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“Listen,” he placed a hand atop her shoulder, “-all I know about the curse is from the tales of old. I’ve never seen it come to fruition. One thing is sure, there are plenty of examples of mothers sacrificing their bodies into becoming food for their offspring. My cousin’s taken a liking to you, and by the story told,” motioning to her bracelets, “-the bubble through which one sees the world has been expanded, granted, by a lot of sufferances. The situation now isn’t about liking one another, I honestly don’t care for you,” spun towards the lanterns, “-if you promise to not betray us, I’ll grant any wish thee wants. Acceptable?”

“Why are you being kind?” her eyes watered, “-isn’t treating an enemy as if human a sin or something?”

“Priestess,” said he, “-I’m not being kind, it’s an equal exchange,” a few steps forward, “-I trust your word, best not break it.” A heavier implication suddenly weighed onto her person.

‘A steadfast belief that I won’t betray my words,’ she cringed, ‘-my legs are shaking, my hands don’t want to listen. How can someone be so powerful, I don’t get it. My mind says to move, the body refuses, what kind of play is this?’

“Steady the breathing,” whispered Julius, “-the pressure is my cousin’s presence. Something he keeps hidden to not draw suspicion.”

“Presence?” she looked to see the prince with a playful grin, the blond hair hovered per the wind, “-I get it,” she turned towards Igna, “-you cousins aren’t normal humans, are you?”

.....

“Come on,” said Igna, “-we’re running late.”

The multiple homes were tenderly lit, cheers and smiles escaped onto the slightly darker streets. Against the city of the world, he’d known, the village was in a pit of darkness and lesser advancement. The villagers weren’t daft either, if not for their contribution to agriculture, the continent might not have hope to survive. Arda, the only significant advancement was at the capital and its surrounding vassals. Depending on how one looked at it, said piece of information may be both good and bad. Good as in troops of the Empire haven’t the knowhow to relay information efficiently. Bad as in launching a full-scale attack against such a militarized fortress may end horribly. Slow in pace and quiet in conversation, the two newly bonded friends kept lightened expression.

‘I guess Julius feels at ease. Treating a living thing as if garbage is a fate none wish to experience nor be part of,’ hung onto said thought, the sloppy lighting of a busy inn came in view. Parting the stained curtains, “-hello travelers,” said a lady dashing about the tables, “-we have rooms and food, take your pick.”

“Lady Aoi, some ale please, we’re running out,” requested middle-aged men.

‘Adventurers,’ thought Igna beelining for the counter.

“Good evening sir,” said a little boy, “-my name is Raulf Serlo, I’m the guardian of this inn, state your name and business!”

‘Raulf Serlo, that’s a name you don’t hear often.’

“Mister,” he perched atop the stool, “-are you an envoy of the demon lord’s army?”

‘What’s wrong with this kid?’ he wondered.

“What if we are,” interjected Julius, “-is the divine blade going to oppose my master?” cackles drowned the cheeriness of the room.

“OTA!” screamed across the tavern, “-DROP THE ROLEPLAYING AND TAKE THEIR ORDER!”

“Oh, oh,” whispered some regulars, “-Raulf Serlo’s about to get his ass whooped,” laughter broke into hysteria. Alcohol, bored men, and a mildly funny act, the perfect combination for nonstop amusement.

“Please my lady,” gestured Julius, “-we’re serious in fighting Raulf Serlo,” he winked. Her responses were of a well-mannered bow and a smile, ‘-they’re the two who helped out in the funeral earlier. He must have known about Ota’s silence and sorrow.’

“I see a priestess has been taken hostage,” arms crossed and face covered, “-release her at once!”

“Not going to happen,” said Julius,”- I shall defeat thee in a duel.”

“No,” gestured Igna, “-Raulf Serlo,” he stepped forth, “-fight me in a duel of wits. Am I to think the strongest warrior has but brawns and no brains?”

“I accept!”

“Good, then we shall fight a best of three rock, paper, scissors match.”

Ale continued to be distributed, Julius and the priestess ended up taking part in the celebration. Igna soon became the babysitter, everyone else partied whilst he kept watch and recounted stories of the battlefield. In the end, the duel was a stepping stone for the boy, he was able to smile and forget about a lost friend.

“ME TOO,” a little lady darted across the slightly muddy floor, “-I want to play!”

“Annie, Annie,” waved Ota, “-here, here.”

‘Great, another kid.’ A glance at Julius returned with envy for he had melted into the ranks of the regulars.

“What?” her cheeks puffed, “-so tall,” the eyes widened, “-mister, are you some kind of model?”

“I wouldn’t know,” said he, “-just a traveling adventurer. You must be the Annie everyone’s talking about?”

“Yep,” she winked, “-I’m Annie, nice to meet you.”

“Here,” he took out the phone, “-have you heard of games?”

“No.”

“Then here,” a holographic display sprung to allow two players.

“Awesome!”

Time went on till ten, the balls of joy slumped against one another. Most of the regulars left, Julius sat with a flushed expression. The priestess’s mouth was another story, wide and ready for flies to dive into. ‘Stuck with drunks again.’

“Thanks again,” said she, “-Ota’s been that way ever since he turned six. I don’t know what happened, seems like he lives in a fantasy or something.”

“The world is a fantasy,” refuted Igna, “-he’s better off living how he wishes for, something bad must have happened then, it’s common for people to live in their worlds to avoid reality. The smile is genuine, he’s a good kid. Annie too, they’re like siblings.”

“Impressive,” she wiped the tables, “-and how would you know?”

“I apologize, speaking of someone else’s private life is rude. Forget I said anything.”

“No harm done,” she chuckled, “-no need to be startled. Life as a single mother can be rough. His father left us this inn as a parting gift. God knows where he’s at.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“He ran off to seek adventure,” said she, “-at the Azure Wall. Said the treasure was too good to pass up on. I saw him off as did Ota, he wanted to be like his father so badly. Next thing I knew, the guild sent compensation, he died trying to save another kid.”

“I’m sorry I asked.”

“It’s fine, I’m over it now. Ota’s the reason I have to stand strong. Us village folks aren’t smart,” her cat ears lowered, “-the youth take to the guild in search of fame, some return, most die without ever being found. Enough about that,” a big inhale led into, “-the quaint village is the only thing we have. I’ll be damned if the empire lays their filthy hands on us. At least the Blood-King was compassionate enough to send envoy each month. How I wish the Haggard’s to take the throne again.”

“Wait,” the gaze narrowed, “-you know about the royal family?”

“Obviously,” a mocking snarl escaped, “-there’s no way I’d not recognize the Prince of Arda. And you,” she moved to clean their table, “-you bare a striking resemblance to the previous king. I figured it’s something to do with the war, else why would royalty step onto the field. Anyway, you should rest for the night.”

‘She knows about us, quite the well-informed lady. Then again, rumors and gossips go hand in hand with drunks and taverns.’ Up the stairs to the farthest room. A healing potion returned the drunkard prince to his senses. “-let’s go,” said Igna, “-we’ll take a gate.”

“Wait!” rolled over to the sleeping pink hair priestess, “-what about her?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve cast a barrier around the room. She should be fine; the demons won’t attack her tonight. Think of it as a gift from me to you,” and off they vanished to the pitch-black nightly outlines.

“Cousin, you fancy her, don’t you,” commented Igna.

“Shut up,” he pouted, “-it’s not like that. Her story struck a chord in me.”

“Struck what chord exactly?”

“You’re impossible,” cried the prince.

The same monotonous routine, wake up, eat breakfast, head into the forest to gather supplies, return, have a shower, check onto the guild for any kill-quests, return to the inn, hang out with the priestess. Evening rolls in, hang out with the villagers, eat and drink, share the loot of the hunt, and wait for nightfall. In those moments of nothingness, Igna found the resolve to use the teleportation spell. The knowledge and know-how were there from the first instant he revived. Learning about what the queen turned the most sought-after spell in the world a nauseating prospect. Time wasn’t much of a help either, Phantom’s forces were readied to fight on the 20th of April. éclair’s constant information supply felt as if he were at the center of the world, news came from every corner. Those empty days without quests were the best. Julius grew closer to lady Malley, the priestess. The more time spent, the greater became their bond. Igna watched from afar, their little promenade would end in tragedy.

19th of April arrived; the duo made it past Town Glenda. Julius chose to stay at the village whilst Igna took on exploring a new landscape. Linked by éclair, communication was fast and easy. ‘My foolish cousin,’ the entrance of town stood in bold mossy stone. ‘Traders and adventurers prefer to sell their wares in this town. Most of the villages have their workers tread long journey for a slight chance at profit. The lord in charge is someone of the Empire. Quite the predicament, by the looks of things,’ he entered without trouble, ‘-demi-humans live the same as normal. The map says the lord’s mansion is way to the south on a cliff overlooking a lake. Should be a nice place to live.’

Mage’s Guild, Fighter’s Guild, Central Guild, Merchant’s Guild, Independent Guild, wrote onto multiple signs. A whole street of guild buildings after which came the town-square, else, the merchant’s paradise. Tents and screams were common, advertisement in form of a strong and convincing tone.

‘I guess it operates the same as Rosespire. The central guild should be more of an administrative building. Independent guilds don’t matter since I don’t see many adventurers around. Probably used to the bank for the adventurers to store the loot. Mages and Fighter’s Guild should have job offers. One thing bugs me, wasn’t the guild system dissolved after the invasion?’

“Ding dong,” cried éclair, “-the guild system wasn’t dissolved. Monsters are a bigger problem for the Empire. Most of the fighters have been forced to complete assigned quests in the protection of strongholds and clearing of nests and dungeon. Glenda and Ritenoot are the only towns with the same free system, as in people can choose what they want to do.”

‘Because of its location, the Empire can’t launch a full conquest. Hect and Ect are pillars keeping the remaining bastion of Ardanians free.’

“Igna, I have sad news.”

“Which is?”

“The lizardmen race have been exterminated on a decree of the holy church. The last of their kind were burnt to the stakes earlier this morning.”

“Damn it, what of the other races?”

“They were able to run away. The Lizardmen are extinct, there might be a few in hiding.”

“But the possibility is slim to none. This is bad if the church’s on the move – their forces must be ready to cleanse the province.”

“The campaign to Town Eden succeeded. People revolted against the servants of God and were put to the sword. The strong and lucky retreated into the eastern side of town controlled by the Federation. Under the alliance, the Empire can’t cross the bridge.”

“I see...”