Hazel Wheatly
The uproar in the room mirrored the chaos within my mind. I watched as the general unleashed his fury upon my own men, his eyes ablaze with a wrath I hadn't seen in all my years working as his covert informant. These were the men we had hired to eliminate a perceived threat—a man we thought was just a soldier, a defector. Little did we know, he was a force to be reckoned with.
The office, once filled with the echoes of a failed assassination, fell into an uneasy silence. The general, known as Rex Wise, punched the desk with frustration that sent shivers down my spine. I had been his eyes in the city of London for a considerable time, but this was an unexpected turn.
One of the surviving men voiced the question lingering in all our minds, "Who the hell was that man we tried to kill anyway?" Rex Wise's response was as swift as a blade as he struck the man in the chest. The man fell, silenced forever. No regrets, no second thoughts. Just a life extinguished in the cold air of the estate.
My silence became my armor as the general's rage turned towards me. The next moments unfolded in a blur—blows, the burning sensation of fire enveloping his limbs, and the taste of copper in my mouth as my back met the unforgiving wooden floor.
I struggled to draw breath as he lifted me by the neck, the inferno in his eyes mirrored in the fiery aura that engulfed him. "Forgive me, sir," I managed to wheeze, dangling in the air. The next thing I felt was a punch, swift and merciless, leaving me sprawled on the floor.
He spoke then, his voice dripping with malevolence. "A friend of mine in Athenia wants this measly soldier named Yoshi dead," he hissed into my ear. A threat concealed in a sinister reminder. "Do your fucking job properly."
Gasping for air, I tried to comprehend the gravity of the situation. A bottle of healing potion rolled to my feet, a bitter reminder of my vulnerability. Rex Wise continued, his tone unrelenting, "A fellow Regent in Athenia will reward my loyalty with future support if this task is executed. So, Hazel, you better kill him for me. Or would you prefer to witness your precious Alina—" the words trailed off, masked with an evil smile and then laughter.
As I staggered to my feet and left the room, the haunting echoes of Rex Wise's malevolent laughter followed me. The mission to assassinate Yoshi had taken an unforeseen turn, entangling not only my life but also the life of someone dear to me.
Yoshi Meatsu
On my second day on the eastern continent, the echoes of yesterday's peculiar encounter lingered in my thoughts. Fortunately, I found lodging in an inn equipped with a weighing scale, allowing for the use of foreign currency. The Athenian coins posed a financial challenge, their thinness translating to higher rent compared to the thicker Anglo copper, silver, or gold currencies.
Navigating the bustling central city district, where merchants vied for attention, proved more challenging than expected. A particularly persistent merchant seemed intent on shadowing my every step.
The events of the previous day perplexed me. Despite being far from the Regent's influence in Athenia, I suspected his involvement. By my position on the empire before, my abrupt lesve likely painted as defection or treason to the regent as he was consolidating power back home.
As I made my way to the central Adventurers Guild amidst a mix of merchants, adventurers, soldiers, and mercenaries, a familiar voice interrupted. "Hey there, fellow Athen," the greeting came from the man I conversed with at the docks yesterday.
"It's nice to see you...?" My word trailed off. "Oh, excuse my rudeness; my name is Sebastian Metaxa, and this is my relative, Cosmo Metaxa," the man answered as his relative bowed. "Well, this is unexpected; my name is Yoshi Meatsu," I replied.
"Wait, do you mean Yoshi the–" I interrupted him by covering his mouth. "Shh, you shouldn't blurt out my history back home," I said as I released my hand. "Then it is my honor to meet you personally," Cosmo said.
"By the sound of your family name, you two are merchants, aren't you?" I asked as they both nodded in agreement. "We should join together as fellow Athenians on this foreign continent," exclaimed Sibastian.
"I guess you're right, but I'm not sure if I want to join you as a merchant. I'm planning to retire here, but maybe I should move out and explore first," I said truthfully. Theres really no need to be secrecy about my intentions here; to be honest, it's better to spread the news that the once-proud figure of Athens retires in the east than be covered up as a traitor by the regent.
"Now that you mentioned it, do you want to tag along with us in a couple of days?" Sebatian asked as Cosmo followed. "We plan to move to Vinice in the Etruria Empire in the east starting tomorrow."
The offer was actually great. I too was planning to move out already, as, from the recent incident that just unfolded yesterday, maybe aligning with this merchant could be beneficial. Activating my passive skill, insight, time slowed as I closed my eyes, probing the fabric of space and time for a glimpse of the future.
What unfolded was a vision of Sebastian and Cosmo evolving into a future rich and Noble merchant family. However, the once bright image abruptly shifted, thrusting me into a realm of sorrow and despair.
In mere days or even hours, I foresaw a tragic scene in London streets—a young girl's cry echoing as she embraced a blood-soaked woman, their demise imminent.
The stark contrast to the bustling city left me reeling. As reality snapped back, I was left shocked in the presence of the two merchants.
"Are you okay, sire?" Sibastian asked with a concerned tone. I quickly regained control and made an excuse. "I just realized I should register for the Adventures Guild if we are going tomorrow," I said with a panicked voice.
The two Athenians were bewildered, but never the less, they said goodbye and said to meet up tomorrow.
The clamor of the Adventurers Guild greeted me like a lively tavern, even in the harsh daylight. The mingling scents of fresh bread and ale accompanied the constant murmur of adventurers. My gaze wandered, curiosity alight, until a prominent sign caught my eye: "Bank Section."
Navigating the crowd with caution, I steered clear of unsolicited conversations as a seemingly endless line unfolded before me. Eventually, I found myself at the counter, facing the inquisitive banker, who noted my newcomer status.
"You seem new around here; here for currency conversion, I presume?" he inquired, his keen eyes suggesting a familiarity with the city's inhabitants and their financial exchanges.
"Yes, I'd like to convert these Athenian coins into Anglos," I replied, putting my remaining coins. As he meticulously weighed them, the quantity dwindled as he balanced the scale.
"It seems like the western continent's ravishing war took a toll on your homeland's currency as the quantity of value per coin dropped," he said as he observed the thin Athenian gold coin in his hand. "That is why I left such a ruined place," I said as I took the newly converted coin he gave me and put it in my pouch.
With my finances adjusted, I turned my attention to the Adventurers Guild receptionist. "You must be new here," she remarked, her youthful energy apparent. "Indeed, I'd like to register as an adventurer," I responded as she took out a document.
The paperwork is a mix of personal details and guild laws, such as the fact that we must obey the law and the strict punishment if guild laws and state laws are violated. I gave her the paper, and she later said, "Great, now the registration fee is 15 silver coins."
I handed her the 15 silvers, and she took them with a smile. "I will appoint you for the rank evaluation; based on our current situation, it may take you a couple of days as our Guild Master hasn't come back yet," she said with a guilty tone.
The prospect of waiting didn't sit well with me, and I pondered a solution. Clearing my throat, I mustered a more theatrical approach, reaching for her arm with feigned confidence.
She was jolted in utter shock, and I saw her cheeks redden as I made my voice a little bit louder than normal. "Would you please go out with me, my lady?" I exclaimed.
Slipping a gold coin into her palm, a subtle bribe for a swifter evaluation. She looked at her hand and must have felt it, lowering our hands to the desk and slightly showing the gold glint. I added, "Could this be fate that I was carried by the heavens to see my one and only person?" I said with a wink.
The unexpected spectacle drew attention, with onlookers ranging from amused girls to intrigued men.
She pulled her hands off me and saw that she had grabbed something over the desk below. She suddenly slammed down my document that I gave her and pointed at my name and details. "You know that the guild has your information now; I could report your ass, so please stop this commotion."
As I thought she extorted me, I felt metal under the paper. I swiftly took it secretly and exaggeratedly apologized, trying to play and cover up our little secret. The young, beautiful women wink at me back, which earns me a smile.
As I walked back to the inn after a tiring day, I wore the dog tag the young women gave me; it seemed like an identification for adventurers. Although I did bribe my way, she put me in the lowest rank in the guild, which was problematic, but to be honest, I should rather be grateful than be extolled or even caught.
As I was going back, a kid bumped into me. I helped her get up and apologized. I felt time and space quavered as I saw the girls face.