Barbara opens her eyes, drool dripping down her mouth, a tingling sensation running down her back, she finds herself back at the house Pepito had led her to, examining her surroundings, finding herself lying face down on a mat in the middle of the living room, her attention drawn towards a pair of big brown eyes under long, straight hair, looking back at her through a crack on the door on the other side of the room.

"You're awake." Says Alex, standing above her.

Regaining her last memories before she went out, she sits up, feeling a stinging sensation on her back, she explores with her hand, finding bandages across her torso.

"You bandaged me up?"

Alex lowers to one knee, offering a warm cup of tea. "A lady in the crowd gave us a hand, we gave her some copper for her help."

Barbara takes the tea, cautiously taking a sip of the liquid.

"Sorry for not backing you up." Alex lowers his gaze.

"Where’s Ruth?"

"You should have seen her!" Pepito appears from the kitchen. “She punched that guy right in the face, sent him flying. Then his police friends tried chasing after Ruth.” He lets out a haughty laugh. “They’ll never catch her.”

“That guy was Soren Sinven, Don Sinven’s son.” States Alex, a subdued tone.

“Sinven? I keep hearing that name come up.” Barbara holds her cup close to her mouth, recalling the details she’s heard of this man.

“He owns half the city, and his influence is only growing as he gains political power.” States Alex.

“He’s the guy fearmongering magic.” Pepito clenches his fist in the air.

“They said there was a fire golem at the cattle rancher’s guild the other night. That isn’t true.”

“Part of Don Sinven’s campaign against magic. No one has had contact with a fire spirit since the first boats arrived on this continent’s shores. Now their legend is used to inspire fear into those that understand nothing about the spirits.” Alex stands back up. “That doesn’t matter right now, it’s gonna get hot around here. We might have to consider leaving this place.”

“I’m sorry you guys have to leave your home because of me.” Barbara sinks back into her tea.

“This isn’t our home, we’re just borrowing it.” Proclaims Pepito.

“Borrowing?” Barbara raises an eyebrow.

“It’s complicated.” Alex smiles, rubbing his nape.

Barbara is about to ask about the pair of big brown eyes she saw peering from the room on the other end of the room when a thud is heard on the roof, followed by Ruth jumping in through the living room window.

“Ruth!” Pepito runs up to hug her. “How’d it go?”

Ruth smirks. “Lost them around Chamizo park.” Her smile fades as she turns to Barbara.

Barbara swallows her pride. “Thanks.”

“I’m not one to turn their back on someone in need, no matter who it is.” Keeping her condescending tone.

“I never would have expected that shit-head to whip harder than Master.” Confesses Barbara.

“Your master beat you with a whip?” Asks Pepito.

“He had a funny way of teaching sword mastery.” Barbara winces as she burns her tongue.

Pepito fiddles with a bowl on the table, making it spin with one finger. “I love this city but it can be rough sometimes." He lets out a deep sigh. “What made you come over here, anyways?”

Barbara tells them about her journey through the desert, retelling the events of the past couple of days from her perspective.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“The world’s greatest swordmaster?” Scoffs Ruth.

“You’re the third person to look down on me for that.”

“It’s a stupid goal.” Ruth looks out the window, not wanting to participate in this little chat anymore.

“I want to join the resistance army too.” States Pepito.

Alex pats him on the head, smiling. “I’m sure the battlefield is full of fighter’s just as ferocious as Barbara and Ruth, I don’t know how long you’d last.”

“What about you?” Asks Barbara.

“Since my identity is already linked to magic, I guess I’m part of the resistance too. I never really thought about actually joining. though.”

“I bet your magic could win a bunch of battles.” Interjects Pepito

Alex chuckles. “I’m sure they’re doing just fine without me.”

“What about you, Ruth?” Asks Barbara. Alex smiles at her attempt to break the ice.

Still looking out the window, Ruth takes her time to respond. “I’m gonna go look for somewhere else to stay, in case we have to leave here.” Responds Ruth.

Alex frowns.

“Can I come?” Asks Pepito.

“Why don't we let our new friend accompany Ruth, instead?” Alex looks at Ruth, not so much to see if she agrees, moreso to persuade her.

“She just got beaten unconscious, she can’t just get up and run through the city like it’s nothing.”

“Why don’t we let her decide that for herself.”

Barbara takes an elongated sip of her tea. “I had a tough time keeping up with Ruth at full health. I would probably just slow her down.”

“Barbara won’t be with us for a long time. All of us getting along would let that time fly right by.”

“If that’s the case, what’s the point of getting along?” Retorts Ruth.

Alex releases a sigh in defeat. “Pepito, why don’t you show Barbara around the block? Get her acquainted with the area.”

Pepito jumps out of his seat, pushing Ruth out of the way, he climbs on the window and invites Barbara to follow.

Barbara can feel the immense amount of tension between her and Ruth as she walks by, her heart racing, pumping adrenaline all over her system, almost expecting her to throw a punch. Barbara jumps out of the window, bouncing off the neighbor’s building to jump up on the roof with Pepito.

“You two are intense. I hope you guys don’t end up burning down the whole town the next time you fight.” He jokes.

Barbara and Pepito, after making sure there are no police in the area, climb down to get a view of the neighborhood from the ground level. Pepito shows her where the local stores are located, and where she could find just about anything. Having left her sword back at the house, a sense of vulnerability looms over Barbara. Pepito on the other hand doesn’t seem to find it necessary to be carrying around any steel, at least from what she can see, and finds reassurance in the thought that she can trust the kid to look out for them. Just like on the trip to the house, Pepito talks her ear out.

“I don’t really have anything against Ruth.” Admits Barbara, sun setting as they make their way back to the house. “Master taught me that the most important part of combat is to detach yourself from your opponent, and most importantly, yourself.”

“How are you supposed to do that?”

“Hard to explain.” She replies, looking off into the distance.

“Ruth is a knucklehead, but she’s not a bad person, once you get to know her.” A wide, crooked-tooth grin appears on his face. “After your fight, she’s been practicing swinging sticks around.” He laughs.

“Really? She’s insanely skilled, I wouldn’t mind sparring with her. I have to practice too, Master would say that an idle sword rusts faster.”

“Sounds like your master said a lot of things that stuck with you.”

Before Barbara can respond, four boys appear out of a dark alleyway, stopping them in their tracks. The Alley Coyotes, the same four boys that tried to strong-arm Pepito the other day.

“Looks like your bodyguard isn’t around to take care of you.” Spits out the leader.

Pepito raises his fists, ready for a fight. Barbara nudges him forward, walking past the four boys.

“It would be a shame if the police found out where you guys are hiding.” Taunts the leader as the two walk away.

Pepito turns around, fists clenched. “You a snitch?”

The shorter kid of the group picks up a rock and throws it at them, poorly. Barbara catches the rock over Pepito’s left shoulder. She turns around and shoots it back at the gang’s leader, hitting him hard right where his abdomen meets his ribcage. He drops to the ground, gasping for air.

“Get them!” The heavy boy charges, the tall boy and short muscle boy follow.

In a fraction of a second, Barbara convinced herself to not make a run for it, instead teach these goons a lesson. Her sword absent from her waist, she bobs and weaves out of the punches thrown at her. The heftier boy wraps his arms around her from behind in an attempt to incapacitate her movement. Barbara leans forward, gaining momentum, she slams her head back. He lets go, nose bleeding.

“Let go!” Pepito, in a similar situation, is overpowered by the lanky kid who holds on to him as the short beefy kid punches him in the stomach.

Barbara runs towards them, jumping into the air, driving both feet on the leader’s chest, launching him away. The tall boy lets go of Pepito, attempting to get away, Barbara catches up and trips him. Pepito manages to land a kick to the boy's left side before he gets back on his feet and runs away.

Drawing too much attention to themselves, a crowd begins to form. Barbara and Pepito make a run for it back home, taking to the roofs of south Pillotlan to escape.