[ Chapter Four - Becoming A Mercenary ]
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In the stillness of the night, the moon cast a gentle glow upon the alleyway.
Ashran stood, contemplating whether to follow the blood trail left by the person crippled by the thugs. However, unexpected to him, a voice called out. He looked around, and there, the voice which sounded deep, came from a man dressed in a meticulously tailored black suit. The man cut a silhouette against the moonlit backdrop. A silver-trimmed vest accentuated the crispness of his attire. And his hair was impeccably combed.
The man spoke up, saying he had witnessed the crime Ashran committed.
Ashran, surprised for a moment, tried to explain what happened, but the man did not give him a chance.
"You see, according to the law," the man explained, "if someone witnesses a crime—violence, murder, theft, rape, and so on—we are allowed to intervene and use force to subdue the suspect, but not to the point of killing them. Otherwise, we could face imprisonment ourselves. And you . . ."
". . . I-it's not," said Ashran, thinking how he will defend himself. Now that he was caught in the act of killing by a mysterious stranger who appeared out of nowhere, now ponders every possible way to avoid getting arrested. If apprehended, it would jeopardize his chances of entering the academy and damage his reputation along the way. He gulped nervously.
And then, he reached the point where two options lay before him:
Option one: Peacefully comply and later pay compensation for the crime he committed.
Option two: Silence the witness. After all, only the two of them were in the alleyway. No one would know.
As option two crossed Ashran's mind, he shook his head slightly in disapproval, considering it contrary to his principles. Therefore, option one obviously remained the better choice.
Besides, Ashran wasn't one to resort to killing hastily—especially not when there was a peaceful alternative. So in the end, he chose option one.
As he decided to admit his wrongdoings and talk it out, he was once again interrupted by the man.
However, this time, the man didn't mention imprisonment or reporting him to the authorities. Instead, he complimented Ashran for the strength he displayed and his act of saving someone.
Then, that man offered something.
...
"Would you be interested to apply as a Merc for the House of Chanlers?" the man asked, smirking with a hint of mischief visible on his face.
"What kind of job are we talking about?" said Ashran.
"Well, let's just say it involves some risk and a whole lot of coin. Interested?" said the man.
". . . Alright, tell me more," Ashran replied, preparing to hear about the unconventional opportunity awaiting him. And because of the unexpected situation, he abandoned the thought of following the person who had been crippled by the thugs, but he hoped whoever it was managed to survive.
...
In the end, after the conversation between Ashran and the man who introduced himself as Hector—who appeared out of nowhere—Ashran promptly returned to the room he had taken in the inn without any further trouble. The reason was that he had been instructed to rest for the task awaiting him tomorrow, which surprised him just as much as he was caught in the act.
But initially, before Ashran accepted the offer, he asked the man, 'What if I don't accept your offer?' The man replied that he would simply report him to the authorities. Thus, Ashran had no option but to accept it.
The next day, in his room at the inn, Ashran prepared the things he needed. He ought to go to the designated location to report as a Merc to the House of Chanlers.
With a few days left before the academy's school year begins, Ashran thought this would be a good way to pass the time.
After ten minutes, he wasted no time and headed to the specified location as instructed.
The said place is situated north-west, between the Garden District and the Central District, which is quite far from Ashran's current location. But then, he sets out.
...
As Ashran arrived at a noble family's manor, a maid greeted him with a polite curtsy. "Welcome, sir," the maid said, bowing her head. "If you'll follow me, I'll guide you to the courtyard where your fellows await." With that, she led Ashran inside.
Past the gate, the area opened up—a neatly kept space encircled by the grand noble house. Ashran simply followed the maid along a cobblestone path adorned with nothing but crimson red flowers.
As Ashran stepped into the courtyard, he was met with the low murmur of conversations among the gathered mercenaries, each dressed in different outfits and wielding various weapons. Two armored individuals stood side by side; one wielding a sword, the other holding a crossbow, both wearing full plate armor with helmets partially covering their faces. Another mercenary held a long musket, his stern expression framed by a hooded cloak draped over plate armor adorned with a white cross, and a flail hanging at his side. And there is a woman equipped with a sword and a round shield, wearing a fur-lined cloak and a helmet with a face guard. A few of them stared at Ashran, but he paid them no mind.
A moment later, a butler in impeccable attire made his way to the front and stood on the stage. He raised his hand, and the surroundings gradually hushed into silence.
"Good day to you all," the butler began, his voice calm. "Lord Chevor, who is not present at the moment, requires your services, which is why I have gathered all of you here. We will travel to the Town of Mahc, meet the Lady, and escort her back here safely. The journey will take three days, so I hope all of you are prepared."
The mercenaries nodded their heads in response, then the butler continued to outline the details. Ashran glanced at the other mercenaries, seeing the anticipation in their eyes and the subtle changes in their postures.
As the talk went on, Ashran somehow started to feel uneasy. At the least, he hopes that nothing goes wrong. Though that's pretty much inevitable.
The butler's words signaled action, and the mercenaries took in the details, getting ready for the task.