Chapter 14: Old Men (IV)

Moonlight shone over half of the man’s face, revealing gaunt cheekbones and an ugly, jagged scar that ran down from his nose to his chin. A mop of tanned hair flowed down to his shoulders, parting to reveal a pair of sunken eyes. 

The low hum of mana anchored my thoughts, and I saw as he.. looked away?

He glanced towards the doorway, and then let out a small breath. “Come on over.”

There was a pause, and then another flash of light. A woman crawled out from the fireplace this time. 

She immediately bent over and began to retch.

The man looked at her. “You alright there, Nell?” 

"Yea, shit." The woman named Nell stumbled up, clutching her stomach.  "The damn old man didn’t mention any nausea.”

“I had my suspicions.”

“Suspicions?” 

“He was smiling too much.”

Intruders, and they had an accomplice - someone from inside the house. I took a step back. Was it Sir Alfred? The last time I’d seen him, he’d almost turned me into a living popsicle, so it wasn’t out of the question.

I clenched my fist. I was in no condition to fight, and let alone two, I wasn’t even confident in taking one of them on. Where was Victoria? 

Nell was standing now, and she ran her hands through straw-colored hair. “Could’ve told me earlier.”

“No point. Come on, let’s get this done.” Beric began to walk.

The two moved, until Nell stopped.

She stood over the slumbering boy, her eyes open in surprise. “Beric, come here.”

Beric lumbered back with a slight limp, and then stopped. “That’s strange.”

“Strange? No, strange is a misplaced kitchen pot. This.” She pointed downwards. “Is an error. You told me there was no one here.”

“No one of importance. I scanned for any mana signatures when I arrived, and found nothing.”

“You didn’t scan hard enough,” Nell hissed. “The mission’s supposed to be quick - get the food, and get out.”

“And an unawakened boy changes this, how?”

“He could call for help! A single word, and a dozen knights would charge in, eyes gleaming, for the opportunity to wipe out a couple of commonborn rats!”

She moved towards the fireplace. “We should abort, before anyone-”

A colorless aura wrapped itself around Beric’s hand. “We stay until we complete the mission.” 

He reached down slowly for the boy, and my thoughts began to race.

Somehow, they hadn't noticed me. Beric knew how to use mana, and so any resistance would be futile. I couldn’t find Victoria.

But, the boy might be my only clue. If anything happened to him, I'd be stranded without a single lead on how to solve the quest. I readied my self. If I moved, I could stall for time. Wait for any servant to get here, or for Victoria to return. I just had to move. 

Beric grabbed the boy’s collar. He brought his other hand up like a knife, the aura sharpened to a single, deadly point.

To move.

Finely tuned threads flickered out near the boy's throat.

To..

A slender hand grabbed Beric’s arm, dirty cloth scrunched in between pale fingers.

“What..” Nell’s voice was low. “Do you think you’re doing?”

His eyes floated down to her hand. “Solving the problem.”

“Solving? Are you dull?” She spat. “Killing him will leave your mana splattered all over the scene.”

“Weren’t you complaining about his presence?”

“I was recognizing a risk factor.” She sighed. “Fine. Just.. just knock him out and toss him somewhere hidden.”

I stood there in deafening silence. I.. stayed still. I was going to let a child die. 

Shock ran through me. During that moment, any thoughts of pros and cons, of logical reasonings and mental justifications had disappeared. All that was left was the blank stare of death. It was a cold, sobering reminder of my circumstances.

I was no hero. I was just a kid torn from his world, dancing to the whims of a mercurial deity. 

I watched as Beric wrenched the boy up into the light.

“Let’s look at the rat.”

Silver rays illuminated his features, and Beric chuckled. “His cheeks are plump, clearly well-fed. Tell me, Nell. Our toils allow for his lifestyle, and yet what have we received? Nothing."

“Beric.” 

"I fought in the war, you know? I shed my blood for the nobles, and for what? For them to hoard, and hide, and hate."

"Beric!"

“What now?” He growled.

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Nell’s voice trembled. “Put the boy down.” Her tone was different from before, the exasperation replaced by an abject fear. 

“That's.. I know him. I used to catch glimpses of him when I worked as a maid. Blond hair, those features.. he’s the Luncan heir.”

At her words, a jolt ran through my mind, clearing away my thoughts. 

“The heir?” Beric’s eyes narrowed. “Why would the heir to one of the Great Ducal Houses be laying on some cold stone floor at this hour?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure of it. I remember his face. We need to leave, right now.”

Beric manifested his mana again. “I told you, we stay until we-”

“This isn’t about your ego anymore you fucking moron!” Nell shouted. “If we don’t leave now, we’ll be strung up and left for the damn griffins.” 

 “I’m not like you, okay? I have things to protect, people who need me.”

“Leave then,” Beric said coldly.

There was a pause. “Beric..”

“You speak of death, Nell? The way I see it, we were all condemned the moment the Archmage abandoned us.” 

“Isn’t that right.." A sliver of Beric’s aura shot out, scratching the boy’s cheek. "Little prince?"

 A pair of charcoal eyes opened as a drop of blood dribbled down snow-white skin. 

They were filled with resolve, but at the same time, I could see fear. Hairs all over my body stood straight up. I could feel fear. 

His small hands wrapped into fists. “Mother hasn’t abandoned anyone.”

Beric grinned. “Your whore mother has abandoned us all. She ran off with the hero and left us commoners to die as demon slop.”

“You’re wrong! She’s coming back.. she promised me.”

“Is that so? Well then, we’d better-”

“Can you stop you fucking maniac!” Nell interrupted.

Her eyes flitted wildly, the panic plain to see. “We still have time, if we leave right now, they won’t have time to catch us. Or, take the boy hostage. If you threaten his life, they won’t be able to-”

An object sliced through the air, and a knife pierced through Nell’s head. Blood splattered across the floor, creating a horrid, crimson tapestry.

A young man in a black chef’s uniform, no older than twenty-five, stood in the opened doorway.

“Just close your eyes, Young Master,” Theodore said grimly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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