

Dance Beneath The Moonlight

 

Episode 4: Mysterious Man

I was awoken with the noises coming from the outside. Aaron was the one guarding me this time.

"Where's Mark?" I asked

"H-He..."

He didn't continue and pointed the big wooden house in front of us. I stood and was about to walk but he stopped me.

"Why?" I asked

"Boss, said that you must stay here. If you resist, I must tie you" he replied without looking

I looked at him. He's face was red and he looked a bit different. I watched him closely and he jumped away from me like a wild cat being surprised about a sudden movement.

"Am I scary?" I asked

"No" he answered

"Then you don't need to be this far" I pointed out the distance.

Aaron moved a bit close to me then jumped up again when Mark held his shoulder. Mark laughed on Aaron's shocked look which was followed by the other members' laughters.

"Let's go!" Boss commanded

A man in a weird clothing came out of the house and fall into his knees. This is similar when praying which mother told me. Why is he praying in front of our cart? This isn't church or an altar.

"Mr., this is not a chapel to pray for nor an altar to be knelt upon" I said

"Thank the heavens! An angel fell!" he screamed in a high pitch

"Excuse me, she is my daughter and is not for sale" Boss exclaimed in a serious voice which gave me shivers

"Sir, we really need one! I promise you that she'll be paid well and will never be abuse unless she decided she'll be!" the man said

"Mark, what is paid?" I whispered

"It's gaining money with hardwork" he explained

"Does our family need it?" I asked again

"Of course, it is for necessities" he replied

"How much will you pay me?" I asked the man

"3000 bronze" he said

"Kid, you will not!" Boss warned me

"Mark, what is the highest payment of work?" I asked

"Iron is cheap, but is a common salary of a worker. Bronze is cheap too, yet bigger than iron. Silver costs a thousand of bronze so it will be an ideal salary, because it will be worth of a month or two resources. Gold is the highest. Though its worth only a hundred of silvers, only the people living in luxury could give you that" he said

"Mr, I don't want trash bronze. I'm sorry" I said then Boss laughed

"I'll give you three silvers per customer?" he bargained

"NO! She's not working!" Boss said

"Deal!" I said

"Thank you, my lady! Please, stay here" the man smiled

"But my family has no place to rest" I told him

"I don't have any rooms for shelter" he said

"Then I'll just find another house with shelter and a good pay, don't you think?" I asked

"Speaking of, I have 3 extra rooms for storage. I hope they can stay there?" he asked me

"Does it have all the things I can get?" I asked

"Of course, that's why it is storage" he said

"Mark, how many are we?" I asked

"We are eight and that also includes you. Wait, why are you asking so many things?" he asked because he was already disturbed on his nap

"Does eight people can live in storage room?" I asked

"Three storage room is more than enough" he replied

"Will that include foods?" I asked

"If you want, yes" he said surrendering

"Okay, I'll take the it!" I said

"I will be on my bankruptcy" he murmured

Boss laughed at me that's why everyone seemed to be interested.

"Boys, why don't you follow kid's way. She's a good example. We have a house to stay for the night" Boss said

"What? How?" Mark questioned fully concious on what's happening

"Kid, negotiated and have us a shelter for the day. You must work hard today!" Boss said

"Aye!" they all shouted and jumped off the cart

"Where will they go?" I asked

"To find short-term jobs as you" Boss answered

"Can I find a job, too?" I asked

"You already have when you've got the agreement with the man a while ago" he replied

"Oh! So job is something that is paid up of iron, bronze, silver or gold" I unconciously said which made boss laughed again

Boss helped me down and let me walk on the place. There were many people and food stores unlike the villages I travelled upon. Boss said I mustn't go far.

"My lady" someone said

"You, with the white ash hair" he added

I came close and asked why did he called me and showed me shiny things with a long metal on it. Some shaped like a flower, an animal or so. I wonder what is this.

"You're standing out among the crowd, would you like one of my ornaments?" he asked

"I'm sorry, I can't. Boss told me to look around and not mess up with others unrelated to it. Besides, I don't have any to exchange" I replied

"It's fine, anything you choose, I'll pay it for you" a male's voice said

I gazed up to see a man with something on his face that hinders me to recognize him.

"I guess looking around is unrelated to having debts, so bye-bye!" I said, but he pulled me

"It's not debt, it's a gift, a blessing. You don't need to exchange it for something" he said

"I don't know its use so I don't need it" I said and he laughed

He then picked up one ornament and get some of my hair. He rolled it and put the metal on it. My hair didn't move nor fall even I shook my head. The man smiled at me. He paid the man with two metallic thing.

"What was that?" I asked

"It's few silvers. No need to worry" he said

"Thank you, my lord." the seller bid and left

"I'll pay you after my work tonight!" I said and ran on the crowd, because Max caught my eye

I touched the metal on my hair. I wonder why my hair was stocked. Will it forever stay like that? Boss smiled at me when he saw me coming.

"Where did you get that?" Mark asked

"Someone gave it to me" I answered

"It suits you, you're beautiful" he said and left

What's beautiful? I have a lot of things to learn and it's hurting my head this much. Boss and Mark were moving all our things on the so-called storage room which has a lot of things and ornaments. I was mesmerized when the man I talked to pulled me and gave me to two ladies with so much flour on faces which made me sneezed.

"Such a dirty poor lady!" the one with green dress exclaimed

They destroyed moon mother's clothes given to me and bath me water with a strong smell and some white small circles. They dressed me up and I didn't noticed it was almost evening. I ran into the storage room the time I heard their footsteps away from me.

"Boss!!" I shouted only to stumble and almost fell

The man in front of me caught me before I fell hitting my face on ground. I looked up to thank him, but I was mesmerized on his gaze I forgot to say a word.

"Ladies biggest mistake is to trip on the floor hitting their faces, please be careful, Lady" the other man said which I think is the man's company

"I'm sorry" I said and bowed

"Are you by any chance working here?" he asked

"Yes" I said

"Then serve us" he said

"Can I have a minute, Sir? I will just talk to someone?" I asked

"Sure, just enter to the first room on the left" he said smiling

I smiled and he looked a bit surprised which gave me shivers because I think the ladies a while ago destroyed my face. I ran to the storage room to find out that the man was shouting on Max.

"Sir, I think this is inappropriate!" I said

"Oh heavens! You look gorgeous if dressed!" the man said

"Kid, you're too bright" Max added

"I'm sorry!" I said

"It's a good thing, so don't be sorry" Max said

"Okay!" I smiled

"Why are you shouting on him, Mr. Our conditions doesn't include shouting on my family!" I said

"Indeed, but your fat brother is wrecking my kitchen!" he screamed

"He's a cook so let him be. If he broke something I'll pay 3000 bronze" I said

"That's big, kid." Max said

"It's fine I trust you!" I smiled

"Mr. Sunny, the VIP is asking for the doll" a girl on a yellow dress said