After wandering through the library for hours, Lucas felt his patience wearing thin. He had been trying to gather as much information as possible while waiting for Eldric to return, but the waiting was starting to wear on him.
'Just what kind of mission did Eldric get? Why is he taking so long?' he thought, irritation bubbling up.
'It's been almost three hours!'
Lucas sighed heavily. He was sitting in the same spot as before, near the window that overlooked the bustling streets outside. Stacked in front of him were the books he had read during his time there. He had likely gone through more than ten of them by now, absorbing whatever knowledge he could, but the effort was starting to take its toll.
His eyes ached, and his mind felt cluttered after reading for so long. He wanted to step outside, but a part of him hesitated. Lucas wasn't exactly the most outgoing person, and after yesterday's events, he was even more reluctant. The stares he'd drawn because of his human ears had been enough to make him uneasy.
"If only I knew how to ride a Skyrak," he muttered under his breath, glancing out the window wistfully.
Eventually, he couldn't take the boredom anymore. Pushing himself to his feet, he made his way to the door. As he passed, a brown-haired elf woman in a sharp suit with pointed ears eyed him curiously. Lucas avoided her gaze and stepped outside.
The sight that greeted him was overwhelming. The streets were alive with elves going about their business, some walking, others riding Skyraks—large bird-like creatures with sleek, feathered bodies. Vendors called out to passersby, and shopkeepers haggled with customers. The city seemed endless, with its towering buildings and narrow alleyways stretching in every direction.
Lucas hesitated, feeling a wave of discomfort as the crowd's attention turned to him.
"Mom, look! That boy has short ears!" a child's voice exclaimed.
"Woah, it's been ages since I've seen a human," another voice chimed in.
"Do you think he's from a royal family?"
Lucas kept his head down, doing his best to ignore the whispers and curious stares. His unease grew with every step, and he found himself wishing for a quieter place to collect his thoughts.
'I wonder if Sir Kael is still in the city?' he thought, though the idea brought little comfort.
He clenched his fists, trying to shake off the tension. 'Man, I feel so out of place here.'
Determined to escape the crowded streets, Lucas scanned his surroundings and spotted a narrow alleyway. It seemed like the perfect refuge.
'There probably won't be many people there,' he reasoned, quickening his pace.
As he stepped into the alley, the noise of the bustling city began to fade. The air felt cooler, and the shadows of the buildings offered a sense of calm. Lucas exhaled deeply, his racing heart finally starting to slow.
Looking back, he could still see the crowded street he had just left behind. The thought of returning made his stomach twist.
'Nope. I'm not going back there.'
Instead, he ventured deeper into the alley. It was surprisingly clean, with no signs of litter or decay. For once, he felt at ease. Though he didn't love being completely alone, the peace and quiet were a welcome change.
The alley seemed to stretch endlessly, and Lucas couldn't help but wonder where it led.
'Just how far does this go?'
His musings were interrupted by the sound of voices up ahead. He froze, his heart skipping a beat. It sounded like a group of people, their tones low and serious.
'What's going on?'
Curiosity tugged at him, but so did a sense of caution. He considered turning back but hesitated. His eyes darted to the buildings around him, as if searching for an escape route.
'Should I just leave?'
But, as usual, his curiosity got the better of him. He moved closer to the source of the voices, taking care to step lightly. Peeking around the corner, he spotted a group of five individuals. They were surrounding a smaller figure—a child—and one of them held a knife.
Lucas's stomach churned.
'Crap, crap, crap! What do I do?'
His mind raced as he weighed his options. 'Should I help him? Am I stupid? Help and what? Die with him?'
He stepped back, his heart pounding in his chest. 'I need to get out of here. Just move quietly…'
But as he turned, his foot landed on something that crunched loudly beneath him. The sound echoed through the alley.
Lucas froze, his blood running cold.
'Yeah, I'm dying this time.'