Scene 1- Vince’s Worries

The world was nothing more than an amalgamated mess of stench. Of rot. Of disease. In the eyes of Vince, this place came off as a corpse waiting to be purged with the flames of revolution. A weak king, a corrupt noble court, and starving people spelled the end of the kingdom sooner than later.

The slums were a place where crime ran unopposed, unchallenged, and unnoticed. To be slaughtered for being in the wrong place at the wrong time was no stranger to the folk in this den of scavengers.

Yet, the kingdom inhabitants tried their hardest to get ahead in life. Even if it meant walking over the corpse of a foe, friend, or family alike.

Hoss and Mother were rare people of character that went against the nature of slums. A kind and honest man who protected Rune by ending his life. He even thought of her as a daughter even though they weren't blood-related.

And their mother was a saint to take them in even if she didn't have much. How much she sacrificed to raise them up to this point filled him with various emotions.

Looking around Vince saw buildings made out of what people could hoard, swindle, and steal. Streets lined with shacks constructed out of shabby stone and scrap chunks of wood. The roads were in the same state, made up of nothing more than flattened muddy ruts of boot prints and bile.

The canals leading to commerce and community was a deteriorated place of woe and misery. Local inhabitants dispose of their litter and refuse into crudely dug ditches. Perpetuating the air with an unbearable odor of decay and death.

Vince often wondered why his mother took them in, ‘Why did she take the chance to raise us? Maybe I’ll never understand why she did, but she saved both me and Rune’s life by doing so. For that, I swear that I will forever cherish the time we spent in that rundown shack!’

On his order, the siblings wrapped themselves in rags at an attempt to hide their features. Although their disguise might work for a bit, it wouldn’t take long before the abductors came for Rune. Vince had to keep his wits about as they walked down the road.

People both dead and alive lay on the side of the mud and stone roads. They all wore expressions that made it difficult to distinguish the dead from the living. Despite such a scene, Vince knew informants for the slavers hid shadows trying to make an extra coin.

They carefully moved along the main roads not taking a chance on the back roads. Even in the slums, the slavers wouldn’t dare attack out in the open when light still burns brightly in the sky.

He knew they couldn’t count on the guards knowing that a fair amount was taking purse. Trying to contact an ‘innocent’ guardsmen would be risking the lives of his siblings.

Although most of the righteous guards spoke of heroic ideals. They never helped in cleaning the crime off the streets. And the corrupted wagged their tails and curried favor from deceptive nobles.

The only real reason this city wasn't up in flames at this point was of one man. Head of the guard Yang Sei he alone kept the sinking ship afloat.

Keeping his subordinates in check, training new guardsmen, and braking plots of assassination. Quelling the citizen's anger if not for him the city streets would already run with rivers full of blood.

He wondered how the king could be so lucky to have such a capable man. And why said a capable man hadn't left the kingdom for greater pastures.

Musing his thoughts Vince could hear cawing nearby. Looking over at the roadside crows with two heads pecking each other. But this just a few, in the sky and buildings they flew above in droves.

The birds on the ground feasted on a fresh corpse. Giving a silent prayer Vince knew nothing would be left come tomorrow. These cackling beasts were voracious eaters leaving nothing of the body.

These birds were quite odd usually they would fight against others for a meal. Unlike that behavior, these crows jumped from corpse to corpse gorging themselves. Some grew so fat that starving children were chasing them with hungry eyes.

Vince watched on as those skinny children chased on struggling to survive. Trying their best to cling onto survival even if that meant eating birds that ate human flesh.

It sickened him to see but he understood that humans would do had what they had to survive. In this hellish landscape, the gods didn't have the right to judge.

How could he look down on those using anything in their power to survive? He only wished those children could still hold onto their humanity. It was cold but he had his own problems of protecting his siblings.

Moving along Vince stopped for a moment, but kept on going keeping his face neutral. They passed along a church where a boy rambled on fanatically about his great god Maou.

His words were quite flowery for his age saying how ‘caring’ the church treated him. Listening close though he could pick up the insanity contained within his voice. Dispute the boys raving about the greatness of Maou no one tempted to move over.

Vince noticed that the boy was missing an eye and an arm and turned his head away in revulsion. Anyone with half a brain knew that the church of Maou ate human flesh as a way to cleanse their body.

Since three hundred years ago the church of Maou had spread far and wide. In its expansion suckering poor souls into its hellish jaws. Sinking its teeth in this corpse kingdom spreading its cancerous web in every crack.

The greedy priests and nuns under the spell of Maou gave into a taboo desire for human flesh. Along with a weird fetish for gold, the followers of Maou were a fearful bunch.

Which was the reason why no one went over to seek shelter they offered. After all who wanted to be slowly eaten alive piece by piece to be 'cleansed from sin'. Although cases of parents selling children for some money wasn't an uncommon sight.

That’s why his mother once said that this place was the city of hell. Where demons devoured the souls lurking within both the shadows and light.

The nobles, the church, the slave traders, and many people good and bad would die here all the same. Seeking help at the end of their life would only to be discarded by another's gain.

Such a fate was one Vince never wished for Rune…

Seeing a boy her age Nena walked up to Vince and squeezed his hand. Shifting him away from his useless thoughts that distracted him he smiled at her. Her cheeks were still stained with tears seeing her this way he pulled her close trying to assure her.

He thought to himself, ‘Mother was our light in the darkness, keeping us out of trouble. I don’t know where we would’ve been without you. I just hope the path you set before us is the right one…

What is this Tavern of Dragons anyway? Why haven’t I ever heard of it before? I should have asked before… Never mind I can only believe in my mother’s words.’

By heading east they were heading ever so closer to the city’s center. If this didn't work out and this Master Mo didn't accept them they wouldn't have time to run.

Xue’s blue eyes shone under the rags, “Elder brother, why not have Ren and Rune take the Royal Guard exams?”

Vince sighed, “There are reasons: first, we can’t wait for three days outside the exam’s doors. Second, we can't head back home and wait for them to finish slavers will be waiting. They'd try to capture us and use us as leverage for Rune, only to slaughter us after taking her.”

Hearing his response Xue grew silent thinking about her big brother response. It didn't take her long to realize that he was right and decided to ask any more questions. It would waste energy to talk she had to just hope that on their mother's dying words proved correct.