I was running, panting. I didn't dare look back; I was just running. The Butcher Marc was after me, but how was this possible? All I knew was that I had to get the hell out of here right now. Yet, for some reason, I felt so slow and weak. The strength in my legs was draining; they felt like they were melting. I was staggering back and forth like a miserable rat.
There was the exit! I could reach it in a few more steps!
But then I stopped. What was that? Was a wall rising from where the exit stood?
"Stop! I haven't reached it yet! Don't rise, please, please don't rise!" I whimpered.
After the wall finished rising, I collapsed right where I stood. Through the darkness, I saw a ceaseless spark. It was slowly approaching, as if meticulously sharpening a knife. The accompanying grinding sounds were more grating than the cry of a tiny baby.
As it reached an unbearable proximity, I saw his wrinkled, ugly face covered in scratches. This had to be the Butcher Marc. He twisted his head completely around and gave me a backwards smile.
How could this be? Aera had killed him. His hands were covered in blood, and the slit in his throat was still visible. It was as if his body had simply decayed and then risen again. He approached me with that disgusting grin.
I wanted to get up, but it felt as if tons of weight were crushing me. I couldn't even budge my feet. He came closer and, this time with a maniacal laugh, tore apart the shoulder he had previously wounded. While I was screaming in agony, he began to eat the parts he had ripped off. It was an incredibly savage display.
All I could choke out was,
"Aaaaahhhhhaahaahaahahhhhh stoooppp!"
Just then, Aera arrived. He kicked Marc from behind and pulled me up.
"What's going on, Aera?" I asked immediately.
He just ran quickly without answering. After reaching a house, he closed the door.
"Are you okay? How's your arm?" he asked.
We talked for a bit, but I was still in pain. Just then, there was a knock on the door of the house. Aera leaned towards me and, smiling, said,
"Everything will be fine, James."
Right at that moment, those claws went through Aera's stomach and sliced him open. Aerandil's genuine smile was replaced by the grin of that crazy son of a bitch. He picked up Aerandil's severed upper body and started playing with it, holding it by the head. Then he cut his throat, demanding,
"How does it feel, huh?"
Marc came closer.
"Let this be a lesson to kids like you!" he bellowed.
And I cried,
"Nooooo aaaaaahg!"
The door knocked once more. I realized this was just a terrible nightmare, but it was so realistic that I had genuinely been crying in bed. I also noticed I wasn't wearing anything, which I figured was probably because of my bandaged shoulder and any other wounds.
The beautiful woman who rented me the room, with brown hair, green eyes, and an average build, walked in.
"Hey kid, how are your wounds? You had a rough night," she said.
What did she mean? What happened after I reached the inn last night? As I thought about this, she must have understood and started to explain.
"You suddenly came into the lobby last night, took a few steps toward the stairs, and then collapsed. I immediately called a doctor, and we checked your wounds and your fever."
"Thank you, I'm alive because of you. Uh, Ms..."
"Celia, my name is Celia. And besides, I'm not running a charity. You'll have to pay me for the doctor's expenses, so don't thank me too much. Doctors in Ironhaven are expensive, not counting the unofficial, underground ones. That's why the amount you owe is 20 silver, darling, both because it was a minor service and because the doctor is an acquaintance of mine."
Twenty? After everything I'd been through, I was lucky just to save my own skin, let alone have money. But of course, I didn't tell her that. Instead, I said,
"I'm healthy thanks to you. But 20 silver is not a fee I can afford after last night's incident. Do you remember, I paid you the rent for this place weekly, 14 silver? Since I stayed here for 2 days, you can deduct the remaining 10 silver from that."
"Wow, you speak so well. What about the rest? You probably know you'll have to leave here then."
"I have a job. I'll work and pay you. Just give me some time, Ms. Calia."
"I guess you're not very good at remembering names. First, my name is Celia. Second, I'm giving you one week. If you don't pay, things will be different," she said and then left the room.
Alone in the room, I was trying to process the events that had just happened while staring blankly at the empty space. As if all of this wasn't enough, I now had to find 10 silver, having lost all my money. After sitting for a bit longer, my job and Mr. Calenor came to mind. Was he worried about me? Would he be angry at me for disappearing on my very first day? Even worse, would he fire me now that I was in debt?
Unable to find answers, I finally got up. I got dressed and checked out of the inn.
"Don't forget, kid, I can't do anything after a week," Celia called out after me.
There was a heavy feeling inside me as I left the inn. It felt as if I was losing my home once again. With these feelings, I set off toward The Ink and Ember. I ate the last piece of dried meat I had left on the way and walked slowly.
The cracked patterns on the street pavements, the chirping of colorful birds, the smell of fresh bread from the bakery, and of course, the famous merchants' eager yet confident and disciplined shouts, calls, and sometimes their complaints when they couldn't make a sale. I had arrived at Cistern Square once more. Unlike Bladewalk, the people here were at least more trustworthy; the air was open and bright, and the scent was completely different. No offense to Aerandil, but this place was like heaven compared to that.
I stopped at the fountain in the middle of the square and watched the water for a while. Even though I was new here, I would sometimes see people throwing coins into the fountain and making wishes. Since I didn't have five cents to throw in right now and the money inside had recently been collected, I just settled for watching.
I decided it was time to go to the shop. The Ink and Ember, located on the corner with a wide view of Cistern Square and a size that was neither too big nor too small, was now visible even from a distance.
As I approached the door, despite the lingering doubt, I resolutely pushed the door ajar. The golden bell on the edge of the door chimed, the smell of paper reached my nose, and I heard the voice,
"If you've come to buy something, we're closed right now, please come later."
"Come on, Mr. Calenor, closed even to your one and only assistant?" I asked.
He immediately got up, his long and pointed white ears instantly visible. He came to my side, held my shoulders, and said,
"Son, are you alright? Where have you been? You made me regret sending you, James, tell me everything right away."
"Sir, please slow down a little. I'll tell you, but first, I want to sit down," I said, and we moved to the back room of the shop, which only Mr. Calenor, I, and special guests entered.
Mr. Calenor immediately brewed some tea and brought some cookie-like snacks for me to eat. While eating them, I told him about my experience with Durgan Emberforge. Then, as I was returning to the shop, I mentioned that a child stole my money pouch, that I tried to walk and find my way, and that a man told me he knew the way and took me.
"Son, are you an idiot? Do you follow every man you see?" he said, and lightly hit my head with a bent old book. "Anyway, what else happened, tell me immediately?"
"That man took me to a slave cage and tried to detain me."
"What?! You were about to fall into the hands of slave traders too?"
"No, sir, a child saved me. His name is Aerandil, but I call him Aera. He had eyes like the sea and hair like coal, sir. Then he dragged me quite a distance and took me to his house. Sir, please don't be too surprised by what you are about to hear, as I was already surprised for both of us."
"What could be more surprising than this, James? Come on, tell me whatever you have to say."
"Okay, sir. Aera told me I was in Bladewalk."
"What?! Bladewalk??" This was an exact copy of my own reaction. "James, how did you get into Bladewalk? I told you it was the last place you should enter."
"Sir, please calm down and don't interrupt me until I finish what I'm saying, understood?"
"O-Okay, I understand."
"While we were there, Aera heard a sound and went to check. While waiting, the door opened, and when I looked, I saw the man who first tried to kidnap me. I think it was because, according to Aera, he had freed the slaves there and stolen some documents, which angered his boss. I suddenly hid, but he grabbed me. Sir, at that moment, even though it was out of necessity, I stabbed a person."
For some reason, telling that moment made me feel like I was reliving it, and tears streamed down my eyes, though I couldn't understand why. Mr. Calenor hugged me, consoled me, and asked me to tell the rest.
"After I got away from him, or so I thought, I ran quickly and turned toward the exit, according to what Aera had told me. And sir, I met the most disgusting, terrifying, and strange thing I have ever seen in my life: 'The Butcher Marc'. This man had incredibly sharp and shining claws, a face covered in scratches, smiled irritatingly, and moved his head without moving his body. I ran, sir."
I told him a bit more, coming to the most important part.
"While the Butcher Marc was running after me like crazy, I saw the man I had stabbed holding Aera. After killing him using Marc's claws, I decided the winner of Aera's fight with Marc in one move, and I went to the inn where I was staying, sir."
"James, these events you're describing might be the top 3 most dangerous and craziest things I've ever heard. Son, don't go on deliveries for a while and give yourself time to get over these events, alright? And what did I tell you about not worrying me?" he said, lightly tapping my head once more.
Now that I had told him everything, I needed to talk about the money.
"Sir, um, would you be angry if I told you something?"
"Tell me, son. After what you've been through, I probably won't be angry at you."
"Sir, Mr. Calenor, you know how I used Marc on that man... you know what I mean? Well, one of his claws hit me, more specifically, my shoulder." I lowered my sweater a little and showed my shoulder. "That's why the innkeeper called a doctor, and since I lost all my money in Bladewalk, could you perhaps give me some money?"
He looked at me with surprised eyes.
"James, you're lucky to have survived this, son. I will give you money now, but it will be an advance. What is your debt?"
"It was normally twenty silver, but since I paid my week's rent early, we deducted 10 silver from that. Only 10 is left."
"So, you don't have a place to stay now? Where are you planning to stay, son? On the street? On a bench?"
"I don't know, but my debt is the priority right now. I have one week."
"Son, look, if you don't have money, you can stay at my house, okay?"
"Sir, what about your family?" I asked.
"I'll convince them, don't you worry. Now take this money, but remember, this is your salary, so you'll be working without pay for a while."
"Thank you so much, sir, for everything," I said, and immediately went to pay my remaining debt.
When I arrived, Celia was there. Seeing me and the purse full of money, she said,
"What's this, kid? Did you snatch something? Where is this money from?"
I replied, "I asked my boss for my salary early. That's how I brought the money. We don't do things like that."
"Good, good. Your debt is paid now, you can go. Take care of yourself," she said.
I immediately returned to Mr. Calenor. The weather had turned nice again. Sunset had arrived, and it was getting close to closing time for the tradesmen and merchants. Mr. Calenor was also preparing to close. We locked up the shop together and set off.
Before leaving, Mr. Calenor went into the bakery, and I stood outside, smelling those wonderful aromas. I was waiting with my back turned. Mr. Calenor suddenly came out with two cakes and a bag full of stuff.
"What's this?" I asked.
"Here, take it, son. What do you mean, 'what'? For you to eat."
As we walked, the surroundings got dark, people dispersed, the sound from the bars began to rise, and the shining player of the night, the Moon, appeared.