Time seemed to stop for Morvain as his death bell rang.
With his heart racing, he plunged his hand into the bag, fumbling for anything that could give him a fighting chance. His fingers closed around an object, its jagged and rounded form confirming it was the very item he and Eldric had stolen from the mayor.
However, before he could take any action, a vice-like grip of iron closed around his right leg. In the blink of an eye, he was hoisted into the air, suspended like a broken branch swaying in the wind.
"What's your next move, little pup?"
The Hound's face loomed close, his immense size making Morvain feel diminutive in comparison.
Despite his disdain for the man, Morvain couldn't help but notice the absence of the usual stench that clung to people like him and father.
Instead, a distinct air of nobility emanated from the Hound, a reminder of the arrogant superiority that Morvain had come to despise among the privileged elite.
And he hated that. He hated all of them for that. Those damn nobles and their superiority in every aspect of life.
For a moment, Morvain felt like giving up, but he couldn't. He had come so far and wasn't going to quit. He saw Eldric stirring from the broken home.
So, he did what he'd always wanted: spat on a finely polished and sculpted face of a noble.
The Hound's head snapped to the side; his expression twisted in disdain. Getting spat on by a lowborn was the last thing he expected, and he certainly didn't think this defiant beggar would dare to do such a thing.
"You... miserable wretch," he growled, his face slowly turning to focus on the defiant boy who seemed prepared to meet his creators.
"..."
Without speaking Morvain plunged his hand onto the left eye of the man, the rock firmly held in his hand. He knew it was his end, as the Hound would just hurl him in the air across the sewer, which was the nicest of the available option, or he would repeatedly smash him on the floor, possible for the giant man, which...wouldn't be pretty to watch at all.
The Hound's eye suddenly took on a blue hue, and he didn't even bother to close it, confident that nothing could harm him. But oh boy, was he in for a surprise...
The stone hit its mark with astonishing accuracy, connecting directly with the Hound's eye. The anticipated crunch of a solid hit turned into a wet, metallic crack as Morvain's knuckles pierced through the metal and flesh beneath the eye.
Piercing agony erupted through the Hound's body, and his anguished screams filled the air. His left eye felt as if it were being torn apart, a swirling maelstrom of colours overwhelming his vision—white, blue, red, and finally, engulfing blackness. His once steady world crumbled into disarray, his consciousness pulled into an abyss of suffering.
Morvain hit the ground with a thud, his survival instincts kicking in as he scrambled to all fours and desperately lunged to the side. He knew all too well what would follow if he remained in that perilous position.
In an unexpected twist, Eldric materialized behind the Hound, his right foot's shin transformed into iron. With a swift and accurate motion, he delivered an upwards kick directly to the Hound's delicate area, catching the towering man completely off guard.
The Hound's eyes bulged in agony as the full force of the metal kick landed on his most sensitive region, and he crumpled to his knees, a howl of pain escaping his lips... (Legends say he can even metalize his...you know :>)
"Shit, Mor! Run!" El shouted as he quickly grabbed Morvain, "We are not safe here."
Summoning every ounce of his bravado, Morvain sprang into action, his target the Hound's unsuspecting backside.
With a battle cry that was more of a high-pitched yelp, he executed a perfectly planned kick that he imagined would send the Hound hurtling towards the open sewer. But alas, reality had other ideas.
As Morvain's foot made contact with the Hound's back, it was as if he had just kicked a mountain. The Hound didn't budge an inch, and Morvain's kick was met with a resounding thud.
He stumbled back, nursing his throbbing foot and shooting a glare at the Hound as if blaming him for having such an unyielding back.
Eldric couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "Nice try, Mor. Maybe next time you should try asking him to move aside politely."
"..."
Morvain glared at his friend.
"..."
"...don't."
"...pfff…" But it was pure comedy, Eldric wasn't able to contain himself.
"Idiot, don't just stand there, lend me a hand!"
Morvain exclaimed, his voice a mixture of frustration and urgency, as he picked himself up from his failed attempt. There was even a tint of red on his face.
Which tempted Eldric to make more fun of the serious and grumpy dude. But he persisted his intrusive thoughts.
"What to say? I don't take orders from a lowborn--" the Eldric started, intending to deliver a snarky comeback, but Morvain cut him off mid-sentence.
"Shut your trap and come here. If I'm ever going to kill you, just know it's because you're annoying."
"Shh... relax, buddy," Eldric arrived near his friend and gave the Hound a push with his metallic foot. The man, still clutching his crotch in pain, toppled into the sewer. "Now, run!"
And they did, leaving the Hound seething in the sewer, his furious shouts echoing behind them like distant thunder.
"Cowards!" he bellowed, but the boys' speed was uncanny.
"Not that way," Morvain directed. "This way. There are soldiers you sent there. Come on."
So, they sprinted through the town, the cacophony of the Hound's rage fading as they delved deeper and deeper into the labyrinthine streets.
"We'll wait for them there. If we circle around this part of town, we can shake them off easily."
They leaned against the weathered brick wall of an old house, their chests heaving as they caught their breath.
The adrenaline was still coursing through their veins, and victorious grins adorned their faces. They had emerged triumphant!
The bag was secure in their possession, despite its unpleasant odor. It felt like the ultimate conclusion to their mission, a perfect ending they could hardly believe they had achieved.
"Ahh... I feel like I've been through a meat grinder. That was a real close call," Eldric gasped, resting his hands on his knees and struggling to catch his breath.
"I'll be heading back home tomorrow. This mission turned out to be quite the unexpected gift. Thanks, Mor." He glanced over at his friend, who was intently studying the peculiar space rock they had retrieved.
A grin tugged at the corners of Eldric's mouth. "And even though I'll be going home, I'll be back to meet up with the others. Maybe even you, if I'm in the mood."
He gave Morvain a sidelong look, searching for a reaction, but none was forthcoming.
Curiously, Morvain remained silent about the bizarre phenomenon of his hand breaking through the metallic eye of the Hound.
"You'll be just dropping by to see Lavender, nothing more than that," Morvin finally spoke, strangely, he put the stone on his pocket rather than the bag. "Why don't you just bring her to your castle, my lord?"
"I don't even know they'll remember me. All I can show them is this crimson eyes as an assurance. Hoping they'll even remember me." Eldric said, his gaze distant and lost in thought.
"What are your plans once they accept you? Are you going to become the next High Lord of Stormwatch?"
"What? No, no. Even if I wanted to, I can't."
"Why not?"
"I'm the seventh son of a family of eight. How am I gonna even inherit the title before my older brothers."
"Power, Eldric, it's not just a privilege for the elite," Morvain continued. "Out here in the slums, it's the difference between life and death. It's the currency of survival. Those in control shape our destinies, while we remain voiceless. I refuse that fate. Power isn't about dominance, it's about equality, about changing our reality. We have to forge our own path, and that path is paved with strength and determination. So, whether you like it or not, we need power. It's the key to unlocking a world where our lives matter. I won't stop until I claim that power, for all of us."
His golden eyes illuminated the darkness like two orbs of determination, reflecting his unwavering resolve.
"I'm not like that, Mor," Eldric replied, his voice tinged with a mix of sincerity and doubt.
"I lack the unwavering determination you possess. All I truly want is a simple, happy life surrounded by the people I care about, and that includes you. Once I've secured my place, I promise to bring you and Lavender with me. I'll find a job for our father so we can all be together. And even though I don't know my siblings, I'd like to believe they're not bad."
Morvain's eyes softened, and he nodded with a small, genuine smile. He extended his arms in a brotherly gesture.
"You're not just a friend, Eldric. You're family. Always have been, always will be. Let's hope that never changes."
"Absolutely," Eldric replied, gripping Morvain's hand firmly. "You're my brother, and that's a bond that nothing can alter."
For a fleeting moment, time appeared to freeze as the two brothers exchanged a tender gaze, their unspoken connection palpable. But then, abruptly, Eldric's expression shifted to one of pain. Violent coughs racked his body, and blood began to seep from his mouth.
Eldric's body convulsed, and he doubled over, spitting blood onto the ground. Agonizing pain seemed to radiate through every inch of his being, his torment evident in the contortions of his face.
"I was beginning to worry that poison had no effect on an awakened, but...I guess I'm right." Morvain remarked, a sinister smirk playing across his lips as he observed Eldric's agony.