Shortly after Solomon’s capture by the masked stranger, the guards Nira went with woke up. Since they had not been conscious for the encounter with the stranger, Nira lied and told them Solomon had run away after bearing witness to his great power. He dismissed them, picked up Solomon’s handbag and returned to his father’s estate alone with a grim expression on his face.

Chairman Shika’s house was larger than any other building in Argentum. It was a five story building with fifty bedrooms. Once Nira reached the gate to the mansion, another guard opened it for him. On the other side of the gate was a large garden where they grew rare flowers and plants such as ghost orchids, rafflesia and even treants, which were watched over day and night by hired mercenaries. In the middle of the garden was a large golden fountain that continually discharged water.

The main building itself was a gaudy mess. During the building’s construction, the chairman had wanted it to resemble a quaint cottage but halfway through the construction he ordered it to be made into a gold covered temple that would signify his greatness. The result was an ugly and unpleasant amalgamation which made everyone that saw the mansion question the owner’s tastes.

“Welcome home young master.” As Nira walked to the large wooden doors of the mansion, two maids were ready to open the doors for him. “Has my father returned from work yet?” Nira questioned the maid on the left. “Unfortunately my lord, your father will not be back until nightfall.” Nira nodded his head and walked into the mansion. Nira decided to wait for his father in the lounge and bar on the second floor of the mansion. Waiting there for him was his personal butler, Thomas. Thomas had watched over Nira from the very first day he had been adopted and was the only one Nira could consider a friend. Thomas was tall, strong and despite his age was always full of energy. He also had a nice thick set of gray and black hair.

Thomas had been enjoying a nice, cool glass of red wine when he saw Nira. “Ah, there you are Nira. How did things go with that friend of yours?” Nira frowned at Thomas’ question.

“He’s not my friend.” Thomas raised his left eyebrow and broke into a smile. “Well you could’ve fooled me by talking about him all the time like that. I almost thought you had a crush on him or something.”

“Thomas!!” Thomas raised his hands to show that he was just joking. “I kid, I kid. But I take it things didn’t go so well.”

“...Yeah, something…unexpected happened and I have to talk to my father about it.” Thomas nodded and brought a chair for Nira to sit.

“I see. Well then want to just hang out with me for a bit until he comes back.” Nira smiled and nodded his head. They spent the rest of the afternoon listening to Thomas’ stories of his time as a mercenary. Although Nira had heard all of those stories before, he never tired of listening to them.

Later that night, Chairman Shika returned from his work. In his younger years he had been a rather lean looking man but his work as merchant and Chairman had changed that. The money he gained fed his indulgence in the finer things and as a result, he looked plump. To put it plainly, he gained a lot of weight. That wasn’t the end of it though. Two years ago when the Chairman was forty-five years old, his hair began to fall out, leaving some small clumps of hair to the sides of his head. The stress from his work was clearly getting to him.

He headed straight for his bedroom on the fifth floor when he saw his son on the staircase. Shika was going to ignore him and continue on to his room when Nira called out to him. “Hi da-I mean, hello father. Um, how was work today? I’m sure you had a rather diffi-”

Shika sighed and turned to face his son. “Enough with the useless formalities boy. What do you want?” Nira audibly gulped.

“Well, you see there’s this guy I’ve been butting heads with. And, uh, today was supposed to be the day that I taught him a lesson. But you see…he kind of..uh..”

“Stop beating about the bush and spit it out already.” Nira took a deep breath and spoke as fast as he could.

“I took some guards with me and he ended up fighting them. Then we were about to fight but before we could, a masked man kidnapped him!” Nira gasped for air.

“I see. So?” Puzzled, Nira stared at his father’s face for a few seconds before speaking up. “I-I wanted to know what I should do about this situation.”

“You want my advice on this matter? There’s just one thing you should do, ignore it.”

“Huh?”

“Who cares if one little commoner brat gets kidnapped? Listen to me Nira.” Shika placed his hand on his son’s left shoulder. “We are elites and we should behave as such. Now, I’ve heard about your little…practical jokes at school.” Nira had gone through a lot of trouble to hide that secret but his father still knew. He was shocked.

“Now now boy, did you think I didn’t know? It’s my job to know everything about you. And don’t worry, I’m not disappointed, if anything I’m very proud. My boy, remember what I taught you from the very first day we met. If you want to be an elite, if you want to be powerful, then you must pressure those weaker than you and put them in their place and that’s exactly what you’ve been doing. But if you’re still scared I can assign more guards to watch over you. Now, is that all?”

“That’s everything, father.” Shika smiled. “That’s good to hear. Good night boy.” Shika turned and walked to his bedroom. After their conversation, Nira stood there contemplating his father's advice.

‘Father is…right. It’s not my fault. Why should I have to worry about Solomon? I…I am an elite. All that matters is Solomon was put in his rightful place for disrespecting me. It’s not my fault that he got kidnapped…It’s not my fault…It’s not my fault…It’s not my fault. It’snotmyfaultIt’snotmyfaultIt’snotmyfaultIt’snotmyfaultIt’snotmyfault.’

************************************************************************

Early the next day, Solomon woke up. He got up out of bed to see a knight in black armor sitting next to him. Though he had no idea who he was, Solomon was not alarmed by his presence. In fact, he greeted the knight. “Good morning.” His greeting was met with a warm response. “It is good to see you, lord Solomon.” Solomon was surprised to discover that the knight knew his name.

“I apologize if we’ve met before…but do I know you?”

“Surely you jest my lord. It is I, Eligor.”

Solomon slammed his right hand into his left palm. “Oh right. You’re the one I summoned from the ring. Sorry I didn’t remember you.”

Eligor stretched his hands out in front of him and shook them.“There’s no need for apologies my lord! More importantly, how do you feel?”

Solomon felt around the parts of his body that had been bandaged. Then he got up and stretched. “Hmm. I’m not completely fine but I am well enough to move.”

“Well then, what do you say we thank the kind old lady that healed you my lord?”

Solomon nodded and followed Eligor out the basement. Upon hearing their footsteps, the old nun stopped to put out the cigar she had been smoking and looked towards the basement. “Hmph. I was wondering when you were going to wake–”

Her mouth closed shut the moment she saw Solomon’s eyes. The old nun felt a strange sense of unease take over her body. The more she stared into those cold, dead eyes, the more she wanted to run away. It felt like she was staring into the eyes of a wild beast. “Are you okay?”

After hearing Solomon call out to her, the old nun quickly composed herself. She cleared her throat and handed Solomon his scarf, shirt and coat back. He quickly put them on and noticed that the parts that had been stabbed through had been patched with little bits of cloth. “Thank you for your help, miss..”

“You can call me Aberewa, it’s what everyone calls me these days. And there’s no need to thank me since your friend offered his help.” Solomon turned to face Eligor.

“It is as she says my lord. In exchange for her help in saving your life, I promised to help her in any endeavor.”

“Hmm..” Solomon placed his hand over his mouth and thought for a bit. “Miss Aberewa, do you mind if I ask what it is you plan to do?”

“I don’t mind at all since I was going to tell you anyway.” Before she spoke again, Aberewa took a deep breath. “...There is someone I need to kill.”

Eligor laughed. It was a sinister laugh that barely managed to hide the disdain he felt towards Aberewa at that moment. “I never thought I would see the day that a member of the clergy would so openly plan to kill someone. Bwahahaha… Ah,how amusing.”

The old nun was frightened. Right in front of her was a boy who brought unease into her heart just from his eyes and next to him was a knight, someone who was sworn to help, laughing at her request. Though she was unnerved, Aberewa stood firm.

“I stopped being a nun a long time ago. How could anyone have faith in Solvis after living in a hell like this?!”

“Solvis, is that the name of your god? Hmph, not like it matters anyway. We will not be helping you anymore.”

“Huh?! You swore you would!”

“That was before I found out how utterly ridiculous and foolish your request is. I thought a woman of the cloth or rather a former woman of the cloth would have more integrity than an average human but you’re just the same aren’t you?” Eligor moved closer to her and squatted until her eyes were at the same level as his visor. The only thing Aberewa was able to see in the visor were two red embers.

He spoke to her but not in his usual warm, happy tone. His voice was now cold and distant. “You’re just another human with more thoughts of killing. How very disappointing.” Aberewa could tell Eligor was disappointed in her but she wondered why he was disappointed since they barely knew each other. She tried to back away but she fell on her back instead. The entire time this exchange was going on, Solomon simply watched in silence for he rarely got to see a clash of such distinct emotions. He hoped to better understand himself from their exchange but after seeing Aberewa on the floor, he realized that was the end of their confrontation.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“I think that’s enough Eligor. Let’s find out more and then we’ll decide to help or not.”

“But my lord…Argh, fine.” Eligor walked over to one of the benches, took a seat and folded his arms across his chest. Even though Eligor was an eight foot tall knight, Solomon could not help but see a child throwing a tantrum.

He walked over and helped her up from the floor. After gathering what little resolve she had left, Aberewa continued to speak about her request. “Hah…Hah…The person I want to kill…is the gang boss of this area of the slums…Beastmaster Naamah…she stole everything from me ... .I have to kill her…I joined a group of people with the same goal…and I was hoping your knight could join me.” Once she had finished speaking, Aberewa gulped. She realized how moronic her request was after saying it out loud. No one with common sense would want to partake in something so absurd.

“We’ll do it.” Solomon’s reply sparked cries of astonishment from Aberewa and Eligor.

“Huh?!”

“Huh?!”

“D-do you mean it?! My heart’s been played with too much today so you better not be lying!”

“I swear we will help you.”

“I see. That’s wonderful! I’ll pack up a few things while the two of you just wait outside for me.”

“Wait.” Solomon called out to her.

“What is it?”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit risky to let a couple of strangers help you with something like this?”

She smiled at his question. “While that might be true, I am willing to do anything it takes to accomplish my goal and if I die in the process…Then so be it.”

Solomon and Eligor both stepped outside while Aberewa packed her things. The early morning air chilled Solomon to the bone. Many people hated how cold it got in Argentum early in the morning but Solomon didn’t mind. While they were alone outside, Eligor took the chance to ask a question that had been on his mind ever since Solomon agreed to help.

“Lord Solomon, forgive me for my impudence but why did you agree to help her? Does her plight interest you?”

“Not one bit. I couldn’t care even if I wanted to. I’m just…curious about something. That’s all.”

“I see…may I ask what you are curious about exactly?”

“I don’t really get people or their feelings. The only time I feel anything close to an emotion is when I’m fighting…but I know there’s more to it than that.”

“So you hope to better understand people by helping her?”

“Yeah. There’s a book that supposedly chronicles the adventures of the hero Addam and in that book he goes on this grand quest to save the world. He meets and helps so many people on that quest. I figure by following in his footsteps…by meeting different people from all over, I can better understand them and their emotions.”

“That is a rather noble cause my lord.”

“Is it though?”

“But of course. Many people are content to live without concerning themselves with others but you are trying to understand them despite your lack of emotions. I think that’s wonderful…Although I might be biased considering I am your servant.”

“If you say so…Oh by the way, why were you so angry and upset at her?”

Eligor sighed and looked towards the sky. “...When I first came to the outside world many millennia ago, I was excited by everything around me and especially by humans. But after meeting so many humans I realized that deep down they’re nothing but worthless savages that seek the death and destruction of one another. Everytime I meet a new human, I always hope they’re different and even to this day, I still have not been proven wrong.”

‘From the way he speaks about them and from what I already know, Eligor isn’t human but he’s just as emotional as any human…so what does that make someone like me who doesn’t have any emotion?’

Shortly after Eligor and Solomon’s conversation, Aberewa walked out with a big leather bag and a wooden cane. The cane itself was nothing special but there was a large blue crystal embedded on top of it. As she walked out she glared at Eligor with a scowl and the embers in his visor glared back. Their hate and disdain for each other seemed to go past the barriers of speech.

‘Demented crone.’

‘Shitty knight.’

Tired of watching them pointlessly stare at each other, Solomon spoke out.

“Why are you old folks fighting like children?” Even though he did not know where exactly they would be going, he walked away with his hands behind his head. After realizing how shameful it was for someone so young to call them out, the pair stopped their silent bickering and followed him with Aberewa soon taking the lead.

She led them past where Solomon had awakened to a relatively clean part of the slums. It was still filthy but not to an overwhelming extent. The people there had full sets of clothes, though it was very clear that they had been frequently patched with cloth. The people also seemed more joyful than the other slum dwellers. Solomon wondered if life in this part of the slums was better, then he saw all the mountains of empty bottles of alcohol and realized why they were so happy.

They walked past all the drunks wobbling and vomiting until they reached a wooden two story building. It was in much better shape than the other neighboring buildings. There was also a sign above the first floor that read ‘Tavern.’ At least that’s what Solomon thought it read for the ‘v’ and ‘e’ that were supposed to be there were missing.

They walked into the tavern and saw many men and women sitting at their tables. Some were drinking, some were eating and some were fighting amongst themselves. One thing everyone there had in common was that they all carried weapons. Maces, swords, daggers, clubs, lances, bows and even crossbows were used by the people there. The slums were a dangerous place to live. Those who were lucky enough to find weapons or those who could afford to buy weapons, usually carried them wherever they went.

As to be expected, Aberewa, Solomon and especially Eligor all drew attention the moment they entered the tavern but they ignored the strange looks and walked straight to the tavern keeper.

“Is Okusie here?” The tavern keeper placed one finger across her lips and tapped it again and again.

“Now isn’t that strange, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a name like that.” Aberewa sighed and handed the tavern keeper a handful of small brown coins. This was the currency of Argentum which was also called Argentum. Despite the name of the currency many of the coins were made out of copper and bronze instead of silver.

After receiving the coin the tavern keeper smiled and pointed upwards. Aberewa nodded and walked up the stairs with Eligor and Solomon following close behind her.

The only one up there was a short and hairy man with a large pointed nose. The man had two large front buck teeth and he was gorging himself on alcohol and food. Once the man saw them, he stopped eating and smiled.

“Aberewa, I was wondering when ya were going to show.”

“Okusie…Still as disgusting as ever I see.”

Solomon had wondered why the person that had come to meet was called Okusie but after seeing him Solomon realized it was the perfect name for the man. He really did look like a rat.

“Hey why do you look like that?” Solomon’s question puzzled Okusie and made him raise an eyebrow.

“Like what exactly?”

“You know, ugly.” Aberewa’s mouth hung open and Eligor turned his face away. Solomon did not mean to insult the man. He was just genuinely curious as to why he looked the way he did. Instead of being offended by Solomon’s question, Okusie laughed.

“Ya really don’t hold your punches, do ya kid? But to answer your question, my pops is a rat beastfolk and my mama is human. The result of their…encounter is what ya see before ya! Hahahaha.”

Aberewa sighed. “Okusie, I didn’t come here to play. I brought some people that are willing to help our cause.”

“Yeah I can see that. I’m not so sure about the kid but the knight looks like he can put in some work…but before we can get down to business, there’s one liiiitle problem.”

“What problem?”

“WHERE THE FUCK IS OKUSIE?!” A voice bellowed from below.

Okusie stood up from his chair and stretched.“That’s the problem. I’m a wanted man.”

“Who would want you?” Aberewa’s question would be answered immediately as a large shirtless man jumped from the first floor to the second floor. The man was almost as tall as Eligor and was bald. However, he had a very long beard. Many of the people that knew him joked that his hair had moved from his head to his chin. The veins on his head were popping out. His pale skin had turned red with rage and his large, thick muscles twitched.

“Okusie, where’s my money?!” Aberewa slowly turned her head to Okusie.

“You borrowed money from Skinner?!” Okusie shrugged. “I needed the money for our cause.”

Aberewa did not believe a single word he said. “Our cause? It looked like you were spending it on booze to me.”

“Does it matter what I spent it on? The same issue remains. If Skinner kills me, you won’t be able to meet the others.”

“You little shit! Is that why you asked to meet today?” Aberewa sighed. This wasn’t the first time she had gotten mixed up in Okusie’s antics and she doubted that it would be the last. “...Solomon, Eligor I apologize but could you help me protect this deadbeat?”

Eligor turned to Solomon. “Sure, why not. We’re already committed to this anyway.”

“Are you people seriously protecting this worthless bottom feeder?!...Fine then. Ama and Friedrich take care of the old lady and the kid. The knight is mine.”

Once Skinner gave his order, his subordinates began their attack. A long whip latched itself around Solomon’s hand and dragged him down to the first floor. After getting a closer look at the whip, Solomon realized that it was actually a tongue. A tongue belonging to the goliath frog beastfolk Ama. Her back was a dark brown and her front was a bright yellow. With the tongue still around Solomon, Ama tossed him out of the tavern and into the streets.

Upstairs, Aberewa felt an accumulation of ether and quickly raised her cane to counter it. “Swirling winds gather and protect me. ‘Sylph’s Breath’.” Immediately following her chant, fierce winds burst out from the crystal atop her cane. The winds spun around her and shielded her from a fireball launched by another of Skinner’s goons. The winds also put out the fire that would have resulted from the fireball.

‘What idiot launches a fireball in a wooden building?! It’s clear that he’s targeting me, which means I have to draw his attention from here.’ Aberewa jumped down from the second floor and used the remaining winds to slow down her fall. There she met her opponent, the human Friederich. He was dressed in a bright red magician’s robe and carried a small wand with small red crystals. Not wanting to take part in battles that did not concern them, the other people in the tavern got up and left in an orderly manner. This was not the first time a fight had broken out here and they had all gotten used to it.

The only ones left upstairs were Eligor, Okusie and Skinner. “Truthfully I would prefer not to protect this pile of garbage.”

“Hey, I’m right here ya know!”

“But it is my master’s will and there can be no opposing it. Well then let us begin.”

Eligor raised his fists up to his face while Skinner flexed his muscles.

The battle had begun. It was a battle to decide the fate of someone that none of the participants cared for.