“… … … Ahhh!” -???

“1, 2, 3, Yahhh!” -???

BANG! Goes the bucket full of water, drop on the ground.

“Ahhhhh!!” Michael crouched down, caressing his hair with both his hands. He has been tasked to get water to full the barrel beside him.

“Wha-what am I going to do… Huhuhu!” Tears are now flowing down his face. “Drey! Karl! I am sorry! Huhuhu!”

“What the hell happened to you again?” -???

Michael glance at his side, and saw a middle age man. A well-built man, black tank top, and big ragged pants. He was the Mister, Michael was talking moments ago in the cell. Michael learned that his name is Ed, because the guy hated to be called as Mister.

Their feet are in shackles. Located in the outskirts of city, they were sent to a farmland. Soldiers could be seen patrolling the land, and other prisoners being sent by the government to do manual labor. But what differed are this prisoners are all young guys and gals.

Michael, walk while kneeling. Ed notice a flash on the corner of his eye as he notice someone grabbing his leg. Grabbing his leg, Michael’s face covered by snot and tears.

“Mister Ed!” –Michael

“I told you to sop calling me Mister!” Ed tried to push Michael away, “And for just one moment, stop pestering me!”

“No! After what happened a while ago. I knew. I knew. You… “Mid-sentence Michael was now staring at Ed, with a terrifying gaze. Then he slowly stood up until he is able to grab Ed’s collar. Because of what happened in the cell a while ago, he will never let this man go.

A while ago.

“ARRGHHH!!! That bastard! I’ll clabber him! Smash him! And lots, lots of things.” –Michael

“BLAH!” Ed exclaimed as he covered his ears with both of his hands.

*Creak

They heard the door opened. Both of their attentions were grabbed. Michael stood up, trying his best to take an angle from inside the cell to have a vision of who it is. While Ed just seated where he is.

“Smith. What happened this time again?” -???

Hm? That voice? –Michael

“My Lord. This time he got into a fight after being drunk.” -???

“Oh really?!! Hah! That bastard is really a good for nothing. Since we were still kids until toda…” -???

The man stopped talking as he neared the cell. On his peripheral vision he could see a boy clinging from the bars. The kid seemed familiar to him but upon inspecting the other cell, he displayed his biggest smile ever, with arms opened wide.

“Oh!! My beloved brother! Edward! Thank God your fine, I came to ge…” -???

“Shut the fuck up you fat-so!!” –Ed

This startled Michael and the fat man. Michael recognize the fat man. He was the owner of the horse carriage and the white horse he admired a while ago. Lord Fredrick.

“Wh-what did you say?!” –Fredrick

“I said shut up! FAT-SO!” –Ed

“Hah! I came here to get you out and this is what I receive from you?” –Fredrick

“Who told you to get me out?! Moron!” –Ed

The butler, who happened to be Smith whom Fredrick called, step in with the guard. The guard opened the cell where Ed was in.

*Clank

The cell’s door burst open, Ed dashing towards Fredrick and pinned him down to the ground.

“Fat-so! What did you just say a while ago?! Huh!” Ed leaned in to whisper at him, “Can you repeat it?”

Fredrick on the ground, got frustrated and out of anger, “Ooww! You..! You good for nothing!”

“Oh! Really?” –Ed

Ed beat him up. The guard planned to separate the two but Smith grabbed him and shook his head. This lead to the guard’s confusion.

“Hey! Mister Ed! Please let me out! Please! Please! Pretty please.” Michael said in the other cell, still clinging on the bars, with his pleading looks. Looking at his face, instead of being concerned and pity him, but because of the grime and dirt on his face, he looked comedic.

Ed looked him. “Don’t look at me with that kind of expression boy! You look so ugly!”

“Really? Yes!” –Michael

“Huh? Why does it seem that you are being complimented?” –Ed

“Oh. It is nothing. Hehe.” Michael replied, lowering his head, seemingly thinking about something.

Ed looking at him, felt a tugged in his heart. Who is this boy? He reminded me of ‘him’. Tsk.

“Hey, Fat-so. Let him out as well.” –Ed

“Wha-what? After doing this to me?!! NO!” Lord Fredrick had a mirror on his hand, which was given to him by the butler, Smith. Looking at him now, a black eye and a few bruises could be seen on his face. If somehow one suspects him to be a panda, no one would deny.

Fredrick is trembling out of anger. Bringing the mirror up slowly, with some slight shiver, to his face, he uttered, “M-my face! My most beautiful face! Huhuhuhu!”

“Do you want another round?!” Ed exclaimed as he pinned his brother again.

Back in time, in the farmland.

“… I know. I know. You had the capability to let us out of here!” Michael said, his face so near Ed.

“Heh!” Ed flick and push Michael away from him. “Look boy. I know it’s my fault, but listen. We only need to be here for only a day. How come you can’t spare enough of that time. We even had free food here just try…. “

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Exactly! I have food here.. but my friends.. they are still starving.” Michael interrupted.

Looking at the boy, Ed saw a silhouetted of a person. A person who really greatly admired. “You know what? I have only known you for only a limited amount of time, but I can say I know you inside out.” Ed muttered.

“Hm? Did you say something?” Michael asked.

“.. It’s nothing. Let’s go.” –Ed

Hearing that, Michael’s face brightened up as he followed Ed. “Really? Are we really leaving right now? Yes!”

“But on one condition.” Ed suddenly turned around, Michael bump on him and fell on his bottom. “No talking!”

“Yes sir!”

“Waahh! Look at this place! It is so huge!” -???

“Right! Right! Are we living here permanently?” -???

“Yes! Mister Ed said that we would be. Right Mister Ed?” Michael said to his two friends, Drey and Karl. Gazing at the mansion he and his friend is in, he can’t help but to be excited and happy. After Ed decided to leave the farmland. He went to a certain soldier, Michael in tow that clearly knew who he is, which explains the soldier’s odd behavior. One thing lead to another until the two of them went to the slums to get Michael’s friends, Drey and Karl.

They then went pass the inner wall of Baruch City. The inner wall distinguish the hierarchy around the City. Someone who lives inside it, are all nobles or persons who had greatly honored the Kingdom. Ones who are behind the glorious success of the Kingdom. They could be the Ministers, the Generals, Warriors who had earned his merit, Arena Champion, and many more.

The three kids were both excited and nervous. They had never once believe that in this lifetime that they would be able to get inside this place. Well... except for Michael who had great aspirations in life. Which is also one of the reasons why his two friends follow him.

They entered a courtyard, a two story mansion behold the eyes of the kids. In front of the mansion is a garden, bushes covered the outskirts of the pathway and is only high enough for people to see each other on the other side. Flowers and trees are neatly arranged behind the bushes. When Michael entered he uttered the word ‘Paradise in Earth’ which led Ed to smirk.

At the meantime, as the three 12 year old kids are inspecting the mansion for more incredible and beautiful things. Ed and his not-so-fat brother, Fredrick, with Smith of course, are upstairs in the office.

Fredrick looking at the window, seeing the three kids play at the garden. He did not care about how dirty the three are, what he only cared is why his brother let them in. And why would he agree to his brothers antics. He is wearing hat that almost covered his face. From Ed and Smith’s vision, they could only see the right cheek of Fredrick.

“…. you…“ Fredrick muttered.

“.. Excuse me?” –Ed

Turning around taking the hat covering his face, his face became much more … fattier?

Last time, he had a black eye and only few bruises on his face. But now, bumps covered all over his face, with the exception of his right cheek. And instead of one, he had two black eyes. Clearly this is the result of Ed’s second fist fest.

“… Pfftt…” –Ed & Smith

“SEE! That’s the reason! Why would I agree when you just made my face into a punching bag you idiot!” Fredrick exclaimed as tears started to fall off, “I even encourage myself to accept your antics because we are brothers, but then you laughing right now made my heart ache.”

Looking at Fredrick’s face full of bruise and two black eyes, with four streams of tears (clearly the other two are snots), Ed pitied him.

Ed sighed, “Okay, Alright! I would do anything you want me to do. Just do this things for me.”

Fredrick’s eyes went wide and stared at Edward. “Are you speaking the truth?”

“Yes.” –Ed

“Quick, Smith you bastard. I have heard you laughing at me a while ago.” Fredrick wiped away his snot and tears, then put on the hat that almost covered his face. “But because it is I,” He made an exaggerated gesture and made a poise displaying his full body, “Lord Fredrick. The most handsome and generous of them all aristocrats. If someone wants to cause strife, call me Lord Fredrick. Be quick with the kid’s accommodation Smith.” Fredrick then gazed at his brother with a greedy look, “Me and my brother… had some business to talk to.”

Shivers run down Ed’s spine, I think I made a wrong move just now.

Smith led the three kids to their room. An extravagant room decorated with different kinds of expensive furniture’s. There are four beds inside the room. The three were about to play with their beds, seeing how comfy it is, but Smith step in front of them.

“First things first before I begin young lads. Is a bath.” –Smith

“Yeah!” The three said.

After taking care of that, Smith left them in their room. Michael and Karl is in front of a mirror, making poses, that greatly emphasizes their appearance.

Michael after the bath, had his straight black hair brush up. Wearing the luxurious clothes given by Smith, he looked dashing. Comparing the previous him, and the one in the mirror, one would not believe that he is the same person.

“Wahh! I looked so handsome in this clothes. Am I right Karl?” Michael said as he fixed his bowtie. White long sleeve shirt, bow tie, black vest, grey pants, and black leather shoes.

Tears streamed down Michael’s face, “Am I right Karl?!” He glance to his right, Karl is facing the other way, and has been silent for a while.

“Karl? Are you okay?” –Michael

Michael step to his side. Karl had his eyes opened wide and is staring in front. Wearing an all-white attire that compliment his dark skin. He had his grey hair spike up, moving towards the middle.

Glancing at the direction where Karl is staring, Michael found out the reason why. Entering the room is a girl. Black dress that expands outward from waist down. Her short hair is clipped by a black pin.

One word can describe her, stunning. Looking at the two boy’s expression, the word ‘stunning’ is not an exaggeration. Their faces looked quite shocked with their mouths opened wide. She is cute and charming, without the frown which plastered the girl’s face, she would be even more pretty and beautiful.

“Wh-who are you?!” –Michael

“Ehem!” Karl stood up straight and said, “My Lady, may I know thy beautiful name?” Extending his hand towards the young maiden.

A vein burst on the girl’s forehead as she pummeled Karl to the ground.

“You rascal! Who do you call My Lady! Huh!” –The Maiden

“He-Hey wait a minute! Stop! Stop!” –Karl

Smith came in afterwards which put the two to a halt. Standing up they lined up on both sides of Michael. Smith had a smirk on his face, seemingly amuse. “What happened?”

“Nothing….” The Maiden said in a low voice.

“Who is this… this fox?! She came in and started beating me!” Karl exclaimed, hiding from Michael, and pointing at the Maiden.

“Hm? You don’t know? She is your friend. Drey. Or should I say, Andreya?” Smith smiled at the last part and with a questioning look he gaze to the Maiden.

“WHAT?!” –Michael and Karl

Turning their heads, mechanically at Drey… Andreya. Andreya pouted at their action. “After all these years we have been together! You really don’t know?!”

Michael put his hand on his chin, pondering. “Ahhh.. That’s why you act that way.” He tilted his head, “I have thought all those years that you swing the other way. But upon this big revelation right now, I have misunderstood everything.”

“Wahh! Drey! Hahaha! You were a girl after all?! Hahaha! I can’t believe it. Emma had her chest already maturing. But you?! Hahaha! That’s why we didn’t suspect you’re a girl. You have a flat chest.. Ugo!” –Karl

Andreya pinned Karl to the ground, and pummeled him again.

This situation seems familiar? Michael asked inwardly, then he notice the grin on the face of the butler, Smith.

“Oh! Sir thank you for this gold coin from way back.” Michael handed the gold coin. He knew that it was the butler.

“That’s already yours young lad. Keep it.” –Smith

“Thank you sir.” Michael bowed, as Smith left the room.

The other two are still at it, Karl pleading for his life, Andreya pummeling Karl’s face now full of bruise. Karl screamed help to Michael. Michael just ignored it, as he focused his hearing. Closing his eyes, then leaning on the door. The other two notice it and stop their own ruckus. They knew the plan has already started.

Michael focus on footsteps. Based from what he heard, only a pair of foot is on the area, in fact it is Smith’s footsteps. As the footsteps faded away from the scope of area he could hear, Michael turned to the pair.

“Time for our plan.” Michael said, a sly grin splattered on his face.

Meanwhile, Smith was on his way to Lord Fredrick’s office.

Those two kids reminded me of Fredrick and Edward when they are still kids. Heh. How nostalgic.

He stopped on the window, staring at the clouds. Checking is pocket watch, it is now quarter to 3 in the afternoon. Whistling and humming while walking towards his destination.

As he got near the office, he heard shouting and cursing. Sigh. They don’t really grow up. Do they?

BANG!

The door slammed open as the big figure of Lord Fredrick went out of the room. Frantically looking left and right of the hallway, noticing Smith coming his way, he called Smith and dashed towards him.

“Huff.. Huff.. Where.. are th-the kids?! Huff” –Fredrick

Smith gestured at his back and was about to speak, when Fredrick interrupted him.

“Lead me… Huff… to them.” –Fredrick.

Smith led the way, Fredrick with his ragged breathing in tow. Not so far behind them is Edward with a wide smile.

A few moments later, the master and butler pair stood in front of the room where the kids are settled. Fredrick hesitated to open the door. Closing his eyes, he started to mutter silently.

“Please don’t let this happen. Please don’t let this happen. Oh mercy Lord! Don’t let this happen.”

Opening his eyes, he carefully opened the door. Fredrick’s eyes gradually and slowly open wide, and with a voice so loud that everyone who can hear it, would think that an animal is being butchered.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” –Fredrick.