It had been days since they started mobbing in front of the manor, in which my regrets grew more and more. Come to think of it, the reason this was happening is because I am the mayors son. "I wish I could do something," my silvery voice weighed by thought. I wanted to help with the Source Shard shortage. I'd been hearing form the servants that the Eagle Star bandits are starting to take the city, due to the lack of power form us having insufficient Source Shards.
"Arty!" I heard my sister's voice echoing through the halls. I made my way out of my chair and began opening the door. Not to my surprise, my sister was standing there with a small decoratively wrapped box in her hands. She pushed the box to me, "Happy birthday, Art!"
Looking up I had noticed her white dress with a small blue crest was a bit tattered. Her eyes were like mothers silver almost to the point of illumination. She was staring me dead in the eyes. "Yes Melissa? What is it," I asked meeting her with the same contact. She glanced down gesturing to the box, she had seemed excited.
"Fine," I muttered reluctantly, walking back to my chair. I lowered myself in the chair. My sister walking over and sloppily threw herself into the chair. "Father would be furious if he saw you do that," I pronounced glairing up momentarily.
I untied the ribbon and placed it in my vest pocket. I started to slide the box out of the unbound cloth. The box had an oily black color to it, I looked up at my sister cocking my head to the side a bit. "What is it," I asked? Knowing she wouldn't answer, I started to undo the black leather buckle that held the box shut. As the box slid open I could see a small metal figure of an animals head.
"It's a ring," she explained with an ear to ear smile on her face. "The creature it's based around is called an elephant," she said reaching in and pulling it out. She had put it onto my pinky finger, It fit perfect.
It was small but the design was beautiful. It had big metal ears that wrapped around the base of the finger the trunk was designed to go down the finger with and intricate scale mail pattern of small metal plates. I turned my hand a multitude of times, clenching and unclenching my hand.
"Never have I thought you'd get me such a beautiful gift," I quoted. As I began fidgeting with the ring, getting it set perfectly on my finger before standing. Sparing a glance towards the window I heard a crashing noise, an impulse pushed me to step to the left. As soon as my foot hit the ground I felt a pounding sensation on my stomach. 'is that a rock?' I thought before hitting the ground.
"Art!" I heard Melissa shout. I was making my way to my feet after being blasted in the stomach by a fist sized rock. Regaining my legs I walked over to the now shattered window, seeing someone walking shiftily through the crowd. I noted his features in my mind before looking around at the crowd, sadness welling in my chest again.
"Sister I want to help," I said stern in tone. I raised my right arm to lean on the windowsill, "Also, are you alright?"
I could feel her stare piercing the back of my head as she made her way to me. "I'm uninjured, are you okay? That seemed like a spell," she said as she placed her hand on my stomach. My clothes where ripped and there was a purple bruise setting in. "If you want to fight for them, I'll be rooting for you," she said looking up at me from my wound.
"Nothing vital," I stated pushed the pain down. I looked at her, "I may set off soon." His gaze wondering back over to the people below, some worried for my health, other glad to see my pain. "I will do what I can to help this city," I said balling my fist.
Melissa looked at me a bit concerned, then made her exit. I made my way to my bed, "need to regain my strength."
'Rest, then leave, with Eagle Star running loose we need Source Shards. They are applying more pressure to us then we are to them, we need our machines and casters back at full capability,' I thought as I weighed my eyes shut.
I laid for about 3 hours before hearing a knock on the door, followed by it being slowly opened. I began to sit up, which hurt a bit. It was Deloris, the maid that was set to personal use of Melissa. She was carrying; a change of my clothes, a cloak, two vials, a purple flower, and a sheathed punching dagger. "Your sister sent me, drink this now," she said holding out one of the vials.
I had drank it, tasted like salted mud water. Though, the wound on my abdomen began to return from bruised muscle to normal. "Thank you Deloris," I nodded getting dressed. I holstered the punch dagger on the inside of my cloak on my chest, for ease of access and added protection.
I went on to procure rations and my sectioned serpent headed cane, then laid on my bed with most my gear equipped. Whatever wasn't comfortable laid by my bed. 'Tonight's the night I leave my home for the good of my people,' I thought with a smirk.