He had finally exited the church of Freyes. A somewhat familiar practice yard greeted Fritz.
"That wasn't what I meant!" Marcelle. "Do you hear me! She tricked me! Minion! Answer me!"
"I am royalty! I would never! She tricked me as well!" The elf screeched.
"Stop being a bunch of babies! And don't pretend you aren't curious either!" Brenn yelled at the other two. "Hey! Get back here!" Brenn yelled as she jogged after Fritz.
Fritz's head swiveled as he looked around, searching for a bush or an outhouse, or even a shady alleyway. Anywhere with a bit of privacy would do. Seeing nothing, Fritz started walking around aimlessly and awkwardly. His body was like a ticking time bomb. Everyone surrounding him was useless. He needed to help himself.
A crowd of children spotted him. Twenty pairs of curious eyes locked onto him. Whatever play they were engaged with stopped, as whispers and pointed fingers followed Fritz's journey. One moved first, and like the beginnings of an avalanche, Fritz was soon swarmed.
"It's the champion! It's the champion!"
"I heard he killed a vampire!"
"Why's he so ugly?"
"Where's his tail? Did he lose it? Did it get cut off?"
"No idiot!"
"Don't call me an idiot!
"You're an idiot! He's a human! I heard they live to the east!"
"Champion! Show us your finishing moves! Show us your ultimate attack!"
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"Grandma Rey says you got special magic!"
"Can we see it! Show it to us!"
"Show it to us!" The crowd started chanting. They kids pressed in close, surrounding him. Their entire attention was dedicated to him, as he stood awkwardly trying to find a place to piss. They were dressed in plain clothes that looked like a mixture of worn linen hand-me-downs. Every manner of beastkin was displayed within the crowd. Each looked slightly different, like they were in no way related. Fritz immediately pegged them as orphans. Some held sticks, two kids held raggedy dolls, one child idly tossed up an oft-repaired leather ball.
"I can help you, Fritz! For a price! You just need to let me hold it!" Brenn crossed her arms smugly as she waited for her inevitable victory.
"Brenn why are they calling me champion?" Fritz yelled over the pressing crowd of children.
"Because! The jig is up! It's all out in the open! No more hiding champion!" Brenn said with a cackle. "I can keep them back! Show you the path to salvation for a price!" A surge of anger filled Fritz, as he decided to make his formal appearance in style.
"You wanna see some magic? Wanna see what her champion can do?" Fritz straightened up his back, as he looked over his audience.
"Yes! Yes! Let's see it!" The children screeched in unison.
"All right! All right!" Fritz tried to settle down his captured audience. "I'll do it under one condition." He held up a singular finger. "Does that sound fair?" The captured audience nodded in agreement. "Well then in exchange for enough toys to bury you alive, all I ask is you show me the nearest outhouse."
"That's cheating!" Brenn shouted. "No bribing them!"
Fritz shot a wicked grin to Brenn. The ratkin scowled at him. One of the more quiet kids pointed back past the church in the opposite direction. Fritz locked onto the direction like a hunting dog.
An avalanche of skateboards, balls, wooden swords, dolls, action figures, puppets, fake crowns, marbles fell from Fritz's hands as Fritz sprinted around the building. He found it desolate and alone, like a sanctuary promising solace and rest to him. He ripped open the wooden door, and scrambled inside.
The burning pain melted away as Fritz finally let loose. Nothing could stop Fritz, as he finally relaxed.
"Let me hold it!" Brenn shouted as she banged on the outhouse's door.
"Fritz! Minion! I did not mean it that way!"
"Champion! I am elven royalty! They tricked me! I would never do something so uncouth!"
Fritz exhaled deeply in relaxation completely ignoring the screaming from outside the outhouse.