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CYRUS
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“Ugh, fine.” Envy walked out and snapped high above her head for Cy to follow, like a dog.
Their third stop was the Apothecary, which bore a sign that boasted Wrath had frequently shopped there. Cy couldn’t believe it, but Sal, their Apothecary friend from a life long past, had already received his first Tome. Looks like it came at a cost, though. The life’s been sapped out of his eyes and left behind bags.
Cy engaged in conversation for a little while, but had to cut it short for his own sanity. I probably need to stop staring. I think I’m creeping him out. Crazy how people can take separate paths in life and don't even recognize each other in such a short time. Cy and Envy restocked their Fire Resistance Potions and Ryoku Recovery Potions, and ingredients for each.
Their last shopping stop was The Halberd. Cy learned from seeing Sal that he’d better be in-and-out of this shop quickly. He was sad to see them both again, Smitty and Hal, and lie to them about being someone else, but he was happy to see that they didn’t have any sign about knowing Wrath, or Wrath having shopped there, or anything involving Jules, really. Hal's always been a decent guy. And even though Smitty's a tough bastard, in his own way, he's still a class act.
“Welcome,” Smitty said. “We make the best armor and weapons here, mate. What can we do for ye?”
“Can you upgrade this sword?” Cy handed him his curved blade. The Blacksmith inspected it.
“Pig covered in lipstick’s still a pig. You’d be better off buying a completely different weapon, laddie.’
“What about this bow?” Envy asked. The Blacksmith muttered to himself but reluctantly took it from her to inspect. He turned it over and about, really taking his time.
“Oh, well, didn’t get these in the same place, did ye?" Smitty gave Envy a look. Once again you hand a Blacksmith a stolen bow… "Can upgrade it slightly, if that’s what you want.”
“I hate Archery, so I don’t want it. But I’m the team’s archer, so sure. Whatever.”
“Hm. Interesting weapon, this. Can tell you’ve used it a lot from the wear on the string groove. But there’s not a similar amount of wear on the arrow rest shelf.”
> « Summon » « Arrow »
Envy raised her hand and summoned an ethereal arrow from the void. What the hell are you doing? She let it dissolve away. The old man cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. He took the bow to the back and returned with a large mallet. He tossed the bow haphazardly on a large, open workbench, then he raised the Enchanted tool.
> «« Flesh of Me Bones, Fruits of Me Labor »»
His entire body lit up with tattoos, and his eyes glowed brown like the weapon’s wood. He smashed down once on the bow, and his work was complete.
“Here ye go, lassie.” He handed her the bow, along with a folded note, then scowled. “You shouldn’t use this bow for long. You have a natural talent. Learn the Script on that note, and you’ll be able to summon whatever weapons you want.”
Envy bowed and took the items. “Thank you, Sir. Um, how much does he owe you?”
Me!?
“Well, it was going to be on the house, on account'a that Script ye got. But if he’s paying…”
“I am not paying for her!”
Envy furrowed her brow. Smitty looked back and forth between them and laughed heartily. “Ah, young marital problems, izzit?” The hell it is!
…But let’s see where this goes.
“Listen. I fought in the 15th War of the Wastes—”
“I never knew that.” Shit, I slipped up.
“And why the hell would you? Anyway, I fought alongside a man who summoned all his weapons. We was thick as thieves. One day he left me with this Script, said to pass it down to someone who reminded me of him. Then he moved on, never saw him again.”
“Wow. That’s depressing,” Envy said. Cy nudged her shoulder. Show some compassion. And gratitude. “K, well, thanks, old man. I’ll do my best to learn it.” She walked out of the store and snapped after Cy.
“Lad. You got your work cut out for you,” Smitty said through a toothy grin. You haven't changed at all.
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“Just gimme a new sword, man…” Cy found Envy on the street, studying the Script. Wonder which one it is?
“Is it a Scroll? Or is it a Tome?” Cy asked.
Envy rolled her eyes and handed it to him. “It’s just a stylized Rune of Summon. No wonder it was free.”
Cy looked back at the store, puzzled. “Ju—I mean, our mutual friend and I have known Smitty for a long time. I think you’d better keep it. That man, he doesn’t believe in fluff. And he certainly doesn’t believe in free goods.”
“How did you manage to pay for all of this, anyway?" Envy asked. "I thought we spent everything we had in Siren’s Cove.”
“You mean you spent it all in Siren's—Oh no!” Cy shouted. His face dropped in horror. Envy stood to her feet, ready for action.
“What? What!?”
I've betrayed my kind—my people, my fellow entrepreneurs.
“We forgot to pay our tab at the inn!”
> [Bounty Increased by ₹5,900.]
“Moron, Julisha already said that.” She sat back down on the bench. Cy smiled again, already over their dine and dash escapades.
“You all surprised me last time, so I thought I’d do the same.” He looked around cautiously to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then leaned in. Feels kinda odd to be this close to her. “I looted the Siren’s body before anyone noticed, during the chaos and after I froze that chump. I left the Vessel behind because we didn’t have a plan yet, but—We're rich again!”
“Yes!” Envy jumped up with his arms outreached to the heavens. They reveled in the glory together, dancing hand-in-hand around an imaginary circle.
“But, after paying the Forger, we’ll be broke again by tomorrow.”
“Idiot…” Envy was defeated once more. “Where to next?” Cy gazed over to the edge of town.
“Now for our mission.” Cy felt like gaining some street credit, so he wound Envy through the seedier parts of town before they ended at the seediest of all, the orphanage.
“That was a long route to get here,” Envy said. “I think I know your town better than you do.” Oh yeah, she’s already been here today…
“Hey, Mister!” A young boy around eight ran up to them. “Do you want to play with us, Mister?”
Alan. It’s been a long time. You’ve grown up so much, still snot-nosed, though. Some things never change. Cyrus rubbed Alan’s spiky hair. “Hey, kid. What’s your name?”
“Alan, Sir.”
“Heh, Alan. That’s a good name.” Cy felt Envy study his face, to see a softer side of him for once. He wondered what she’d think of that.
“Mister, are you here to adopt one of us?” Two more orphans walked over. Reece and Keegan. Cy dropped down to one knee to get eye level with them.
“I’m afraid not, kiddos. I’m looking for that Mean Ole Patty. Have you seen her?” The kids lightened up at the insult and flashed smiles with missing and half-grown teeth. He'd gained their trust with one simple phrase.
“No, she’s gone,” Alan said.
“Shocking.”
“I told you, Reece,” Keegan said. “No one wants us. This place is cursed.”
“What do you mean, cursed?” Cy asked.
“Haven’t you heard, Mister?” Keegan asked. “Our big brother Cyrus helped out Wrath. Now no one wants any of us.”
Brainwashed by that old bitch. “Who’s this Cyrus kid you mentioned? Is he your all’s age?”
“You’re a tourist and you don’t know who Cyrus is?” Keegan asked. Cy felt stupid. But also slightly notorious. “He was our big brother. At the orphanage, anyway. We loved him. He was the oldest and our hero. He would always play—"
“He betrayed us. All of us,” Reece said. Ow. Kids are brutally honest.
“Nuh-uh, that’s not true,” young Alan shouted. “The Hydromages and Navs said so.”
“But Patty and the Iron Maidens said that was a lie, that he wanted to eat us all alive with Wrath.” Reece, Reece. Cy sighed.
“Sorry, Sir,” Keegan said. I recognize that fear. “We didn’t mean to upset you. Please don’t tell Patricia—”
“I won’t tell that old bat shit!" Cy snapped. The boys stood aghast. "That woman lies through her teeth, and I mean that literally, they ooze out of her mouth between her missing molars, like worms from a corpse. Don’t believe a single word she says.” Alan and Keegan giggled.
“Hey Mister, do you know Patty or something?” Reece asked.
“As a matter of fact, I do. Wish I didn’t, but unfortunately—”
“Me, too.”
“Hush Alan,” Reece said. “Be careful of what you say.”
Good to see that Reece has taken up my mantle. “Listen, I’m here to show Patty a thing or two. Whatever you say is safe with me.” Reece remained unsure, Keegan uneasy.
“Patty took it out on all of us when Cy left,” Alan said.
“You mean when he abandoned us,” Reece said.
“It was a rough few months…” Ah, Keegan.
“He really dicked us over.” Whoah dude!
“I wouldn’t blame someone else for what Patty does, but that’s just me. Anyway, speak of the devil. There she is.” They all looked in one direction. Five heart rates increased. “Kat, why don’t you stay back and play with the children some more?”
“Uh, what? Are you sure?” Cy laughed. She has never played with kids in her life, has she?
“I am. And whatever happens, don’t let anyone in. Including you.”
“Ok… Just don’t cause any scenes.” The boys grabbed her sleeves and pants with innocent smiles. Envy reluctantly smiled back, and they whisked her away to the overrun courtyard, around the water flywheel.
Cy stared at the flywheel for a split second. Hard to start, but once it's going… Hard to stop. He hurried over to intercept a disgruntled Patricia. Holy shit, she just actually growled at me.
“Um, excuse me, Miss?” Saying that term about her made his skin crawl.
“What the hell do you want?” Cy looked back to Envy and the kids. Envy gave him a thumbs up. Patty eyed Cy up and down.
“I was wondering—”
“You want a tour, too?” Cy blinked.
…A tour? Anger flashed across his face that he couldn’t hide. Patty must have sensed it, because she recoiled slightly.
“I don’t give tours to creeps and shoobies like you. Either buy a brat, or scram.”
“I’ll pay you quadruple the amount.” A greedy grin spread across her face. Money always talks with you. Despicable, but hey, there are those missing teeth.
She actually demanded the Ryoku from him upfront, so Cy had to pay her an insane sum. Once they were inside, she walked him to the orphans’ room. Patty gestured around lazily. “Bed. Nightstand. Pillow. Window. This is where the boy slept. If you want the room all to yourself, you can have it for 15 minutes.”
What in the actual fuck?
“No? Then it’s time to—”
> « Silence » « Shroud » « Reveal » [₹6,200 // ₹10,000]
He released the Scripts that altered his face and voice, and then insulated the room from anyone else hearing what came out of it. A few of the Inked Arts on his stomach singed off. Compliments to The Painter.
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