Chapter 24: A Life's Value
My physical position didn't change as it usually did. This was to be expected as I wanted to view everyone that should potentially enter this place within the next day or so. I looked around to get my bearings. The tavern looked busier than it was when we entered, which is typical. I assume the time is later in the night when more adults would head out to warm themselves with alcohol. The clientele were your usual beat up type that most likely didn't hold any prominent positions, so I could assume they weren't the one I was searching for.
I push deeper into the future while I watch the area around speed up as the new people enter and the others leave. The switch of people coming in and out was still just as jarring. I could feel a slight tingle in the back of my head indicating the characteristic head pain that accompanied my Future Sight for trying to look too far. Using a catalyst of sorts always helped setting the Focus Point farther and alleviated the pain just a bit. This catalyst in particular was the best I was going to find. The bartender was going to be here all day and would most certainly see exactly what I'm looking for if the person were to return.
I examined the next set of drunkards looking for anything that stood out or indicated a connection to the church. This set was useless. Frustrating. I turn the dial deeper and the tingle responds accordingly increasing in intensity. New people enter and some leave; it must be very late into the night at this point much past my bedtime which means there's no way Prylla would allow me to follow a lead this late at night. Frustrating, but understandable. There were only a few new people in the room. I think that by keeping the area more localized I'm able to see a clearer picture as well as using a person as a catalyst rather than an object. It feels closer to hijacking the bartender's eyes while simultaneously watching him in third person, able to freely roam around the space, but unable to interact. Merely an Observer.
There was a man in particular that caught my attention. It was the same man I ran into earlier who talked to me about spirits. This time I could actually make out his appearance. He sported a large build and by large I mean overweight. I must've overlooked it with the coat that covered his body. He had a long beard and ponytail that stuck out in comparison to everyone else in the room. He wore rags indicating he lived in poverty and his face held a rather fierce look to it. He was stuffing his face with something, probably a hambulgar, while seemingly ranting to the other drunk across the table. He swung his arms around himself as he gestured wildly before relaxing in his seat that could barely hold him.
His eyes were dead like a shark's as he eyed another patron across the room. I know that look. I remember another man who would get that look in his eye when he did certain things. The fat man stood up from his seat and marched over to the other. The patrons all looked at him with a certain fear in their expressions as their tables visibly shook with each step he took. He reached the other man quickly and before any of the patrons could react the man was turned into a mess of blood and meat strewn about the room. The body crumpled against the man's fist as it's blood sprayed everything in its vicinity.
Everyone in the room had a look of abject terror on their faces save for a few who drew their weapons to fight. The bartender ducked under the counter most likely hoping that the murderer would forget about him. The other three that were brave enough to fight had already launched their assault against the man, their weapons each about to strike a vital point. Each of the fighters, probably mercenaries from their outfits, hit the man who simply stood there with a wide grin on his face. He said something which was lost on me as I had no way of hearing him which caused the three to back down seemingly resigned to their fates. A few of the patrons had already fled the tavern while the rest seemed frozen in terror. The killer made quick work of everyone in the room effortlessly turning them into piles of bloody meat.
He stood in the center of the bloodbath and brought his bloody fist to his mouth to lick the blood off and had used the still unclean hand to pick up a pile of flesh and stuff it in his mouth. His body shook a bit as he had a satisfied look on his face. The man brutally murdered about seven soon to be eight people and was smiling. I feel sick. The aching in my head had gotten worse and I knew I didn't have much time left before I had to let go. The last thing I saw was the man reach behind the counter and grab the bartender by the scruff of his neck kicking wildly. His efforts to escape would be futile, however, as the man raised his free fist and went to plunge it through the bartender's chest. Before I could fully bear witness to his demise I felt the connection forcibly break itself and I lurched forward coughing.
"My Lady! Are you alright?" Prylla had placed her hand on my back gently hitting it as if I was a baby needing to be burped.
"The hell's up with you kid?" The man pulled his hand away as I released my grip on him.
"Gah… Kurg… Huuu…" I continue coughing as the pain in my head subsides and my vision begins to return to normal. I don't think I'll ever get used to that abrupt sensation of being ripped out of a dream. This was something I disliked about Object Premonition. When it comes to using it on people I can't see further than their death's and I'm unable to utilize corpses as catalysts. I would get nothing more from the bartender unless I prevented his death tonight. If this was me before I went to Mezoreia I'd be elated to take down this fiend, however, I'd been stripped nearly powerless during the fiasco in the city. Meaning I'd have to let an innocent man die to save myself.
This wasn't a decision I wanted to make.
After I'd calmed down the man poured me another glass of water after ensuring I was fine. Prylla and Ireyne seemed to already understand something was amiss. Prylla had always been rather perceptive when it came to these sorts of things as she's really the only one who knows anything about the nature of my Authority besides myself. Ireyne was kept mostly in the dark regarding it as I didn't want her to be scared of me. Well that one I'd failed on almost as soon as I met her as she was completely terrified of me when we first met. I should make it up to her once all this blows over. Maybe a nice picnic by Lake Penelope? The three of us walking over there and setting up at a nice spot near the lake to feel the cool breeze as we would eat whatever Prylla decided to make for us all. It was a pleasant thought. Thinking of the future was always supposed to be pleasant and it sickened me when something came along to change that. The future should be something to look forward to, not fear.
If I were to latch on to that line of thought then there wasn't a future where I could let these people die needlessly while a murderer walked freely to destroy the lives of others. It angered me somewhere deep inside myself. Why? Why did I have to choose? Would telling him even work? He has no reason to believe a word I say and even if he does he could easily refuse to listen. It's times like these where I wish I could have someone else make the decision for me. I drink the water as the coughing fit calms down and both the bartender and Ireyne look at me with worry in their eyes. I don't blame them.
In their perspective I'd just touched the man and started coughing violently after falling forward. This was a big reason why I stopped standing while using the ability as it could easily knock me off balance and cause me to fall over potentially injuring myself. It never hurts to be cautious of everything as it could save a life. Patience is something that is typically rewarded in the end.
"I'm fine." I said.
"You sure as hell don't look it. Here, drink up." The bartender pours another glass of water just to be sure.
"Well as long as you're okay." Ireyne spoke up.
"You'd think I have some sort of infectious disease the way you reacted to touching me. That kinda stings." The bartender tries to lighten the mood with a quip and false regret.
"Don't worry about it." I reassure the bartender who looks relieved before he takes my third empty glass and wipes it out with a rag. I thanked him for his time and ushered Prylla and Ireyne out of the building. They tried to press me for details as to what I saw, but I simply refused to answer and ordered them not to ask again until we got back.
We returned to our room and I sat down on the bed shortly after entering the room. Prylla and Ireyne took their spots in chairs they pulled to the side of the bed to face me and I explained everything I saw to them. Ireyne had a horrified look on her face while Prylla covered her hand with her mouth. I could see her stomach clench a little. I guess I went into too much detail.
"That's… horrible." Ireyne manages to say through her shock.
"He wasn't that bad, he doesn't deserve that." Prylla has a saddened look on her face.
"We have a few options to choose from." I say lifting my fingers up to indicate. "First," I raise one finger, "We do nothing and continue our investigation."
"What!?" Surprisingly it was Ireyne that spoke. "We can't just leave him to die like that! That's cruel!" Ireyne looked incredibly upset, but that's why I'm providing options.
"Second, we inform him of what will happen, but don't directly intervene." This option was the one I personally was leaning towards as I don't believe the three of us can handle that man on our own at least until after I've dealt with my problem.
"I doubt he'll believe us." Prylla was the one to dissent on this idea. "It would require divulging sensitive information about yourself."
"I do think it would be best to keep my Authority a closely guarded secret. I don't want rumors spreading about it." I add.
"Even from us?" Ireyne seemed to calm a little, but her voice was a little shaky.
"Yes. Prylla only knows because it manifested under her watch. You only know what you've been able to observe yourself which isn't much."
"I just know you can see into the future. That's all." Her voice takes on a defensive tone, but I disarm her with a thin smile.
"It's fine. I just don't want outsiders to know anything." I said. "That leaves us with the final option," I raise a third finger, "direct intervention." Both Prylla and Ireyne seem uncomfortable with this idea and I can't blame them as I dislike it too. "This doesn't necessarily mean we have to fight." I shift a bit on the bed as I enter a more comfortable position. "I think simply showing up and starting a scene that empties the place out should suffice. The man doesn't enter till about midnight and the attack begins after an hour."
"So if we can force the place to evacuate before midnight we can save them all?"
A wide smile adorns my face as I consider my options. I can't leave them to die and I don't trust that he'll listen to me. I have one card I can play that will grab their attention and hopefully the church's attention as well.
"I believe it's time for the Sin Archbishop of Pride to make a formal public appearance."
Prylla and Ireyne stare back at me with shocked expressions as our plan finally begins to form in my head.