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Chapter 9 - The Clammy Witch

Amidst the heat of Tristram's summer, Joa hung his head towards his rumbling stomach. Knights of various rankings pushed him off into the dirt. He collapsed, staring over, groveling in self-pity. If only he had power, he could become a soldier and rise to the knight rankings.

Instead, he is forced to work labor jobs, making barely enough for a loaf of bread every other day. Was it the curse of being a commoner of the southern district? Or just a curse of being weak? If only he could obtain one of those runes, he would be able to take its power for his own. But that was just a dream.

A long blonde-haired knight passed by. She tossed some coins at his head. To his surprise, it was enough to buy a full course meal. Surely he could regain some strength to work harder and earn more labor money.

Joa rose to his knees, bowing his head, "Thank you! Thank you"!

It was embarrassing for the great Knight Sophie. She looked away, ignoring Joa and his oily short hair. It was obvious he hadn't had a bath in over a month. Though he was definitely well-toned, his skin was discolored with dirt and God knows what else.

Once the knights had passed he worked his faint body up and began walking down the road to a cheap restaurant he knew of. He fumbled every step, thinking of what he was going to get from the value menu.

There was a rotten smell that caught his attention. No, not the dead guy he passed a few blocks back. A familiar, living, rotten smell. One that his nostrils and buried into his little nose for the remainder of his day. Its decay resembled a pig-sized frog that was murdered in a bag and left in the sun over summer.

Everyone in town knew that smell. It was an old beggar that made her way around, asking for pocket change. Given she couldn't even speak half the time. Nobody knew how she survived. Never did she eat, drink, sleep, or even collected money. Her eyes cave in, resembling a creature of nightmares.

Could anybody make it past her smell? The thought of how this old hag even makes it day to day rested on Joa's head. He couldn't walk away, knowing that she was so helpless.

After taking in a deep breath, he walked over, hoping not to smell her up close. He couldn't get over how stupid it was to give away some of what little money he had. If he really gave this old rusty thing half his money, he would be stuck eating bread for the week.

He stood in front of the nasty old clammy pink mangle-haired hag, holding out his money. But she refused to take it.

He reluctantly shook the change in his hand, "Here... You can have it".

The old woman shook her head, "I need help".

He attempted to not breathe out so much, "Here... I'm helping you".

Again, she shook her head, "Can... you... help".

Tears fell from his eyes. The burn from her stench was too great. The white dress she wore was faded to black, brown, and yellow stains. Her face was filled with pimples and scabs all about.

"I'm trying to help you," he cried, tasting the toxic air from her body.

The hag stared blankly out as though she was blind, "I need... your body... I'll give... magic".

Even her voice was disgusting, resembling a cow with its throat cut out.

Joa simply wished to leave her side, "Okay. I'll do it".

A smile came to the hag's face as her trembling hands rose up to his face. They felt clammy like fish that rotted in a street puddle. There was a light that shined from her hands. It blinded him for a moment, taking away all the energy he had to even move.

Meanwhile, the old hag's hands stopped trembling. He batted his eyes, finding his lids to be heavy.

She smiled up at him, "It worked. I can move freely now". She clapped her hands, "I took your strength in exchange for giving you devastating magical powers".

Joa felt a migraine throb at his temples. His hands were now trembling just as the old woman's did before. There was a knowledge surging in his head. One that lifted his spirit despite his physical state.

"What did you..." he stopped, holding out a hand.

He created a fire in the palm of his shaking hand. Its flame grew hotter, even more immense. Only to be cooled to a frost eased the summer heat for the both of them. Joa couldn't believe it. But at the expense of his body, he was now able to cast magic. And not just any magic. He withheld the limit of his power greatly to not cause anyone harm.

It wasn't enough. He forced his palm up, aiming it away to shoot out a lightning bolts that blew a crater into the ground. That crater was larger than any carriage he had seen. With something like this, he could take on bounty missions easily. Crowds of people gathered, watching the smoke rise from the dirt.

"You want your strength back?" she asked.

He nodded, "Yes I do".

"Then head out and find me a red dragon's bone. I'll use it to restore your physical body. And who knows. Maybe then I can help you gain more power to surpass the knights".

The power inside of him was already enough to accomplish more than enough labor work for a living. And after living his whole life being weak, he didn't mind living like this. Sure, taking on the task of slaying a dragon was startling. But being granted the opportunity to become stronger than any knight was a chance of a lifetime that he couldn't pass.