I saw an odd looking man today.
I had just finished a run in Osiris’s dungeon. My other party members were busy restocking on potions and repairing their equipment so I was standing near the dungeon’s entrance when I noticed him. He was about my height, perhaps slightly taller than me by a few centimeters. There was nothing bizarre about his face nor his physique. In fact, he seems like any other person here. The only odd thing about him was his choice of clothing. He was wearing a weird bathrobe like costume with a wig. I believed it was called a kimono.
Seems like an odd choice of clothing to wear in a desert.
I thought as I glance towards the hot Morroc sun, shading my eyes with my hand.
He was a good 20 feet away from me but I could hear him loud and clear from where I stood. “Looking for a party for Osiris dungeon run!” he shouted. In his hand, he seems to be holding a tall wand of some sort.
A wizard? Perhaps a sorcerer.
Who knows. Nothing was really out of the ordinary with what he was shouting about either. The dungeon’s entrance is a hot spot for people to come and gather to find other people to party together to explore the Osiris dungeon. Even now, I could hear other people frantically shouting around looking for members and parties that suit their need all around me.
After a couple of minute, a warrior approached him and they started chatting. Then, several other people came towards them and they all happily talked among each other.
Oh, he must’ve found a party. I thought.
Losing interest, I turned on my heels and headed towards the dungeon.
I’ll just wait for my other party members inside. It’s too hot out here.
And with that, I re-entered the dungeon.
* * * *
I saw him again today.
This time, it was in Dayr Desert. He seems to be occupied with killing scorpions today. At first, he’ll fire an Electric Bolt on one of the scorpions and ran as fast as he could to somewhere safe. Then, he’ll find another scorpion and do the same thing again. When he finally has 4 or 5 mobs chasing after him, he stops and summons a Meteor Shower on them.
So he’s a wizard. I thought to myself.
Afterwards, he collect the items dropped by the mobs and repeats the same process again. From time to time though, he stops and ran towards a safe spot and rests for a couple of minute before repeating the process all over again.
“Rose! Rose! What are you doing?”
Snapping back into attention, I turned towards the voice calling out to me. “Observing.” I replied. The noel standing in front of me frowned. A scythe in hand, she raised it high and slammed it onto the ground casting a wide range attack around the area where we stood. “Land of Darkness!” she shouted. Around us, a knight and an assassin was busy running around luring condors towards themselves. When they feel that they have sufficient amount of mobs chasing after them, they both ran towards the noel and me for attacking and healing purposes.
“Well… okay.” She replied, a confused expression on her face. “But pay more attention! I nearly died twice just now. You’re the only healer in this party so you’ve got to be alert.” she complained; all the while slashing towards any mob heading our way and killing them.
“You’re right. Sorry Marinyan.”
I smiled and reached out my hand to pat her small head. Noels are so adorable. I thought to myself. Even when she’s being grumpy and killing things, she still manage to be so lovable. I wish I could be a noel in my next life. Being so cute and small. Imagine all the stuff I could get away with. Like starting fights and then blame it on the other person. Taking a peek into woman’s (assuming I’m a male noel) changing room and pretending to have been lost or just plain vandalizing the streets of Alberta with graffitis and claiming not knowing any better.
“Rose...”
I bet the police officers wouldn’t even believe someone as adorable as (noel self) me would even think about breaking the laws. I could start my own gang and recruit other adorable noels and together we will rule all of this world. We would be invisible!
“Rose! Heal me!!”
Marinyan’s shout snapped me back to reality. Surrounding me, I saw the knight and assassin was already beside me and Marinyan; who was surrounded by condors and frantically swishing her scythe around.
Right. Focus Rose. Focus!
Raising my hand in the air, I chanted for Santuary while closing my eyes. The land surrounding us shined in bright lights and my party members were healed.
* * * *
I saw him in the market today.
Pushing his cart near an empty space, he parked it and pulled off the wrap that was covering the insides of his cart, exposing it to the public to see. Insides were little trinkets and other odd stuff people can find dropped by Osiris dungeon and Dayr desert mobs. After rearranging some things to make it look more presentable, he stood, facing the crowds swarming around Morroc’s marketplace and shouted; “Come visit my shop everybody! I have many interesting little gadgets and gizmos that’ll suit your tastes.”
I stood a good 10 feet away from him. After watching him from the corner of my eyes, I turned my head and returned my attention towards the kafra in front of me.
“I would like to place this in my storage please.” I said while handing her some Requim cards.
“Certainly Miss Rose.” she replied while reaching out for the cards in my hands and keeping them away.
“Thanks Kafra. See you again soon.” I smiled to the blonde kafra and walked away. Walking nonchalantly, I glanced around my surrounding area and stopped here and there at some of the shops people opened up. Nothing was catching my eye. Soon, I reached upon the odd man’s cart. He was still wearing the bizarre looking bathrobe in this weather. Looking down, I observed the various jumble of items scrambled in his cart one by one.
“Hello Miss. Anything catches your eye?” a voice asked.
I looked up. It was him. “Not yet. I’m simply looking around.” I replied. “Of course. Take your time.” he smiled at me and turned his attention towards another customer who was holding some necklace and rings in hand.
I believe that’s the first time I heard him speak without shouting. I realized. He has a nice voice.
After a couple of minutes, I failed to find anything interesting in his jumble of mess. I sighed and looked up and caught his eye staring at me expectantly. “Nothing suits your fancy, Miss?” he asked.
“No, sorry.” I replied with an awkward smile. Just as I was about to move away from the cart, he called out to me. “If I may ask, are you perhaps on vacation here?” His hand was hovering in the air, as if he was about to catch me by the shoulder. I looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
“No. Just exploring the desert and dungeons around this town for experiences.” I replied watching him awkwardly retracting his hand as he caught me staring at it mid air.
“Why do you ask?”
He looked away and coughed, slightly embarrassed. “It’s your costume, Miss. I find it an odd thing to wear here.”
I glanced down and looked at my choice of clothing for the day. I was wearing a revealing swimsuit with a white sarong wrapped around me by the waist. Several bangles adorned my left arm clanged together as I moved my hands around. Slippers naturally was my choice of footwear to don with this outfit. Was it odd? I had worn this type of clothing the moment I stepped into Morroc zone.
“Is it? The weather here is so hot so I assumed this would be the most suitable thing to wear here.”
I -_-ed my head to the side and returned my gaze at him. He looked around awkwardly before saying;
“It’s just that… people usually wear those kind of stuff on the beaches. I don’t believe Morroc has such a wide source of water in its entire region.”
I contemplate on his input. Now that I think about it, I suppose it is considered odd to wear such clothes in a desert area. “I suppose you’re right.” I replied after several moments.
He looked taken aback. Perhaps he thought I would not agree so fast. A smile slowly formed on his face. He looked somewhat relieved. I wonder why.
“But, I find your choice of clothing even more bizarre.” I said abruptly as I gave him the look-over. “Aren’t you hot under all that layers?” Finally, unable the resist the urge to, I pointed towards the round ball like thing sitting on top of his head. “And what is that?”
He looked shocked by my question. Patting the ball on his head, he opened his mouth “Of course not! This beautiful costume was hand-made by experts living in the far east of Rune Midgart whom has more than half a century experience with creating kimonos. The fabric was carefully selected and formed with the utmost dedication and hard work sewed into it. It is cared for by artist and expert alike before reaching into my possession. It is ridiculous to feel hot under an art such as magnificent as this. ”
“And this…” He said pointing to his head. “Is a wig that comes together with this kimono. It is simply ridiculous to wear the kimono without such a dignified piece of accessory on my head.”
He said while puffing his chest in a proud manner.
Okay. So he’s a bit defensive about that. I thought.
“Right…” I looked at the man and decided he was a bit eccentric about his costumes. I looked awkwardly around and decided it was time to leave.
"Well then, goodbye." I raised my hand for a small wave and walked away.
* * * *
I saw him on the side of the road today.
He was sitting on one of the benches scattered around Morroc. His eye were closed. Perhaps he was sleeping. Out of sheer curiosity, I walked towards him. His hands were folded across his chest and his head was resting on the top edge of the bench, exposing his face to the sun.
Seems like he's going to get sun burned at this rate.
I rummaged my pockets for a handkerchief and hold it in front of me. Perhaps this will help. I opened the handkerchief and placed it on his face. The fabric hid his face from the crowds and the sun. Proud of myself, I resumed my walk and headed back towards the long distant kafra situated a mere mile away from where the man was.
To others, it looked like an indication that the man had died, with the white fabric splayed on his face.
Upon reaching the long distant kafra, I realized there was a long queue for the transportation service. I contemplate whether I should join the line or perhaps return tomorrow on an earlier time to travel to Prontera. I made the decision to return tomorrow. It's simply too much hassle to join the queue today.
I passed by the area where the man was resting before and noticed he was already gone.
* * * *
I saw him approaching me today.
"Miss Rose!" He called out to me.
How did he came to know my name? I watched as he walked towards me and raised his hand for a greeting. "Hello." I nodded to him as a greeting. "Hello. I've come to return your handkerchief." He held out a white cloth folded neatly in his hand. "Thank you." I replied as I reached for it. "But how did you came to know my name?" I asked, shoving the cloth in my pockets.
"It was sewed on you handkerchief. I assumed it was your name."
"Oh. I see."
I chanted some healing spells onto myself and hooked my mace on my bag. "How did you know the handkerchief was mine?" I asked, turning my attention back to him. I remember I placed it on him while he was sleeping. How did he knew it was me?
He looked around sheepishly. "Actually, I was simply resting my eyes when you approached me the other day. When I felt something was dropped on my face, I opened my eyes to see what was it and by the time I picked it up, I saw you were already walking away. So I came to the assumption that the handkerchief might possibly be yours.
"I see."
I replied. Well, that was awkward and embarrassing. Thank goodness I moved away before he could call out to me. Seconds passed between us in silence.
Finally, he decided to break the silence. "Well, what are you doing out here in the desert?"
"I'm hunting for materials for Osiris equipments."
"Aren't those materials usually dropped by mobs in the Temples?"
"I'm not certain. I'm simply testing my luck out here on the field." He looked at me with a confused expression on his face. "Well, would you me to help? I'm currently free."
I was not expecting that. "Sure. Shall we go to the Temples then?"
"Sure. After you."
I picked up several drops from the mobs I killed previously and started walking towards the Temples located around Dayr Desert. As we walked, I looked at the man and said.
"I never got your name."
"Ah, where are my manners. You may call me Sukishi."
"Pleasure to meet you Sukishi. Perhaps I'll call you Suki. Sukishi is rather a mouth full. "
"Sure. I don't mind. Pleasure to meet you too Rose." He replied while chuckling.