Chapter 32 Stay away from him
“Stay away from him. He doesn’t need distractions like you,” Sabine said, stepping slightly forward, her body angling in front of Vandal as if to shield him.
Yazmeen’s brows lifted in mild surprise, but it quickly melted into amusement as she tapped her chin lightly and tilted her head, as though she had just realized something profound. “Oh… I see now. No wonder you’re not a distraction to him.”
The words landed harder than they sounded, and Sabine’s breath quickened as her fingers curled tightly at her sides until her knuckles lost their color. A faint tremor ran through her arms, and though she had been angry before, it had never felt like this, never like something tightening around her chest.
“I think that’s enough,” Vandal said, his voice cutting through the tension before it could snap.
Yazmeen turned to him, the playful glint still lingering in her eyes as he met her gaze steadily. “Thank you for the offer, but I’ll have to decline.”
For a brief moment, something flickered across her face. The confidence slipped, replaced by surprise, as though she had not expected to be refused. “You don’t want to go with me?” she asked, her voice softer now.
“I’m sorry,” Vandal replied, “I already made plans to go with her.”
Yazmeen held his gaze a moment longer, her expression shifting with each passing second before it finally settled. She gave a small nod and murmured, “Oh… okay,” then turned and walked away, her steps firm and deliberate, the easy sway in her stride gone and replaced by a stiffness that betrayed her irritation.
Above them, Chan shifted on the tree branch he had been lounging on, nearly slipping as he leaned forward for a better look. He had been watching everything unfold with wide eyes, completely absorbed, and could not help muttering under his breath, “Damn… you really have to teach me your ways.”
Vandal let out a quiet breath and rubbed the back of his neck before offering Sabine a small, apologetic smile. “So… what time tomorrow?”
Sabine didn’t answer immediately. Her arms folded tightly, and her foot tapped against the ground as her eyes lingered in the direction Yazmeen had gone. After a moment, she turned back to him, her expression still edged with irritation. “So you really don’t want to go with her?” she asked, her tone rough, as if she didn’t quite believe him yet.
Vandal smiled, this time without hesitation. “No. I want to go with you.”
She studied his face as if weighing the truth of his words, then asked again, quieter this time, “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” he said. “I want you to be the one who shows me everything I need to know.”
The tension in her shoulders eased, almost imperceptibly. “Good,” she said, turning away quickly before he could see the faint blush creeping onto her cheeks, “go and rest. I’ll come early in the morning, so don’t be late.”
She walked off a little too quickly, her steps light, almost skipping despite her attempt to appear composed, while Vandal watched her leave. The moment he caught sight of Chan climbing down from the tree with a grin that promised far too many questions, he immediately turned and headed in the opposite direction.
He quickened his pace, pretending not to hear Chan calling after him, and slipped into his room as soon as he reached it. Shutting the door firmly behind him, he leaned against it and let out a long breath.
“That was close.”
The bed welcomed him the moment he dropped onto it, and before his thoughts could settle, sleep crept in and pulled him under.
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Morning came with a quiet warmth, sunlight spilling across the courtyard and creeping slowly up the walls. Not long after, a firm knock sounded at his door, pulling Vandal from his sleep.
He stirred, pushed himself up, and opened it to find Sabine standing outside with her hands tucked neatly behind her back and a soft smile resting on her lips. The sight caught him off guard for a moment.
She was dressed differently today. A pink qipao wrapped around her frame, simple yet elegant, while her long black hair flowed neatly over her shoulders. A bow sat at the top of her head, adding a touch of softness that made her look almost gentle, and he found himself staring a second too long.
“What’s this?” he said, leaning against the doorframe with a faint grin. “We were only apart for a night, and you’re already thinking of me?”
Her expression changed instantly. “If you call me that again, I’ll break your mouth,” she said, her teeth clenched even as her cheeks began to color.
Vandal chuckled. “So I can’t call you that? Should I save it for Yazmeen instead?”
“You bastard.”
Her hand shot forward, grabbing his arm, and her fingers twisted sharply, digging in with surprising strength. Pain flared, and his face contorted as he quickly gave in. “Alright, alright!”
She released him with a huff, clearly satisfied.
Not long after, they found themselves standing before a large tree along a quiet path. Without hesitation, Sabine stepped forward and walked straight into it, disappearing as though it were nothing more than mist, and Vandal followed right behind her as the world shifted around him in an instant.
When they stepped out on the other side, the air felt livelier, and a small village stretched ahead with paths leading toward a pavilion at its center.
Sabine glanced back at him as they walked. “That tree connects to a trading village. The place ahead is the Unsullied Pavilion. If you have enough achievement points or denamis, you can buy almost anything there.”
Even from a distance, the place was alive with activity. Disciples moved between stalls, some bargaining, others displaying items of their own, while overlapping voices filled the space with energy.
Sabine’s eyes lit up at the sight, and without thinking, she grabbed Vandal’s hand and pulled him along. As they walked, people turned to look, some staring openly, drawn by Sabine’s presence, while others cast envious glances at Vandal, who seemed completely unaware as he stared down at his arm.
“That pinch was brutal,” he muttered, rubbing the reddened spot. “It’s still swollen.”
Sabine lifted her chin slightly, clearly pleased. “Maybe now you’ll think twice before teasing me,” she said, still holding his hand as she pulled him toward a nearby stall.
The display was filled with jewelry, each piece crafted from unusual materials that shimmered under the light, colors shifting as they caught the sun and drew the eye again and again. Sabine crouched immediately, completely absorbed, her earlier irritation forgotten.
The old woman behind the stall leaned forward eagerly, her face lighting up as she began introducing each item with practiced enthusiasm. A preacher insignia rested on her clothing, marking her as a sect disciple who had chosen trade.
While Sabine focused on the jewelry, Vandal’s attention drifted to another stall where a red wooden disk sat quietly among the items, its surface carved with unfamiliar symbols.
He reached out, but a sharp tap struck his hand before he could touch it.
“Pay before you take.”
Vandal looked up to see a young man standing nearby, a streak of white running through his hair, a short stick resting casually in his hand.
“What is it?” Sabine asked, leaning closer, but the man pulled the disk away before she could touch it.
“No touching until you pay,” he repeated, prompting Vandal to respond, “Then tell us what it is first.”
The man studied him for a moment before speaking. “It is a mystical tool of incredible power that has many uses.”
Sabine’s curiosity sharpened as she leaned in slightly. “And how do you use it?”
“Information costs ten denamis. The item costs fifty,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m already being generous.”
Vandal turned to Sabine and held out his hand. “Can you lend me fifty?”
She stared at him as if he had lost his mind. “I’ve never seen you act this foolish,” she said, though she still reached into her pouch and handed him the coins.
“Thanks.”
He passed the money over, and the young man’s expression shifted as he counted it, satisfaction creeping in. “Didn’t expect you to actually pay.”
“Seems like no one else has,” Vandal replied.
The man shrugged. “Not your concern. Take it and go.”
Vandal picked up the disk and turned it over in his hands. “So how does it work?”
The man hesitated, then suddenly straightened and pointed behind them. “Wait… what is that behind you?”
“What thing?” Vandal asked, and Sabine instinctively turned to look as well.
The man grinned. “Hehehe… bye!”
Before either of them could react, he spun around and slammed something onto the ground. Smoke exploded outward, thick and blinding, and by the time it cleared, he was gone.