Long Haoyue and Wei Lian were shocked when they found out they weren't the only ones depending on the temple. Their new home was flooded with rowdy beggars arguing and howling on that cold chilly night.
"Yo! Who are these rich kids lying on mats?"One of the beggars asked in an authoritative raspy voice.
Long Haoyue and Wei Lian were well versed in a number of combat techniques but given that they had been outnumbered,they chose to stay calm and only resort to violence when necessary. Long Haoyue froze when he heard the beggars approaching them. He could already tell how rough the night would be. If things escalated to the worst he was sure Wei Lian would just kneel and beg for their mercy. But he on the other hand wasn't ready to be humiliated despite how scared he was.
Long Haoyue was woken up by the stinging pain on his back caused by one of the beggars kicking him. He groaned in pain and tossed around to face his assaulters.
"Who are you?"
Long Haoyue hated introducing himself first because it made him inferior. He had decided to remain calm however from the look of things the beggars would still try to pick a fight no matter how polite and humble he became.
""If you tell me your name I will tell you mine then,"Long Haoyue stated arrogantly.
"Who do you think you are to ask my name?"The beggars' leader,a tall plump dude stepped forward to confront Long Haoyue.
Wei Lian woke up too and his usual gentle demeanour shifted to an aggressive one,like a volcano on the verge of erupting. He got up and spun kicks ruthlessly at them not minding where he hit them,flinging them across the empty space.Emboldened by Wei Lian's bravery and fighting spirit,Long Haoyue found the strength to fight against the bullies. When the bullies realized they were doomed to lose,they backed out and went back to their spot.
Long Haoyue and Wei Lian went back to sleep but in the middle of the night ,the bullies came back again. They pretended to surrender earlier to make the two lower their guard. Long Haoyue's money pouch had already been stolen. They trampled on Long Haoyue but Wei Lian was quick enough to use himself as a shield. He hugged Long Haoyue tightly and let them trample on him instead.
"Get off you'll die,"Long Haoyue yelled trying to wriggle his body out of Wei Lian's grasp but Wei Lian held on to him tightly.
"I'm sorry I have to protect you."
"What a strong sense of brotherhood you have there ,"one of the boys commented sarcastically and the others burst out laughing mockingly.
Fighting became the night routine at the temple. Long Haoyue and Wei Lian fought the bullies every night and only had a break when the bullies got into arguments amongst themselves which would lead into a bloodshed. Apart from the fights,the temple's poor sanitation led to breeding of mosquitoes which buzzed around every night threatening to drain off their blood. Gloomhaven was colder than other regions all year around and every night Long Haoyue and Wei Lian shivered even after spending hours cuddling innocently.
At daytime,the other kids had workplaces to report to and perform tasks to be able to afford a meal. Long Haoyue and Wei Lian would have a peaceful time but it didn't take long before the insecurity of becoming bankrupt knocked at their doors.
*****
"Your Highness should we follow them and see if we can find a job?"
"From now on do not call me Your Highness anymore. I'm no longer that cherished prince Long Haoyue. From now on call me Zhao Shenbao,"Long Haoyue uttered with confidence.
"Zhao Shenbao?"
"Yes."
"Am I allowed to change my name too?"
"Of course you have to. Besides those kids have been pestering us to tell them our names for long."
"Can I use the same surname as you?"
"You can use it if you want."
"Our different statuses didn't allow us to share a surname but now that the heavens have granted me a chance to be on the same level as you I think it's better I use this opportunity well. From now on I will be Zhao Ruoxuan,"Wei Lian spoke with much enthusiasm. It was the happiest moment of his life despite the suffering they were undergoing.
Bracing themselves for whatever challenge that was awaiting them,they walked to the construction site where they saw many impoverished kids carrying heavy sacks . Other kids were lined up in front of some large pot. The kids were carrying bowls and there was a man serving them. There was another man carrying a whip around ready to discipline those who broke the rules. Long Haoyue sympathized with them but his sympathy was of no use to them because he was soon going to join them. A man yelled at them when he spotted them standing from a distance watching others . Assuming they were lazybones who knew nothing but to dine and dash ,he rushed over towards them with whip in his hands .
Ever since that day,Long Haoyue and Wei Lian became construction site workers who worked for several hours but received a few pennies and a bowl of porridge as salary.
With time Long Haoyue and Wei Lian adapted to the environment and the developed several measures necessary for their survival . They bonded with the kids pretty well after sometime. They gathered in the temple in the evenings and narrated stories.
During one of their storytelling sessions Long Haoyue expressed his curiosity about the reason why everyone was obsessed with talismans. That's when one of the kids volunteered to delve into the unforgettable history that marked a change into the lives of the people of Gloomhaven.
A significant number of years ago ,The Shadow Plague, a mysterious and deadly disease struck the whole town. The plague was named for the dark, shadowy spots that appeared on the skin of the afflicted, resembling the creeping shadows of twilight.
Victims experienced mild fever, fatigue, and a persistent cough.Dark spots began to appear on the skin, starting from the extremities and spreading towards the torso. These spots were accompanied by severe pain and swelling.
In the advanced stage victims experienced high fever, delirium, and intense pain. The dark spots merged into large patches, and the victim's skin took on a shadowy hue. Internal bleeding occurred and organ failure follow, leading to death within a week if untreated.
The plague spread through contaminated water and close contact with infected individuals making people practice social distancing to avoid infection.It was also believed to be carried by rats and their fleas.
The townspeople believed the plague was a curse from the gods, punishing them for their sins. This led to widespread panic and the ostracization of the sick. With time skilled medical sages came up with an antidote to cure the disease .The town slowly recovered, but the experience left a lasting impact on the community, changing their beliefs and practices. The quarantine and social distancing measures to avoid infection made people adopt a habit of keeping distance from others even in the later generations. The people also came up with talismans as a way of warding off bad luck and preventing further calamities from strucking their town.