“As I was saying… the girl is innocent. She did not kill your guard.”
Lifting his foot ever so slightly to let Garon breathe, he lowered his gaze and looked him straight in the eyes.
“I did.
“I tore through his liver, and watched him vomit blood for a full minute, struggling to keep the rest of his organs going.
“I watched him fail, and perish.
“Humans are frail creatures, and you sir are no different.
“Without your ego and your high rank, you are but a bleeding animal, and you can die just as easily as any rodent out in these woods.”
The crowd broke into involuntary murmurs as Leo’s monologue continued. Even if they risked irritating Prometheus with their comments, they almost couldn’t help themselves.
Killed someone, confessed to it, and then beat up the guards… this guy was truly psychotic.
“I won’t kill you, though.”
Smiling at the guards, who didn’t seem relieved in the slightest, he confirmed their worries weren’t misplaced.
“You lot! These sons of bitches wearing fancy armor were about murder one of you!”
Pointing at Sana who stood uncomfortably by his side, he then brought his aim on the guards.
“They defile the laws, defiled your parents, and defile your God-given rights… they stomp on your very chance at a normal existence.”
“It isn’t right! It shouldn’t be an understandable or acceptable thing for you to watch by as others like you suffer needlessly. Tonight, that must change!”
Surveying their reactions, Leonardo saw beyond their facial expressions. Past their hateful frowns or disguised smiles, he saw each individual’s true thoughts.
Their auras resonated with various instincts. Some showed fear while putting on a brave front, others were calm and in thought. Some were swayed by the speech and burned with righteous indignation, ready to snap off their leash.
He took note of each reaction, then brought his judgement down on the guards just as mercilessly as they had earlier.
“Beat them up. Break their ribs. Smash their fingers. Tonight, you get to pay them back. Not out of spite, but as a message to the rest.”
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“The blood they shed tonight will serve as a reminder that you are not alone. That together you can find strength to earn back your rights! This is the prelude to your justice!”
“FIGHT!”
Stepping away, he unleashed the hounds and watched as their wrath found its release.
Though some stood by and watched, and others distanced themselves from the affair entirely and sought to retreat, most pounced forward and pummeled the guards like hyenas.
Some were hit back, but the guards’ resistance was overwhelmed quickly by numbers and six chaotic piles were formed. Without blades, they lost their advantage. The armor only served to slow them down, and including Garon’s son - all six had been beaten to an inch from death. Only when Leonardo intervened did the band unwillingly fall back.
Despite their emotional outburst, they didn’t misplace their fear of Leonardo. His infernal mask and the pile of swords was a clear reminder of what happened to those who crossed Prometheus. As such, as soon as he issued the order, they retreated like the tide and listened attentively.
“You came here tonight to reforge your path. I promised to help guide you.
“I won’t feed you for free, nor will I let you embark on a life free of worries. It will be hard, and some among you may bleed along the journey.
“Some will grow weak and falter, that I understand.
“Hence, I have but one promise for you. As long as you follow the rules and don’t give up on yourself, we will be by your side to help you get back up!”
Enthralled by his magnetism and still high on adrenaline, the crowd broke into a deafening cheer.
“The first and most essential rule is loyalty. Not to me as a person, but to yourselves. Loyalty to this group and what it means to be a part of it.
“Those who betray us will likely have one of two outcomes. Either we tie them up and use their savings to get them a ship out of Malta, or we tie them up and use a tree to send them out of this world.
“You can part ways if you wish, but only if you forswear thievery. If you find a nobler occupation such as an apprenticeship, or if you’re old and want to get married or whatever, you are free to leave so long as you uphold secrecy. I am not averse to you forging a new path in life, so long as it doesn’t impede our own liberties.
“You can also choose to not join, and strike it out on your own, but let me remind you that the odds are not in your favor.
“Also, while I am willing to accept everyone today, it might not be the case tomorrow. Reject me now, and you might meet rejection in turn.”
Having listed his primary terms, Leonardo gave them some time to ponder things. While seemingly just staring silently at them, he was assessing their thoughts. Having made some progress with the Animus Dharma recently, he could pick up on some surface impressions. As if a dog picking up on their pheromones, he could interpret their fears, excitement or worry.
Seeing most of them remain thoughtful and indecisive, he didn’t push the matter nor try to goad them into submission. Ultimately, Leo was doing them a favor. Whether they took this chance or not was up to them.
“Time is up. Those of you who are undetermined, it’s best you leave.”
“I will not pursue you, nor do you need to worry. As long as you remain quiet about what happened here tonight, you can keep to yourselves and no one will touch you.”
Having been reassured, a few people silently scrambled out of the crowd and left. Others followed not long after. The more indecisive ones remained split, with some leaving and others staying.
Finally, the original crowd of 50 or so urchins dwindled down to a bare 20.
Sizing them up and making sure no one who bore ill will stayed, he tossed a torch to Fino and then walked off.
“Come along, then. For the next month you will disappear from this world. When you re-emerge, you will bear new names and a brand new fate.”
Whispering something to Fino, he then melded back in the darkness, shadowing the group as it advanced deeper into the dark forest.