Chapter 8: 008 – Close call

I reach the city gates, Anton’s poofy wagon is here.

I don’t see the man himself though, only his daughter and the ebony woman with the nightmarish sword are around.

“Oh hey, it’s you! I didn’t catch your name last time.” Antonia notices me, she’s doing something in a notebook, “You’re a little early, but we’re still leaving soon! So feel free to hang around.”

“I’m Octavius.” I nod and then go lean on a nearby wall.

My legs are kinda tired.

I’ve just noticed… I put my pants the wrong way.

It feels pretty uncomfy…

Is there anywhere around here that I could quickly put my pants right?

I look around, there’s plenty of merchants around, and the area is pretty open in general, so that’s no good.

There are also a few disciples in the area, but they just seem to be looking around for  something… or someone.

Most likely me.

But that won’t happen, I have these glasses right here!

Not only do they prevent other people from sensing my energy, but I think they’re a good disguise on their own!

These were definitely worth all that money!

“Hey.” 

Geh!

That scared me…

I look at the guy who approached me. 

He's bigger than Septimus, but shorter than the guy dressed in black from a while ago, he’s bald but he has a really thick mustache, he’s also really muscular, and gives off a very manly aura in general.

I’d prefer it if he wore a shirt though.

“The name’s Timotei, we’ll be sharing the caravan.” He extends his hand.

I shake it. “I’m Octavius.” 

“Well met.” He takes a good look at me. “Octavius? That name rings a bell…”

I’m such a fucking idiot, holy shit.

Why the hell did I tell him my name?!

“Wasn’t the young master of the clan here called that?” He scratches his head.

“What about it?” Play it cool, play it cool, play it cool.

He seems to want to say something, but then shakes his head. “It's nothing, I won’t bore you.” He then leaves me alone.

Phew…

It seems he’s not going to snitch me out…

Actually, would he even know the clan is looking for me?

There’s a good chance they haven’t made this whole situation public, they’d lose face if the other clans found out…

Heh!

Just as planned!

I’m so smart.

I look around and hope none of the disciples heard that… 

There’s a guy hurrying this way alongside a lady wearing scraps, I think they may also be part of the caravan.

One of the disciples is looking my way, and we look each other in the eyes.

She’s wearing the clan uniform, though it seems she modified it a little to show some cleavage, her brown hair is tied into a braid, she’s eating some sort of toast.

I actually recognize her, she usually hangs around Novena, I think her name is Nicoleta?

That’s not important!

I walk away fast! 

Maybe I can lose her?

However, the guy that was also heading here just happens to bump into her, and they fall to the ground.

Perfect!

“Hey you!”

Geh!

I look at who yelled at me, and it’s the ebony girl.

“You’re looking very shifty, did you think I wouldn’t notice?” She looks at me as if I was some kind of lowlife and approaches me.

“Is something the issue?” Antonia also comes closer to see what’s going on.

“I think this guy has something shady going on, I don’t like his attitude.” Her glare pierces all the way to my spine, and there’s a slight pressure in the air.

“This is just a misunderstanding.” I can’t let myself get caught when I’m just about to leave.

I don’t have that much time!

“How so?” Antonia doesn’t seem to have a lot of patience.

Ah, fuck, what can I say here?

Should I just run?

No, I’ll alert all the disciples I’m here if I cause a scene.

I have an idea, but I don’t love it…

“I put my pants the wrong way, ok? It’s pretty itchy so I was just going to put them right.” Geh…

My pride…

I have none of it left…

They both look downwards at my pants, and realize that I did, in fact, put them on the wrong way.

The ebony girl gets a little closer and sniffs the air around me. 

Her face lightens up, and instead looks like a cat who’s found something interesting.

Antonia on the other hand just starts laughing hysterically. “HAhaha! Ohh- haha! That’s- Haha! so funny Haha!” She even teared up a little…

“It’s not that funny.” 

My pride!

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I had some of it still left, buried deep inside me, but now it’s dead!

Woe is me.

“Ha- It totally is! Haha! You were- Haha! in such Ahaha! a hurry to get here!” She can’t stop laughing at all… “And then- Haha! You awkwardly leaned into- Haha! a wall, and all this time- HAha!- you were thinking to yourself “Oh man, my pants, they’re the wrong way, I hope no one notices.” Haha!” She tries to imitate my voice.

Ah. 

My pride is dead forever…

…

No sense mourning it!

I’ll simply have to live my life to its fullest! Even without it!

It’s what it would have wanted.

“Sorry- Haha… sorry.” Antonia takes a breath. “I didn’t want to be mean, it’s just so funny… haha…” She takes another deep breath. “Go into the wagon and put them right, I just finished confirming all the inventory anyway.”

I nod, “Thanks.” And I hurry up to the wagon!

 

* * *

 

I take my pants off, and put them the right way.

It was very itchy.

After putting them on, I take a seat inside the wagon, it’s covered, so the disciple shouldn’t be able to see in here from the outside.

I’d be a fool not to kill two birds with one stone.

Honestly, I don’t know if this’ll be enough to hide from them, but it’s certainly my best option!

“do you know where the brown haired guy went? The clan is looking for him.” I hear the voice of the disciple just outside!

Stay very still!

Don’t take even a single breath Octavius!

Pretty much every step of whatever this is has been a failure, but you absolutely can’t fuck this up!

“Brown haired? I think I’ve seen him, is he some sort of thief?” Antonia sounds intrigued.

Oh damn, she’s going to rat me out.

Ok, ok…

What are my options here?

Maybe I could cause a fire with <Flame>?

“Oh no, nothing of the sort, our young master is just being willful. So did you see him?”

No, a single fire wouldn’t be enough…

I’ll try to burn everything I can!

And then, if anyone gets near me, I’ll use <Flame bolt> and have the both of us explode!

“Hmm, what’s his name? and is there a reward?” 

I already got hit by it once, so I know I can take it!

It’ll be enough to create some distance and buy me some time.

Yes, this is not a perfect plan, but it’s my best bet.

“I’ll give you 10 coopers if I catch him.”

Just wait for when she snitches me…

I take a slow, and deep breath as quietly as I can…

“Oh, very well, he went that way.” Antonia casually responds.

What the hell.

“Thanks!” I hear footsteps running away from here…

This woman is an angel.

Forget about my pride!

I almost died from the suspense there!

I…

I like this feeling actually.

Is this masochism?

“Hey you! The coast is clear!” Antonia enters the wagon.

“Thanks…” I feel like I could run at full speed all day, holy hell.

Forget about the caravan, I might just go running to Basil!

“Don’t be so fast, what’s really going on here?” Antonia crouches in front of me, and meets me at my eye level.

“Well, you heard the girl, and I did put my pants the wrong way.” That’s about it really, but I don’t think it’s a satisfying answer. “But yes, I am the young master of the Paprika clan, and-”

“Hold it right there! I’m not looking to get involved in whatever political thing is going on!” Antonia rudely interrupts me.

Political thing?

What the hell?

“I just want to know, we are not going to get targeted by assassins or anything, right?!” She seems very worried.…

Why the hell would I be targeted by assassins?

Maybe if we were on the Walkman expanse, but here in Epice?

“There’s no chance of that happening, in fact, the clan hasn’t made this public, so once we leave Paprika no one should bother us.” 

“I see I see, that’s good!” Antonia nods. “Very well, you’re a paying customer, so I’ll make sure you get to Basil!” She hits her palm with the bottom of her fist.

What was that about not involving yourself?

Where did that go?

I think this lady has some serious misunderstanding of the current situation.

It works for me though.

I nod. “Thank you very much, I’ll be sure to return the favor.”

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