Jorish turned, looking at Fredek. Traves was deep in thought for a moment before he called out.

 “Nadim! Can you make one more dish for our friend here? Make it really nice, will you!”

 Nadim popped out from the back as he nodded, smiling, before he went back in. Unsure why, Jorish felt his body shudder as he saw the two of them interacting. Traves turned towards Fredek as his lips moved into a smile. “Friend, how about you join us us for lunch so we can talk about things?”

 Jorish shuddered, he turned his head as he looked at Anise, who shared his same look. Fredek, seemingly oblivious to Traves’ great mood, smiled widely before sitting down replying. “I would be very happy to, Foreigner.”

 As he sat down, Traves eyes turned cold and serious as he spoke. “So, tell me. Why have you ‘saved’ us?”

 Fredek looked at Traves as he was about to speak. He paused for a few seconds before shaking his head as he said. “Sharp as I’ve heard, Traveler. Well, it wouldn’t be a complete lie to say that I’ve been following Martin. But most of anything, I wanted to meet you Traveler.”

 “Why?”

 A sharp glint shone in Fredek’s eye as he spoke. “Change is coming, and I have plans. I was going to execute them on my own, but it would bring my great joy if you were a witness.”

 As he was speaking, Nadim came out of the kitchen with a dish that looked no less fiery than what Cail was having. Jorish closed his eyes as he shuddered. Traves… You wanted to be arrested that badly?

 Traves sat, uninterested, as he talked. “Well, before we go on. Why don’t you have some food? Also, do you think you have enough backing to do such a thing? You lack strength, but with those ambitions you speak of, you must have some guarantee?”

 Sweat started falling from Fredek’s face as he looked and smelled the dish put in front of him. He opened his mouth, saying just before shoving a bite in. “Well, it would indeed be unfair to ask for your interest without putting something in first. I will just say, the Reinold is on my side.”

 The uninterested look evaporated from Traves’ face, as he sat upright. “Are you telling the truth? Reinold, the free blade is supporting you?”

 Fredek nodded, as tears formed in his eyes from the burning inferno he was consuming. He looked at the side, staring at Traves’ companions. Traves paused for a moment before he turned around to Jorish.“ Jorish, Anise. I got some stuff to take care of, so just walk around meanwhile. Cail, I need you to help me check for something while I talk to our friend here.”

 Everyone nodded, Jorish finished the last of his plate, thanking Nadim before leaving.

  -  -  -  -  -

 Jorish and Anise walked around, enjoying the familiar hot air. The streets of Wolnosci were clean, yet very cramped in a sense. Unlike the sun-touched cities, these cities were both built to maximize space, and defense. The tight pathways, stone buildings provided difficulties for invaders.

 Jorish walked as he looked at the people. Not only were they more varied than the cities, which is no surprise, but everyone walked with a purpose. Rarely would you find people just walking around for the sake of it. With such tight pathways, it must be suffocating to walk around in the heat. Thought Jorish as they walked around. He however, didn’t mind the heat, neither would Anise. Despite the heat, the air smelled fresh. They must have spent a lot of maintenance and cleaning. Knew Jorish.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

 They kept walking around, as he felt people staring at him. People of the sun-touched cities are not the most appreciated around huh. Jorish thought. He felt another presence watching them, one that was somehow different from the other people. Jorish ignored the feeling, enjoying the touch of his spear as he supported it on his shoulder.

 As they walked around, a noise caught Jorish’s attention. He felt his instinct push him to ignore it, yet he felt something else inside him almost forcing him to check it out. He turned to Anise, who nodded at him. They sprinted into the alleyway for a few minutes until they reached the source of the sound.

 Jorish’s eyes froze in shock, his eyes quickly turning into rage. A body laid upon the stone floor, no spot without a cut or a bruise. Jorish could easily recognize that it was a fellow countryman of his, a dweller of the sun-touched cities. He was barely alive, as the slight shivering of his body showed. Standing on top of him was a masked thug, wearing black. He looked at Jorish and Anise as he smiled, whistling.

 Moments later, countless thugs appeared from the corners of the alleyways. They held various weapons and wore light, yet well-made armor. Jorish quickly scanned them with his eyes, feeling their energies before concluding. Most of them are not very strong, One… maybe two Practitioners? Jorish thought, estimating his opponents.

 He held his spear, trying to decide what to do with his assailants, he knew he should kill them. Their actions were inhuman, they were scum. Yet, creating more trouble at that point didn’t sound like a good idea. Jorish momentarily wrestled with his thoughts until he decided, why am I even hesitant? Sometimes I should just be like Traves, and do whatever the hell I want! Jorish gathered back his determination until he heard the sound of a shout from the back.

 “Witness!!” Jorish heard the shout in confusion, before he heard a whistling sound.

 Less than a moment later, a glint shone in the sky. Jorish glanced up in the sky momentarily as a spear fell from the skies, zipping through as it pierced the thug on top of the injured man. A man dropped from the skies, reaching his spear instantly. He held his spear as it was stuck in the thug, before he twisted and pulled his spear, cutting the man from waist to shoulder in half.

 He stood, in the midst of blooming blood and flesh. unusually blue hair fluttering behind him, followed by his white cape. He had an unusually bright skin, accompanied with his white clothes, he created an unusual image. Jorish’s eyes drifted to his hands, he held a spear. No, not a pointy stick. A proper spear. Jorish noted sourly looking at his ‘spear’.

 The newcomer smiled, as he spoke while dodging an ax heading towards his head. “I, Dyce, have arrived!”

 He spun, his spearhead following his movement as it cut the ax-man’s throat while dodging another sword. “I shall show you…”

 He jumped back dodging a spear thrusting at him, as he thrust his spear back instantly, piecing the spear wielder’s throat. “.. The path of the spear!”

 As the one Jorish suspected to be a practitioner started to move, his hands glowing. Dyce immediately threw his spear, piercing the practitioner in the chest. He jumped, dodging the remaining thugs attack until he reached the practitioner. He took out his spear, finishing the practitioner off as he stood, cape fluttering. “The path of justice!”

 The thugs, now without their strongest member, started running away. Jorish knew they were no ordinary thugs. What thugs have a practitioner, and act inside the city? He shook his head as he turned to Dyce, about to thank him.

 Dyce turned towards Jorish. He raised his spear as he spoke. “You, shame the spear! Your hesitation, your weakness. That is not justice!”

 He stepped forward, as Jorish tightened his grip on his spear, before he spoke. “False spear-bearer! I, Dyce, challenge you to a duel! I shall show you the path of the spear, I shall show you justice.”

 Jorish froze, looking at Dyce, as the only thought he had in his mind ran out.

 What the hell did that guy have before coming here?