TAKE ME OUTSIDE
"Who are you?" Hale asked
The boy remained silently. He had managed to raise his head up, though he could barely meet contact with Hale's strict gaze.
"Should I repeat myself?"
"Slave master! I'm so sorry. I only wanted to look around for a while before—"
Hale couldn't just keep up with the stammers and turned around, ignoring the boy like he was never there.
However, instead of proceeding up the stairs and wandered around for a moment before facing the lad once again.
"Any idea how I could leave here? Like go outside the walls." Hale understood that his words were risky.
However, judging by the green roots of the boy's black hair with a slightly young face, he bet this lad was any wiser.
Meanwhile, the latter could barely form a word.
With his lips slightly ajar, he could only gaze at the man before him and look petrified.
"You really do like it when people repeat themselves, don't you?" Hale snapped the boy from his daze.
"S-sorry. I'm Graham Rolyck and I love you so much. I'm your most passionate believer..."
Hale remained silent, the words seeping through his ears while he instead, waited for a reply.
Unfortunately, it seemed this lad wasn't ready to let down, and it all only made Hale impatient.
"Graham or whoever you are," Hale interrupted, the lack of interest brimming from his tired eyes,
"I asked a question. Any idea how I can go outside the fence?"
"O-oh! Yes." Graham beamed. But quickly as it came, he quickly settled.
"You want to go outside the walls?" He asked.
Hale remained silent, only gazing at the latter while he waited for a reply.
"We usually pass through the forest at the side ... But, Slave master, d-do you want to step out? Like this?"
Hale's brows creased downwards with a frown.
But his mind had quickly processed what the latter said, involuntarily causing his palms to caress his face.
Especially the golden attachment he called a jaw.
'How didn't I think of this from the beginning?' Hale shook his head.
This was yet again, another reminder of how rash he had been behaving.
"So what do I do about it?"
Graham stared up at Hale.
It was a surprise that the Slave master wanted to step out in a lonely night and yet couldn't find the way by himself.
But Graham had ignored the strange behavior, simply taking them as opportunities to get to know the Slave master.
However, for the man to act rather this clueless, and to mention, his utter change in demeanor, Graham couldn't but feel suspicious.
Unless perhaps, 'The near death experience must had done something to his brain.'
Meanwhile, Hale had instantly realized his mistake after mentioning those words.
The minute long scrutinizing gaze from the young man made his heart pound.
No way did he wanted to be found out so soon.
But unfortunately, if he didn't ask, he would have an idea what to do.
The only perfect memory he gained from Turpin were the very major chunks of his life.
Minor or too general details were all so hazy that they almost weren't there.
Hale cleared his throat, "I would just like a reminder. Since my awakening I've been kinda off the roofs."
Graham jaws couldn't dropped any further at those moment.
'What a weird way to talk.'
But he had to hold it in. It seemed like his mentor already caught his gaze.
Graham gulped, forcing a smile on his face as he made a small nod,
"Usually you'll meet Mister Green who'll either replace it with a more— normal type. Or he'll just give you a face mask." Graham explained.
All the while, Hale listened carefully, nodding slightly when something interested him in the words.
Now that Graham said it, it seemed to become clearer in his head. Not that he could fully tap into the memory, but he felt the pieces try to fit together.
"Take me to this— Green. I really hope to go outside today."
Graham seemed to frown a bit, "B-but Slave Master? Green is with the others in the great-room,"
"You won't be sneaking out if you go in there."
The words broke Hale's heart and he couldn't but curse at the situation he found himself.
For all this to have only been a waste of time made him feel defeated.
Going from one complication to the other since he found himself in this man, he was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"I'll take my leave then."
Hale turned around, striding back for the stairs while he ignored the other lad.
All the while, Graham had his gazed fixed on the man.
He loved the man's tenacity and unyielding aura. Not only him— but every other Hellstrider.
However, if Graham was to describe the man he just conversed with, the depiction would leave even himself a little too uncomfortable.
Graham was only a regular Hellstrider so he wasn't privileged of acute information.
However, when the slave master had suffered great injury from his yet another battle with Norvenia's heroes, the cult leaders only said he was going to be healed.
A process that had lasted the entire month.
Graham and everyone expected the slave master to reawaken— the same man, even more determined.
Unfortunately, all Graham saw in this latter was a litter of confusion.
Some of his behaviors were even so odd he couldn't bring himself to consider it.
"Boy!"
Graham was snapped from his daze watching the Slave Master once again pace down the stairs.
There was a sheen in his eyes— one that made Graham wail internally.
Something told him this man was going to ask for something impossible.
"It doesn't matter. I will go out like this."
"Ehn?" Graham scratched his head, unable to mask the fear that paled his face,
"Slave master, there are guilds and mercenaries always on the hunt for you. Plus the heroes always seemed to have very good track of you.
Especially when you are without the mask."
"Don't fret too hard young man. I'll try to be unnoticed. I only want you to show me the best way out."
'The Slave Master has lost his mind!'
Graham could only nod as the cold spit slithered down his throat.
If the Slave Master ordered for this, who was he to refuse?