The next morning…
Sunlight poured through the window, hitting Angel right in the face. He squinted, groaned, and slowly sat up, yawning as he stretched his arms wide.
His hair was a disaster.
Shuffling toward the mirror on the wall, Angel blinked at his reflection. His hair stuck out in every direction like he'd been in a windstorm.
Angel: "Was it that wild last night?" he muttered to himself. He grabbed a comb from the table and started brushing, only for the comb to snap in half halfway through.
His eyes widened.
Angel: "Was my hair that messy… for you to break?" he said in disbelief, holding the broken comb like it had betrayed him.
Before he could fix it, a knock echoed from the door.
Angel turned and opened it to find Elendil, cheerful as always.
"Morning!" Elendil beamed. "Come on, I made breakfast!" And just like that, he turned and walked off toward the dining room.
Angel blinked a few times, still half-asleep, then slowly followed, rubbing his face.
When he arrived at the table, Neptur was already seated, reading a newspaper with one leg crossed like an old scholar. Angel took a seat quietly. Elendil served two bowls of noodles with a proud grin before sitting down beside them.
Neptur lowered his paper and cleared his throat.
Neptur: "Ahem. Today is Market Day," he announced. "And I want you two to come with me, in case you need anything—or get distracted."
Elendil perked up. "Really? That's today!?" He was already eating, speaking with noodles halfway in his mouth.
Neptur nodded, then turned his gaze to Angel, who was... spinning his noodles around his spoon instead of eating.
"Angel," he said slowly, "aren't you going to eat?"
Angel jumped slightly, eyes wide like he'd just been caught stealing treasure.
Angel: "Ah...uh...yeah!" he stammered, then quickly took a bite, cheeks glowing with embarrassment.
Neptur raised an eyebrow, watching him silently over the rim of his teacup.
Suspicious.
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At the market...
It was lively—maybe too lively.
Crowds flowed like rivers between the stalls. People chattered, coins clinked, and the scent of fresh bread, grilled meat, and fruit filled the air. Brightly colored cloth hung between the wooden beams above, fluttering with the wind.
New stalls had opened since the last time they came. Music played from somewhere in the distance. Children laughed, vendors shouted over each other, and the town square was bursting with enefac
Angel trailed behind Neptur and Elendil, his eyes scanning the lively marketplace as they walked. He picked up his pace, reaching out to grab Neptur's shoulder—
SMACK!
A ball flew out of nowhere and hit Angel square in the face.
He yelped as he tumbled backward, landing flat on the ground. The ball rolled to the side as a group of kids gasped and rushed over, their little sandals clapping against the cobblestone.
Elendil: "Angel!" turned, eyes wide. "Are you okay?!"
Angel groaned, rubbing his now-bright red face. "Ow... my nose…"
One of the kids stepped forward nervously, wringing their hands. "S-sorry, Mister! We didn't mean to—!"
Angel opened one eye and squinted at the kid, ready to grumble, but... sighed. "Ugh... you—" he groaned again, brushing off his clothes, "it's... fine. I guess." His voice was tired, and a little embarrassed.
The kid gave a deep bow. "Sorry, Mister!!" they shouted again before turning to rejoin the game.
Neptur stood a few feet away, chuckling to himself.
Elendil helped Angel up, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You sure you're okay? That ball smacked you pretty hard."
Angel grunted, turning away. "I'm fine…"
"You don't look fine," Elendil said with a grin, leaning closer. "Your face is still red from the hit."
"H-huh?" Angel blinked and touched his cheek. Realizing how warm it was, he flushed even deeper. "R-really?? Uh…" He covered his face with both hands, groaning in humiliation.
Elendil laughed. "You're hopeless." He reached out and gently ruffled Angel's hair, who squeaked and tried to swat his hand away.
Neptur, holding up a long parchment list, gave a small smile. "Come on now. We've got a lot more to buy. Let's not fall behind."
Angel groaned again—more dramatically this time—and followed along with Elendil, still red in the face.
Neptur handed a few coins to the butcher and accepted a bundle of fresh meat wrapped in parchment. "Perfect for stew tonight," he muttered to himself, tucking it into his bag.
Behind him, Angel sighed and rubbed his sore nose for the third time that morning. "Owww… stupid ball…"
Elendil, meanwhile, had stopped walking. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he glanced over at a nearby market stall. "Whoa…" he whispered.
The stall was lined with all sorts of weapons: daggers, ornate swords, throwing stars, even tiny crystal crossbows. All polished and glinting under the morning sun.
"Neptur, can I go look over there real quick" .Elendil asked, pointing
Neptur, now examining his shopping list again, gave a brief nod. "Go ahead, just don't wander too far."
Elendil was already halfway to the weapons stand, eyes wide like a kid in a candy shop.
Elendil: "Angel! Look at this!" he called out, holding up a gleaming small knife, its hilt carved like a dragon's head.
Angel turned his head and blinked. Elendil looked so happy. He smiled slightly, then started making his way over—though it wasn't easy with all the bustling townspeople moving around him like a stampede.
Then… it happened.
A single, lonely pebble sat in his path.
Tiny. Harmless-looking. Completely insignificant.
Angel's foot caught it.
His eyes widened.
Angel: "Wha—?"
Thud!
He hit the cobblestone ground like a sack of potatoes.
But he didn't get up.
He didn't groan, or flail, or roll over.
He just… lay there.
Face down. Defeated.
Like life had finally won.
People around him gasped, stared, and began whispering. A child pointed. A baker muttered, "Is he okay?" Someone even dropped a tomato. "Oh no! My tomatoe.."
Elendil's eyes widened in horror. "Angel!?"
He darted through the crowd and knelt beside him. "Hey! Get up!" He helped lift Angel to his feet.
Angel groaned as he stood, wobbling slightly. His cheeks were flushed bright red. "I tripped…" he muttered, barely audible.
"On what?" Elendil asked.
Angel: "…A pebble." mumbling
Elendil blinked. Then tried not to laugh. "You… tripped on a pebble and just gave up on life?"
Angel groaned louder and covered his entire face. "I'm going home. I'm changing my name. I'm never coming outside again."
Elendil laughed and threw an arm around his shoulder. "No way. You're too fun to watch suffer."
Angel: "Not helping."
Angel stared at the ground as they walked, scanning every inch for more evil pebbles.
Today was simply not Angel's day.
First, a passing stranger's bag smacked him right in the face.
Then, while trying to pat a fluffy street cat, it scratched his hand and hissed like he owed it money.
Not long after, a wooden cart barreled down the road—he barely dodged it just in time, stepping back dramatically...
...only to trip over a stone and crash straight into a poor vendor's fruit baskets. Apples, oranges, and Angel all rolled across the market floor.
He lay there groaning, face in a pile of mangos, arms spread like a fallen hero.
By the time sunset painted the skies, Angel was an absolute mess. Leaves in his hair. Dirt on his clothes. Dignity in pieces.
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The three finally arrived back home. Neptur set the groceries down, sighing. Angel, trailing behind with slumped shoulders and a fresh smear of grass on his tunic, looked like he'd been in a war.
Elendil tried to suppress a laugh. "You okay? Today's been your unluckiest day so far..."
Angel muttered, "Forget about it," and trudged to the table like a defeated knight.
Neptur grabbed his cloak. "Hey, I need to step out. Handle dinner without me. Make the chicken stew, yeah?"
Elendil gave him a thumbs-up. "Aye, aye, chef."
Angel just hummed in response, still moping.
As the door closed behind Neptur, Elendil started sorting ingredients.
Elendil: "Angel, can you cut the vegetables for me?"
Angel, who was zoning out, blinked. "Huh? Oh... yeah, sure." He grabbed a knife, pulled a cutting board closer, and started slicing a carrot.
Slice.
Angel: "Ow!"
He hissed under his breath, flinching as a tiny bead of blood appeared on his finger.
Angel: "Seriously? Again" he whispered.
Angel's thoughts: This day is cursed. That stupid wizard probably cast an unlucky spell on me. That's it. I'm jinxed forever.
Angel: "Elendil," called out softly.
But Elendil had already noticed. He walked over and leaned close.
Elendil: "Hey, you okay?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Angel said, clearly not fine, clutching his finger and looking anywhere but at Elendil.
Elendil: "You cut yourself. Let me see."
Angel: "Huh? I can do it—"
But Elendil had already taken his hand.
He stood behind Angel, gently holding his wrist. Angel noticed—either Elendil was taller now or Angel had shrunk. Either way, it made Angel freeze.
Elendil turned on the tap and let the water run cool over the small cut, carefully wiping away the blood.
Angel's shoulders relaxed.
Angel's thoughts: Maybe... maybe today isn't all bad.
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Later, after dinner and some quiet cleanup, Elendil nudged Angel with his elbow.
Elendil: "Hey. C'mon."
Angel: "Huh? Where?"
Elendil: "You'll see." smiles
He led him out the back door, up a short trail behind the house. The evening breeze was soft, carrying the smell of stew, firewood, and night flowers. Crickets sang.
They reached a hilltop, just as the last light of day dipped below the horizon. The sky bled orange and purple across the valley.
Angel stared, breath caught in his throat.
Angel: "Whoa…" he whispered.
They sat on the grass, side by side. Angel hugged his knees to his chest, feeling small and a little more human than usual.
The silence was peaceful.
Then Elendil glanced at him.
Elendil: "You know…" he started.
Angel looked over.
Elendil: "Seeing you all clumsy and silly today... makes you look so cute." He chuckled softly, brushing hair away from Angel's eyes.
Angel's eyes widened.
He quickly turned away, staring furiously at the sunset.
Angel: "W-what are you saying…"
Elendil smiled to himself, letting the silence fill again.
Angel's cheeks pink for the rest of the evening.
TO BE CONTINUED...