Free Web NovelChapter 81: Chapter 81: Another shopping
Percy’s eyes opened to white.
He walked forward until the invisible boundary stopped him, then turned and looked out into the distance where the tall figure stood.
It stepped forward once. fгeewebnovёl.com
Percy counted without needing to think about it.
"Four. Four steps."
He traced the rough distance between himself and the figure. "Sixty steps, give or take. Maybe less."
"Around two months, if I stay consistent with the Oath."
He didn’t think consistency would be a problem. Craig’s Oath had sounded genuinely difficult , with things like new and meaningful purposes every single day, no repetition and so on. His own by comparison was manageable. Straightforward even.
"But how do I shorten it?" The thought surfaced. "The Oath is easy enough but two months is still two months. There has to be a way to move faster." As he thought of this , Percy felt like he was an ungrateful person for even though he had it easy.
---
His eyes opened to a familiar ceiling. sat up and waited.
No knock at the door , or Dana called for him
He reached for the pocket watch and read the engraving first.
"I’m Ronan."
Then checked the time. 5:40. "Still Early."
He stood and moved to the mirror, letting his outline go hazy. He held Dana’s face in his mind as clearly as he could and looked at his reflection.
Nothing changed.
"Doesn’t seem to work that way."
He opened his mouth and kept his voice low.
"Good morning, brother."
Dana’s voice came out instead of his own.
He let it go and returned to normal.
"I can feel something drains a little each time I use it," he noticed
"Life force, probably. So that’s what it feels like."
He looked at himself in the mirror a moment longer.
"I always wondered about that, reading those fantasy stories. How it would actually feel to have something taken from you each time you used up mana for magic."
He hadn’t expected it to feel quite so ordinary, like pissing.
------
"Oh? Where are you two off to again?"
Percy turned. Mrs. Callyst stood at her doorstep, already smiling.
"Good morning, Mrs. Callyst," Percy said.
"Good morning, Mrs. Callyst," Dana followed.
"Good morning to you both." Her smile shifted into something a little more mischievous. "So then , where is this brother and sister pair off to so early?"
"Shopping," Percy answered.
Mrs. Callyst’s smile widened. "Shopping? Didn’t you two just go not long ago? Going again so soon?" She brought a hand to her cheek, expression shifting into theatrical concern. "Is Dana trying to drain our Percy of his wealth? Was Dana actually a bad girl all along?"
She gasped.
"W-What?!" Dana spun toward her, face immediately alarmed.
Percy let out a light chuckle. "Mrs. Callyst, you play too much for your age."
Dana looked rapidly between the two of them as they both laughed, her expression cycling through confusion and indignation before settling firmly on the latter. She turned away with a pout and walked ahead, muttering under her breath.
"That is so low."
Percy excused himself from Mrs. Callyst and went after her. Mrs. Callyst waved him off without attempting to hold him up.
"Go on, go on. Catch up with her."
------
They arrived at the nearby market twelve minutes later.
Dana read the sign above the entrance. "Neighbour Market." She turned to Percy. "Why have we been going all the way to Marco Street when something this close existed the whole time?"
Percy shrugged. "This place is good too, but most of the sellers here are individual farmers or small suppliers. Less variety than the Marco Street market."
"I see."
Something caught Dana’s attention. She squinted toward one of the stalls.
Percy noticed and followed her gaze. "A flower shop?"
He tilted his hat down slightly and let his eyes go hazy, the Oath settling over his vision.
"All flowers, as far as I can tell." He studied the stall a moment longer. "Does she like those? Doesn’t look expensive." He thought of his house , with bare walls, empty shelves. "I could let her plant some. Give her something to do with the space."
"Would you like to..."
"Look," Dana said, cutting him off quietly. She pointed. "I think that’s Sister."
"What?" Percy looked again, letting the Oath sharpen his sight, tracing the seller carefully from head to foot.
"That’s really Beatrix."
He let his eyes return to normal and found Dana already watching him.
"Ohh shitt! Did she see my eyes?"
Dana frowned slightly. "Is something wrong with your eyes?"
Percy redirected immediately. "Do you want to go say hello?"
Dana looked at him, then back toward Beatrix, her expression softening.
"But brother.."
"It’s fine, Dana. We’re not on bad terms." He paused. "And I know how much you’ve missed her."
Dana smiled quietly. "Okay. Let’s go say hi."
Here’s the polished version:
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"Hum hum, bum bum."
She sprinkled water across a row of lilies, humming quietly to herself, a small satisfied smile crossing her face as she checked each bloom.
"Sister."
She recognised the voice before she turned.
Dana was already coming toward her at a pace that was almost a jog. Beatrix smiled and stepped forward, opening her arms, and they met in the middle , Dana hitting her at full force.
A few steps behind, Percy came to a stop.
A few seconds of intense hugging later Beatrix let go of Dana and, in the same motion, opened her arms toward Percy with a smile.
Percy stood completely still.
Beatrix held the position for approximately one second before realizing what she had done.
She dropped her arms and straightened immediately.
"Ahem." She turned to Dana, composure fully reinstated. "Dana. How are you? Is there anything you’re missing? Are you eating properly?"
She cupped Dana’s face in both hands and looked her over with careful attention.
Dana shook her head. "No, I’m very well, Sister, look." She twirled a turn.
"Oh really?"
Beatrix looked Dana over once more, properly this time. She noticed that the dress was new ,and was definitely not cheap, judging by the cut and fabric. She shifted her gaze briefly to Percy’s suit.
Also not cheap.
"So Percy is spoiling you already." She squeezed Dana’s cheek.
Dana giggled and nodded without a trace of shame.
Percy watched this with a deadpan expression.
"She’s okay acting like a complete child in front of Beatrix. Completely upright and happy about it. Meanwhile she wants to act like a lady around me?"
He looked between the two of them.
"Did I just lose a battle?"
