Ryuma gripped the paper. His eyes darted back and forth on it, making sure that there was no mistake it was him. This couldn't be. He didn't do anything to warrant a bounty, let alone the highest bounty in the world.
If that wasn't enough, he looked at the bottom. There weren't even any requirements that he be alive. They only wanted him dead.
With this, nobody'll even bother asking questions. This amount of gold teals any hunter would be living the good life, regardless of whether they're living in the Skylands or not.
How long has this bounty been circulating.
He looked at Castor who continued to glare back at him with eyes of wary and indifference. "Wait. I don't know what's going on," Ryuma pleaded.
He had to think of something quick. There was no telling what Castor would do with this information.
"Really? Bounty that high and you don't know what you did to cause it?" Castor asked.
"I swear I don't. Everything was normal until I fell off the Skylands. I'm getting the information same as you,"
Castor stayed glaring at him. He then breathed a sigh having sat back down. "Relax, I'm not going to kill ya, or turn you in for that matter," Castor said.
Ryuma's heart rate returned to normal. That was a serious scare having been put on spot like that. Something didn't add up though. "Wait… if you had this in your back-pocket this whole time, why didn't you turn me in?"
This time Castor had a far off look in his eyes as he stared off into the distance. He was looking westward, toward the direction of Rebble Skyland. "Well if they're willing to pay that much for you, your existence must be a real threat to them," Castor said.
That still didn't explain why they didn't turn him in. Looking around, he could already tell that most of them were dirt poor, barely able to keep the upkeep of their own house. They only stood to benefit. What was so worth not turning him in?
Only Castor knew the answer to that, and he was lost in thought.
"What's that supposed to mean? You'd have been well off if you'd just killed me when you had the chance. I don't get it,"
"Yeah, don't remind me. Fortunately for you, I hate the bastards so much I don't even want to give them something they claim is a danger. This is one big Fuck You to all of them up there. The Order, the Priest… I'm not gonna dance in their palms just because they gave me a few coins,"
Ryuma looked at him with wide eyes. "It doesn't make sense to me why you'd hate them. They come down here and protect you, don't they? I'm not going to force you to respect anybody, but don't you think that's ungrateful?" Even he was starting to get upset at the way Castor badmouthed them.
"Yeah, they do. They make sure we know it at every turn they get, then they rub it in our faces and take advantage of us to take what they want. That's the order for you,"
Listening to Castor right now, suddenly, the words of Aeragis came flowing through his mind. Damn that Dragon. Was he right all along about the four factions? Surely, he's met a ton of the White Dragons as a kid and none of them ever displayed any behavior worth being hated over. Whenever they came up, all he's ever heard were stories about the demons and how wonderful the people were.
"If you hated them so much, why did you save me?" Ryuma asked. "I too am a denizen of the Skylands, and a priest in training. Why go out of your way to save my life?"
His actions didn't line up with his worldview.
Castor looked away from him. "Do you really want to know?"
"Of course I do,"
Castor put his hands on his eyes, facing upwards. "To tell you the truth, we didn't find you on the first day, we found you on the third. We already had a bounty sheet on you before we ever met you. And to be honest, it was my wife that found you first. It wasn't me. She saved you because that's who she is. I saved you, because I assumed you must have done quiet some damage to their home if the bounty was that high. Personally, to me you're just a means to an end,"
{He wants me to destroy the Skylands}
He'd rather have that then all the money in the world. Was it possible that somebody's hatred could outstrip their greed?
"Castor… what did The Order do to cultivate such hatred in you, that you'd forgo wealth just to spite them?"
Castor's eyes shifted towards him before shifting away. He finally got back up again. "C'mon. Let's head back inside before daybreak. Not everyone here shares my philosophy. Some here would sell you for a gold teal let alone a hundred thousand,"
Ryuma looked up towards the direction of the sun. Even the morning horizon was different than where he lived. He was determined to find out what was going on and who was telling the truth. He needed to right this wrong, even if it was only with the case of his family.
"One thing that's bothering me though," Castor said. Ryuma looked up, furrowing his brow. So far, it was only him asking all the questions, this was a first. "If they took the time to color in your hair, the least they could do was make it accurate. They missed the white streak you have. I would have thought that was important,"
"They missed what!?" Ryuma franticly felt around his head. Who was he kidding, he couldn't feel the difference. He rushed toward the window of their house and used it as a reflection. Sure enough, the one thing his mom told him not to do was let anybody see his white streak.
Yet here he was conversing with someone while it was in full display. There was no way for Castor to forget anything he saw pertaining to it. How long was he like this in his eyes? He scratched his head. Did it really matter honestly speaking? He's already got money on his head, what more could the streak do?
Not to mention, it would more likely serve as a disguise if anything. He was going to have to find a way to change his face if this was what he wanted to do, but for now, he should dye his hair again. The streak would only bring unwanted attention.
"I take it that should mean that they weren't aware of it. Still would be a better idea to lay low for a bit less you get seen by somebody wanting to sell you out," Castor said.
"You're right. After today, I'll be on my way. I appreciate your help, but truth be told, I can see that I'd be nothing more than a burden eating up your food,"
"I guess looking at this ol shack of ours told ya that much,"
"Please, don't take it that way,"
Castor nodded his head. "Don't worry about it. I couldn't hide this from a child, anybody'll come to that conclusion.
Ryuma took another nap as the day stretched on. From inside the shabby house, he saw the village come out. Each villager looking ever more haggard than the last. They were made of mostly bones covered in skin. It seems these two weren't the only ones suffering malnourishment. He wanted to observe the rest of their daily lives.
It didn't seem like anybody would notice him behind the window, so it was safe to do so. Something wasn't adding up as he watched the locals. They were all shuffling their harvest, they clearly had an abundance of.
So what was it that was keeping them poor and destitute? At the very least, they should keep the bare minimum for themselves to get proper sustenance, even if it means eating the same thing, day after day.
"Please forgive them," Mera said. Ryuma looked at Castors wife, Mera. He hadn't a clue what she was referring to. "The fact that they might sell you out to the order… please forgive them. They're good people, really, they are,"
Ryuma held his hand up toward her. "Forget it. I understand they'd do it for survival. It's not their fault. It's that ridiculous bounty," He stayed steady watching them.
{You must see the world for what it really is.}
The words of Aeragis played past his mind again. Why now, at a time like this did that come to mind?
Mera smiled. "Ryuma. I just wanted to say…"
"THE TITHES ARE COMING! EVERYONE, HURRY AND ROUND UP THE OFFERINGS!" The town leader shouted.
Ryuma was in alert. The Tithes? What was everybody in a panic for?
Mera's face instantly went into a panic. "The Tithes! Ryuma you must hide yourself and no matter what you see, you must not reveal yourself,"
"Mera wait a moment!" Ryuma said.
"Ryuma! Promise me, that no matter what happens, do not interfere. If anything were to happen to the Tithes down here, our whole village will be destroyed," This one sounded more forceful than before.
Before any more was said, Ryuma nodded his head.
Mera gave him a sad smile before leaving outside the house. The only thing Ryuma could do, was watch from inside the house.
What truth of the lower world, was he going to find?