Okay, if I had to describe the experience with Kio, whatever whatever, with one word, it would be OUCH! I don't understand how this is the same world where pulleys aren't a thing in one place, but in places like this guy's shop, he has access to tools closer to my timeline! Was the empire just lacking technology that badly!?

  From the very short amount of time I've spent inside Romaritime, I can't help but notice a huge difference between nations, which is even more evident by the tools this Taylor of hell has! Kio actually used geared machinery to measure the size of my head within a couple of millimeters!

  Not to mention, Martigan had an actual cellphone, which is probably another reincarnation's invention but still quite impressive. In any case, apparently, this guy was supposed to make me some sort of magic-resistant armor made from some spider silk or something, so that was cool!

  I've never had armor that actually fit me, so this was a very decent move from the King, especially since this guy seemed to be quite expensive by the looks of all the things he had in his shop. However, something did feel a little odd; I just couldn't tell what exactly.

  "So, where are you from, young lady? You don't look like you're from here." Kio asks me out of the blue, and I don't know how to respond. I mean, why would he care?

  "Why do you want to know?" I asked the man back, and he followed up with a polite response. "Not for any particular reason. I am just trying to ease things up with you since you've been grunting the entire time." Oh, man! BUSTED! "I am from within the borderlands of the Empire."

  "Oh, I see! Your pearly white skin makes more sense now. I bet it helps blend in with the snow a lot more," The man says, which makes me incredibly suspicious right then and there; how the fuck did he know about the snow? Was it too well-known or something? I may seem paranoid, but I can't trust anyone, can I?

  "How do you know I come from the borderland where there's snow?" Kio immediately halts his movements, giving me even more anxiety as I begin to scan for possible retaliatory weapons around me. "It was just a lucky guess!" Kio says with a suspicious, guilty tone.

  {Loud Thumping from within the back of the shop}

  "What was that?" That loud noise outside was the last straw with me. I was not about to fuck around and find out with this guy anymore. It was hands of everything on the table! "Did you really think some simple jail cell bars could hold me back, baby?" My body automatically freezes as soon as I recognize that voice, which still makes me tremble in fear.

  {Thunderstone - Kevin Penkin}

  "No, but how could you be out? They had you in a maximum security cell. You can't be real!" I scream, trying to get their attention of Jamie, but nothing comes from within the front part of the shop either, giving me goosebumps as I feel incredibly vulnerable again.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "What's wrong, sweetie? You're not as tough as you thought? Look at you shivering like a pathetic little loser," Martigan now talks in his usual voice and face as he takes off some sort of fucked up skin mask from his face revealing his horrible real face once and for all. "I know you can't be tricked by magic, but you're still incredibly naive and stupid. Did you think someone like my master wouldn't have to tools to fool even you!? Goodnight bitch!"

  Martigan quickly takes advantage of my freeze response to impale my neck with something sharp and pointy that rapidly makes me incredibly dizzy. "AHHHHG! GUUHHG AHHG! What, uh, what is this?" I try to put my hand over the thing stuck in my neck, which only serves to push it further.

  "Oh dear, I wonder if I should just make you deaf and mute this time as well so you can't fuck me over this time. Oh well, I'll figure that out later; we will have lots of fun together!" No! Please, no, please! AHHHHHHHG! I refuse to go down again, not again! Grade first!

  Activating grade first for a couple of seconds only seems to make things even worse as I quickly lose my balance until I tumble down onto the ground, hearing Martigan laugh even more. "Such a stupid move. Haven't you noticed your heart rate goes through the roof when you use that? You only spread the venom faster!"

  Somebody please help me, someone please help me. {Loud bell} A bell? Uh!? UUHHHG!

  [Switch POV, Jamie's POV]

  They sure are taking a long time; it reminds me of when I came here with the King's daughter, although I can't say Annabel is as fond of shopping as she is. Oh well, who cares? In my opinion, they're both quite lovely gals, albeit I do like Annabel a lot more since she doesn't have that bossy attitude as the princess does.

  {Loud thumping}

  Uh? Where's that noise coming from? It doesn't sound from the shop itself, but from the back of it, I wonder what it could be. I guess I best check it out since I've got nothing better to do until they're done in there. A box? What could be inside a box of this size at the back of the shop, making all that movement inside of it?

  I thought to myself as I pried open the box lid, finally letting myself see the man inside of it! It was Kioharumomo! But how could he be inside the box when I just saw him with Lady Annabel!? "You should never leave your back wide open; didn't you learn that at elite school?" Someone whispers behind me as I feel a small dagger pierce my skin from within the openings of my plated armor.

  Shit! Who the hell had the balls to go against me? "Didn't you do your research? I am not some nobody nameless guard!" I yell back at the intruder, quickly pushin' them against the wall behind me with so much strength that it stunts them a little before they can react. Yet their clothes made me even more nervous as they wore the mantel of the shadows.

  Only royal families and rich douches can hire these guys, which means that someone of that caliber could do this, but why would they want to go against Lady Annabel? It made no sense! No matter! This was an emergency! "Hell bells! Reinforcement alarm!"

  As per protocol, I sounded the reinforcement emergency alarm while rapidly heading inside the shop, kicking down the backdoor without second thoughts. My mission was to keep Annabel safe! Yet there's nobody inside the shop. When I go inside, I see nothing but the signs of a struggle inside as there are blood drips leading to a poorly placed carpet on the floor.

  Removing the carpet quickly leads to a small door, which I then try to rip apart. Yet Something triggers as a man's voice starts speaking in my ear. "That latch handle has already been marked!" {Loud explosion}