Today had been a weird day for Demund.
It had begun like any other day. Enariss, like always, had separated from him after leaving the car to attend her duties as a club captain. Demund had taken a quick trip to the library to return his books. To congratulate himself for doing well on the test, He had picked out a superhero’s biography for entertainment. There was a whole section of them, and he had enjoyed them so far.
“Why don’t you use eBooks?” said a random student out of nowhere. “No one actually checks out these books, you know. They’re for looks.”
Confronted with a face he didn’t recognize, Demund had simply replied with, “Because I don’t have an eBook.”
“You can get them for cheap,” the student had persisted.
“Don’t mind me. I just like flipping pages,” Demund had answered.
“That’s so old.”
The student had shrugged and walked away, leaving Demund slightly bewildered. Why would anyone care if he read books or not? The student hadn’t even given him a proper greeting or introduction, making him confused even more. Is this what his friends meant by getting attention?”
Frowning, he had checked out the book from the old librarian and had stored it carefully in his bag. Books were the one thing he never could handle roughly.
He had arrived in the classroom around twenty minutes before the bell rang, which was plenty of time to prepare for that day’s lesson. While he was skimming through the material, another student had walked up to him with his arms crossed.
“Don’t you get tired? Studying that hard.”
“I don’t mind,” Demund had replied. Since he was currently exploring a magical city full rich with elven culture, he couldn’t complain. “Who are you—”
The student had walked out of the room before Demund had finished his question. It hadn’t even been a student from the same class. Why anyone random like that would come to talk to him was a mystery, and Demund frowned once more. Something was weird today. No one had ever talked to him before, and now two random students had spoken to him out of nowhere.
The day only became weirder when someone bumped into him during lunch. He looked back to see who had touched him, only to find a group talking amongst themselves, ignoring his presence. He didn’t bother to demand the culprit, but it left a bad taste in his mouth.
TISE High was a prestigious school. Any actions of malice would be quickly dealt with. But microaggressions that did not matter, that couldn’t actually be called something harmful—they couldn’t be detected. Demund quickly realized this. He wasn’t sure why they had begun to target him. Maybe because he had done so well?
These little acts were sure to tick someone off, but Demund kept his face blank. Lytha would be furious at him if he were to be disturbed by something as small as this. ‘Child’s play,’ she would call it. If you ignored them and did not respond, they would go away sooner or later. Besides, he was put through 2 years of life-and-death situations. This……
He sighed. This was so stupid. So childish. Were high schoolers really this petty?
Judging by the sudden increase in provocative actions, there was bound to be someone who suggested to begin all of this. Perhaps a secret chat room, or through gossip. Enariss had said that most of these students were familiar with each other. The provocations also came anonymously, not giving him time to get their names. If he were to run around the school hunting for them, he would only make a fool out of himself.
In short, all of this was stupid. If he was correct, it would only become worse. He would ignore everything until he found the main culprit or until they went away. He smiled. A part of him wanted to catch the culprit—then what? He couldn’t beat him up or he would get expelled.
The good news was that the actions would never pass a certain threshold since it would be too risky for the perpetrators. Unless the teachers ignored his suffering, but he doubted it. He was a model student, and the educational department loved model students.
Well…this was a little exciting. A group of students who wanted to harm him…now that was interesting.
Or maybe he was simply overthinking things. But if he was right, there was one place where the culprits could actually harm him—the MMA club. If he was correct, he would be challenged today.
〄 〄 〄
Demund knew he hadn’t been overthinking things when he received a challenge just as the club started. He could feel numerous eyes on him when his name was called. Call it paranoia, but Demund could feel the tension, the subtle glares of ‘I hope he gets beaten up.’ He knew ill-intent on someone’s expression when he saw it. He could even tell it off of animals. He hadn’t always been correct, but his tutor had drilled it into him. It was also the reason she made him practice his poker face so much to hide his feelings. Giving your opponent information on your mental state was the same as revealing a weakness.
With a bright smile, Demund replied with, “I withdraw from the match!”
“Your rank will go down. Are you sure?” informed the judge.
“Yes.”
“Alright. Then by default, ***** wins!”
Demund didn’t focus on the name, because—
“I want to challenge Demund!”
Another one soon followed after.
If Demund cared about rankings and being an influence within the club, declining matches would have been a nightmare for him. But he didn’t care about rankings. He was powerless, after all; he realized his weakness. Though he could probably beat up the two who challenged him, he didn’t bother. By declining, he was taking away the one place where his opponents could legally beat him up.
He expected that once he rose in rankings, defeating the weaklings that the main mastermind sent at him, he would finally be confronted with an unexpected powerhouse who would humiliate him in front of everyone. Perhaps he was overthinking again. Well, not like it mattered. He was content with just training with Riley and Rhyne.
Later, while he was walking to the water fountain, someone tried to ‘accidentally’ trip him on his prosthetic leg. He simply moved out of the way at the last second, causing the random dude to fall on his front from the unexpected momentum.
“You tripped me!” cried the student. Demund rolled his eyes.
“You came from my right, which is where my prosthetic leg is. Do you really think I would want to trip you with this?” Demund critiqued in rapid succession as he raised his leg. “I can’t even kick properly with this, and it’s pretty expensive. There is literally no reason why I would want to trip you with something that can break. You’re just embarrassing yourself. Grow up, this is the MMA Club. Tripping once isn’t going to hurt you. You should just go home if you’re going to fuss about on something like this.”
“I—”
“What? Come on, then. Get up. State your defense. Do you want me to go call the teacher?”
At the mention of a teacher, the student glowered at him, got up, and walked away. Seeing as he didn’t continue any further, he was probably instructed by someone and didn’t have much influence himself. Demund had half-expected for a scene to blow up, which would have unnerved him, and he was glad it didn’t happen. The more influential people were probably testing the waters.
But why? Didn’t they have anything better to do? Did he really matter that much? Was being an outsider that bad?
Demund shook his head. He didn't have time for this.
〄 〄 〄
“It’s amazing whenever you see it, isn’t it?” breathed Eilae over the faint thundering of the waterfall below. Shaden had to agree with her. The pure magnitude of Naera’s Gate was something even the modern world lacked. There was something bewitching about its square stone structure and its yellow-white glow. To be able to control the Hyla’s might even from so long ago, it truly could be called a godly structure. Just like the wall of the city.
They weren’t on the dam itself, but on a bridge that stretched over the river before the dam. They were currently making their way to the west side of the city on a small cart pulled by a horse-like creature. The larger bridges had faster means of transportation, but they had decided to go the luxurious route. The view above the city, overlooking the dam and the endless buildings, was definitely worth it.
Shaden had been reluctant to travel on the bridges due to their height, but he had become used to them. A little. He still didn’t want to fall from the sides, which on this bridge, was protected by a small fence. Not everyone could use this bridge meant for sightseeing.
The trip would take around thirty minutes. Lytha was leaning back on her seat, eyes closed.
They had stayed a little past a month now. The city had been just too big, with too many things to see. Even now, they hadn’t even explored 40% of the city’s areas. So many different districts and regions lay within the city, as well as an abundant number of restaurants to try out.
Shaden looked down at the dam from the side of the cart. There was another reason why the dam was known as a creation of a god. The dam powered all of the city’s lights as well as directed most of the water flow to different parts of the city. It was like a hydroelectric dam, but instead of electricity, it produced mana. The constant glow of the walls and bridges was due to the dam.
This was the reason why the dam was an impossible structure. Mana could only be harvested from living creatures. However, the dam generated mana from kinetic energy. For hundreds of years, researchers had studied the dam for its secret, but had failed. Not that the research did not produce abundant results.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Only a select few were allowed access into the dam. It was too risky; ancient magic was not something that could be tampered with. It had, at one point, been heretical to step on the dam.
Without the dam, the city would become enveloped in darkness.
“Have you ever been excluded before, Eilae?” said Shaden, remembering the events from school. “Like, being bullied.”
He laughed at himself. Why he was asking a nine-year-old girl was a mystery to him, but he was still curious about what she would say.
“No. Not really. I studied at home with my siblings.”
“You’re planning to go to school, right? What would you do if everyone began to bully you?”
“Hmm…I don’t think anyone would lay a finger on me unless they wished for their family’s downfall.”
“Ah, is that so.”
She nodded. “The Veurbois name is a prominent one.”
Well, it wasn’t the answer Shaden had wanted to hear. Perhaps the reason why Demund had been targeted was because he didn’t have anything backing him. Like a rich family.
In Shaden’s world, he could probably push himself through with his power or family background. But Demund had none of those. His parents were ordinary, and he didn’t have an overpowered superpower. Just a little reinforcement. No matter how heightened his senses became, they would always lag behind Rhyne’s slow-motion perception. He had never been able to land a proper hit on his friend, and it had annoyed him a little.
“What if you had no family to back you?” insisted Shaden. What would she do then? “What would you do?”
“I would……”
She paused. “I don’t know. If everyone were to shun me…I don’t know what I would do. There would be nothing I could do without allies.”
“Allies, you say?”
“Yes. Allies are absolutely necessary……ah!” Eilae clapped her hands together. “I would begin by creating allies,” she concluded.
The conversation continued on with additions of theoretical situations and various solutions to those situations. Neither Shaden nor Eilae had attended school before, so they continued to imagine what it would be like. Eilae wanted to study magic, and since she was the second daughter, she just could be allowed to do as she wished. It was one of the reasons she had been so excited for Naerathim.
Just like that, another leisurely, peaceful day passed for the group. Below them, the busy city also continued to work away.
〄 〄 〄
Today had been the scheduled day when Ronar would arrive. The plan was for him to see off Prem and continue his work to pay off his debts. Prem would travel north with Shaden’s group, leaving his brother in the city. That had been the plan.
Shaden counted the coins within his pouch. He was wealthy, no doubt. For the past month, he had been eating, traveling, and sleeping to his heart's content. The many buildings, the magical technology, the Tower of Magic—after seeing them all, he was in high spirits.
He had received permission from his tutor as well as Eilae after many days of persuasion. They had seen Prem working at the inn, sweating and trying his best to pay for his brother’s debts. When Shaden had first broken news of Ronar’s debt to his group, Eilae had held this ‘I knew this would happen’ attitude and his aunt—was unreadable as ever. A few days after that, after they had dined on finely roasted deer meat with aromatic juice, Shaden had made his intentions of paying for Ronar’s debt known.
“We have literally spent close to thirty gold coins only in this city,” he had reasoned. “Ronar and his brother have tried their best. The remaining price won’t even be a gold coin.”
If he wanted to, he could simply pay for Ronar. But he didn’t want Eilae to continue thinking of the beastmen as lowly creatures. His aunt…he really didn’t know what she thought. She always said, ‘Do what you want.’ What did she really think? Was what he was doing reasonable?
Eventually, Eilae had agreed to his idea, though with a pinch of sourness. She hadn’t been outright against it, but her disapproval seemed to have eased a little. The city’s positive influence on her had really made her loosen up.
Today would be the day when they would leave the city, all five of them. The brothers would be reunited with their mother after this, and the short acquaintance would come to a close.
That had been the plan.
〄 〄 〄
Ronar gazed up at the endless heights of the walls of Naerathim, listening to the water and birds around him. Though he had lived away from his brother for a while now, today would mark the beginning of a longer farewell. Today was a special day.
He hadn’t been able to obtain any presents for his brother. It pained him, and after long hours of consideration, he decided to let his brother keep the money he had earned. He wanted his brother to know about the satisfaction of honest work.
The past couple of weeks hadn’t felt real. It had been too full of fortune and luck. One could call it misfortune considering that if he hadn’t worked for the captain, he never would have dropped the crystal, but for him, it had let him grow. The harsh rivers and muscle pain had taught him much. Looking back at the him who had stolen to earn money, who had rejected the offers of that restaurant owner back at the river city……
No, he had been desperate. Besides, they had only stolen enough for food. He hadn’t had much trust in people back then, having been cheated before.
But he had regretted bringing Prem with him from the north. He never should have come.
Frankly, finding his father and medicine for his mother had been an excuse. Confined within that small, rural area had made his life so dull. With no one to stop him, he had departed only to have his brother stick to his heels. Without him, he could have gone where he pleased.
Maybe that had been why he had felt so free on the ship. Away from responsibility, away from his dull life.
He really felt grateful to Shaden. After all, it was him who had opened his eyes to the endless luxuries one could obtain through money. Those silver coins had made him hungrier for more. It had stimulated something in him. Something passionate. Something he couldn’t quite put his hand on. A yearning for the higher life—perhaps that was it.
Today, their paths would separate. Honestly, did he have to go back to his home? He could stay here and continue to improve, learning more and more. He was young; there was much need for improvement, and being confined to that crude habitat, full of dirt and grass—he abhorred it. This life of debt was better than that eventless place.
He had blamed their misfortune on his father for leaving, and he still did. But he could empathize with him. Perhaps he also had been tired of the mundaneness.
Ronar continued to scrub the floor of the ship. It always had to be clean for the guests. Lately, his head had been filled with so many thoughts, thoughts he thought he would never have. But in the end, they were all thoughts. When the debt was paid, his feet would likely turn towards where he had come from, back to that familiar place. But he would resist it.
Today was a special day. Today, his brother would leave, and he would be free.
The silver coins were safely tucked away beside his chest.
〄 〄 〄
“Ronar!”
“Hey, hey, easy there.”
Prem ran and jumped into the arms of his brother, who caught him with his strong arms. The boy buried his face into Ronar’s chest, holding him tightly with his small arms.
“I missed you so much.”
“…me too.”
There was a little less than an hour until the promised time. Through Prem, Ronar and Shaden had exchanged information on the best time when they could depart. The boat Ronar had been working would dock for a few hours to restock during this time, allowing Ronar to say his goodbyes to his brother.
“You’re still wearing that?”
“Yep! The chief doesn’t want our ears showing while we’re working here.”
“I thought you were done by today.”
“Well…I also think it looks good. I got used to it.”
Ronar laughed and ruffled his brother’s head, who giggled.
“Come on, let’s sit down. I’ll order something.”
“But your debt…”
“Who cares about my debt. This is our last meal. Got it?”
Prem nodded, and they both took a seat at a vacant table. Prem recommended his brother the cheapest dishes, to which Ronar laughed once more. In the end, they ordered what they wanted and sat down for a short meal.
Their conversation wasn’t anything special. Ronar told Prem about his life on the river and Prem about his life running around cleaning the place. They both bragged about their hardships, beds, coworkers, the food they ate, and other comparable things.
“Hey, Prem,” Ronar finally said as their time neared. “The money you earned; I want you to keep it.”
“What? What are you saying?”
“The bearded trader also takes money, right? You’ll need it back home.”
“But your debt…”
“It’s a lot, you know? More than you could earn in a year. Your pay won’t do anything to reduce it. Prem, it’s okay. No matter how hard you worked, I still wouldn’t be able to go with you.”
“Ronar…”
But instead of a sad look, the sides of Prem’s lips rose up to form a smile.
“But Ronar. Look at this.”
Prem reached into his pocket and felt for something. Ronar heard the jingle of coins. Many coins.
“…aha.”
Prem looked around cautiously before taking out a small pouch, motioning to Ronar to take it. He put a finger to his lips while sliding the pouch to Ronar. Ronar, though confused, accepted the pouch as it fell on his hand.
He almost dropped it. It was much heavier than it looked.
“What—”
“Look inside, Ronar. I did my best for you.”
Ronar carefully but quickly opened the pouch. Within it, numerous silver coins shined with blinding brilliance, notifying the world of their presence. The pouch suddenly felt many times heavier on Ronar’s palm. There was no way his brother would have been able to earn this.
“Where—where did you get this!” Ronar whispered, lowering his voice.
“I just did what you told me to do before.”
Prem proudly smiled at his brother.
No.
No! He didn’t want this.
“Prem.”
“I need you, brother. Our family needs you.”
“Prem!”
“Let’s go home together, Ronar.”
No. No! Someone, anyone, please—
Just then, the doors of the inn swung open, and ten smartly dressed elven soldiers marched in. One of them especially stood out with his silver badges pinned onto his swirling robe. Probably the captain of the squad. Ronar gulped. It couldn’t possibly be—
“Ahem. Prist? Prist, are you here?” called the elven captain with familiarity.
There was some noise at the back, and the manager of the inn came out of the kitchen with a pan in her hand.
“What do you want, Yathee? To disturb my customers so early in the morning—”
“It’s past noon, Prist. And don’t call me that. Call me captain. I’m here on official matters.”
“Well, let’s hear it then.”
The elven captain cleared his throat after ordering his soldiers to wait outside. He apologized to the guests for the noise and approached the manager. Ronar concentrated with his ears. The hearing sense of beastmen was not to be underestimated.
“There’s someone committing robbery at your inn again,” the captain said with a low voice. “Not much, a few silvers here and there, but we’ve kept on getting complaints. They’re not definitive, but did you see any suspicious characters around here?”
Ronar and Prem both held their breaths.
“No, not really.”
“Ah, I see. Well, just be careful. The culprit’s only been robbing elves for some reason. You know how they are. They really don’t like keeping their hands mixed in mud. Probably the reason why you didn’t hear about it until now.”
“You’re an elf too, you silly.”
“I’m an open-minded one. Ever wondered why I asked to be stationed here?”
The conversation seemed to be going to another direction, and the beastmen brothers let out a relieved sigh.
“By the way,” suddenly stated the captain, “I sense some suspicious characters at that corner over there.”
Ronar froze. His eyes darted over—
—and met the captain’s eyes, who immediately began to slowly, so slowly walk over to them. His footsteps echoed through the room.
They had the silver coins on them. If they were caught here, who knew what would happen? He still remembered the tales of vicious elven torture and horrifying conditions in jail. He closed his eyes, and a bead of sweat fell down his brow.
“What do we do?” whispered Prem frantically.
Ronar thought. His mind raced. Could he run away? Hide? His brother would never be able to escape.
“Excuse me,” said the elven guard as he approached.
“Prem, why do you need to make my life always so, so hard!” Ronar muttered under his breath.
“Ronar?”
His stupid brother, always creating problems for him. Ronar looked at his brother, his young, sweet, stupid brother. Perhaps this was an opportunity in itself, just like the crystal incident. He gritted his teeth.
“Prem. Run. Shaden must be near. Tell him—keep your promise. Take me home.”
“Ronar?”
“You need to run, Prem. Go to Mom. Go back home. Don’t let them see your face.”
Prem nodded while shaking. The oversized bandana would work in his favor.
“Excuse me—” said the elven guard.
“Now!” yelled Ronar as he threw the table at the guard. Weeks of rope-pulling had made his arms formidable. But the table stopped in the air instantly before the elf, who set it down on the ground carefully. Ronar jumped on his chair and began to fling his arms around.
“You’ll never catch me! I’m rich now!” he yelled to the guard. “Money is power!”
He was relieved when he saw his brother slip out of the door amidst the confusion. But—
“Hey, hey, don’t think I didn’t see your friend run outside. He probably has the silver. Am I correct?”
Ronar’s blood turned cold, but he regained his energy. He had to revert to the senseless rascal he had been before he had met Shaden.
“Stupid!” Ronar cried as he juggled the money pouch on his hands. The sound of metal coins chinked noisily. “I’m too fast for you. Come on elf. Can you catch a beastman?” Come on!”
“Hah… You’re making this harder than it should be. Look, we understand why—”
Ronar was in much better shape now. He could probably run around for a good thirty minutes before they caught him. He had to cause as much distraction as he could.
“Catch me if you can!” he shouted as he jumped through the window.