by V. A. Lewis
I’m so hungry, I thought.
I had been traveling for over a week now, and hadn’t eaten in days. And it was not like my diet prior to all this had been particularly nutritious; so I was pretty sure I was dying. Or at least, close to death.
Either ways, I was annoyed. So once I was done putting out the small fire I caused (I didn’t want to burn down the whole forest) I kicked a small pebble, and trudged my way back to the road.
I had taken a small detour to try and get some food since I was literally starving. But once again, my efforts had been in vain, and my hard work has produced nothing. Or in other words: there were no fruits to my labor… literally.
It took me about half an hour before I even saw the gravel path that I had departed from; I emerged from the trees, and faces turned to stare at me. There were a lot of people.
Many refugees from Bys had fled the fallen city, and were now trying to enter the neighboring towns and cities for shelter and protection. But people did not like refugees; the last few towns and cities I passed by had already closed their borders. They were only letting in a few hundred to a few thousand people at most, and I had been one of the latecomers, alongside the other people in the road. We were all refugees.
But I was not like them; I was branded as a slave, and the mark on my face was still there. Anyone looking to make some quick gold could just yank me off the streets and sell me to the highest bidder. Obviously, that would be a problem for me, so I had wrapped a piece of cloth around my head, covering the mark— partially obscuring my vision— and tied it tightly.
The best description I had for it was that it was… a headscarf. Like the ones used for religious purposes even until the 21st century; definitely not like the kind of headscarves you saw on workers tilling the fields on a hot and sunny day. So it was safe to say, I stood out a little bit.
This kind of fashion did not exist in this world, or if it did, it was not something you saw around the Free Lands. So in addition to coming off the beaten path like I was Little Red Riding Hood herself, I was dressed like a beaten version of her too. Suffice to say, people stared at me.
I kept my head down, and trudged along the gravel road. Or maybe I was limping. I didn’t know. The pain from my sprained ankle had disappeared, and a numb feeling had taken its place.
I just continued walking down the road until the city appeared in the distance; I blinked and looked up, relief overcoming me as I saw the open gates.
They’re letting people in! They’ll let me in!
I wanted to jump and throw my hands in the air, then sprint straight through the gates and into the city. But I did not. I had no energy to do that; so I had to make do with just imagining it.
There was quite a long queue to enter the city, which I joined and proceeded to make myself as small as possible once again.
I fished into my pockets, and counted the coins I had picked up off the ground in the last week and a half. I had 2 silver and 21 bronze coins, which was quite a lot, but also expected, considering the rush everyone fleeing Bys had been in just after its fall. I could only imagine all the delicious food I could buy with this.
I felt my mouth drooling as I slowly floated my way to the front of the line. Mm, I can finally eat proper food! I didn’t care if the cooking here is incomparable to the refinement of modern earth delicacies— food is food, and I’m hungry.
I let out a sigh of relief as I reached the front of the line; I adjusted my headscarf, and prepared some coins to pay for the entrance fee. Alright, it shouldn’t be more than a single silver coin, so I’ll still have 41 bronze left—
"Three silver."
I blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me, kid. Three silver to enter."
"But— but that’s…"
That’s very expensive. That was probably what the average person in this world made in a month! Well, maybe that was not true for people in richer countries like the Rem Republic or the Xan Empire or the Taw Kingdom; but that was certainly true here in the Free Lands! That’s expensive!
The guard was tapping his fingers impatiently by now, and looked like he was about to yell at me. I quickly spoke up before he could send me away.
"Wait, but I’m a child! Shouldn’t I get a lower price or something?" I sputtered. I desperately looked up at the guard with my best attempt at puppy dog eyes, but the man was unfazed.
"Listen, kid. That is the cost of entry for children. Three silver for kids, and five silver for adults. You don’t like it? Too bad. It’s only there to keep refugees like you from overflowing the city. Now pay up, or get lost." The guard slammed one hand on his desk, and pointed away from the city with his other.
I felt the coins in my fingers, and hesitated. But only for a moment. I looked up at the city before me; it was a place of civilization, and a safe haven from the dangers of nature. And I sighed.
I really hate this world.
Then I forked up the entrance fee, and felt my delicious dinner disappearing from my grasps.
This city… was not big.
It did not have any grand landmarks to define it, nor did it have any impressive fortifications to protect it; its tallest buildings did not come close to a hundred feet, while the city walls stood only 15 foot tall, with only a handful of watch towers littered along its perimeter. Suffice to say, this was a fairly regular city.
I entered the city, and stared around. The first thing I saw was an argument between a man and some guards.
"Are you sure you haven't seen her? She’s a young woman, brown hair, about this tall. She said she would wait here for me."
"I’m sorry, sir. But we haven’t seen anyone like that."
"But she left before me! She should be here—"
"Sir, please calm down. The roads haven’t been safe after the fall of Bys. A Monster could have gotten to her, or maybe... something else. We’ve been getting some reports about young women going missing—"
My eyes glazed over this; I continued scanning around the surroundings, searching for what I was looking for. I saw a young man— maybe in his mid-twenties— dressed in blue robes with a small backpack and holding what looked like a hiking stick. He was grinning to himself, when our eyes met for a second. But I looked past him, and started for the market street.
I walked past the small fountain in the center of the plaza, and ignored the chattering of this city’s people as they watched the refugees slowly stream in.
"Hey, that girl’s traveling alone. Should we help her? Where are her parents?"
"I don’t know, but I don’t think we should. Maybe they’re dead. Or maybe they left her? Like because of some sort of disease."
"A disease? That would explain why she looks… sick. She might even have the plague!"
"Goddess grace us, if she’s got the Noxeus, we need to tell—"
I sighed for the millionth time today, but said nothing. It was still early in the evening; the sun was on its way down, casting a beautiful orange glow on the clouds above. I turned a few corners, then found myself at a marketplace-like street.
It was crowded. Vendors lined the sides of the street, as customers crowded around the shops to buy things. There was shouting and talking, and all kinds of food being sold at the stalls. I took in the fragrance of delicious food cooked with all kinds of spices, and listened to the chatter of hundreds of other people drown out my rumbling stomach.
I waded my way through the crowd, and looked about at the stores selling food; I tried not to grimace as I stared at the cost of everything.
Four bronze for a loaf of bread? I’d rob a house for bread that good!
It was like they doubled the price of everything because of all the refugees coming in; what a bunch of jerks!
I turned around to storm off in search of something I could actually afford, when I bumped into a leg. Ouch.
"Watch it brat—" a gruff voice came.
I quickly picked myself up and bowed my head to apologize. "I’m sorry, sir. I
’ll watch where I’m going next time," I spoke hastily.
The man was blinking, but I didn’t wait to hear a response; I turned around and started to walk off in a random direction. Don’t want to attract any attention.
My headscarf was still on tight, so I was certain no one saw the mark on my face. But you never knew what could happen. I was being cautious! I was not going to let myself be chained up again, no matter what happened.
I continued searching for something within my price range, but to no avail. It was nearing the end of the evening, so some stalls were beginning to close shop for the day; I was running out of time! The cheapest store I found was a fruit stand; they were selling apples at 2 bronze each. I did not have enough to pay for it, but I could negotiate.
I walked up to the vendor who was busy showing off some exotic berries he had in stock to a handful of customers. I called out to him.
"Excuse me! Excuse me—"
"What do you want, kid? Can’t you see I’m busy?" he growled.
"I’m sorry, sir. I was looking through your wares, and I was hoping to buy some fruits. But I only have a single bronze coin, sir. I’m not looking for handouts, but if I could possibly get a discount—"
The fruit vendor's eyebrows scrunched up, and he snapped at me. "Go away, beggar. I don’t want your dirty coin. And I don’t want you scaring away my customers."
Blinking, I realized that the other customers were staring at me and murmuring. What’s with everyone being mean to kids? Jerks!
I took a deep breath, and tried once more. This time, appealing to his emotions instead. "Please, sir. I haven’t eaten in days and—"
I couldn’t even finish.
"I said beg elsewhere. Now leave or I’ll make you leave," the man snarled at me.
I drew my lips into a thin line. I didn’t like this man. He was a massive jerk. I met his glare for a second, then sighed.
"Fine," I muttered the word.
Then I grabbed a box full of apples, and knocked it off the table. "Oops." I grinned.
Dozens of red fruits tumbled to the ground and rolled into the street; the fruit vendor shouted in outrage, as he grabbed for his fallen wares.
"Here, I’ll help." I began gathering some of the fallen apples, and placed a few back into the box it fell out of. I was reaching for another one when—
The fruit vendor slapped at my hand and shouted. "Don’t touch it! You’ll dirty my goods!"
I folded my arms, and spoke with a feigned annoyance. "Geez, I was only trying to help, but if you want me to leave so badly, then I’ll leave."
The man gave me a look that told me he felt like strangling me. I grinned back at him, then turned around— arms still folded— and left the stall as he picked up the last of his dropped fruits.
I walked down the street, made a few turns around several corners, then ducked into an alley when I was several blocks away. There, I finally unfolded my arms, revealing two glistening red objects hiding underneath my sleeves.
I held one apple on each hand, my mouth watering as I eyed my meal. I did feel a little bit guilty; stealing felt wrong to me even if the one being stolen from did deserve it. Perhaps that was a carryover of my principles from my past lift. But the fruit vendor did very much deserve it, and I was hungry, so I did it anyways.
I opened my mouth, and took a bite; the apple crunched as my teeth penetrated the red layer of skin and into the juicy insides of the fruit. The succulent pulp fell onto my tongue, and began to melt on the wet bed of saliva it was resting on. I felt a strong catharsis wash over me, as I savored the first piece of food I had in forever
I swallowed, then paused. I stared at the piece of fruit in my hands. I bit once more. Then twice. And began to ravenously tear into the apple.
I vaguely remembered something about how eating too much when severely malnutritioned could be deadly. But I didn’t care. I was hungry, so I just ate. Plus it was only two apples! There was no way that could kill me.
Famous last words, I thought, stopping myself after I finished the first apple. I pocketed the second apple and threw the core of the eaten fruit onto the ground. I dusted my hands off, then turned to leave the alleyway, but found myself bumping into something.
A man was standing in front of me, blocking the exit from me. The fruit vendor? No…
My thoughts were interrupted as the man reached out—
"Wait, I didn’t steal—" I hurriedly spoke out, but the man ignored me.
He grabbed the cloth covering my face, and pulled it off me. My long black hair fell down the side of my face, and I rapidly closed and opened my eyes as my vision was no longer partially obscured.
I could see better now, and I saw it was not the fruit vendor, but the man whom I bumped into earlier. But wait… I slowly raised a hand up, and patted at my face— at the brand upon my skin. I froze.
"I knew it." The man’s voice was sharp.
Wha— how? How did he— I could feel my heart rate picking up as the man looked over me.
The man tossed the piece of cloth aside and grinned. "I knew I recognized that black hair. You can hide the Mancis Brand, but you can’t hide everything."
I took a step back, and the man took a step forward. Have I met him before? He continued.
"You! Because of you, my best friend and I were stationed in night duty. And now he’s dead. I’ll— I’ll make you pay for that."
My mind was spinning. Who is he? He seems... familiar. But I don’t remember…
"You were with the Beastkin, weren’t you? Yes. I remember. You’ll be worth a lot when I sell you. Maybe… 50 gold? Yes, you’ll make me rich."
With Rin and Shang? Wait— Then it all clicked. He was one of the two guards in Bys. The ones at the gate who inspected us. Apparently his friend died? Was it the twisted pedophile who ogled me? Good—
What are you doing, idiot? Run now, think later! I broke out of my stupor, and legged it.
"Come back here—"
The man lunged after me, but I stepped to the side. I ran down the alleyway, the man hot on my heels. I made my way to a corner, and continued on as fast as I could.
But I was only a kid. This was a grown adult. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him catching up fast. I grabbed a wooden crate full of disposed items, and threw it on the ground behind me. He stumbled for a second, but managed to regain his footing and was on my tail again.
I turned another corner, and then another. He was right behind me again by now. I ran around the next corner, and came face to face with two paths: left or right.
Right is always right… right?
Wrong. I ran down the right alley, and was met with a dead end with some clothes hanging in the building overhead. I heard the footsteps coming closer and closer. I didn’t think, I just moved.
I raised my hand, a magic circle already forming in it, and pulled. My mage hand yanked at the poles up top, dropped the clothes down.
The man turned the corner, but was immediately blinded by the falling laundry. He fumbled for his head, as I scrambled under him to the other side.
I looked up and saw a light at the end of the alleyway. I can do it. My legs burned as I sprinted for the exit—
A hand grabbed me from behind, and threw me further back into the darkness. "I’ve got you now."
I fell to the ground. I tried to pick myself up, but the man was holding me down.
"Don’t struggle, you’re only making it harder for the both of us."
I tried to back away, but he only pulled me closer. I felt my heart pounding in my chest, and tears falling from my eyes. No—
I instinctively raised my hand, releasing a bolt of blue magic at the man. The man’s head jerked. He saw the flash of light, and just barely dodged out of the way. The man froze, and so did I.
"That was… magic?" the man said in disbelief. Then it changed to horror. "You— you’re a heretic!"
"No! I’m—"
The man let go of me. He stumbled as he began to back awa
y.
"Heretic!" he shouted, voice full of terror. "Where are the guards? Where are the—"
The man spun around, and fled for the exit. I panicked. I raised my hand to shoot a second spell. But I hesitated. And so the man escaped—
A shadowed figure stood at the end of the alley, blocking the exit for the man. The man took a step back as the person entered the alley. It was a man.
A young man with blue hair and green eyes entered the alleyway. He was dressed in a light blue scapular worn over his darker shaded tunic, with a hood raised over his head. He had a small sack at his back, and a long wooden stick—- about as tall as he was— on his right hand.
The former guard from Bys walked up to this young man, and began to babble out in droves.
"Please, young man. You have to help me! Or get the guards— anything!" the man spoke wildly. He raised an arm and pointed back at me. "This little girl— she’s a heretic. One of them Demon lovers. She used— she did magic!"
The young man inclined his head to the side. "Magic?" he asked.
"Yes, magic! I saw it myself," the other man spoke hurriedly, "she’s—"
"She’s a Dark Acolyte." The younger man interrupted him. "And you’re scared of her. Even though she’s a little girl?" he asked.
"Yes!"
"I see." The young man nodded his head. "Do you think she might be one of the— ah, Dark Crusaders?"
"Huh— I don’t know! Just get the guards!"
"Hm, I don’t think I will do that."
"What?"
The other man stared at the young man, mouth agape; he tried to say something, but was immediately interrupted.
"You see, I don’t think the young lady has done anything wrong. She doesn’t seem very threatening, so it’s not anything worth calling the guards over. It’s not like she’s a Dark Crusader, right?"
"But she’s a heretic!" The man was outraged. "I don’t care if she’s a Dark Crusader— she does magic!" He stomped a foot down, and pointed at me emphatically.