Chapter Two - Amir Part Two
The night had fallen, and the morning rose just as quickly. Amir woke up before everyone in his family, making him the first to put on his clothes. He wanted to wash up before leaving but decided to save the water for his mother and siblings. He opened a small closet, barely big enough to fit himself, and retrieved his backpack. This would be his "inventory" for the trip, useful for carrying anything he found along the way. He packed the only two sets of clothes he had into the backpack and swung it over his back. One good thing about the trip was that he would be able to wash in the river, which provided an infinite source of water. He opened his room door, took one last look back, knowing he would be away for a while. This journey was for his mother. The sooner he completed it, the sooner he could get the money for her medication. Her feeling better made him feel better, so it was a win-win.
After taking a final look at his room, he closed the door silently, careful not to wake anyone. As he did, his father also emerged from his room, closing the door behind him. Derek had two axes on his back and a scabbard with a sword at his side. "I didn't expect you to be up this early. I was actually coming to wake you," Derek said. "Yeah, I told you I didn't want to slow you down. I don't want to be worthless during this trip. I want to get back home with the medication as soon as possible so Mom will get better," Amir replied with a determination on his face. Derek couldn't help but smile but then spoke seriously. "I know you're probably hungry right now, but we're going to be gone for a while, so let's save the remaining food for them. We'll catch something along the way, and I'll use my magic to cook it." Amir listened and nodded. He opened the front door, letting his father go out first. Then Amir followed, closing the door behind him.
They walked down the hill into the village, as that was the only way to exit. Even though it was early in the morning, people were staring at them, making both Amir and Derek feel uneasy. The villagers were poor, hungry, and thirsty, with little reason to sleep or perhaps they were too hungry and thirsty to sleep, spending countless nights awake. They knew Amir and Derek were leaving, but not on a wood run. Amir had a backpack, and Derek carried his sword, which he rarely took everywhere, only when traveling long distances. They exited the village and entered the forest, the humid grass sticking to their shoes. "The plan is to get as far as possible. Once we do, we'll set up camp and start gathering wood with the axes I brought. Although it won't be much since we'll only be at that checkpoint for a day," Derek said, talking to Amir. "Yeah, okay, I understand. It shouldn't be too difficult," Amir replied. But deep down, he knew this would be one of the hardest things he had ever endured, traveling for days straight. He also knew that joining the adventurers guild would be even tougher.
–Later That Day, Day0–
Hours passed quickly, and the sun began to slowly set. Even though they hadn't been gone for more than a day, both Amir and Derek couldn't help but think about their family. However, they knew that the supplies they left behind could sustain them for at least two or three months, so they felt there was nothing to worry about as they continued walking. Derek suddenly stopped, but Amir, his strength and stamina drained, didn't notice and kept walking. Usually, he would have stopped, but he knew he couldn't, for his mothers sake. Derek put his hand out, stopping Amir. "Do you hear that?" Derek Asked. Amir, confused, replied, "No, what are you talking about?" Derek put his finger to his lips, signaling Amir to be quiet. "Really Listen."
They both fell silent and listened intently. They could hear the sound of water, moving slowly back and forth. Derek began to move to the left, but the sound faded, so he moved to the right and the noise of the water grew louder. That's when he started running. With Amir following after, they ran through the trees and discovered a river hidden behind them. This discovery lifted their spirits. They both took off their shirts and pants and jumped into the water splashing each other, washing their bodies and enjoying the clear, refreshing water. It was exactly what they needed, something to calm them down
A few more hours passed, and the sun fully set. They set up camp, gathering firewood. This was the first time Amir wasn't weighing down his father, and Derek could see that, which made him proud in a way. They sat around the fire they made, enjoying the warmth and the sense of accomplishment.
"Fire magic seems really useful. The things I could do if I had that ability," Amir said, looking down at his hand. He thought about how his father used his fire magic to start the fire and all the other things Derek could do. 'Qi' was truly something special. He shook the thought away to avoid feeling envious. Derek then stood up, wiping his hands. "Alright, I'll sleep over here, and you'll sleep over there. I'll put out the fire so it won't attract any attention." Amir nodded, getting up and walking to the spot his father indicated. The thought of the sleep he was about to get made him smile, and he was right. As soon as he lay down, his eyes closed, and he was asleep almost instantly. Derek looked at him, then walked over to the fire and put it out. After ensuring it was completely extinguished, he went to his side and lay down. However, Derek wasn't as lucky as Amir; it took him a while to fall asleep, perhaps because of the thoughts on his mind.
–Day 1–
Amir was sleeping when he began to hear his name being called repeatedly, "Amir! Amir! Amir!" Though he couldn't quite make out who it was, he suddenly woke to find his father standing over him. "Took you long enough. We've gotta get moving, no time to waste," Derek urged as Amir stood up, rubbing his eyes. He grabbed his backpack from beside the tree where he had left it, and they swiftly resumed their journey.
"So, how do you know so much about the adventurers' guild?" Amir asked curiously as they walked. Derek glanced at him before looking ahead. "When I was younger, I used to be a part of one. That's actually how I met your mother. I was quite well-known as an adventurer, but I ended up falsely imprisoned for something I didn't do. They took everything from us, and I haven't returned to the capital since those days," Derek explained solemnly.
Amir was intrigued by his father's past but hesitated to press further. Instead, they walked in silence until Derek decided to speak again. "I'm glad I didn't stay there forever. The capital might seem like a great place, but there are dark things happening behind the scenes."
Their conversation paused as they walked, setting up camp once the night fell again. They made a fire and soon fell asleep.
—Day 2—
Amir woke up to bright sunlight streaming through the trees. They were deep enough in the forest that it no longer shielded them from the sun. He realized Derek wasn't in sight and called out, "Dad?" No response came. Just as he began to worry, Derek emerged from behind some trees. "You called me?" Derek said. "No, never mind," Amir replied.
Derek picked up the axes and strapped them to his back, while Amir grabbed his backpack. They left the camp they had set up for the night and started walking. After a minute, Derek began to talk. "I know we haven't done it in a while, but we should spar. As we get closer to the capital, the journey will become more dangerous."
Hearing his father say that, Amir didn't want to disappoint him. "Alright."
Derek stopped and grabbed two sticks of the same size, passing one to Amir. Amir took the stick, and they turned around, backs touching. Then they walked ten paces.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten steps." They turned to face each other, bowed, and got into a stance. They started circling around each other. Derek suddenly dashed towards Amir, swinging his stick in the air and then bringing it down at immense speed. The speed caught Amir off guard, causing "him to stumble back, but he managed to block the attack, barely. Amir stumbled back, hopping on one leg, then started running towards Derek. He swung his stick back and forth multiple times, but Derek dodged the attacks with ease, not even blinking while blocking. Suddenly, Derek seemed to disappear into thin air. Amir looked left and right, bewildered. "Where di-" Derek reappeared behind Amir, slashing the stick down and slamming it on top of Amir's head. The force of the attack caused the stick to break in half.
Derek threw the broken stick onto the ground. Amir fell down, rolling around with his hand on his head, feeling a bump forming like something out of a Looney Tunes cartoon. "Stop playing around!" his father yelled, causing Amir to stop rolling and get back on his feet. "Right there, you would've been dead, blood spurting out of your head like a water fountain. Amir, you need to understand, we're joining the adventurers' guild. If we want fast money, we'll need to take the beast quests. If you can't even land a single strike on me, then you would be no match for a goblin of any rank you say you don't want to hold me back but that's what you're going to be doing. From now on, we will spar every single day until you're able to land a strike on me. Understand?" Amir was silent for a minute, thinking about how he could manage this. He wasn't fast or strong enough, so this task seemed nearly impossible. "Yes, I understand," he said to Derek.
Later, they set up camp as the sun went down and the moon rose. Days passed quickly from that day. They hunted animals and sparred every day, but despite his efforts, Amir still couldn't land a strike on his father. He was too weak. He knew his father had been trying to train him since he was a young boy, and though he had picked up some skills, he had never fully mastered them. Maybe he was unable to.
–Day 12–
Derek began to unleash a flurry of strikes with the stick, but Amir dodged them swiftly, moving left, then right, ducking down, and even jumping over. Amir landed on one foot, losing his balance slightly and nearly falling, but he stopped himself just in time. However, while he was trying to regain his balance, his father had already appeared in front of him, sliding his foot over Amir's and causing him to trip with a leg sweep. Amir fell onto his back, and when he opened his eyes, Derek was pointing the stick right in front of his face.
"Twentyfour wins, zero losses. You'll land a strike one day," Derek said as he threw the stick onto the ground. "I feel like you lack confidence. You don't believe you'll ever be able to land a strike, even though you have it in you. Why is that?" Derek asked, looking at Amir. Amir didn't know what to say. He got up off the ground, grabbing his backpack that he had set down.
After that, Amir felt down. He didn't feel like eating anything. Why wasn't he strong? Why couldn't he strike his father? Why was he one of the only people born without 'QI'? WHY ME, WHY ME, WHY ME, he thought to himself. Born poor, while his parents were born in the capital, what did they do so wrong that his life had to be ruined, forcing him to live in slum after slum? His father knew he was feeling down, so he set up everything for the night. He lit the fire, cooked the food, and saved some for Amir just in case he woke up in the middle of the night. Usually, he would put the fire out to avoid attracting any attention, but as the days went on, it got colder and colder when the night rose. . . . . . .
Amir woke up in the middle of the night because he heard people talking. The fire was still lit, and he had noticed a piece of meat sat neatly by the fire. "Alright boys, let's make this quick. In and out. If anyone's near this fire, kill them and take everything they have on them, clothes, shoes, weapons, food." An unknown person said. When Amir heard that, his heart started to pump louder and louder, his stomach twisting up. Boys? That meant there were multiple… Bandits? He thought. Just then, he felt someone's hand over his mouth. He tried to scream for help, but it was just Derek.
"Shushh… Be quiet. They're bandits. They have seven regular horses and two horses pulling a cage, most likely with slaves they're going to sell. They must've seen the fire and decided to make an extra stop to get any valuable items they could find, which means were closer to the capital then it seems" Derek dragged Amir Father into the forest. There was no time to grab the two axes Amir's backpack. The only thing Derek had was his sword in its scabbard at his side.
The bandits dismounted their horses and drew their weapons, emerging from the bushes. They looked around, seeing nothing but the backpack, two axes, and the piece of meat left by the fire."Someone must've been here recently," said the leader of the group of bandits. "Do you think they heard us coming?" one of the bandits asked, scanning the area in case someone was hiding nearby. .
"If they did, they'll be found either way. And IF ANYONE IS HIDING, WHEN I FIND YOU, I'LL SKIN YOU ALIVE!" the bandit leader yelled. "There's no elves, demibeasts, or any other races that stay in this forest, so it has to be a human. Maybe I'll add them to the collection of slaves. It won't be much, but it'll be a little extra pay," he added, smirking. Derek watched the bandits closely. He knew he had to act if he ran, they would notice him, and even if they didn't, the horses definitely would. "Amir, whatever happens, stay put. Do not come out, even if I die. And if that happens, run. Run as fast as you can," Derek whispered, his expression deadly serious.
Just then, without a second thought, Derek pulled his sword from its scabbard, his eyes glaring bloodshot red. He dashed out of the bushes and started attacking immediately. He sliced the first bandit's head off, the bone quickly painted red by the blood that spurted out like a fountain. All eyes turned to Derek. Though surprised, the bandits quickly went back to normal, knowing they couldn't sit around like ducks and wait to be killed. They started rushing him one by one. The next bandit attempted to attack Derek with three slashes, but Derek dodged each one, moving left, right, and left again. He then lifted his foot and kicked the bandit, sending him flying into a tree. Derek dashed towards him, landing a final blow with his sword piercing through the bandit's throat. As he slowly withdrew the sword, another bandit rushed in, aiming to pierce Derek's body. Derek swiftly moved to the left, stabbing the bandit three times: once in the stomach, then the chest, and finally in the forehead. The bandit fell to the ground, dead on impact. In mere seconds, three bandits lay dead. The remaining bandits started to back up, fear showing in their eyes.
Just then, one of the bandits who had been slowly backing up was pierced right through the back with a spear. The assailant? The boss of the bandits. The strength of the bandit boss was immediately shown as he lifted the spear with the bandit still impaled on it. With a swift motion, he brought the spear down. "I apologize for the interruption. My men... they seem a bit confused about their roles, I suppose," the bandit boss said with a smirk. "You can call me Freddy. I'll be your opponent today. As for these fellows," he continued, gesturing toward his now terrified 'underlings', "they no longer serve a purpose." The bandits' eyes widened in fear. "Wait, please! We were just preparing to fight him. We were caught off guard by his strength," one of them was shaking desperately. Freddy stood motionless. As the body slipped off the spear, he made a sudden move, and in the blink of an eye, all of the bandits were cut in half. Without a hint of effort, Freddy picked up his spear and swung it with immense strength, severing their bodies cleanly in two.
"Well, I forgot what I wa-" Freddy began to talk, but before he could finish his sentence, Derek shot a fireball at Freddy. The fiery projectile hit Freddy and sent him flying backwards. As Freddy landed and rose to his feet, a few strands of his hair fell to the ground "Fire Magic, huh? I can see you're quite talented with it," Freddy said, brushing off the attack. "But isn't it rather disrespectful to attack while a man is talking? For that, I think I'll beat you with my fists… IN FACT I'll Beat you to death."
As he dropped his spear, another fireball rushed towards Freddy, faster this time. In response, Freddy grabbed one of the dead bodies lying nearby and used it as a makeshift meat shield. The fireball struck the body, and then Freddy threw the bloody body towards Derek. The impact knocked Derek over, blood splattering across his clothes, arms, and face.
With Derek momentarily stunned, Freddy took the opportunity to dash towards him. He pounced onto Derek, pinning him down and raining punches upon him relentlessly. The dead body shield had bought Freddy the advantage, and Derek struggled to defend himself against the flurry of punches. Amir watched in shock. Derek had always been the strongest person Amir knew, but this bandit leader seemed to fight on a whole different level. He was a strong opponent, a true monster.
Amir couldn't bear to watch any longer as his father was being beaten to death. Without hesitation he burst out of the bushes and grabbed one of the two axes lying on the ground. With adrenaline coursing through him, he sprinted towards Freedy, lifting the ax high above his head and bringing it down with all the strength he could. It was one of the first times in his life he had ever felt such a surge of intent to kill another person. The ax blade sank deep into Freddy's back. Instantly, Freddy screamed in agony, trying desperately to reach back and pull the ax. Despite his efforts and the pain, his movements only caused him to fall onto his back and drive the ax deeper into his body. Freddy laid down still, and the silent was to silent while Amir stood over him
Amir had never experienced anything like this before. He had taken a life. Yet, strangely, he didn't feel the remorse he expected. After all, Freddy had been trying to kill his father. Justifying it as self defense brought Amir a small sense of relief, even a rush. But as that feeling faded, he turned toward his father and sprinted to his side, dropping to his knees. "Dad! Dad!" Amir gently sat him up and brought him over to a nearby tree, propping him against it. "Don't worry I'm going to take care of you!"
–
Over the next three days, Amir dedicated himself to caring for his father. The force behind Freddy's punches could have killed Derek, and would have been fatal for anyone else. Luckily, Derek's QI shortened his healing time. Even though Amir wanted Derek to stay and heal for a little longer, Derek would insist time after time again saying he was okay, he talked about how Amir's mother was top priority and nothing else and Amir agreed so they finally resumed their Journey.
–Day 15 Final Day–
Day 15 started much like any other day since they began their journey. They woke early, cleared their campsite, and managed to find water to bathe in, a refreshing break from their travels. Amir had to leave one axe behind to lighten his load after helping his father recover from the fight. As they walked, they noticed a faint light ahead. It seemed that a few more steps would bring them out of the trees. Amir wondered whether this would be a good or bad thing. Finally, they emerged from the woods. Before them stretched open grassland dotted with flowers and scattered trees. Further ahead was a massive stone wall encircling something beyond view. The wall was so tall that they couldn't see what laid inside, but it was clear from the entrance that it was heavily trafficked by a long line of at least 300 people, along with horses, carriages, and armed individuals. Derek couldn't help but smile. "We've finally made it."
The both began to run across the grassy expanse, which took them several minutes to reach halfway. By the time they joined the line, they were sweaty and exhausted. Amir couldn't help but imagine how much longer they would have been running if the line hadn't been so long. They stood in line, and though some people glanced their way, Amir and Derek paid them no mind. However, as time dragged on, the reality sank in, the wait to reach the front would be excruciatingly long. And thus, the wait began
Amir saw a lot of different people in the line: babies, kids, adults, and individuals ranging from 4'11 to towering 8'5 figures. The variety of people he encountered was crazy. Was this what the capital was always like?.
As time passed, Amir observed a variety of scenes around him, keeping him from getting bored in the long line. Suddenly, a man strode past everyone, arrogantly dismissing them with insults."Move asshole!, Do you know who I am!, Out of my way!, Coming through!" Amir was about to react, but his father stopped him. "Don't. Those are noblemen, very wealthy residents of the capital. They have the power to make things difficult for us," Derek cautioned, his tone serious. Amir nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Were these noble privileges fair, or was he just not thinking straight? He pushed the thoughts aside as the line got shorter, bringing them closer to their turn. Finally, they reached the front. A tall man in silver knight armor, his face covered by a helmet, addressed them. "You two together?" he asked, towering over Amir and Derek like they were children. "Yes, we're together," Derek confirmed. "If you reside here, show your identification card. If you're visiting or moving here, you'll need to undergo a process to obtain one, which you'll need to enter the capital" the knight explained. "We're just visiting for business, so we'll need to undergo the process," Derek replied. The knight nodded and escorted Amir and Derek not into the heart of the capital, but into a room within the stone walls.
Amir and Derek followed the knight through the stone wall, the knight directed them to a smaller door set within the wall. They entered a dimly lit hallway that opened into a room, where another armored man awaited them. "Welcome," the second knight greeted. He wore armor identical to the first, silver and gleaming, with a helmet that covered his face. "I'm Sir Roland. I'll be guiding you through the registration process." Derek nodded, keeping a firm hand on Amir's shoulder. Amir couldn't help but feel some anxiety. The room was simple, with a desk and several chairs. Magical symbols glowed faintly on the walls, and a magically arcane device sat on the desk.
"First, we'll conduct a background check," Sir Roland explained. "This is done using magical abilities that scan your recent history for any criminal activities or other red flags." Amir glanced at Derek, Sir Roland gestured for them to stand in front of the device. It hummed softly, its symbols glowing brighter as it began to scan them. "This system is still new," Sir Roland continued. "It was developed to improve security and efficiency in the capital. It's still in the works, so it might not catch everything, especially older records." Derek breathed a sigh of relief. This meant that the more questionable parts of Derek's past might remain undetected. Derek had always been careful to avoid leaving traces of his actions, but knowing that this new system wasn't foolproof made him feel warmer.
The device finished its scan with a soft chime. Sir Roland checked a scroll that had unfurled from the machine. "All clear," he said, rolling it back up. "Next, we'll take your pictures for the identification cards." He led them to another corner of the room, where a large, circular mirror stood. "This is an enchanted mirror," Sir Roland explained. "Stand in front of it, and it will capture your image." Amir stepped forward first. He looked into the mirror, and it glowed softly. A moment later, his reflection showed, and he felt a slight tingle as the magic captured his appearance. Derek followed, and the mirror recorded his image with the same process. "Now, we'll create your ID cards," Sir Roland said, moving to a table with several blank cards. He placed the cards on the table, and with a wave of his hand, the images from the mirror transferred onto them. The cards glowed briefly, then settled into their new forms.
Sir Roland handed the cards to Derek and Amir. "These are your identification cards. They will grant you access to the capital and its facilities. Keep them safe." Because Derek pocketed some gold from the dead bandits he was able to pay the fee and get both him and Amir a ID card "Remember, the capital is a place of opportunity, but also of rules. Follow them, and you'll find your stay here rewarding." Derek and Amir left the room, re-entering the main gate area. This time, they were allowed through the tall gates, stepping into the heart of the capital. The sight that greeted them was overwhelming. The streets were wide and loud with activity. Merchants shouted from their stalls, people from all walks of life hurried about, and towering buildings were on the corners of the streets.
Amir thought to himself how beautiful the surroundings looked. So many people of different appearances, sizes, and weights it was something he had never seen before. "Wow, this is so beautiful," he whispered "It looks so much different from the last time I was here," Derek said, his eyes scanning the streets. "They've done a lot of work around here, I can tell that for sure. But focus, Amir. We've been away from home for a while. They should have a couple more supplies, but who knows how long that'll last. The doctor said your mother would be good, but when winter comes, he doesn't know what will happen to her." Amir looked serious as he listened to his father, knowing he was right. Together, they began to walk around the capital, their minds focused on their mission.
As they continued exploring, Derek suddenly stopped. "We'll split up and look around for the adventurers guild. I haven't been here in so long, so I honestly can't tell you what it looks like now. Just look for a place where a bunch of people with armor and weapons are constantly going in and out. We'll meet up over there in an hour." Derek pointed to a spot a few yards away a giant statue of a man with a beard, holding a sword pointed up at the sky, as if he had just won a great victory. "Wow, why is the statue so big?" Amir asked, confused. "That there is Osiris, KingSon," Derek explained. "He was the king of this country who saved this kingdom many decades ago. Still to this day, his name is written down in every history book."
Amir was pretty amazed to hear that. How could someone be so loved and remembered so many years later? He thought about picking up a book to learn about this man's history but not longer after. He wished his father well, and then Amir and Derek split up. Amir began to look everywhere he could, walking into bars and stores. While looking for the guild, he found it weird how people looked at him strangely wherever he went. His hair was a little messed up, but it wasn't that bad. His clothes didn't look like anyone else's in the capital. Their clothes were nicely made, while Amir had rips in his, and his shoes were all creased and worn out. Amir looked almost everywhere, but there was so much ground to cover. He had never been in a place this big. He thought he would never find the guild in a place this large. Just then, an hour passed, so he began to head back to the statue.
then Amir made it to the statue, he saw that his father hadn't arrived yet. Maybe Derek had lost track of time. So, Amir stood by the statue, waiting for him. While waiting, he heard some commotion that caught his attention. A girl was being pulled by her hair, crying out for help, but everyone just watched. Most went back to their business, while others whispered among themselves or to others.
"What a shame, another slave that almost got away. Even though those bandits are scum, they sure do their job well," someone commented.
"She looks quite cute. I think I might buy her at the next auction," a man said, rubbing his beard.
"Mommy, Mommy, I want this one! I want to play house with her!" a child whined.
Amir watched and waited for someone to do something, but no one did. He decided to take matters into his own hands, but before he could, Derek grabbed his hand.
"Looks like this place hasn't changed," Derek whispered as he pulled Amir away. "Don't ever try to stop something like that. You'll be killed," Derek said sternly.
Amir looked at his father, with anger on his face. "But it's wrong! Someone has to do something," he said.
"I know it's wrong, Amir," Derek replied, his voice heavy. "But this is the reality of the capital. We can't change it, at least not now. We have to focus on our mission."
"Speaking of the mission, while I was gone, I found the guild. If I had known it looked the same all these years, we would've found it sooner. Follow me," Derek said. Amir nodded and followed Derek. A couple of minutes later, they stood in front of a giant building with a big sign that read 'Adventurers Guild No. 1'.As Amir and Derek were about to walk into the building, five people came in front of them. The one who seemed to be leading them had a giant pouch thrown over his back. "Pay day's here, boys!" the man said in a deep voice as he walked into the guild. Amir then followed them inside.
Next Chapter - Amir Part 3 [Final Part]