Morning rays pierced the trees that aligned the path leading towards my destination. A breeze skewered its way through the bushes effortlessly, giving off a calm atmosphere that I enjoyed. I loved nothing more then to walk through a forest as everything about it was calmed me. Nothing stood between me and my thoughts and I quite liked it that way. Unlike others, my thoughts were apart of me and by extension; were always there to get me out of a jam. People call it 'social reclusiveness', I prefer to call it being smart. All attachments had gotten me in life was pain and suffering. By cutting emotional relationships, I managed to keep most of sanity, while most in my line of work quit after a year. Me? I've been going strong for the past eight. Even though the scenery was nice, I never once pictured myself voyaging to a secluded slave town near the coast. I had worked myself up the templar ranks only to be given a low-ranking mission such as this one, at least - I believed this was far from my type of mission. Sergeant Cyrus felt otherwise. He preferred to call it a "Crucial conquest, imperative to developing slave trader and templar relations" I believe it's how he described it. Of course, I was chosen to deliver the message, instead of doing something productive. Even after a lot protest, I still listened. Keeping myself alive was priority - I can't kill filth while in a grave. It was far too well known among Templar about what happened to those who kept defying orders. It usually involved swinging from the end of a rope, while dozens of cheery rich folk watched. I didn't fancy neither, so I played my part, took the job and now I'm finally going to rid myself of it. I was never too much of a messenger. Reason being the only people who spoke to me were death within minutes.
After what felt like years of walking, I had reached the cliff that onlooked Dalvun. All of this to meet some dirty 'infamous' slave trader known mostly for producing high quality wolven. Through this letter, the templar hope to establish an advantage by keeping tabs on his business. The arising conflicts between the humans and the wolf clan has all of humanity on edge, including the templar. The wolf clan are known for their immense power, often comparable to a human. They're the only known species other then humans that can use aura, although not as strong, it's still very much deadly.
Enough site seeing, it's time to get to work. The town I onlooked was decently sized - far from the capital city, but nevertheless: a town. However, its size was easily diceptive. Down below; stood a blossoming market filled with humans shopping for what seemed like general goods. Most of said humans were accompanied by all sorts of keidran - mainly wolfs and tigers. Already on the ball, I checked for any animals that were not bearing enchantment collars. Luckily for me, I didn't notice any whom weren't biding by the law. Relieved, I continued down the cliff towards the main gate. This being my first time in a small town in awhile, I intend to make good of the voyage by touring a bit. I have time. I pride myself on always be early for mission, not matter the fruitfulness. My stroll however was short lived, rudely interrupted by a guard that obviously had one too many drinks.
He stumbled towards me seemingly not noticing the templar crest that was stitched onto my cloak and slurred, "Oi! Yue! What r'.. What r' ye doin' here?"
"Great. I drunk hillbilly." I mumbled under my breath.
"pffff… Whaat?"
I sighed dissapointingly. "It's nothing."
He mumbled something I didn't quite understand and sat back down. Baffled, I snorted, rolled my eyes and continued into the village. This town seemed decent judging by the small amount I've seen… Apart from the drunken fools, they need to go. Weirdly enough, I had seen over ten lodges. I didn't think this place had to much traffic, obviously, I was wrong. Near the last lodge, there stood a bar and judging by the guard, this town must have soft spot for liquor. Why the hell not, what's what the worse that can happen?
I ambled towards the establishment and marched up the stairs, placing a hand on the door knob. I hardly managed to fidget with the brass extremity before being cut off by a ragged old man. His head snapped towards me In retaliation, revealing his disgustingly greasy and disfigured features. Not to mention he was also practically dragging a keidran by her leash.
"Watch wher' yer' going fool!" the man slurred.
Both the guard that confronted me earlier and the drunkard that stood before me were identical. In fact, the two men were indistinguishable. If not for lancer's armor; I would have most likely mistaken them as being one of the same. The man's horribly bloodshot eyes shot open, as he shoved the keidran that he lumbered into the dirt bellow. It flew over the railing and landed on what seemed to be it's back, causing it to yip in pain.
"Ah! A tough guy now'!" he spat, "Why r' ye' smillin'?".
He was so close I could virtually smell what he stuffed down his gulet last night. I clenched my first. He was lucky I was on official business, he would have promptly lost his head if I weren't.
I smiled half heartedly.
"Pardon me sir, I wasn't laughing at you. I was simply laughing at that pathetic keidran is all."
His eyes shot open once more.
"Yes! Tis quite the pathetic creature! Can't even stand up after taking a bump!" the man laughed and on cue, stomped down the steps to confront the canine.
"Get up you bitch!" he shouted in a drunken rage, while mercilessly kicking the canine in the stomach.
"I'm sorry!"
"You make me look bad!"
The man plopped onto his knees - abrubtly stopping his rampage, and grabbed the dog by its ears. Without warning he started dragging it into the bar, now using its ears as a leash. I cringed. The urge to do something suddenly flared up inside my body, but I quickly shut the thought down. Its just a keidran after all. A small insignificant part of me couldn't stop itself from pitying the animal, however. Those ears weren't meant to be used like a leash. Snapping myself out of the trance, I shuffled into the bar and noticed the man still going at it. He threw the keidran to the ground and planted himself onto a chair.
"Get me the usual!"
The keidran nodded, still with tears in its eyes and ran off to the bar to get whatever the 'usual' was. I myself pulled a chair from under the table that was situated across from the man. I would have distanced myself, but sadly, the bar was full, and it was the only free spot. Once comfortable, a white wolf nervously crept up towards me. Bizarrely enough, she was naked. Keidran were usually always told to wear clothes inside. Seems I've stubbled into 'that kind' of establishment.
"He..Hello sir…" she whimpered nervously, "My name is Lu…Luna.. I will be your servant tonight…"
I stayed silent and observed. She seemed to beexhausted, it was obvious she hadn't slept in days. I felt something in my chest cavity. Why was I pitying this…animal? I sighed breaking the silence between the two of us.
"Ill have a beer and a glass of water." I spoke softly, not exerting any emotion through my voice.
"Ye..yes sir…"
I gave her three silver coins and watched as she ran to the back. A minute later she returned with my refreshments. She placed the tray on the table, as she was doing so, I noticed her arms trembling. Was I really that Intimidating? I closed my eyes calmly and slurped on the beverage. It was hard. Much harder then the alcoholic beverages sold in the capital. Although, I didn't know what I expected. Certainly not fine wine.
I kept on looking back towards the wolf. She seemed to be trying to stand tall, but her body was obviously at its limit. She was more hunched over then anything. I didn't know why I felt so bad. I never had felt this way for a keidran. I sighed and placed the cup on the table. Clear distress wiped over her face.
"P..Pardon me sir.. I fetch you another?" she whimpered once more, her voice trembling as much as her arm.
"No. The beer's fine." I huffed, picked the cup back and took one more sip.
"Sit."
Wide eyed, she shook her head.
"I'm…I'm sorry sir... B..But keidran are not allowed..t..to sit…"
"The owner of this place. I'm sure he tells you all to listen to the customers, right?"
She nodded her head.
"Then sit."
The wolf nervously complied and pulled the other chair from under the table. The way she alwardly sat told me the extent to the 'no sitting' rule. Even a simple concept such as sitting seemed foreign to her; it was as if she was getting in a bike for the first time ever. Once sat, she was clearly terrified. Her head kept on shooting back and forth from left to right, as If she had murdered somebody and a whole army division was looking for her. I sighed and grabbed the cup of water I had ordered and slid it to her position. What followed was very shocked and confused expression emitting from the female.
"F.. For..me?"
I huffed once more and nodded. Her face lit up, she grabbed the cup and started scarfing the water down. She quickly finished the refreshment to my dismay. She could have at least been civilized and drank it conservatively I don't know what I was expecting from a keidran however. I didn't say anything. Who knows - for all I know, this may have been her first glass in days.
A few minutes had passed, and nothing had been said between us. In all honesty, it was partially because it had been so long since my last conversation with a keidran. I didn't know what to say.
The wolf spoke first, breaking the silence, "I believe I should get going… Master will be-"
She paused abruptly and quickly put her head down, similar to how a child would react if their mother caught them stealing from a cookie jar.
I peered over at the disturbance a saw man wearing a suit rush towards us.
"You mangy mongrel! Get off that chair!"
Not wasting a second, the man grabbed the wolf by its scruff and threw her to the ground.
"Filthy animal! I've always told you to keep your dirty hind off my chairs!"
The man kicked the wolf in the chest area, which manufactured a sharp howl pertaining from the wolf. He was about to unload on more punishment upon the animal, but I caught his first before it made impact. I don't know what made me do it. Pity? Empathy? Sorrow? Whatever it was, I felt stupid.
The sharply dressed man ripped his fist from my palm and roared, "Who the hell do you think you are? I may beat my slaves whenever I see fit! Now step aside!"
I stood my ground, even if every muscle in my body was telling me to move.
"You might as well beat me then. I was the one that gave her the order to sit down in the first place."
At this point, the attention of the whole bar was centered onto me and the man.
"Do you know who I am?" his tone raised, "I am Leviticus Cornwall the third. Now so god help me you move out of the way, or you'll be hanging by sun down!"
Why was I standing up for this god damn canine? Have I lost it? He may be a snob, but he has a right to beat his slave!
"Do you hear me boy? MOVE!"
Although fat and old, he was quick on his feet, lunging forward with tremendous power and grabbing me by the collar.
I couldn't move. I just couldn't. I let my emotions get the best of me and look where it got me. Protecting a keidran of all things. This is the reason I'm usually a blank slate. Emotions corrupt the mind and make you susceptible to impulsivity. The wolf however… She warned me this would happen. Even if she's a keidran, I can't let Cornwall beat her over a something I had forced her to commit.
Not knowing what else to do, I reached for my belt.
"Listen erm… Leviticus was it? I understand your anger..." I paused and pulled a smallpouch from my pocket.
"How about I give you ten gold coins as a consolation and throw in five extras. In return, you forget she ever did anything."
Stunned he released my collar and moved back a step or two.
"Fifteen gold coins huh…" He twiddled his mustache, clearly conflicted and confused.
"Fool. Why waste money on such a fowl creature?"
I myself had been taken back from that statement. Why was I doing this? Again. I had let my emotions take over. Now I was in a jam and the negotiations had already begun. I couldn't just back out now.
"I don't know… I myself am going to blame it on my annoying principals. You however? You can blame it on me being crazy and take the free coins. Its your call Cornwall."
He snickered and swiftly snatched the bag from my hand.
"You have a deal. Easiest coins I've ever made."
The old man turned around, not even giving me a second glance. It was better that way. One more dirty look from that lazy eye of his and my emotions would have taken over again. This time, I would have torn his head clean of his shoulders. The men and women around the bar weren't so kind, I didn't blame them. After all, they just watched a templar stand up for a keidran. I spun around, my cloak flaring as I did so, and quickly began my walk of shame towards the exit of the building. I had a feeling I'd over stayed my welcome. A weight suddenly stopped my movement, surprised I turned back around.
"W…wait!" the wolf squeaked, the weight was revealed to be her holding onto my leg.
"W…why?"
Again. I didn't even know myself. I kicked the leg she was holding onto, which made her release her grip. During that moment, her light blue eyes somehow met my dark ones. Our eyes locked for what seemed like twenty seconds or more, I just couldn't look away. The more I glanced into her eyes, the more I felt like I was falling into an abyss I wouldn't be able to climb out of. I shook my head, I didn't need any of this bullshit. I turned around without even thinking twice and high tailed it out of the bar.
