After leaving the Guild Tower, Ezro set out to walk the city to fulfill the promise he made to Sphyr. So he searched for a place to have a proper meal to satisfy their hunger.
As he walked through the Central District, he noticed it was rare to see people with those exotic appearances outside of the tower. He crossed by one or two wolves, felines and rabbits like persons, but in general they were normal people as he was used to. His curiosity was growing inside him, but his hunger was greater. That's why he smiled when a bakery appeared before his eyes. Because places like that were rare on the other side of the sea.
The smell of hot bread pleased his nostrils. While he observed the tables and chairs on the edge of the street while a waitress served the customers with steaming cups, accompanied by trays of cookies, bread, cakes, cheeses and other delicious things.
Ezro's mouth watered, making it clear what his stomach wanted. Without hesitation, he spent another of his nirmes on a complete meal. He sat at a table further away while drinking a cup of coffee with milk, accompanied by a delicious lemon cake. For the lemire he ordered cubes of ham and cucumber, which she devoured hidden in the chair next to him as her camouflage became weak when she ate.
After eating until he couldn't even look at others eating, Ezro looked at the last nirme he had left. He was lucky that the Empire's money was worth so much there, and that coin was the guarantee that he would have a place to sleep the following night.
Then he remembered what he had done to get that amount... but quickly pushed the thought away. That world was on the other side.
After spending some more time in the bakery, Ezro decided it was time to walk the city again.
And that's what he did until he found an empty square nearby. Trees absorbed the heat of the sun and below it, some stone benches blended into the scenery. Ezro had lived many years on the streets and so he knew how to proceed with that situation. With patience, he looked for a hidden spot among bushes and foliage, and when he found the perfect place, he lay down and improvised a bed.
As soon as he felt minimally comfortable, he closed his eyes and gave in to sleep. Sphyr lay on his chest. She would never say no to a chance to rest during the day. Ezro's body cried out for a rest. And that's how he fell asleep there, listening to the sound of birds and the rustle of leaves.
However, an unpleasant sound woke him up with a fright.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!"
Ezro jumped out of his hiding spot and, still dazed, looked for what was happening.
He saw a boy being harassed by five men in the center of the square. A girl was by his side and one man brutally slapped her. The girl fell to the ground while another attacker grabbed the boy by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"Stay here," Ezro ordered Sphyr as he jumped over the bushes and ran towards them.
Ezro's fists were burning under the bandages that covered them. Something that always happened when he witnessed an injustice. Five against two was typical cowardice. So he didn't come talking, but punching one of the attackers on the side. Ezro landed a solid right cross that made the man fall back. The movement caught the attention of the others.
"What the hell is this?"
One of them asked as Ezro hit him with his knee in the stomach. No words left his lips after that.
"Finish off this fool!" The man holding the boy by the collar shouted.
The other two standing next to him obeyed the order and advanced towards Ezro. One of them tried to punch him, but Ezro easily dodged while the other threw himself against Ezro's body, trying to knock him down. Ezro hit a back elbow on the man who fell to the ground and then kicked the other, who tried to hit him again.
The one who had been hit first recovered from the blow and looked at Ezro with swollen eyes. A knife appeared in his hand. Ezro watched his reaction with a serious look while his breath was calm, and he felt everything that was happening around him.
As soon as the armed man moved to cut his belly, Ezro sensed the attack and dodged. Then he hit a punch in the other's hand and the knife fell to the ground. Ezro then took the man's arm and lifted him with a leverage movement. For a second, the man's body hovered in the air before falling to the ground. The blow was so powerful that a small cloud of dust rose.
He would not be getting up anytime soon, and the others glared at Ezro with anger. A chain, another knife, and a cane appeared. It was as he had imagined. Those men were a type of criminal that existed in all the places he had been. Street thugs who were used to violence. However, he had been raised by the streets of the world. Beating people like that was routine for him.
The three attacked at the same time, as had happened so many times before. The first to attack was the one with the chain. When it came in his direction, Ezro grabbed it with his right hand and the bandit did not let go. As Ezro had anticipated, so he took advantage of this mistake and threw the man against the other attacker who was carrying the cane. They both hit heads and fell like empty bags on the ground. The knife trembled in the hand of the last of the three, who hesitated.
Ezro read the man's look. Fear tamed his anger.
Then, what appeared to be the leader of the group released the boy's collar. Seeing his companions defeated so easily, he widened his eyes and raised a trembling finger towards Ezro.
"This isn't over yet." He spoke in a threatening tone.
"And what are you going to do about it?"
Ezro's fierce gaze made the other swallow his bravado. So he took a step back with trembling legs and then ran away as if a horde of ghosts were chasing him. The other henchman followed his steps. They were so cowardly that they left their companions behind. Ezro then gave them a few more kicks until they woke up and ran away, too.
That's how it was with cowards. Little was needed to break their determination. After the five had disappeared from sight, Ezro reached out his hand to the girl who had been slapped.
"Are you okay?"
Ezro hesitated, because it was only now that he noticed the girl with her chestnut hair and silver eyes. She was wearing a dark dress that left her shoulders exposed. Skin white as milk. Ezro couldn't take his eyes off her face. There was something about her that was impossible to ignore. A depth in her gaze that devoured him with just a glance.
"Yes, I'm fine."
She replied, and her voice danced through the air until it reached his unprepared ears.
"Thank you for helping us... I didn't expect this."
Ezro looked away from her and regained control of himself and the surrounding situation.
"Why did they do that?"
For a brief moment, her gaze changed, and he realized he had stepped into unknown territory. The question remained unanswered, and he turned to the boy, who had been held by the collar and was still lying on the ground. Ezro realized that he looked like a dog. With long ears and caramel-colored snout. Not to mention the brown, round eyes.
What was happening in that place? While he tried to absorb the situation, the two of them got up and the girl said, "Thank you for your help, but we have to go."
"Hey, wait, I..." Ezro tried to speak, but they didn't pay attention. She was too nervous and kept looking at her companion, who seemed catatonic.
"Vinni, we have to go. Can you keep up with me?"
The boy nodded, and they turned their backs on Ezro and began walking in the opposite direction of the attackers. But after a few steps, the girl turned back to him. Distress took over her silvery eyes.
"I'm sorry for our haste, but we can't stay to talk. But don't misunderstand, we are very grateful for your help. From the bottom of my heart."
She then bowed as a sign of gratitude and a cloud of concern crossed her eyes.
"It's better for you to leave here and hide. They will come back to hunt you... you can't stay in Augus anymore. Sorry..."
Her eyes contained a silent apology, and then they were gone. Ezro stood there watching them walk away as Sphyr came to him. The boy knelt down to pick up his companion.
"Well Sphyr, just one morning and we're back in the same situation as before."
He then looked at his fists and sighed.
"No use complaining. This is the burden I chose."