Page 46 of Orange Town
Roqs glared a little. I saw Zirc also paused and turned a little towards us. As if listening.
I nodded to Roqs to tell him I understand. He removed his finger.
“Being me,” I corrected. “We feel more emotions from people. I can say I’m an empath but not that strong. I just can feel things. Like a survival instinct when I know or feel like it’s a dangerous situation. So my fight or flight instinct is triggered. I can feel when a person is also bad but then I sometimes judge a person by looks alone. And that is dangerous because people can lie.”
Roqs just nodded and he walked around the shop.
I just realized he did not answer my question if they can communicate through their mind.
“Here,” Roqs said, taking a small dagger on the shelf.
I took the small dagger. It looked simple.
“Careful,” he warned as he showed me how to properly handle the dagger. It is black, simple. A no nonsense dagger. The blade is also almost black. Light from the windows cast it greyish black but it looked sharp as I squinted against it.
“Looks shiny. And black.” What else can I say? Does he expect me to use this on people?
“This is for you. You can use this to cut anything.”
Oh. I remembered. “You mean I should not use the crystal Zirc gave me?”
He sighed. Looking exasperated.
I think I get what he means. I laughed inwardly. I looked at the shelf. A pocket knife would do. This was too big.
“Let’s try this on.” Roqs handed me a small leather sheath for the dagger. Then another leather strap. He tied it around my waist and placed the small dagger on it. Then he arranged my small bag so that it’s hidden. He knew I was right handed so he strategically placed it on my right hip.
“What are you guys doing?” I visibly jumped.
Zirc was behind me. I never heard him approach us. Roqs was not affected. He probably saw him approaching.
“How can you give him yourshurat?,” Roqs said with a slight pain in his voice.
I side stepped a bit so I can look up to both of them. They were too tall up close. I had to strain my neck a bit.
I wonder whatshuratmeant. There was no direct translation.
“Why?”
Roqs grunted and motioned towards me with his palm open. Though I don’t know whatshuratmeans, I kind of know what he is asking from me.
Now I’m shy. If this crystal was too precious, maybe I should not let Zirc see it. Yet, he said I can use it.
Roqs moved his open palm but his eyes were toward Zirc. Zirc looked down at me, frowning.
I sighed deeply. He did give it to me in the first place.
I opened my small bag and took out the battered crystal, the sides ragged to look like a knife. I placed it on Roqs open palm and watched Zirc’s expression. His face is blank.
He looked at Roqs. Roqs simply raised an eyebrow and brought the battered crystal towards Zirc.
They did that mind speaking again. They just looked at each other for some time. I shuffled my feet. Agitated because what will Zirc think of me?
“Brynn used it to cut her food,” Roqs said.
Zirc straightened.
“I -”
