The sun finally came out from under the horizon, slowly basking the whole town in its soft light. Some would say that the night was unusually calm and quiet to the point it was unsettling, but for someone like V who couldn't even lay one eyelid shut, it was a nightmare. The constant, persistent pain he was feeling kept him awake through most of the night.
"This was the last time when I left my bag anywhere unattended" he mumbled to himself, heavily breathing on his bed. "First thing, breakfast, second the alchemist," he said while getting up of the bed and getting ready to leave.
The sun just settled so naturally barely anyone was up to roam the streets or to open their shop. With nothing to do he left towards the town gate, planning to get some ingredients for breakfast and for the improvised medicine. Before he could leave to the forest, he was stopped and checked by the guards, just in case if he wasn't running away with stolen goods, after all his choice of clothing wasn't really citizen-friendly for the guard standards. Nonetheless, he got away scot-free, getting only a warning about monsters and bandits taking over some parts of the forest he was going to.
Night must have been cold since the icy air was lingering around the forest trees. It took some time but he found what he came for, well except the food part. He was hoping to save some coins but it seems unavoidable at this point. With filled makeshift pouch made out of cloth, he headed back to town. Of course, it wouldn't be a trip without being searched again by the guards who switched with their buddies after their shift ended.
"This is getting annoying" he sighed, to which one if the guards replied "Maybe get different clothes and maybe drop that mask while you are at it"
Well, he does have some coin on him so getting new clothes doesn't seem to be a far fetched idea but breakfast was still on top of his priorities as his stomach kept remember him through the whole trip that he only ate a sandwich yesterday, which lacked cheese because of this whole fool clad in shiny armor who threw a tantrum in the guild.
"To hell with that guy!" Shouted V, throwing his rag pouch on the ground in the spur of anger.
Guards were visibly confused as out of nowhere a hobo starts throwing his stuff around for no good reason. At least he wasn't bothering anyone and they weren't paid enough to deal with weirdos so ultimately they shrugged it off and ignored it.
V picked his bag and went towards the inn he stood at last night, hoping that the bar owner already let the kitchen stove roar with fire because he wasn't going anywhere until he got his belly filled to the brim.
When he entered the inn the bar owner was already polishing the glass beer mugs, "Oh, it's you, what can I get you, lad?" Said the owner, placing the mug back in place.
"Anything works as long it's filling," said V as he tossed few silvers coins.
Shocked, by the generosity the bartender insisted "Lad, that's way too much. The most expensive thing here cost one silver at best" explained the owner, pushing the rest of the coins back on the edge of the counter.
"Take the rest for the room expenses then, I feel like I won't this place any time soon" responded V.
With no more reason to argue any further, he took the coins "Will do" the bartender said, leaving the counter for a moment.
"For an inn, this place was fairly empty," noticed V as he sat to the table "maybe they are still rotting in beds? Whatever, more space to straighten my legs" he mumbled under his nose, borrowing another stool to place his legs on.
"Oi, this place might be empty now but have some manners will you?!" Shouted the owner from across the room, coming with a platter filled to the brim from what it seemed to be few kinds of cheeses, meats, and bread alongside a big mug of beer.
"Right, right" sighted V, taking his legs off and placing them stool to its original place.
"Now, eat up and get outta here. I have a lot of work to do today" said bartender while taking baskets filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables.
"Oh? Has some occasion arose?" He asked intrigued
"You don't know? The harvest festival is tomorrow" replied old man.
"Harvest season eh? Might be a good time to get some gear" responded V, slightly lifting his mask upward, enough for him to start stuffing his mouth with the food he was given.
"Gear? Perhaps but mostly food really. Now eat, I really don't have time" muttered owner as he was moving around boxes full of wine and neatly placing them on a shelf behind the counter. To his surprise, when he was turning around to grab another box of wine the man who was sitting at the table already vanished, leaving an empty mug and empty plate.
"Damn vagabonds, eating everything in a matter of flash" he muttered to himself.
The roads of Krim surely got more lively after he returned from his forest gathering as the town brimmed with life, countless people passing by, stalls selling various items and thief's stealing said items. That's just the charm of the bigger cities you usually see. Thievery is a common occurrence in a land of opportunity and when that doesn't work you can always turn into a more brute side of the spectrum. Not everyone might have chosen this path willingly but nobody forced them either. Such is life. Drowned in his own thought V didn't notice that his own feet dragged him under the doors of the guilds he joined the day before but that's a perfect opportunity. That's what he thought until he entered and was immediately swarmed by the crowd, shouting about some sort of duel. Confused he made his way through the flock of people, making his way to the quest counter where Ellen stood.
"Can you explain to me this whole duel thing, will you?" Asked V, in a very annoying voice.
"Well. You see-"
"You! The beast in the rags!" Someone shouted behind his back.
"Oh no" whispered Ellen, covering her face with hands.
"What?" Said V, turning around to face the voice. "Oh it's you"
"It is I, and I and only I will be the one who will put you back in place!" Shouted Roland placing his right hand on his chest and left lifting towards the ceiling for the dramatic effect.
"Go back to your master jester, I am in no mood for theatre spectacle" dismissed V.
"So you don't want this!" He shouted as he pulled from behind his back the very bag that V lost.
"Did he just snatched my bag when I was away yesterday?" asked V, facing embarrassed Elen.
"Yes, yes he did" she sighed.
"What a pain" he sighed with Ellen.
"Don't ignore-"
"Ye, whatever, you can have your little fight" interrupted V.
"What? Are you sure about that? Roland might act like a drama actress but he is actually quite skilled" perked up Elen from behind the window.
"I will take that as a compliment," said Roland with great pride.
"Nobody asked you" butted in V. "Ellen, I really don't have time right now and I need what's inside the bag"
"Ugh, I would rather that you didn't but fine" after Elen spoke those words she whistled using her fingers, filling the whole room with its loud sound.
"Boys, rearrange the tables, we will have some fight to feast our eyes on!" She shouted with an energy-filled voice. The room was shortly filled with combined voices of excitement and shouting and in no time the whole room was ready for what was about to happen. In this time both Roland and V took their time and prepared for the duel with was decided to be a fistfight since after the last time duelist used weapons it ended in a law enforcement intervening
Ellen came out from behind the counter and stood between the two. "Alright, boys! The first one to pass out is to be the one who loses! Is that clear?! Then go!" She shouted as she swung with a piece of white cloth
Roland wearing nothing more than his silk pants and his old pair shoes taunted "Are you that desperate for that bag eh?" Chuckled Roland "you better be ready for what comes next!" He shouted as he rose his fists
"The next thing that will come, is you bitting on splinters of this floor" replied V while taking off his cracked porcelain mask and his rag robe revealing that his whole upper body and arms are covered in bandages, the fact that he had another cloth-like mask on his head, resembling one of the executioners but his version only had one eyehole that looked like it was forcefully torn after someone stitched it back, revealing only part of his scruffed chin.
Soon after V spoke, Roland blitzed towards him, quickly closing the distance between them, but the closer he got the more his uneasy feeling grew. He felt it within himself, V wasn't planning to win this fight. No, he threw everything he had into this duel. His blood lust filled the room to the point where Roland was feeling sick, choking on the very air itself.
"He is no human, he is a monster!" Screamed Roland in his head, growing more uneasy and nervous.
Without realizing it he was already feet away from his enemy that overwhelmed him with his size alone but that didn't scare Roland he already fought monsters twice his size and the fact that he still has his ace up his sleeve, the weakness V shouldn't be aware that he knows off put him at ease. This fight is in Roland's pocket.
With a shitty grin he ducked over the punch that V threw in response of him repeatedly coming closer and immediately after that, he used this golden opportunity to pull uppercut, hitting the opponent in the chin, causing him to step back.
"This will be easy!" he thought, but that was quickly thrown under the horses when V threw a counter punch while he was backing off. Even when Roland managed the punch him, he didn't let his eye roll out of the sight of Roland and patiently waited for his turn. V knew he can't out dodge or outrun him but he is sure as hell he can beat him in the endurance fight. The force of the punch was strong enough to knock off Roland out of balance and was forced to grab on the edge of one of the tables that were rearranged for this duel.
His face went numb from the blow he received, numb yet filled with a piercing pain surging through every layer of his skull. "Games are over" he shouted while touching the bruised face with his hand. Filled with rage and hatred towards V he clenched his fist and in haste, he grabbed an item from the table, rushing back into the fight but this time he will come on top, he has to. Before he could react, Roland quickly froze in a place and threw whatever it was from the table, creating a black like dust that would hit him in the face if he didn't react quick enough to step back. It was biting his eyes but the urge to sneeze was irresistible, it must have been one of the spices that were spread around the tables that Roland threw at him.
"Now you are done for ragman" shortly after hearing those words Roland appeared before V, caught off guard he couldn't react fast enough to do anything and he paid for his mistake dearly as his opponent executed series of blows to his chest.
Seemingly one-sided fight turned upside down as V fallen to his knees gasping, coughing unable to catch any wind. An enormous pain pierced his lungs, spreading like a disease that he couldn't stop.
The crowd was amused that a behemoth such a V fell to his knees just after few punches to the chest. The whisper filled the room, soon after, laughs then mockery. " Heh, he ain't that tough as he seems," someone from the crowd said. "Hah, what a sissy" someone added in the feel of the moment.
It was honey for Roland's ears, now no random dog from the streets will try to stand up to him. "How does it feel? Being limited to such a degree where you can barely move a finger?" He asked as he started to go around V who was on his knees, coughing his lungs out.
"Huh? I don't hear any answer!" He screamed, kicking V in the stomach, losing his ground he fell on the floor and the coughing became even more intense to the degree where blood and saliva mixed together was running down his mask on the floor. "You are nothing and you never be anything in this town until I stay on top vermin!" He shouted as he rose his arms into the air, demanding the praise from the observers.
Yet something dared to interrupt his bliss, a tight grip was placed on his right shoulder, he was forcefully turned back and saw V who didn't waste his time and paid back with the same punch to the stomach. The blow made his whole body tremble as the air from his lungs was forcefully pushed out. He thought he was going to throw up but the only thing that came out was his saliva and his will to live. He was complete mercy of his enemy but it doesn't seem like V had any left as he was relentless in his assault when he saw that Roland was barely standing on his feet. He grasped Roland's hand and using massive force he bashed his head with his own making cracking sound enough to fill the room. Roland crashed into the ground, the world around him was blurred, he felt lightheaded, sound distorted "what's going on?", "What was that sound?" The questions filled his head. In act of panic, he started to crawl back until he hit the end. He slowly stood up on his feet using the wall as support as he was still trying to recollect what just happened. His legs were shaking like they were made of flimsy wood, the whole body trembled under the pressure of the whole situation. When he came to his senses it was too late. V grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up for the whole audience to see.
"Hahaha he did you good Roland, you surely don't have to worry about your nose being crooked no more" someone from the crowd burst in a laugh.
"What he could mean? No, he didn't" thought Roland as the anger surged through. "There is no way" he kept denying "but that crack, no, no!" Roland grasped V hands as he was struggling for air. "You swine" he mumbled to his opponent as he started to slither like a worm, repeatedly hitting V arms with his fists.
Roland's body couldn't handle this lack of oxygen and slowly started to lose his consciousness as the last breath was slowly pulled from him. In the last act of desperation, he spit on V but that didn't matter to him, he didn't budge one bit by the fact that someone just spat on a piece of cloth he was wearing. In fact, that amused him as he started to chuckle a bit, giving Roland a short window to pull out a hidden shiv from his pants and stabbed him in the stomach with doing so his grip loosened and he was free again, gasping for air on the floor. The mercs who watched the whole affair rushed in to stop the two but it was too late. V took out the knife and threw it on the floor. The anger overtook his sense of reasoning, he said nothing, he felt nothing. He grabbed Roland by the neck and swung him through the wall of the quest counter, crushing it like it was a sandcastle. Splinters and wood debris filled the floor around Roland who was lying unconscious, broken. The tides had turned. V blinded by his rage grabbed the very knife she was attacked with and slowly made his way through the hole in the wall. His breath became heavy and his movement sloppy as the strength was leaving him. Before he could finish what he started, he was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the mercenaries that pushed him down on the ground and pinned him to the floor, completely restricting any form of movement. Weirdly enough, he didn't resist, he didn't say a word. He gave away one last intense stare and passed out as well.