Chapter 412 - 412

How dare you touch me?" Her voice sounded like a melody to his ears and for a second he hadn't realized he had been slapped. It was the faint stinging that spread on his cheek that made him aware of the situation. 

"I...I, wait!" He called out to her as he realized she was planning on leaving. "Please don't go. I've been watching you and I…"

"You've been stalking me?" She asked surprised and took a step back, looking as if she was suddenly scared of him.

"Yes, no! I haven't. I just....wait give me a second to gather my thoughts" he told her. The truth was Tallin was expecting her to leave. She had all the time to do so while he was trying to think of something but for some unknown reason she had decided to stay. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she was tapping impatiently her foot on the stoned path.

"Your time is running out" she told him with squeezed eyes.

"Yes." He said and readied himself by taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I did not mean it. The truth is I saw you the other day, picking flowers from the shop and I thought I had to talk to you. Know your name." He told her and she raised her eyebrow.

"You're not from here are you?" She asked him. It was a question. Which surprised him quite a lot. Did he really look that out of place? For a second he looked down, checking his clothes but it didn't seem to be that different from anyone else's. Maybe the way he talked?

"How did you know?" Tallin asked her and she laughed. The young elf felt his heart skip a bit, startling him for a second.

"Well, everyone knows me. At least here." She said. "Can't you see that everyone is looking at us?" She asked and Tallin looked around. The truth was that he could only see her and he hadn't noticed the villager that gifted them with some very weird glances. 

"I am really sorry that my knowledge of the famous people here is lacking. I hope I haven't insulted you."

"I'm not famous in that kind of way" the young girl told him and she wore her hoodie once more. "thank you for wanting to talk to me. You really flatter me, you seem like a very nice guy but it would be best for you to get away from me. There are many pretty girls here with a much better reputation than mine's" she said. She was intending to leave but Tallin didn't want to let go of her yet. He began walking by her side, his feet light, his hands entwined behind his back.

"I still want to know your name." He told her and she scoffed.

"Don't blame me later." She told him, shaking her head.

"I won't, so tell me your name."

"Atalanti. My name is Atalanti." 

"That is a very beautiful name. I am Tallin. So tell me Atalanti." He told her, smiling as he pronounced her name. "Would you like to have lunch with me? I am starving."

"You really don't know what you're getting yourself into, do you?" She told him. Atalanti had stopped walking and was now looking at him, a disatisfied expression on her beautiful face.

"Why don't you enlighten me then?" He asked her.

"I've been to prison for trying to kill the king." She announced, her face expressionless while Tallin looked as if he had just gotten hit by lightning. He blinked a few times, his head tilted to the side.

"I see." He said.

"I see?" 

"You must have had your reasons." He said and Atalanti's eyes widened in shock.

"Are you really that horny?" She asked and for a second Tallin remained silent. He couldn't restrain himself no matter how hard he tried. He bursted out laughing at her words, this was the first time he had heard someone talk like that. 

"No." He said while laughing. "It's just your eyes, they're too beautiful to be evil." He complimented her and the young girl blushed, not expecting his answer. "So how about it, will you let me buy you lunch?" He asked her again and she sighed.

"Sure, let's go. Follow me. I will show you a good place." She told him and they started walking again side by side. Tallin was itching to ask her about what she had revealed to him. He had seen that the people, no matter which part of the village they went to, kept staring at her, a hateful expression on their faces. Old and young walked the other side as she passed and a few even swore at her. She didn't seem to be faced by it though, she walked proudly, her head high not even giving them the pleasure of looking at them. Even the way she moved around was magnificent, Tallin thought and found himself, subconsciously falling in love more and more with her. 

With every step, with every word they exchanged and every glance Tallin felt his heart start a riot. Sometimes he felt as if he would die right there, her affect on him was that serious. 

They spoke, Tallin mostly did actually. He told her where he came from, what he was doing here and about his home. She listened eagerly and from time to time she asked him a few questions.

"And is your home beautiful?"

"Yes, very. It's by the seashore. You can hear the waves and smell the sea. The sand glows underneath the sun. I think it's perfect."

"I've never seen the sea. I've heard it smells like salt." 

"Yes but it's a bit different too. I don't know how to explain it. I think it smells nice. Some don't" 

"I see."

"I can take you to the sea. If you want to see it, of course."

"You haven't even taken me for lunch yet and now you invite me to your home? You might regret it later" she joked with a faint smile. When she was smiling she looked so beautiful, Tallin thought. It was the same thought again and again. She was beautiful. He simply couldn't get it out of his head. He felt embarrassed as he sounded like a lovestruck teen. 

"I don't think I will" he told her and she giggled. She had seemed so tough at first but now, she looked simply kind. He couldn't understand why people would treat her so badly.

"We are here." Atalanti told him and pointed at a small tavern with her index finger. It was just a few meters away when Tallin heard someone call for his name.

He turned around, recognizing the strict tone of the owner and gulped as he met his eyes. It was his teacher, coming towards him in a hurry with two of his assistants. All of their faces seemed furious.

"Tallin! Come here right this instant!" He screamed and his frown became bigger the moment he saw Atalanti. "You shouldn't be out here especially with such low class company., you should be studying." He scolded him

"Teacher!" Tallin exclaimed. "How could you speak like that."

"Don't lecture me!" He told him and grabbed him from the tip of his ear. "Come on. We are going back right now and you young lady. Don't try to scam my students. Just because he is new here it doesn't mean he will fall victim to your schemes" he told her. Atalanti did not answer while Tallin struggled to be set free. They dragged him away, his eyes stuck on her.

"I will find you again" he told her.

"Don't" she replied, expressionless.

....

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