Pain jolted Klad awake, with his back aching from multiple different sides. Apparently sleeping against a cobblestone was not good for the back.
He rubbed his eyes and tried to drift back again into sleep. Sadly, he didn't manage to achieve this, for he had a lot of trouble to fall asleep in the first place.
So after some time of not moving while having his eyes closed he just stood up and looked for his sister. Or at least he tried, now noticing that there was in fact no light inside turned on.
The candle had been blown out by him before going to sleep and the controller for the mana powered lights was on the outside of the room. Therefore, he sneaked out, trying not to wake Ita up.
He carefully pushed the door open, letting some light from the corridor flow into the room, allowing him to see his sister peacefully sleeping on the floor. Apparently she didn't mind too much the solid ground.
'Oh crap. I left the lights on!'
But before turning them back off, he carefully approached his sister, triggering the effects of her Curse once more, making his head start spinning. He quicky grabbed the shackle that was connected to one end of a chain, the other one being inside of the wall, and locked it around Ita's leg.
'I dislike this as much as you do, but we both know that I have no other choice.'
Klad really hated thinking like that, but it was the best way he found of dealing with this situation. He left the room and locked it behind him, leaving the keyring inside of the keyhole and moved inside one of the other three rooms inside of his house, without counting the kitchen.
The room he had entered was his own, it was cramped, with almost no furniture at all and barely any light entered from his window. And yet, he was still thankful, even though all of the problems he had, not having to worry about a place to stay in the winter. He knew that they were particularly stronger in the city where he lived, primarily because of the height of the city itself.
In any case, Klad reached towards a crappy desk, it had been a gift from Tari for his birthday some years ago. He tried opening the first drawer, but it was stuck, so he pulled and pushed harder until it finally decided to burst open.
Inside there was only a small silver dagger. It had been a present from Tari's father not so long ago, he probably was aware of the situation in his home between him and his parents. He took it and placed it inside of his trousers pocket, not before wrapping it around with some bandages he had above his desk so to stop the dagger from stabbing his leg when walking. He had learned his lesson a while back. He then dressed in some winter clothing, cheap leather boots, turned the lights off and went outside.
As Klad went outside, he noticed the white snow falling from the sky, resembling Ita's hair. The roads had some people going from side to side, it seemed like he had woken up a bit late to see everyone rushing to their jobs.
He closed the door behind him, walked forward and started thinking.
'I need to think. And I need to hurry up. I don't know how much more can Ita last. This Curse of hers keeps getting worse and I have no one to ask. Damn. Why the need for so much secrecy about Cursed Ones?'
Klad sighed and kept walking, he had asked way too many questions in all of his underground communication channels, it had been a miracle no one had sold him out to the Inquisitors yet.
So that left one last option.
— — —
"How much do you know about Cursed Ones old man?"
"I know what happens to those who ask too many questions. And let me tell you, it's never something good."
"Talk about being a bummer."
Klad sat once again in front of the owner, the store looking as desolated as it had the previous night.
"Come on old man, I am a really curious kid as you say. And my curiosity is desperate for knowledge regarding this topic. Besides it's not like you have any issue breaking the law."
The old man took a glance at him before returning to reading his book.
"Look kid, even if I knew something I wouldn't tell you. I don't know much about Cursed Ones, but I do know a lot of the Inquisitors and trust me when I tell you that they are something to be very afraid of."
"Yeah I know everybody say that they are powerful and all but, I mean, it's not like they can hear this room, can they?"
"I don't know, and I really don't want to find out. Trust me when I tell you, they aren't something to take lightly. If you think of them as powerful wizards, then you are dead. If you think you can fool them, you are dead. Look kid I have no problem breaking some laws here and there, that's no big deal. But Cursed Ones? That's Sacred Law. It's like preaching a different religion, you have no idea how far those crimes are prosecuted and how harsh they are with the punishments. Stop with this topic as I will not repeat myself. Cut it out."
Damn it! Everybody told him the same! Blah, blah, they are very scary, and they will grab you from down the bed when you sleep. Can't someone give him a hint at least? A quest in exchange of information?
"Then what should I do then" He slammed his fist against the table, unable to hold his anger any longer.
'Ita's time is running out! Each moment I waste in here is a moment she's at home not knowing when her death will come!'
"Look kid I won't ask you why you are so obsessed with this information, and I wont provide you with any. But I do know where you will learn about this. Well, sort of."
"Yes! Please, anything!"
"Sure but don't blame me later."
— — —
Some time later, Klad sat in a closed room, its walls painted from a deep grey while a bright magical bulb brightened the whole room. In front of him was an iron table and sitting behind it was a tall, muscular man wearing a uniform.
"Now young man, do you mind telling me why you wish to join the army?"