things about your kind."

"Which war? Which clan are you from? I've never heard such a thing. Should I even trust you? You look like a hobo as they call it but there was a time you were like a noble. Which one are you?" she asks retaining a calm tone yet curious.

"I can tell you secrets that you're not supposed to know yet but are you sure you'd want to know?" he says while grinning. "There will be a price to pay."

"And that would be?" she asks curiously while eying him.

He gives another short laugh close to a chuckle then grins a wide grin that would have scared people but she didn't waver.

"They call our side, the 'bad one'. You sure you want to make the deal, little girl? I don't wish to use your name since it isn't real. The price is very deadly."

"It would depend what type of price there is and I have no care what side you are on. I choose no side for a Bookman should not. Your knowledge is the only thing that interests me," says the little girl with pride.

He gives another short laugh before making the deal.

"Well, first of all, we have an agreement that this meeting will be a secret between us. I doubt you would want to tell the red head though," says Tyki while giving a devilish smile.

"You are wrong there though, I wouldn't have minded him knowing about you. I will not tell as long as you keep your word."

"Is that so? Secondly, you have to tell me stories of your journey. We'll be trading information."

"I'm not allowed to tell you secrets."

"It doesn't have to be a secret. Any tale from a little girl such as you can interest me."

"Fine. And then?"

"We'll meet always again and you have to entertain me. I am getting bored lately and the way you speak interests me. You are even interesting enough as his apprentice. Your kind is thought boring but even black and white can be very entertaining. Your black absorbs all the color and your white reflects it nicely."

"I'm not the only one who is black and white, you seem to be one as well but in a different way. You have two sides to yourself. I can tell the difference."

"You are correct in saying that. I have two sides to myself, black and white. My black overpowers the other though," he smiles darkly.

"The white is fighting still," she plays along while reverting back to her persona.

"Now, I heard your kind at times takes different names, what shall I call you?"

"It's Ayil this time. You can just call me little girl just as Bookman does."

"He does not call you by the name he gives you?"

"He doesn't," she says as if that is all there is with no other explanations.

"Your hair is quite messy as I've first met you. When you were Xyleena, it was tied up."

"I tried combing it but it's still a mess. Bookman was still asleep when I left to look around. He usually ties my hair. Yesterday, he braided it."

"Sit still then," he says while getting up. "Why don't I braid it for you?"

"You know how?" she looks at him curiously.

"I learned since long ago but I think I still remember. My niece's hair is short but I used to have a neighbor, aged similar to you. She was like a little sister that would make me do her hair when it gets messy," he says while holding the hair and parting it.

"Where do you live?" she asks with curious eyes as she faces him for a short while. She can take guess at his ethnicity but it doesn't mean that it is the same place where he lives.

His hand turns her head facing him towards the streets so he can braid her hair nicely. She complies while hearing his answer.

"No where."

"Just like us."


The little girl walks back to the inn and into the room where Bookman is already doing work.

"How was your walk around town?" he asks not stopping with whatever he is writing.

"The people in this town work diligently since money is very important. They are not that lively though openly but among rumors, there are quite a lot. Some people really couldn't stop to stare," she says plainly while taking a seat opposite him.

"Made any friends?" he asks playfully after the serious tone from awhile ago.

"When will you stop saying that? You know the answer," she says slightly irritated but didn't show it.

"Who braided your hair then? I know I was still asleep."

"There was an old lady who couldn't take seeing my hair this messy and offered to do it," she says while taking a piece of paper then ink.

"What did you do in return?" he asks still not facing her.

"I thanked her," she says plainly and didn't try to say anything else.

"Then left?" he asks.

"Then left."


Ezekeel: ^_^ I hope you enjoyed it. Please do tell me your opinions about it so I'd know how it was. Reviews and constructive criticism are very much appreciated. Thanks if you did. Thanks for reading. It's a bit slow in pacing but nothing will really much happen yet since it actually focuses more on thoughts, conversations and interactions among the characters. I hope you still like it though. The genre is adventure but it's more like an adventure inside their heads and the fact that they will be traveling from place to place. :)

To: ThorongilAnime - Thank you for reviewing :) This is long from over so I will still think about it if I should write more. I actually have other writings that I do and school is nearing. I'll be getting busy around June onwards. I'll still try to update as fast as I can but it will get harder. Let's see how it will turn out :) Yes, I have read 07-Ghost.

To: Monkey Girl 13264 - Thank you for reviewing. :) I'm glad you think of it that way. Hope you like this one.


Friday, May 11, 2012

Edited: Saturday, June 15, 2013