As the footsteps drew nearer, Eis held his breath. The barrel's darkness encircled him like a suffocating shroud.
A man's voice sent a shiver down his spine.
"Girl, did you see a ragged beggar passing by?" the voice asked.
The next moment, the man nearly choked and changed his tone suddenly. "Sorry awakened… I didn't mean to be disrespectful," the man quickly added, his tone tinged with fear.
"No disrespect taken," the girl calmly responded, her words muffled by the barrel's closed lid. "A boy ran past here and disappeared into the crowd," she continued, pointing towards the bustling street beyond.
"Thank you, awakened!" the man exclaimed gratefully, his heavy footsteps receding into the distance along with the clanking of his armor. Eis wondered if it was his imagination or the man was moving even faster.
After a moment, the girl spoke softly again. "He is gone. It's safe to come out now."
Eis hesitated, his mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. With a resigned sigh, he pushed the lid off the barrel and emerged cautiously, his eyes darting around for any sign of danger. The guard was nowhere to be seen.
Awkwardly stepping out of the barrel, Eis regarded the girl with gratitude and suspicion. "Why did you do that? Why did you help me?" he asked, his voice tinged with doubt.
The girl tilted her head, studying him thoughtfully before responding. "Why?" she echoed, a charming smile playing on her lips. "Maybe because I decided two pretzels weren't worth all the fuss."
Eis stared at her in disbelief, genuine astonishment etched on his features. "I don't understand," he admitted, his brow furrowing in confusion. "You don't gain anything from this."
'Is that what people call kindness?' Eis pondered silently, his mind racing to comprehend the girl's motives.
"I felt like it," the girl replied with a radiant smile, her eyes alight with an inner warmth. "As well as this."
Before Eis could react, the girl's hand closed around his shoulder, and the solid ground fell beneath them in a sudden blur of motion. Panic gripped Eis' entire being as he found himself hurtling through the air, the world spinning wildly around him.
As they soared through the skies, Eis' gaze swept over the rooftops of the surrounding houses, their jagged outlines blurred by the rush of wind. The girl's blond hair and billowing blue cloak streamed behind her like a banner of freedom.
In that fleeting moment, despite being terrified, Eis felt a surge of exhilaration coursing through his veins, mingled with a sense of awe at the breathtaking view unfolding before him.
'Is that the power of an awakened? Can they all fly?' Such thoughts were racing in Eis' head, along with the horror that he would fall at any moment.
From their vantage point high above the city, he could see the sprawling expanse of Stonehold spread out below, its labyrinthine streets and towering citadel stretching into the distance, and each district vibrant in its own right.
The market district, where the hustle and bustle of commerce filled the air. The marketplace bustled with activity, merchants peddling their wares amid colorful stalls and crowds.
The noble district, where opulent mansions and grand estates dotted the landscape, featured glimmering spires and ornate towers rising majestically above manicured gardens and winding pathways.
The labor district, where smokestacks belched plumes of smoke into the sky and the clang of hammers echoed through the streets.
Lastly was The Belows, where ramshackle buildings and narrow alleyways dominate the landscape. Looking from above, the contrast with the rest of the city becomes starkly apparent. The district appears as a dark blot upon the vibrant tapestry of Stonehold.
And then, as suddenly as it had begun, their dizzying flight ended. With practiced ease, the girl guided them toward a tall tower in the heart of the city, and their descent was smooth and controlled.
As they landed, Eis' knees trembled with the weight of the experience, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he tried to process the surreal events that had just unfolded. Beside him, the girl flashed him a mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling with a playful glint as she extended a hand to help him steady himself.
"Why did you do that?" Eis breathed, his voice barely above a whisper as he grabbed the extended hand and stood up. He was definitely mistaken. This girl had no kindness. She was more insane than any inhabitant of The Belows.
Her smile widened, and her gaze met him with a knowing twinkle. "Sometimes, all it takes is a leap of faith to discover something extraordinary," she replied and laughed.
"What do you mean?" Eis looked at the girl like a puzzle impossible to solve. He had never met anyone like her.
"I'm Ray. What's your name?" She asked without answering his question.
"Eis." His eye twitched.
"Eis, have you ever asked yourself what true freedom is?"
"To have riches? To rule as a king?" He answered the first things that came to his mind. What was she even talking about?
"Not really." Her green eyes looked at him with some sadness. "The irony is that the people you speak of have even less freedom. There are two kinds of shackles, Eis. Ones that they put on us and ones that we put on ourselves. How many days do you have left?" Said the girl, looking at the runes on his left hand.
"Nine days," Eis replied dryly, not understanding her other words. Types of shackles? What did that even mean? Also, the girl jumped so fast from topic to topic, making his brain struggle.
"Not enough time," Ray murmured, her demeanor growing somber. "Perhaps... if I had found you sooner..." She trailed off, a shadow passing over her features. "
"It's fine. I'm ready to unburden myself now." Eis forced a smile.
"To be unburdened... That's what you say in The Belows when someone dies, right?"
Eis could see an unfamiliar emotion in her eyes and ignored it. "Yes, you could say it's another kind of freedom."
"No, Eis... it's not..." Ray's voice held a note of melancholy as she turned away, her gaze fixed upon the distant horizon. "It's the easiest escape."
Uncertain how to respond, Eis lapsed into silence. It was strange. This girl was not much older than him, yet their conversation felt like one between a child and an adult. Eis gritted his teeth. He didn't like that at all.
"Perhaps there's still hope," she said suddenly, her hand gripping Eis' shoulder as she leaped from the tower's edge.
Eis' heart raced as the ground rushed up to meet them, his breath catching in his throat. Yet, before he could register the impending impact, Ray slowed their descent, guiding them to a gentle landing upon the pavement below.
Relieved yet shaken, Eis released his grip on Ray's hand, flushing with embarrassment. She offered him a reassuring smile before speaking again.
"Wait for me here in three days. I believe I have a plan that may help you," Ray said before vanishing into the sky.
Eis stared at the direction she disappeared into for a bit, then sighed and turned his back on the tower. He had to cross half the city to get home. Couldn't Ray at least fly him to The Belows?
That girl annoyed him so much for some reason. He couldn't put his finger on what exactly. Yet... Ray was such a mysterious entity. Not to mention beautiful, of course.
Esi blushed and chased away these thoughts.
Ray was awakened.
She was dangerous.
Although the flying was impressive, and Eis couldn't stop thinking about this skill of hers, what impressed him was the ease with which she had caught him and lifted him into the air. Ray was strong. Was that the power of all the awakened as well?
A shiver ran through Eis' body. What if Ray had decided not to help him but to stop him? What if he chose to attack her? Just one blow from her would break his bones. Eis was sure of that.
While his thoughts were obsessed with the girl he met, he moved through the maze of alleyways. The sun was slowly creeping west, leaving only a few hours of daylight.
Eis made another hurried turn, finding himself in an alley lined with small shops and a large tent. On the marquee, bold letters spelled out Eye of Orai. With his eyebrows furrowed with skepticism, Eis hesitated before slipping into the tent, his heart racing as he noticed the guards entering the alley behind him.
"By the heavens, could this day get any worse?" Eis mused to himself, cautiously peering through the opening of the tent as the guards passed by, his breath catching in his throat until they disappeared from sight.
"Geb will have my head if he catches wind of this. Nearly caught twice in one day after his warning to be careful," Eis muttered under his breath.
"I don't know who this Geb is, lad, but this isn't a hideout," a voice interrupted Eis' thoughts, startling him. He turned to find a middle-aged woman seated on the opposite side of the tent, her expression calm and her hands deftly shuffling a deck of cards.
Eis' gaze lingered on her, taking in her serene demeanor and the playful glint in her eyes. Before her lay a table adorned with various mystical objects—a small crystal ball, intricately carved animal bone trinkets, and other curious artifacts. Eis couldn't help but scoff inwardly at the sight.
"Not much of a believer in fate, are you?" the woman's smile widened, her gaze steady on Eis.
"Not particularly," Eis admitted, his attention flickering back towards the tent's entrance, his mind racing with thoughts of evading further trouble.
"For two coppers, I could offer you a glimpse into the threads of destiny, or you could risk facing the guards again. What say you, young man? A fair bargain, wouldn't you agree?" the woman proposed, her smile unwavering.
Internally cursing his dwindling coin purse, Eis weighed his options. Two coppers were all he had left, reserved for desperate measures against Snake's thugs.
Well, what did it matter? Nobody could cheat death, least of all Eis. He flashed a daring grin at the woman.
"Let's see what sort of trickery you're peddling," he remarked, settling onto the stool across from her and nonchalantly flicking two coins onto the table. If it took parting with that much coin to evade the guards, then so be it.
"You might just be surprised. But first, your name?" the woman inquired.
"Eis. Though I'm sure you're itching to delve into where I hail from, how old I am, and all that jazz," he retorted. He'd encountered his fair share of charlatans peddling such trite inquiries for a quick coin. Eis prided himself on his keen eye for reading people—their gestures and words—but ultimately, it was a sham he'd never be gullible enough to fall for.
"No need for that. Just the name will do," the woman replied, her smile fading as she deftly shuffled the cards before her.
A glimmer of light danced in her eyes, briefly illuminating the dimly lit tent. 'She's good,' Eis mused, appreciating the visual spectacle. In the next instant, she quickly whisked up the deck, causing Eis' eyes to widen in surprise.
Six cards lay face down on the table, shrouding his fate in secrecy. "Intriguing. Your destiny remains veiled," she commented, selecting the leftmost card and revealing it.
The illustration depicted a serpent coiled in an endless loop, its jaws clamped around its own tail—a symbol as enigmatic as it was ominous.
The woman's expression shifted to one of concern. "A long life," she murmured.
Eis erupted into laughter. "Seriously?! You're not good at all! How did you miss that?!" he exclaimed, thrusting his left hand forward to reveal the prominent runes etched into his skin.
"Cards don't deceive, boy. I noticed the runes the moment you entered. Your journey doesn't conclude in nine days," The woman stated.
Eis was ready to mock her further but found himself suddenly halted. How did she know the exact number of days he had left?
As he pondered this, she turned over another card, revealing an image of a woman wielding two swords amidst a sea of stars, her eyes closed in serene determination.
"The Protector. You'll encounter someone or something who you want to protect or who will protect you," the woman interpreted.
Eis scoffed inwardly. No one had protected him throughout his life, and little would change in the next nine days. He hardly needed anyone's defense.
Yet, the memory of the girl he had met earlier that day crept into his mind—a fleeting sensation he swiftly suppressed. Hope was a perilous notion in The Belows. It could be your downfall, swift or lingering. Eis had witnessed it countless times.
The woman didn't pause for Eis' response as she flipped over another card, revealing an illustration of a Jester, his grin malevolent as he held a concealed dagger behind his back.
"The Keeper of Secrets," she pondered aloud. "Your path ahead is fraught with deceit and hidden truths. If you can safeguard your secrets, your adversaries will be deceived. Fail, and you'll offer your life as a gift."
Eis shuddered at the ominous words. Despite her seemingly jesting tone, her words struck a nerve.
"That's how you earn your coin? By scaring off customers?" he retorted, though his gaze faltered under her unwavering stare, forcing him to avert his eyes in embarrassment.
Undeterred, the woman unveiled the next card, revealing a cloaked figure atop a black steed, wielding a sinister two-handed sword against a backdrop of bones and skulls. Their eyes glow an ominous black in the lantern's blue light.
"Death," the woman murmured, her voice soft but weighted with significance as she studied the ominous card before her. But instead of delving further, she gently reached for the penultimate card and turned it over, revealing a harrowing image of a burning building engulfed in flames. From the inferno, the tortured spirits of children ascended, their haunting screams echoing through the scene.
Eis surged upright, his chair crashing to the ground. "Enough!" he erupted, his anger palpable as he glared fiercely at the woman, who regarded him with a mixture of surprise and concern. "I don't know who put you up to this, and frankly, I couldn't care less. Damn you, and damn whoever sent you! I refuse to listen to any more of this charade!" Eis shouted and stormed out in a hurry as if death itself was on his heels.
As the tent flap fluttered in his wake, the woman watched him go, her expression contemplative. With a solemn sigh, she reached for the final card and turned it over.
Her complexion paled at the chilling sight that greeted her.
The card depicted a figure seated upon a throne constructed of bones, surrounded by a sea of blood-drenched skulls. With an air of detached indifference, the figure lounged upon his arm, overseeing the grim tableau before him.
"The Emperor of greed," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the rustle of the tent's fabric. A shiver ran down her spine as a gust of wind swept through the tent, causing the faces of the cards to blur and fade into emptiness.
Lost in thought, the woman carefully gathered the cards and stowed them away. With a final, wistful glance towards the tent's entrance, she murmured softly, "One often encounters one's destiny on the path one takes to avoid it."
The next moment, the tent disappeared without a trace, as if it had never been there.