Tufail and Maron were roaming the city, noticing the abnormality of it all in every corner. There was no life in the eyes of the residents, however, the guards and soldiers were the opposite. They were jovial while walking around with utter confidence as if nothing could possibly oppose their every whim.
As the duo passed through, everyone glanced at them, yet, none questioned them. Maron observed with no change in expression though. After a few minutes, they came across a tall belfry. "What's that?" Asked Tufail as he took a mouthful of wine.
Maron shook his head. "Beats me." After which, Tufail pouted his lips and even began swaying a bit here and there, exaggerating his drunkenness. "Let's get a *hic* closer look."
Tufail took the lead and moved towards the towering building. "Stop right there!" A cry was heard once they got near, causing the duo to turn their sights to the source. There, they saw a short man with a fat belly, descending the stairs. "I have never seen your mugs around these parts, who are you?"
The drunkard looked at the coming man as his eyes widened and jaw dropped before whispering. "Maron, look... a dwarf! I told you they were real *hic*."
In a non-response, Maron completely ignored him and bowed a little, showing courtesy. "This old man is called Maron, a bar owner in this kingdom."
"A bar owner! Don't tell me you're one of those damned adventurers?" Uttered the short man, to which Maron replied whilst smiling. "Your excellence is half correct, I was once affiliated with the adventurer's guild but due to some unreasonable demands, I ended our association."
The short man cackled, revealing his unbrushed orange teeth. "Kiyaya, they must've demanded a higher protection fee. Don't tell me I'm wrong, kiyayaya."
Tufail's eyes glittered before whispering again. "Wow, so that's how dwarves laugh, fascinating!" However, this time, the short man was much closer, close enough to hear that.
"Oh, we have a jester here." He retorted as he gazed at the weapon on Tufail's back, wrapped in a long cloth. "Who are you?"
Tufail looked at Maron with a side eye and copied him with a bow. "This old man *hic* is called Tufail. A bar owner in this *hic* kingdom."
"You're one as well?"
"Huh! No, who said that?"
"You just said it."
"Eh! Did I?" He looked at Maron. "Maron *hic* did I say that?" The old man sighed and moved forward. "Good sir, pay no heed to my drunk worker. May I have the privilege of knowing your name?"
Maron put his wits to use, easily pleasing the short fat man, who was about to answer him when his eyes fell on something. He saw that the well-built old man was wearing golden gloves and shoes, making his eyes twinkle. "Where did you get those?"
Maron smiled. "I am a chef, so I have to wear gloves to keep hands clean."
"Tsk, why are they gold though? There's no need to be that extravagant." Maron looked at his gloves and laughed in a low voice before saying "Good sir, you are mistaken, these are fake."
"Let me chec-" before the short fat man could complete his sentence, they heard strange screams, diverting his attention.
"What's the noise about?" He asked before a nearby soldier answered. "City Captain, the girls are resisting. Should we whip them into submission?"
"Oh no, no, you fools. Don't even think that. If their body is ruined we would all die. Just drag them into the City Lord's chamber, he will handle the rest." The fat dwarf instructed.
Meanwhile, Maron learnt three things whilst hearing that. First, this short man was the city captain, the head of all soldiers inside the city. Secondly, they carried young girls to their lord to please his sexual desires. And lastly, they were all afraid of that lord of theirs.
Whilst going through this new information, Maron checked on his captain's expression and thoughts. But to his shock, he was not there anymore. His eyes widened as his heart started to beat faster as he thought "This isn't going to end well…"
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" When Maron was hoping for things to not go bad, he heard some shouting. "You morons, what happened now?" Yelled the city captain as he strode that way.
The fat man was shocked as he arrived to see the drunkard that he had met a few moments before. "How did you get here?" He was puzzled as there was a long wall separating the residence of the City Lord, including his harem there, and the city. The city captain arrived here through a gate yet Tufail had arrived here faster.
"Such a beautiful girl, she could've had a bright future" Tufail muttered. "But you ruined it all." He gently rubbed the girl's head before asking. "Don't worry, I'll help you."
"You bloody drunkard, get the fuck out of there." The city captain cried out his lungs, both out of anger and fear.
The girl who was in her late teens raised her head, tears in her eyes as she looked at the unknown man in front of her. For some unexplainable reason, she felt hope in her heart, for the first time since she got here. Thus, she bit her lip as if to force herself to gather strength.
Meanwhile, the city captain couldn't stand it anymore. "Soldiers, arrest him!" He ordered as he turned red in rage while the soldiers rushed and grabbed Tufail. The wine bottles hidden in his clothes fell one after another, but the eyes of Tufail were stuck to the lady in chains.
She finally let go of her lip. Now dripping with blood before pleading in a sobbing voice "Please, save me!" His heart raced as a face that he hadn't seen in 300 years appeared in Tufail's mind.