A chair, a table, crates….. a lot of crates. Above, old ceilings covered in cobwebs and dust, an empty torch handle that looks like it’s never been used. They’ve removed anything to make room for storage of illegal products of some kind. In the center of the room, a young kid is tied to a chair, his head covered with a wheat sack as he struggles to move. Darkness, pitch black obscurity, is all Elian can see. He tried to move his body yet he only felt the burning sensation of a skin-tight rope around his wrist. If only he had listened to his parents then this would never have happened.

Elian can still remember the day before this happened, Elian defying his parents’ wishes, left the safety of the Inner Walls and snuck out and wandered in the Middle District without any bodyguard to protect him. He wanders through the overflowing life of the city, bustling with activity. Elian saw numerus merchants trading goods up and down the alleyway. To his left, a massive temple overshadows the avenue. As he gazed upon its limestone exterior with cascading reliefs of eight different figures, he knew that this is the Grand Temple of the Eight Divines. Entering the Grand Temple, Elian saw a great number of devotees from around Osloris worshipping The Eight Divines. He was so amazed to perceive such a great many races: Humans, Gnomes, Halflings, and even Dwarves venture forth into the First City just to pay their respects to the Eight. Because of his cloistered upbringing in the Inner District, Elian had not seen anything like this ever before and he thought to himself “I have to see more.” Making his way around the city, he passed by the trees with red leaves indicating that he was in the famous Red Plaza dedicated to the Red Dragon, one of the heroes of the Republic, Thessarion. This Plaza was filled with adventurers, couples, and families leisurely enjoying the picturesque scenery before them complete with food kiosks and the occasional souvenir shop. Continuing his way of discovery, he came upon The Exhibition. This place housed various weapons, treasures and artifacts of great significance to The First City. It is here where one can find a replica of the Three Great Treasures: Elian’s Grimoire, Samael’s Sword, and Thessarion’s Scale. Caught up in his wanderlust, he stumbled upon The Lord’s Theatre. It is here where Bard’s of great renown perform with audiences ranging from the noblest of families down to the marginalized of society. Last but not the least, certainly his most awaited destination is the Brawler’s Pit where the strongest and most powerful warriors battle with their bare hands. Onlookers can place their bets on who, they think, will emerge victorious. It rivals the Gladiator’s Arena of the Golden Empire where killing is permitted. As Elian was preoccupied and amazed at watching fist for fist action, his vision suddenly turned black and he fell unconscious.

The silence and cold damp feeling of the empty room made him realize what situation he is in, regrets filled his heart as he contemplated what he had done, if only he had listened to his parents this would not have happen. A few seconds later, he can see a dim light, and then the sound of an opening wooden door, footsteps and voices, deep male voices, arguing, talking. “When do you think the next shipment is?” said by a hoarse voice. “I don’t know, all I know is I’m not gonna be part of it” replied a male voice with a hint of an accent. “You only care when you get paid right? Hahahaha” The hoarse voice replied. The voices become stronger, louder then… a light, blinding bright warm light. He can feel a hand coming near him, the stranger removed the wheat sack covering his head so fast that he was blinded, he saw a torch beaming with the warm light he felt earlier and then two hooded strangers, one guy had horns coming out of its hood, his skin is blue as the ocean in the summer, and a tail coming out of his back. Fiendling, this guy is definitely a Fiendling he thought. Born out of an unholy union of man and a fiend this man certainly had a rough life Elian further thought.

Fiendling’s have a bad reputation around the continent of Osloris not only because of their appearances but also mostly because of the event in history famously known as the Invasion, where a portal from the underworld opened and an army of fiends began their invasion of the continent. The fiend invasion was so devastating that it brought so many traumas that even a child born in unfortunate circumstances were receiving unfair judgment. Thus, the fiendling’s infamous prejudice was born.

Elian’s eyes turn to the other stranger, this man seems to be a normal human compared to the other one, but his face is full of scars, uneven teeth, disfigured nose and what looks like an eye ready to pop out that you can’t even think of it as a face. “Look what we have here a little snub from the inner district.” The Fiendling said as he clasped the child's face with his blue hand, Elian can feel the long fingernails of the stranger burying into his skin, but he mustered his courage and asked the two strangers a question he already knew the answer to. Elian may be sheltered but he is courageous and clever even at a young age. “So I presumed that you two are my abductor?” Elian bravely asked. The two strangers laughed at the obvious question maniacally, the fiendling then let go of Elian’s face and proceed to the edge of the room and sat at an unoccupied table. The other stranger, the man with a scared face, put the torch near Elian’s face so close that Elian can feel his brow burn. “Wait…. Now I know this face” the man said. “He’s not just any snub you idiot! It’s the youngest son of Lord Towers” the Fiendling added. “Boss will be happy about this” said by the disfigured man “Go tell the boss then, I can smell the bonus gold hehehe” the Fiendling gleefully said. The human obliged irately but proceeded to exit the abandoned building leaving Elian with in Fiendling’s care who’s comfortably sitting at the corner with an arrogant attitude. The room filled with deadly silence that you can almost hear the heartbeat of the people inside the warehouse. A few minutes had passed since the scarred face stranger left the room. Elian can’t take any more of this eerie silence joined by the scary stare of the Fiendling stranger, he decided to end the silence by asking a question he knows may or may not remain unanswered. “What’s the difference if I’m a Towers?” Elian inquires. “Towers are known providers of architects and builders for the citizens of Dragon’s End” Fiendling replied. Surprisingly the stranger answered, Elian then continued his mission for answers to quench his thirst for his curiosity. He may find out what his captor’s plan is for him by asking more, so he asks for more queries. “So what if we deal in buildings?” Elian asked again. “You don’t get it kid? Your family is the main provider of architects which means your family has the blueprints of all the buildings in Dragon’s End, simple math” Fiendling boastfully said. “This guy is easy!” Elian thought. He knows now that he can get information from his dumb captor. He proceeds to ask for more and maybe the captors reveal who they really are. “If I know who they really are I might find leverage to negotiate.” Elian thought. “So what if our family has the blueprints of every structure and building in Dragon’s End, what does that have to do with me?” Elian probes further. “Simple, we will trade you for the blueprints” Fiendling replied. “Tsk, this is not going good, they want me for a trade for the blueprints, our way of living, my parents will never give it I know it!” Elian thought. “Then what?” He asked. “When we have the blueprints we will now know where to enter or exit, which building is the most vulnerable and where the gold is made, basically we will own the whole city” The Fiendling explains. “Hahahaha thank you for telling your plans stupid!” Elian understood. “And how would that help you?” Elian asked, trying to act dumb. “Enough! You bore me kid with all of these stupid questions” the Fiendling yelled and got down from the table and proceeded to exit the building, leaving Elian alone in the dark room. Minutes passed. Elian tried to get out of his bindings but miserably failed, suddenly Elian hears a sound of creaking wood being split open. A shadowy figure emerges from the darkness, a young kid with jet black hair and pointy ears, covered in dirt and holding what looks to be a sharp object. “Who are you?” The kid whispered as he came closer to him, which made Elian, confused the hell out. “What the hell is happening?! Who is this kid? Is he part of this?” Elian ignored his thoughts and tried to reason what was happening, but first, "I think I’m the one who should be asking that question” Elian replied. “Oh I’m sorry my bad, my name is Kit’Enuath, but you can call me Kit” the kid replied. “What’s this kid’s deal? Kitenuwhat? Kit? Now where on a nickname basis now?” Elian said to himself. “Hi? I guess, are you kidnapped too?” He replied. “No, I live here” Kit said. “Live!?” Elian attempts to look around him and try to find a clue that this is a hospitable home and if he ever missed something about his first impression of this room. “Here in this room?” Elian confusedly asked. “No, here in the slums” Kit clarifies. “Wait! What? We’re in the slums!” Elian yelled. “Shhh they might hear you, and yes we are” Kit said. “What the hell?! How long I was out of consciousness? And what the hell is this kid doing here?” Elian thought. “So what are you doing here then?” Elian asked as he tried to make out of this situation again. “I saw them bring you here, I got curious, and so I’m here” Kit explains “Great! He saw us! Somebody from the middle district might also have seen us… wait I can ask him if he could help me, he kinda looks like a good kid” Elian silently prayed. “Can you help me? Escape here?” He asked. “I guess I can” Kit replied. “YES!” Elian yelled in his head.” So who are you? And why have you been kidnapped? Where are you from?” Kit asked while trying to remove the ropes tied to Elian. “I’m Elian, they kidnapped me for ransom or something, and I’m from the inner district” Elian answered as Kit cut the ropes wrapping around Elian’s wrist. “So you’re rich? That’s why, by the way nice to meet you El” Kit said. “El! Who calls me El! The nerve of this kid” El thought. “ELIAN, names ELIAN, and yes, my parents are rich, kind of” El clarifies. “I know, but El is shorter and much cooler though” Kit replied. “Wait…. El sounds kinda cool, I let it slide” El thought to himself. “Fine, call me whatever you want and thank you” El said trying not to sound glad. “Sure no problem, so where are you going now?” Kit asked. “Home? I guess?” El answered.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

As the two boys were talking, the door suddenly opened and the Fiendling appeared before them. Seeing what is happening, the Fiendling’s cheerful expression changes quickly to a hungry beast ready to lunge. The two kids know what’s going to happen next and it conveys to them fear and angst making their body shiver to their core. Their knees begin trembling, sweat starts pouring as they look at each other, they agree on something, something they know might not succeed; they’re going to escape this room and live no matter the cost. El can see a drip of sweat slowly rolling down Kit’s face as if time has been slowed down, he could hear his heart beating faster and faster... suddenly Kit quickly moves forward dagger in hand.