Between Two Worlds 3
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Alex, who was still in the market, felt a wave of confusion rising inside him. The conversation he overheard about Darius and Leo made him question the nature of the world he found himself in.
"Am I really inside my novel?" he whispered to himself, looking around at the people moving through the market.
But something began to worry him. If Darius was acting differently, did that mean the story had changed? Or was there someone else, like him, who had entered this world and tried to rewrite the events?
"I need to move and get that fruit, before Leo takes it."
Without hesitation, Alex made his way through the market with quick steps, avoiding the crowds and carefully watching for any unusual movements.
He knew that the fruit wasn't just any ordinary thing; it was a turning point in the story—it would enhance the abilities of this body.
If I get it first, the story might change in unpredictable ways, but I don't care anyway, I just want to survive.
Alex continued walking quickly, trying to keep calm as he moved between the bustling crowds. His eyes were fixed on the target stall, where he saw the old vendor sitting on a worn wooden chair, surrounded by baskets of various fruits.
There, among a pile of regular fruits, the fruit he was looking for glowed. Its deep purple color and faint aura made it stand out from the other fruits, yet it wasn't noticeable enough to raise suspicion.
The old vendor, seemingly uninterested in those around him, lifted his head when Alex approached. "What do you want, young man?" he asked in a raspy voice.
Alex pointed to the purple fruit. "How much is this?"
The vendor looked at the fruit, then at Alex, and smiled coldly. "This is not for sale."
Alex felt growing anxiety. "But... why?"
The vendor turned his head aside, as if ignoring the question. "This fruit is meant for someone else. I cannot sell it to you."
Alex felt frustration creeping in, but he didn't give up. "Who is this person? Maybe I can negotiate with them."
The vendor chuckled lightly. "You don't understand, young man. This fruit is not mine to sell. It's... special."
Alex realized time was running out. If Leo was nearing the castle, he might be close to the market soon. "I have to get it now," Alex thought, looking for a way to make it happen.
Quickly, Alex looked around, trying to find anything that could help him. Then he noticed a shiny gold coin on the ground, near the vendor's foot. Perhaps it had fallen from a customer.
"Look!" Alex said, pointing to the coin. "This coin fell from you."
The vendor looked down and bent to pick up the coin. At that moment, Alex seized the opportunity, extending his hand quickly and grabbed the purple fruit.
"Thanks!" Alex said quickly, pulling away from the stall.
The vendor stood up swiftly, his eyes widening with anger. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
Alex didn't look back. Instead, he started running through the market, holding the fruit tightly. He knew he couldn't stop now. If he got caught, he would lose everything.
"Stop him!" the vendor shouted, causing some passersby to look toward Alex.
Alex felt his heart pounding faster, but he kept running, avoiding the crowds and trying to find an exit from the market. He knew he had to hide before anyone caught up with him.
After a few minutes of running, Alex found a narrow alley between buildings. He quickly entered it and hid behind a pile of wooden crates. He was breathing heavily, trying to calm himself down.
"I did it," Alex whispered, looking at the fruit that was still shining in his hand. "Now, what do I do with it?"
In the original story, the fruit would enhance Leo's physical and magical abilities. But Alex wasn't sure what effect it would have on him. "Will it give me the same power?"
As he pondered, he heard footsteps approaching the alley. "Where did he go?" he heard someone say.
A wave of panic crept over Alex. "I need to get out of here," he thought, looking for an escape route.
Then he noticed a back door in one of the buildings. Without hesitation, Alex entered through the door and found himself in a dark storage room. He quietly closed the door behind him and tried to calm down.
"Okay, I have the fruit. Now, what do I do with it?" Alex said to himself, looking at the fruit that was still glowing in the darkness.
Alex decided to eat it. "If it's going to give me power, I need it now," he thought, raising the fruit to his mouth.
With every bite, Alex felt a wave of energy flow through his body. It was a strange power, yet familiar at the same time. "This... this feels weird," he whispered, feeling his body change.
After a few moments, Alex felt stronger, faster, and more focused. "It worked," he said quietly, opening his fist to find that the fruit had completely disappeared.
As Alex absorbed the new power flooding his body, the changes became more apparent. He felt his muscles growing harder, and his heartbeats slowed despite the tense situation. His vision became sharper, as if the world around him had slowed down a bit.
But there was no time to celebrate.
Sudden knocks on the door made his heart race. "I know you're there, thief!" came an angry voice from outside. "Come out quietly before we make you regret what you've done!"
Alex gritted his teeth. "Damn it... they haven't left yet," he thought quickly, trying to find a way out. The room was cramped, filled with boxes and bags, with only a small window up high.
"There's no other choice," he whispered to himself, feeling the power surge in his limbs.
He stepped back, then leaped toward the window. The distance was impossible under normal circumstances, but his body moved with a smoothness he had never experienced before.
The glass of the window shattered as he burst through, landing lightly on the roof of the adjacent building. He looked down at the market below, where the men chasing him were searching in all directions.
From the corner of the market, a tall man with black hair and cold eyes stood watching Alex as he escaped. A faint smile crossed his face.
"He's already taken it... interesting," the man whispered, before turning and disappearing into the crowd.