Chapter: 2
I woke up much earlier than intended, my body sore from sleeping in an uncomfortable position. Blinking my eyes open, I realized I was still in Lily's room, having fallen asleep while reading to her the night before.
"I must have dozed off while reading her story," I muttered as I stretched, the sound of a few satisfying pops echoing through the room.
Quietly, I slipped out of Lily's room, careful not to wake her. As I descended the stairs, a familiar, putrid stench filled my nostrils. I grimaced. No matter how long I'd been in this world, I could never quite get used to the rank smell of King's Landing—the overwhelming stench of raw sewage and decay hung in the air like an invisible fog. Stepping into the main room, I found my mother, Camille, already drinking.
"Morning, mother," I greeted her.
She responded with a dismissive wave, her eyes fixed on the half-empty cup in her hand. At least she hadn't gone through an entire bottle yet today. I stared at her for a moment, shaking my head in silent frustration. Confronting her about it never did any good.
Walking into the kitchen, I made my way over to the pantry, intending to prepare breakfast, only to find it nearly empty. Sighing, I headed back upstairs to my room. My room was small and modest, with a simple wooden bed in the corner and a worn-out desk cluttered with old books and parchment. The window provided a narrow view of the street below, letting in just enough light to make the room feel less claustrophobic.
I approached the cabinet in the corner, sliding it aside to reveal a hidden stash of coins I had accumulated over the years. I had stolen most of them—picking pockets and swindling from unsuspecting nobles and merchants who never paid attention to a peasant boy like me. I counted the silver and gold coins, then nodded to myself before pocketing the bag.
Once I was ready, I slipped out the front door, shutting it quietly behind me. The streets of King's Landing were bustling as usual, filled with the noise of vendors peddling their goods and the occasional shout of guards trying to maintain some semblance of order. I made my way to various stalls, buying fruits, vegetables, and meat for the day.
"Thank you," I said to the merchant as I handed him a few coins.
With my groceries in hand, I took my usual route home, keeping to the less crowded streets. But something felt off. I could feel eyes on me. Glancing over my shoulder, I noticed four men trailing behind. They were trying to be inconspicuous, but their intentions were clear. I sighed internally as I quickened my pace, hoping they would lose interest. No such luck. They caught up, spreading out and surrounding me.
"Oi, kid, give us everything you've got!" one of the thieves barked.
I looked at him—a man with greasy black hair and brown eyes, dressed in the ragged clothes of someone who had nothing to lose. His companions weren't much different: a bald man who looked older than the rest, and two younger men in their twenties. One had brown hair and green eyes; the other, black hair and blue eyes.
I sighed again, my patience thinning. The leader grew more agitated.
"Oi! You hear me?" he shouted, stepping closer.
"I heard you the first time," I said flatly.
"Then hand it over. No funny business," he sneered, brandishing a knife.
I raised my left hand, and without warning, manipulated the wind around me, sharpening it into an invisible blade. One of the younger thieves sneered and started to speak, but before he could finish his sentence, I swung my hand. His head hit the ground with a sickening thud, his body collapsing like a ragdoll.
The leader stumbled backward in shock, and the two others looked horrified. Before they could react, I swung again, decapitating both with a single motion. Their bodies crumpled to the dirt, blood pooling around them. The leader, realizing his situation, turned to run. I let out a weary sigh, conjuring a streak of lightning that wrapped around my arm. With a quick flick of my wrist, the lightning extended outward, piercing the back of the fleeing man's head.
"That was annoying," I muttered, surveying the scene of carnage I had left behind.
This was the fourth time this month I had been ambushed, and I had long since learned that mercy didn't get you far in King's Landing. Wiping the blood from my hand, I picked up the groceries I had dropped and headed home.
When I returned, I immediately began putting the food away in the kitchen, my mind still focused on the events of the morning. It wasn't long before I heard the soft shuffle of footsteps behind me.
"Morning, Lily," I said, glancing over my shoulder to see my little sister rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Morning, big brother," she mumbled, still half asleep.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, smiling at her.
"Are you making breakfast?"
"I am. Any special requests?"
"Eggs and bacon!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up.
I chuckled. "You really liked it the last time, huh?"
"Yeah!" she said with enthusiasm.
"Alright then, go sit down. I'll have it ready soon."
As Lily shuffled out of the kitchen, I got to work, cracking eggs into the pan and frying the bacon. The smell soon filled the small house, and before long, I served Lily her favorite breakfast. After we ate, I looked for our mother, but she had vanished again, most likely off drinking somewhere.
With nothing else to do, I decided to take Lily out for a walk around the city. We strolled through the bustling streets of King's Landing, buying little trinkets and treats here and there. Eventually, we found a small patch of grass—one of the few places in the city that wasn't covered in dirt or stone.
We sat there for a while, enjoying the rare moment of peace in a city that was anything but peaceful and was going to get worse a year from now but for right now this was fine.
Chapter 2: end