>Carlin Normen
An hour before the mass destruction, Carlin wore a white cotton fabric covering her head and body. She went into a narrow, dark alley near the High Tower. The alley was filled with homeless people who were begging for food and coins. Carlin gave five silver coins to a lady with two children, the children younger than Lilly and Julian.
A drunk man walked up to Carlin holding a wine bottle, he kept his hand on Carlin's shoulder, she quickly slapped him and his bottle broke falling. He raised his hand but the lady with the children fell to his feet and said "Please, please don't! She helped us,"
He kicked her and said"Who are you to stop me? Stay out of my business," he fell as he was speaking, he was too drunk even to stand still.
"I am sorry, madam. I am sorry for my husband's behavior. He is always like this. Please forgive me." She joined her hands and begged for mercy. Carlin said it wasn't her fault and left.
As Carlin was walking deep into the alley she was seeing many people who were starving for weeks.
She reached the end of the alley, and there was an old wooden door that was highly sculpted and detailed, she knocked on the door, and an old man with a gray beard and mustache opened it, he greeted Carlin and allowed her in. He was wearing old robes covering his head and holding a wooden beam for support, Carlin followed that old man.
There were stairs leading down, which were lit up by very few torches, the whole area was dull and narrow. They went down and entered the city sewage, it was not as bad smelling as Carlin thought.
There was a man in white robes wearing a large white hat, he was waiting for her and was standing next to a small marble pillar with a book on it. Carlin went up to him and exhaled, she was very nervous and afraid, her palms were sweaty and her forehead too.
The man opened the book and started reading out loud, he was praying and chanting the lord of the water Acrone,
"your family has been the protectors of this kingdom for 10 centuries and it is all going to end as you are the last dissident, so let's end the problem as well." the guy in the white robes said to Carlin.
"Pastor wait, will this work?" Carlin asked,
"My experiences point yes, but we can't predict the future."
Carlin knotted, she was still nervous. The man told Carlin to show her palm, she did as he commanded. He took out a golden knife and left a scar on her palm.
Blood drops fell onto the pillar. Nothing was happening, "Is everything okay pastor?" Carlin nervously asked, but there was no answer from him, his eyes widened and then he replied in a low voice "I sense danger." A black liquid started to flow out, Carlin moved back a few steps, "Pastor move!" Carlin shouted, but he was speechless.
Carlin reached the stairs, she turned back and saw the pastor, his lower half was taken up by Maldas. Tears fell from his eyes and he said "Lord, please forgive me for my sin." And his body was completely consumed by the Maldas.
Carlin Ran out, she entered the alley and started screaming "Run, everyone run!" She went up to that lady she met earlier, "Stay away from the water, for your children's safety, please." That lady listened to Carlin and ran with her children.
>Steven Willer
Emma and her father were going through Long Street which was packed with people, it was not even a busy day but the crowd was still bustling. Steven stopped the cart when he saw his old friend from the Blue Town, as they were charting, Emma took out a book and started reading.
They started again, Emma had never seen that part of Gablon before, the crowd and the shops had a different vibe. Her father explained that it was the old Gablon, she didn't know that there were old and new Gablon in the city. They reached the Bronsly Bridge, it was a stone arch bridge, which was large and bulky. They could see the Castly Bridge on the left side and the Gablon Port on the right. The city feels alive and full no matter the time and season.
Emma saw a dead body floating in the Narrow Sea, and she asked her father about it, "It's all common here, this part of the city is all about crime and slavery. Don't worry about it dear, " Steven replied.
They crossed the bridge, "It feels like a completely different city papa," Emma said, "Yes dear, but we need to get out of here as soon as possible, no one is safe here, no guards to protect us."
"Why is his part like this papa?"
"They choose it, they are suffering. When Gablon was established, few people from the Domin Island settled here, they didn't follow the rules of the free city and they chose to remain like the pirates they used to be."
The only part of West Tide that was controlled by the East Island was the Central Way which was a road that connected the East Island to the outer part of the city, it passes from the middle of the West Tide. The Central Way plays a huge role in trade and travel in and out of the city. Though it is controlled by the East Island, murder and crime happen here all the time as no guards are allowed here. The whole West Tide fills like a city within a city.
As they were going Emma saw an old man brutally murdered, this was like pity crimes in West Tide.
There were two men standing midway down the road, they stopped the cart and one of them asked, "Where are you going?"
"I'm a merchant sir, I need to deliver goods," Steven replied
"What about the girl inside?" another man asked
"She is my daughter, sir." Steven gave 10 gold coins,
"Do you think 10 coins are enough?"
"Sorry sir," Steven gave 5 more coins
"Nah.., it's not enough."
"Sorry sir, but I have no more coins."
"Then hand your daughter.!"
Steven quickly took out a steel dagger and cut one of their throats and started the cart, the other man whistled, around 20 members came onto the road, they started chasing the cart.
They are really thin and fast, they are running and chasing, someone even threw a dagger onto the cart and it stuck to it. They are holding different weapons, some are holding spears, swords, and daggers and some even have knives.
They were getting extremely close, Mr.Willer speed-ed the cart and then someone threw a spear, which broke the cartwheel, Steven dragged Emma out of the cart and onto the horse, Steven gave Emma the dagger and told her to cut the rope connecting the cart. They are close and they are throwing stuff on them, Emma cuts the rope and they start again, they reach the end of the road, and there is an arch, The Arch of Free, which was constructed to tell the world that Gablon is a free city, it was the only free city in the entire world at that moment.
They passed under the grand arch and crossed it. Emma was captivated by its magnificence. Suddenly, the arch crumbled and obstructed the path.
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The Bright light that Lilly and Julian beheld had vanished, along with the Maldas. They ceased their frantic sprint, pausing to draw in a deep breath, their bodies weary and drained. Lilly and Julian were utterly perplexed by the mysterious turn of events.
They slowly ventured deep into the cavern, where they encountered a man, he was not that old looking but dressed old.
Lilly and Julian were happy when they saw him, they found hope again. They went up to him, he said "The Maldas are afraid of light,"
"Where did the light come from? How do you know about Maldas?" Lilly asked him,
"Everything is God's part and I share a little knowledge." That man replied
"Who are you?" Julian asked, "Someone you never met before," He replied
"We are asking a real question," Lilly,
"I answered real,"
Julian's stomach rumbled, "Are you hungry?" That man asked, Julian knotted,
he told them to follow him.
As they were going. "I am Arnold, Arnold Shall," That man said,
"Okay finally you answered properly, I am Julian and she is my sister Lilly." Julian, "Good to know you," Arnold replied.
The narrow passage turned out to be a large cave, it had a daylight hole on the top and a large tree below. They could see the midnight stars from the top hole.
Arnold walked towards that middle tree, there was a small basket under it, he took that basket and snatched a few fruits, and he brought those fruits to them. Julian took a bite of the fruit, "It's so good, What is this?" he asked as he was eating, "Royal Fruit," replied Arnold. Julian was amazed as it was a rare and exotic fruit, "It's my first time eating it," Julian. Arnold smiled and said, "Eat how much ever you want."
After they finished eating, Arnold took them to his house, which was carved into the rock, it had no door and it was completely open. Inside the room, there was a small reading table, a chair, and a bed. He even had a few collectibles which were from different eras and different places. "What do you do for a living?" Lilly asked Arnold, "I eat, is that what you mean?" Arnold,
"No, I mean what work do you do for a living?"
"I don't work, I just stay here."
"Have you been out?" Julian asked
"Um long back."
Thunderstruck and the rain began to fall. "I believe it's time for us to rest," Arnold declared, while Lilly and Julian nodded in agreement. Arnold settled down on the floor, while Lilly and Julian nestled into the comfort of the bed.
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