It was a sunny day, the weather was hot enough to scald a lizard, hotter than a stolen Tamale. As the day wore on, humid, sweat, drenching, oppressive heat. Even the trees were looking for shade. The oceans refused to hug the shoreline because of the heat. Vesnar* songs were being sung just for the memories and the wishes of being cold. The corn fields looked as it had snowed, so hot the corn popped on the ear. The lakes had boiled away yesterday, the locusts were begging for respite. Death Valley is cooler than it is here at night. No clouds in the sky. Everyone complained at the Saracen's head as they found it the only refuge possible left to escape the sun burns. It was the most famous tavern in Landnor. While the people were cursing Miva* and the sun, a young man was sitting calmly as he was drinking his last cup of beer peacefully. He was wearing a black coat and had a birth mark on his right hand.
" Damn, Miva is blessing us today, too much blessings for this hell, right Marbas ? "
" Hein ? I guess so Mr. Benet "
" You don't talk too much right ? Time passed quickly I still remember your voices running from me after stealing food. You were some nasty little thiefs but I loved you anyways ! You were just an unlucky and innocent orphans "
" Those were some nice memories indeed ! "
" Are the others doing well ? "
" Well, I lost contact to them for years "
" I truly hope they're doing okay. And you too Marbas you're always welcomed here ! "
" Yeah, I hope so and thank you "
" HEY OLD MAN ! GIVE ME TWO CUPS OF BEER, I WANT THEM SO COLD "
It was the most famous bandit's chief in Ofsida, William the huge. He was arrogant, a man with no honor. His hands were huge, they can crush any neck so easily. He wasn't well mannered as he lived his childhood as a bastard, joining gangs and escalating scales, raping and assaulting, steeling and murdering until he become his own's boss.
" HURRY UP OLD MAN, GIVE ME YOUR SHITTY BEER BECAUSE I'M DONE WAITING "
Marbas hated this kind of people, this guy deserves dying but not right now.
" WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT FOOL ? "
Marbas replied with a famous citation he loved : " Sooner or later, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences ."
Will had a rage, he grabbed the boy by his massive hands and pull him to the air and whispered to his ears : " LISTEN SMARTASS, I THINK YOU WERE MISTAKING ME TO SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THE HELL I AM. I'M GONNA TEAR THAT LONG TONGUE OF YOURS IF YOU SPEAK ANOTHER WORD, UNDERSTOOD WHORIE ? "
Mr.Benet interfered :
" No please Will, not at my place ! "
" SHUT YOUR MOUTH OLD MAN. HE'S LUCKY I'M IN A GOOD MOOD, BUT IT CAN CHANGE WHETHER HE WANT IT OR NOT, IT'S UP TO HIM. GO AHEAD SLATTERN, SPILL SOMETHING FROM THAT DIRTY MOUTH SO I CAN BREAK IT "
Mr. Benet looked at Marbas as he was telling him to not make trouble for his sake, for the tavern :
" Marbas please don't ! "
Marbas remained confident and calm.
" THAT'S WHAT I THOUGH, YOU'RE JUST A SNATCH. PISS OF AND DON'T COMEBACK OR ELSE THERE WILL BE SOME BAD CONSEQUENCES ! "
" Marbas please leave ! I don't want to see you never again on my tavern ! "
Marbas remained silent as he was leaving the place.
°° Peasants never learn to shut their mouth, he's lucky I have a mission ! °° this was his voice thinking.
" MARBAS ! OVER HERE ! " Five kids waved at him as they were playing with swords close to the church.
" Hey what's up ! Long time no seen Tristan, Gareth, Perceval, Gwein and Lamorak. Where are the others ? "
" They have history classes ! Master would you join us. It's you who teached us sword skills after all ! "
" I would like too but I should talk to Robert "
Bishop Robert was one of the important people in the circle, responsible for Landnor recruiting. His church is in Ofsida, the biggest city in Landnor. He's a man of power and a mentor for young Marbas. He fakes people with his innocent and angelic look because he was so charming. But deep down he was a cruel monster who sends innocent children to Pruinae. The city of the military service of the circle. He recruits orphans with specific requirements as they brainwash them to become murderers and soldiers. There is a certain exam where they test strength, speed and intelligence. Whoever scores a major point in one of these three he gets selected. However, Marbas scored a major point in all of them what made him this generation's miracle. He was the precious solider of the circle. Another special thing about him that he was born with a gift, he can see other's auras. The bishop's aura was evil, slavery, whoredom and murdering. Marbas always hated him.
" What do you have for me Robert ? "
" Oh my sweet child, my precious Marbas, my genius work of art ! Congratulations on getting your last mission as a circle prodigy ! "
" I don't have time for chitchat Robert ! Get to the point ! "
" Where are your manners boy ? Or did you forgot I was your mentor ? "
Marbas grabbed his red dagger and pushed the bishop into the wall :
" Listen you bastard ! I always saw your truth. I know you're the most heartless man, sending innocent children to that hell and selling your girls to the rapists. You're lucky the circle still needs you or else I swear by all what is divine that I'll be glad to stitch this dagger to your hearth "
" Okey, okay just let go of me ! There's a carriage passing at night by the woods, it belongs to Lord Weinberg. He is traveling to Capudinem with his wife and his only daughter Aerith Weinberg. Your mission is to bring Aerith alive to the church, don't save her parents, because the circle only wants the girl. Understood Marbas ? "
Marbas turned his back to the bishop as he was leaving.
" YOU DEAR TURN YOUR BACK ON ME BASTARD ! YES YOU'RE A BASTARD. THE BASTARD OF THAT GUY HABORYN*, THAT'S WHY YOU WERE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HIM. DO YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOU ? "
Still Marbas didn't respond and left with no reaction on the bishop's saying.
" Big brother you're leaving already ! Please stay with us, just a little ! "
" I wish I can strong men but I think you can handle yourself because you're my subordinates after all. Lamorak can I trust you to take care of your brothers. Take this it's a shining stone if you ever need my help just break it okay ? "
" nooooo " the kids were decieved as their big brother will leave again.
" Don't be so upset your big brother must kick some asses ! Say hi for me to the others okay ? "
" May the gods be ever in your favor big brother ! "
°° Gods, hmm. I doubt they ever existed °° Marbas was thinking.
The promised time came. It was night but something was strange : everything was calm, no sign of bandits or Emma. He saw some blood stains.
" Oh no, fuck ! I'm late ! "
He followed the blood stains through the woods and infiltrated like a silent shadow but what he found was not expected at all. It was a massacre ! He was suprised. The two parents were dead but there were multiple bandit's corpses next to their corpses. He found Will huge's corpse laying on the ground and his cock was cut. There was some horror on his facial expressions, it's like he faced a nightmare before he died. Marbas sat on the ground gaze at the dead body, he recognized him and said once again : " Soon or later, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences "
He added :
" Oh, destiny, Karma, you keep suprising me day after day ! "
Marbas suddenly was terrified. He saw a strange figure with a long white robe and a goat mask walking in front of him, it suddenly disappeared. What was confusing is that he couldn't see no aura. Marbas starts doubting his abilities, he starts overthinking and analyzing . He snapped out of his terror when he heared a girl's crying voice. This voice made him wake up from his delusion or was it really a delusion ? He followed the sound, he found a young girl full of blood having a trauma with a knife on her hand. She was trembling with fear. Marbas finally realized the situation, she killed them all ! He took his coat off and gave it to her as he was trying to calm her down : " This coat will make you a brave and a strong woman "
The girl stopped crying and was speachless, she saw him yet she felt very familiar. He had her same powers, no, maybe his powers are far greater and scarier than hers. She starts speaking : " Aren't you afraid of me ? Look at my face, it's a monster's face, I am a monster who killed this men "
her left eye was dark with a red pupil and a golden horn popped up from her left side of her head. It's like her left side was not her body at all, it was a monster's body.
Marbas wasn't afraid from her, instead he smiled and replied :
" Each one of us has a monster living inside. It's a question of whether we overcome it or not "
The girl blushed :
" So you don't think I'm an ugly monster ? "
Marbas replied :
" No "
The girl suddenly began to catch feelings for that strange guy, he was very charming and gentle, she starts admiring all of his dimensions, his wavy dark hair, his beautiful green eyes, he was like a moon living that keeps shining in all of this darkness. She saw hope on that guy. It's normal, she was ignored by everyone who saw her dark side except for this guy, maybe he liked her or maybe he has it too, maybe worse ! She then saw her parent's corpses and had an urge of crying again.
" They killed them ! They tried to rape me ! "
He then hugged her tightly :
" And they got what they deserved ! Let's leave for now ! "
He carried her in his arms and brought her to the church, she admired him a lot, a true love from the first sight ! She saw him like as her charming prince, her guardian angel, her only light of hope. When they got to the church before he'll leave to Pruinae to give a report for his mission he said : " Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what does inside of us while we live. Never lose yourself Aerith ! "
And from that day he never heared anything from her as he was busy completing his training in Pruinae to become a circle elite.
Two years passed, a new member was presented to the circle. Her name was Emma. °°Oh my God it's her, it's the same aura, she looks a little bit different, maybe she cut her hair ! °°
She suddenly approached to him and said : " Long time no seen my dear charming prince. Miss me already ? "
Vesnar* : God of Snow and Ice in Nuabya's mythology
Miva* : goddess of flames and sun in Nuabya's mythology
Haboryn* : He was rated as the most dangerous man living in Nuabya, he was one of the great leaders of the circle, yet he abounded them. Also he is wanted from the royal palace of an unknown crime he committed twenty years ago and no one knows the reason why except for the king and his companions. The circle is chasing him because he has all their secrets. Marbas is also chasing that guy for unknown reasons.
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" Give me a good reason why I shouldn't slain you Emma "
" Big brother stop ! What are you doing ? This girl saved me ! " Emma remained silent
" Terric, she is an elite assasin of the circle ! They're called Hydras*. But Emma you can't change some things am I right ? "
Emma suddenly changed her shape and facial expressions, Terric was shocked from what he saw ! She was a different person !
" You can't change your hair and eyes color ! "
Emma decided to talk :
" Well well well, you found me ! I knew you'll recognize me but , in the end it turns out I'm right. You have something for this kid I still don't know what it is, why are you helping him ? I guess he should be dead right now ! He knows a lot now ! "
" I dare you to touch him Emma ! I won't fall back ! " he pressed his dagger on her throat, he was so serious about harming Emma.
" Remember Marbas, if you kill me right now, they will never stop chasing you. I'm your assistant to this mission, you cannot just ignore me like that ! "
" I DON'T NEED A FUCKING ASSISTANT ! I CAN TAKE CARE OF THINGS ON MY OWN ! "
" Still the circle doesn't trust you Marbas ! Look I won't interfere on your way of doing things, I just want you to know that it's not bad to have someone protecting your back "
Terric remained terrified. It turns out that this kind lady who was nice to him was just a cold blooded murderer. She was a monster ! Emma noticed the kid :
" Lesson number one : never trust a women kid ! " she then starts laughing.
She tried to part on his shoulders but he called back and hid behind Marbas :
" Big brother she's a monster ! "
Marbas pushed the kid away : " First of all don't be a pussy if you want to save your sister you should have courage ! Second I'm not your big brother so stop calling me that ! "
" So what's your name big-"
" I said stop calling me that ! "
Emma then replied :
" He's Marbas and I'm Emma. Don't be rude to that kid Marbas. He cut all of this distance just to meet you. Well kid you saw my true self and I won't judge you if you're afraid, just know one thing I'll never hurt Marbas or anything that belongs to Marbas ! "
" Hey ! C'mon both of you, stop wasting time ! They must have transferred her to Zarac* "
Emma then was suprised :
" Are you intending to break into it ? "
Marbas remained silent. Emma spoke :
" ARE YOU EVEN SERIOUS ? they must have maximized the security there. You'll just do what they'll think you to do "
Marbas then replied :
" I have no other options, besides I need the brother as a hostage or else we couldn't get to Eldric "
" This is impossible ! You'll just put our lives in danger. Let's suppose you killed the guards and then ? They'll just escape with the girl and bring more guards and surround you ! "
Marbas then had an evil facial expression, it was the devil's smile, it's like he found something :
" And that's what exactly I want you to do. You said you want to help, there you go, while I'll face the guards you two sneak there and save the girl ! I'll create a diversion !"
Emma was so happy, her lover trusted her with a mission :
" Awnn ! You're relying on me finally ! Count me on Marbas I will not let you down ! "
The two soldiers and the kid have planned a jail break. Will they succeed ? Will they bring Amanda safe ? Guess we'll find out on the next chapter.
Hydra* : a rare type of elite soldiers in the circle, only a few of them exists, maybe three in all Nuabya. those individuals have higher mana levels than normal people that's why they can use the mana flow in their bodies to change their shape. The circle only strengthen those powers by implementing them with Aether. They can change their shape, facial expressions and gender, but what they cannot change is their Melanin levels.
Zarac* : most securitized prison in Landnor, it is famous for containing dangerous criminals or people who make a threat to the reign of Eldric Sums.