Inside his room at the Twilight Headquarters in Aror...Alan sat on his bed...contemplating.
'Henry...Serena...Elijah...Sabrina...Kazikato...Max...Alice...'
...he recalled the names of everyone...everyone he knew whose trauma he went through...
'So...everyone was suffering.'
Alan thought...suddenly...he wanted to laugh at himself.
All this time, he had made foolish excuses to be angry because of the reason of his existence. Him not knowing his 'true' Identity.
How funny...how fucking despicable...
He thought...criticizing himself.
He laughed at himself.
All this time, his insecurities were so little, it was like he was a frog in a well. Not ready to see the pond.
"Hahhahha...hahahah..."
A pitiful laugh...a Laugh at himself, at his own foolishness.
...
...
He lay down on his bed...But then... As if a new determination had sprung forth...he immediately opened a portal and stepped inside.
******
[At Alan's grandparents' home.]
'They are all okay...'
Good...
Alan quickly surveyed the entire surrounding area in seconds, using his Dragon eyes for extra caution.
Even though it hurt like hell.
'I will...'
He thought...making a promise to himself.
'Make sure nothing every happens to you...'
He said...looking at his sleeping sister.
And then he left.
*****
[The next day, on the road to the Black Market.]
"...I didn't expect this kind of request."
Sabrina said, walking beside Alan.
"I'm sorry...it's an important occasion."
Alan apologized for disturbing her.
"Hmm? Why are you apologizing? It's a break from your Finance manager."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"..."
Sabrina had a smile on her face as she said that.
"Then again, these documents really do seem important."
She said, looking at the documents she held in her hands.
She was surprised at first...Alan...OF ALL PEOPLE, ALAN! Requesting her to go with him somewhere!
Although she was glad at first, thinking of it as some sort of a break...she then had an odd thought.
'Is this a date?'
...
...'No...right?'
'Or is it?'
She thought and thought...hiding her face beneath the cloak she was wearing.
'...I would've preferred a cafe or a restaurant...maybe even one of those Amusement parks.'
She thought...whilst heaving a sigh.
'No...I should be glad there is some progress...'
She thought...but then had a golden Idea.
'The black market is a no-no...but what about on the way back?'
As a Clueless Alan walked beside a plotting Sabrina...
"We should go eat something after your business is done...Are you okay with that?"
She said...making sure to read Alan's facial expressions,whilst waiting for his answer.
Stealthily.
"Sure, Why not."
Alan said, with not much change in his facial expressions.
'SUCCESS~'
'...Why Do I have a good feeling about this...?'
*****
"Who is it?"
A rough, brisk voice answered Alan's knock on the door.
Sabrina responded
"A customer seeking the services of Darkness"
Sabrina answered, and they were allowed entry.
They were both wearing cloaks that covered their figures, along with masks.
Sabrina wearing a black cat mask...and Alan...forced into wearing a White cat mask.
Apparently it was the only one 'Sabrina had left.'
"What was that cringy password?"
Alan asked Sabrina as they descended the stairs, into the Black market.
"I don't know, I just know that it's the basic password for entry."
Sabrina answered, And Alan kept quiet until they entered the Black Market.
And as they entered...Sabrina almost Puked...
Alan helped her, and asked.
"Whats Wrong?"
...She remained silent...slowly taking in the surroundings..
'This is a black market?'
The random fucking in the streets, vendors openly abusing their products and prostitutes randomly going around looking for prey, as well as multiple other open heinous acts...
'...where is the dignity of the Black Market association...??'
She asked herself.
"Sabrina...are you okay? Need a potion?"
Alan asked, worried.
'He's...being surprisingly gentle?'
She asked in her mind. It was unthinkable for Alan of all people to do this.
"Nothing...I just didn't expect the Black market here to be so...unsophiscated."
Alan, confused at her answer asked.
"But haven't you been to multiple Black Markets...?"
"I have...but not one like this? Where is the dignity of a merchant? Why is there such filth in the open?"
She questioned herself...but then came to a conclusion.
"...oh right this is a backwater city."
Aror wasn't a main city...like Askolt or the Capitol.
The black Markets she had went to were much more honourable, Being in Main cities and what not.
Nevertheless...the basics should be the same.
"Uhhhh."
But Her mood still went sour as she the 'scenes' on the streets.
But then.
"Here, Lower your hood."
Alan lowered the hood of her cloak, and put a mana barrier between them which blocked sound, well mostly for Sabrina.
[Just follow me and tell me where to go.]
He said to her through their Spatial Bond.
'...he is being gentle...what a shocking event.'
She thought in her mind, hiding her red cheeks underneath the cloak.
Wow, Alan could be dependable.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm[The building's name is Arora brokers...it's in the middle of the Black market here and is decorated with blue lights.]
She said, informing him.
[Ok thanks.]
And then they made their way through the Market.
'Well, it isn't a place one would really like to see, especially a girl.'
Alan thought as he observed the streets of the market.
From random people fucking slaves, prostitutes luring men away, and open slaves being nude and whipped by their traders.
The place was a shithole.
Alan's eyes glanced over a slave trade abusing a lizard type monster...and for some reason Alan felt his blood was boiling.
He ignored it, even though for some reason he was angry.
He looked around for the Arora broker's building, whilst leading Sabrina by the hand.
But then all of a sudden, as they were almost Infront Of the building, Alan felt a tug on his arm.
"oh my...Look at the thick muscles underneath, Care for some time tall mister?"
A prostitute, scantily dressed, grabbed his arm and confused him for a middle aged man.
Well, Alan was wearing a cloak and was tall, so it was somewhat understandable.
"If you offer me good time...there is a discount. How about i- KYAA!"
*ZAP!*
Before she could complete her words, Sabrina had sent her off with a few zaps of lightning.
"Hmph! How vulgar!"
*Zap*!
"Sabrina."
She chased the prostitute away, firing occasional bolts towards her to make she ran far away.
"Sabrina."
"Such vulgaar acts in public...Do they have no respect for the creed of a merchant?"
She muttered, ignoring Alan.
"Sabrina."
For the third time when her name was spoken, she responded.
"Yes? Alan."
"We are here."
Alan's answer prompted her to look at the building he pointed to, And Sure enough it was the Arora Brokers.
They had arrived at their destination.
"Oh."
------
A/N; Alan is 6 foot 7 inches tall.
I ain't tall so I made my character tall...lol