The town streets were crowded with people from everywhere. It wasn't as much packed as it would seem, but there was a great number of people exchanging walks. Either standing and eye looking or interested in the food stalls and item stalls that caught their favor.
It couldn't be anymore clearer that nothing was done to interrupt this special occasion. Or so it was.
From the crowd of people minding their own business, some were being shoved and pushed aside as their grunts and voices sounded to be disgusted.
"Hey watch it!"
"What's the big deal!?"
"Hey!"
For whoever this person was it obvious from the face, the hair, an the clothes. It was Alice. She was running and squeezing her way through the crowd. She didn't want to wait any longer. I have to find him, is what she is thinking on and on as she is relentlessly on the go, without stop. If they were to slow down amd walk, they'll just be wasting more precious time.....just as they did earlier and nothing was going for them. Only that they were meeting people that didn't deserve their attention.
Alice's thoughts were elsewhere as she was running, and all of a sudden-Bam! She hit someone and fell to the ground.
"Uh, my head," she groaned.
"Hey Mister are you okay," an older lady called out to someone else (that person that Alice hit). She is a produce seller. She then looked down at Alice who was rubbing her head. "Hey girl, you should watch where you are running?!"
"Huh?" Alice wonderd. She look up and saw an angry elderly lady staring at her. Returning her eyes below she saw the person she bumped into.
Immediately, she acted.
"Oh I'm SORRY!" She exclaimed upon realising her mistake as she sprang up to her feet. "Let me get that for you," she volunteered to pick the fruits off the ground that fell within her area.
"Here. I hope they're not spoiled," Alice apologized holding the fruits in both hands.
"Girl, these fruits, there..." the elderly person was going to disagree.
"That's alright," the man said.
The elderly gasped. "Is that really okay?" She asked.
He nodded.
With this, Alice, who thought this was the end of her, was relieved not get the whip on her. "Sorry, I gotta go," she injected her second apology and sprinted.
The elderly was surprised again. "Hey!" She exclaimed.
Alice disappeared into the crowd, never to be seen again.
"I can't believe this. Young girls these days don't know how to respect others."
The man's gaze concentrated on Alice, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Do you know her?" The elderly produce seller asked, thinking if the man knew a thing or two.
Sadly, "No...," the man replied.
On with the continuation of Alice's search while she ran, she felt horrible bumping into the man earlier and then she got an earful from the produce seller. This was the exact thing she was trying to avoid. But regardless, wherever she may be, whatever time it is, it was inevitable to outrun the outcome. She was probably sure to end up in a similar situation. Forget about it, she thought. She was coming to a stop at her destination.
At the centre of the town stood a rock statue of a woman holding a staff. The square was oval-shaped, leaving an open walking space around the monument. The statue rose from the middle of an ornate fountain, carved with delicate marine animals---fish and other sea creatures---spouting thin streams of water.
'This is the place... right?'
She scanned the area anxiously.
'But where is the man he mentioned?'
'I don't see him.'
Just as Alice was getting her hopes up, she unintentionally spotted something in the distance-a black amd white stall.
"Is that it?" She muttered.
So she walked over to the stall to investigate.
Ben was in no hurry. He was calm and friendly as he walked carefully amongst the crowd of people, not too harsh or rude towards them like a certain someone. Thinking back on the why question as to Alice's current curiosity really made him unsure. He thought things would go easily, not as though it were a circus. Flattering, he thought of it, but ambitious and determined.
When he had reached the centre of the town, he was met with the same thing that Alice first saw: the statue. It was as true as it was written in the textbooks that Ben had read during his studies and lectures that the Director would so often give him, as it was a must for him to learn, understand, and put into good use. And that good use is coming in handy, now that he has the courtesy of having the utmost honour of seeing it with his very own eyes.
The statue has been called many names through the generations. Silver maiden. Protector of the weak. Lady of Aggem. The people never knew her identity, but knew she was a woman. The mysterious one. That was something they'd never know, but they still welcomed her as the protector of all.
He then heard a familiar voice.
When he turned, he saw Alice running to him. She looked exhausted.
"What is it? Are you okay?" Asked Ben.
"Yeah, yeah," she crouched, her hands on her knees, as she breathed in and out. "I'm okay...just need to breathe."
She went on to explain her sudden appearance when she was done and rested. She went on to tell him that he met the man in black and white, and that they'd find their first lead up the mountainous hill where the only resident in the province, who has the person they need, will help.
Ben was shocked. He didn't think Alice could pull it off.
She didn't, she could too.