Bound and Broken: An Isekai Adventure Dark Fantasy (Melas Book 1) V.A. Lewis (feel good books to read .TXT) 📖

"But she left before me! She should be here—"

"Sir, please calm down. The roads haven’t been safe after the fall of Bys. A Monster could have gotten to her, or maybe... something else. We’ve been getting some reports about young women going missing—"

My eyes glazed over this; I continued scanning around the surroundings, searching for what I was looking for. I saw a young man— maybe in his mid-twenties— dressed in blue robes with a small backpack and holding what looked like a hiking stick. He was grinning to himself, when our eyes met for a second. But I looked past him, and started for the market street.

I walked past the small fountain in the center of the plaza, and ignored the chattering of this city’s people as they watched the refugees slowly stream in.

"Hey, that girl’s traveling alone. Should we help her? Where are her parents?"

"I don’t know, but I don’t think we should. Maybe they’re dead. Or maybe they left her? Like because of some sort of disease."

"A disease? That would explain why she looks… sick. She might even have the plague!"

"Goddess grace us, if she’s got the Noxeus, we need to tell—"

I sighed for the millionth time today, but said nothing. It was still early in the evening; the sun was on its way down, casting a beautiful orange glow on the clouds above. I turned a few corners, then found myself at a marketplace-like street.

It was crowded. Vendors lined the sides of the street, as customers crowded around the shops to buy things. There was shouting and talking, and all kinds of food being sold at the stalls. I took in the fragrance of delicious food cooked with all kinds of spices, and listened to the chatter of hundreds of other people drown out my rumbling stomach.

I waded my way through the crowd, and looked about at the stores selling food; I tried not to grimace as I stared at the cost of everything.

Four bronze for a loaf of bread? I’d rob a house for bread that good!

It was like they doubled the price of everything because of all the refugees coming in; what a bunch of jerks!

I turned around to storm off in search of something I could actually afford, when I bumped into a leg. Ouch.

"Watch it brat—" a gruff voice came.

I quickly picked myself up and bowed my head to apologize. "I’m sorry, sir. I’ll watch where I’m going next time," I spoke hastily.

The man was blinking, but I didn’t wait to hear a response; I turned around and started to walk off in a random direction. Don’t want to attract any attention.

My headscarf was still on tight, so I was certain no one saw the mark on my face. But you never knew what could happen. I was being cautious! I was not going to let myself be chained up again, no matter what happened.

I continued searching for something within my price range, but to no avail. It was nearing the end of the evening, so some stalls were beginning to close shop for the day; I was running out of time! The cheapest store I found was a fruit stand; they were selling apples at 2 bronze each. I did not have enough to pay for it, but I could negotiate.

I walked up to the vendor who was busy showing off some exotic berries he had in stock to a handful of customers. I called out to him.

"Excuse me! Excuse me—"

"What do you want, kid? Can’t you see I’m busy?" he growled.

"I’m sorry, sir. I was looking through your wares, and I was hoping to buy some fruits. But I only have a single bronze coin, sir. I’m not looking for handouts, but if I could possibly get a discount—"

The fruit vendor's eyebrows scrunched up, and he snapped at me. "Go away, beggar. I don’t want your dirty coin. And I don’t want you scaring away my customers."

Blinking, I realized that the other customers were staring at me and murmuring. What’s with everyone being mean to kids? Jerks!

I took a deep breath, and tried once more. This time, appealing to his emotions instead. "Please, sir. I haven’t eaten in days and—"

I couldn’t even finish.

"I said beg elsewhere. Now leave or I’ll make you leave," the man snarled at me.

I drew my lips into a thin line. I didn’t like this man. He was a massive jerk. I met his glare for a second, then sighed.

"Fine," I muttered the word.

Then I grabbed a box full of apples, and knocked it off the table. "Oops." I grinned.

Dozens of red fruits tumbled to the ground and rolled into the street; the fruit vendor shouted in outrage, as he grabbed for his fallen wares.

"Here, I’ll help." I began gathering some of the fallen apples, and placed a few back into the box it fell out of. I was reaching for another one when—

The fruit vendor slapped at my hand and shouted. "Don’t touch it! You’ll dirty my goods!"

I folded my arms, and spoke with a feigned annoyance. "Geez, I was only trying to help, but if you want me to leave so badly, then I’ll leave."

The man gave me a look that told me he felt like strangling me. I grinned back at him, then turned around— arms still folded— and left the stall as he picked up the last of his dropped fruits.

I walked down the street, made a few turns around several corners, then ducked into an alley when I was several blocks away. There, I finally unfolded my arms, revealing two glistening red objects hiding underneath my sleeves.

I held one apple on each hand, my mouth watering as I eyed my meal. I did feel a little