Chapter 4 Different Starting Points

Klop klop klop

A gray horse with some black spots around its body pulling a cart full of different kinds of ingredients can be seen on the main street going to the southern part of the city. The cart driver was a man in his late twenties with a short brown hair wearing the clothes of an ordinary man. Beside him was a boy at about seven or eight years old with a jet black hair tied on his back sitting silently with a poker face.

The street was at least ten meters wide carpeted with bricks. Carriages and carts made with different designs are being pulled by horses were passing by each other while all kinds of people were crossing the street. Stalls were also erected on the side of the street with different functions but most of them were made for trading purposes. Alleys of varying width can be spotted in between the houses which led to other parts of the city.

“Stop following me! I want to explore the city.” A young thin girl stuck out her tongue towards the one chasing her while running on one of the alleys towards the main road.

“Stop! I can’t run anymore.” A chubby boy is chasing after her, sweat running down his face and is running out of breath.

“Hahaha, you will never catch me. See yah!”

The girl laughed and tilted her head towards her back while waving her hand towards the boy. She was just a couple of meters before reaching the main road.

“Wait! Watch out!” the chubby boy shouted.

Just as the girl was about to reach the road, she tilted her head back to the front and saw the head of a horse emerging from the blind side of the road and could not help but panic.

Oh crap!

She tried her best to stop herself from bumping into the horse but it was too late, there was not enough space between them.

Bump!

.....

Martin was leisurely driving the cart while looking around the street, he was in a good mood because of his “bonuses”.

“What a great way to start the day.” He could not help but exclaim.

Enzho was just sitting beside him silently.

They were about to pass by an alley when he suddenly noticed from the corner of his eye that a girl came out of the alley and was trying to stop herself from bumping into the horse.

Shit!

He subconsciously pulled the reigns but it was too late to avoid the collision.

Bump!

The girl bumped her head into on of the front legs of the horse and fell back on her butt.

“Ouch!” The girl could not help but cry out in pain. She touched her forehead where red mark appeared that resulted from the bump.

Eznho was a bit startled by the event, he looked down at the girl. She wore a sky-blue dress with a ribbon in front. Her shoes were also patterned with blue flowers. A blue hairpin was clipped on the left side of her head holding her shoulder-length blue hair which was paired with sky blue eyes, the same as her dress. Her skin was white and obviously smooth which was not normally seen around the area. She was not from around here.

I wouldn’t be surprised if her name was blue. He could not help but think inwardly after looking at the girl.

Martin immediately jumped out.

“Are you alright little girl?” He asked in a panic.

While Martin was asking the girl, a chubby boy showed up panting. He was soaked in sweat, he wore a yellow robe with a bulging stomach. There were freckles on his fat cheeks coupled with his chinky brown eyes. His nose was a bit flat and two of his upper front teeth is exposed like a rabbit.

“Blue! Are you alright? Pant pant.” The chubby boy called out and can’t help but put his hand on his knees and bend forward. He was really tired. They have been running for fifteen minutes.

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Enzho could not help but open his mouth in response to what the chubby boy said.

Really? Blue?

Martin had the same reaction. Then approached to help up the little girl.

“Don’t touch her! Pant pant” The chubby boy shouted after seeing what Martin was trying to do.

Martin was startled and stopped.

“You peasant dare to touch her with your filthy hands!” The chubby boy composed himself and pointed his finger to Martin.

“Shut up fatty!” Blue retorted the chubby boy and helped herself up while patting her butt to remove the dirt.

“Guards!” The chubby boy ignored the girl and shouted.

Rapid footsteps can be heard from inside the alley, four tall and muscular armored guards were rushing towards them. They were twice as fast than the average guy. A second later they stood imposingly behind the chubby boy. They brought with themselves an invisible pressure that can make a regular guy tremble in fear.

Martin was shocked after witnessing the scene, he subconsciously stepped backward. Enzho felt the same shock.

“Seize them!” The chubby ordered while still pointing his hands toward Martin.

“Stop!” Blue lifted her hand and contradicted the chubby boy's order.

“What are you trying to do fatty? Huh? Do you want to bully again using your guards? Hmph!” Blue scoffed.

“I just wanted to reprimand the people who hurt you Blue, it is my duty as a gentleman.” the chubby boy proudly replied.

“Hmph! If I know, all you can do is order your guards. You can’t even do anything by yourself. Leave them alone, it was my fault anyway. If you try to do anything against them I will not speak to you ever again.” Blue snorted and glared at the chubby boy.

“But...” The chubby boy was unwilling.

“No buts! I am warning you.”

One of the guards suddenly bent down and whispered something to the chubby boy. There was an obvious delight in his face after hearing what the guard said.

“Since Blue is willing to let this matter go, I will not pursue it but there won’t be a next time. Count yourselves lucky.” The chubby boy declared.

Martin was silent the whole time due to his fear. He did not think much of himself but he was afraid something might happen to Enzho, he was willing to sacrifice and plead for his little brother. He took a deep breath and gathered his courage and was about to speak when Blue interrupted him.

“I’m sorry mister, it was my fault due to my carelessness. Forgive me if I caused any inconvenience.” Blue bowed towards Martin while apologizing.

“No, no, it is alright, I should be the one apologizing especially that you were hurt.” Martin nervously replied.

“It doesn’t hurt mister don’t worry.Again, I am sorry, have a good day.” Blue smiled and started jogging to the direction where Martin and Eznho came from when she suddenly noticed the little boy with Martin.

“Huh?” She stopped and looked at Enzho who was looking back at her with a blank expression.

Has this boy been here all the time? She inwardly asked herself.

They locked their eyes with each other for a second which left a weird feeling inside her that made her blush. She looked away in embarrassment and continued to jog. The chubby boy noticed this which left a frown on his face.

“Let’s go, I don’t wanna stay any longer in this place full of trash” The chubby boy ordered and followed the girl.

When he was passing by Eznhon, he glared at him then showed an obvious sneer.

“Peh!” He spat on the street and continued on his way.

Eznho just looked at him with apathy but deep within his eyes was a spark of anger.

Martin watched the whole thing happened then frowned. After a while, he sighed and climbed back up to where Eznho was. He then noticed that the street crowd was watching, they showed different reactions. Some of them felt pity while others felt joy in their misfortune. He ignored the crowd and urged the horse to start walking.

.....

“Who were they?” Eznho couldn’t help but ask after awhile.

The look on the chubby’s face was bugging him, he usually doesn't interact with others. This was his first time experiencing an incident like that because most of his time was spent just around the pavilion’s premises.

“Oh? Them?”

Martin had a rare serious look on his face. He knew they were in trouble, maybe not now but judging from the actions of the chubby boy, he will not let this matter go. He knows how most of the rich people’s children act, they would make trouble for poor people for petty reasons.

“If I am not mistaken, the girl is the city guard captain’s youngest and only daughter while the chubby boy is the city lord’s only son. I think his name is Taba.”

Ezhno nodded in reply.

“Ughh, what bad luck we have today after such a good start. Hey, I think my personal luck has run out, why don’t you lend me some of yours little Ez, you are not using it anyway gahaha.” Martin ignored his thoughts and came back to his former self.

“Don’t think too much about it little Ez, such is life. You can’t do anything about it. Some are born rich while others poor, we may be running the same race but we have different starting points. Some of us may have a head start and have things easy, while there are those who are at the back crawling and struggling. There are even people who already stopped and just gave up on themselves.”

Martin looked up and sighed. There was a trace of helplessness but at the same time unwillingness in his eyes. He then turned his gaze on Eznho.

“But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance, our starting points may be different but the victor is yet to be decided. There are many ways to change your life, one of them is pursuing the martial path.” An excitement was evident in his eyes.

“You are still young little Ez, you have a chance. Who knows you might get a lucky break and soar through the heavens, gahaha.” Martin laughed rubbing Eznho’s head with his hand.

He knows his chance has been long gone, he is already old for such things. He never even had a chance, with his background, a miracle was needed for that kind of chance.

But Eznho was different, he is still young. Although a chance would be close to impossible, there was still hope. He deeply wished for the boy to have a better life, he would give anything for that, even his life.