She flinched at the question and stood in silence for a moment.
Then, hesitantly, she pulled back her hood.
I studied her, my thoughts racing.
'So… she's a hybrid.
Judging by the scars, she's been through hell.'
I leaned closer.
'Wait… is she missing an ear?'
"Sir, my name is Kala. I'm a refugee… from the eastern empire,"
"Alright. Nice to meet you, Kala. I'm Kayon… I run this place. What do you need?"
"S sir no, Mr. Kayon I can clean. I work hard. I don't complain. I can do anything… I just need food. Even a little I'm okay with any amount please sir..."
"Alright, stop. I get it. Stand up."
'Hybrids… people don't trust them. Too close to the Forlorn.
Still… they're stronger than most humans.
Useful.'
I got up and went towards her
"Hey… don't cry."
I wiped a tear from her cheek.
"You don't have to do that here."
" I can tell you have gone through so much I can't begin to imagine so sit down. Let's talk."
"Yes, sir."
She sat down, wiping her tears.
She watched me, waiting.
I walked to my desk, took out three gold coins, and placed them on the table.
"can you see these"
"yes I can sir, but I don't understand"
"You will. Start talking. Tell me how you ended up here and they are yours"
"well sir there was... a civil war,
in one of the outer districts of the eastern empire and" she hesitated, "we were blamed and my kin were ostracized.
"Some were killed."
"Others were taken…"
She hesitated.
"…beaten." Her voice dropped.
"The rest were made into slaves. Well you can guess what type of slaves they were" she grabs her sleeve takes a deep breath, "I am one of the many women who decided to keep the last bit of dignity by running, so we came here"
"I see thank you for telling me that here you go take the coins"
"no sir these are too much for me"
"Just take them. And I don't want my new employee to walk around wearing that, come for work after you have gotten some clothes okay"
"thank you sir thank you very much"
with that she left.
'The Eastern Empire…
One of the five.
Still… something didn't add up.
Why didn't she go to the Beast Empire instead? that would be better for her'
Kayon called out.
"Zephi!"
"yes sir how may I help you"
"I need you to check for how many refugees are in the city and find a large building big enough to accommodate the refugees"
"but sir why go that far for them and the cost"
"come on it can't be that bad besides, They need help. I can afford to give it so I will"
"..yes sir on it"
She left the room.
I wrapped things up and headed home.
When I arrived, I found a petite figure sitting in a chair, lost in a book.
"Sera, what are you reading? You didn't even hear me come in." she looked towards me with her brown hair tied up in a bun exposing her delicate slender neck with the loose shirt she had on her posture shifted slightly.
The loose fabric of her shirt dipped just enough to catch my attention. I looked for a second too long.
'Seriously?'
I forced my gaze away.
"oh it's a novel and can you please let me finish" she replied as she went back into the book,
I turned away before she noticed.
"ohh kayon you are here"
"Soren yes I just got back, why do you look tired" she came rushing down the stairs
"put that aside I need a 1000 gold right now" wait why does she need that much money for 'if I ask that I will look like I don't trust her mm'
"oh oh sure thing lets get a cheque ready" I went up to my room issued a 1000 gold cheque and gave it to her in a rush she got her bag and left without a word I stood by the entrance 'huh what would they do without me alright lets get the food ready'
The night passed quietly.
I ate, then turned in early.
Soren came back late, arms full of clothes, talking nonstop to Sera before disappearing into her room.
Morning came and I left for work i called for zephi as I entered my office
"so is it done zephi"
"yes sir I have found a place for them and counted about 60 of them leaving in the streets of the slum districts sir"
"okay good call for kala on your way out"
"yes sir"
moments later kala came through
"you called for me sir"
"yes kala came in, kala I called you here to ask you to mediate for me with the arrived refugees I want them to come work for me and I will give them the same conditions I gave you"
Kala fell to the ground with great joy she thanked me while crying , when she calmed down I,kala and zephi went to the slum district where we found the refugees. They were all hybrids.
Dog traits. Cat traits. Others I couldn't even place.
Most were scarred.
The children weren't. but all had rags for clothes.
"Kala it's kala everyone she's back!" the children yelled as they flocked her but froze in fear when they noticed me and zephi kala saw this and tried to explain it to them
" everyone this is mr kayon my boss and his here to help every one here who are willing to work you will be given a place to stay for 3 months for free and 2 gold coins in advance so those that want to work come and write your names here"
" Kala is it true" one of the older refugees asked
"yes I guarantee it my self"
"yesss thank you so much sir we will work hard!!",
They lit up instantly.
Yeah... That felt right.
"Zephi"
"yes mr Kayon"
"this is all of them right"
"no according to the other human refugees there is a group that wasn't allowed in"
" why... Okay let's go see the lord. leave Kala to deal with this just prepare 2000 gold for me" On the way to the lord's estate, I spotted a familiar figure.
Short. Red hair. Scavenger armor.
"wait stop the carriage Carai!"
in a hurry I jumped off the carriage and rushed towards her
"mmm Kayon it's not every day that you come looking for me wait have you finally realised am prettier than those two"
"come on its too early to be dreaming I need you help with something"
"mmmm sure what how can I help you"
"I heard there are more refugees out side the walls so.."
" ahh because of my job you want me to find them for you as we survey the outside"
"yes"
"but its not easy so I do expect compensation for this"
she took off giggling before I could even say a word to her, I went back to carriage
"you are getting quite popular with woman sir am proud"
"shut up Zephi you know she is a childhood friend, we used to play the 4 of us so stop it"
it was quiet till we got to the lords estate our arrival was announced and I was taken directly to see the lord
"Kayon you may have your seat"
"thank you sir" I sat down while Zephi stood besides me
"so to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit"
'Fredrick Dolkan.
The man who controls this city. with him I have to be direct but before that'
"Zephi give the Lord the gift I came with, lord I hope you accept this gift I came with"
"ohh hahha that's why I always look forward to your visits bring it here"
'Good. He's in a good mood now.
This just got easier.'
"sir I heard there are other refugees out side the walls I would like to have them get clearance to enter dolkan"
"Kayon, when you see this city do you think we can accept every refugees that comes in"
"no my lord, but I will take full responsibility for them and I will increase the tax I pay to the city"
"when you put it that way I can't refuse n.." he was interrupted by the banging of the door as the young lord entered the office
"father what is the meaning of this"
"Alex show some decorum and there is something called knocking you should try it sometimes"
"no! you said I could have my celebration when I got back from negotiations with the other cities"
"Alex we will talk about this later now leave, sorry kayon this child is still a headache at his age"
"no no I understand my lord"
"alright I will allow them entry but don't forget our end of the deal alright kayon"
"yes my lord"
I left immediately after he said he will allow them entry but before the carriage could leave Zephi remained saying she had something to take care of, so I left and went to prepare for the coming refugees. That night, in the lord's estate.
"guards call for my son"
"yes sir" one of the guards responds while heading to look for him
"father you called for me"
the lord stood and slapped his son so hard he fell to the ground the boy sat there looking at his father in confusion
"do you know why I hit you"
Alex couldn't respond but look at his father the lord took a deep breath and sat at his seat
"i hit you for two reasons firstly the towns you went too none of them want to do business with us at all, actually they will declare war if we ever go to them what the fuck! did you do!"
"I I swear I only spoke to them about the benefits of working with us"
"what did I do to get a son like this and the town is saying it is better to have kayon as the lord instead of you"
"bull shit who said that that peasant can't be lord"
"Mind you words as you speak to me boy and the peasant you claim is wealthier than us and his business is the reason we are still called a city"
"what does he even do"
"what does he do huh, the banking system you use the food restaurants the cafes and the many artifacts on the market are all due to him!, Just get out of my sight and you had better get your act together"
"yes father"
the young lord leaves the office heads to his room and goes into a frantic rage destroying everything until the room grew colder, a shadow slowly stretched along the wall, darker than the rest. he felt a weight in the air, as if the very space held its breath. Slowly, a figure stepped forward from the corner, its form barely visible, like smoke solidifying. he froze,
as the figures voice whispered in the dark,
"...You're thinking about him again."
The young lord froze.
"…Kayon."
Silence.
"Every time his name comes up, you react the same way."
"…Who are you?" his voice cracked.
"Someone paying attention."
The figure stepped forward,
"You're not angry because he's stronger."
A pause.
"You're angry because they respect him more than you."
The boy clenched his fists.
"…Shut up!."
"You went to those cities expecting recognition."
"You came back with nothing."
Silence.
"…What do you want?" he asked, quieter now.
"To offer a solution."
The boy hesitated.
"…What kind of solution?"
"You don't need to surpass him."
A step closer.
"You just need to take what he has built."
"…How?"
"He has a weakness."
The boy looked up.
"…What?"
"The people he's close too."
A pause.
"He trusts them."
The boy frowned.
"…So?"
"So you don't attack him."
"You go through them."
A longer silence this time.
"…And they'll just betray him?"
"They won't see it as betrayal."
The figure tilted its head slightly.
"They'll see it as an opportunity."
The boy's breathing slowed.
"…What kind of opportunity?"
"Status."
"Security."
"A future he hasn't offered them yet."
The realization settled in.
"…Marriage."
"Exactly."
The boy hesitated.
"…I can't do that."
"I know."
A faint shift in tone. Almost amused.
"You don't have to mean it."
Another step closer.
"They just have to believe you do."
Silence.
"…And what do you get?" the boy asked.
"The company."
No hesitation.
"We split everything it produces."
The boy stared at the figure.
Then slowly.
"…Fine."
A breath.
"That's a deal."
"…Good."
The shadow began to recede.
"Start tomorrow."
"He'll be occupied."
"Which means…"
"…they won't be."
The room warmed.
The presence vanished.
Silence returned.
Then.
A slow smile spread across the boy's face.
And then he laughed.
"Soren am heading out alright"
"okay work well"
with a smile I left for work hell I almost started skipping why you ask because next week I was getting married and that made me very happy,
someone knocked 3 times at the door
"Sera can you get the door am quite busy right now" Soren asked while in the bathroom
"alright hello who is it"
"it's the young lord of this land kindly open the door" one of the lords attendants asked.