Asdras was about to return to the circus when he heard movement in the alley. He quickly concealed himself, his body tense, his fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt of his sword.
'Hmm.. I recognize this voice; it's that student!' Asdras thought.
He strained to hear more, pressing himself against the cold stone wall. Oryn and Lareth were whispering to each other, and he caught a third voice, unfamiliar and female.
"Are you sure?" Oryn asked, his tone edged with worry.
"I'm sure, brother! You saw those creatures earlier. This place, dammit! We can't survive here," Lareth replied, his voice a harsh whisper.
"But... isn't it betrayal?" the girl interjected softly.
"No, no, no," Lareth muttered, pacing around. His footsteps echoed lightly against the cobblestones. "You don't understand, Eira! You heard the last words of the bishop, right?"
Eira began to pace as well, the rhythm of her steps creating a counterpoint to Lareth's. "Yes, but... maybe he was wrong."
"What do you mean he was wrong, Eira?" Lareth's frustration was palpable, his voice rising. "He was the bishop, Eira! He wouldn't be wrong. Besides, we haven't even found Lucien and his sister yet."
Oryn interjected, "I think this was the best offer and chance we could have, Eira. Even if we find the others and Lucien, there isn't any guarantee here. Besides, I know you don't like them. Hell, that guy is pure arrogance!"
Suddenly, another student entered the alley, almost startling the others. He said with an animated voice, "Are you guys ready?"
'Arryin?' Asdras thought.
"C'mon, Eira, let's do it. We will earn a place to stay and be secure," Lareth said, gesturing for Eira to follow.
"We don't have time to lose, guys!" Arryin urged. "Besides, it's easy, and nobody will point their fingers at us."
"Ok," Eira nodded reluctantly.
"Good!" Arryin said. "Do you guys remember what that guard told us?"
"Yes," Oryn replied. "If we see a stranger, we report them using the whistle."
"Good. And they will even reward us; that's amazing!" Lareth said, sighing in relief. "I don't want to face this place, that swamp, that thing we saw earlier. This is worse than my awakening."
Arryin laughed darkly. "Ok, let's go, brothers."
Asdras heard them exit the alley, catching Arryin murmuring, "Those two... They will pay for what they did."
'What?' he thought. 'Are they crazy?'
He stood up, looking at the empty alley, pondering his next moves. 'Are they really going to sell us? Really? We're the challengers, dammit!'
His fist clenched in anger, he punched hard against the wall, causing a crack to splinter through the stone. His expression was fierce, his eyes blazing with fury and betrayal.
'Not only the creatures, now our supposed allies to beware of,' he thought, adjusting his backpack and securing his sword on his back. 'As the teacher said... It's only the first day, dammit!'
'If they will do it...' he scratched his nose. 'I need to warn the others and change my clothes...'
He paced through the narrow streets, weaving through the crowd and heading towards the circus. The people moved against him. He overheard snippets of conversations as he searched for a clothing shop.
"I hope the mayor has a solution," a woman said, her voice tinged with desperation.
"What solution?" a man spat on the ground. "That damn fat pig is eating our labor while doing nothing!"
"Maybe the captain will help us," an older man suggested, his tone uncertain.
"I hope so," another woman replied, her voice thin and frail. "I heard rumors that he is wounded... Without him, this town will fail."
"Maybe they will send help," a boy said, his voice filled with naive hope.
"Help? Boy, we are the last town, far away from the capital," an older man retorted. "Help will take at least one month of traveling to reach here. And they first need to know our situation."
Asdras found a stone building with two large windows flanking the sturdy wooden door. As he entered, he saw the dimly lit interior, lined with racks and shelves full of clothing. The air was thick with the scent of leather and fabric dyes.
An elder man stood behind the counter, his attire unlike anything Asdras had seen before — a finely tailored black ensemble with crisp lines and a polished finish. His gray hair was neatly combed, and his face was clean and well-kept.
"How may I assist you, sir?" The man inquired, his tone refined and courteous.
Asdras, taken aback, replied with a nod and showed his town's token, saying, "I need a set of light leather clothes, sir."
"Certainly," the man nodded. "I have just the thing for you, sir. Please follow me."
Asdras followed the man to a wardrobe, where a set of dark leather clothing with a simple design was displayed.
"How much, sir?" Asdras asked.
"It will be 15 silver coins, sir," the man responded with a polite bow of his head.
Asdras scratched his head, feeling a pang of sadness. He sighed, saying, "Okay."
'*Only one remaining...*' he thought, a dejected smile on his face.
"May I change clothes here, sir?" Asdras asked.
The seller smiled and nodded, pointing to a room in the corner.
Asdras exited the shop, his new dark leather clothes blending seamlessly with the shadows of the narrowing streets. He headed towards the main square.
'Ok, I have 1 silver coin. No place to sleep. Need to be aware of those three bastards, and...' He turned down a street, the cobblestones uneven beneath his boots. 'Need to find out more about this place.'
The square was buzzing with activity, a sea of people moving from stall to stall. The cacophony of haggling voices and clinking coins filled the air.
'For information, I think tonight I'll get some.'
'For a place to sleep...' he mused, his gaze drifting over the various corners and alleyways. 'This will be hard. Maybe I'll find one for less than a white one.'
Asdras activated the system and was surprised. He thought he would see a place full of awakened people. But he only found five scattered around. He spotted some items but chose to stop his scanning, not wasting any energy.
His body moved like a serpent through the crowd. He paused when he heard the calling of a nearby tent.
"Step right up! Hit the target and win the prize, a full gold coin!" the seller yelled.
'A full gold coin? This would resolve all of my problems for a long time,' Asdras thought, walking towards the seller. 'But I need to be cautious, after that last experience...'
The tent, framed by wooden beams and adorned with faded red and white stripes.
Strings of dimly lit bulbs cast a warm yet eerie glow over the scene. The shooting gallery was lined with plush toys and small trinkets, but the main attraction was the moving target — a disk that floated and weaved unpredictably in the air.
Asdras watched a middle-aged man step up to the challenge. The man picked up a dagger, his hands trembling slightly.
The targeting disk moved erratically, its speed changing with each breath. The man threw but missed, cursing loudly as he stumbled away, brushing past Asdras. The stench of alcohol clung to him.
'So I need to hit that thing... It sounds easy...' Asdras pondered. 'But, what if I play weak? I doubt it's a scam, it could be... A silver for a gold is a big difference.'
"Step right up! You can be the next to win the prize!" The seller repeated, his voice dripping with enthusiasm.
'I hope Brian doesn't see this,' Asdras chuckled inwardly.
He drew a breath and put his best efforts into looking weak. His shoulders slumped, his hands trembled, and he traced his straps over and over again. As he approached, the seller's grin widened.
"Night, boy! Try it, and you can win the prize and fix all your problems. It's a big gold coin, y'hear me? It's the best offer of the night!" the seller said.
Asdras cast his eyes down, his expression shy and hesitant. His fingers fumbled as he fished out his only silver coin from his pocket.
"Good, good, boy! C'mon, pick the dagger and throw it! I can see the stars, boy," the seller said, looking up at the sky. "They're telling me you'll win!"
'*Stars? But it's cloudy!*' Asdras thought, almost breaking his act.
He picked up the dagger, making sure his hands trembled, and deliberately dropped it on the ground once.
"Sorry, I-I'm sorry," he stammered.
"No worries, boy," the seller said, flashing his yellow teeth. "Try it! Here, I'll even put the prize on the table as an incentive."
Asdras watched as the seller placed the gold coin near the dagger.
'Good,' he thought.
With his head slightly lowered, Asdras picked up the dagger again. He watched the disk moving erratically in the air. His blood hummed in his veins as he gripped the dagger tightly in his right hand, concentrating fully. He threw it with all his might.
The dagger shattered the disk into fragments, leaving the seller jaw-dropped.
Asdras broke his act, offering a broad smile. "Thank you, sir. Indeed, you're a wise man to see what the stars told you!"
Quickly, he grabbed the gold coin and dashed away, hearing the seller whistling and shouting behind him, "Hey, stop there, boy!"
'One problem solved,' Asdras thought, catching his breath as he leaned against a wooden beam for support. He looked ahead, hearing the bell ringing once again.
An impressive stone tower with a sizable clock face dominated the main square, which stretched out in front of him.
A medium-sized stage stood at the heart of the square, connected to the building where the bell tolled — a structure he recognized as the town's church.
Asdras scanned with the system, trying his luck in finding his teammate. Out of the six awakened, he detected only one from the academy.
"That bastard," he mumbled, his hands clenching in anger.
The crowd grew quieter, the murmur of voices fading as the sound of wood creaking filled the square.
A man walked toward the center of the stage, his appearance striking. He was a fat figure with a booming presence, dressed in a vibrant orange shirt that stretched over his ample belly.
His exuberant demeanor was at odds with the ornate, richly adorned robes he wore, detailed with intricate patterns and jeweled embellishments that shimmered in the dim light.
'A Tainted Challenger?' Asdras read, his curiosity piqued.
The man began his speech, his voice soft and sophisticated. "Good evening, people of Duskmoor. I am Theobald, your mayor. I stand before you to address the recent troubles plaguing our region."
A voice called out from the crowd, "What about our safety, Mayor? We hear of creatures at our borders every night! More than we have before!"
Another voice, louder, "There's not enough food to feed our children! How will we survive the coming winter?"
A third, near the front, raised a cracked voice, "Water, Mayor! The wells are drying up. What will we do when there's none left?"
The mayor raised his hands, palms open, gesturing for calm. "Friends, I hear your fears, and I share them. Regarding our safety, know that we have doubled the guard patrols and fortified our defenses. We shall not allow these creatures to breach our peace."
He turned to the second speaker, his expression earnest. "As for food, we are negotiating with neighboring towns for supplies. Though our granaries are low, we will ensure no family goes hungry."
Turning to the elderly woman, he spoke with compassion. "The drought is severe, but we are exploring new water sources and working on solutions to ensure every family has enough water. Together, we will find a way."
The crowd murmured in response, some nodding while others remained skeptical.
Theobald raised his arms wide, the rich fabric of his robes flowing with the movement, his palms open as he gestured for calm and attention. Asdras felt a subtle but unmistakable pulse of ars emanating from him, like a gentle pressure in the air.
'Is this his power or skill in using ars?' Asdras pondered.
Theobald continued. "Today, I bring you news that is both intriguing and hopeful. A month ago, I received a message from the heart of our empire, the grand capital itself. The letter spoke of a caravan that would grace our town, a caravan unlike any other. Today, I am honored to welcome the renowned Circus, 'Nightmare's Stories.'"
"This Circus is famed across the empire, not only for its extraordinary feats and captivating performances but also for its dedication to uncovering the mysteries that elude even the wisest among us. They are connoisseurs of the arcane, collectors of the unknown, and specialists in delving into the strange and supernatural."
As he spoke, Theobald stepped back, and smoke began to rise, swirling around the stage. The last words of the mayor echoed through the square: "Welcome to Nightmare's Stories!"