Katzu soon said goodbye, he always had some business to attend to, and I was left alone, with my phone in my hand and an unpleasant feeling in my stomach.
After a hasty meal, I dived back into the game, hoping to distract myself from the intrusive thoughts of Barnadate. The world greeted me with the soft light of the hotel window.
I slowly rose from the bed, stretching, and at that moment, a thin, piercing sound rang out.
—The ringing of a bell?...
It was so pure and crystal, as if someone had struck a silver spoon on a glass but with each second the sound seemed to go further, pulling me along with an invisible thread.
— What nonsense?...
I went out into the hotel corridor, walked down the wooden steps and already found myself on the noisy street.
Players crowded around the shops, discussing quests, bargaining. But through all this hubbub again broke through the familiar jing-jing thin, clear, persistent. I stopped some warrior in massive armor:
—Hey, you too hear the jingle of the bell?
He squinted, looked at me like an abnormal and waved his hand.
—Girl, don't bother your head. What bells?
Another player, running past, chuckled and threw in my direction:
—Maybe you already have bells in your ears from playing too long?
I clenched my fists. To them, I looked like a fool who was making up sounds where there were none. But the ringing didn't stop, it became more pronounced, as if someone was deliberately teasing me.
I looked around the street, at the ordinary shops, the bustling vendors, and the players hurrying about their business. No one even flinched or turned their heads, only me.
—Okay, if it's a hallucination, so be it. But if not... it's better to check.
I headed in the direction from which the sound seemed to be coming. It was coming from the depths of the city, a light, teasing sound, as if someone was beckoning me.
And the further I walked, the clearer it became that this sound was more than just a background noise.
I didn't know where to look anymore! I climbed onto the roof of a hotel, risking a fall, and then I peered into an old stone well in the square.
I walked through the market stalls, peering into windows and behind fences. The ringing grew louder and then softer, as if taunting him. Newcomers passed by, rough-hewn, with crooked wooden swords and holes in their cloaks.
They walked in groups, talking and laughing, and when they saw me, they couldn't help but comment:
— Look, there's that strange girl running again.
— Maybe she's on a quest or something?
— Or there's a glitch in the system...
Let them think whatever they want. All I knew was that the sound was real. Finally, I turned down a narrow alley between two stone buildings and stopped.
Ding... Ding...
The ringing sound was very close, almost at my ear. I slowly turned around and saw. Something was shimmering in the air, like a tiny spark of light.
It shimmered with a soft glow, like a small flashlight, and it made a tinkling sound. But as I got closer, the spark took shape.
It wasn't a firefly. Hovering in the air before me was a tiny creature, no more than a palm's width in size. It had a slender body and transparent wings that fluttered like a dragonfly's.
And the most unexpected face. A man's face, delicate as if carved from crystal. A true male fairy.
I froze, stunned. But what struck me even more was the sound. It wasn't a random noise; it was his tears.
—So this is... all this time... I've been hearing... your tears?
I approached him, careful to move slowly to avoid startling him. Only then could I truly observe him.
He wore a neat white suit, tied with a narrow brown belt. Over it he had thrown a cloak, a huge one for his height, a fabric like a green cabbage leaf, the folds and veins of which played with the glare of light.The wings of the fairy he kept pressed under this strange cloak, as if trying to hide or protect them from the eyes of others.
The white hair, thin and soft, sparkled in the rays of the sunset sun, but from the tears it stuck to the temples and became unruly.
His small shoulders were trembling, and the ringing sound that had been driving me crazy all this time was the echo of his crying, clear, crystal, and bitter.
—Hey...
I called out cautiously, leaning down so that our eyes were at the same level.
—Why are you crying? Did someone hurt you?
He flinched, as if he hadn't expected to hear a human voice. Then he slowly looked up at me.
And those eyes... they were golden. Not amber, not honey, but pure gold, shining yet filled with longing. He hastily wiped away the remaining tears with the back of his hand and, with a sniff, whispered:
—Did you... hear me?
I nodded my head in approval. The fairy looked as if I had performed a miracle.
—I... didn't believe that anyone would come... Here, in this city... no one needs me. Everyone just pushes me away. Everyone sets their own rules. I'm a hindrance, I'm... an outsider.
He lowered his head, and the "leaf" cloak covered his tiny figure again, as if he wanted to wrap himself in it and hide from the world.
—It's so hurtful, so lonely, and so hopeless...
Fairy was still sobbing quietly, but it seemed to make him feel a little better to have someone listen to him. He brushed his hair out of his face and looked at me timidly.
—My appearance here... it's not a coincidence. My mother, oh, that is, the Queen of Flowers. She sent me into this world! She said she had to find a hero. The one who hears my ringing and comes.
I felt my heart sink. "Hero"? Me? Well, of course, it sounded a little too loud.
The fairy carefully pulled out a small pouch from under her cloak, or rather, what was left of it. The fabric was torn, the strings were torn off, and it was empty inside.
—She gave me this... with the coins. A symbol of her trust. But... as soon as I entered this city, creatures appeared... they look like little greedy shadows [ Vail Thieves ] They jumped out of cracks, windows, and even under the roofs. They stole everything, every last coin.
I exhaled deeply and felt the system flash before my eyes. A semi-transparent green window with golden letters, barely visible in the fog of the alley:
[Unique Offer: "Let's Play Hide and Seek"]
Description: The messenger of the Queen of Flowers, has lost the coins that were a symbol of his mother's trust. The lower demtens hiding in the city have stolen them and are now teasing him, eluding anyone who tries to retrieve them.
Objective: Find five unique coins by taking them from the demons.
Recommended level: 50
Reward: ???
I stared at the number "50". Of course. I barely have enough experience at my current level, and now they're asking me to jump over my head.
—Are you serious?
I muttered to myself. But my fingers automatically clicked "Accept".
[You have accepted a unique task]
[The system wishes you good luck]
—At least tell me your name.
I asked aloud, feeling that there should be some kind of contact between us. The fairy straightened his shoulders and smiled slightly, although his face still looked tired.
—My name is Fritte! And I'm glad that you're the one who responded.
—Well, Fritte, tell me everything you know about these house spirits. Where can I find them?
He thought for a moment, clutching the cloak-leaf to his chest.
—They're cunning... They never stay in one place. One likes to hide in chimneys and sprinkle soot on those who search for him. Another lives by a well and changes his voice, calling out to you in the voice of someone you know. The third hides in a tavern, stealing from drunken patrons and laughing as they curse. The fourth loves rooftops, leaving a trail of glittering dust in his wake. And the fifth... The fifth is the most dangerous. He hides in a house where the shutters are always closed, even during the day. He's saving his last coin, and no one has returned to try to take it.
I gripped the hilt of the dagger.
"Recommended level: 50" echoed in my head, but there was no way I could refuse.
Frite looked at me, as if trying to make sure I wouldn't leave him behind.
—You'll try, won't you? You'll bring them back?
I sighed, adjusted my weapon belt, and grinned. Well, it seemed I had a very unusual game of hide-and-seek ahead of me.