Excecutioner , Saintess and Future Travels

Let us talk a little about the city in which I deliver parcel . Let us talk , about the city of Grace.

I was born here, in Grace , on the rustic dusty cobble stoned textiles that litter the pathways of the old southern district.

I say again for it merits repeat , I was born Quite Literally on its stones .

My dear late mother wasn’t well off enough to see the respected physicians that lay in the better ends of the city. instead she walked her belly heavy with babe down dangerous poverty stricken streets and stopped at a group called the wise woman.

On that summer day of the fourth month of the first moon , they removed me from my mother and deposited me on a purple pillow, smack in the middle of an open gala kept from the public eye by only a thin purple curtain.

It’s still there now. On a windy road called Little Bincada.

I'm not special In this either. I know several other youth who were born in little Bincada , many of them raised in the Southern district not far from me. We played together , we grew together , we laughed together , and although we grew apart as we got older and picked up trades that scattered us across the city , we all maintained a bond that could never be broken, we were family.

The man who approached me , a scary seeming fellow with a metal mask upon his face was no different.

“Hey bronny , “ I said half hearted from my rejection. “ What’s up? “

Bronny on the other hand was energetic as could be . “One!!!!!” The rather large youth wrapped me in a bear hug .

“Umphh. It’s good to see you too Bronny , “ I said strangled, his bear hug knocking the breath out of my lungs .

He released me and looked me over , the sun landing upon the bent form of his mask and slightly blinding me. A metal frown line made up the face of the metal mask but easy to sea beneath it lay a wide smile .

I laughed . “ Bronny , you ever think you’re too happy for a executioner ?”

“Ya can never be too happy. “ the large youth laughed . Then his eyes narrowed.

“Yup , “ he said ,” I knew it , ya got the damn bag . You’re a twisted messenger now ain’t ya ? “ Bronnys voice rose with excitement as he spoke .

“Ya know what . I gotta treat you for lunch One , c’mon no way around it . For a day like this I know just the place.”

So, With a arm thrown around my shoulder good naturedly , we were off .

/;)

A beautiful tree was the first thought I thought upon seeing it, then the thought changed.

The large tree sat there beautifully. Yes , that was more appropriate. Its ginormous canopy filled with white roses falling by the bundle and birds that chirped at its branches were a beauty to behold

“Strange to see Little Bincada changing so much right? Who would’ve thought it would change so much when we were kids.”

I considered that thought as I looked over the added gala. A few years ago where I gazed at was full of crumbled buildings and now it was a fresh market for produce that sat below a wide tree .

In front of me lay veggies and meat steamed with light pepper crunched upon it, settled upon a wooden plate .

“The wise woman are doing well for themselves aren’t they?” Bronny said, munching a carrot .

“Yea .” I spoke back, cutting my fish into fours and eating a bite . “Question though , “ I said after a small gulp.

“When the hell did a tree get here Bronny. “ I tried to maintain calm but couldn’t . I leaned over and spoke in a rushed voice .

“Bro , I was here just a day ago , When the hell did this place change . “

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Bronny just laughed through his tin face covering . “Crazy isn’t it. “ He leaned in low and began to speak in a hushed tone .

“The Sai-

“The Saintess did it. “

“Oh C’mon LaLa.”

An old woman appeared , hands gnarled and muddy. Her interruption came with a bonk to the head upon bronnys head with a carrot.

Then she dropped it upon his plate. “C’mon now eat your veggies young Bron Bron. Ya gaining all this muscle but ya gottta put some up here too. “She poked her own head with shaking fingers for emphasis. Her head then turned to me her eyes searching.

“Hmmm, bout time you got a real job one. Good for you. “ another carrot appeared and ended up on my plate. “You could use some sharpening your self dear.”

“Haha .” Bronny laughed .

‘Bonk.’

As Bronny rubbed his head , and I began munching my carrot, LaLa looked up at the canopy of the tree above.

“Great isn’t it.” She said with admiration. “She did it in a moment you know , the saintess . She just threw a seed at the ground and the next second poof!” LaLa shook her head . “ The gods bless some more than others.”

Bronny leaned back. “ I heard she was the fairest in the land too. “

I leaned back as well . “The fairest you say? “

Bronny nodded . “The fairest. “

A cane boped both our heads . “No offense to you boys , but I’ve seen your best efforts, ……. she’s out of your league . “

LaLa the wise woman chuckled as she walked away, cane clacking upon cobble stone .

“Hey Bronny.” I said when the woman was out of ear shot .” If an old lady thinks we get no maidens , we may get no maidens . “

Bronny was quiet for a while as he munched on his carrot.

“About that One …. I’ve actually got one .”

“……….Betrayal.”

“Haha . “

My face smashed the table . “Howwwwww man , how did a guy wearing a frown on his face manage to get a girl befor meeeeeee. Hah, explain yourself Bronny.”

Bronny munched his carrot twice .

“Well , I was doing my job the same as I usually do , ya know , axe up , axe down , head off . Then all of a sudden this gal is brought up, and she keeps on saying that she’s innocent, and I don’t know one , I believed her …….. so I snuck her out.”

Shit.

“You snuck her out Bronny? “

“Yup.”

“You’re brave man.” I straightened my back seriously . “They could kill you for that man .”

“Yea.”

Bronny didn’t say much else on the matter as we finished our meal, and we ate in quiet, then despite my best efforts a thought popped up in my head.

“Does she have friends ? “

“Hahahah!!! This is why I love you One , buddy ole pal. “ He leaned in low . “She does.” Beneath a metal frown a smile formed deviously. “Wanna meet them this weekend?”

I almost shed a tear. “You’re my best of friends ole Bronny ole pal. “

(7)

I split from Bronny not too much longer after that , the appearance of the two suns drifting low on the horizon showing me the end of my day was near.

The walk back was brisk and hardly worth mention , feet clipping away on stone and eyes seeing usual sights until finally .

‘Ring.’

The bell to the shop echoed overhead as I opened the large wooden door and my nose took in the smell of old paper and wood.

“I’m back. “

The old man said nothing back for a while and in the dimmed light I wasn’t sure he was even there , until I spotted him hunched over a large map placed on a oval table in the corner.

“One.” He said without looking up , thick accent punctuating the cold silence of the room . “Come , let me see your slip. “

I walked forward to the soft creaks of floorboards and stopped on the other side of the table, eyes curiously flicking over the map as hand looked through the pouch for a slip.

Hmm I thought by the time I had the slip in hand , I’d never been to this place .

“Where’s this place sir? I’ve never seen it. “

The old man extended his hand . I place the slip inside . He pulled it back and looked over it, head still never moving. Then he nodded.

“Good. “ he said finally lifting his head . He took off his glasses and folded them.” Very good One. “ He quirked his brow. “ difficult?”

I thought back on the day. “I’ve dealt with worse . “

For the first time since my apprenticeship began two months ago the old man smiled.

“Good that is very good. “ He reached into his old leather coat and withdrew a small packet that seemed to have a bit of weight to it.

He plopped it atop the table squarely on the map.

“Your reward , for services done good. “

I picked up the pouch and flicked it open with a finger before thumbing the insides . It was quite a lot, more so than I had been expecting.

“Extra the old man smiled , for the danger , magyk very dangerous. “ then he threw another pouch on the table , and as it plopped his eyes flickered red in the candlelight.

“That is advance . For next job. You will be going to place on the map. “

I picked up that pouch and thumbed through it as well. It was hefty , less than the other one , but still fairly hefty.Too much for a normal advance . We’re in the hells was he having me go.

I looked upon the map and my eyes bugged as I read the words printed in bold at the top.

Demon Realm- Witch City.