Half an hour before the apocalypse
"Grampa, are we really going to the plaza in the middle of the night?" The young boy, little Roo, had a much improved complexion compared to when he was with the pack of kobloids. However, he was still shivering and maintained a closed demeanor as he followed his grandfather.
The old man offered a gentle smile and said, "We're just taking a stroll. Some fresh air never hurt anybody, right?"
Though Roo remained unconvinced, he nodded and followed the old man without any further complaints. In the middle of the night, the usually bustling streets were practically empty. The shop stands were closed, and only a few horse carriages and boisterous drinking buddies populated the streets.
The old man, of course, knew the city like the back of his hand. He understood precisely which roads to take and which streets to avoid at all costs. The underbelly of Locksley was a dark place, and he certainly didn't want to escape one dangerous situation only to be ensnared by slave merchants - or worse.
As he walked through the streets with his fidgety grandson at his side, the old man's thoughts drifted back to the talking white-furred creature.
A talking monster that sounds like a noble offering advice? I must be mad not to at least check out the plaza and see what happens.
The old man's years of experience had never prepared him for an encounter with a creature from a folktale. However, he understood how fickle lady fortune could be. Opportunities come only once, and it's the responsibility of a mortal to recognize and seize them.
Upon reaching the plaza, the old man and little Roo scanned the area, noticing a single small group occupying the entire square. The group consisted of six individuals; three of them were sitting by the fountain, engaged in conversation and laughter, while the other three stood with puffed-up chests and stoic expressions on their faces.
"Those people look scary," the young boy muttered under his breath.
The old man couldn't help but agree. Careful not to make much noise or attract any unwanted attention, he took little Roo's hand and led him to the other side of the plaza, well out of the group's sight.
As they walked towards the edge of the town square, the old man couldn't resist stealing glances at the group, particularly the three individuals sitting by the fountain with relaxed expressions. The one who immediately caught his eye was a large man with broad shoulders and massive muscles. Even while seated, he towered over the other two with his imposing frame.
Wait, isn’t that the beast.
The old man suddenly stopped, which surprised little Roo as he looked up at him in confusion. However, the old man's facial expression quickly conveyed everything the young boy needed to know: he was horrified.
For a decade, the old man had heard rumors of a man with the physique of a beast, capable of wrestling a bull and tearing a child in half with his bare hands. A ruthless machine that served the underworld, committing heinous crimes and spreading fear and terror to anyone who dared to cross paths with his masters.
There is no way, right?
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The old man couldn't help but chuckle at his overactive imagination. The man before him was smiling and laughing, a far cry from the cruel and emotionless beast he had heard about in the tavern rumors.
Those drunken fools sure do like to spin tales. A man that can tear a child in half with his hands? Give me a break.
"Eh, grandpa?" The little boy nudged at the old man's pants, bringing him back to reality. Noticing the lost and confused expression on Roo's face, the old man smiled and continued walking toward the edge of the plaza. There, they sat down together on a bench, waiting for the appointed time to arrive.
As the minutes passed, the old man's gaze drifted back to the group by the fountain. This time, he chose not to focus on the muscular one but on the other two.
To the left was a man with a slender build. He was wearing a light brown long-sleeved linen shirt with a laced-up neckline, a truly unremarkable outfit. However, it was clean, which told the old man that he was either wealthy enough to afford new clothes or diligent enough to properly repair and regularly clean old ones.
Without much thought, the old man's focus shifted to the center, where a lithe woman sat between the two men. Her wavy, raven-black hair was tied into a ponytail. As for her attire, she wore a form-fitting, dark-green fabric. Such clothes were not easy to come by and required skillful tailoring, which only deepened the old man's curiosity.
As time continued to pass, the old man grew silent. Although he attempted to distract himself by engaging in conversation with little Roo, his mind couldn't help but entertain various thoughts and imagined scenarios.
Just a couple of minutes left.
While the old man was lost in thought, gazing at the ground, little Roo nudged him from the side.
"Grampa... those people are coming."
The old man snapped out of his reverie and looked up, only to find the group of six slowly approaching them.
"Wait here, everyone. You're going to scare them," the lady in green halted the rest of her group and continued walking alone toward the old man and the young boy.
"Hey there, what might be your names?" The lady asked with a friendly smile.
She had piercing green eyes that seemed to read one's soul, and her light makeup perfectly complemented her heart-shaped face.
"Woah... Pretty lady."
Both the old man and the black-haired lady looked at little Roo with surprise. Seeing the innocent expression on the boy's face, the lady chuckled softly, "Thank you, you're a well-mannered little kid. What's your name?"
"My name is Roo!" The little boy answered excitedly. His tense demeanor seemed to have vanished as he talked with the lady.
"Nice to meet you, young man. My name is Nalia." She then smiled and looked at the old man. "And what's your name?"
"I am Robert," the old man replied curtly. Although the lady before him was friendly and the atmosphere seemed relaxed, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
As his gaze shifted from Nalia to the men behind her, he noticed their intense expressions. The three stoic men, who had not said a word, appeared especially fearsome as they scrutinized him and his grandson with cold eyes.
"Were you planning on staying the night here, Mister Robert?" Nalia's question brought his focus back to her. She wore a questioning and puzzled expression, accompanied by a mix of compassion and sincerity.
"No, of course not," Robert nervously chuckled at the unexpected question. "We're just here for a breath of fresh air."
"A breath of fresh air, I see," Nalia smiled and nodded. She then looked up at the sky with a melancholic expression on her face. "It is indeed a beautiful night to stroll around. The skies are clear, and the moon is truly captivating."
Nalia gazed at the sky for a few more seconds before looking back down and smiling at the old man. "I won't make things more awkward for you, Mr. Robert. I hope you have a great night."
She then walked back toward the rest of her group before making their way back to the fountain. Robert's eyes couldn't help but remain fixated on them. Even though he didn't know who they truly were, he understood that they were people he should definitely avoid.