Dark Side
"Haaaaaa...". - I sighed, feeling relieved after a long road back to the town
We were lucky. After escorting the old man Carlos to the Capital city's entrance, we headed back to the town. We didn't take even a ride on the way we returned. And we managed to return to the town right at noon, quite early if I have to admit.
The Adventurer's Guild is before our eyes. We stand before the building, feeling both hungry and exhausted. When Elena finishes this quest, I guess we will go to eat somewhere. Our rations have already run out last night.
"Alan...". - For some reason, Elena called me when I led the way to enter the guild
"What did he mean...? I keep wondering over and over". - Please stop discussing this, I will stay muted this way until I'm ready to speak to you
Hmmmm... I can still sense that old man's grin around here somewhere...
I say nothing. Both of us enter the guild, and I find the settlement so silent strangely during noon, don't know why. I see no one inside the building at all. I look around, only walk and then stop before the quest paper board, pointing at a random paper.
"Eh? What do you mean?". - Elena asked me, I made an action as if I was tearing out a paper carefully
"Oh... so you want me to prepare one first instead of going back here to pick one after finishing my task?".
I nod.
"Well...". - She put her hand on the surface of a quest paper. "I'll give it a try...". - Elena stood still for about 37 seconds, she later smiled. "Well, only two left...". "Maybe... this one...". - She finally tore out a quest paper
"I wonder where are those guiders, brother...". - Elena said to me, she slowly sighed. "Haizz...". - She stood in a corner with her back against the wall, she sighed again
I stand beside her. I later check on the stall area, and I see a woman standing there. Earlier, I saw no one standing in that area. She might have come out here just recently.
Some other women from the staff-only door can be seen walking to the stall area too.
"Oh... what?". - I tapped Elena's back, she got confused. "They're here...". - After she realized that, she immediately rushed to a guide girl
"Welcome, adventurer". "What can I help you with?". - That guide girl greeted Elena, she later noticed the quest paper and Elena's adventurer card on the stall's surface
"Yes, I come here to report to you that this quest's been completed, so...". - Elena stopped talking as that girl picked up her quest paper and her card
Well, I can't help Elena. The guide girl is now examining the quest paper's contents. This process may take us a while to finish. I look around the guild because I don't want to be too idle, I have to stand still, cannot go around just causing trouble to others.
"May I ask you something?". "I came here a few minutes ago and saw no one, why?". - While waiting for the guide girl, Elena asked her
"Ms. Elena, our work has a daily break schedule in every day's noontime". "We'll have a short break for 30 minutes, I'm sorry if you had to wait for us without knowing it". - That girl replied, her eyes kept locking on the paper
"Every adventurer knows about our schedule, so they wait for us". - All of a sudden, a guide girl beside that lady leaned out and explained. "Next week, we'll set up a board over here". "So that the newcomers won't be confused, our guild master is doing his best to update the newest things to both the guild and the adventurers".
"Alright, understood...". - Elena nodded
"Can you show me the proof, Ms. Elena?".
"What do you mean?". - Elena was confused when the guide girl who checked on the quest paper demanded it
"We always need proof that shows us that the quest has been completed". "The quest giver was escorted to the church safely, then he must give you something to show us as proof, where is it?".
"Ahhh... I'm sorry, I don't know about this...". - Elena went silent, her face was full of nervousness
She freezes. Elena looks down, as if she thinks that the escort mission is pointless. Standing beside my dropped-from-the-sky little sister, I pull out the white thing in her pouch. Carlos gave her this round thing, I just wonder if it is really...
"Congratulations, Ms. Elena, quest completed". - That guide girl immediately smiled at Elena as I gave her that thing
"Eh...?". - She was bewildered, she didn't know why
"Your customer gave you this after the escort, right?". - That girl showed us the thing. "This is called an Adventurer's Guild seal, given to every quest giver in the missions that need their direct proof". "Escort mission is the type that needs this seal to complete". - She later pulled out the drawer. "Here's 40 Gads as your quest's reward".
"Ahhhhhh... thank you...". - Elena received the money bag, her dying voice tone returned to live
"Is there a-".
All of a sudden, a guide girl comes out and cuts off the conversation. The girl carried on her right hand bunches of fur papers for some reason. She approaches the quest paper board. She starts putting the papers on the board... hmmm... I see.
"Excuse me, but what is she doing, Ms. Guider?". - Elena pointed to her, asking the guide girl standing before her
"Posting the new quests, Ms. Elena... didn't you see that the board over there was quite... empty earlier?". - She replied
"Wait, that means!". - Elena pulled out the new quest paper in a hurry. "Please let me change my task, please".
"I'm sorry, but you can't change your quest when you choose it". "The quest can only be canceled if you don't finish it on time, or you leave it there for at least a month".
"Brother, that's your fault!". - Elena grumbled. "15 Gads...". - She sighed, knowing she had no choice left to make
After a short moment of frustration, Elena finally hands her quest paper to the guide girl...
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We left the Adventurer's Guild after that not so long. Elena was in a hurry, she wanted to go to work at her tavern fast. But she then realized that the tavern was closed due to the murder case. Both of us returned to the inn after having a light meal outdoors.
Both of us are staying now inside our room. I am sitting on the bed, watching Elena. She is now wearing a light blue simple costume with short sleeves. That is Elena's waitress uniform, she intends to go to work... yeah, sort of.
I think that she wants to go out to check if the tavern is now working. In case she goes out and sees her tavern has been opened again, she would instantly enter to work there.
Elena doesn't give herself enough time to rest. I know that she is a striving woman. She always works hard, she really hates to be dependent on others. I wonder if she will be home late tonight.
"Hey, Alan... I mean, brother". - Elena called me, she blushed a bit for no reason. "How do I look...? Please tell me...".
I nod, I give her a thumb up.
"Uhhh...". - She smiled, she got bewildered or something. "Maybe I'll be home late today, I'm sorry...". - She apologized, she later apportioned the window
I see that Elena is watching something out of the window.
"Can't see it this way, I must go out to check". - She later rushed to put on her small and old leather handbag. "Please don't use the money in the closet yet, Alan". "We need it to save it in case something happens... and...". - She headed to the door
"Please go check on your workplace, Alan...". "Bye". - Done saying, she walked away from the room
After Elena left the room, I slowly lie on the bed, thinking about the murder. I wonder if the resistance would involve in this case to erase evidence. Maybe they would. If I get arrested, I would become a thorn in their eyes because I could get them all killed.
I slowly get up. I approach the window, then I look outside. The sidewalk that occurred the gruesome murder can be seen from here. It's still deserted like the previous day. That street area itself is giving the people around it an unnerving feeling.
I had disposed of the bloody murder knife in that deep forest during my guard time last night. I decide to keep my black hoodie, I can still reuse it more if I keep it carefully.
Hmmmmm... I can hear some chatter on the outside of the room. A woman's voice, must be from Elena's, I think. She is having a conversation with someone. I wonder who that could be... I must check...
"I really don't know that you had a twin younger brother, Mr. Joe". - I just newly put my ears to the door for the eavesdropping, but I heard something immediately
"I'm sorry for your loss, your mother must be very sad...".
"It just shit happened, no one wants it". - All of a sudden, a man's voice came out... I know that was Joe's voice - one of many leaders of this town's resistance
"I won't take your time long". "If you go to give statements again, lead me with you, I live near here so maybe I can help them find out who killed my brother".
"I'll see if they approve". "How's abou-".
"The inn will always be here, I won't let anyone live in the street in misery, don't w-".
I open the door and step outside before the guy Joe finishes speaking. He freezes slightly for a few seconds. Then his eyes change as if he is seeing me as a stranger who he doesn't know. He points his thumb behind to point to me.
"So this is the long-time-no-see brother that you mentioned earlier, huh?". - His voice was very calm, this guy was very good at wearing a mask. "I heard from my mom that you're living with a new member". "Him?".
"Yes". - Elena nodded
"I'll spend my time speaking to your brother a bit". "Tonight, ma and I won't be here, so remember to be careful".
"You're going somewhere, mister?".
"The funeral...".
"Oh... I understand...". - Elena slowly bowed to say goodbye
When Elena has gone away from our sight, Joe returns to look at me. His eyes show me that he is very pissed, I wonder if he has some... personal issues with me.
"You know to choose a very fit moment to show your worthless face without getting beaten, kid". - He approached me, he pulled up his sleeves and showed me his huge muscular arms. "Stand there, I'm not done with you yet". - He grunted, I showed him my cold face while falling back slowly to keep the "respect distance in a communication"
"There's no way you can be her brother". "She picked you from some street, huh...?". - He approached me closer, but this time, I did not fall back anymore
I stand still. I keep my cold face while facing the man.
"Fine...". "I have no problems with you, you've done what I told you to do well, kid...". - Suddenly, he punched my chest slightly. "But watch your actions next time, you nearly got us killed by bringing those punks here...". "I told you to kill my brother, but at least you must understand how to kill someone without anybody detected...". - Right right, then do that yourself, boss
"It's already happened... they will always be out there even if you scold me or not...". - After going silent for a while, I finally spoke up
Joe stops speaking. He still keeps his intimidating pose, but he doesn't do anything hostile to me, he just... looks.
"Watch the way you're dressing up, kid... wear clothes like a normal man". - Maybe he said that because I always dress up like a hobo
"I don't want to waste time, I'll say it straight". "I'm having some work for you, kid".
I nod.
"I'll be with my ma to join my younger brother's funeral, so won't be here for a few days". "Lilia - my subordinates and my Big Boss will run the tavern, they'll have work for you". "You know Lilia, right?".
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
I nod.
"The resistance's activities are reducing because of you". "Act wiser and follow their instructions... all the time".
"Right now, we've recently imported wines". "On the backside of the tavern, there are carriages that carry wines". " "Tools" are stuffed in the crates with wines, need to be carried down the basement before the Sonia goes down in the west".
"Go help my men". "Tell them: Joe sent me here, new guy".
I nod. I slowly pass the guy Joe, I slowly go downstairs.
"Don't ever think that you're safe for now, kid". - Suddenly, he threatened me, so I had to stop walking to listen to him. "The assassin is still there...". "We resistance welcome you... we don't care who you are, just remember to work for the freedom and happiness of the people and the future".
"Work wise and you'll be paid, don't disappoint me o-".
"Oh? You're walking down, brother?". - Suddenly, Elena rushed up the staircase and spotted me
I slowly walk downstairs, Elena has to step aside to let me go through.
"How'd it go, young lady?". - Joe came up from behind Elena and asked her
"Ah, mister". "Not too well, the tavern is still closed... maybe I have to wait for a week".
"I'll head to my quest right away, I'll spend my time with my adventurer job".
"Would you follow me, Alan?". - Elena turned around and asked me
I shake my head.
"He's going to work". - Joe replied
I later ignore both of them and then leave the inn to head to that tavern. Come to the street, I watch around and still see some local guards. They are still roaming around this town. I guess I have to wait for weeks to see these men loosen their security.
I look in the direction of the murder scene. That street area is still deserted although all the traces of the murder are not visible there anymore. This way leads me way faster to the tavern of the Resistance, but I won't go. Most people don't dare to go there due to fear. Me too.
Hmmmm... wait a minute.
Joe told me to be careful with the way I dress up...
I understand that my costumes are having some silly issues. I will have to change my clothes, huh? Hmmmmm. There's a small clothing shop in this town.
I have 23 Gads in my pants pocket. I wonder what kind of clothes can I buy with that little money...
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A black cloak, a black tunic behind the cloak and dark green pants. That's the clothes that I finally ended up with.
I am now standing in a corner of the street. I'm watching the backside of the bar in silence. I see there are about three to four huge carriages parked over there. I also see men get in the carriages and then carry out big packages.
Hmmmm... I guess I will start my work right away.
I slowly approach a worker when the guy is watching the others working. I approach him so silently that he doesn't know, he falls back slightly. He was shocked. But that guy soon regains his calmness.
"Joe sent me here, new guy...".
The guy nods. He points to a wooden carriage that is nearest to me.
I slowly come in the backside of the carriage. I see many wooden crates, I open the cover and see wines inside. However, I can see a plank under the surface. The wines are just the decoys, I guess, the real things that need to be delivered are the "tools" below these wine bottles.
"Stop touching". - The guy warned me
I put the cover back in the wooden crate. I pick up the heavy crate, I slowly step down from the carriage and enter the tavern's backdoor. Now I wonder where I should really go now. I decide to stand in a corner to watch.
I watch the people. I see the delivery men with crates head to the left side of the room. Then I follow those men, we slowly line up. I look around, turning from the left to the right to watch the scene ahead, and I have seen it now.
There's a basement entrance over there. The delivery men are moving with the crates in there one by one, I'll be next. After turns of men, I finally stand before it. I should describe that down there seems to be so dark and gloomy, very lack of light.
"Stop right there". - All of a sudden, a guy told me to stop
That's the guy who stands at the basement's entrance to do the guarding. He uses hand signals, shooing me away. Having no choice, I step aside and stand near him. The rest of the delivery men slowly come inside the basement to store the wooden crates.
"I'm new here, l-".
"I saw you from the first day, no need to say more". - He instantly cut off my words. "Remember to work well, I count on you". "After putting it in there, immediately come up to pick up the others".
"Alright, now go". - He allowed me to go in after all the delivery men left the basement
I hold the wooden crate carefully while stepping down the stairs. The creaking of the wooden surface of the stairs comes out every time I set my foot down to every stair. Hmmmmm. It's so annoying, my vision is a bit limited because of this big crate.
I see a long hallway ahead, lack of light. I move forward.
The basement's scenery does not look like the old scenery that I used to see below the tavern at all. I wonder if this bar has more than one basement, I can't conclude.
After going through the hallway, I meet up with a wider area. This area has more lights from the torches and the magic stones, I think. Somehow I bumped into something like a person when I was going. I stop, I look over there and see a big guy.
That guy looks very fierce, he smiles slowly. The guy steps aside to let me pass, but I haven't moved forward yet. After looking around, I see another guy that stands in a dark corner. He was right behind me when I got to this area but I didn't notice.
What should I call these guys? Goons? Or drunkards?
They look like guards in this basement...
I take a fast glance at both of them to check. These resistance fighters have a tiny hammer stored in their holsters, enough to kill me. Hmmmmm. I slowly move forward, I ignore them.
I carry the crate and follow the straight path. Somehow I hear footsteps behind me, these guys are following me. When I stop, they stop, when I go, they go. I feel very annoyed, I hate to be followed, I must ignore them.
"Move forward". - I stood still for too long, they reminded me to move forward
I ignore those guys. I slowly move forward, I ignore the lack of light in this hallway. Now I'm wondering how long and how huge can this basement be. I'm going deeper down there, their underground tunnels are beyond my imagination.
I start seeing rats and cockroaches crawling all over the floor. In some areas, I see water drops dripping down from the ceiling above me. Hmmmmmm. I'm going across an area, I don't know what I should say about it.
I see the people sitting on the floor, I guess they're the resistance fighters. This area is very huge, the materials around are not wood anymore, but stone instead. Back to those resistance fighters, I see them sitting on the wet floor. Some of them are exhausted, some are sitting and watching me.
Suddenly, I spot Lilia standing in a corner. The left side of that corner must be the way that leads me to somewhere else, maybe... the finish point?
Lilia suddenly bites her lips and makes her posture to be more seductive. Her eyes look at me, her tongue points out and then draws back slowly. Hmmmmm. I wonder if this woman was trying to seduce me... or she was truly thirsting for love... or both...?
"What are you doing here, boss...?". - One of the men who followed me asked her
"I just want to see how well working is our new guy...".
"Hey, keep moving". - One of them tapped his hammer slightly on my back, asking me to move forward
I follow the path. I have come to another area once again. This time, I hear the screams of someone. I try to ignore it, then I move forward again.
The screams still go on, and they're getting louder once I step forward. I carry the wooden crate, I move forward while hearing people chatting. The guys that follow me from behind are chatting, must be about the screams. I can't eavesdrop on them at all.
"Ahhhhhh!!!". - Suddenly, I heard someone scream. "...............". - After that scream, there was just a long silence. "Urrrghhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!". - More screams came out after the silence. "......................". - And again, the silence came
I keep going. But I later stop by a no-door room on the left side of my path, I look inside. Three guys are seen immediately when I look inside that room. They're holding blunt weapons, wooden clubs or something.
They're surrounding an old man on the chair. He's tied to the chair, from his torso, his hands to his legs. That poor guy has been beaten quite much. His face is very swollen, it has some blood.
His belly and his shoulders have some bruises. The guy's mouth has been sealed quite tight by a rope and a cloth. The guy is very exhausted, about to pass out. His reactions to the one who beat him are quite slow now.
"Now I give you one last chance to tell me". "Where's the mayor? And where did you take our comrade to...?". - A guy holding a club talked to the tortured guy in a cold tone
The guy just keeps shaking his head constantly. The guy that asked him seems to be pissed, he starts dragging out two tied people lying on the floor. Both of them have their heads blindfolded by the bags, they can't say as well.
"See? See?!". - The guy pulled out bags, the two people appeared to be women, a little girl and an adult woman. "Your family dies is all your fault, fucker!". "Look! Look! Look at your daughter, I'll do it here, right the fuck in front of you!". - He shoved the little girl to the floor, he forcefully sat on top of her
"Your wife too! They'll fucking give birth to my child! They'll fucking become playthings!!!". "Don't you see the consequences?!!! Don't you see?!!! It's right here! Right in front of you!". - He roared, he started tearing out the dress of the defenseless little girl
"I throw them at my men and their bodies won't be in piece! Less than one day!". "Wanna see? Wanna see?! Tell me!!!". - He shoved the little daughter to her tied father, making the chair fall on the floor
The two women are defenseless, they can't do anything else. The father cries his pathetic tears, while his wife and his little daughter get their clothes torn out. Those men act like beasts, they spare no one. They climb on those women, torturing them and the poor old man.
In the end... he nods, accepting to say everything. But I think it is too late for him and his family... those guys don't like to stop...
So... this is the real nature of this resistance organization, huh? Caring about the people's happiness and the future of the country...
But to be honest... every faction has its own dark side.
"The place to put is over there... not here...". - One of the guys behind me asked me to go in a teasing tone
I leave the scene. I head deeper into the hallway, then I see a huge room ahead.
"Put it there". - The guy who guarded the place told me
I put the crate on an empty side of the room. After putting the crate down, I come out and watch the entire room. Many wooden crates are put together, on top, from the left to the right. The room itself is filled with crates, it will get cramped if the people put more crates in this room.
I want to stand there to watch more but I can't. I have to step aside to give the free path to let other delivery men go. Many of them come to put the crates down. They then leave, but I'm still here, watching.
Those resistance fighters don't bother when I'm still with them or something. They ignore me, they later choose a crate on the floor to open up. They remove and put the cover on the floor. They then remove the wine bottles, they also put them on the floor.
When the plank has been removed, they slowly pull out the real "tools". I notice that there are melee weapons like small hammers, daggers, etc. However, among those weapons is something very long, a long rod.
Most of these resistance fighters are bewildered when they see this thing. But to me, this weapon reminds me of something... very familiar. That's a weapon, but different from others. The weapon is a metal rod, having a handle on its butt and a long head.
"What's this?". - One of them asked each other
"How to use this?". - Other men tried to find something inside the wooden crate
In the end, they bring out some tiny metal things that look like handles. A small rectangular-shaped object made of metal is one of them. One of the resistance fighters curiously rubs the glass part of the object. All of them are very bewildered to see them.
"I have a friend who used to be a spy in the Capital, he told me that the royal guards were armed with something like this...". - One guy said
"Is he here? Call him here quick, hurry". - His colleague replied
"I hope he's here". - That guy later left the room
"Don't touch things, kid, go back up there and get the crates down!". - One guy slapped my hands when I touched the metal rod
"I'll do it later". "I think I can use it... I can show it to you...". - Somehow my muscles feel very familiar with this strange-shaped weapon
I raise the weapon to the empty side of the wall, I put its butt on my shoulder.
Hmmmm... I can see some levers here, I switch one of them...
I feel so familiar with it...
"Is that some kind of crossbow?". - One guy wondered, because this weapon had a metal trigger that looked like a crossbow
I pull the trigger. Right instantly, the head of the weapon blasts out lights of something... very powerful. The loud noises come out, making this weapon look like an unstoppable beast.
The wall starts breaking badly with big holes on its surface. The weapon pulls me back so strongly that I have to maintain it very carefully.
After 30 loud noises, the weapon stops. Its head flies out something like smoke, but the smell... is very different...
What is this kind of powerful weapon...? It made the wall cracked with big holes on it...
And the more important... why did I feel this thing familiar...?
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This time is evening already, time really flies...
I was supposed to be returning to the carriages to pick up more crates. But somehow, I ended up getting apprehended by these people. They didn't tie me, but they sent their at-that-time leader to question me.
I told them all the things I had in mind, but of course, they didn't believe me.
I was kept inside the tavern till this time...
"I told you... I don't know how I can use that thing, I just feel familiar with it...". - Stop questioning me, you're wasting your time and mine
Lilia - Joe's subordinate is now sitting with me. She's the one who is questioning me from the beginning till this time. Not only both of us are sitting together, but also the other resistance fighters disguised to be drunkards.
The bar is about to be closed, so the normal customers have gone away. Only the resistance fighters under the forms of the drunkards are still sitting here, watching me. I'm too tired to give them more statements. I will go silent for now, they need to keep me alive after all.
"I want to believe in you too, kid, but my men don't".
"You wanna find the answer that proves I'm not lying, while they trying to find the proof that I'm lying...". "How do you guys want me to live?". - I gave all of them a middle finger as I finished speaking
"What were you doing?".
I go silent.
"But I saw him very swift and mastered when he used that thing, boss". - A guy said
I finally decide to go silent from now on. I breathe out. Then my back goes against the chair, trying to relax after sitting straight to explain to them for too long.
"The Royal guards call them the God weapons...". "What should we do now, boss?". - Another guy asked her
"We don't have proof that shows he's lying or he's saying the truth...". "From now on, put him under surveillance". - Finally, Lilia made her final decision
"Come back here a week later, right now we don't have work for you". - Lilia told me
The other resistance fighters really want to say something to me, or mess with me. However, they follow their boss' orders. I'm just an outsider, so it's obvious when they don't believe my words.
"Like I said...". - Suddenly, Lilia spoke up. "We don't care to know who you are or where you come from, as long as you work for the resistance, you're a trustworthy ally".
"So prove us that you're trustworthy enough... and they'll believe you...".
"Here, not much but take it". "Your reward for delivering a crate for us". - Lilia suddenly threw me 5 Gad coins
"Uhhh, hi".
All of them were startled when they heard that voice.
That's Elena. She appeared here since when and all of us didn't know about it.
"Oh, you are...". - Lilia tried to remember
"I'm Elena, sis". "It's nice to meet y'all here... may I join?".
"What do you mean?".
"I just came back from my work... I was so hungry so...". "I also wanted to check on my brother... to see how he works". "Is everything on your side alright, brother?". - Elena tiredly sat beside me
"Ah, yeah...". - Lilia replied. "We were having a party... work's over".
"So you mean this tavern is about to close, sis?".
"Not really, just sit and wait". - Lilia told Elena to sit there. "Serve her". - Hearing the words of their boss, the fake drunkards immediately returned to work
"I'm sorry for disturbing you".
"Customers always number one, Ms. Elena, just sit...". - Lilia later sat down. "How long have you been here before we noticed, Miss?".
"I just ran in and said hi so... I think it was less than a minute ago...". "You didn't hear me running inside, sis?".
Lilia shakes her head. She seems to be relieved now.
"Please let me choose the meal...". - Elena grabbed a fur menu paper on the table
"Uhhh... these scribbles... don't look so eye-catching, sis...". - Elena only knew to smile in a silly way to pass that issue
"I shouldn't come here this late, right?". - Suddenly, Elena asked Lilia. "Or maybe I shouldn't come here too, it looks like I'm disturbing my brother and others from having fun after work".
"We always welcome you in the morning, Ms. Elena". "Nighttime is very dangerous... so please don't go out to eat or anything, even if this place is near to where you live". - Wise words, Lilia
"Understood...". "I'm very sorry, sis...". - Elena nodded, she later returned to choose something on the menu with a tired and guilty face