Ben and Angus continue on the path towards the next town, leaving behind the forest that was once covered in heavy mist, and infested with deadly wraiths. Angus walks strong while cheerful humming a pleasant tune, as Ben follows behind him feeling exhausted.
"How long til' we get to the next town?" asked Ben, with his face covered in sweat and his eyes reflecting a night without sleep, trailing a few feet behind Angus.
"Come on, were almost there. Besides we've only been walking for eight hours." exclaimed Angus, full of energy.
"I know that we are not exactly normal, but even by that standard this can't be normal." Ben thinks to himself as he drags his feet forward.
A few minutes pass until they see the next town.
"Hey look Ben we're here!" shouts Angus as he calls on Ben making his way slowly towards him.
As Ben stands beside Angus, he sees a wide, clear river. So clear, that the light from the sun made it sparkle. It was almost as if the stars were caught in the stream. Stretching across the river was a stone bridge that lead to a beautiful town.
"This is the town of Timisoara." said Angus.
Seeing the beautiful town almost made Ben forget about his fatigue. "It's beautiful." said Ben. As they crossed the bridge, Ben breathed in the fresh air, looking at the beautiful river below.
As they entered the town, they could see small restaurants, cozy homes, and finally an inn. When they entered the inn they were greeted by warm welcomes of the staff. "Welcome to Tellus Inn!" they all said cheerfully. They checked in and they were guided to their room by a beautiful, young lady, whose eyes were a bright blue, her skin as radiant as the moon, and her lips looking as soft as a rose petal. Her beauty enchanted Ben, it was as if time had slowed down for just a moment for him to appreciate her beauty a little longer.
"If you gentlemen would like to get a hot bath there is a hot spring at the back, and if you wish to eat or anything else please don't hesitate to inform us." said the kind, young woman.
"Thank you very much miss!" replied Angus
"May we have your name miss? I-Its just it would be easier to talk to you that way." asked Ben giving a nervous yet charming smile.
"Oh...M-My name is Agnes sir, Agnes Sanctus." says the girl as her cheeks start to glow red "U-Uhm anyway enjoy your stay!" Agnes left attending to her duties. As Ben shuts the door, he turns to find Angus grinning at him.
"What?"
"Well well...aren't we good at being friendly." Angus said chuckling to himself.
"What? I just thought it would be more polite to call her by her name." says Ben as he blushed feeling a little embarrassed.
"Whatever you say. I can't really blame you if you like her. She is a beautiful woman." said Angus still chuckling, turning to his bed.
Ben blushes, feels a strange sensation, and couldn't think straight. He had never felt anything like this before. He pondered on it. However, what concerned him more was the feeling he had right now, which was exhaustion. He leaped on the bed full of joy, and almost instantly fell asleep.
He falls to his dreams, awakening into a whole new world in his mind. He found himself in a field of flowers, the wind blowing through them gently, and sky was bright and blue. He stood on the field finding himself younger. He looks around to see two figures in the distance calling to him.
"Ben! Sweety, over here!" says a woman in a voice like silk.
"Mom? Dad?" Ben says in disbelief, which quickly turned to joy as he ran, waving his hands, yelling "Mom! Dad!"
As he ran to his loving parents full of joy, the sky suddenly turned pitch black, the flowers withered away, and fire surrounded his parents. The trees burned, and the ashes flew through the air. Ben's joy quickly turned to terror. His parents call out to him as burning branches fall toward them, yelling "Ben! Ben! Ben!"
"Ben!" says Angus waking Ben up from his nightmare. "You ok? You were shaking."
Ben sits up covered in cold sweat. "I-I'm ok. It was just a nightmare."
"Oh...a nightmare huh? Well, it's about time for dinner. After that we can hit the hot spring to calm your nerves."
"It's nothing really, but that does sound nice." Ben replies smiling.
Ben hops out of bed, and puts on his boots and his jacket. As he puts on his jacket, he recalls his dream, his mother, and his father. The terrors of his nightmare filled his thoughts. He and Angus then left their room to have a nice dinner in the Inn's restaurant. The food was great, the staff was friendly, and wonderful music played through the air from a group of travelling musicians drinking across the room. Even in this great atmosphere, Ben still feels shook by the dream he had.
"Hey Ben. You sure you are feeling ok?" Angus asked as he puts down his food
"Not really..."
"What's bothering you? The nightmare?"
"Yea...it was about my parents..."
"What about your pare-"
"Uhm excuse me..would you gentlemen like some dessert?" interrupted a lovely voice.
"M-Ms. Sanctus. Good evening." Says Ben nervously, caught off guard by the sight of this lovely woman.
"You can call me Agnes!" she says with a beautiful smile "Though I don't know your name."
"It's Ben, Ben Parvus.....t-this is my friend Angus Clemmens."
"Good evening Agnes." Says Angus bowing his head to the enchanting, young lady.
"So, would you both like some dessert? We have some lovely strawberry cake."
"Well...I would but the thing is I'm kind of full right now." says Ben
"Oh that isn't a problem I can have it wrapped for you." she says cheerfully
"S-Sure. I'd love some." Ben stuttered.
"Alright then, I'll be right back." She turns and walks away to retrieve the cake, and as she turns a lovely fragrance passes through the air. Ben breaths in the pleasant aroma, his mind becomes calm, and the worries clear, like dark clouds fading to a bright sky. Seeing her somehow helped Ben calm down and smile.
Agnes arrives with the cake in a paper bag in her hands. "I-I hope you enjoy it!" she says cheerfully.
"Thank you so much....Agnes." said Ben as both of them blush, unable to look directly at each other.
Angus stares at them both, smiling, thinking "Ahh young love."
The two walk towards the hot springs found at the back of the inn. Ben, with the strawberry cake kept in the pocket of his jacket, walks with a smile on his face.
"Well...I have to say, you two make a good couple." Angus annouced
"Uhh...what do you mean?" replied Ben feeling nervous
"You can't fool me Ben. You l-l-l-like her don't you?" Angus teased.
"I-It's not like that! B-Besides, I don't know what to do even if I did."
"Well just be yourself. Make an impression. Do something she won't forget."
They both walk out the back of the inn to see a path of stone leading up to a large hot spring. The air was filled with steam. Smooth rocks surround the steaming hot water, and just across the wall of rocks was a shallow stream of water. The two strip down, leaving their clothes on top of the rocks. Angus unwraps his bandage revealing three wounds made from the wraith's claws. It appeared better than before, like it was almost healed.
"Hey your arm, its almost better?" asked Ben, amazed how a deep wound was healing that quickly.
"One of the perks of being us. Scratches like this can be healed at a faster rate than normal.
However, you can still be killed if you were stabbed or anything more serious. So be careful." Angus explained entering the water.
Ben followed in the water. As soon as he sets foot in the pool of steaming water, it was as if all the stress, and pains in his body were being drawn out the pores of his skin. The sensation engulfed his whole body, completely relaxing him.
"Ahh this is amazing." He exclaimed.
They both took a deep breath and exhaled "Ahhhhhhhhh!"
As the steam carried off their stress, a boy on a wheelchair rolled over as quietly as he could. The boy reaches over for Ben's jacket, trying to snatch it until he was noticed.
"I could feel you coming from the the back entrance of this inn. What do you want? said Angus in a calm cheerful manner to the boy in the wheelchair now clutching Ben's jacket.
"Well this looks like an expensive jacket so I though i could sell it for a quick buck." said the boy grinning.
"Hey! That's mine, it belonged to my father. You can't sell it." insisted Ben
"I may be on a wheelchair but you can't catch me. So long suckers!" he says as he swiftly rolls himself away.
Without thinking, Ben jumps out the hot spring and chased after him.
"Wait Ben!" Angus yelled, but is unheard "Well, he'll find out the hard way." Angus lays back down and enjoys the hot spring.
The boy made it back at the entrance of the inn. "Piece of cake. And Bonus! An actual piece of cake." Then suddenly from behind him he hears "GEEEEEET BAAACK HEEEERE!" He turns to find Ben running towards him.
"This guy is insane!" he thinks to himself "Oh crap I gotta go!" He dashes forward in his wheelchair as Ben chases him. He looks back and says to Ben "You can't catch me dude, give up! Before you embarrass yourself." he said laughing.
As he turns, Agnes walked on to his path, not noticing him. "Agnes! Move!" Agnes was shocked and couldn't think to move out of the way. The boy pulled the breaks to his wheelchair to a sudden halt, causing him to fall over.
"Just what are you doing Syliss?! You shouldn't be causing trouble here. Where did you get that?" asked Agnes scolding the boy. Then approaching from behind a voice gradually got closer yelling.
"Come back here! Give me back my jacket!"
"Oh it's you Mr. Parvus. I'm sorr-" Agnes blushed and turned around quickly.
"Agnes whats wrong?" Ben stops and realizes he's been running naked. "WHAT HAVE I DONE!? He thinks to himself. His face turns completely red in embarrassment, and he covers his lower region with his hands.
"U-Uhm I didn't see anything! S-Sorry! I-I mean..." she picks up the jacket and throws it to Ben. "Here put this on!"
"Oh my jacket! Thank you." Ben quickly wrapped the jacket around his waist.
"What were you doing Syliss!?" she said scolding the boy trying to make it up of his wheelchair.
"That's what I would also like to know." Inserted Angus who just arrived, fully dressed and bringing Ben's clothes. "Here get dressed. Unless you are more comfortable that way?" said Angus with a teasing grin as he tossed Ben his clothes.
They all went back to the room along with Agnes, and the boy in the wheelchair called Syliss. Ben had finished changing and joined the three in the room.
"I am so sorry!" said Agnes
"Why are you sorry? It was this guy who tried to steal my jacket." inserted Ben
"You apologize too!" yelled Agnes, forcing the boy to bow his head.
"There's no need for that. He shouldn't apologize if he doesn't want to. It would be insincere if he did." Angus said
"So, how do you know this guy? asked Ben
"He and I were from the same orphanage. We were friends. When I was adopted I couldn't see him so often but I still visited."
"Tsk. I'm sorry I took your jacket. I just wanted to get some money." hissed Syliss, feeling uneasy "To be honest, I didn't think you would try to chase me naked."
"That's not how you apologize for stealing." Ben thinks to himself feeling annoyed. He puts on a smile and says "Why do you steal anyway? What happens if you get caught?"
"Are you kidding? No one suspects the boy on the wheelchair. Besides I can still move pretty fast." Syliss explained.
"So why are you stealing?"
"Why do you think? I can't get a good job around here. Just a bunch of people telling me to go to that institution."
"Institution?" asked Angus.
"Around here, people with disabilities are placed in an institution. They are cared for there." said Agnes
"No! It's just another prison. Just like that orphanage. No one wants me. They just lock me up in some room." argued Syliss. His mood turned to rage "I'm leaving."
"Syliss.." Agnes said calling him back.
"I said I'm leaving! What else do you want!?"
They fell silent. Syliss leaves and a moment of silence filled the room. Agnes then walked out the door and said "I'm sorry for all the trouble. I'll be headed home now."
"W-Wait...it's late. Let me take you home." said Ben.
"Oh no. You must be tired. Besides I can manage myself."
"I'm sorry Agnes but we can't have a lady walk home at night alone. Ben take her home." urged Angus winking at Ben.
"Well, shall we?" Ben asked
"Alright. Thank you so much." replied Agnes smiling
Before they exit the door Angus gives Ben a thumbs up and a wink as if to say "Good Luck." Ben and Agnes walk through the streets beneath the full moon, and the stars shining brightly in the sky. They walked for a few minutes until they reached a a small, cozy home.
"This is it." said Agnes
"You have a nice home."
Looking into each others eyes, as the breeze blew through the air, together they say to each other "Good night."
Meanwhile at the edge of the city a man covered in blood, limps his way to town. "I've got to keep going." He said to himself, as he forces his way forward. As he passes an alley, he sees Ben walking in the distance. In desperation he yells. "Sir! Excuse me, Sir! You have to help me!" As he ran, a small sack fell off his belt. Ben sees the man covered in blood and runs to him. The man makes it to Ben's arms, collapsing from using all the energy he had left.
"Please kind sir. Hide me. I must not be found. They are after me! Please!" blurted the man, as he finally loses consciousness.
Seeing the severe wounds the man has, Ben lifts him up and rushed forward, although struggling with the man's weight. He finally arrives at the entrance of the Inn and was greeted by the staff "Welco-"
"Help this man! He is severely injured!" yelled Ben exhausted from running. The staff lifts the man off of Ben's arms and rushed him to their clinic. A staff member approaches him. "Sir would you like a glass of water?"
"I'm fine. Will that man be ok?"
"We'll see what we can do. We will treat his wounds and someone will be going to fetch a doctor."
Ben sits down trying to absorb what he just heard from the man. Why was he that severely hurt? And why did he want to be hidden?
Back in town, where Ben had run in to the wounded man, Syliss happened to pass by. He notices a small leather sack. He picks it up wondering what could be inside. "What's this?" he says to himself. "Well its mine now, along with this cake those idiots seemed to have forgotten about."
He rolls himself to an old wooden house. He enters the house and turned on a lamp. "Home sweet home." he says, rolling his chair beside a bed. He struggles a bit as he lifts himself off the chair, and on to the bed. He grabs the paper bag with the strawberry cake inside, feeling excited to taste it. However, his curiosity stopped him from eating the cake as he reached for the small sack he found on the ground.
He unties the piece of string holding the small bag shut, and flips it over. He opens his hand and a strange, small gem falls on to his palm, glowing with a strange symbol appearing on it.