On the outskirts of the kingdom of Dwarak lies a remote city, detached from the mainland yet surprisingly large and overcrowded. Poverty pervades every corner, fueled by the city's rapid population growth.
In this impoverished environment, families often have multiple children, who are then forced to work in factories or engage in illicit activities. Some ruthless parents even sell their own children into slavery for a meager sum.
These children are doomed to grow up amidst crime and exploitation, often falling prey to black market gangs or wealthy nobles who use them for their twisted desires. Their lives are a never-ending cycle of suffering, subjected to unspeakable atrocities such as torture, assault, and rape. They are treated as nothing more than disposable tools and playthings, their fate a grim reminder of the city's darker realities.
Such is the city of Nakra, notorious for its darkness and despair. The city's nefarious reputation has earned it a place among the Four Ghastly Cities on the continent, a distinction shared by only a handful of places. Its wickedness has become so ingrained that Nakra has earned a nickname as "The City Where Darkness Shines The Brightest."
[ PRESENT ]
In the bustling market street of Nakra, a lone figure clad in a black robe and carrying a large bag navigated through the swarm of people who was none other than Nayek. Nayek's eyes scanned the crowd, his thoughts consumed by a single question: "Where can I find that ringed Swordsman or something?" [it's jinxed* swordsman]
The market street was alive with activity, vendors and hawkers calling out to passersby, touting their wares and services. Civilians haggled over prices, seeking the best value for their hard-earned coins. The air was filled with the discordance of commerce: "Fresh vegetables! Get your fresh vegetables here!" "Ma'am, sir, come check out our fish and meat – lowest prices in town!" A customer haggled with a vendor, "20 copper coins? I'll give you 15, take it or leave it!" Amidst the chaos, a child's voice pierced the air, "Mommy, please can I have that candy?"
Nayek's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the city. "Hmm… The city seems calmer than I expected. Or is this just a facade, hiding the true nature of the underground workings?" His suspicion grew with each passing moment.
Just then, the savory aroma of street food wafted from a nearby stall, enticing Nayek's senses. *Sniff sniff* His stomach growled in response, a familiar hunger pang. "Eh, no use worrying about all this nonsense," he thought, his attention shifting to the food stall.
A low rumble emanated from his stomach, a clear signal that it was time to eat. "A little snack wouldn't hurt," Nayek convinced himself, wiping the water from his mouth.
[Meanwhile in a musty dark alley of Nakra]
In a dimly lit alley of Nakra, a mysterious figure emerged, walking with stealthy precision. He navigated through the narrow passages, taking deliberate turns, until he reached a decrepit old building. The structure's aged facade seemed to whisper tales of forgotten lore, but the man entered with an air of familiarity, as if he were a regular patron.
He slipped into the bar, his eyes scanning the room before coming to rest on the bartender. With an unreadable expression, he spoke in a deep, resonant voice, "I'll have a glass of red wine from the depths of hell."
The bartender's shrewd smile faltered for a moment before he chuckled, "Hahaha, you have a good sense of humor, sir. But I think I can offer you something similar." His smile slowly faded, replaced by an air of curiosity. "Please, follow me."
The bartender led the man to a peculiar door, which creaked open to reveal a flight of stairs descending into darkness.
"You'll need to continue alone from here, sir," the bartender explained, his voice low and mysterious. "Even when there are no customers, I must remain at my post. Take the stairs for a few minutes, and you'll reach your destination. A guide will be waiting to escort you further."
The man's expression remained inscrutable as he tossed a silver coin to the bartender. Without a word, he began his descent into the darkness, his footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. "Thank you, generous sir," the bartender called out, his voice fading as he closed the door behind the mysterious stranger
[Meanwhile]
A petite figure darted through the dark alleys of Nakra, clad in a tattered jute robe. *Huff Huff* *splash splash* She ran barefoot, her feet splashing through the filthy sewer water that overflowed in the alleys. The putrid smell of rotting garbage and human waste filled her nostrils, but she didn't flinch. Her eyes, sunken from exhaustion, remained fixed on the path ahead. "Are they still following me?" she worriedly asked herself, her breathless voice barely audible.
Meanwhile, a group of men, led by a panting figure, arrived at the scene. "Where did that bitch run off to?" the leader growled, his face twisted in anger. "If we can't find her, we're as good as dead." One of his companions inquired, "Did you find her, boss?" The leader's face contorted in frustration. "No, she's quick. She's already cost the guild a fortune. We can't return empty-handed… or else." *gulp*The men swallowed hard, imagining their fate if they failed.
The petite figure continued to flee, her narrow form darting through the alleys. The sound of her ragged breathing and pounding feet echoed off the cold stone walls. Suddenly, she slipped on the algae-covered ground, her frail voice cursing her luck. "Ah, damn it! Why is this happening to me? I shouldn't have done those stupid things." Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to her feet, wounded and exhausted. Her eyes, red from crying, scanned her surroundings, searching for an escape route.
A shout pierced the air, "Hey, boss, let's check this narrow path!" The girl's eyes widened In fear as she hastily rose, wincing in pain. She began to hobble away, trying to move silently despite her injuries. Her heart pounded in her chest, threatening to burst free. She knew she couldn't outrun her pursuers for much longer. Soon, she found herself at a crossroads, her eyes scanning her surroundings. Although heavily injured she tried to make calm calculation.
She glanced left and right, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. To her left lay an endless expanse of darkness, while to her right, a beam of light spilled from the main street, surprisingly close. Yet, she hesitated, fearing that emerging onto the bustling street would only make her more conspicuous and vulnerable to discovery. With a deep breath, she turned left, plunging into the darkness.
As she walked, her footsteps echoed off the cold walls.
Suddenly, a massive wall loomed before her, blocking her path. A look of despair washed over her face as she realized she had stumbled into her grave. Precisely, a dead end, "Oh no, this can't be happening to me, right?". "No, think carefully, use your brain, VITRA", she muttered, attempting to inject a hint of humor into the dire situation.
Vitra's gaze frantically scanned her surroundings, searching
for an escape route. That's when she spotted a massive dustbin, large enough to accommodate five people. Her face lit up with hope, but it was short-lived. As she opened the dustbin, a putrid smell wafted out, accompanied by an unholy chorus of scurrying creatures. Cockroaches, rats, and unidentifiable insects scurried about, making her skin crawl. Steeling herself, Vitra took a deep breath and climbed inside, hoping to evade her pursuers.
"It's dark… and smelly," Vitra whispered, streams of tears
running down her face. The inside of the dustbin was a suffocating darkness, the stench of rot and decay overwhelming. Suddenly, a man's voice pierced the air, "Hey, here!" Vitra's panic intensified, her breathing growing heavier.
As the group of men approached, one of them spotted the
dustbin. "Hey boss, have you checked that dustbin?" he asked, his finger pointing accusingly. *Katup katup*, the sound of footsteps drew closer. Vitra's heart racing, tears streaming down her face. The footsteps halted, and
she sensed the man standing right outside the dustbin. Closing her eyes, she curled up, paralyzed with fear.
*Boom* A strange sound echoed from outside, followed
by a man's threatening voice, "Who the hell are you? Do you want to die?" *Boom* The sound repeated, accompanied by the crunching of wood and stone. Vitra remained frozen, eyes shut, as the sounds intensified.
*Keeeeek*. The dustbin's lid creaked open, and Vitra
twitched, convinced her time was up. Instead, a deep, warm voice asked, "Are you okay, you brat?" Vitra opened her eyes, blinking away tears. The sudden light stung her eyes, adjusted to the darkness. Rubbing her eyes, she looked up
at the figure of a boy.
"You're very lucky I was around this area," the boy said,
attempting to console her. Vitra's eyes widened in shock, and she muttered,"Y-y-you?"
— To be continued