Eis bolted from the tent, his heart pounding with a frantic rhythm that drowned out the street sounds around him. Yet, in his mad dash, he wasn't merely fleeing the mysterious woman and her ominous cards; he was fleeing from himself, from the memories that clawed at the depths of his mind.
As he staggered down the cobblestone street, oblivious to the bewildered stares of passersby, the vivid images of the past consumed him. The crackling flames of the burning building danced before his eyes, accompanied by the piercing screams that echoed through the night air. He felt again the suffocating grip of fear that had paralyzed him, rendering him helpless against the engulfing terror.
And then a mocking voice whispered. "Do you want to live, boy?"
Finally, as the clamor of his own racing thoughts began to subside, Eis slowed his frenetic pace and cast a wary glance around him. He found himself standing amid the bustling trade district, the hubbub of commerce swirling around him like a whirlwind. Yet, amidst the crowd of people and the cacophony of voices, there were no guards in sight, no looming threat to disrupt his fragile calm.
Drawing a steadying breath, Eis set his course toward The Belows. With each stride, the oppressive weight of his past began to lift. And as the familiar scent of his home district wafted towards him on the breeze.
"No place like home." Eis wrinkled his nose.
As Eis neared The Belows, his eyes fell upon a newly erected building, its imposing presence casting a shadow over the surrounding area. The sight of the Church of the Fallen elicited a deep frown from him. Although Eis was aware of how ignorant he was of the outside world beyond the cocoon of his own survival, he knew this was not the only church in existence. But it was now the core belief in Stonehold. Similar buildings mushroomed in the city.
Approaching from the building's entrance, a young man emerged wearing a pristine white robe adorned with the unmistakable spiral symbol of the Church. His attire exuded an aura of purity and sanctity, starkly contrasting with the boy's ragged garments before him.
Undeterred by Eis' disheveled appearance, the young man greeted him warmly, his expression filled with kindness that did not touch the eyes.
"Hello, child!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with a gentle enthusiasm. "Have you come to hear the word of the Inquisitor? It is truly a blessed day for us to be in his presence!"
Eis' jaw clenched at the mention of the Inquisitor, his distrust of the Church palpable as he struggled to contain his rising anger. Not one or two people he knew had disappeared over the years; all of them connected in one way or another with the church. Even if he knew nothing of the details, that was enough to make the hairs on his neck stand when hearing anything about the Church of the Fallen.
"No... not today," he murmured through gritted teeth. "I have somewhere to be."
Eis turned away from the young man. His gaze swept across the street, and his heart skipped a beat as he spotted two imposing figures emerging on the far side. It was unmistakably two of The Snake's henchmen, their well-built frames and vigilant demeanor setting them apart from the ordinary residents of The Belows.
'I can't catch a break today.' He cursed The Snake in his mind.
With a split-second decision, Eis pivoted back towards the young man from the Church of the Fallen, his expression feigning a sudden change of heart.
"Wait," he called out, his voice laced with a newfound eagerness. "I've reconsidered. I'd like to hear the Inquisitor's word after all."
A smile blossomed across the young man's face, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction at Eis' sudden reversal.
"Of course, child," he replied, his tone warm and inviting. "Come with me."
Eis fell into step behind the young man, his gaze flickering back to the two henchmen once more before he followed obediently. Despite the façade of hospitality, Eis remained wary, his instincts warning him not to trust the genuine nature of the young man's smile. In The Belows, where deceit and betrayal lurked at every corner, Eis knew better than to let his guard down around such people.
The interior of the church was dimly lit, the flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows against the walls adorned with intricate carvings and paintings. Prominently displayed, the symbol of a spiral adorned various surfaces throughout the chamber.
A small congregation of about a dozen people gathered around a makeshift pulpit at the front of the room. Their eyes fixed attentively on a man in a white robe with gray hair who stood before them. Upon his head rested an iron crown adorned with spikes, with a prominent spiral at its center, and his arms were adorned with bracelets bearing the same symbol.
Eis caught snippets of the man's speech as he spoke with fervor, his voice resonating through the hallowed halls of the church. "...Centuries ago," the man proclaimed, his words carrying an air of authority, "... and then the wizards brought the world to its knees, enslaving the people with their dark magic and wicked ways. But the faithful rose in righteous wrath, waging a war of liberation against these tyrants. Their flying cities fell from the sky, crashing and burning in the righteous flames of..."
As Eis leaned against the wall in a dark corner of the church, he closed his eyes, feeling the weight of his decisions bearing down on him. He cursed himself for allowing The Snake to catch up with him, realizing the consequences of his actions.
'I shouldn't have borrowed coins from that man,' Eis thought, a wave of regret washing over him. Yet no other option had seemed to present itself at the time.
Eis had a strange feeling about this. It felt like that choice started a chain reaction that led him to this exact moment. Each decision—small or large—had propelled him toward this twisted path.
Eis shook his head and banished the absurd logic.
Next, thoughts of Narni flooded his mind, her image bringing a small, bittersweet smile to his lips. She was the one person he cared about deeply, the one he wanted to protect at all costs. In his mind, he made a silent promise to leave everything he had to her, meager as it may be.
Eis couldn't help but chuckle softly at the thought of his "all" consisting of a few books and whatever coins he could scrounge up, even if it meant resorting to theft. Despite the grim circumstances, there was a hint of optimism in his smile, a determination to make the best of what little he had.
As the Inquisitor's fervent voice soared higher, preaching the eradication of even the slightest hint of magic, the crowd erupted into cheers, their hands raised in agreement. Lost in his thoughts, Eis barely registered what was happening until a sudden voice jolted him back to reality.
"Enjoying the spectacle?" The woman's smooth voice, laced with a hint of sarcasm, pierced through Eis' trance. He turned to face her, startled by her presence. She stood casually against the wall, her posture exuding confidence supported by her well-defined muscles.
"Uh, what?" Eis stammered, caught off guard by the unexpected question.
"There are two kinds of people in attendance here," she continued, her tone dripping with irony. "The devout fanatics and those merely here for the entertainment that inevitably follows." She smirked.
Eis couldn't help but notice the striking contrast of her black hair, cascading around her shoulders like a veil of shadows against the porcelain pallor of her skin. Her eyes, dark as tar, seemed to bore into his soul with an intensity that left him feeling exposed and vulnerable.
For a moment, Eis felt as though sharp blades were swimming within her gaze, ready to cut through any pretense or deception. Despite her youthful appearance, a depth to her presence belied her age, hinting at a life shaped by experiences far beyond the confines of ordinary existence.
"Neither," Eis replied honestly. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "I'm just laying low for a while."
"Laying low?" The woman's laughter bubbled as if she had heard the most amusing joke. "Well, isn't that a coincidence? So am I," she chimed in with cheerful candor.
"Seriously? Are you on the run from The Snake too?" Eis inquired, his confusion evident.
"The Snake?" The woman's brow furrowed briefly in bewilderment before she recovered with a knowing smile. "No, my pursuers are of a different breed. They insist on keeping me busy," she explained with a playful glint in her eyes.
"Just leave," Eis suggested casually, his tone betraying a hint of skepticism. If that woman didn't want to work for the church, she could just walk away. What was the problem here? Eis didn't understand her at all.
"Unfortunately, it's not that simple," she sighed, her expression momentarily clouded with resignation. "I seem to excel at what I do," she added with a rueful smile.
"I wish I were like you," Eis smiled bitterly. "Unfortunately, I don't excel much at anything except misfortune." He raised his left arm to show her the runes.
"Fascinating," she said, surprising him with her response. "You hold the key to your future, yet complain about your circumstances. Do you not know what status the awakened hold in society?" She raised her eyebrows.
"All I know is they hold status similar to nobility. However, with no training or skills, I can't hope to survive even a second in a portal." Eis answered defensively. What was wrong with that woman? And what was with all the people Eis met today? It felt like all the weirdos in the world were after him.
"Oh, I see." She smiled. "Let me ask you this, then. How did the very first to enter the portals survive? Without training for the unknown? Even with huge losses, people fought and survived. You got it all wrong. It was not the strongest or most trained who survived the portals. The ones who are the most adaptive can only thrive in there."
Before Eis could respond, a white-robed youth approached them, bowing deeply to the woman while completely disregarding Eis.
"Seeker Aria, the Inquisitor requests your presence," the young man announced respectfully.
With a resigned sigh, the woman acquiesced, nodding in acknowledgment before following the youth towards the church. However, she paused after a few steps, turning back to offer Eis one final smile.
"May your luck in hiding fare better than mine." she wished him, her words carrying a note of sincerity as she turned and disappeared into the depths of the church.
Eis stood rooted to the spot, a cold knot of fear tightening in his chest at mentioning her title. Seeker. The name echoed in his mind like a dark omen, sending shivers down his spine.
The Hands of the Crown—another name whispered in fearful tones among the shadows of The Belows. Eis knew them by their grim reputation as the relentless enforcers of authority, the agents of a power that brooked no dissent. They were the King's bloodhounds, the hunters whose keen senses could sniff out any trace of rebellion and extinguish it without mercy.
Villages that had disappeared without a trace, entire noble bloodlines extinguished in one night... Killers without equals.
Eis felt the urgent need to flee, to put as much distance as possible between himself and the Seeker. Somehow, meeting the Snake's men didn't seem so bad anymore.
He broke into a panicked sprint, his hurried steps echoing through the deserted streets as he raced away from the church.
"What a day," Eis muttered between ragged breaths. "I haven't met this many people who could snuff out my life in a single second—ever." His voice was laced with frustration as he dragged a hand through his hair.
Despite the whirlwind of panic consuming his thoughts, a small part of Eis' mind registered the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and red. The fading light cast long shadows remaining Eis of a friend waiting for him.
"Narni," he whispered, setting his course towards the outer city wall closest to The Belows.