Much like the roads at Guardian, bricks seem to be the most prominent material used here, those fucking bricks tripped me twice now… Why would you have bricks everywhere when this area gets so much rain?
This town is surprisingly big to be honest, I’ve been walking through the different alleys for 2 hours now and I still haven’t covered the entire western area.
It seems to be a residential part of the town but I haven’t seen a lot of people around, is it just an unfortunate timing? I guess I never realized that shops need someone to operate them…
Finally after over 2 hours of walking around the -mostly- empty streets I ran into 2 kids “Hey there, how are you guys doing? Can I ask you a few questions?” I asked.
“How are you doing! How are you doing! Hahaha! You talk funny mist-”
The older girl slapped the back of her snotty sibling’s head and apologized to me “Simon mom said not to be rude to old people!” She said.
I-isn’t that quite rude though…?
“It’s alright don’t worry about it. Anyway, I’m a scout from Guardian, we are trying to make sure everyo-”
“WAW! Nana, you think he is so strong!!? Scout strong, right Nana?” The younger child started yelling.
“Y-Yes! Thank you for keeping us safe, mister scout!” Nana said and smiled shyly.
“Su-sure… Can you guys tell me if you saw anything interesting happening lately? Maybe someone that is doing something weird? Maybe big big beasts trying to come close to the city?”
The children looked at each other and thought for a few seconds before shaking their heads.
“Alright, thanks for your ti-... I guess it doesn’t matter, anyway, thanks and let me give you a word of advice as an ‘old’ person, don’t talk too much to people you don’t know, alright?”
“Hahaha! Funny mister! You sound like old man Volger! He always gives us candy! But his eyes are scary!” The brother said.
“Well, I don’t have candy but I can show you a cool trick instead.”
I looked at the shadow behind them and took a step back into the shadow of a nearby staircase.
I lowered my head next to the confused children who tried to find me in front of them and yelled “Puff!” in their ears.
“Kyaaa!!!” “Ahh!” They both yelled
and fell on their butts.
They looked at each other and for a moment I thought I might have overdone it and the kids were going to cry but instead “Hahahaha! So cool! Mister scout is so cool! Teach me how!”
“Mister scout, is that your Seal? I learned in school that Seals are very useful abilities that we will all learn! Can I have a Seal just like yours?!” Nana asked.
“Smart girl! Yes, that is the power of a Seal, but I can’t teach it to you nor will you be able to get this exact power… You see, Seals are very special and every Seal is unique. I’m sure your powers will be really cool though!”
“R-real-”
“Yay! Yay! My power is so cool, more cool then mister scout!”
“Haha, when you get it, make sure to show me alright? Well I have to go now, if you guys see anything weird, please tell the scouts ok? Also, did you say that old man’s name is Volger?”
“Aww you have to go now mister scout? Can’t we play together?” Nana asked.
“Hmm, do you guys live here? Maybe we can meet again tomorrow and play?”
“Yay! Mister scout, I like you!” The boy said.
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My chest felt tingly, kids in the slums were usually quite scared of me… I wonder why they are so friendly and carefree.
“Alright, bye guys, stay out of trouble!”
A figure showed up in my peripheral vision for a quick moment inside of the shadows. My heart beat hastened before I took a deep breath and organized my thoughts.
I shouldn’t be using my Seal like that too much…
The rest of my patrol went on very much uneventfully.
At the bakery, Mikah and the prince were already waiting. When red-hair saw me approaching, he quickly walked in my direction and, without much of a warning, tried to slap me, I caught his hand and felt the anger starting to build up before a hand rubbed my chest.
“Yar blood pumper might explode someday…” Mikah said.
“Lifes! Why did you activate your Seal! Tell me, right now!” The prince grabbed the color of my shirt and brought his face closer to mine.
I grabbed his wrist and said “Let go of my shirt, or you might find it harder to wipe your ass later.”
How did he even kno- oh yeah, the artifact probably.
Mikah grabbed both of our hands and squeezed tightly, so tightly that I thought he might break my wrist, his carefree demeanor was nowhere to be seen.
His eyes were cold and there was a pressure that made me want to run away. I almost started activating my Seal but there were no dark areas to dive into.
The captain let go of our wrists and smiled softly “Now now, lads, calm down and talk like friends, aye?”
I took a deep breath and nodded, the prince just clicked his tongue and looked to the side.
“I just showed some kids a cool trick, that’s all. I guess you wouldn’t really think a piece of shit, selfish, murderer would use his power for someone else, huh? Hahaha, my bad there!” I said.
Red hair bit his lower lip and closed his fists so tightly that his knuckles went white.
He looked at the ground and mumbled “S-sorry… You made me lose my cool.”
“Ha! I guess you spoiled richoles don’t even learn how to apolo-”
“Lad, let’s stop here, aye?”
“Pfft, whatever… ‘I’ll be your friend no matter what’ my ass, get lost, loser.”
The prince kept his head down and walked back to the bakery.
Mikah looked at him before turning to me “Well, ya got somethin’ to report? Was a whole lotta nothin’ on our end.”
“Tch… Not really, there was just this one guy who sounded suspicious, supposedly an old man named Volger.”
“Ahh, the dust collector aye? What's suspicious there?”
“Dust collec-? You know him? Some kids told me he gives them candy but his eyes are really scary… Whatever that means.”
“Aye, the man is famous around here, the people who live here like him a lot ya know?”
“Is that so… Why would the kids say his eyes are scary then?”
“Bahaha! The old man is not taking care of himself, his eyes are red, like he doesn’t sleep. Just children being children, nothing to worry ‘bout aye?” He said as he started walking towards the bakery.
I just realized that we had a bit of a noisy argument here but the people around seem completely unbothered.
Even more, they seem quite happy… A finger touching my shoulder drew my attention to an elderly, short lady who wore a soothing smile on her face.
“A young boy like you is so skinny… Is captain Mikah not feeding you properly? Here” The gentle lady handed me a brown beg with a sweet smell and a warm trail of steam coming out of it.
“Wha-? I don’t know if I can receive…” I looked at Mikah who smiled and lifted a cup of some hot beverage. I guess it’s fine…
“T-thank you.” I said.
“Oh no! Thank you!” She responded with a big, warm smile plastered on her face.
My heart fluttered again and I felt a lump in my throat, I get it, I guess… Why people help others.
I lowered my eyes and looked at the steam. The lady rubbed my back gently and went on with her business “I didn’t earn this…” I mumbled to myself. I felt a bit of a sting in my chest, there was a bitter taste in my mouth.
I joined the other 2 at the bakery.
The prince was eating a piece of bread with some green sauce on top of it, it smelled a lot like garlic. Mikah was drinking just plain, black coffee.
I looked at the prince eating, his expression was not as ambivalent as it usually seemed, more like he was still pissed off, what’s with this guy and his fucking mood swings.
With a deep sigh, I leaned back on the chair and closed my eyes.
“Got something to say, Lifes?” Red-hair asked.
“Just focus on your food… Make sure you chew at least 38 times so your royal stomach can handle it.”
“Bahaha, yar spicy side is always funny ya know, lad?But still, ya lot should…” His voice trailed off, I opened my eyes out of curiosity, Mikah looked at me and rubbed his chin, then looked at the prince who slowed down his chewing. When we looked at him his face turned a little red.
“Forget it, ya’re fine, finish yar food and let’s head back to the fort.” Mikah concluded.