As Eis approached the dilapidated city wall, he sized up the crumbling structure, its ancient stones weathered by time and neglect. With each step, he felt the rough texture of the stone beneath his fingers, his heart pounding with adrenaline as he climbed higher.
Despite his agility, Eis slipped a few times, his fingers grazing the edges of loose stones, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on, refusing to give in to the fear of falling.
"Seriously, what's with her and her heights? Every time she chooses a location, it's worse than the last time." He complained. That reminded Eis of the awakened girl and how she flew with him atop that tower. "How come I'm only meeting crazy girls." He chuckled.
Upon reaching the top, Eis paused to catch his breath, his eyes scanning the city below. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the streets into shadow, but the twinkling lights of the city and the stars above provided just enough illumination to guide his way.
Eis spotted a small figure sitting on the edge with her legs dangling over the side. It was Narni, petite and slender, with short black hair tousled by the evening breeze. Her gray eyes, filled with curiosity, met Eis' as he approached.
"You look like the guard beat you up," she remarked.
Eis managed a tired smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You're almost right, and the second one to tell me that today," he admitted, pulling out the two pretzels he had managed to salvage from his chaotic encounter earlier. He offered one to Narni, who accepted it with a murmured thanks.
She took a bite of the pretzel and then made a face. "What were you doing with them? Rolling them down the street?" she teased, raising an eyebrow.
Eis chuckled, though it sounded more like a weary sigh. "Nonsense! It must be a new baker's recipe for more flavor," he lied shamelessly, taking a large bite of his own pretzel in an attempt to deflect her suspicions.
Narni's smile widened, though there was a hint of skepticism in her gaze. "Unless their new recipe involves dirt, I highly doubt you're right," she retorted playfully, taking another bite of the pretzel without further complaint.
Together, they ate the pretzels in silence, the soft glow of the city lights casting a warm, comforting glow over them as they gazed up at the twinkling stars above.
Although a sense of calm had settled over Eis, his curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't help but steal a glance at Narni's left wrist. Alongside the faint scars marking past struggles, he noticed the familiar runes etched into her skin.
"How much time do you have left?" he inquired softly, mindful of the weight of such a question.
"Forty-eight days," Narni replied, her voice betraying a tremor that didn't escape Eis' notice.
"Hey, double digits! I remember those days," Eis attempted to inject some levity into the conversation, offering a lighthearted joke to ease the tension. But Narni's response was a blank stare, her thoughts seemingly lost in the weight of her own impending fate.
Silence enveloped them once more for a few moments, the unspoken weight of their shared fate hanging heavy in the air.
"Eis?" Her voice barely reached his ears, a whisper carried on the night breeze.
"Yes?" Eis turned to face her, catching the reflection of city lights dancing in her eyes. Narni, his oldest friend in The Belows - well, at least the longest surviving one. Also, not precisely from The Belows. Not once or twice, Geb had told him that she was from another district.
Indeed, he didn't know precisely where she resided. He wouldn't dare ask, though. In The Belows, everyone harbored their secrets, and there was a tacit understanding that one should never pry into another's personal affairs.
"What does it mean to be free?" Narni's question jolted him out of his daze.
"To have wealth. That's freedom," Eis replied reflexively, his words tinged with the bitterness of his reality. Also, didn't he get that question earlier today? The awakened girl. 'Seriously, what's with everyone today? Is it a new trend to rush to heights and ponder philosophical questions?'
"Is it, really?" She turned her gaze towards him, drawing closer until their faces were mere centimeters apart. Eis was thankful for the cover of darkness, which concealed the flush of embarrassment creeping up his neck.
"Of course," Eis replied, gesturing toward the section of the noble quarter. Magnificent houses rose several stories high, adorned with intricate carvings and glistening in the moonlight. Ornate fences encircled manicured gardens, while elegant carriages glided along the cobbled roads. Guards stood sentinel at the grand gates, their imposing presence a testament to the wealth within.
"Gold brings food, servants, and grand houses. They have no fear of midnight assailants or tomorrow's meal. What more could one ask for in freedom?" Eis reasoned.
"I don't believe they're truly free," Narni countered, her gaze fixed on the distant mansions. "I think they've constructed their own prison and become their own wardens."
"What?" Eis was bewildered. "These aren't prisons, Nar. I've seen what a prison is like. It's filthy, grimy, and infested with vermin."
"You're right," she conceded, turning to him with eyes brimming with an emotion unfamiliar to Eis. "Maybe the answer is different for everyone."
"Listen…" Eis began uncertainly. "Don't worry. I have a plan."
"A plan?" Narni looked at him in surprise. "A plan for what?"
"The boys and I have gathered information about a carriage carrying gold and wealthy passengers. I'll ensure you don't need anything… after I'm gone." Eis spoke with a forced calmness. Even if accepted, it was hard to think about one's own death.
Narni tore her eyes from his gaze and stared into the distance, her thoughts racing. "When?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Tomorrow. There's no point in putting it off. I don't have much left." Eis sighed heavily, the weight of his mortality pressing down on him.
"Haven't you ever wanted to fight? To enter the gate and come out strong? To carve your own path?" Her tone grew increasingly accusatory, her frustration bubbling to the surface. It was the first time Eis had heard her like this, and it caught him off guard.
"Nar, I'm just a simple rat from The Belows. How could I achieve all this?" Eis' voice wavered.
"How could you really? Three months of complaining about how you're going to die, Eis! Three months! Maybe you could have done something for yourself in that time?! It didn't occur to you?!" Anger seeped into Narni's every word, her frustration palpable.
"What could I do?! Train with a sword for three months? Even if there was a place and someone to teach me, do you think it would change anything?!" Eis' frustration boiled over, his voice rising as he pushed back against Narni's accusations. For the first time since he had woken up with the runes on his arm, the pent-up grief and anger had been unleashed, breaking free from the shackles that held them.
"More excuses!" Narni rolled her eyes up. "Did it ever cross your mind why you are not dead in the most dangerous part of the city? How come you survived while others didn't?"
"What are you talking about? I had luck on my side! I could have died countless times, Narni! I'm not a hero in one of your fairy tales! This is real life, where heroes get killed first while trying to help someone who stabs them in the back!" Eis could barely contain his Rdisbelief.
"Really? And I heard of a different story. A wild beast wearing the skin of a boy. How many have you killed, Eis? Why is portal such a big deal to break your spirit in such a way? The kid I know will turn the world upside down and survive. That Eis won't care about whys and whats and certainly won't make any excuses." Narni was standing now and looking at him with such rage that Eis took a step back.
"So what? Would you have made me wave a stick for three months and enter a portal? That would have made a difference?" He asked calmly.
"It would have made more of a difference than stealing a few pretzels." Narni's words were sharp, as if a dagger had pierced his heart.
No matter what life served him, Eis always had her share it with him. But something shattered within him at that moment. He clenched his teeth, unable to meet her gaze.
"You will have that chance. With the gold we'll steal, you'll have the opportunity to forge a new path. You will be free! Just remember, the foundation of the life you'll build will be laid upon my death. Upon the pretzels stolen by a cowardly street rat to bid you farewell. Goodbye, Narni."
As Eis recklessly climbed down the wall, a surge of emotions coursed through him, a mix of betrayal and pain. Narni's voice echoed after him, shouting something he couldn't quite make out, but he didn't stop to listen. His heart pounded in his chest as he descended, each step fueling his determination to escape.
To escape not from her but from the pain drilling into his heart.
Without looking back, he darted through the streets, the neglected buildings looming over him like silent witnesses to his rage.
Eis ran until his legs threatened to give out beneath him, stopping only when his body screamed in protest. His chest heaved as he gasped for air, heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from his ribcage. Yet, the pain—sharp, unrelenting—didn't leave him. It wasn't just physical exhaustion; it was deeper, sinking into his very soul.
As midnight's somber embrace enveloped the city, Eis glanced at the ominous symbols marking his days. Eight remained. Despite the tremor in his soul, a bitter smile danced upon Eis' lips. 'Damn,' he muttered inwardly, 'You only die once.' It was a lie, he told himself, a frail attempt to mask the gnawing fear that clutched at his heart.
Lost in his thoughts, Eis rounded another corner, unaware of the danger that lurked in the shadows.
A vice-like grip closed around his neck, silencing his choked gasp as a rough hand clamped over his mouth, snuffing out his muffled cry.
"What do we have here?" A husky, mocking voice taunted. "A little rat who doesn't pay his debts, huh?"
The hand covering Eis' mouth was suddenly withdrawn, but before he could utter a sound, a brutal blow to his kidneys sent shards of agony coursing through his body, forcing him to cry out in pain.
Eis collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath and puking uncontrollably.
As his vision swam, he became dimly aware of two looming figures standing over him.
'F*uck! It is the worst day ever, and no one can convince me otherwise.' Eis thought while his brain worked in overdrive to find a way out of this situation.