The three finished up in the now candle-lit interior of the Klerico shop. Shadows danced on the walls from the candlelight, as the hooded man opened the door and left. Leaving Champ and his mother in stunned silence. Champ looked up at his mother and noticed tears welling up in her eyes. Champ knew she felt sorry for the man, and Champ was right, she did. All Bethany could think of was the horrors that man must have faced to receive such a brand, and to no less have found such magic from it. She never understood why seekers went into the world seeking to be changed, to bear the mark, to be branded. She finally broke the lingering silence with a quick breath and turned to Champ with a smile
“Let's head back Champ, we have more work to do tomorrow!” She said with feigned joviality
“Alright Mom” Champ responded kindly
The pair walked out the front door and locked up.
The streets were usually still busy at this hour with foot traffic, and well lit by the street lanterns and nightlife shops. The people occupying the late evening air were all merry and loud around this time. And this night was no different. As the two approached the town center known as 5 Points, their eyes were greeted with shimmering lights and food carts all around. The smells of various fried and baked goods, the sounds of laughter and glass clinking, the cool refreshing air blanketing their skin. Champ's mother took a stop at one of these stands along their walk home and began ordering some freshly baked bread to take home. Often as she is to do, she gets locked into conversation, just catching up with those around her. A social butterfly Champ thought fondly. As Champ watched his mom laugh and talk with the townsfolk in this bustling city, his happy sites were immediately halted.
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The whistle rang out louder than it had any time before, it filled Champ with unease and turned him pale. He looked around to see if anyone had noticed the whistle, and they had not. Everyone was going about their life as normal, all laughing all filling their faces with various goods. “How? How do they not hear this” Champ thought frantically.
Bethany looked over to Champ
“You okay dear? Get the chills? You can have my scarf if you'd like.” She said in a caring tone.
“Did you hear anything just now ma?” Champ asked
“Nothing else besides Miss Kent's business dealings.” She looked over and laughed with the individual she was talking to
Champ nodded his head bewildered and drank from his water skin.
“Things not this loud usually, and never heard from this far in…maybe I'm just tired and shaken up from that founder from earlier,” Champ thought to himself
As he caught his breath and ran his hands through his hair, the whistle rang so loud it made Champ dizzy and lose his grip on his water skin. He took a moment and regained his composure once more, trying desperately to make sure his mother didn't notice. He turned to her and said as calmly as he could
“Hey, ma I’m gonna run and buy a few snacks real quick! “
“Alright dear be quick” Bethany responded over her shoulder, distracted by many conversations at this point
Something was wrong, and Champ didn't know what. He didn't even know how he knew something was wrong for that matter, but all the same, he knew something was off. The piercing whistle kept ringing in his ears. A high whine as if scraping sharp metal against each other. He followed the sound, listening carefully trying to find its source. He began jogging through the busy town. Blurs of people and buildings swirled around him. his vision grew more and more distorted as the ringing continued relentlessly. His legs felt like jelly and the corners of his vision were nothing more than abstract paintings of what his city should be. Then, darkness greeted him, and his senses numbed completely.