Chapter 15: Circus Freaks
The large man had me cornered in the dark alleyway. His physique was several times larger than mine and he wore clothing that suggested he was quite poor. It was torn in several places and the hems were fraying. My final assessment of the man was that he was a common street thug. Nothing particularly special and not a real threat even if he attempted to give off an intimidating aura.
"Excuse me! Hey! Are ya even payin' attention to what's goin' on?"
The man shuffled around a bit as his voice gave off an air of annoyance. Hmph. If anything I'm the one that ought to be annoyed right now.
"I was just leaving."
I started walking forward and the man planted his large body in front of me continuing to block my exit.
"No, ya aren't. Do you not even understand what's goin' on? I noticed that fine sword you got on ya hip. I think I'll be relieving you of it."
I placed my left hand on Zeam's pommel and ran my thumb on it in a circle. This is something I failed to consider. In my haste I was still wearing clothing befitting a noble and I am a child, so it's only natural that someone would attempt to take advantage of me when I wandered into the alleys.
"Hm? You're quite the bold one. I'm in a hurry so I'm willing to let this slide, but I can only be so merciful."
My response caused the man to huff a bit and he stepped forward to close the already little distance between us.
"Do I seriously have to spell it out for ya? You nobles are all the same. All high and mighty thinkin' ya're better than us street folk. Let me tell you girly you're powerless here. This is Vollachia ya're weak and I'm strong. Nothing more to it. Now hand it over. "
The man moved his arm to grip my sword which I responded by shifting my position so the sword was on the opposite side of him.
"Let me make one thing clear. I'm not trapped here with you. You're trapped here with me."
"The hell are ya talkin' bout! Just hand it over."
The man's approach turned aggressive, so I responded in kind.
"Shamak."
The alley filled with inky black smoke as I maneuvered around the man in the fog. Our positions now flipped. I chose to let the smoke dissipate.
"Now that you're at a disadvantage will you yield?"
"A magic user? Gah… Only a weaklin' would resort to that shit!"
The man charged at me with his fist raised and I firmly planted my feet on the ground focusing my mana on myself.
"El Vita." My weight increased as the man closed in. I caught his hand in mine as he nearly made contact with my face. His fist was unable to conquer the sudden increase of weight and he pulled back.
"I was going to let you go, and leave this as a passing encounter. You, however, decided to attack me. Me. Of all the people in the world. Me. Do you know how terrible that decision was? I was minding my own business searching for someone and then you just see my sword and decide it belongs to you. You have no right to my possessions. You, in fact, by attacking me forfeited your right to your life to me. I am merciful however. Ask for forgiveness and I'll let this slide, but I won't offer this kindness twice."
"You little bitch! I'll teach you your place!"
"You don't even know who I am. How are you going to teach me, of all people, anything? A squabble between friends is one thing, but you haven't even become an acquaintance yet. The man who taught me etiquette always said introductions are the most important piece in forming any sort of relationship. You are so brutish that you can't even manage that. This is something that I shouldn't forgive and yet I offered anyway. Why do you refuse to accept my kindness? Do you lack the education necessary to do so? If so, let me inform you about basic manners. Let's begin with the catalyst to any relationship."
As I spoke I walked towards the man slowly, my voice remaining steady as the words streamed out of my mouth. Each step forward I took, the man took one back. The grim reality of the situation slowly dawned on him. The man hit his back against the rear wall of the alley. Once I heard the thump of his back hitting the wall I placed my right hand on Zeam's leathery grip and began to draw the soul killer. That was when I gave the introduction to begin my new relationship with the man.
"I am the Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, representing Pride. Deneb Arided."
"W-w-w-w-witch Cult? Oh shit… I-I-I'm sorry! Shit. Shit."
The man began begging; his hands against the wall. I could see his legs trembling as beads of sweat formed on his brow.
"I gave you a chance earlier and you didn't take it. I'll take what is mine now."
Zeam glimmered as the blade fully left it's scabbard. I pulled the sword back and jabbed it forward at the man's abdomen. The blade cleanly ran the man through as he yelped in pain.
"AHH!"
The man cried out and tried to grip the blade to pull it out. Blood started trickling from his hands down his arms. Tears formed in his eyes and streamed down his disgusting face. I looked the man in the eyes which were filled with fear before leaning down towards his ear.
"I hate killing. I truly do. It's messy. It's disgusting. It's revolting. It makes me think of that day. The smell of burnt flesh haunts me at night, you know? Hah- Do you feel that? It hurts more than a normal blade, doesn't it? That's the feeling of your soul being torn apart. It's not an instant thing, but it ensures you'll most certainly never exist again."
"Urgh… Uhhh… Aaah..."
" Please, stop groaning. It's just a little pain. Endure it for a little longer.
All you had to do was let me go peacefully and this never would have happened, you know? Pride is a terrible thing, you know?
It clouds your mind and makes you do things that seem to benefit you in the present, but harm you in the future. People are funny that way. I can't understand that line of thought at all. As someone who can deliberate my own actions to achieve the optimal result. The future isn't as set in stone as people like to think. The tiniest, most minute detail changing can greatly affect the outcome.
Of course, I'll only be satisfied with the outcome I desire. Actually, the outcome I desire is the only one I'd allow. The one where I find my dearest brother, but that doesn't concern you, does it? Hah- I know I agreed to reform the moderates, but it's hard, you know? Oh? You're gone already? It's no matter, I can't require that you listen. I'll keep talking anyway. When people disrespect me I just get this urge, you know? I have to set them straight. It's a compulsion really.
I've spent so so so long delving into books away from people surrounded by lunatics everywhere I go. Don't get me wrong, they're not all terrible. Prylla is kind and I'm happy with the newest recruit under my care. Think of this more like letting off steam. Yes, steam from the stress of the last four years of isolation. Stress builds up, you know? Not punishing anyone for so long just ruffled my feathers a bit, you know? I had so many options on how to deal with this encounter. I knew it was coming, in fact you could say everything I did was to specifically arrange it. I just needed to see whether you'd choose your Pride or your Life."
I pulled my blade from the empty corpse and flicked the blood from the blade before cutting off a strip of the man's shirt and wiping the rest of my sword. Sheathing the blade I left the alleyway and continued towards the circus where I had originally planned to search before that man rudely sidetracked me. Well, I say that, but I really just wanted to punish the person that made that rude face at me in the crowd. That's water under the bridge now. I weaved the rest of the way through the alley's and arrived exactly where I wanted to be. The tent before me had long colorful stripes running down the sides.
There was a long line of people outside shuffling their way in. I slipped into the line and waited for my turn to enter the tent. Inside there was a large rectangular area sectioned off as the crowd split around it. There was a cloth at the other end of the rectangle, presumably a makeshift door, so the performers could enter and exit as needed between acts. There was a single person standing in the center wearing a fine suit and tophat with a long black cane in his right hand. His left was tipping the tophat down obscuring his face.
I filed into the crowd as they took their seats in an orderly fashion. I managed to find a spot in the middle row that was set up a bit higher than the rows ahead of it to allow the people behind to see. The crowd continued to file inside as the seats were taken one after another. Once all the seats were filled the remaining crowd was ushered outside to wait for the next showing as the cloth door that we entered through flopped shut. The man in the middle of the rectangle leaned onto the cane and adjusted his tophat, so that his face was now visible.
"Welllllcooooome ooooonnnneeee and allllll! I am the ringleader of this merry troupe. Today we have quite the show in store for you all! From the Great Buddheim Jungle a creature so disgusting, so foul, and not to mention dannnngeerouuuss." He pointed towards the makeshift doorway at the other end where a black snake slithered out into view. The dark body is as thick as a human arm and the eyes glowed a menacing red.
"A mabeast!?" The crowd gasped.
"Hahahah! It is nothing to fear ladies and gents! Just watch as I tame the foul creature of the Witch!"
The ringleader let out a hearty laugh as he turned to face the strangely docile mabeast. He pointed his cane at the creature as if challenging it to a duel. The snake hissed as it lunged forward. The ringleader dodged the attack effortlessly and prepared a strike of his own. Strangely enough the characteristic feature of any demon beast was missing from the snake: it's horn. I watched with intense interest as the ringleader seemingly danced around with the snake before the snake ultimately conceded the battle. The ringleader rubbed the snake's head as he bowed before the crowd.
The snake slithered back into the darkness it came from and the ringleader announced the next act. The show went on for about an hour as each act came and went. The crowd cheered loudly, the applause thundering throughout the space. I couldn't help but cheer for the grand spectacle. That was until a painful grinding noise pierced through the joy of the crowd. Metal against metal grinding gnashing gnawing away at my ears. Everyone seemed to get agitated at once.
"I'm sorry. I promise I won't take up too much of your time. I'm sure you're all very busy people. Honestly, I'm so sorry."
A new figure appeared from the back of the tent. The figures' attire drew everyone's attention as they slowly crept out from the back of the tent.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you all. I only need a bit of your time. Please allow me to borrow it."
The constant apologizing which should have gratified me only sent shivers down my spine. These words prioritized it's own desires over others. The voice broke, sharply. It felt like a grinder was pressed against my ear. A desperate need to remove that discomfort arose inside me. The strange feeling may have arisen from the figure's appearance as it walked towards the center, a long chain connected to something hidden in the darkness dragging against the soft ground.
I knew this person. I had met them once before. I hadn't spoken to them often, but it was most certainly someone I was well acquainted with.
"My apologies, I'm the Witch's Cult Sin Archbishop of Wrath."
The familiar bandages and dark cloak hugging the creature whose arms were wrapped in chains. It's dazzling amethyst shines through the creature pacing back and forth along the dirt as the chains sway from side to side. It made an attempt to smile which was distorted by the bandages turning what was meant to comfort into something that felt far more menacing.
"I am called Sirius Romanee-Conti."