On the northern road leading out of Water’s Bastion, a trio stands and stares at the majestic water city in all its glory. It looms out in the distance from the road upon which they travel.
“The design is interesting,” Astria speaks first. “I like all the water.”
“It looks pleasant, yes,” agrees Landyn.
“I’d live here,” says Elijah.
The lake city, an intricate locale of many elaborate building designs, awes the travelers. The interconnected waterways running through the town and the array of little boats moving people about are indeed an odd sight in this world. There’s no other hamlet quite like Water’s Bastion, except for all the other cities surrounding Hopeful Lake. All were created by the same architect, after all.
“Now I see where all those farms are getting the water for irrigation,” mentions Landyn as he looks up at giant stone aqueducts leading from the outer rings of the city to the countryside.
“Whoever designed this place is brilliant,” says Astria. “There have been tons of renovations. You can tell from the structures.” She points at the aqueducts. In some sections, the stone colors do not match. “They’ve got the money to renovate, and they’re producing cost-effective agricultural goods. Scary. You’d look at this town and think this is the most prosperous country on the continent. If they’re not now, they will be. They do have the best capital. Oh, we have to visit Camden at some point! The whole castle sits atop a mountain with a city carved inside it. The food’s great, and—”
“Amazing what lacking a Voiced will do to motivate politicians afraid of war,” grumbles Landyn as he begins walking towards the city again.
“As our system intended,” says Astria, ignoring the fact that Landyn cut her off. She follows after him with Elijah trailing behind her.
“Remember to keep your cloak up. Stay between us,” Landyn tells Astria.
“Yes, sir!” Astria mockingly salutes Landyn. Her cloak already shields her face and eyes.
“Taking the rear isn’t as fun with that thing covering you,” Elijah complains as he looks at Astria’s bottom. The long shawl obscures its supple shape, falling well past the back of her knees.
“There will be time for that later.” Astria draws back. She traces her finger under Elijah’s chin, shocking him, before following a fast-walking Landyn.
They take a less-used road into Water’s Bastion. The population isn’t as dense and the guards are few in number. At the entrance into the city, there are only two monitoring the area. One is asleep while the second reads.
“This city must be insanely safe,” mentions Landyn as he walks past.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if the guards here get paid two salaries,” Elijah implies.
“It does seem like a rougher part,” notes Astria as she glances about. “Not as much foot traffic. More of the buildings are in disrepair. It doesn’t have the same gleam as the city did on the outside, almost like they’re saving renovations here for last. Even the attire here is worse and not as well-maintained.”
The trio would have no way of knowing this, but they are in the outer rung of Water’s Bastion. While not a wholly unsafe place, it is the poorest part of town. Those areas tend to have the highest amounts of crime.
There are three entrances into Water's Bastion. One leads directly from Castle Grey to the city and is the main route used by travelers since it has the most “attractions” along its path. The second is wider and used mostly by merchants transporting cargo. The third, the one the Voiced and her group now use, is a local entrance mostly used by workers, farmers, and contractors. The first two entrances have been renovated to be presentable towards the public, even in the outer rung sections people are forced to pass by. In contrast, the third entrance is still desperately in need of reconstruction. Given how most of the region’s budget is focused on agricultural infrastructure, projects like completely renovating the outer rung have been slow.
“It’s oddly quiet. No one’s talking with one another,” mentions Elijah as he looks at the people.
“It’s hard being exceptional in unexceptional places,” says Astria in a soft voice. “Nothing good comes from standing out here. Any sprouting roots of individuality or hope are snuffed out by the environment naturally.
Elijah grunts in acknowledgment.
The group notices all the little differences in the outer rung. There is no joy or anger in the streets, only a permanent, neutral vibe of discontent. While there are children here, and they look well-fed, they’re clearly poor based on their clothes and hair. People wash clothes in the streets and in alleys. Impromptu wet markets reeking of guts and bile are flecked in “hub” areas where the rung’s locals gather. Shacks and street vendors on carpets sell trinkets and knock-off goods at cheap prices. There’s a stink in the air that only poverty and diminished hopes can create.
“Interesting. The whole outer circle is like this,” says Astria as they walk the entire circumference of Water’s Bastion. “And just inward, the buildings and living conditions are better by ten-fold.”
“The poorest always get shoved out of sight,” says Landyn with a sigh.
Elijah glances at Landyn. “But it's an odd setup. All the poor surround the minority group of wealthy people. If there was ever a class revolt, it’d be easy to trap the rich inside.”
“Maybe it was designed that way intentionally as a check?” suggests Astria. “Put those thoughts aside for now. Let’s head to the main road that leads to the castle. We’ll enter the center of the city from there and finish up our little tour.”
Landyn and Elijah agree, following her as she leads them forth.
∆∆∆
“What do you think?” asks Rollo. His eyes follow a trio of out-of-place tourists walking the streets down below. He monitors them from the window of a mostly-abandoned building.
“They’ve got weapons and they’re dressed in expensive clothes,” remarks Jayir. He watches the trio beside Rollo. “They clearly aren’t locals. I don’t think they’re from the middle or central.”
“It means they wouldn’t know anybody or recognize us later,” says Connor. His body relaxes into a chair while he, too, gazes at who he considers ‘trespassers’.
“But they’re carrying weapons. They’re dangerous,” whines Sara as she peeks barely over the window sill. Her six-year-old limbs barely give her enough height to see.
“Only if they get the chance to use them,” says Yallar. He eats an apple while laying on the floor.
“You guys are so stupid,” Melinia complains. “Attitudes like that are what get people killed.”
“Then you don’t think we should rob them?” asks Jayir.
“No, we should definitely rob them,” rejects Melania as she peeks at their targets. “We just have to be careful about it.”
Rollo, Jayir, Connor, Yallar, Melania, and the child Sara are what the people of Water’s Bastion would call the “forgotten ones.” Twenty years ago, there was a civil war in the territory which resulted in the success and appointment of Baron Johnathan Embers. While necessary at the time, war is not without its consequences. Though not the only ones, the “forgotten ones” have been an incurable blight for the government thus far.
The civil war led to countless civilian deaths from the local government due to fears about conspiring with the Kingdom. It was justified at the time given how the territory of Water’s Bastion had seceded from the larger country due to what they considered “unjustified” demands from the King and his government. Many of the citizens were not willing to go along with the former baron’s rule. It led to mass executions, death, and civilian conscription into the rebelling army.
As a result, mass waves of people were left orphaned. It also led to many families later abandoning children during the rebuilding periods as they fled to new, less unstable parts of the country for work.
Thousands of children along Hopeful Lake now live in the various outer rings jobless, without families, and with no formal education. During the rebuilding process, as they grew into teenagers, they became a blight for the Embers government. Now they’ve settled into petty theft, small crimes, embezzlement, and contract work; nothing that required a background check or a formal education.
Rollo is a short black-haired teenager with a lean build. His hair is shaggy, and laugh lines etch his face.
Jayir is unnaturally tall for his age and much more so than the average adult. He’s also naturally muscular, though clearly in good shape from his own efforts. Dark brown hair flops around his face while the beginnings of a mustache remain untouched upon his lip.
Connor is who the group would call the “hidden gem.” While male, his face has an androgynous quality further accented by his blonde hair and startling green eyes. He could pass as a girl if he wanted to cross-dress.
Yallar is someone a randomly polled person might call “forgettable.” He is of medium height, average build, normal hair, and dull eyes. Besides his name, there’s nothing unique about him other than the loyalty he shows his friends.
Sara, at six, wears a stolen dress. While the rest of the group looks like unwashed criminals, Sara is as proper as can be. In truth, everyone invests in her lifestyle in the hope she’ll get a chance to live a normal life through their efforts and sacrifices.
Finally, the leader of the group, Melania. Her long strawberry blond hair is cut short just at her neck. She pulls it back with a hair band. While not curvy, she’s athletic in build. In the outer rung, she’s a catch. Her street smarts, personality, and soft facial features are a bright light in this area of Water’s Bastion. However, it’s her cunning mind that’s made her the leader of this group of men.
“We gonna run a distract-and-drag?” asks Rollo.
Melania stares at the trio outside their building. She tries to catch a look at the woman between the two men, but her face is well hidden beneath her hood. The two men both look strong, handsome, and much older than the young adults now eyeing them as prey.
“We target the girl,” says Melania. “If we can get her separated and secured, then we can rob the other two and run for it with their shit. Especially the bows the woman and the blonde are carrying. If we can get them, we’ll have enough for Sara’s school clothes.”
“Sold. Let’s do it,” says Yallar as he rises from the floor.
The rest of the men nod.
Melania kneels before Sara. “Stay here. We’ll be back in an hour. And if we don’t?”
“Go down the street to the guard’s station and cry in front of them until they take you in,” replies Sara as she repeats a mantra that’s been drilled into her head many, many times.
“That’s right! Good girl!” Melania acknowledges as she ruffles the girl’s head. “But don’t worry, your brothers and sisters will be back shortly, okay?”
“Okay!”
Melania stands. She gestures with her head towards the exit. “Let’s go.”
∆∆∆
“AHHHHH!” screams a girl as she runs down the street.
Astria, Landyn, and Elijah all look up at the commotion, as do all the other people within the vicinity of the screams.
A pretty girl with strawberry blonde hair darts through the street at full speed. She does her best to avoid pedestrians but runs into a few of them regardless. Fear permeates her eyes as she sprints forward, though she occasionally looks behind her with bated breath.
At her back, four men run after her with blunt objects. They shout obscenities at her, ever gaining speed. They’ll eventually catch up to her; that much is clear.
“Help me!” shouts the girl. Her eyes latch onto Astria and her group. Noticing their weapons, she makes a beeline for them, crashing into Astria. “You have got to help me! Th-They said I owed them money, and I do, but I don’t have enough to pay them back! They want me to sell my body until I’ve made back double what they gave me! I-I’ve never even been with a man before! Don’t let them take me! I can’t do it! I can’t!”
Astria stares at the girl for a moment, unblinking. Her golden eyes permeate into the girl, but the girl doesn’t seem to recognize their significance. Noticing this, Astria smiles and holds the girl close to her, almost in an embrace. “Of course, child.”
Elijah and Landyn brandish their weapons at the boys, stopping them in their tracks.
There’s a pause as everyone freezes.
The girl moves behind Astria as she shields herself from danger. “Thank you!”
“Oh, sure,” says Astria. “Happy to help, love.”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Really?” asks the girl. She pulls a knife out and sticks it to Astria’s neck. “How about now?” she says in a much crueler voice.
Astria laughs. “A little less,” she says in her sparkling, soothing voice.
Elijah and Landyn glance back at the developing hostage situation.
“Give your weapons to the guys,” says the girl. She jerks her head violently at the men who were pursuing her. “Don’t do anything hasty or your friend will get hurt.”
“Oh no,” says Landyn blandly.
“What a damn shame. How terrible,” says Elijah without an inkling of emotion.
Both men hand over their weapons to the boys.
“Follow us. Don’t make any sudden moves,” says the girl. She looks at one of her men. “Lead on.”
∆∆∆
“Their clothes alone could support us for a few months,” thinks Melania. “We hit the mother load. Sara will be set for a bit. We’ll have food to eat and won’t have to worry about our expenses. We got so fucking lucky.”
Melania has these gleeful thoughts as she and her band of friends guide the trio into a former warehouse vacant of residents. Rollo and Connor guard the blonde man with the bow while Yallar and Jayir cover the brown-haired man.
“What is it you want, little one?” the woman in Melania’s arms asks of her captor.
Melinia presses her blade slightly tighter. “Shut it. Only speak when spoken to.”
“Not going to ask for names? Or will that humanize this process too much?”
“I don’t need yo—”
“I’m Astria. The blonde is Elijah, and the other man is Landyn. Nice to meet you,” says Astria cheerfully. “Pray tell, what do you need from us that you’ve chosen such a violent route rather than talking to us or begging?”
“Money.”
“Obviously. I meant something deeper. What drives you?”
“That’s none of your damn business, so shut up.” Melania nicks Astria’s neck with her knife and draws blood. “You’re underestimating us because we’re young.”
“Oh no. I promise you, I’m not. Age has nothing to do with cruelty and atrocities. Rather, I’d expect violence out of someone young enough not to comprehend the gravity of their actions. It’s because you lack knowledge and experience that this is the route you’ve chosen.”
“Hey, make sure they’re secure.” Melania gestures at her group as she ignores Astria’s comment. “Check their pockets.”
In only a few seconds or so, every valuable item is removed from Elijah, Astria, and Landyn.
“They’re loaded,” says Yallar in astonishment.
“Is this actual gold?” ponders Connor as he holds up a piece of jewelry in his hands.
“Yes,” Elijah answers for the kid. “A favorite heirloom of mine.”
“Sorry bout that. I need it more,” says Connor, grinning.
Elijah cocks his head to the side. “Why are you apologizing? It’s still mine.”
The kids laugh.
Melania, satisfied, shoves Astria towards her men. She immediately creates distance between herself and the trio as she rejoins her group along with their stolen goodies for the day
“Strip,” says Jayir. He motions at them with a beaten, worn club.
“Do what he says. Your clothes look really valuable,” adds Melania. “Don’t worry. We won’t do anything to you. We just want the clothes.”
“A shame. I’m really attractive naked,” mocks Astria.
“Oh, it’s true,” agrees Elijah.
“Understatement,” adds Landyn
Melania’s eyebrow twitches at the conclusion of the brief interaction. The nonchalant attitude doesn’t connect with the actions she and her group are committing. The lack of fear is foreign to her for, in their shoes, she wouldn’t be able to act so bravely.
“Keep that attitude up and we will do something,” boasts Yallar.
“I doubt I’d feel it, but if you think you can then give it a shot,” says Astria, bored
The “forgotten ones” all stare at her.
“May I ask a question?” invites Astria of the group. Her eyes focus entirely on Melania.
“We told you to strip! So strip!” shouts Rollo. Sadly, his stature does not exude much authority.
“No, it’s time for you to listen to me,” says Astria. She fully removes her hood, revealing her golden eyes to the room. “Do these mean anything to you?” she asks as she points at her pupils.
Given the lack of response or fear, Astria is given her answer regardless of the silence among the kids.
“Never mind then.” Astria relaxes. Her gaze refocuses on Melania. “Why do you do this? Is this the only route you could have taken to support each other?”
“That’s none of your business. Drop the clothes, hand them over, and shut up. If you don’t, we’ll kill you,” says Melania with a curt tone of finality.
“Isn’t that such a pathetic thing to say? You’ll kill us for stuff? You’re all highly capable, athletic children. It wouldn’t take much for you all to find jobs or live off the land.” Astria gestures at Melania's group. “And yet you chose the easy route. It’s natural given your age. Hard, well-thought choices would take time to execute and require suffering before reaping meaningful rewards. So many brats want to skip these steps, instead deciding on short-term actions with long-term irreparable consequences.”
“Do as we say or—”
“Child...quiet,” says Astria. Her voice moves like a winter storm through the young adults, causing them all to freeze.
“What is this?” thinks Melania.
“Reality is a cruel mistress.” Astria steps forward. She leaves Elijah and Landyn behind who stand, unguarded, watching everything take place. “It burdens people both young and old with its hardships. The reprieve of innocence is only given to those with the barrier of guardianship to withhold them from human nature and development. Yet none of you had that. All of you were forced to grow up years ahead of time in a world that owes you nothing. For that, I feel nothing but sorrow.”
“How do you have the right to pity us given your circumstances?” says Connor.
Astria smiles sadly. “Because talking with corpses is always a pitiful thing.”
Jayir, annoyed, steps forward. He’s inches from Astria. His tall stature towers over the woman. “You think you can threaten us?
Astria looks up at the boy. She holds out two fingers, her pointer and middle on her right hand. Her wrist cocks up, jutting the fingers towards the sky.
“Know I do not do this out of cruelty but from a place of love. All I can see from you all is a lack of imagination, fear, and hopelessness. The path towards redemption is based on luck you all seem to lack. You’re a blight. It makes me want to cry,” says Astria softly and genuinely.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll—”
Astria inverts her upturned fingers until they’re pointed at the ground. Her gaze follows the action.
Crunch!
In that same instance, a force of energy flattens Jayir into the ground bursting apart his flesh, blood, and guts. The fluids spew out in all directions landing on everyone but Astria and her group.
The kids all stare in horror as their ability to breathe is restricted due to a sickly, intoxicating sensation of shock.
“She’s got those fucking gift things!” cries Rollo. His attitude from before completely disappears.
“It’s tough being young. It takes so little for you all to turn bad, and your lack of reverence for the future makes you stupid,” says Astria casually. Her demeanor hasn’t changed in the slightest.
“You bitch!” Yallar cries. He stares in horror at the smear on the ground that used to be Jayir.
“There’s a thought in my heart that this will be a great learning experience for you all and that you’ll change. That only one of you needs to die. But the cold reality is that none of you ever will. The ones that do are such a small statistic that they’re hardly worth betting on,” continues Astria nonchalantly.
Melania staggers back a step. “We’re going to die.”
Astria raises her finger up again and points it down, gesturing at Yallar the entire time.
There’s a sickening crunch as Yallar joins Jayir’s fate.
Melania falls onto her backside in fear. Her legs no longer move no matter how much she wishes them to. Trembling overtakes her. She doesn’t even have the capacity to scream as the sheer shock and disbelief overwhelming her mind obfuscates that possibility from occurring.
“Really? You’re going to leave your friend?” asks Astria as she gestures at Melania. Connor and Rollo sprint off towards the exit of the structure. She looks at Melania. “Some friends you found.”
Completing the same gesture as before, raising two fingers and lowering them, the sound of wet meat sounds the conclusion for the fleeing men. Her gaze never leaves Melania's. Like a bug under a boot, the remaining teens are squished into meaningless mounds of pulpy matter.
The only one left is Melania. A pool of liquid sits on the floor underneath her as she stares at Astria with an intense, vomit-inducing level of fear.
Casually, Astria walks across the room until she’s before Melania. She crouches down and gazes at her deeply in the eyes. “Do you know why I did this? I’ve been alluding to it, but I’m not sure any of you were listening.”
Melania says nothing. Fear keeps her from speaking.
Not hearing an answer, Astria speaks anyways. “Because I used to be just like you.”
“Then…why?” Melania manages to squeak out.
“Because I got lucky enough to change my path. But that’s all it was. Luck. Odds are you’ll end up killing people eventually or burdening your own kids with the mistakes of your life. Some people don’t deserve happiness or hope.” Astria casually motions at the squished corpses littering the room. “There’s a chance you all could have been something, but the odds were higher you’d remain pitiful criminals whose existences only remained to inflict misery upon others. Someone might die because of you. Doesn’t that matter more than whatever drives you? Wouldn’t you feel bad if your existence created more people like you?” she says as she lightly jabs Melania in the chest with a finger. “Why would you want that?”
Sara’s face flashes in Melania's mind.
Astria stands. She points her pointer and middle finger up in the air. “May you find some semblance of happiness in your next life.”
The fingers descend.
Crunch!
∆∆∆
“I’m booooored!” complains Astria.
“There is no way you should be,” grumbles Landyn as he leads her and Elijah into the middle part of Water’s Bastion.
“Oh!” Astria walks over to a store window and stares inside. “That looks nice!” she says in regard to a fancy set of clothes.
“Oh, and it would look great on you,” says Elijah as he comes up behind Astria to join her.
“And even better on the floor?” questions Astria sarcastically.
“You read my mind.”
“Focus, people,” complains Landyn.
Little flirtatious acts like that keep occurring as the three travelers walk through the streets of Water’s Bastion. A pattern then begins. Astria is drawn in by shops and sights. Elijah indulges. Each time, Landyn is forced to intervene, pulling them back so as not to break Astria’s cover. This would then result in Astria pouting. Elijah, hoping to fix the situation, would offer to either shop or examine something in her place. This is a norm for their travels.
The group is a tight-knit trio who’ve been by each other’s side for many years now. None are annoyed nor perplexed by the other’s actions. They’ve learned to accept each other for who they are. It’s why their odd lifestyle works. It’s how they’re meant to be.
But by the time they arrive in the center of Water’s Bastion, the commercial, wealthy district, Landyn is very, very tired.
“Oh! A sweets shop!” Astria points to a store with a line going out the door exclusively consisting of young women.
“Please stop,” says Landyn in a pathetic, shattered voice unbecoming of a man.
Astria bites her lips. She studies Landyn. “Sorry. I’ve been going overboard today. I’ll relax.” She shakes her head. Her eyes close. After some time, she slowly inhales and exhales her breath. Both her hand come up to slap her face. Her cheeks temporarily tinge red. “Right! On to the plan!”
“Are you sure you don’t want—” Elijah begins.
Landyn puts a hand over Elijah’s mouth. “We’ve seen enough of the city. Let’s do our job, alright? Stop. Being. Difficult.”
“I trust your judgment,” allows Astria.
Elijah moves Landyn’s hand from his mouth. “As do I.” He licks the top of his palm playfully.
Landyn scowls. “Right then.” He looks around for a moment. “Seems we’re not attracting any attention. Good.”
“I’m going to hit up the castle. That’s still part of the plan, right?” inquires Astria.
“That’d be best. Here’s how I see things.” Landyn holds up his closed palm. “There are three aspects of this city we should attain data on.” One finger goes up. “Politics,” The second finger goes up. “agriculture,” The third finger. “and commerce.”
“One for each of us,” Elijah notes.
Landyn nods. “Exactly.”
“I’m handling the politics, I take it,” judges Astria.
“You’re the best at infiltration. It’s up to you whether you want to reveal yourself early or stick to more anonymous methods,” Landyn lays out.
“Hmmm.” Astria taps her chin. “I don’t want any attention just yet. I’m sure I can sneak around anywhere just fine. There are only two other people in this world that can catch me.”
“Exactly.”
“Then which one of us is handling commerce?” asks Elijah.
“You,” says Landyn.
“Thank Gods. I’m not into farming. What do you want me to do? Look around and shop?”
“Kind of, yeah.”
“Oh awesome. Really? Why?”
“Drunk people eating good food tend to have loose lips. You have the best personality for that, so I’ll leave it to you.” Landyn tosses a small bag of currency at Elijah. “Feel free to use it all up. I’ve already excluded the amount from our trip’s budget. Go nuts.”
Elijah’s eyes sparkle with joy.
“I’ll handle the agriculture. I want the perspective of some of the farmers.” Landyn rubs the back of his neck. “I’ll say I’m an adventurer traveling between jobs looking for some quick cash. Hopefully, it’ll give some insight into how things have changed over the years.”
Elijah smacks Landyn’s back, laughing. “That’s why you’re the brains of this team.”
“Don’t fool yourself. Astria likely already knew what I was planning before I said anything.”
“If that’s what you’d like to believe.” Astria shrugs her shoulders. “Still, you’re impressive. Expect a reward later.” She winks.
Landyn blushes slightly.
Astria tightens her hood over her shoulders. “We shall all meet back here before nightfall, agreed?”
The two men nod.
“Let’s be off then.”