Chapter 12 - Two-sides of a coin

As Theo wasn't in the academy, he didn't activate his Fade - out skill. Plus he wasn't going to do anything particularly impressive nor need to use his strength or skill, he didn't mind the attention too much as they were just a passing speck to him.

Holding all sorts of snacks and food walking around while eating with a carefree smile, many people were attracted to his charm.

He didn't give out an overly arrogant vibe like other nobles nor indifferent to his surroundings, giving off a friendly vibe that people would want to approach. Unknown to Theo, when he withdrew the mercenary aura that he got naturally from his previous life, he gave off a friendly warm vibe especially since he was in a good mood giving off a positive vibe.

Even Max was dumbfounded by what he was seeing.

'What happened to the Theo that had no sense of existence vibe? What is this? Does he realise how many people are looking at him?'

Max ran up the Theo's side, before he could speak up, he passed Max one of his many meat skewers,

"Want one? It taste really good, trust me." Before patting his hand on Max's back when he was secretly wiping his greasy hands as he didn't know where to wipe them.

Taking the skewer and eating it, he asked Theo with a low voice so only the two can hear him, "What happened to your cease-to-exist vibe like in school. How are you attracting so much attention? Don't you dislike the attention?"

Coughing slightly, Theo explained,

"The academy is the academy, I have to stay on guard in the academy and using that 'vibe' helps me avoid unwanted attention. However, outside the academy is different. I can relax and enjoy myself, I don't have to worry about exposing myself. It's not that I hate the attention, but as long as I'm left alone with no one bothering me, I have no problem with it plus, it's not like they know who I am or am going to meet them again."

In the academy he would have to worry about his abilities getting exposed, specifically during combat class. With his ability to master weaponry skills so fast, it would attract the attention of the higher up, he didn't want to live a life chained down like in his last life. He wanted to live freely, with no one pestering him. Which is why it's easier to just 'fade - out' completely in the academy. But he couldn't tell that to Max so he could only explain vaguely.

"As for how I an attracting so much attention, it's of course because my my extremely good-looking face given to me by my lovely parent." Theo continued with a grin.

[Host Narcissism symptoms has started again]

Ignoring the system, Theo continued his journey in the square stuffing himself.

Ignoring the narcissistic comment, Max could vaguely understand what Theo was trying to tell him but he couldnt help but felt that Theo was leaving something out.

Max followed Theo as they ventured away from the Plaza to less crowded areas where the vendors were selling trinkets and some items Theo found interesting.

He then reached a booth selling hand crafted mask. They were of different animals, creature, spirits and beings he couldn't recognise. He found this shop intriguing deciding to buy a mask from here, but he struggled to choose as there were so many mask hanging in the booth where no two mask were the same.

And old man approached Theo, "Are you interested in getting a mask?"

"Yes but there's so many to choose from, I don't know which to get." Theo replied.

"Take your time, choose using your feelings. Which masks do you think connects to you."

Max also entered the booth and was interested in getting one as well.

While Theo decided between the two masks that was place at different parts of the booth that caught his eyes. Max has already decided on the masks he wanted.

The mask Max chose was red, it had a fire like pattern but couldn't understand its meaning when he got to the old man to pay for the mask, the old man explained to him, "This mask represents the phoenix spirit. The bigger the misfortune the more extraordinary their rebirth. I hope it's the one for you."

'Well, I like the meaning to it but, where in the old man's eye does this mask looks like a bird?' Max complained slightly, but was still satisfied with his choice.

While Max was paying for his mask, Theo looked at the two mask in front of him. One was themed white while the other was themed black.

The white mask gave off a joyful welcoming feeling while the black mask gave off an unforgiving ruthless feeling.

He didn't know how to explain but he felt that one wasn't right without the other. When he picked the white masks, he felt like it was calling after the black mask. When he picked up the black mask he felt like it was leaving towards the white mask.

Giving up, he thought, 'Since either of you can't do without the other, I'll just grab you both. I'll use which ever I feel like when I need them.' Decided to buy both.

At the counter, the old man could be heard muttering, "interesting choice, interesting choice."

He then asked Theo, "This two mask were placed at complete different parts, away from the other. How did you end up choosing them?"

Theo felt that the man was kind of long-winded, he just wanted to buy a mask which would be convenient in the future, why should he should explain himself. Having been in a good mood today, he thought slowly and replied, "I don't know, these two caught my eye the moment I looked around the booth when I saw them. When picking which mask to buy I felt like one wasn't right without the other so I decided to get both and use them according to my mood."

"Alright, I'll now explain to you about these masks. Actually, the two mask is a pair however, the person who passed me the masks said that this two mask were ownerless and that they should be placed far apart. Only when a person pick both of them togather that I can sell the mask to the person. If you were to pick the white mask leaving the black, I won't be able to sell them vibe versa."

"The white mask represents the God of Creation while the black mask represents the God of Destruction. They are not one without the other. Two sides of the same coin. Without Creation, Destruction cannot take place, without destruction, Creation cannot take place. One will cease of exist without the other. Therefore they can only be together."

"With you bringing the two together, you have naturally become the owner. After listening to your explanation for picking the mask, I've decided to pass them on to you. You don't have to pay since I wasn't the owner anyways." The old man said with a smile.

Although Theo understood what the old man was saying, he thought 'What's creation and destruction got to do with me? Well, I got two dope mask anyways'

He took a quick look at the item description using the all-seeing eyes,

The white mask shown:

God of Creation Mask

- description: ???

God of Destruction Mask

- description: ???

Ignoring the description, Theo was satisfied that the old man got the name of the masks right. He immediately stored them in his inventory as he didn't want to dirty them. He then went outside the booth to find Max who was waiting outside trying on his mask and checking them with interest.