Part 3: Own the Night

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"So you said this market is equally, if not more, crowded than the last one." Malleus looked over to Jamil as they continued to walk and observe the area.

"That's correct. Besides food and drinks, the booths here also sell clothes and utensils." Jamil explained. "It's also important to our country."

"So, any important names for this market we should be aware of?" Trey asks.

"Zahab is it's name, and it translates to 'gold'. From what I hear, you can only buy things here with gold and nothing else. Every stall here sells items worth gold."

"And it's all so photogenic!" Cater cooed.

"Just make sure you've secured your valuables." Jamil firmly reminds. "There's thieves likely to walk around here and steal from the other customers." Charlie made sure to conceal her necklace from plain sight and tucked the pendant under the dress. But she knew that if ANYONE were to steal from her, they'd have made the biggest mistake when stealing from a fifth degree black belt.

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"It's all crowded over there. What's going on?" Cater looks over a crowd of heads further up to see what was going on.

"I see you've noticed the street performers." Jamil acknowledged.

"Juggling, Pantomime, even a musician troupe...they all look great." Trey nods.

"Whoa! The monkey's on a unicycle while juggling!" Grim gasped as Cater took a video of it.

"Hey, Charlie! I need you to- huh?!" Grim looked around wildly. "Wh-Where'd my minion go?!"

The girl, however, mezmerized by the street music, drew near the troupe of musicians and soon, began to dance in their corner. They acknowledged her with small glances, but once they saw what she was doing, they smiled and began to play their music faster. Her arabic dancing was mixed with her own modern flair as the music played on, and soon she began to gather a crowd of onlookers who cheered as she danced for their delight. A few other young women, no doubt from the music troupe, joined in with her, their own blue gowns making her garnet, black and gold dress pop out from the rest. The twirls, dips and spins she pulled off made her skirts fly like a colorful pinwheel. As the music picked up to an even faster pace, Charlie freestyled her dancing, gaining several cheers and roars from the crowd. The ruckus drew in the group who smiled upon seeing her dancing.

"You're awesome! Go, Charlie!!" Kalim cheers. As the music hit the last notes, Charlie struck a pose, the dancers around her keeling low and the crowds went wild. Whistling and screams echoed through the crowd as small coins of gold were thrown. The musicians rose and bowed with the dancers as they began to thank the crowd for their donations and gathered the gold in hand. However, most of the girls, rather impressed by Charlie's dancing, gave her their collection of coins. The pile grew so much one girl gave her a cloth pouch to hold them all. Charlie kept spewing thanks as each person gave her a few coins or even a handful, especially the musicians, even if she clearly said the musicians have earnt it more than she did. She managed to escape the crowd once most of the gold coins were collected. Zipping the pouch up, she carefuly clutched the bag in her hands as Kalim hugged her from behind.

"Charlie!! You were amazing!" He gushed with a bright grin. "You dance even better than me!"

"Thanks, Kalim." she blushed at that.

"And this is so going up online later!" Cater taps away at his phone. Before Charlie could get to him, she stopped when Malleus stood next to her.

"You were truly fantastic out there, Titania." he smiled at her. 'Quite the performer, I may add."

"Thank you, Oberon. It means a lot to me." she thanked back. She'll need to bury away the bulging bag of coins in her purse when they got back to the palace. Good thing she didn't stuff the purse into her bra, otherwise it'd get heavy and smell rusty VERY fast.

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"So! You guys liking this so far?" Kalim asks as they continued walking on.

"Of course! Everything's just so photogenic!" Cater praised.

"Yea! Just a shame Lilia couldn't join us." Kalim frowned slightly.

"Pretty bad karma getting sick on the day of the trip like this." Trey muttered.

Malleus couldn't help but agree. "Yes. Rather unfortunate. But he did say he likes traveling alone. He'd go worldwide by himself. Since I never got out of the castle, He's always told me stories about his trips. And brought back various things with him from the foreign lands. I was always excited when he gifted me with something. That's why I wish to return the favor."

Charlie began to squeal. "Awwww, that's so sweet!"

"I'm glad you think that Titania. I just need some input on what to get him."

"Count me in!" Kalim volunteers.

"Same here." Cater nods.

"Can we see what they have to offer?" Trey asked Jamil, who nods.

"Sure. I think I've we can find something that can suit him." Cater and Kalim share a knowing look.

"...You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I think so...."

"Instruments!!!"

"Keep an eye on him!" Jamil shouted after them as the two ran off to their location. They made it to a rather large stall and looked around.

"Wow...there's a plethora!"

"This shop's known for selling traditional instruments so we're bound to find something!" Kalim encourages.

"It's too hard....oh! How about this?" Cater held up a sitar.

"Well, Lilia knows his way around a guitar or two."

"But it's expensive! We can't get something like this!" Cater saw the price tag, which made his heart drop.

"I'll handle the payment." Kalim offers, but Cater shook his head frantically.

"I-I can't just let you handle it! It's better of we bought it together! If I let you do the all the work for me I can't forgive myself!"

"Oh....Now I see. Then, why not split the cost? Maybe...a snake flute?" He points out one carved from dark wood with a unique shape to it.

"Sure! But what's it sound like...?"

"I can play it for you so you'd know how it'd sound like." the booth owner offered. He takes the instrument from the display case and began to play a rathe hypnotic tune, fingers moving across the key holes like spider legs.

"Neat! That's the one for Lilia!" Cater agreed, looking at the price. "Yep! This one we can afford! What say you, Kalim?"

"Definitely! Let's see if we can find one that speaks to us, too!"

"And maybe a lil practice session?"

"I don't see why not! We...we always do a lot of practice....a LOT of practice....that reminds me: did we practice recently?"

"Not that I know of." Cater shrugged. "I mean, we did but not as of late. It's that, once we do a solid run through, we tend to rest and laze around. It's more a little social group for the three of us."

"Totally! It's more a hangout spot than a practice room." Kalim agrees.

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"Any sign of them?" Trey looks around trying to see if they were heading back.

"It shouldn't be that far from us." Jamil assured. "If they strayed from their task. I-"

"Hey!! We got the gift!" Kalim shouts as the two jog over to the group.

"We kinda went around, and went to different locations."

"Good. You found what you needed." Jamil nodded curtly. "You got an instrument?"

"Oh! Yea...about that...we, uh, didn't actually get an instrument!"

"HUH?!"

"We got a plethora of food instead!" Cater answered as they showed off a few sweet things and a bag of dried berries and nuts, titular to what they always did when it was club activity. Charlie snickered beside Trey as Jamil held a look that screamed 'Why me?'. "By the way, where'd Malleus go?"

"He's right there, in the doorway to one shop!" Kalim pointed him out. "Seems like he's stuck on what to get Lilia, too."

"But they have such history! Maybe he's just thinking things through deeply."

"Malleus, do you require any help?" Jamil offered.

"I'm just having a hard time choosing what to get." Malleus answered. "Lilia says he likes to collect pennants, but I don't spot any here."

"Pennant? What's that?" Trey asked.

"It's a small flag banner to symbolize the country it comes from. I received quite a handful of them from Lilia so I decorated my room with them. And since the country is best known for its fabrics, a pennant would suit him just fine."

One of the nearby booth owners overheard so he spoke up. "Actually, those were available quite some time ago and they're not sold in every shop."

"Oh...well, thank you." Mal frowned sadly.

"Well, what about this?" Jamil offered a subsitute.

"Oh hell no! That's an ugly ass shirt!" Charlie gagged as Malleus analyzed it carefully. She overheard Jamil saying that this was what the genie had worn when he was freed from the lamp and went to travel the world.

"I will admit: this does suit Lilia quite nicely." Malleus admits. "I'll take it." he accepts the purchase as Jamil pays forth ad the owner thanks him for shopping.

"You're lucky! Today whomever shops here gets a 10% discount in honor of the festival! So, you also get another for free!"

Malleus was silent as he took in the information. The others shared looks of Malleus taking a shirt that didn't fit his personality. But- "I'll take it." And that made a few have some life questions. And Charlie swearing to burn that horrid shirt one day when she visits Diasomnia.

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"Hey, uh, Trey? I've noticed you've been looking through stores back and forth. You looking for anything specific?" Cater asks.

"Fresh tomato juice." Was the answer. "Lili says it's his favorite."

"Oh yeah, I forgot!"

"Lilia would be pleased to see each fruit has good quality about it." Malleus says.

"It was back at the first bazaar but there's none here..." Trey sighed, feeling bad he didn't get the chance to get some earlier. "Guess beggars can't be choosers. I'll have to resort to a backup gift."

"And what may that be?"

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"Spices." But at that word, all the color drained from Malleus' face. He started looking like a sheet of paper. "Lilia tells me he does a lot of cooking."

"I second that! I think he'd be glad with that!" Cater supports.

"Let's see....pepper flakes and dried mint...they seem like classics." Trey scanned the shelves of bottled spices, picking out some as he went. "Olive oil, nut oil, pomegranate dressing...."

"Uh...Oberon? Why do you look like you're having a Vietnam flashback?" Charlie stood at his side with worry as Malleus approached the other third years.

"Hold on." He held up a hand to the two who looked back at him.

"Uh, Malleus? Something wrong?" Trey asked.

"I don't suppose you two have EATEN anything from Lilia before, have you?" Malleus approached the subject. The two answer honestly.

"Not that I recall."

"Me neither! Why, have you tasted it before?"

"Well.....the food he makes....it's has a bit of an, uh....how do I put this....?" He tried to find the right words to say without scaring the two before him. "Well....I guess there are really no words to describe it."

"You mean like it tasted rotten?"

"Not the word I'm looking for...yet, if you're keen to gift him spices, well.... 'you have my sympathy for the future' is all I'll say." At that the two backed away in fear as he added, "...and that's my ONLY warning for the both of you."

"Okay, Oberon! Let's stop scaring the two before you give em war flashback, Kay Kay?" Charlie broke the tension with a smile. "Besides, they're not really gonna get spices, ARE YOU?" She glared over her shoulder at the two.

"U-Uh....right! No spices." Trey quickly agreed, putting the bottles back on the shelves. "Okay, then back to square 1: tomato juice. If only they sell it here...." He began to wander off as Charlie looked back at Malleus.

"It's really that scarring for you, isn't it?"

"Emotionally, mentally and psychologically, Titania...." He sighed, resting beside her.

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"Ugh, good! Got it." Trey smiled as he stashed away the small cans. "Well we've all got Lilia something to make up for his absence here."

Charlie cradles the small ceramic Black Rose statue she found from one stall in particular. The glossy black paint mixed with the matte green and undertone of gold glitter in the petals framed the small flower perfectly, like something out of a morbid fairy tale. Something Lilia would approve of. And: she bought it with a Few gold coins from the dancing she performed a few minutes ago.

"And that small ceramic statue is from her and I!" Grim chortled.

"Lilia will surely thank you all once he receives them." Malleus nods. "We'll go back to Diasomnia once we return to campus. I wish to tell Lilia about our trip."

"Now that shopping's all done, where to next?" Jamil smiled.

"Hang on!" Cater sniffed the air. "I smell coffee!"

"Yea, a lot of the locals like black tea and dark coffee. There's practically a coffee shop on every corner." Jamil answered. "And sometimes, we add spice to add a kick to the dark roasts. And sometimes a little reading."

"You mean like fortune telling from the tea that's brewed?" Charlie already knew about this.

"Exactly." Jamil nods. "Unfiltered coffee with a dash of ground spice. One drink later, the future can be told by the sentiment's pattern."

"Uh....sounds confusing...." Grim was a bit lost.

"Would you like to try it?" Jamil offers. "Najma taught me so I can do it if you'd like."

"Ooh! Me me!!" Cater was all in.

"You do have a knowledge of astrology. I'll request one as well." Trey seconds.

"I as well. Ive never heard of fortune telling like this ever." Malleus added.

"Me as well!"

"Sure, why not?"

"Alright, let's get to the terrace across the street." Jamil leads them away.

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"Okay, now remember: DON'T Drink the sediment."

"You got it!" Grim nods, taking one long sip of the cup, as the others did so. Grim takes the cup away, lips puckered. "Tastes fermented. Is this even coffee?"

"It's just a light roast. Ones with cardamom or anything else are stronger. This is the more preferred when it comes to sweets. Speaking of," Jamil pushed out a small ceramic container of wrapped candy. "Try one. It's easier to drink the coffee that way."

Grim carefully ripped off the cellophane wrapper and threw the small gem-like dot in his mouth. "...Whoa, that is better!" The process was repeated when he reached the sludge at the bottom of the mug. With Jamil's instruction the saucer concealed the top and flipped over. Grim's paws laid over the top and asked, "Will I truly become one of the greatest?"

"Typical." Charlie scoffed, folding her arms. She already knew he'd ask that from the getgo.

"Well...let us see." Jamil says. He brought the cup to him and concealing it from the others' gazes and especially Grim's. His eyes scanned the inside of the porcelain and they closed. He sighed and says, "...I'm afraid It can't be read."

"HUH?! But WHY?!"

"....I told you not to drink it all but You drank all the sediment!" Jamil showed him the proof that the mug was entirely empty. "Ugh, I'm surprised you can handle bitter stuff...."

"Well, at least the mystery remains a mystery~." Cater snickers.

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Back at the market....

"I should consider getting coffee for Silver." Malleus pondered. "Something strong to keep him awake..."

"I'd agree! And what about Sebek?" Kalim asks.

"He doesn't drink coffee, so I'm not sure...."

"Why not get black tea?" Jamil offers. "It's a crowd favorite. People usually drink ten cups per day."

"As do those in the Rose Kingdom, but ten's too daunting...." Trey laughs awkwardly.

"Sounds worse than that cup of crap I downed..." Grim pales.

"Yea, it's got some bitterness to it. Maybe more....but Sugar does counter it. And try it with sweets."

"Candy with sugared black tea? Too sweet for my liking." Grim stuck his tongue out.

"It's mostly used to destress and calm down people so that'd work for Sebek."

"Yes, he does have some impatience." Malleus nods.

" 'Some'? More like an assload." Charlie stuck her tongue out in disagreement. But Malleus agreed to but some black tea. Jamil looked away as his eyes closed.

"Uh, Jamil? Something wrong?" Kalim notices immediately.

"I-I just got reminded of what happened back in PE...an incident..."

-flashback-

As Jamil began to start the flying lessons, he looked over at Sebek who was busy doing his own warmups.

"Sebek kept a small cookie in is uniform pocket given to him by Malleus. Said it'd be a waste of he threw it away." But Sebek somehow tripped over his own two feet and face-planted in the grass as crumbs spilled out of his pocket. "He ended up crushing it when he fell. He got this look on his face that made anybody pity him when they saw him."

-end-

"Guess he was too upset to drink tea that day...."

"They're fresh, by the way, so be sure to tell him to drink them soon before the expiration date." Jamil warns.

"I shall do so." Malleus nods.

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"Wow....those hourglasses look great!" Trey saw a few on a display stand.

"They're also considered lucky charms!" Kalim leads him to the display. "And with it come benefits based on the sand's color!" "And taken from a legend." Jamil points up to the sign of colors signifying their purpose. trey took his time reading and then made two choices: Peacock Green and Crimson Red.

"Who are they for?" Cater asks.

"Ace and Deuce, to their corresponding colors." Trey answered.