Thoughts he had already experienced quite a few times since he had arrived in this world. All citizens eventually followed Leandro’s example and quietly left the marketplace. Only one was staying close to Gwyn’s side, and he could already guess who it was.
Delirias glowing, dark green eyes were brimming with ecstasy. Just as Gwyn wanted to say something in his defense, he froze. Now even he had noticed what was going on. His excited, pumped up smile was relaxing itself as the vision of the bloody spectacle faded from his mind, and he noticed Delirias next to him. It was the horrendous feeling of looking at himself in a mirror.
Chapter 20 – Status
Banners with the symbols of a gryphon danced in the warm breeze of the wind, in tact of the light gimmickry and festivities that took place around the city. Laughter and whispering were continuously heard throughout, as the discomfort of the group grew stronger. The fear that only the slightest misstep could be their last wasn't a pleasant one.
Neither Gwyn nor Leandro were brave enough to cross eyes with the locals and avoided almost all contact. It didn't help that every store and every corner was glistening with pure elegance, just like the unfamiliar rarities and artifacts hanging behind the shopping windows.
Beautiful stone statues decorating many of the buildings and windows looked like they were perfectly handcrafted with different patterns assembled into them. Even though everything was so elegant, none of them could shake off the feeling of uneasiness and distrust.
Leandro was even more troubled than Gwyn, as the memories he so desperately tried to suppress came back to haunt him. There had been a time where he didn't question himself this much, but this wasn't the truth anymore. Every attempt to think of something clever or useful was drowned out by doubt. They were walking around, almost aimlessly, with Leandro feeling as if every step he took was leading him deeper and deeper into the narrow sea, suffocating him from within.
Eventually, he felt a warm hand on his right shoulder, and he returned from the terrifying thoughts of his mind.
“That looks like some kind of hotel, doesn't it? Why don't we try to ask for some information?” Gwyn pierced through the thick atmosphere with his lightheartedness.
He pointed at a similar neatly decorated place on the other side of the street. Fixed onto the archway of the door with a wooden bolt was a sign that depicted a birds nest that was shared by an eagle and a raven, with an inscription saying 'Raven's Nest' beneath it.
It didn't take long until Delirias forced Gwyn to be the first to enter, with Leandro and his aspect following shortly after. Inside everything was still decorated in the likeness of the festivities outside, yet it hadn’t lost the charm of a simple inn on the side of some rural mountain road. Pretty girls and guys were serving the guests at the bar, dressed in a strange uniform that was decorated with black feathers all around. The bar was located directly next to the reception. To the sides were large wooden steps leading up to the upper floor, where Gwyn assumed the bedrooms laid.
Before one of them could even pick up their jaws from the floor, they were met by an even stranger person that immediately stormed towards them.
It was a tall, relatively thin man with pale skin and purple lipstick who was on his way to greet them. He excused himself from a conversation with a petite woman in a brown coat, covering her body and face.
“Excuse me, hun. We will talk later about your request. I simply cannot wait to hear the rest of that story,” he sent a kiss her way and built himself up before the two men and their aspects.
The man wore almost the same uniform as the waiters dealing with the customers, yet he felt a lot more imposing, and his presence caught their attention instantly. The feathers were arranged in a fan-like pattern on his back, and little rubies were twinkling in the corner of his eyes.
“Welcome to the Raven's Nest. My name is Ciorci, and I'm the manager of this fine establishment. How can I satisfy you fine looking gentleman?” Ciorci saw the group looking at him with bewildered expressions while he ignored the other guests.
“Oh, don’t mind them, my sweeties. Most of them are just Greed’s men blowing off some steam after a long night. I don’t really know why, but they love my humble establishment.”
“Great, another weirdo,” Leandro exhaled as he pushed Gwyn forward, deeming him the best to deal with the owner of the place.
Ciorci didn't waste any time. He inspected Gwyn from top to bottom, just as he would muster someone for a military draft. Only when Delirias stepped into his view he stopped. He pressed his long fingertips onto his small hips and laughed.
“Klalahlah, what a special young man. I understand. Looks like you're missing one of the most important things in this city – Hubris!” he grinned and pointed at their empty pockets, seemingly visible from their ragged clothes.
“But not all hope is lost. You seem to have brought a magnificent present!” he was ecstatic, seeing the chained man in Destare’s arms.
“Well… it's not exactly like that” Leandro intervened.
“Gwyn! Did he touch you in places where he shouldn't have?” Delirias teased Gwyn who was just as confused.
“I don't, I don't know to be honest,” he answered, and even Delirias was shocked for a moment.
“Klalahahla, we shouldn't continue this conversation here. Let's go outside. There is someone I'd like you two to meet.”
“Wait!” Leandro stopped the man who was ready to lead them. “You’ve just met us, and you already want to help us. Why?”
“My, my, aren't you a suspicious one?” The man put on a sly grin. “Let's just say I have a sweet spot for tragic fellas such as yourself. If you don't need my help, then I suggest you do not follow me. How about that?” he proposed and walked off through a door next to the bar.
“What should we do, Gwyn?” Leandro hesitated, asking for assurance.
“What choice do we really have here?” Gwyn looked him dead in the eye, and they were taking a closer look at each other. They were lost, and poor to boot by this city's standards.
“What if it's a trap? How can we be sure?” Leandro’s uncertainty continued but was stopped by Delirias.
“As long as you're traveling with us, I will try to keep your bony ass alive as well.”
“First, they will have to go through me, silly jester,” Destare called the other aspect out.
“Who are you calling silly, hae?” Delirias pressed his head on Destare’s torso like he was about to ram him.
“Enough, guys,” Gwyn smiled. “Let's just go.”
Shortly after they went through the door that Ciorci showed them, they were greeted by another man. A much more unpleasant one, having his stench reach them way before his words could actually ring through their ears.
“Klahalah, don't make such disgusted faces. My friend Nanbu is a hard-working Persona for all you know,” Ciorci laughed wholeheartedly as he saw the two companions plugging their noses.
Ciorci leaned against a handrail and overlooked his little backyard that had been fenced in to keep outsiders from prying about. It wasn't as elegant as the rest of the city. The more the two looked around, the more it looked like the backyard of some old farm you would find at an abandoned road in the middle of nowhere. Uncut bushes, wooden planks, and machinery were scattered all around the place.
“Hoihohohi, is that the company you keep nowadays, Ciorci? I have to say I'm deeply disappointed in you lad. You always had a few screws loose, but you never once betrayed our agreement,” the man called Nanbu said as he slowly stumbled towards Gwyn and Leandro, coming out from behind a big, wooden wheelbarrow. Unlike Ciorci he was of small stature with a big lump on his back. He had a dark, fuzzy beard and was dressed in a denigrated dirty leather armor. Almost as if he was a blacksmith that had been crossed with a butcher. On top of the brittle wheelbarrow was an even bigger cage, which upon closer inspection, held many bodies stacked on top of each other. Only a slight twitch or movement could be seen from within. The man spoke to them as he
saw their concerned faces.
“Jickjick, so your friends aren't from here I guess, Ciorci? I'm just a merchant, nothing more.”
“Which is why I brought you two to him,” Ciorci pointed at the man in Destare’s arm who had completely given up on resisting ever since they've entered the city and Delirias had another heart to heart with him.
“Phew,” he whistled. “Looks like a fine lad as well. He would make a nice addition indeed.” The man was brimming with enthusiasm, so much so that he had to wipe off the sweat from his forehead with an even dirtier brown piece of cloth.
“So, he is supposed to be some kind of undertaker?” Gwyn asked out of curiosity as he was getting closer to the wheelbarrow.
Both Ciorci and his buddy began to laugh anew until the owner of the Raven's Nest took the lead.
“Oh Honey, you don't even have the slightest clue. Undertakers are something entirely different ... be glad you haven't met one of them while they're working“, he lingered for a moment with an unsettling smirk on his face
“Let me explain,” he said. “Nanbu is a merchant from Gola, the city of Gluttony. He is someone who is always on the lookout for a helping hand, or two, for their wonderfully hardworking city. They are willingly buying captives, workers or even slaves, just so that their magnificent production never comes to a halt.”
“Production? What kind of product are we talking about?” Gwyn’s eyes lit up.
“Almost anything, chap,” the burly man replied. “Most of what is produced within this side of the world is exported from Lord Gluttony's city. It's a great joy, despite that our workforce is remunerated. As you can probably imagine for such a grand task we can use any help we can get.”
For a moment silence had returned as both of them were still surprised, even after they had thought to have seen almost anything. The man came closer and whispered something to them.
“And just between us. If you trust me, I could even get you some fantastic goods from the land of the heavenly virtues,” he chuckled into his beard.
“The Heavenly Virtues... I wonder what they are like,” Gwyn was flabbergasted.
“Oh shush it, you always say that,” Ciorci interrupted their conversation, as he overlooked them with his head resting on his hands, leaned against the railing.
“You have told me that for years and not once have you delivered me something from the other side,” he sighed. “And now I'm forced to work in this brutal city, just to make needs end and pay of Greed’s goons,” the pale man was sniveling and almost tearing up. “I just wish I could return to my home town and meet Slothy once more, but I guess that is out of the question after what happened…”
“Wait, wait, wait! Just one second!” Leandro stepped forward. “You owe us at least some sort of explanation if you want our captive for your collection,” he demanded.
Destare almost stepped in, but was held back by Delirias, who was joyfully watching the events unfold.
“This is starting to get interesting,” he giggled beneath his hood.
“So you really made it this far without any knowledge whatsoever? That might be even more impressive.” Ciorci was examining them closely again. “Then let me explain in more detail. If you haven't guessed it by now, this world is separated into two halves by a diagonal river that runs through it. Our side is at the bottom and mostly covered by moonlight with only a few hours of sunlight to spare,” he pointed at the sun that had already reached its highest point, only a several hours after rising. “On our side, the seven deadly sins are the ones that govern seven of the major cities, though they are not exclusively the most powerful. Everything clear so far?”
Leandro shook his head in disbelief. “This can't be happening …I remember what you told me Gwyn, but this? A world created by humans that none of us know of with the virtues and sins separated from one another?! How is that even possible?”
Gwyn, on the other hand, was excited by the sheer endless possibilities, and asked Ciorci to continue.
“You're quite the eager one,” he said while glancing at the grin of Delirias in the back. “I guess, I somewhat understand now.”
Abruptly their conversation was disrupted by a loud creaking and clunking that could be heard coming from behind the carriage. Without warning a black cloud of steam had erupted in front of their eyes, leaving the burly man with even more enthusiasm than before.
“Ah! Finally, they are ready,” Nanbu shouted.
“They?” Gwyn raised one of his eyebrows, and Leandro stepped near his side. Before another explanation could follow up, the two were once more surprised as the things that created the noise stepped forward. Two human-like figures made out of metal pieces, screws and cogs, wobbled towards them with a click and a clack. Even the rattle of the cogs and the puff of an exhaustion pipe could be heard, which produced another black dirt cloud. They looked like they were built after the human physique, but with everything being held together as minimalistic as possible. The joints were held in place by metal rods, and other places seemed to be missing a few screws or wheels. Unlike the Personas, their eyes were white and empty, like turned off flashlights, broken almost to the point of no repair. Their movements were clunky and had no swiftness to them. Additionally, with every move, a thick liquid dropped out of their bodies.
“One of our biggest and most successful creation, thanks to our Lord Gluttony, that we can proudly call our own,” he spoke with an overjoyed tonality.
“If that leaves you speechless, you should wait until you see some of our high-quality constructs back at home. These two are merely discontinued models, provided to me to help with my work. Unfortunately, that's also the reason why they sometimes stop working altogether.”
Gwyn seemed to be completely enchanted by the awkward machinery, whereas Leandro looked like he had just been struck by lightning.
“Jickjick, “ the man hooted “I know you might say my work is not important enough if they provide me with these run-down models, but I simply love these old things. I don't know what it is, but they are just charming, don't you think?”
“You're so cute when you talk about your little darlings,” Ciorci laughed from atop the railing. “But enough of the sentiments. How about we talk business? I don't have all day to hang around with you guys, even though I'm enjoying myself and have an excuse to skip work,” he put on the grin he had when they first met.
“How about you leave your guy with my friend over here, and I will provide you with enough Hubris to stay at my inn and enjoy the festival to your heart’s content?”
Both of the humans had paused upon hearing that.
“You mean, like human trafficking?” Gwyn gasped, as even his excitement couldn't make him numb to such an offer.
“Don't be ridiculous. He is a scumbag of a cultist, but we can't hand him over to you just like that. And for money on top of that? Are you kidding me?!” Leandro added.
“If you were so concerned about your moral high ground then why did you chain him up like that?” Ciorci seemed awfully confident. “I'm sure we can work something out here. Don't tell me some boys like you without any real knowledge of this world are just going to turn down such a generous offer?”
Ciorci knew exactly what they were the moment he saw them. All the cards were in his hands, as Gwyn and Leandro were sweating whether to give in or refuse.
“All of this is too much for me, Gwyn. I cannot deal with this like you can.”
“Hey, don't make it sound like this supposed to be easy for me,” Gwyn answered the other flustered human.
“But you're thinking about it right?” Leandro pressed him.
“Of course. We may not have another choice…”
The burly man was already getting impatient as he kicked about the ground, even tearing down some of the not so well kept grass.
“So what shall it be, lads? If you're not here to strike a deal, then I really gotta get going, y'know? I shouldn't let my superiors wait any longer than needed,” he said whi
le gulping down some of the mucus in his throat.
“Of course, of course,” Delirias clapped his hands together. “Just give them a moment. They, especially this fella, might not look like it, but he is always good for a surprise. So – what do you say, Gwyn? Let's do this, right? Right?!” Even his aspect started to nag him.
“Doesn't this make us just as bad as them?” Leandro asked Gwyn with a worried look on his face. Almost as if he was trying to avoid the blame, trying to get him to make the first step.
“It does beat looking for work or anything else … maybe we don't have a choice in such a merciless place?”
“Yes – go with that,” Ciorci interposed with a cheeky smile. “That's always a crowd pleaser. Blame your circumstances, not yourself.”
Time was ticking down. There had to be a decision, yet none of them wanted to be the one to blame. Even though Gwyn thought he was more than ready to take it one step further, he still hesitated when it didn't come to his own life. There was still a barrier there, holding him back after all.
“Hey chaps, what's the big deal? I believe you if you tell me you chained him up because he did something bad to you, but now is not the time to be a little girl. Do we have a deal or not?” the burly man didn't want to wait any longer.
“Look, we may not be as pompous, but we have enough Hubris if that's what you're looking for.”
The two young men still hesitated. Unbeknownst to both of them, it was Delirias who took the reins, as he couldn't bear to witness this awkward scenario any longer. Destare had been awfully quiet as he closely watched how his human partner reacted.
“What a great businessman you are. I can truly appreciate well-oiled craftsmanship. Whether you sell something or yourself. Of course, you can have him. Don't worry about those two, they won't object. They aren't brave enough to stop the world from letting it take away every last bit of freedom they have,” Delirias snatched the captive out of Destare’s arms, who obliged as long as Leandro didn't speak up.
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