*Thoughts*
~Sound effects~
+”Whispers”+
+++++
Chapter 46: Farewell
When Neuron arrived at the edge of the forest he halted to wait for Merinda who just left the city and was slowly walking towards him, then when she reached him Neuron turned around and went deeper into the forest while stammering:“ Merinda, sorry that it came…“ but he was interrupted by her
“You were awesome! But would you really have burned the city?” She then asked with a worried tone
“If it would have been necessary” Neuron simply answered and after hearing that Merinda fell silent for a minute then she exclaimed: ”Alex!”
“Yes?” Neuron immediately answered while fearing that she would confess but to his surprise Merinda shouted: “Why did you lie to me!?”
“huh” was the only reaction Neuron was able to make
“You said to me your name was Neuron but I just called you Alex and you didn´t hesitate at all to answer me!” she shouted
“Ah, that’s it?!” Neuron exclaimed relieved but Merinda misunderstood and shouted again
“I thought you decided to tell me everything, so why didn`t you tell me your real name!”
“Oi, oi, calm down, Alex is just my given name and Neuron is the one I chose for myself”
”Then why did Ardesti call you Alex?” she asked not fully buying his explanation
“I introduced myself as Alex before I was found out to be the smiling Chinese and before you ask” he added since he saw Merinda opening her mouth: ”I did so as not to arouse any suspicion, you see the biggest weakness of a fake name is that you don´t respond immediately after you are called”
“I see” she said and then she asked:
Some silent minutes later Neuron suddenly shouted: ”Shit!!” and punched a nearby tree which of course startled Merinda so she asked: ”what’s the matter?”
“I forgot to bring the back you packed inside the tailor shop, sorry” Neuron answered
“Doesn’t matter, everything I packed belonged to you anyway” Merinda said in a light tone to calm Neuron but it had the opposite effect since Neuron dropped his head and said in a weak voice
“Sorry that you couldn`t take anything with you as a keepsake”. After Neuron said that Merinda was about to say that it didn´t really matter but Neuron didn`t let her say anything sicne he shouted: „That’s it!” and before she could ask Neuron grabbed her by the shoulders and said: „I will just break into the tailor shop and your house and just take everything!”
“You will!?” Merinda shouted joyfully, she didn`t admit it but she really regretted that she couldn`t take anything with her to remember the old couple that adopted her
“Sure!” Neuron answered
“Then would you go to the second story of the tailor shop too?” she asked
“You mean that story that has all windows shut tight by wooden logs?” Neuron asked perplexed
“Yes it belonged to my adoptive parents but I just couldn´t live there anymore after they died so I rented a small flat, do you have a map then I can markl its location” said and done Neuron packed his map and Merinda suddenly turned towards him and looked kind of serious.
“W, what’s the matter?” Neuron stammered
“Do not rummage through my underwear!”
“I never would!” Neuron affirmed while thinking: *Damn why did you have to say it now I kind of want to do it*
After Neuron said that she looked him deep into the eyes and after a few seconds she averted he gaze and asked while Neuron let out a silent sigh: „So where am I going to live from now on?”
“In a town called Kilakios”
“Kilakios…, never heard of that name, where is it located?” she asked worriedly
After Neuron looked at his integrated compass he pointed vaguely to the west and answered “Somewhere there”
“What!” Merinda shouted in a shrill voice while nearing a panic: ”You don’t even know where it is!?”
“Calm down, I am just going to bring you somewhere where a friend of mine is going to pick you up” he answered
“You aren’t going to accompany me?” Merinda asked sadly
“I still have a lot of things to do” Neuron answered
“Ah, okay but this town, Kilakios, I hope it isn`t inside the Kingdom of Agakyos” she asked
“Hmmm, I think it is” Neuron answered while scratching his chin
“What! I am banished from Agakyos! If a month passes and I am still not in another kingdom I am declared an outlaw and everyone can kill me on sight!” she shouted in angst
“Hey don´t worry, I can vouch for the owners of that town” Neuron replied casually
“Why are you so sure that they are going to defy the king!” she asked while shaking Neuron
“Well actually the king hasn`t spoken the verdict so they technically aren`t going to defy the king” Neuron said to lighten the mood; sadly it backfired since Merinda grabbed him by the collar
“Neuron. Answer. My. Question.” Merinda hissed articulating each word with care while shaking him wildly
“The owners are Kyle and my humble self” Neuron answered while his teeth where clicking together.
After he said that Merinda shook him even wilder while shouting “Kyle, do you mean that Kyle!?”
“Huh?” was the only reaction from Neuron since he expected Merinda to ask something like : ”What, you own a town!?”. But since Kyle was the only one named like this in the whole Agakyos Kingdom her reaction was to be expected.
”If you talk about the leader of the defenders of justice…” Neuron answered while chuckling since that name was too silly
After hearing that answer Merinda let go of Neuron and asked dumbfounded: “You, you mean the smiling Chinese and Kyle are friends?”
“Jup” Neuron answered while smiling broadly
“Wait, Kyle the hero is friends with, with… I just can`t believe it!” she shouted
“Hmmm, I guess it is” Neuron simply answered while looking towards Merinda whose face suddenly had a panicked look so Neuron looked towards where her eyes where fixated and saw that three wolves had jumped out in the forest and right into their path while snarling.
After Merinda saw them she slowly walked backwards but a root made her fall on her butt while all three wolves prepared to charge at her but only one managed to leap some steps forward till he fell to the ground and slithered to where Merinda was sitting.
“Merinda, you alright?” Neuron asked worriedly while turning around to look at her
“Yes, yes I am fine but why did he suddenly stop?” she asked and then she saw three throwing knifes stuck into the flank of its shoulder: ”never mind” she answered while thinking *I didn`t even see him throwing them*
“Hey Merinda, do you know how to skin animals?” Neuron asked since he wanted to take the hides since he was now able to do so.
“Sorry, I don`t” she asked while bending down to pull out the three throwing knifes
“Don’t worry, then I just have to learn it myself” Neuron answered casually
*damn, how am I going to do that it’s just cross…. Wait, this is a game I forget that from time to time… anyway since I have the skill I should be able to do so* Neuron reasoned which was somewhat true but his first tries still looked hideous
* Wolf Hide
This can only be used as a rug
“sigh guess I gave to train that now too” Neuron said after he identified it
Many wolves later the hides he extracted looked passable but then he said something without thinking that brought Merinda close to a panic again: ”Hmmm I don`t remember it taking so long to get to that clearing”
“You mean we are lost!?” she shouted out loud
“Don´t worry, I just have to get a good look from above the trees” he tried to calm her
“If you think I am going to wait down here in this wolf infested forest you are on the wrong track!” she shouted while putting her hands on her waists
“I will be back soon” Neuron answered and then he climbed up a tree and vanished within its leaves
“NEURON!!!!!” Merinda shouted out loud but she got no answer so she placed herself back first near the tree Neuron just climbed and waited while cursing Neuron.
Moments later said person fell down from above while a huge amount of leaves and branches fell on top of him, then Neuron got up brushed himself clean and said whiele smiling: „That isn`t something a lady should say”
“There you have your lady!” she answered while slapping him with all her force and then she turned around while crossing her arms and sulkily said: ”Never do that again!”
“Sorry I can`t promise you that, see if I would have helped you up that tree it would have taken much longer than twenty seconds” Neuron tried to reason
“Are you implying that I am fat!?” Merinda hissed and Neuron never answered that question, he just turned around and started to walk while rolling his eyes and thinking: *Be it VR or RL girls always misunderstand what I am trying to say*
“Hey, answer me!” Merinda shouted while walking up to him
~Sigh ~ “No Merinda I wasn`t implying that you are fat” Neuron answered
And after that they grew silent till they walked out of the forest and into the clearing Neuron spotted before.
“Neuron where is that guy that’s going to take me to Kilakios?” Merinda asked after she saw that the clearing was empty
Without an answer Neuron pulled out a whistle he carried around like a necklace, inhaled some air and then blew into it.
The tone he produced was a high pitched one, that strangely even though he always blew with the same strength went up and down, the whistle hadn`t any holes either with which it would normally be possible.
“Now let’s wait for him” Neuron said while he sat down
“Ähm Neuron who did you call just now?” Merinda asked
“A Pegasus, haven`t I told you that?” Neuron asked perplexed
“A Pegasus!” Merinda screamed: „Do you mean that horse that can fly through the air!?”
“Jep, that’s the one” Neuron casually replied
“Do you think I am stupid! Pegasi are the carriers of the gods! They are the purest of creatures!”
*Pure, Oasho…?* Neuron thought
“And you say one of those godlike creatures is coming to take me to your town, Yeah right” she said her voice throbbing from sarcasm while she sat down exhausted: ”I am so stupid, believing in him…” she whispered to herself so that Neuron couldn`t hear her but before she could cry out of self-pity Neuron said
“Hey, look” while pointing towards the sky, but Merinda refused to do so since she thought it would just be a prank but then she heard the neigh of a horse that came exactly from where Neuron pointed to, meaning the sky. So Merinda looked upwards but due to her eyes being watery everything was one big blur so she rubbed them and what she saw after her vision returned left her speechless.
Above the clearing a Pegasus flew descending to land which it did soon after while producing a storm that severed some flowers from their haulms which then slowly descended after the Pegasus closed its wings.
*Show off…huh* Neuron thought while the Pegasus charged towards him without a warning. Neuron managed to evade only at the last second while Merinda didn´t notice any of that since she was kneeling while her head touched the ground.
“What was tat for?!” Neuron cried immediately after he got up from where he landed. After hearing this the Pegasus turned around and approached Neuron slowly halting a few centimeters before him and said: ”We told you that we don`t like to be seen by people and now you bring your mare with you just to impress her!” the Pegasus shouted while pointing towards Merinda with one of his wings who was looking towards them while still kneeling. After the Pegasus pointed his wing towards her she gasped for air and placed her head on the ground again.
*Mare? What does he mean with that?* Neuron asked himself
“Do you see that! This is just embarrassing!” the Pegasus shouted but of course Merinda couldn`t understand a word but she realized that Neuron could understand it which shocked her greatly.
“Wait, are you Oasho?” Neuron asked since the Pegasus was talking like he knew him and the only ones who did so where Isa and Oasho and since Neuron was able to see everything before the Pegasus landed it was apparent that he was male.
“Yeah I am, so what? Take your Mare and get out of here and if this ever happens again the contract you formed with father will be void!” Oasho stated while knocking his right hoof on the ground
*Again Mare…. Wait, is that the horses way of saying Girlfriend?* Neuron thought and then he said trusting that Merinda wouldn’t understand what is meant: “She isn`t my, hrrm, `Mare` ”
„Then why did you bring her here?“ Oasho asked back
“She was banished and well, uhm…” Neuron um and erred
“It is your fault, right?”
“Yes” Neuron said with a dropped head and then he continued while looking down: ”This is why I want to bring her to Kilakios so that…”
But Oasho interrupted him asking annoyed: ”Then why don`t you accompany her there?”
“I still have some… things I have to do” Neuron said while hesitating
“Aha, and that’s the reason you are going to use me as a carrier, My sister and I agreed to carry you and Kyle and not everybody you want us to!” Oasho shouted
“Come on, please” Neuron said desperate
“Sure, so tell me was that so hard?” Oasho asked Neuron while grinning, or at least he would have if he could since being a horse was somehow restricting on facial expressions
“So you would have done it if I just asked!” Neuron said while starting to grow angry: ”Then what was that whole farce for?”
“Well you never asked so, anyway tell her that she can mount me” Oasho changed topic
“Hey Merinda come here he`s allowed you to ride him!” Neuron shouted while waving but she still hesitated so Neuron added: ”Don`t worry, he doesn`t bite, or at least he said that he wouldn`t” Neuron added while looking towards Oasho who bumped into Neuron hard making him fall to the ground
“Oi, what was that for!?” Neuron shouted sitting on the ground while waving his fist around and the Pegasus apparently answered something but Merinda couldn’t understand it but judging from the reaction of Neuron it was some insult since he jumped back up and shouted something Merinda wasn`t able to hear since she laughed out loud due to the ridiculous situation, It isn`t every time that you can see one of your friends arguing with a Pegasus after all.
After she laughed both stopped arguing and looked at her with questioning looks while her face became bright red so she looked away and Neuron said: ”Don`t be shy, just think of him as a normal horse”.
After he said that Neuron jumped up to avoid the wing with which Oasho tried to hit him:”Heh, you missed!” Neuron couldn`t refrain from shouting while still airborne but Oasho just flapped his wing and a gust of wind hit Neuron making him tumble. Then Oasho was just about to taunt Neuron since he expected him to crash-land but Neuron surprisingly turned around in midair and landed on his hands and feet.
After he landed Neuron immediately dashed towards Oasho while shouting and Oasho did the same but then the shout from Merinda: ”STOOOOOOOP” made them do so dead in their tracks.
Now both of them looked towards Merinda who couldn`t help but chuckle since Neuron had his right fist high into the air ready to punch Oasho in the head who himself had a wide open mouth to bite Neuron into the shoulder.
“Hey, what’s so funny?” Neuron asked
“It’s, it’s just you both, look hilarious” Merinda managed to say between little bursts of laughter
“Do we?” Neuron asked Oasho who just looked back without a reaction which made Merinda laugh even more.
“Anyway come here and sit up, he is then going to fly you to Kilakios” Neuron said since her laughing made him feel embarrassed
“Okay” Merinda said and while still chuckling she slowly went near to Oasho and twhen she was at his right side Merinda looked at his back and asked: ”where’s the saddle?”
Hearing this Oasho turned around and looked her into the face saying something which she didn`t understand but the meaning was clear so she turned pale and while saying: ”Sorry, I didn`t,… sorry, please forgive me”, she prostrated herself in front of Oasho who let out a loud night making Merinda shiver in fear
“Ähm, sorry I, well wanted to have some fun…” he apologized after he caught the look of Neuron who stared at him with his Hawkeyes while emanating a dark aura
“Come on get up Merinda” Neuron then said while bowing down to help her stand up again
“But, I, I have to atone for my insult” she claimed
“He was just toying with you” Neuron said while he looked towards Oasho who just looked away: ”Hey, apologize!” Neuron then shouted since he didn`t got a reaction
Oasho then let out a neigh which Merinda understood as apology so she stood up again: ”Neuron, could you help me?” she then asked since the horseback seemed really high, especially without a saddle with on mounted stirrups, and Merinda never having ridden a horse in her live added to that.
“Of course” Neuron said while he proceeded to lift her up but before he could do so Oasho interrupted him saying: ”Are you sure that she should ride me in those clothes?”
“Why?” Neuron asked since he found nothing wrong with them, it was just her normal working attire, meaning a light blouse and a knee length skirt.
“Well, when Kyle and you flew with us you where shivering from the cold wind…” Oasho reasoned
~facepalm~ “You are right!”
“Hey Neuron what’s the matter?” Merinda asked
“Up there it is freezing” Neuron simply answered while pointing upwards
“If that’s the problem, just give me some of the wolf hides and I can make myself something warm” Merinda stated.
After Neuron gave her the hides and his sewing kit since Merinda left Samaras empty handed he turned around to Oasho and asked since he got an idea: ”Hey Oasho, could you fly me over the forest, there is something I have to look out for and from the sky it would be a lot easier”
“Do not leave me alone!” Merinda shouted in panic after hearing this since she feared that wild beasts would attack her once left alone.
“What’s the problem” Oasho asked
“Well Merinda is afraid that she could be attacked while we are away” Neuron said and then he looked at Oasho and asked: ”So could you take us both?
After Neuron asked this Merinda looked up only to see Oasho shake his head wildly and even without understanding the language of horses that message was pretty clear so she dropped her head but before she could even voice an apology Neuron shouted::”Why didn’t you say so sooner!?”
“Well you never ask” Oasho replied
“Stop nitpicking!” Neuron shouted angrily but before he and Oasho could engage in another squabble Merinda interrupted them asking
“What did he say?”
“He casually said that he could erect a barrier around the clearing preventing any hostile creature from entering” Neuron answered
“That’s great!” Merinda shouted while clapping her hands completely taking the wind out of Neurons sales
“Well it is, but, the way he said it makes me angry”
“Come on, be crateful for his help” she answered
“Nice said” Oasho stated
N “Oh shut up”
“Then, Mr. pegas.., ähm Oasho, would you please do me that favor?” Merinda asked while stammering, and as a reply Oasho let out a nigh and started to trot around the clearing while each step he took produced a glowing imprint and once the turn was finished the steps flared up in a blinding light and vanished.
“Done, now the clearing is secure for a whole day” Oasho said high and mighty since he noticed that Merinda looked at him in awe.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
N “Stop being so full of yourself” he replied annoyed
O “Hey appreciate what I am doing for you!”
M “Is it done?”
N “Yes”
M “Thank you Oasho!”
“Hrrm, no problem” Oasho answered even though Merinda couldn`t understand him.
“We`ll be back soon!” Neuron said aloud while he jumped on Oashos back who turned his head around and shouted: ”Don`t just jump on my back uninvited!”
“Just take off” Neuron replied and Oasho immediately dashed forward making Neuron fall down backwards
“What was that for!?” Neuron shouted enraged while getting up from the ground
“You called for it” Oasho replied
“Stop that nonsense and get going, are you still kids or what?!!” Merinda shouted. First their little antics where kind of funny but now it just upset her how they couldn`t get anything done, But after she said so she realized that she was lecturing a being that was close to a god and so she turned bright red while Neuron and Oasho evaded the gaze of each other out of embarrassment since they realized how they behaved
“hrrm, alright, sit up and I’ll take off” Oasho then stammered
“Ähm, thank you for letting me” Neuron answered meekly
After they both where up into the air Merinda breathed a sigh of relieve and started sewing while thinking *I can`t believe I talked like that to a Pegasus, I just hope they won`t be coming back while arguing*
Sadly for her they came back ten minutes later just doing that.
“Hey, you only saw it first because you flew so erratic that I couldn`t use my Hawkeyes effectively!” Merinda was able to hear Neuron and then immediately after the Pegasus appeared over the edge of the clearing while neighing an answer and performing a roll to drop Neuron who shouted while falling down unconcerned how he would land: ”You bastard I’ll get you for this!” and then he landed on his hands and feet only to jump up again while drawing his Throwing axes and now it was Merindas time to perform a facepalm.
“Hey, look here I`m Finished!” she shouted while holding up the winter coat she made trying to distract at least one of them
“Don`t you want to know what happened?” Neuron asked perplexed
“Judging from what I saw you both performed a bet on who would be able to spot whatever it was that you are looking for first and Oasho won”
“Only because he…” Neuron tried to say but Merinda interrupted him saying coldly: „OH come on not again”
“Yeah, listen to her she`s smart” Oasho said and before Neuron could answer Merinda shouted
“Stop it already!” since she could guess what Oasho said judging by the look on Neurons face
“hey, what’s the matter with her?” Oasho then asked
“I think our constant fighting annoys her” Neuron whispered back
“Oh come on can`t she let us have some fun?” Oasho stated and Neuron simply nodded
*Boys* Merinda only thought after hearing that while remembering her days in the orphanage where two boys where constantly fighting but they still stuck together like glue: *They are always the same regardless of their race* she continued her train of thought while deciding to control the situation from now on.
“Alright, so Neuron help me sit up” Merinda said after she dressed herself in the winter coat she made.
*What happened to her? First she was so shy and now she takes the lead?* Neuron asked himself while Oasho said: ”Your mare is taking control I pity your future”
“I told you she isn`t my mare!” Neuron hissed into Oashos ear
“You sure? she`s constantly looking at you with glowing eyes even though a heavenly person like me stands right beside you” Oasho said jokingly while spreading his wings
“Person?” Neuron asked while raising an eyebrow
“Figure of speech” Oasho answered and Before Neuron could reply Merinda ordered while walking towards him her hands grossed: “Neuron, help me get up on his back”
~fftsch~ Oasho produced the sound of a whip
“Stop spitting in my face!” Neuron shouted while wiping the spit and thinking: *Wow a horse making that sound gives it much more impact*
“Guys!” Merinda only said making both of them shut up again: ”Good, now lift me up” she said rising both of her arms while her cheeks grew a little red and Oashos positioned his back right behind her back
“Alright, what are you waiting for” Oasho asked annoyed since Neuron didn´t lift he rup
“I just realized that I have something to tell her, and you” Neuron answered
“What?” Oasho asked
“First where you can drop her off since she can´t talk with you, second I need to give her some information and proof that it was me who send her if not those three will never built her a tailor shop and house I fear…”
“Those three, who do you mean?” Merinda asked
“I`m going to explain but first Oasho, if you`d just take her to the center of Kilakios there would be nothing to worry about”
“No can do”
“Guessed so, then could you just bring her to the little valley that leads towards Kilakios, and if that isn´t possible drop her nearby and point her where she should go, but be warned if something attacks her you will be held responsible” Neuron stated
“Sheesh, I get it so stop looking at me with those eyes” Oasho answered since Neuron was looking at him with his Hawkeyes to underline what he said.
“Alright, so Merinda those three I mentioned before are Brairan, Warnton and Tonan, those three are in charge of the city while Kyle and I are gone. They are…. Okay, I guess”
“Why did you pause” Merinda asked worried
“Well they are a strange bunch, Brairan is and old fart who doesn`t act like his age would suggest, Warnton is a troublemaker and Tonan, well he is the most normal of those although he really likes to fight” Neuron quickly characterized them
“Well I can deal with you so those should be no problem” and after she said that she put her hands on her mouth but the words where already out
“Hey, what did you mean with that!?” Neuron shouted offended
“Nothing” Merinda said while turning around
“Wow, even she thinks that you’re a handful and she still loves you, what a strange girl”
“Oh shut up Oasho” Neuron said and then he turned towards Merinda: ”Okay I guess I can be hard to deal with sometimes..” Neuron admitted
“Sometimes?” Oasho asked
~sigh~ Neuron made ignoring what Oasho said while continuing to talk to Merinda: ”Anyway to proof that I send you just tell them that Warnton once burned a book in his forge since nothing he was searching for was written in it”
“Is that true!” Merinda asked
“Sadly yes, so are you prepared to go?” Neuron asked
Her whole live was changing and she was a little afraid what was in store for her but she trusted Neuron so she answered with a loud: “YES!” showing more confidence than she was feeling
“Alright, so now let me help you get on that stupid horses back” Neuron said
“Neuron!” Merinda said strictly
“Okay, let me help you on the back of that mighty wonderful Pegasus” Neuron said while rolling his eyes since he could see Oasho grinning again.
“Oh, that’s surprising” Neuron said while lifting her up
“W, W What is?” Merinda stammered while her feet where dangling over the ground
“You are lighter than I thought” Neuron simply stated his thought and Merindas face grew purple
“Neuron, you can`t deal with women” Oasho then stated while shaking his head
“Oh shut it” Neuron answered while placing Merinda on his back and turning around since he realized his blunder
“Neuron” Merinda said to his back after she shifted her weight around on Oashos back for a while
“Yeah?” Neuron asked warily since he was a little bit afraid of retaliation
“Where and how can I hold myself?” she asked embarrassed: ”You see I never rode a horse let alone a Pegasus”
“Yeah no kidding” Oasho stated while prancing a bit
But Neuron completely ignored him and said towards Merinda what Oasho and his sister Isa told him and Kyle. Once she positioned herself like told Merinda bent down and gave Neuron a kiss on the cheek then she asked Oasho to take off and shouted back towards Neuron who was unconsciously holding the cheek she kissed: ”I`ll wait for you!” and immediately afterwards Oasho shouted: „See I told you that she is your mare!”
“SHUT UUUP!” Neuron shouted back but Oasho was already out of sight
*Damn, I can`t deal with that crock… anyway what am I going to do now* Neuron thought while laid himself down to the ground looking up to the blue sky and the clouds that where passing by while thinking about how to resolve his current situation.
*Fuck, what am I going to do from now on, everybody now knows how I look like an dthoise fucking wanted posters are surely updated and plastered on every wall… I wonder how high my bounty is…. Why the hell am I feeling proud of myself!? If there would eb just a way to make everyone believe that Neuron isn`t the smiling Chinese……*
After he thought that Neuron shouted out loud while sitting up and smashing his right fist into his left palm: “YES THAT’S IT!” then he added more silent: ”But how am I going to do that…”
After saying this Neuron let himself drop to the ground again and started thinking.
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~hrrrng~ Neuron stretched himself and looked around only to notice that it was dark around him
“Damn I must have fallen asleep while thinking, I guess virtual sleep doesn`t beat the real one…. That doesn`t matter I have to wreak havoc one last time inside Saramas and make it look like some sort of farewell from the smiling Chinese!” Neuron shouted and then he hit the ground and dashed towards Saramas ignoring all the mobs that where trying to attack him on the way
Once he reached the edge of the forest he slowed down and continued his way to the city walls while sneaking. As soon as he arrived at the wall Neuron began to climb it while thinking:*How often do I have to break into this city again?*
Once over the wall he headed straight to the tailor shop and entered it with his key then he went into the storage room and removed a curtain behind which a staircase was like Merinda told him, which he climbed while placing one hand on the wall because Neuron feared that it would yield any moment judging by the sound each of his steps made. Then finally at the end of the stair Neuron opened the door and a cloud of dust rose up making him cough and due to that he overheard the clicking sound which his foot produced after stepping inside the apartment.
The apartment was composed of three different rooms; one big room which included the living room and the kitchen, while on one end two doors could be seen. And apparently this apartment wasn´t visited in a long time like Merinda said which was underlined by the vase full of withered flowers on the dining table but strangely there wasn´t as much dust around as Neuron suspected but he ignored it.
After his cough attack was over Neuron proceeded to pack everything he could lay his hands on, which wasn’t much, just some pictures, a painted plate and a tea service from the kitchen which was apparently made out of porcelain and the most valuable thing in the house.
Then he opened one door which let him into a little chamber with a small bed and many childish drawings on the walls which mostly showed a kid and two persons one with a huge beard and the other with a bun:*those must have been her adoptive parents* Neuron thought while plucking out the pins which were holding them in place, then he carefully rolled all the drawings and put them in an extra pocked of his backpack.
Then Neuron opened all the drawers and took everything within them, not caring what it was since he wanted Merinda to decide what to keep.
After the room was empty Neuron opened the last door which let into another sleeping room and from there he only took what was hanging on the walls and then he proceeded back to the stairs from where he came from, then as soon as he opened the door again which closed behind him the floor he was standing on suddenly yielded and Neuron fell down to the tailor shop with the whole staircase. After he landed Neuron couldn’t see anything for a while due to the dust that rose while only one thought crossed his mind:*It was a trap! Damn I should have known it…* Neuron thought while panicking a little but then he soon calmed down since he realized that he could always jump up and through the hole in the ceiling but he wanted to keep that as a last resort since it would kind of show his skills and due to that he wouldn`t be able to use the jump skill while fighting inside the tournament anymore since two people having such an uncommon skill was highly unlikely and he already planned to fight in that tournament.
There was also the option to smash through a wall like he tried to do with the vault inside Kilakios but since he promised himself not to do so anymore that was out of question too.
~Sigh~ *So I just have to wait and see how it goes…* Neuron thought after the dust cleared and he noticed some thick iron bars inside all windows and doors that led to the backroom in which he was in.
Then Neuron heard a proud voice: „look who we have caught!” while a shimmer of light reached the room in which he was trapped
“Yeah, Just think about the bounty on his head!” another one answered with a husky voice, then a female voice said: ”Y, y, you sure that he can`t break out?”
“Hey, you made the trap and we even took the effort to dig a hole where he lands so that he can`t jump up an grab the edges of the hole!”
*too bad that your effort was in vane*
“But, but he will be sentenced to death and, and…” she stammered
“Don`t tell me you feel bad for such a criminal Arnad?!” the one with the husky voice asked
“Yeah, we are the defenders of justice!”
“Defenders of justice, it never gets old!” they could hear the captive saying while laughing
And then all three of them, one carrying a torch so that they could see, appeared before the door which was now closed with iron bars to look at the person they caught which in turn was looking at them while sitting cross legged on the pile of rubble which once was the stair.
“Ah, hey there, I couldn`t overhear you talking about my bounty so would you be so kind to tell me how high it is?” Neuron said in a calm voice which in turn startled all three of them since they didn`t expect such a question. Heck they expected a person that was pleading to be let go while promising them some wealth not someone who was calmly sitting in the middle of the room.
“Y, y, your bounty is 20.000 gold coins” a girl the height of 1,60 with shoulder long black hair that was bound into a ponytail who was apparently named Arnad answered
“How stingy is that king!” Neuron shouted which made all three of them jerk: ”I broke into his `burglarproof` castle and into his room twice and he only rose my bounty by 15.000!”
After that outburst all three looked at each other with a stunned expression and then the one holding the torch asked the one with the husky voice: ”Hey, you sure that he is the real smiling Chinese?”
"Why do you ask hat?" Neuron asked
"Well you are hiding your face behind a scarf" he answered
"Hey do you really think I would show my real face even if I don`t hide it and by the way, i feel more comfortable like that" Neuron answered while thinking: *Yes, first step already completed*
" But hey that should be proof enough” Neuron continued while activating his Hawkeyes which produced a different effect than normally.
“Yes it’s him!” the one with the husky voice shouted while giving a high five to the one that was carrying the torch.
“Wow, you’re the first that aren´t afraid of them” Neuron exclaimed
“We afraid of you!? You are trapped behind iron bars!” the one with the husky voice shouted and then Neuron let his Hawkeyes flare up while dashing towards the door which was now shut close with iron bars making them step back in fear only to ram into it producing a metal sound
“Yeah, I see where you are coming from” Neuron said sarcastically: „Oh, you haven`t taken a step back, admirable” Neuron said while looking towards Arnad: ”hey wait, hey!” he then added since she was dropping on her knees and then falling down face forward. Luckily for her Neuron reached out his hands through the iron bars to catch her before her face would meet the floor.
“Ähm, sorry for that, I guess I went overboard” Neuron then apologized after he gently placed her on the ground then he halted, looked carefully and continued with disgust: ”Not afraid of me huh, go change your pants”
Bright red the guy who said that he wasn`t afraid stood up and walked away While shouting: „your gonna pay!”
”Hey just take some shorts from my shop, it’s on the house!” Neuron shouted after him ignoring what he said
“Great troop you got here, at least they can make traps, by the way who made the pitfall?”
“Her, wow I guess looks can be deceiving” Neuron said astonished after the guy holding the torch pointed towards Arnad who was still unconscious.
“Well anyway sorry that I can`t let you strike it rich, you see I still have somethings to do and I don´t want to be made a head shorter” Neuron stated happily while waving his goodbyes
“You really believe that you can escape!?”
“Just look” Neuron said and then he sprinted, jumped off, landed on the wall, jumped off again and then he grabbed the edge of the whole and pulled himself out while the one holding the torch just looked at him with a dropped mouth
*ouuuch, this edge hurts* Neuron thought after grabbing it: *Well at least my jumping skill isn`t revealed*
“Alright, now let me get this bastard for scari…. WHERE IS HE!” the one with the husky voice shouted after he saw that the room was empty
“Ah, hey there, sorry that you couldn`t take your revenge” Neuron said while sticking his head through the hole since he couldn`t let that opportunity to taunt them once more go to waste.
“You, what, how…?” he could only stammer.
“Hey, what did you intend to do with that iron rod?” Neuron asked after he noticed that the one who peed his pants carried something: ”don’t tell me you intended to hit me with that!” Neuron shouted in a shocked voice.
“This isn`t over!” he shouted back
“No it is, so see ya, I guess this is the last time we see each other so by, by” Neuron said while waving both his hands
“Wait, what do you mean with that!?” the one holding the torch who finally got over the shock shouted
*gotcha*
“You think I will stay here after they updated the wanted poster? Do you take me for an idiot, of course I am going far away where nobody knows me, so farewell” Neuron said while retracting his head, then he put it through the hole and added: ”Ah, could you tell Arnad that I am sorry for frightening her?”
“Just shut up and leave already, asshole” the one with the torch shouted
“Okay, okay, calm down” Neuron said while retracting his head again, then some wood splintering could be heard followed by silence which was interrupted by
“Wh, what happened, where is he!” Arnad shouted after waking up
“Gone” was the only answer she received
*Alright, so one last night to indulge myself in stealing, I gotta go all out!* Neuron promised himself while heading towards the noble district: *Wait I don´t remember where I already broke in… oh well*
End Chapter 46
Alright here is the new chaper, sorry that it took so long, but exams are around the corner, anyway i hope you enjoyed it 8-)