Lucas could barely push himself off the floor, but he did nevertheless
Slowly stalking towards the stairway. A few steps in and he could hear the sound of shouting.
One voice he recognized as Evie's. The other voice however. Gave the impression of a deep grizzly man. Although the voice could just be misleading him. Best not to judge.
A few steps down he peaked his head to get a view of the situation.
What he saw was a man in familiar armour. Head to toe in steel. The armour itself was chipped and to have been in use, there was however the insignia of a salamander painted in red on the front and back of the man.
The man looked to be trying to calm down Evie. Who looked panicked and angry at the same time, she stopped screaming and had resorted to yelling at the man to back away.
Lucas slowly crept down. Walking just outside of what Lucas judged was the man's sight. The man's helmet was like a little prison, with long gaps to see.
He probably couldn't hear well either. Lucas kept out of sight and observed what the man was doing. He wasn't doing anything actively wrong. Just trying to calm down Evie. Though he was getting annoyed and it was getting worse rapidly. Hopefully his temper wouldn't burst over.
Lucas decided to intervene before the man got too annoyed and did something rash. Letting out a cough which didn't get noticed by either. Lucas then let out a louder cough, which got the man's attention as he turned.
"Who are you?" Asked the man, annoyance and frustration evident in his tone.
"Her brother" Lucas lied. Causing the man to look between him and Evie before mumbling something about looks that Lucas didn't quite catch.
The man sighed before continuing "Well then. How about you get that brat over there and teach her some manners" the man barked. Which earned a glare from Evie.
Speaking of. She had quietly walked to his side. Positioning Lucas between her and the man.
"Sorry about her, she was never taught manners" Said Lucas. Earning a light kick to the leg from Evie, clearly she didn't think it was as funny as he thought it was.
"Well. No better place than now"
What?
Noticing Lucas's lack of reaction. The man grunted before continuing.
"Discipline her" huh? What the fuck was this old cot on about.
"Evie, apologize" Said Lucas. Evie from behind him muttered quietly. A half-hearted apology.
The man shook his head.
"Don't be so soft. Discipline her, though if that's all the discipline she's gotten no wonder she's that rude" the man rudely said, before gesturing with his hands a smacking motion.
"That's how my father did it. Though from the looks of it your father isn't there" Spat the man, he clearly wasn't thinking straight. Just the leftover annoyance from Evie dripping into his tone. Or maybe it was just the fact Lucas didn't listen to his command.
That didn't mean Lucas's blood wasn't boiling. If it was just him and the man, Lucas would've loved to use the metal ball on his meteor hammer to beat the man's face in.
But he couldn't. He had to think about his and Evie's safety. He had to think logically, and starting a fight over being an insult wasn't logical in the slightest. Though leaving Evie on her own wasn't the best idea either since he had nearly died. But how was he supposed to know about the man eating wall?
Though one thing Lucas didn't account for was how Evie felt. Unfortunately she decided to let the man know.
"Your dad's a fat and ugly fuck! Just like you!" Yelled even from behind Lucas who tensed up. Eying the man. Who went completely silent. Lucas could practically see the rage slowly build up over each passing second.
Lucas cautiously went to the meteor hammer tied around his waist. And slowly put his hand through the handle.
"Hey. Go upstairs, but don't ever go into any of the rooms, understand?"
"And leave you alone with him? N-"
"Evie. Do you understand? Go upstairs, I'll get you when I'm done" Said Lucas leaving no room for arguing in his tone.
She reluctantly left. But not before muttering a few curses that Lucas didn't think a nine-year old should know.
The man, upon noticing Evie leaving, finally got up. Ready to follow after. But stopped when he saw Lucas in his way.
"Move runt"
"No"
The man. Deciding that he had tried reasoning and was through with it. Slowly picked up a shortsword and a shield that he had on his back.
Right now, if Lucas didn't want what he assumed was a trained knight or something cutting through the rope of his meteor hammer. He'd probably have to aim at his left. Which was where the shield rested.
Lucas's plan was simple. Hit the blind spots or curve the robe around the shield. He wouldn't have much problem damaging the armoured man. Since his meteor hammer would just crush whatever it hit.
That opened another problem. If Lucas missed and broke the floor or a table. Then he'd find out the thing the journal's author didn't want too.
Taking one large breath Lucas spun the weighted end. Waiting in anticipation.
The man went first dashing forward, his shield raised to defend him. Lucas let the rope go as it flew and slammed into the shield and bounced off.
But not without causing the man's arm to recoil, stopping his dash and instead opting for a slow march.
Lucas pulled the rope back to him and stepped back, hoping to create distance. Lucas spun the rope again and let it fly. This time aiming for the head,
The man barely got his shield in time and nicked the blow. Lucas pulled it back into a spin. Using the momentum to hit the man with more force.
The man shielded the blow before dropping the shield and grunting in pain, Lucas whipped it back again, and spun his whole body.
The weight raced with full force. Slamming into the man's side and leaving a large dent. He flew a little before finding his footing. Lucas could even swear he saw blood spat out.
The man took a different stance, a defensive one. Both hands gripping the handle, the rude man was no more. All that was left was a trained knight. A man trained for battle.
Lucas held the rope in his hand. The weight hung loosely in the air, waiting for an opportunity to be used.
Lucas spun the rope around, curling around his body before being pulled. Making the weighted side burst into action and flying at the knights head.
He expertly parried it, ignoring his aching arm. The exchanges continue. Lucas attacking and the man parrying.
Slowly but surely, the knight advanced. Each moment Lucas wasn't attacking was a moment the knight lunged forward. Sooner or later, he'd close the distance. And Lucas would be finished.
Every lunge the knight took. Lucas's eyes scanned the room looking for anything that could help him. A plan was forming. He just needed to check if his hunch would work.
Lucas was currently on the left side of the room. Backing away whenever he wasn't using his rope.
His eyes set on the main thing his plan hitched on.
'Do not take more than you need'
'Do not stay the night'
'Do not destroy the merchandise'
Lucas didn't think he could pull it off at a range. So despite all common sense. Lucas would let the knight closer.
Acting like he was slowly getting tired. Lucas put mistakes into his swings, a strike too slow. One lacking impact. Each made to lower the knights guard.
Although it wasn't too hard since he was getting tired. Just not as much as he let on. Hopefully he projected the look of a man getting tired enough to drop at any moment.
The knight kept on advancing. Parrying most strikes and even dodging slow ones. The distance between wasn't much, five or six more steps and the knight would be upon Lucas.
Deciding to act. Lucas swung a wide strike. Which the knight ducked under. He was in front of Lucas when he launched a kick to Lucas's gut, sending him to the floor.
"Do you have any last words?" Asked the knight. His sword raised high.
"Do you?" The response seemed to confuse and the tiniest bit of fear slipped into his stance, afraid he'd missed something.
With the moments of time he brought. Lucas pulled the rope hard. Having the weighted side which was wrapped around a small stool. One that would surely shatter if anyone but a child sat on it.
The stool flew and slammed into the back of the knight's head and split into pieces. Which didn't do much except further confuse him.
"Why?" Asked the man. Genuinely confused. To which Lucas simply pointed behind him at the rules painted in what Lucas now suspected was blood.
Speaking of. The rules ripped open. A loud defying sound. A large spiky purple tongue flew out, wrapping itself around the knight and pulling him towards the maw.
In a last ditch effort. The knight holds his sword high and a barely noticeable white glint takes hold.
The knight swings and his sword harmlessly bounces off the tongue. He was then swallowed. The whole tavern let out a bellowing sound that Lucas could not mistake for anything other than a laugh.
The mouth let a little bit of blood drip, the blood formed into the fourth rule of the tavern.
"If a rule is broken. You will pay with blood - From yours truly. The tavern"
Lucas let out a breath. Then grabbed a table to pick himself up, sitting on a chair and taking a breather. Lucas waited for a few minutes before calling Evie down. Only then did he notice she was at the top of the stairway. Peeking down from the top.
"Evie.." Lucas was ready to scold her but found himself too tired. Grumbling something about making sure she would listen next time. She quickly raced down the stairs and towards Lucas.
"Are you okay?" Asked Evie, worry and a little bit of awe in her tone.
"Yeah. We should probably head outside" Evie looked ready to argue but upon looking at Lucas's tired breathing. She simply listened and dragged him to the door.
Lucas flopped onto the grass outside the tavern. Finding the ground comfy. Evie laid next to him, trying her best to find a comfy spot. Unfortunately she didn't look like she was successful.
Using the last of his strength. He took his coat off and threw it to Evie. She tried to protest but Lucas just told her to shove it. Laying on the grass and closing his eyes.
Five minutes passed and he could hear movement. Before he felt his coat draped over him like a blanket.
…
…
…
When Lucas opened his eyes. He was in a wooden chair. Surrounding a wide circular table. The empty chairs appeared to have two new members, Lucas developed somewhat of a theory of what they meant. But he wouldn't say it till he was sure of it.
Looking over to his left he saw Evie slumped in her chair. Snoring loudly. Lucas thought it would be a good idea to follow suit. Unfortunately when he tried too, a familiar voice spoke to his right.
Looking over greeted him with Oz in all their pale glory.
"Hey buddy, you stuck here too?" Asked Lucas. Oz seemed to notice his tired state and simply nodded.
"I'll be quick. So bear with me for a few more minutes.." Lucas nodded "..good, anyhow. I've left crosses around the city. Red means danger. Green means safety. And blue have a small pack of potions mostly health and stamina"
Lucas waited for any more chatter but upon finding nothing. Decided to launch a question of his own.
"Where are you?"
"Now that I do not know. I will be waiting a few weeks to prepare for expeditions into the city. If I find a notable landmark. I'll inform you" Lucas quietly thanked Oz before remembering a tiny detail he nearly missed.
"How'd you find me around the table?"
"Oh. Speak a name of a person stuck here and they'll appear to your left"
"Gotcha"
Figuring he'd use it now. Lucas spoke the one name he'd known would be here.
"Coin"
…
…
Nothing. Lucas was now thoroughly confused, he tried bird. Fatty. Glutton. None of which worked. He was effectively lost.
Oh right.
Until it clicked about the name he'd missed.
"Beelzebub"