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Condemned To Death
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15th September, 1507
Everyone just resumed their previous activities, seemingly unfazed by the recent commotion. The new guard, standing stoically beside the entrance with his hands clasped behind his back and an emotionless expression etched upon his features garnered little attention from the crowd.
Seren approached the receptionist, requesting a catalogue of all the rank 1 relics available for purchase. She obliged, handing him the catalogue with her gaze lingering curiously on Seren's mask. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of confusion at her fixation on his mask, wondering if there was something amiss with it, but ultimately he couldn’t care less.
Settling onto one of the sofas, Seren delved into the catalogue, his eyes rapidly scanning the pages as he meticulously looked through the available relics. His pace was brisk as he searched for something specific. Suddenly, his gaze halted upon an item listed in the "weak" section – a slightly transparent grey piece of cloth, the Swift cloak relic, priced at a modest 75 soul stones.
‘Quite cheap’ Seren thought as he tried to gauge if the market price for this relic was justified. In his opinion, the price was just about right with the relic only offering protection from physical attacks with a fixed number of times and the tricky usage of it made it not very popular among Lexarchs.
Continuing his exploration of the catalogue, Seren came across the Guard Talisman, listed at 120 soul stones, and the Luminar Crystal at a staggering 150 soul stones.
'I guess the experienced Lexarchs do know how to use this relic properly,' Seren had initially thought the Luminar Crystal would be priced lower. Unexpectedly, the Lexarchs seemed to thoroughly study the physics behind their relics, enabling them to maximize their potential. This situation was a positive development for Seren, as the higher the market price for his relic, the more he could potentially profit from duplicating and selling it.
As Seren continued to look through the catalogue, he found several relics he wanted to buy – ones that could aid in reconnaissance, healing, speed enhancement, and other unique abilities that might prove useful in unexpected situations.
'The Guard talisman relic takes 2 seconds to activate, it’s not ideal if a sudden situation like the one from before happened again... But for now, I need to get a storage artifact for myself' Seren mused, realizing the short-comings of his current relics. The shop also offered a wide array of artifacts, which were considerably more affordable than their relic counterparts. It was evident that there were more artifacts available for purchase than relics themselves, ranging in size from the smallest, no bigger than a bead, to the largest, rivaling the size of a house.
Closing the book, Seren rose from the sofa and started heading toward the receptionist, when a small note fluttered out from the catalogue, catching his attention. He hadn't noticed it previously. Seren picked up the note, revealing an unfamiliar address scribbled upon it. He didn’t think too much about it but still pocketed the note nonetheless.
Approaching the receptionist, Seren stated his request, "I would like to buy the 10 by 10 space storage artifact." He then reached into his pocket and produced a small pouch, placing it on the desk. "This is 20 soul stones," he affirmed.
"Yes, let me get that for you," the receptionist responded with a smile, excusing herself to retrieve the artifact from the back.
After a few minutes, she returned, handing Seren a small square box. He accepted it and started meticulously inspecting the item to ensure its integrity. Satisfied with his examination, Seren thanked the receptionist before turning to leave.
'I have a few hours of free time, I might as well use it to duplicate Elise's relic,' he thought, his mind also lingered on the unknown address he had discovered in the catalogue.
As Seren approached the shop's entrance, a sudden realization struck him – he had no idea where to find John, nor did he have an address to seek him out at. Perplexed, Seren contemplated his next course of action, as he had initially intended to ask John about the address on the note.
After a moment's contemplation, Seren turned around and approached the receptionist once more, handing her the note he had discovered in the catalogue. "Can you tell me where this is?" he inquired sincerely.
The receptionist took the note, glancing at it briefly before chuckling slightly at Seren's actions. "I thought you would never ask," she responded in a playful tone.
Seren's confusion deepened momentarily, but as he observed the receptionist's unusual reactions, realization dawned upon him, and he understood the implication behind her words.
Without further ado, the receptionist walked around the desk and stood before Seren, a subtle smile playing upon her lips. She leaned in, her movements smooth and deliberate, as her hand holding the note reached into Seren's bottom pocket, lingering there for a few tantalizing seconds. With a languid gaze, she purred softly, "How about it? Why don't we escape to the hotel tonight and indulge in every sensation?" Leaning closer, her warm breath caressed Seren's ear, her voice low and enticing. "I can make you remember this night... forever," she whispered, her words lingering in the air like a promise. She then withdrew her hand, leaving the note with the hotel address tucked securely in Seren's pocket.
Unable to discern Seren's expression behind the white mask, the receptionist didn't linger on his reaction. Seren, for his part, remained silent, observing the receptionist as she returned to her seat behind the desk.
Finally, Seren spoke in a husky voice, "2 am tomorrow night." Without waiting for the receptionist's response, he turned and left the shop.
...
The streets of Glowhaven were bustling with activity, and Arthur found himself navigating through the crowds, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings as if searching for something or someone. His casual attire blended seamlessly with the masses, allowing him to move unnoticed.
However, Arthur's attention was soon drawn to a group of individuals, all donning long brown coats with the image of a raven emblazoned on the back, the unmistakable outfit of the Ravens' punishers. These punishers were responsible for maintaining order and carrying out punishment to those who dared defy the Ravens' rules.
In the midst of this group, Arthur's gaze fell upon the heartbreaking sight of a young boy with his body covered in scars and bruises, his clothes torn and tattered. The child was crying silently, clutching his head in pain as one of the punishers dragged him along, mercilessly pulling at his hair.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Ordinarily, Arthur would have turned a blind eye to such occurrences in the underground town, but as he caught a glimpse of the child's face, his heart was gripped with trepidation, and he found himself frozen in his tracks, a grave expression etched upon his features.
Without warning, Arthur appeared directly in front of the three punishers, his piercing glare fixed upon them. The men halted their advance, taken aback by the sudden obstruction. The punishers looked at the man standing before them curiously when one of them recognized Arthur.
"What are you doing here?" the punisher holding the boy by his hair demanded, his voice dripping with smug arrogance.
"Leave the boy alone," Arthur stated firmly, his deep voice resonating with authority.
"Do you two know each other?" the punisher questioned, pulling the boy forward and eliciting a short cry of pain from the child. He scrutinized the boy's face before turning his gaze back to Arthur.
The boy rubbed his tear-stained cheeks and red eyes, attempting to regain his composure. Upon recognizing Arthur's imposing presence and the fearsome expression on his face, the child's body began to tremble with fear. "T-this man… he killed… my father," he uttered in a shaking voice.
The punishers were momentarily taken aback by the revelation, but their shock quickly turned to a burst of raucous laughter. Arthur remained unfazed, his expression unreadable.
"HAHAHA! You really got a kick out of offing his old man. What's next, going after his mom now to complete the set?" one of the punishers taunted, prompting another wave of uncontrollable laughter from his companions.
Arthur remained motionless and silent, his gaze fixed upon the punishers as they revelled in their cruel mockery, while the boy's tears streamed down his face, his cries muffled by their laughter.
"Leave the boy alone," Arthur repeated, his tone much more intense than before.
The punisher holding the boy suddenly stopped laughing as his expression turned extremely solemn. "Or what?" he challenged.
"Or you won't live to regret it," Arthur replied with a hint of undercurrent, his face though devoid of emotion.
"Ha! Real cute," the punisher scoffed, closing the distance between them until he was mere inches from Arthur's face, his eyes twinged with hostility.
"Arthur, this ain't your sissy playground from the surface, and it's certainly not the place where you want to be the one barking. Know your place when you're on our turf, or the one regretting will be your sorry ass after I’m done with you" he threatened, his tone laced with menace.
Arthur remained silent, his penetrating gaze scrutinizing the punisher, unflinching in the face of his intimidation tactics. The tension in the air grew thicker by the second, as the two men glared at each other intensely, none of them yielding.
...
'Well that was unexpected,' Seren thought, replaying the bizarre encounter at the store in his mind as he strode down the dimly lit street. The flickering fireflies cast eerie shadows that danced across the pavement.
He then smiled coldly to himself as he thought, 'Hehe, I will give you a night you will remember for the rest of your life.' A sinister glint flashed in his eyes.
*Grumble Grumble
A low rumble echoed from his stomach. Seren frowned slightly, realizing he hadn't eaten since morning. He'd likely been underground for at least 5 hours, so by now, Susie would have already gone to sleep.
Deciding to sate his hunger before surfacing, Seren veered toward a nearby tavern, the raucous laughter and clinking glasses beckoning him inside. As he pushed through the weathered door, a wave of stale beer and body odor assaulted his senses. Chairs and tables were haphazardly scattered, occupied by rowdy drunkards making a ruckus in one corner while amorous couples engaged in intimate embraces in another. The cramped space was packed to the brim with a steady stream of people flowing in and out. The overwhelming stench nearly made Seren reconsider, but his growling stomach urged him onward.
Seren sat down on an empty table and ordered a light snack. He waited as he observed, the cacophony of voices and clinking glasses surrounding him. When the food finally arrived, he was pleasantly surprised to find that it was quite palatable despite the bar's offensive odor. He chowed down hungrily, savoring each bite.
Just as he was filling his face, a familiar voice caught his ear from across the room. A grizzled man with pockmarked skin was chugging a large jug of booze, surrounded by a group of equally inebriated companions laughing loudly. The man slammed the empty cup down, sloshing the dregs across the table. "I'm shaying, that darn supervisor jus' wanted to toss me out, 'cause of a bloke makin' a ruckus. I'm tellin' you, he's jus' tryna get me outta there!" he slurred angrily.
"Hehe, yeah, sure pal. It's totally not 'cause ya forgot to assign a guard," one of his drunk friends retorted with a broad grin, eliciting a fresh peal of laughter from the group.
"He's jus' tryna make us feel sorry for 'im, so we keep buying his bloody drinks!" the other chimed in snidely.
The pockmarked man glowered at them, hiccuping. "You gu- hiccup, you guys, I've been here for like, 20 frickin' years! and this is how you still treat an old guy like me? Hiccup." His tone dripped with scornful indignation.
Seren listened silently, continuing to munch on his food while trying to remain inconspicuous beneath his mask. "Can I have another one?" he asked a passing server, his plate now empty.
Suddenly, the pockmarked guard lurched to his feet. "Let me go take a leak real quick." He staggered away, struggling to maintain his balance in his drunken state as he exited the bar.
Seren sipped his water slowly as he watched the pockmarked man leave. When he left, his eyes immediately started scanning the crowded bar with calculating precision. In the corner, a group of girls clad in revealing clothes caught his gaze, giggling and chatting animatedly. A predatory grin spread across his concealed features as a plan took shape in his mind. He rose fluidly from his seat and made his way over to their table with purposeful strides.
"Ladies," he purred in a gentleman’s tone as he executed a slight bow. "Would you like a job?"
The girls stopped what they were doing and turned their attention toward the mysterious masked stranger, as they openly appraised his lean, athletic build. One girl licked her crimson lips, her voice dripping with suggestive charm as she said, "What do you want from us, darling?"
Seren's smile widened beneath his mask, pleased by their open reception. "Anyone that can seduce those two men over there for 30 minutes will receive a reward from me." He gestured toward the two friends of the pockmarked man still seated at their table.
The girls looked over and when they saw them, a few of them frowned as they were clearly unimpressed by the middle-aged, unremarkable targets. "What's the reward?" one asked with thinly veiled skepticism.
By way of answer, Seren tossed two glittering soul stones onto the table. When the girl remained unsatisfied, pursing her lips in a sultry pout, she chuckled darkly as she proposed, "I will accept if you come with the reward."
Seren’s piercing gaze lingered on the girls for a moment, silently observing the mischievous grins playing across their faces. With a deliberate movement, he then straightened his posture and retrieved another soul stone, tossing it atop the others with a clink. All traces of gentlemanliness fled his tone as he spoke again, his voice laced with chilling finality. "Consider this my final offer. Accept it, or walk away."
The ladies were slightly startled at the abrupt shift in Seren’s demeanor. One girl clicked her tongue, replying in an equally frosty voice, "Fine, but I will be taking the payment first with no guarantee I can keep them busy for the whole 30 minutes."
She then turned to one of her companions, her expression silently asking if she wanted to help. The other girl grimaced as her gaze fell upon the unremarkable targets once more, but ultimately she sighed before nodding reluctantly to the proposal. With a disdainful sneer, she snatched up one of the soul stones and pocketed it before rising to her feet and walking toward the unsuspecting men, her friend following close behind.
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Condemned To Death
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