Joaquin had been to many places before coming to Nuevo Paraiso. Most were decrepit and run down by the constant harassment of the local raiders or mist creatures. He knew his target was an abnormal being with knowledge capable of repelling most attacks. But to be able to construct a wall of this magnitude was a foreign concept for Joaquin.
He stood in the middle of the large farm as he tilted his head upwards. It was like the walls sprouted from the earth itself and shot upwards towards the heavens. The upper part of the wall was shrouded in dark mist. But a dimly lit flame could be seen at the top. Thinking about that sheer height made his spine tingle in a way that he never felt before. It was fear mixed with awe.
At the surface it looked nothing out of ordinary. Just a wall made out of stone but Joaquin knew that for a man such as him, he would need to look under the surface. Joaquin focused as hard as he could towards his eyes. The old man claimed this technique to be one of the basics but Joaquin could never get the trick down to activate it on demand.
Maybe the old man wasn't such a great teacher after all. Joaquin thought before shaking his head in disagreement.
He took a deep breath as he felt hot energy that flowed through his body stop, like blood caught in a clot. Joaquin exhaled and soon the energy began to flow upwards through the bloodstream and towards his eyes. He took one last breath in and out before opening his eyes. The energy that flowed through his body was compressed around his eyes allowing him to see a purple aura emanating from the wall like flames from a torch.
I understand now. Joaquin repeated over and over in his head as he snapped his fingers.
That explains why you've been able to keep out the mist creatures.
Joaquin touched the walls just to test his theory. Immediately he felt a weak burn as the purple aura began to surround his hand. Joaquin let off a cocky grin. The wall was infused with repelling magic. A spell that only worked on those sensitive to magic or magical beasts. Joaquin looked up once more towards the top of the wall.
Perhaps the creatures can't fly that high up. Joaquin concluded. He had no way to know if this was the case.
In either case he needed to get over the wall and into the city. He debated for a moment if he should break the wooden gate open. He couldn't sense any magic from the gate and it would be as easy as squashing an orange.
Remain anonymous for as long as possible. Catch him by surprise. The old man's voice whispered in Joaquin's head.
This is going to be annoying. Joaquin frowned.
He gathered up energy and directed it towards his feet. Joaquin didn't even have to concentrate like he did for his eyes. There was something about the limbs that made it easier to pull his energy towards them. Perhaps it was because pulling energy to the eyes caused his sight to enhance in more ways than just being able to see hidden auras. It also allowed him to see farther than normally possible.
Maybe you just suck? A voice echoed in Joaquin's head.
“Shut up.” Joaquin said nonchalantly.
Energy pooled around his legs as he squatted, aimed, and leaped over 3/4ths of the way up the wall before he landed on its side. The aura around his feet allowed him to glue his soles to the wall. Instantly he felt a slight burn at the soles of his feet. It felt like termites biting their way into a collapsed log. Joaquin sprinted the rest of the way up the wall as fast as he could. When he arrived at the top there was only one thing on his mind. One word that summed up everything he felt all at once.
Fuck!
The rain from the forest drifted over the city. Joaquin had never heard rain bounce off brick before. The hard splat sound that the rain made compared to the soft wet mushy sound when hitting dirt was new to him. The city made the wall seem barbaric in comparison. Joaquin recognized that the buildings were made of a stone but he had never seen stone smoothed out and colored before. He closed his eyes and the memories of that man told him that the smoothed out stone was called concrete.
The homes had a small hanging balcony covered in lush green vegetation That made the colors of the bricks and walls pop out. It was beautiful. Joaquin felt like he was walking through a decorative show under the moonlight. The memories of the other man made Joaquin feel nostalgic at the sight. He wondered if all the cities were once this grand and majestic. He wondered if his people created anything near this level. He would never know.
The quiet streets were replaced with laughter and commotion from a nearby two storied building. Unlike the other homes this building had balconies that sticked out enough to allow people to stand out on them. Joaquin noticed the large wooden decorative piece that had the word Tavern inscribed on it.
Again the memories allowed him to understand the meaning behind the word. Like a fish aroused by a hooked bait, curiosity got the better of Joaquin and he walked through the swinging doors.
The tavern was filled with laughter and loud chatter. Each table grew louder and louder as they tried to drown out the other patrons so their buddies could hear them talk. Joaquin felt exposed and he scurried outside the tavern and back into the cover of darkness. He didn't stop running until he had run behind a corner. He took a moment to collect his thoughts before peeking out through the corner and towards the tavern.
No one had come searching for him.
When Joaquin let out a deep sigh he realized his heart was racing. He didn't understand what he witnessed. The sight of men and women laughing with one another as they drank from their large cups. Some even had meat to go with their drinks. He wondered if it was safe to go back. Would Zephiel become aware of his presence if he returned to the tavern?
His mind raced as a thought popped in his head. He focused energy around his eyes again and glanced at the tavern. He analyzed the buildings around him. Making sure not a single speck was left unseen. When Joaquin made sure what he was looking for was not there he relaxed and let out a deep sigh.
None of the buildings were coated in aura. Thank god. Joaquin echoed in his head.
The old man made sure to tell Joaquin about the many ways one could use aura. Some basics like enhancing the senses and body. But some, like the repellent aura on the wall, was considered an advanced form of aura usage. One of the hardest to achieve was the ability to leave aura behind and anything to come into contact with it would inform the one who left the aura.
Thankfully the tavern was not coated in that type of magic. Joaquin thought.
The old man's words ranged in his ears again. Stay hidden. Joaquin took a moment to catch his bearings. He wondered if he was being overly paranoid. The old man would give him an earful of a lecture if he returned with such a reply. Joaquin brushed himself off as the rain began to pour above him.
He felt like he had no choice but to enter the tavern now. It was either that or catch a cold.
Joaquin pushed the swinging door in front of him and was hit with the same loudness from before. It seemed no one had noticed his earlier fiasco or no one cared. Joaquin couldn't help but notice the meat again. When was the last time he had meat? He wondered. Weeks on the road and nothing to eat but what he could find off the land. Sometimes he would work for his meals but it would consist of bread made out of barley flour or stew that consisted mostly of water and potatoes. Sometimes both.
Do they eat like this every day? Joaquin asked himself.
Just then a waitress walked past Joaquin. The smell of roasted pork filled his nostrils. He felt the pangs in his stomach. Joaquin half heartedly resisted walking up to the bar. It only lasted for a moment. His desire for meat overpowered his reasoning.
You're unbelievable. You know that? A voice echoed inside him.
Shut up! I'm craving for the both of us. Joaquin responded.
Joaquin sat on the only opened high chair. It didn't take long for the bartender to make her way to him. The first thing Joaquin noticed was her soft long black hair. Possibly another perk for living inside the walls.
“What would you like?” The bartender asked with a soothing yet seductive voice.
Joaquin could feel himself blush. He held a hand on the side of his face to cover his attempt at ordering. “M-meat.”
The bartender raised a brow. “Ok. Steak, sirloin, pork chop, glazed, marmalade—”
“Pork chop.” Joaquin answered as he tried to hold back his drool.
“That'll be one gold coin. Would you like rice or tatoes to go with your chops?”
Joaquin didn't bother to answer her question. He didn't have any money. Not any that would be accepted in the city. Most villages bartered for their goods. Gold was rare to come by and mostly used for jewelry or decorative pieces. He had never heard it used as a coin.
“I can work.” Joaquin shouted.
“Work on your own time. We only accept currency here.” The bartender said with a harsh tone as she walked to the other side of the bar where rough looking men waved for her attention.
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Joaquin was left feeling confused. The settlements he visited were all too happy to accept his labor in exchange for a meal. He felt rage build up inside him but knew he had no right to steal for his meal. Just as he was about to stand from his chair he felt a hand land on his shoulder. Joaquin glanced over and saw a middle aged man staring at him.
“You're not from around these parts are you?”
Joaquin froze. Was the man working for Zephiel? How could he tell he wasn't from the city? Joaquin built up whatever energy he had left as he prepared for a fight. To his surprise the man simply looked him up and down, smiled and said,
“Don't worry. I'll take care of this.” As he shouted at the bartender before placing a gold coin on the bar.
Joaquin immediately knew what the man was doing. He was paying for his meal. The man glanced back at Joaquin. His smile still warm.
“We all been there pal.”
Joaquin looked to his side with confusion. “B-been where?” Joaquin asked.
“Broke.” The man said with a slight chuckle.
Joaquin faked a laugh as he tried to hide his pink cheeks.
“So. Where are you from, friend?”
“How do you know I'm not from the city? I could be your neighbor for all you know.” Joaquin said.
The man took a chug from his cup before saying, “your clothes. The tailors here don't make clothing from animal skin anymore. At least not in the way your clothes are stitched. Usually animal skin is layered with cotton or wool for the colder season. Linen for the hotter weather. No, your outfit gives you away. That and the lost gaze in your eyes.”
Joaquin couldn't believe he was easily found out. Was he really that ill prepared? It couldn't be helped. He needed to know more about the people in this city.
“You got me. Yes I'm not from here. I'm from beyond the walls.”
The man's eyes grew and looked like they were about to pop right out of their sockets.
“Are you serious? Tell me what is it like out there? The old timers say there are monsters out in the woods. Is any of it true?”
“Hey Alonso where have you been? Out tumbling with your old wife?” Said a man who walked up behind Alonso.
“No Almerique. Just with your sister.” Said Alonso and the two men busted out in laughter.
“Hey who's this?” Almerique asked.
Joaquin noticed how Alonso glanced at him as if asking the very same question.
“My name is Joaquin.”
“Joaquin huh? Never seen you before. What part of town are you from?” Almerique asked.
Before Joaquin could answer Alonso interrupted. “He's not from here. He's actually from outside the walls.”
Joaquin saw as Almerique's eyes widened and jaw dropped. Joaquin couldn't help but feel uneased by all of this. His plan was to remain low and the last thing he needed was for news of an outsider to spread. Especially to Zephiel.
Joaquin allowed his curiosity for the wonders of the city overtake his judgment. He could already see the old man's reaction if he were to return with the news that his mission had failed. All he could do was mentally bang himself on the head as he saw Almerique gather his thoughts.
“That's… Unheard of.”
“Is it?” Joaquin said as he tried to brush it off as no big deal.
“It is! We hardly ever get any visitors. The ones we do get are either survivors who had their village attacked or—”
“Raiders” Alonso interrupted. “You're not a raider right friend?”
Joaquin nodded but felt the need to verbally confirm. “No I'm not. Met some on the way here.”
“Fascinating.” Almerique said slowly as he enunciated each syllable.
The way Almerique talked and stared at Joaquin made him feel uncomfortable. To his delight the waitress had returned with his pork chops served alongside a healthy serving of rice and corn. He shot a quick glance at Alonso who, Joaquin swore, nodded at him to enjoy his meal.
“Some water and a shot of tequila for my three friends here.” Alonso told the bartender.
It didn't take long for the bartender to return with said items and to hers, and to everyone else's shock, Joaquin had finished eating everything on his plate leaving only the hard bones.
Risk of exposure or not, it was well worth the risk. The pork was well cooked and seasoned to perfection. Joaquin could not believe the quality of the food in the city. It was almost a shame he was here to kill the man responsible for even a little hint of good. Glimpses of spilled blood and lifeless corpses appeared in Joaquin's mind.
“Almost a shame.” Joaquin whispered. His low voice masked the anger he felt boil up inside him.
To his surprise Alonso had heard him. “What was that friend?”
“Uh nothing.” Joaquin stuttered as he got to his feet and bowed at the man. “Thank you for the meal. I should really get going.”
“Where would you go? The city is big and jobs are hard to come by. Especially for an immigrant with no experience of the things we do here.” Alonso explained.
Almerique elbowed Alonso. “You don't gotta be so harsh on the man. I'm sure he can easily get a job working the farms outside of the walls. Everyone knows people are still scared to venture out even a foot out of the front gate.” Almerique turned to Joaquin and smiled. “I'd wager since you're from outside of the walls that you're not afraid of leaving the walls for a little bit of work.”
“Who would I talk to to work the farms?”
“Me.” Almerique responded.
Joaquin stared at Alonso. It was too convenient. He had only been in the city for an hour and already he managed to get a warm meal and now a job from the same man. Joaquin wondered what his game was. Was all of this just a lead up to hire someone for his farms? Were the people in this city really that scared of venturing outside their walls?
“Tell me Alonso. Why are people afraid to go out of the city?” Joaquin was going to get to the bottom of all this.
Alonso poured a shot of tequila on all three of the glass cups the bartender left behind. As he did, a woman walked up to a raised platform at the corner of the tavern opposite the stairs; and started singing a somber tune. Alonso handed each of them a glass and raised his in the air. Almerique immediately, as if he knew something Joaquin didn't, hit his glass with Almerique's glass before the pair held their glasses towards Joaquin.
"What're you doing?”
The pair looked at one another in complete shock and confusion.
“We're toasting my friend.” Alonso said.
Joaquin eyed the pair and examined them closely. He pondered over the lessons the old man taught him about magic and how sometimes certain requirements were needed for its activation. Could this be such a requirement? But he felt nothing from the pair. He could tell they were just normies even without enhancement.
“You just hit your glass with ours and that's called toasting. People on the outside don't toast?” Almerique asked with a curious tone.
“Too busy surviving.” Joaquin said.
The pair frowned out of pity and they decided to drink their shots. Joaquin examined the shot of tequila. It was clear and resembled water in appearance. He smelled it and it had a strong yet cool odor to it.
“It'll grow hair on your balls. Try it” Alonso said with a cough as the liquor went down hard.
He didn't hesitate and drank the tequila in one gulp. His throat felt warm as the liquor went down. But it was far different than just drinking something hot. Almost heavy in nature and with a warming effect after it landed in your stomach.
“What is this?”
“Haha well it's tequila. Liquor, alcohol. You're telling us you outsiders never had liquor before?” Alonso asked.
Joaquin gave them the same answer as before. “Too busy surviving. You still didn't answer my question.”
“It's customary to drink down your sorrows before spilling them over the floor like this.” Alonso said as he poured more tequila for everyone. “Yes, the people in Nuevo Paraiso are prone to rumors and the like. All of the old folks claim to have seen terrible things when their boogeyman in the form of a mist was around.”
Alonso handed each of them their shots. Joaquin ignored the drink. “To be honest—” Alonso paused to drink. “I think they're batshit crazy. I mean I've never seen the mist or the creatures myself.”
“Neither have I.” Almerique said with a pale face.
“Then why are you afraid to venture out?” Joaquin asked.
“I told you. We're prone to rumors and superstition. If you have a generation of geezers telling you over and over again how the world was going to end when their mist returned, how do you think the kids hearing that their whole lives would feel? Don't venture outside the walls. The creatures are still out there. It's bad for business.”
“Are you afraid?”
Alonso locked eyes with Joaquin. “No. You probably saw my farm outside the walls when you came through. Not once have I seen a monster come out of the forest. Not once. Still you'll have an easier time finding a purse full of coins than you would finding people to run the farms.”
“Is that why you offered me food, and liquor? To convince me to come work for you? Joaquin asked.
“Is it working?” Alonso had a nervous smile on his face.
“Maybe.”
Joaquin was more glad that the man wasn't a spy after all. He could use a job while he learned more about the city and find Zephiel. It's not like he was short on time anyways. He waited over a decade. What was a few more days or weeks?
“What if I say yes?”
“You get tonight's room paid for as your starting bonus. Maybe you can tell me more about the outside world tomorrow.” Alonso said as he held a hand out.
Joaquin was familiar with the gesture and shook Alonso's hand.
The three continued to drink and Almerique was left unconscious on the bar.
“Shouldn't we help him?” Joaquin asked concerned.
Alonso just laughed. “He'll be fine. Almerique will have a nasty headache in the morning.
Joaquin chuckled awkwardly And drank his water before noticing a dark skin woman walk into the tavern. It wasn't long before their eyes met and Joaquin found her to be beautiful. To his shock the woman walked straight towards him and he could feel butterflies in his stomach.
“Delilah! What's your sorry ass doing in here eh? How's your sister?” Alonso's tone was like that of a drunkard.
“She's doing fine. I see Almerique had one too many.” Delilah said as she pushed the unconscious man off the chair and sat. “Who's your friend?”
“My new employee. Joaquin meet Delilah the virgin succubus.”
Joaquin nodded.
“Don't talk much huh? Well I can't blame you. Not with Alonso as your boss. He never shuts up.”
“I'm right here.”
“See? Always has something to say.” Delilah snickered.
“What was it like seeing a glowing one in person?” Alonso asked. His words caught Joaquin's attention.
A glowing one? Could it be?
“So the kid can glow. So what? It's the money everyone is after.” She said as she buried herself in her pint.
“I suspect we're going to see a lot of bounty hunters after today. Everyone is going to want to claim the reward for themselves.” Alonso said.
“A glowing one? What is that?” Joaquin asked.
Delilah eyed Joaquin for a moment. “You're not from here are you?”
Joaquin tried hard to not show his displeasure with the woman. Her response was not the answer he was hoping for. He felt an itch that rippled through his body. He wanted to know if this glowing one was what he truly suspected. Could there be someone out there just like him? Could there be another survivor?
Was he not alone in the world after all?
“I'm new. Just arrived today.” Joaquin forced a smile.
Delilah didn't say a word. At least not immediately. Joaquin noticed how she was staring at him. As if she suspected a deeper meaning to his probing. He couldn't help but feel naked In front of her. She was sharp.
“You're from outside the walls? Who let you in? I thought all the guards were rotated away from the front gate to help with the search.” Delilah said as she sipped on what remained in the tequila bottle Alonso ordered earlier.
“I'm sure they left a boy or two to man the gate. Glowing one or not the gate must always be manned.” Alonso shouted.
Thank you Alonso. Joaquin said in his head. But he couldn't shake off Delilah's eyes from peering at him. He knew she suspected something from him. He would have to stay on his toes.
“So this glowing one. What is it?”
“The old geezers think the glowing ones were the reason the mist appeared in the first place. The first king placed a bounty on their heads for their capture. Delilah was the one who came face to face with one.” Alonso said.
“It's just a boy who can glow in the sun. I don't see how that can attract mist.” Delilah snorted
Alonso and Delilah continued their argument but Joaquin had drowned them out. A boy that glowed in the sun. It had to be a member of his tribe. There could be no other explanation. Joaquin opened his eyes and saw a road that split ways. He knew he had to make a choice. Could he postpone or lose his opportunity for revenge and lose the opportunity to meet a surviving kin. Or should he search for the boy? Perhaps he wasn't the only one.
He didn't know which choice was the correct one