SECRET N ° 269 The Strange Merchant chapter 15 FINAL PART 2/2

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Chapter 15 FINAL PART 2/2

The Market of Tresorville

The afternoon sun bathed the central square in golden light, making the worn cobblestones shimmer. The merchants’ stalls lined up in joyful chaos, overflowing with colorful fabrics, juicy fruits, and finely crafted jewelry. The air was filled with the scent of warm bread, tanned leather, and spices from distant lands. The voices of traders rose in a chorus of negotiations and jokes, punctuated by the laughter of children running between the stands.

Amidst this peaceful hustle, Lucien stood still.

He gazed around with a troubled look, as if something eluded him. A strange sensation weighed on his mind, a feeling of emptiness he could not explain. He knew he had come here for a specific reason… but what was it?

His gaze drifted to his belt, where his notebook hung. A worn-out notebook, filled with scribbled pages. Yet, he did not remember writing in it. He flipped through it quickly. The words were there, his handwriting too… but they seemed foreign, as if someone else had written them in his place. He ran his fingers over the pages, feeling their rough texture against his skin. Why did he feel a slight pang in his heart as he read them?

A shiver ran down his spine.

Instinctively, he slipped a hand into his pocket and felt a cold, metallic object against his palm. He slowly pulled it out and examined it.

A gold coin.

Simple, without inscription, without any distinct markings.

Lucien frowned.

Something was wrong. He had no memory of acquiring it. And yet, deep inside, he knew it was important.

A wave of contradictory emotions washed over him: curiosity, a hint of nostalgia, and slight unease. It was like searching for a word on the tip of his tongue, an elusive memory dancing at the edge of his mind, never quite within reach.

Why did this coin give him the feeling that he had lost something invaluable?

A whisper of wind rustled the leaves of the trees lining the square. Instinctively, Lucien lifted his gaze and, in the distance, he saw a figure on horseback.

A man clad in a dark cape.

His posture was familiar, though his face was half-hidden beneath a hood. Lucien squinted, trying to make out his features. A strange sensation overtook him… A hazy memory, a sense of déjà vu. He knew this man. He was certain of it.

But why?

The rider, as if sensing Lucien’s gaze, slightly turned his head. A golden glint shone from beneath his hood—a coin, identical to the one Lucien still held in his hand.

Their eyes met.

A heartbeat.

Then, without a word, the man spurred his horse and rode away from the village, vanishing into a cloud of dust.

Lucien remained frozen, his hand clenched around the gold coin.

He felt a sudden urge to run after him, to stop him, to ask questions… but what questions? He did not even know what he wanted to ask. He only had this unsettling feeling of having brushed against something important without being able to grasp it.

A gentle breeze swept through the square, carrying the scent of spices and burning wood. The market continued its life, unbothered. The villagers laughed, bargained, and chatted as if nothing had happened.

As if nothing had ever happened.

Lucien shrugged slightly, an uncertain smile on his lips.

He glanced one last time at the gold coin, rolled it between his fingers, then slipped it back into his pocket. Perhaps it was just an ordinary coin, after all.

Perhaps…

He turned his attention to the market stalls, where an old antique dealer displayed rare objects. A vintage clock with a complex mechanism caught his eye. He stepped closer, leaving behind the unresolved mystery.

Unbeknownst to him, he had just achieved his greatest feat.

The Kingdom of Secrets still existed, lurking beneath the surface of the world, watching from the shadows.

But no one remembered it anymore.

THE END.

chapitre 15 FINAL PART 2/2

Le marché de Trésorville.

Le soleil d’après-midi baignait la place centrale d’une lumière dorée, faisant scintiller les pavés usés par les ans. Les étals des marchands s’alignaient en un joyeux chaos, débordant de tissus colorés, de fruits juteux et de bijoux ciselés. L’air était empli de l’odeur du pain chaud, du cuir tanné et des épices venues de contrées lointaines. Les voix des commerçants s’élevaient dans un concert de négociations et de plaisanteries, ponctuées par les éclats de rire des enfants courant entre les étals.

Au milieu de cette agitation paisible, Lucien était immobile.

Il observait tout autour de lui avec un regard troublé, comme si quelque chose lui échappait. Une sensation étrange pesait sur son esprit, une impression de vide qu’il n’arrivait pas à expliquer. Il savait qu’il était venu ici pour une raison précise… mais laquelle ?

Son regard glissa vers sa ceinture, où pendait son carnet de notes. Un carnet usé, rempli de pages griffonnées. Pourtant, il ne se souvenait pas avoir écrit dedans. Il le feuilleta rapidement. Les mots étaient bien là, son écriture aussi… mais ils semblaient étrangers, comme si un autre les avait tracés à sa place. Il effleura les pages du bout des doigts, sentant leur texture rugueuse sous sa peau. Pourquoi ressentait-il un léger pincement au cœur en les lisant ?

Un frisson lui parcourut l’échine.

Machinalement, il glissa une main dans sa poche et sentit un objet froid et métallique contre sa paume. Il le sortit lentement et l’observa.

Une pièce d’or.

Simple, sans inscription, sans motif distinctif.

Lucien fronça les sourcils.

Quelque chose clochait. Il n’avait aucun souvenir de l’avoir obtenue. Et pourtant, il savait, au plus profond de lui, qu’elle était importante.

Une vague d’émotions contradictoires l’envahit : de la curiosité, une pointe de nostalgie et une légère angoisse. C’était comme chercher un mot sur le bout de la langue, un souvenir insaisissable qui dansait à la lisière de son esprit sans jamais se laisser attraper.

Pourquoi cette pièce lui donnait-elle l’impression d’avoir perdu quelque chose d’inestimable ?

Un murmure du vent fit frissonner les feuilles des arbres bordant la place. Instinctivement, Lucien leva les yeux et, au loin, il aperçut une silhouette à cheval.

Un homme vêtu d’une cape sombre.

Son allure était familière, bien que son visage fût à moitié dissimulé sous une capuche. Lucien plissa les yeux, essayant de discerner ses traits. Une sensation étrange s’empara de lui… Un souvenir diffus, une impression de déjà-vu. Il connaissait cet homme. Il en était certain.

Mais pourquoi ?

Le cavalier, comme s’il avait senti le regard de Lucien, tourna légèrement la tête. Un éclat doré brilla sous sa capuche – une pièce, identique à celle que Lucien tenait encore dans sa main.

Leurs regards se croisèrent.

Un battement de cœur.

Puis, sans un mot, l’homme talonna son cheval et s’éloigna du village, disparaissant dans un nuage de poussière.

Lucien resta figé, la main serrée autour de la pièce d’or.

Il eut l’envie soudaine de courir après lui, de l’arrêter, de lui poser des questions… mais quelles questions ? Il ne savait même pas ce qu’il voulait demander. Il avait juste cette sensation dérangeante d’avoir frôlé quelque chose d’important, sans pouvoir mettre le doigt dessus.

Un vent léger souffla sur la place, emportant avec lui une odeur d’épices et de bois brûlé. Le marché continuait sa vie, insouciant. Les villageois riaient, marchandaient, bavardaient comme si de rien n’était.

Comme si rien ne s’était jamais passé.

Lucien haussa légèrement les épaules, un sourire incertain aux lèvres.

Il observa une dernière fois la pièce d’or, la fit tourner entre ses doigts, puis la glissa à nouveau dans sa poche. Peut-être n’était-elle qu’une pièce banale, après tout.

Peut-être…

Il reporta son attention sur les étals du marché, où un vieil antiquaire exposait des objets rares. Une vieille horloge à mécanisme complexe attira son regard. Il s’en approcha, laissant derrière lui le mystère non résolu.

Sans le savoir, il venait d’accomplir son plus grand exploit.

Le Royaume des Secrets existait toujours, tapi sous la surface du monde, veillant dans l’ombre.

Mais plus personne ne s’en souvenait.

FIN.


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(edited)

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