Alex saw a divine being sitting on its throne as its head was propped up by his hand that was casually resting on the arm of his chair. The being turned its head, its face looking blank like a mannequin and released an impromptu attack and stood up from its throne. Alex looked down and saw his right arm was missing and was horrified. He tried to let out a scream but he couldn't as he felt there was something restricting the freedom of his vocal chords.
"I don't like people peering into my domain, especially a weak being," The being said in malice while throwing another attack that was larger than the previous attack.
Alex's red eyes opened as the owner of said eyes sat up with a gasp as he hungrily took in massive amounts of air to supplement his dwindling reserves in his lungs as he tried to calm his heart rate.
'What was that?' Alex thought while trying to piece back his thoughts together.
'Where am I? The last thing I remember was running into a hooded man.' Alex tried to piece together his thoughts as his red orbs dared across the room taking in its surroundings.
Suddenly Alex heard the door to the room where he was creaking as it opened causing him to go in full alert as his battle sense kicked into overdrive. A cloaked figure made its way into the room which from its build Alex cloaked it was the cloaked male who he was with earlier on.
"I see you are up brat," Zein said.
"Who are you?" Alex inquired as he put his guard up.
"Who am I? Hmmm good question but first lower your guard first for now you are safe," Zein said which caused Alex to lower his guard significantly but still keeping it up nonetheless.
"I am Zein Alphard and who are you brat?" Zein questioned.
"Alex just Alex," Alex answered slowly as he lowered his guard.
"Before we continue with this Q&A you need something to eat as you are all bones," Zein said as gestured for Alex to follow him.
Zein led Alex to the main hall of the guild where many adventurer's were gathered seated at many of the available tables chatting in loud tones as some laughed cheerfully while smacking the table with the palm of their hands. Some adventurer's were partaking in poker, others in tiny friendly brawls and some were having drinking competitions. Zein and Alex occasionally had to dodge people's bodies being thrown around due to the brawls. Alex was too late to see the body of a bulking adventurer being thrown towards him. Just when Alex was about to get hit Zein grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and pulled him out of danger.
"Pay attention brat," Zein said in a stern voice.
"I am not a brat," Alex said as he was fed up with being called brat by Zein.
"I say what I see," Zein bit back.
Zein led to a lone table that had three chairs and sat down as he gestured for Alex to do the same. Zein gestured for a waitress to bring as much food as she could to the kid. A few minutes later the waitress came back with the food balancing it perfectly as she effortlessly evaded the multiple brawls and bodies flying around.
'How is that possible?' Alex questioned as his food was placed in front of him.
"Eat to your content," Zein said as the waitress took her leave.
"Thank you," Alex said in a low tone as he bowed in gratitude.
Alex dug in and rapidly a mountain of plates stacked on top of each other as he ate to his fill. Zein looked in vague interest as the child in front of him was devouring his seventh plate of food. Alex finished after devouring his tenth plate and patted his belly while releasing a content sigh.
"Now back to Q&A," Zein said as he cleared his throat, hence effectively gaining the attention of Alex.
"Why were the imperial soldiers after you?" Zein asked the question that has been bugging his mind for a while.
"Ummm," Alex began in discomfort as his eyes darted all across the room as if searching for an escape route.
"It's okay you are in a safe place," Zein said, trying to reassure Alex while trying to dissipate his fears.
An eleven year old Alex is seen sneaking around while wearing a tattered cloak but his head is covered while his partners in crime Lenny, Raphael and Misha were doing the same in their hunt for food. Each member of the group had gathered food enough for the whole group and were seen by a noble kid slightly younger than Alex in appearance causing them to take off running. Raphael gestured for the group to meet each other at the designated meet up spot. The group split up to create a diversion as the kid had alerted the four imperial soldiers assigned to him and commanded them to chase them down. One of the soldiers followed Alex as the rest of the soldiers followed the other members of the group. Alex saw the imperial soldier hot on his tail and run into a narrow street where various merchants were carrying out their businesses.
The merchants let out indignant shouts as Alex glided over their stalls while the soldier did the same. Alex saw the soldier was gaining speed and catching up to him and he saw a merchant's cart having support so as to prevent it from moving he slid on the ground while using his right foot to knock away the support causing the cart to roll and collide with the soldier. This gave Alex time to get away from the soldier. Alex feinted going straight and entered into a dark alley and his cloak allowed him to blend in with darkness and the guard passed him without noticing. Alex saw an opportunity to rob the soldier of his money, he stealthily sneaked up on the soldier and stole the coin purse that was hanging loosely on the soldier's side. Alex made his way back to the designated area where Raphael and Lenny were to meet them with the food.
Alex arrived at the meet up spot and saw Lenny and Raphael waiting for him as they had evaded the soldiers after them. Alex arrived and felt relieved and then questioned on Misha's whereabouts which caused Lenny and Raphael to shake their heads in the negative. Apprehension settled in the hearts of the three boys as they went to search for the lone girl of the group after hiding their merchandise. Alex's gut feeling told him to go back to where they saw the noble kid and he saw one of the soldier's carrying Misha under his arm as she kicked and screamed. Alex saw Misha being thrown forward like a sack and landed at the feet of the noble child.
Alex saw the child look at Misha as if he was looking at a toy causing Alex to get disgusted. Alex sneaked up on one of the soldiers who had gone astray, stealing his sets of daggers swiftly and using his past battle experience to impale them on the unsuspecting soldier's chest. Alex removed the daggers and stealthily crept up towards the remaining soldier's and made a small incision on their legs causing them to fall on their knees giving Lenny and Raphael who had come to the same conclusion as Alex an opportunity to knock them outby bashing their heads with rocks.
"Guard take this girl away. She interests me hence she will be my toy," the noble said as he lifted his hands up as if he was a God looking down on his subject.
"Guards, do I have to remind you why you are paid by my father!" the noble boy shouted at the currently nonexistent guards.
"There are no guards here," Alex said while making himself known.
Alex's voice caused the boy to take an involuntary step back in fear, giving Lenny and Raphael an opportunity to save Misha from the clutches of this mad child. Alex continued approaching the boy causing him to take a few steps back in fear causing the boy to trip over one of the bodies of the unconscious guards. The boy looked at the unconscious guards then to the boy in front of him and felt fear but not before regaining his confidence and adopting a condescending smirk.
"Do you know who my father is and what he would do to you if you harm a strand of my hair?" The boy questioned condescendingly.
"Don't know. Don't care," Alex said in boredom while picking his ear.
"My father is the brother of the king, do you think he will let you go?" The boy questioned.
Alex, who had gotten tired of the noble child's attitude, delivered a punch effectively knocking him out. Alex kicked the boy away as he gazed at him as if he was gazing at dirt.
"I don't care who your father is or what he will do. You are lucky you got away with a punch for harming my friends. I was ready to do worse," Alex said his tone dripping with malice.
Alex went and met up with his companions and they disappeared into the night after saving Misha. Alex later on wished he had gotten rid of the kid as he forced them to relocate their hideouts several times as even some of them were burnt down just because they had gone against him.
Alex finished recounting his tale while Zein giving Alex his rapt attention till the end of the story.
"So I am guessing the reason why you were hyperventilating was because the Imperial soldiers finally caught up with your little group.
"Yes," Alex said in a small voice
Zein nodded his head in understanding and feeling sympathy for the child before him but Zein did not know there was an even larger reason why the Imperial soldiers were after Alex as he omitted that information.
"How about I train you?" Zein offered
"Huh," was the only smart reply Alex could come up with.