A/N: Recently I decided to remake the story from the first chapter, so for those of you who have just read this chapter, please refrain from reading the next chapter, because the storyline will be diverted. (Please read chapters that have additions (Re-make) in the title)
(I will add the word (Re-make) to the chapters that I have finished)
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"So who sent you to attack me?" Fawwaz stomped on Aiden's bald head with a menacing expression, demanding to know the identity of the person behind the attack. Anger flared in his bright blue eyes, cutting through the darkness of the alley.
"U-ugh, it's Gorgon, they call themselves Gorgon," Aiden panicked, desperate to avoid further torment from Fawwaz.
"And who is this Gorgon?" Fawwaz increased the pressure on Aiden's head, but stopped short of crushing it, still not finding any obvious clues.
"U-Ugh, I don't know! I was just given a letter with a starting price and told to expect a large compensation reward upon completion of the request. I swear, that's all I know," Aiden's desperate cries filled the alley, casting a somber atmosphere.
'Hmm, who's Gorgon? I've never heard of them,' Fawwaz pondered. He realized that since arriving in this world a few months ago, he hadn't interacted with anyone outside the mansion, let alone made any enemies.
The name 'Gorgon' was unfamiliar to him. To his knowledge, from watching Dawnfall, the enemy named 'Gorgon' never appeared in the story.
'Could it be someone who held a grudge against me before I reincarnated?' Fawwaz considered the possibility that his current adversary was someone from his past, someone who harbored resentment against him even before he entered the world of Dawnfall.
'If that's the case, then the situation is troublesome,' Fawwaz sighed. He realized that he had no information about his enemy this time, yet his enemy seemed to know everything about him, even his whereabouts in the dark alleys.
With all these adversities, Fawwaz hadn't even accomplished one of his goals. It seemed as though the situation was determined to worsen.
"Hahhhh," Fawwaz sighed again, overwhelmed by the weight of the situation.
"I-I beg you, please forgive me, I will never repeat this mistake, I promise, please," Aiden tearfully begged, snot streaming from his nose and tears flooding his cheeks.
Seeing Aiden's state only worsened Fawwaz's mood until he concluded.
"Come to think of it, all of this started with you accepting the request, right?" Fawwaz smiled as he looked at Aiden and posed the question.
"Th-no please, I promise I'll never do evil again, I'll help those in need, help me."
"Is all this pain driving you mad? Even if I save you here, your life will never have the capacity for such redemption," Fawwaz remarked, observing Aiden's maimed body.
"What do you intend to do?" Aiden knew exactly what Fawwaz meant, having witnessed similar actions towards his victims before.
"Aiden, let me tell you the sin you've committed, and your sin is... the fact that you were born into this world." With a swift motion, Fawwaz severed Aiden's head with a wind blade, cleanly severing his vessel.
"Hahhh," Fawwaz sighed, surveying the aftermath of the battle. Blast marks from his magic littered the alley, and he noticed seven human bodies lying unconscious at its edges.
"Ah, those who fainted upon being hit by my first attack," Fawwaz decided to leave them be, merely binding them together using the 'Bind' spell.
As he glanced around the alley to ensure no witnesses remained, Fawwaz prepared to clean up the scene. However...
-Guh
Fawwaz suddenly doubled over, overcome by a wave of nausea that forced him to expel his stomach acid.
The vomiting seemed endless, as Fawwaz emptied the contents of his stomach several times, akin to someone suffering from diarrhea.
After what felt like an eternity, Fawwaz's retching finally subsided. Cold sweat coated his skin, a testament to the physical toll the ordeal had taken on him.
"Ugh, my sanity is slipping," Fawwaz muttered, grappling with the moral conflict that gnawed at his soul. In the modern world, a deeply ingrained moral code dictated his actions.
'No killing humans,' echoed the moral compass he once adhered to. In his previous life, even squashing an insect weighed heavily on his conscience. Yet now, Fawwaz found himself responsible for the deaths of five individuals.
Unlike the modern world he once inhabited, Dawnfall operated by a different set of rules. Here, the law of survival reigned supreme.
'Kill or be killed.'
In this world, it was a matter of natural selection— the weak protecting themselves from the strong, and the strong preying on the weak. A perpetual cycle of violence and survival.
The moral standards of this world clashed starkly with those of his past life, forcing Fawwaz to adapt to the harsh realities of his new existence, where even the act of taking human life was not uncommon.
"I know I have no other choice, but I'm still not used to it," Fawwaz acknowledged, grappling with the dissonance between his former beliefs and the demands of his current reality.
With a heavy heart, Fawwaz set about cleaning the scene with magic, ensuring no trace of the altercation remained. Once satisfied, he prepared to depart, his mind weighed down by the burden of his actions.
.
.
On his way back, Fawwaz traversed the bustling main street of Serenia town. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as Fawwaz made his way through the throngs of people. His intention: was to purchase fruits to gift to Selena.
Serenia held a wealth of intriguing stories, Fawwaz believed. From the town's origins to its legendary hero, from its infrastructure to its culinary delights, every aspect boasted its captivating tale.
In Fawwaz's eyes, this rich tapestry of stories served to enhance Serenia's allure to tourists in Dawnfall. In fact, in a forum poll, fans had overwhelmingly voted Serenia as the "first town to visit if I enter the world of Dawnfall."
Indeed, Serenia's fame extended beyond its picturesque landscapes and myriad legends; its cuisine was renowned throughout the land.
Presently, Fawwaz's gaze fell upon the Serenia starfruit, the symbol of the city. Legend had it that Serenia was once a humble fishing village until a shooting star fell to the north, bringing with it a small star spirit.
The villagers befriended the spirit, who imparted knowledge and wisdom to them. In reverence, they designated the starfruit as their national fruit, symbolic of the star spirit's presence.
Arriving at the fruit shop, Fawwaz requested twenty-four Serenia starfruits from the vendor.
"Huh? Hmmm, alright boy, but I warn you, I have no hospitality for a swindler," the vendor cautioned, twirling his mustache.
"Of course, I won't do anything like that," Fawwaz replied with a warm smile.
"It's two silver coins," the vendor stated, handing over the wrapped fruit.
"Alright, wait a moment," Fawwaz retrieved a cloth bag filled with silver coins from his pocket, opting for smaller currency for travel.
"Here you go," Fawwaz handed two silver coins to the fruit merchant, completing their transaction.
Satisfied with his purchase, Fawwaz made his way back to the inn as dusk began to settle.
On his way, Fawwaz accidentally bumped into a girl.
"Ouch," the girl exclaimed as she fell from the impact of the collision. Fawwaz quickly extended his hand to help her up.
"Ah, I'm sorry, are you okay?" Fawwaz asked, genuine concern evident in his voice.
Observing the girl's appearance, Fawwaz noted that she was draped in a shabby hooded cloak, obscuring her face, and she was barefoot.
'A beggar?' Fawwaz briefly entertained the thought before dismissing it.
"Umm, are you alright?" Fawwaz inquired once more, noticing the girl's silence.
"U-uhm, yeah, I'm fine, don't mind me," the girl replied hesitantly.
Feeling sympathy, Fawwaz considered offering her some silver coins. However, before he could act, the girl vanished from sight.
"Huh? Seems like she's shy," Fawwaz mused, deciding not to dwell on it as he continued on his way to the inn.
.
.
Fawwaz settled onto his bed, weariness tugging at every muscle. Despite the day's challenges, he managed to share some of the starfruit he purchased with Selena during dinner. However, the unresolved issues nagged at his mind.
"Today has been exhausting. It seems like nothing goes as planned," Fawwaz grumbled, his voice tinged with frustration.
'But I can't afford to brush off this problem. Whoever sent those attackers knows my whereabouts,' Fawwaz reminded himself, his demeanor remaining calm despite the unease settling in.
"Anyway, I'll tackle it tomorrow. Right now, I need to check my expenses," Fawwaz said, rising from the bed. He reached for his pants, intending to retrieve his money bag from the pocket.
Except...
.
.
"What? The bag is missing?"
~~~
A/N: When I said to imagine a Lego, imagine you're buying a human Lego where the arms and legs are detached :)