"You're lucky," A recruit inserted the key to Layd's cell. "You won't have to spend the night here."
"Thank you!" Layd was delighted to the depths of his heart and it was impossible not to reveal that away with his open-mouthed grin.
The guard watched him uneasily as he finished freeing his ankles and neck, then motioned for him to show him his wrists.
"Seriously thanks, I'll be able to go rest in a good bed today."
" Being you, I would not celebrate it, we go through your things and you are still missing for the toll" said the recruit when he finished releasing him.
"Oooh… yeah…" Layd rubbed his reddened wrists, it hurt more now than before when he was in chains. "Shit"
They walked a few long —and for the recruit, uncomfortables —minutes through the poorly lit corridors. At times, Layd commented that he had already visited the city or that his favorite food was that of the fancy restaurant that, pure trifle that didn't matter to Derick —the recruit —. The truth, wasn't Layd's fault, that man's philosophy consists in doing things because he "has to", the moments of happiness or calm that are further away cannot be from his work.
Instead of going to an area with stairs to return to the inner part of the walls, what they did was take a detour to the right, through some underground corridors in the direction of the city center. Sure, they never got that far. They soon found an area brighter by a few gilt metal chunks on the walls and steps in even brighter light.
"Go up." Derick commanded reluctantly and gave him a little shove. "If you don't want to go down here again."
Layd didn't have time to thank him for the umpteenth time for how fast Derick was to take another trail through those tunnels.
He focused his gaze on him on the steps, gulped nervously; although he knew the deal he would be forced to accept, he had no choice. What greeted him on the other side was a good, warm surprise.
"Layd!" screeched Airys and without hesitation ran to him.
"A-airys" he stuttered in surprise, especially when Airys hugged him. "And those bandages? What happened to you?"
Airys was carrying bandages on her head, apparently Heilyn decided that apart from the ointment it was better to secure with bandages,
"That Seng sounds terrible, but maybe if he sees you like this he will think about restraining himself a bit" Was what she told her.
"I…" Airys's hug lasted a long time, even she didn't fully understand why. "I was very unlucky..." she lied to herself, unable to admit for the second time her weakness and insecurity, however, she abruptly cut off the hug with a shove when she remembered that he too had treated her like inferior when they met.
Lost, Layd recoiled, bewildered by the actions of the girl in front of him; Anyway, he sketched a happy face to jump out of whatever it was that put her in such a mood and better looked around.
The hall was relatively crowded with people, one group of them were ordinary citizens or travelers gathered in front of about four lockers, the others were guards and recruits guarding and answering questions to foreigners and first-timers. The most attractive thing there were the Dingarsite pillars with carved humanoid figures in different postures.
The center had a woman with her left arm extended to the ceiling to support him and her right on her chest. The one on the left consisted from the waist up of a woman offering her arm to the waist up of a man who in turn was holding someone else's hand below, all staring at the sky. Finally, the one on the right was an old man, sitting with his chin resting in his hand, thoughtful, and the rest of the pillar emerged from his head in the form of musical notes, animals and tools.
"I see you grew up Layd."
Gregory greeted him from the right, he was accompanied by Melody —mounted on his shoulders and admiring the pillars madly —and Samantha, who had a… somewhat conflicted expression.
"Mr. Greg! I knew I got out because of you!"
"Layd…" Gregory closed his eyes and wiped the smile. "Really? You just get there and end up in prison?"
"I-I assure you I didn't do anything... really..."
"Hahaha! I know silly, that's why I got you out of there. I spoke with Padd and the lady next to you, it was a curious misunderstanding." Gregory patted his nieces. "Don't be rude, say hi to Layd."
"Huh? LALO!" Melody reacted so agitated that it caused severe neck discomfort to her uncle. "Are you coming to play?! I want to make a sandcastle THIS big!" She spread her arms as far as possible and in the process pulled Gregory's hair out in the process. "Are you okay uncle?"
"Yeah-yeah, don't worry..." he sobbed, narrowing his eye. "Say hello too Samantha."
Samantha clung to Gregory's shirt.
"Oh don't worry, she was the one who found me, I owe her the favor" Layd leaned in a little and smiled sweetly at her.
However, Samantha's mind was not focused on any of that. Oh no, every neuron and any processing power was destined to answer the ultimate puzzle:
"What is she to him?! What relationship do they have?! Why did she hug him so much?! When did they meet?!"
Those and more doubts overwhelmed her in a sea of nightmares and regrets. I mean, please, she doesn't even apply some kind of age or generational rule because that blue-haired slut seems to be around her age.
"Could it be because he met her recently or on work trips?"
Unfair.
How she wishes she didn't have to stay in town all the time ...
"Hello…" Samantha abandoned her emotions, leaving an empty shell of insurmountable laziness that could face Seng's attitude directed at a certain individual; which, in this case, is the same.
Neither Melody with her innocence and her lack of focus on others overlooked that exuberant lack of... well EVERYTHING. Although those present would have liked to inquire into the subject, everyone's attention was attracted by an entry that most of those present would call: Ostentatious, if not, ridiculous.
PUM
CLANK
RAAAANNNNNNGG
It was the sounds caused by chains, balls and scraping of metal and Dingarsite against the floor and stairs. About three silhouettes were glimpsed climbing the stairs. Layd took a frightened step back and Airys took a step back.
Padd was the first to arrive, imposing, completely covered by his armor and with a deep, noisy breath. Natsume was the next to arrive, free from the chains and with a superior face, she shook her hair with a gesture of her hand to refresh her neck, as if society was in her debt.
The entrance of both was at least striking, however, the creator of the noises was the person who came after them, the man who put the title of "ridiculous" on their foreheads.
His face was red, you could see his sweat, iron balls the size of a large soccer ball hung from his ankles and wrists, the shackles were unnecessarily thick in excess. The posture he carried was the remnants of one that in the past was imposing and vain.
"S-seng?" Airys hesitated, watching him struggle to stay on his feet.
"Why is Seng like this, Natsume?" Layd questioned, eyes wide.
"Well…"
Seng straightened up a bit, but you could tell those iron balls were a nuisance hanging from such short chains.
"Sorry Layd" Gregory commented. "They sold him as a slave."
"E-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh?!" Layd and Airys screamed in unison while Natsume blurted out a laugh and Seng closed his eyes struggling with the weight of the chains.