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Liar Mask
A MAN WITH TWO PEASANT SWORDS

A MAN WITH TWO PEASANT SWORDS

I am happy. The moon rises, showering its light upon the trees, filtering through the leaves and casting it on my face and the wolves lurking in the dark. The woods fill with these wolves in the night. There is nothing greater than being surrounded by a pack of Blood Wolves! Hunting a Devil Black Bear in a cave for a night at the inn. Now facing the consequences, these Blood Wolves are more aggressive and ruthless than ordinary wolves. These damn monsters love to feast on human flesh. If only I don’t have to do this alone. Damn it, Levi, wish you were here. After executing the Devil Black Bear, I simply desire to rest.

A wolf with mad red eyes launches at me. I draw my sword from my back. It’s a messer, a short sword, purple single-bladed—cheap but efficient. The hilt is knife-like, wrapped in black leather, and with a silver handguard. The wolf lunges for my blade, and it slices him in half. Blood splashes onto my face.

“Oh, Mother!” I stumble back.

To my right, I hear another wolf coming at me. I hop back a step and slash, hoping to hit the wolf as I wipe the blood from my eyes. My vision clears, and I spot the wolf’s head rolling away to join his friends. I scan my surroundings; there are four wolves left. This won’t be too hard to handle.

Two wolves launch at me from the shadows in different directions. I slash at the one on my left, but the wolf on my right knocks the sword from my hand before I can split him in half.

“Shit!”

I fall onto the dried green grass and roll to get back on my feet. I flick the grass off my shoulder and draw my second identical sword from my left hip, lunging toward the wolf to deliver an upward slash, finishing him. As another wolf charges at me, I extend my hand and pierce through him.

Is it over? I ask myself. I scan around, spotting my coin pouch on the ground. Before I can approach and pick it up, the remaining wolf sprints past and snatches it.

“Wait! What the shit?!” I pick up my other sword and chase after the wolf. “Hey! That’s a month’s savings, you dirty wolf! Sorry I killed your friends! They attacked me first! Hey! Give it back!”

This is why I need a friend to watch my six…or at least to help me retrieve what I dropped.

✿❀✿

I push open the double doors of a tavern where most Executors gather. My legs feel ready to snap. I chased that damn wolf around for two hours! Just for him to get away. As my uncle always tells his friends, “You can outrun your wife, but you can’t outrun the wolf.” He gets ridiculous when he’s drunk. My savings for the whole last month are gone. I must keep you waiting now, new armor plate.

The tavern is always full, especially at night. The lights illuminate the bar, showcasing various wines ranging from cheap to those that would cost a fortune for just three sips. Wait, I don’t even have much of a fortune left. At least the Fixer pays me enough for a night at the inn and breakfast tomorrow.

Most of the people in the tavern are Executors. You can tell them apart: those in armor, with weapons, greasy hair, or muddy faces are obviously the Executors. Others are simply here to enjoy the evening. This tavern uses barrels as chairs. I feel bad for our butts, but creativity stops no one.

I stroll past the Executors, cheering with their drinks and showing off their new equipment. Sighing, I fixate on my destination. Everyone else is having a nice evening with their buddies. I started working as an Executor six months ago; nobody has invited me into any party. No one comes, but they’re likely to leave.

Oh, cheer up. Put on a smile. Everything will be all right.

Arriving at my destination, the Navigator glances up from her desk. She wears her long blond hair flowing down her back and covering her left eye. Her right eye reflects the color of the ocean, and her thin lips are quite dry. I assume she has been working all day. She wears the uniform of every Navigator—a white button-up shirt with a red tie. Since she’s a girl, I assume she’s wearing a dark blue skirt with thigh-high stockings and red high heels.

“Hi, how may I assist you?” Her gentle voice warms my heart.

“Hi. I have a completed contract I would like to hand in.”

I place the contract page on the counter, and she grabs it.

“This would be his head,” I say, placing my horse bag on the counter. “I recommend you open it in the back.”

“Yes, sir.”

She taps on a bell, and a big bald man walks out from the back behind her. His footsteps shake the floor as he approaches. He takes my horse bag and heads into the back.

“Please be patient,” the Navigator says.

I nod.

After a few moments, the bald man walks back out and nods. He drops off my horse bag and then returns to the dark. He looks like the butcher I used to visit for quality meats. The Navigator takes the stamp and slams it on the contract, saying, “Executed.” She then slides it into a box on her right.

“As the contract states, you will be receiving one hundred and ten coins.” She places two pouches of coins and my horse bag on the counter. “On behalf of the Fixer, I thank you for your service.”

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“Thank you.” I take the bags. “May I buy you a drink?”

“...Yes, sir?” She tilts her head to the side.

“Um, your lips.” I circle my lips with my finger. “They are dry. Would you like to drink?”

She feels her lips. “Oh, they really are.” She giggles. It sounds so cute. “No, thank you. I appreciate it, but I’ll manage.” She smiles.

I nod my head, then turn away.

Oh Mother, she’s beautiful. I’m no stranger to rejection, anyway. But for now, I can’t wait for a bath to wash the smell of blood off me. I need to work harder tomorrow to earn back the coins that the wolf stole from me.

Strolling to the inn, I admire the night in Huntington. They light up the short poles with lanterns when the dark dawns down on the town. It helps pedestrians and horse riders see at night. I let my horse rest in the stable. Here I am on the lonely path in a beautiful town. In a short while, I arrive at the inn.

Booking a room for tonight, I waste no time and drown my body in the bath. The heat from the water eases my stress and responsibility. I wish I could stay here forever. Would it be any different if I had more friends? If we all worked as Executors, we could take more contracts in a day and execute them together quickly. I would have people to share stories with. What a dream. Then I wouldn’t need to risk my life alone if a horde of monsters jumped out, because we would watch each other’s six.

Enough daydreaming; I need to get my rest. I wipe the mirror in the bathroom, revealing my wet black shoulder-length hair. It makes my violet eyes stand out more. My skin is brighter than my father’s; I assume I got it from my mother. I wonder how they are right now. I stare into the mirror and attempt to smile.

Oh Mother, I look hideous.

I’m showing too many teeth, even my gums. I reach my hands up and adjust the smile to just the right amount. Only my upper teeth show themselves—no gums, no lower teeth. How long do I need to keep practicing?

I dry myself and hop onto my bed. My eyelids weigh down my eyes, my sore muscles relax, and my mind drifts away.

✿❀✿

My arms and back are sore from yesterday. I should have taken an ice bath last night, but nothing beats a hot bath. Stretching my arms and legs to ease the pain, I enter the bathroom to get ready. I wash my mouth and tie my hair back. I grab two sides of my hair and pull them behind me, tying a half-down bun to clear my vision.

Putting on my black tunic, I pull up my baggy black pants. I step into my leather boots and strap on my cheap, light armor plate. I could have bought a better one today if that damn wolf hadn’t stolen my coins. I put on my fingerless gloves and metal gauntlets, then strap the swords to my back and my left hip. I need to take my swords to the blacksmith for maintenance soon.

Exiting my room, I head to the stable near the tavern from last night to retrieve my horse.

“Good morning, Princess.” I stroke her. “Had a good night?”

Princess is a white horse with blond hair. With this elegant combination, I named her Princess. A farmer gave me the horse after I helped him with his contract. She’s sturdy and obedient, too.

As I pull her out of the stable, a young lady approaches me. A short slender girl. She wears her ginger hair in a pony tail. A red tunic with black corset. Black leather straps loop under her shoulder, hanging throwing knives. A pair of long gloves reaching her elbow. Black baggy pants tucked under her leather boots with her hips exposed. At last, the belt hangs her instrument of choice, the daggers. She strikes me with her golden eyes.

She is a beautiful lady. I can only imagine us sitting side by side by the fire. Our heads would touch, leaning against each other. We could be at the altar saying vows—

Slap me awake, please!

“Good morning,” she greets.

“Morning.”

“What an elegant horse you have.”

“Thank you.” I stroke Princess again. “Her name is Princess.”

“Ooh, pleasant choice of name.” She extends her arm. “My name is Cristie.”

I shake her hand. “Ceowald.”

“So you are the man with two swords?”

“The man with two swords?”

“The fellow Executors in the tavern noticed a solo man in black with two swords. Well, more specifically, peasant swords.”

“They are cheap and efficient,” I say proudly.

“Sounds like you have skills. Is it true that you always complete your contracts?”

“I only take the ones I can handle.”

“Wise. I would like to ask you to join our party of four.” She places her hands on her hips. “It would be a party of five if you joined us.”

I’m…getting invited into a party?

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