It's quiet. Too quiet.
It's been a couple days, but nothing has really happened. I've been changing my bandages regularly. I've kept to my habits fairly okay. Nothing has really gone wrong. But that worries me. This feels like the calm before a storm. Things are a little too perfect. I mean aside from that voice I hear, nothing feels off, which in and of itself is off. The Phoenix hasn't even appeared anywhere. It's missing.
I have no idea what my brother is doing, or what's happening in the city. I haven't been there for a while, I don't need to go. I wish they delivered news all the way out here. I just want to be caught up on everything.
My wound has healed a little, but it still stings when I touch it, even if I still have the cloth over it. But on the bright side, I'm no longer leaking blood like I was when I got it, so it'll be fine.
Anyway, about the Phoenix. He's gone. Ever since that day, I haven't seen it, I just can't get him to appear. It's probably off tormenting some other poor soul, trying to prevent their fate. Y'know, as annoying and frustrating that Phoenix is, he did help, a lot. If it weren't for him, I might have actually been dead, even though I came close to it.
As much as I don't want to, I have to go to the city. I get my knife sharpened every month or so. Well, I don't have to, but I like to keep my knife is shape. I'd never be caught with a dull knife. That would be a serious embarrassment. I'm too good to have a dull knife. I could do this anytime this month, but I like to get it done as soon as possible.
It was around 3 when I arrived at the city. Busy as usual, but at least it wasn't a Wednesday. I went to the Blacksmith. His business isn't booming like some other blacksmiths in the city, but I see a lot in him. He has the potential to be the best in the city, although not everyone sees that in him. He's also one of my childhood friends, which is why I'm loyal to him.
I got inside. There were swords, daggers, rapiers. Anything sharp can be found in here. Behind the reception desk, there were some really nice weapons. They had little designs on them, engravings. They are also the sharpest in the shop. My knife used to be one of the weapons behind the desk. But all the engravings on mine have disappeared since I bought it. You can still see somewhat of an outline for them, but they are pretty much gone now.
He greeted me at the desk. He was wearing a black apron, and a gray shirt underneath. He also had black pants, similar to mine.
"How ya doin' Lance?" He asked me.
"I've been doing fine, how about you Angelo?" I responded.
"Ha! You can't fool me, I see that wound. Ya got hurt there?" He asked.
I looked down at my wound. "Ah that, it was just an accident."
"Mhmm." He said, raising his brow suspiciously. "Anyway, you do actually look a little healthier since the last time I've seen you."
"Oh yeah? Well I have been working out a little more lately." I said, sweeping my shoulders.
"Yeah.. well, you here for the knife sharpening?"
"You know it!"
I handed him the knife and he took it to the back. I don't know what's back there, he doesn't allow anyone back there. That's probably because all his expensive equipment is back there. If any of that was stolen, he wouldn't be able to do what he does.
I heard grinding. He was sharpening my knife. He's incredibly efficient, and he gives good results, which is rare among businesses like this. He soon emerged from the door and handed me my knife.
"How much will that be?" I asked.
"I think I'm gonna let you slide on the payment today." He said. "That injury and all, I'd just feel bad."
Angelo had always been that type of guy. He cares a lot, he's probably be a good family man, but he has never got anything beyond a girlfriend. Despite caring a lot, he puts on a tough front. He acts like he doesn't care, often making jokes, pretending he doesn't care, when he actually does, a lot in fact. Maybe that's why he hasn't got a wife yet.
"So have you heard about the murders?" He abruptly asked.
"What? Murders?" I responded in confusion. "What do you mean, has there been an increase in murder?"
"Yeah, exactly. I don't know man, people are just out here killin." He said shaking his head. "Ha ha! It's like that one show we saw in the theatre!" He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head.
"That's strange. Have they been thrown out?"
"Well there's one guy specifically. He killed his best friend for unknown reasons, and it's suspected he's still in the city. He's on the wanted list in front of the capital."
I scratched my chin. "This sounds interesting." I thought to myself. "Maybe I should check it out."
I said my goodbyes and left. I rode through the busy roads to the capital. It was more downtown, so it was in one of the busiest areas in the entire city. I finally parked my carriage in a lot. I walked to the capital, and looked at the wanted sign. There's always a bunch of people surrounding the sign, bounty hunters that think they can make a living off of the random chance that they might come across a specific person. The city is quite big to, so it would be a tall order to find the few people on there, out of the thousands that live here.
There was a drawing, a name, and a description for each person on the board. I read through all of them. Some were eerily similar to each other. Almost all of them were homicides, when usually murder is a rarity. All of them had to do with someone the other person knew, or had met before. Suddenly, the dots connected.
That Phoenix sure has been at work lately.