Akame wasn't one to panic outwardly in front of the world.
Her heart would feel like it would explode out of her chest if it beat another pump of oxygen and her own breath was caught inside her throat, making it already difficult to breathe just as much as the stench that lingered in this place.
She tried not to think much of it as she wondered along the dirty tracks, hood over head, to avoid any unwanted attention to her side, especially those prying eyes of the people that wondered to places where it shouldn't.
The old creaky and wooden housings, already seeming to decline by years and could break at any time, on either side of the tracks were a stark reminder that she was not where she was supposed to be. Despite the gloominess of her surroundings as well as the cold temperature that brought in that dark atmosphere, she pressed on towards wherever this road led her, determined to find some place to get food.
You can't do anything with an empty stomach.
A thundering crackle ruptured the sky and roared the heavens awake. She looked up to see the white fluffs of cotton in the sky already beginning to gather into one, forming a giant grey cloud above her. The wind had picked up, and it blew down her hood, sending her hair flying in all directions.
It was about to rain.
Akame knew she had to find shelter soon before the storm hit, or she would soon be drenched in clumsy, wet clothes. She quickened her pace, sliding her hood back on and dropping her head down low to avoid anyone seeing her odd-coloured eyes. Those odd-coloured eyes of hers seemed to glow in the dim light of the overcast shadow of her hood.
The people had already begun to take shelter. Women would be scurrying along the dirt road with a child in one hand and a basket in another, while some of the men would stand under a wooden floor board above their heads and chatter among themselves.
Although these particular men were dressed in nothing but darkness, even their masks were black, leaving nothing but two eye sockets. Dark attire consisted of linen made shirts with black hoods that covered most of their heads and necks, leaving their faces exposed to the cold wind; black mediaeval leggings; and silver metal bracers to finish their line of uniform and serve as protection during close combat or somewhat. They were all armed with swords that were attached to their waists, while some had spears poking towards the sky.
It came to mind that these men in black were none other than the blacklegs she heard the people whisper about. The tyrant king's loyal dogs are what she thought of them.
For someone like Akame, their uniform was not intimidating, yet it seemed practical if they knew how to walk in the shadows without being caught; it would allow them to move swiftly and quietly. But for one thing she knew herself was that these blacklegs were only people who just knew how to pick up a sword and swing it around.
It hasn't been long since she came here but she knew just one tiny part of what was going on in this place, yet enough to know that another tyrant dictatorship was in place. It annoyed her that wherever she tends to go or what world she is thrown into, there is always that one tyrant ruler that desires power.
It disgusted her that such people existed even in history, but there was nothing she was willing to do to stop this mad tyrant as it was not her place and she was not obligated to save these people from him; it would just spark a civil war on who would take the throne amongst the people if she decided to kill him.
For now, she just needs to focus on finding a place to take shelter before the rain starts to pour and some food because she is going to go mad from hunger.
As she walked past them, their voices gradually faded to silence before one of them cooed at her to stop.
"Hey, you there, girly, hiding inside your cloak," one of the men called out with a tone that screamed trouble for her. "It's about to rain; why don't you come stand with us?" he said in a light British accent. A slight smirk began to twist on the corner of his lips. His sudden words caused the other man to turn around and look at her. They began to snicker at their friend's catcalling.
Akame stopped on her heels, and her head slightly yet slowly cocked dangerously towards them. Even though they couldn't see her sharp, cold stare from inside her hood, they still proceeded to harass her with more sly comments.
They weren't wearing their masks on their faces but kept them slid upon their heads. It was clear from their expressions what they wanted from Akame.
Two were sitting on wooden crates while three others stood around, one of them leaning against a cobblestone wall. The one who leant against the cobblestone wall had straightened up from his position and had whistled at her. "A pretty girl under that hood, I see." His lustful gaze inspected her from top to bottom.
"We can't let a pretty lassie get wet from the rain when there is a free spot among us." He spoke up as he looked towards his fellow men for agreement, to which they nodded and snickered more. Their intention was as clear as day to her.
Akame wasn't surprised by all this at all. It was expected by ancient men like these guys, who were under a tyrant ruler who probably gave them as much free will as they wanted on these streets. No one was going to stop them or call the police; they are technically the only authority around here other than the king and his subjects.
She too couldn't lay a hand on them either, or she would plunder herself in a pit of trouble with the blacklegs when all she wanted was to roam peacefully without having a wanted picture of her stuck on the walls of this mediaeval city.
When Akame worked for the tyrant general as his wingman, she had the power to bring anyone to their knees if they dared comment on anything that pissed her off. Even her cold, demonic aura scared them to keep silent. Akame was not one to be trifled with, and her reputation preceded her. Many had heard stories of her mercilessness and were wise enough to keep their thoughts to themselves in her presence. Excluding a prisoner who grew some balls and dared to ask Akame for her breast size, to which he got a kick in the cock for a response. The incident with the prisoner served as a warning to anyone who dared cross her, reinforcing the fear that she instilled in those around her.
Not like she had intended to, but sometimes fear was the best way to let people know who was in charge. That was the belief she was taught by her older brother back in the lab, but not until she met him.
However, now that she holds nothing but her past name, Akame can't do anything that wouldn't result in a bloody bath. So the only thing Akame can do without causing trouble for herself is to keep calm and answer these arrogant fools who feel nothing but cocky.
In order to prevent them from seeing her features, particularly her eyes, in case they believed she was a witch and intended to burn her at the stake like they had in the Dark Ages, Akame pinched the tip of her hood and lowered it even further. She lied smoothly, saying, "Thank you for your thoughtful gesture, but I must make haste as my husband and child are waiting for me to return with medicine." Her tone was unaffected by any stutters, and she spoke clearly.
The silence was loud among them.
The man that leant against the cobblestone wall had scowled; he didn't seem to believe what she said was true. He clasped his hands together in front of him, standing tall, and he stared her down. "Girlie, what are you worried about? We are nothing but kind gentlemen who want the best for our king's men."
The first drop of rain landed on her shoulder, and in an instant, the rest of the water molecules followed suit with the hard patter that hammered the ground. The silence of Akame was broken by a hard downpour of rain.
One of the men who was sitting down got up with a low grunt, strode carefully out of the sheltered space, and strolled his way towards her. His sharp brown eyes gazed intently at her, as if he turned his eyes away, she would dissipate. "What are you hiding that pretty face for? You've got nothing to fear. Let us see what you've got hiding in there, sweetheart." That smug grin perched on the corners of his mouth as his words were laced with a hint of malice.
Akame couldn't help but sneer disgustingly from inside her hood. Her stomach churned, and she wanted to collide her fist with his disoriented face.
Instead, Akame lowered her upper body in a small bow and kindly rejected them once again. "I appreciate your concern, but my child is sick, and I must return to him before his illness worsens. Thank you again," she explained to them once again. Seeing their displeased expression, she knew they weren't going to let her go without getting what they wanted.
If things went bad and these men wouldn't back down, then she was going to throw her plan of peacefulness aside. Screw staying out of trouble; they weren't going to let her go.
Every step the man took was a step towards his demise. Akame was not one you could easily mess with and get away with; that's what a lot of her enemies learned when they tried to. She wasn't just known as the merciless puppet of that tyrant general; everyone knew that the reason she was chosen to be by his side was because of her lethal skills and quick reflexes, making her a formidable opponent. Her reputation preceded her, striking fear into the hearts of those who dared to cross her path.
Her hands were already itching to beat these shameless men to a pulp, but she stayed calm and reasonable as the man approached her. Akame stood her ground, her body relaxed, and her eyes fixed on him with a cold intensity. She knew that she was going to get herself in trouble with the law again; it's not like this place had a law in the first place, though.
It seemed like this second chance of life that was given to her by God had come to her aid once again when she heard a child's voice in the distance. The loud splatter of mud underneath his footsteps indicated he was getting closer to her. A little boy came to view within seconds; a boy no older than 12 was running towards her at high speed with his hands above his head in an attempt to stay dry from the heavy downpour of rain.
Taking this chance to prevent any fight between them, she turned towards him and called a fake name out to the boy, which startled him to a puzzled stop. "Edmond!" she acted out with a fake motherly, worrisome tone.
The boy didn't get to say anything or react when Akame suddenly lowered herself to his level and embraced him in a tight hug. His clothes were wet, adding to her semi dried attire from inside her cloak, but his body warmth was humid and small within her. "My sweet child, what are you doing out in the rain? You're supposed to be in bed. You're too sick to leave. Please don't tell me you came looking for me again."
The boy went stiff within her hug but soon struggled his way out; however, he didn't reject her when Akame pinned the tip of her kunai to his side deep enough that he would feel it and softly whispered in his ear. His breath was quick, and he panted heavily.
"If you want to see your real parents again, then play along with me, or I will plunge my blade into your insides, and the only thing you will be seeing will be the gates of heaven waiting for you." Her tone was so heartless and intimidating that it made the little body tremble.
"Sorry mother. I did not mean to worry you," he said quickly, taking a quick breath. He didn't hesitate to play along in exchange for his life.
Akame turned around to face the men again as she opened her cloak to let the boy inside to keep him from getting wet. The boy didn't hesitate to walk inside the cloak as she wrapped it around him. "Thank you for your kind invitation, but I shall get going now that my husband James is waiting at home for us." That name slipped from her tongue so foreignly that it was like a needle that stabbed her heart.
Akame lowered her head low to show her respect and then proceeded to walk with the boy as her little scapegoat.
The men glared at her in disbelief but said nothing as she walked away. She heard one them grunt in annoyance and another click their tongue but ignored them as they were no more than strangers now.
Akame had succeeded in getting herself out of there without causing a commotion with the guards, and she slipped peacefully away with this fake son of hers.
"Come on, Edmond, let's run home before you get a fever again," she added to her façade, continuing to act as a worried mother. She grasped his hand and fastened her pace. The boy had no say in this, as he played along in hopes he would be freed from this mysterious woman who had used him as a hostage to get away from the blacklegs.
A/N: Hello fellow readers, this my first fanfiction on this website. Lately I have been obsessed with King Arthur the legend of the sword and I have been trying to find a good fanfic of it but found none that was to my taste so I decided to write one myself. I can't guarantee it would be good because I'm still a beginner in writing stories and I will try my hardest to keep the characters in character as much as I can.
Thank you so much and I hope you like my fanfic, Legend.
Bye bye