"Oi! what's keeping you Franky!" A man seated at a round table called out as he focused on a set of cards at hand.
"I told ya I'm taking a leak!" Franky's voice carried over before a door was pushed open as Franky, a man with wild hair marched back in and taking a seat at the table.
"Or are all of you that desperate to give me all your money?" Franky let out a boisterous laugh which caused the others to let out a groan. "You know Franky he who leaps without looking is most certain to fall", "please old timer enough with those wise sayings of yours."
"One can never hear too many wise words", the old timer set a card with a picture of a group of men carrying shields starting the game of alrchose.
"Oi! Franky let him be, I'll rather hear them words of his than another over glorified tale of him battling the confederation while telling them fucks to fuck off." the woman's words caused the other men to burst out in laughter.
"Oh my dear Beatrice, you know my tales are as true as the three moons in the sky... why I even remember when we met some of those iron devils-"
The old man was interrupted by a young boy who simply placed his cards down and turned to the old man with awe and surprise in his eyes.
"You've fought them... the gladius?" those words caused the table to turn quiet with the old man gaining a somber look. "Listen Ritz, I met them saw their otherworldly armor that's it, because there is no fighting the devils. For it to be a fight then there must have been a chance for victory, when it comes to those devils... the best you can do is pray you make it out alive."
"That's enough about the gladius" a man walked with a claymore strapped to his side. The people present gave a small bow when they saw him, "was just disillusioning the child, is all, no need to get serious Jeor" the old man spoke laying another card, this one having a drawing of a woman with a flag.
"Would you look at that, half of you are out already" the mood in the place lightened after that.
"Ritz take this and head to old Lime's place to get us some drinks" Jeor moved to put a small pouch in Ritz arms. "Yes Jeor", with a quick nod Ritz was out to perform the task Jeor had asked him to do.
Getting out of the building, Ritz walked out into the compound. The sound of washer women gossiping with one another as they dried their clothes as well as the laughter from the children playing games not far from himself.
He left the alleyways and made his way through the maze of alleyways before eventually making his way to one of the main streets that led out of their district into the merchant district.
Making his way through Bladur's street and navigating around the hawkers carrying their goods, and clorga pulling carts. It was times such as these that Ritz misses his home were streets were organized.
After a little bit more effort Ritz had arrived at Lime's place were he was met with a crowd. The crowd stood a bit away from the bar, the whole scene made Ritz even more curious as it was clear to see the crowd was interested in what or whoever was in the bar but was not willing to get even an inch closer.
Relying on his smallish frame, Ritz managed to push his way through the crowd hoping to see what is was that caught their attention.
His actions allowed him to spot the figure who walked out of Lime's bar, the figure had a cloak over themselves but Ritz managed to spot the greyish silver armor under the brown ragged cloak.
The otherworldly design caused him to stare wondering where it was made, but as his mind continued to wonder, the tales he had heard so many times flashed in his head.
"Gladius" Ritz muttered unconsciously before stopping himself. At that moment Ritz realized the crowd around him had retreated, the reason was no mystery as the Gladius turned to his direction.
"It couldn't have heard me", Ritz whispered to himself as he began trembling in an attempt to reassure himself. But this false sense of safety was soon shattered by an abrupt feeling, the feeling as though his soul was being looked at directly terrified him, and as it took a step forward. Ritz turned around and bolted.
Ritz took to the crowdy streets, he bumped into people and caused more than a few wares to fall to the ground, earning him curses from all around.
The curses did nothing to halt his actions though as he continued to run. In a few minutes, he was out of the merchant district with the familiar apartment buildings in his sight.
"Gladius! A Gladius! There is a Gladius in town!" Ritz began screaming as he entered the compound. His screams destroyed the atmosphere as Jeor walked out to the balcony and stared down at him with a fierce glare.
"hah..hah... Gladius..A Gladius... I saw it", Ritz managed to stutter out through his pants. "Shit!" Jeor slammed his fist into the metal railing, "get all non combat personal down into the tunnels and away from here gather all soldiers and prepare for battle! Now go!" Jeor screamed out his orders as his pulled out his blade.
Ritz catching his breath, got up and prepared to go grab a sword for battle when he heard it. *Bang*bang* the thunderous sounds Ritz would never forget were soon heard followed by screams.
"It's here" was all Jeor could say as he stared at the entrance with his grip on his sword tightening.