Liam Carter

The city was a labyrinth of narrow streets and towering stone buildings, the air thick with the mingling scents of baked bread, sewage, and smoke. As I wandered through the crowded thoroughfares, my boots scuffing against uneven cobblestones, I couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling of displacement.

The sights and sounds of this world were so different from the city life I’d known back in Sydney. Here, every corner felt like it held secrets, dangers, and possibilities I hadn’t even begun to understand.

People bustled past, hawkers shouted about their wares, and the occasional beggar held out a shaking hand, their pleas blending into the constant hum of the city. I had no direction, no plan—just my shield strapped to my back and the faint hope that walking would clear my head.

I turned a corner into a quieter street, the noise of the main market fading behind me. The alley ahead was shadowed, the buildings on either side leaning close enough to almost blot out the late afternoon sun.

That was when I heard it—a woman’s voice, sharp and frightened.

“Please, just take it and leave me alone!”

I stopped dead, my hand instinctively reaching for the shield strapped to my back.

I moved toward the source of the voice, my footsteps silent against the cobblestones. As I approached the alley’s mouth, I saw them.

A woman with dark hair stood against the wall, her back pressed to the cold stone. She clutched a leather satchel to her chest, her wide eyes darting between the four men surrounding her.

The bandits were lean and wiry, their clothes dirty and patched. Each of them held a weapon—a dagger here, a short sword there. They looked confident, smug even, like they’d done this a thousand times before.

“Smart girl,” one of them sneered, yanking the satchel from her hands. “We’ll be taking this. And if you’re lucky, we won’t take anything else.”

The others laughed, their voices low and cruel.

The woman—barely older than me, maybe late twenties—held her ground, though fear was etched into every line of her face.

“Evelyn,” she said suddenly, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. “My name’s Evelyn. If you’re going to rob me, at least have the decency to remember who you’ve wronged.”

The leader of the group chuckled, slinging the satchel over his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Evelyn. We’ll remember you.”

They turned to leave.

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I stepped forward.

The first bandit barely had time to register my presence before my shield crashed into his face. The impact sent him sprawling, blood spraying from his broken nose as he crumpled to the ground.

The other three spun around, their eyes wide with shock.

“Who the hell are you?” one of them snarled, raising his dagger.

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to.

My shield came up again, deflecting a wild swing from another bandit. With my free hand, I grabbed the hilt of the hunting knife at my side, the blade slipping free with a faint hiss.

The second bandit lunged at me, his short sword aimed for my chest. I sidestepped, slamming the edge of my shield into his ribs. He let out a pained grunt, doubling over, and I followed up with a quick thrust of my knife, the blade sinking deep into his side.

-20 HP. Fatal wound inflicted.

The message flashed in my HUD, but I didn’t have time to process it. The remaining two bandits circled me, their faces twisted with fear and fury.

“You’re dead!” one of them screamed, rushing at me with his dagger raised.

I raised my shield, catching his wrist mid-swing and twisting it sharply. The dagger clattered to the ground as he screamed, and I drove my knife into his chest without hesitation.

-25 HP. Fatal wound inflicted.

The last bandit hesitated, his eyes darting between me and the bodies of his comrades.

“Don’t do it,” I said, my voice low and steady.

He ignored me, letting out a desperate cry as he charged.

I stepped forward, meeting him head-on. My shield caught him square in the face, the force of the blow snapping his head back. Before he could recover, I grabbed him by the collar and drove my knife into his throat.

He choked, blood spilling down his front as he staggered and fell.

-30 HP. Fatal wound inflicted.

The alley was silent again, save for the faint rasp of my breathing. I wiped the blood from my knife on one of the bandits’ shirts before sliding it back into its sheath.

The woman—Evelyn—stared at me, her eyes wide and unblinking.

“Are you alright?” I asked, turning to face her.

She nodded slowly, her hands trembling as she adjusted the satchel slung over her shoulder. “I… I think so. Thank you.”

Her voice was quiet but steady, her gaze flicking between me and the bodies on the ground.

“You shouldn’t have been out here alone,” I said, my tone soft but firm.

“I didn’t think…” She shook her head, her voice trailing off. “It doesn’t matter. You saved me.”

I nodded, stepping past her to the alley’s entrance. “The streets aren’t safe after dark. Stick to the main roads, and don’t trust anyone who approaches you.”

Evelyn hesitated, then gave a faint smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

With a final glance over my shoulder, I walked away, the weight of the shield on my back feeling heavier than before.

As I reached the edge of the alley, Evelyn’s voice cut through the silence.

“Wait!” she called out, her tone sharp but laced with urgency.

I paused, turning just enough to glance over my shoulder. She was standing a few paces behind me, her satchel clutched tightly, her wide eyes fixed on me like I was something out of a storybook.

“What’s your name?” she asked, her voice louder now, echoing slightly off the stone walls.

For a moment, I considered just walking away. Names didn’t matter here, and I wasn’t looking to make friends. But something in her expression made me hesitate.

“Liam,” I said finally, my voice steady. “Liam Carter.”

Her brow furrowed, the name clearly catching her off guard. “That’s… unusual,” she murmured, more to herself than to me. “Where are you from?”

I didn’t answer. Before she could press further, I turned and continued walking, my boots scuffing against the cobblestones.

“Wait!” she called again, but I didn’t stop.

By the time she reached the mouth of the alley, I was gone, disappearing into the crowd of the busy street beyond.