Disclaimer: I do not own Eminence in Shadow series.
Identity_02
In the evening, her carriage finally came to a definite stop. She pulled up the hood to cover her face and stepped out of horse-drawn vehicle. The outskirt of the city welcomed her arrival.
"Thank you." Spoken to the coachman, she gave him a small bow.
The carriage turned around and became fainter in the distance. As it was out of sight, she turned to the cloudless night sky and stared at the moon. Just a moment ago, before the transportation reached the outskirt, she saw something like a blur silhouette flew past the moonlight. She could be mistaken, but it certainly left an impression in her memory.
Shaking her head lightly to forget the thought, she began to focus on the task at hand and checked on her belongings. A small, capable luggage of Mitsugoshi brand accompanied her along this would-be-short journey and a longsword that highlighted her status in countless battles.
In a city where orders have never entered the picture, her sets of skills are undoubtedly necessary and vital. She would not tread her steps so lightly. However, she was prepared for this one quest. She approached the gate, black glove covered hands placed on the handle and pushed. There was no guard available around to do that for her. The gate also appeared to be in a very bad state of maintenance as lots of dents can be seen along the body.
As expected of the Lawless City.
"The first place to go from here..."
While she muttered, her ears picked up a sharp sound. A part of gate that attached to the wall busted, it collapsed before her eyes. She didn't expect it to be so fragile.
Then, her eyes would widen in disbelief.
The aftermath of a battle greeted her in the manner of bodies stacking on top each other. Knifes and weapons scattered on the ground. She saw broken teeth, bruises and bended limbs. Weak disgruntle and echoes of painful gasps filled the air.
She understood now.
It wasn't like no guards were assigned to watch the entrance. They were actually here, buried beneath the pile of bodies despite their large build. She didn't know them personally, but she could take a guess by looking at their identical armor plates. These two and the rest, she could even tell what kind of life these men have been living in this unlawful place. After all, they reeked the same smell and she was forced to pinch her nose upon first sniff. It was the unpleasant type of aroma that told the stories of bloodshed and lots of bad deeds.
"What happened?" She asked them, minding none of the unconscious people laying on top.
"His fault...demanded the masked guy...admission fee...triple..."
Masked guy?
"...the bastard...too strong...too quick...the whole gang...no use..."
For every single word one of them spoke, the air sucking through the remaining tooth in their mouths always made that funny, chirping noises.
She didn't find it hilarious, though. She won't judge if they were deserving of the outcome, she cared less about that. She was more concerned about the situation these people caused to themselves.
This was the doing of a single person?
Whatever the masked person did, they completely broke the will to fight in these men with just enough inflicted damage and a few broken bonds. None of their lives seemed to be in danger.
"...why...we got weapons...and magic...he only has his fists..."
How interesting.
This battle was recent. Such an existence had only passed through here not that long ago. She felt a thin smile forming on her lip. She could feel the slightest touch from the warrior within her emerging in excitement. But she had to suppress it. Their paths would soon cross, that was the feeling she got.
For now, the small quest she received comes first.
The Lawless City is a big place. But the hands of destiny can never be out of reach. It will eventually lead her there, to the one mysterious masked Identity among the crowd.
"...w-wait!"
As she was walking away, one of the guards called out.
"...miss...your admission fee..."
Despite the circumstance, they still wanted to carry out the job.
"How much?" She asked.
"...nine gold coins..."
Nine!? Too expensive for just an admission fee.
"Is that the right price?" Calmly, she questioned.
The guard groaned. She let out a sigh and placed three gold coins on the ground.
"Use this to treat your wounds and the others'."
"Welcome...to the Lawless City...urgh!"
After saying those words, the guards lost their consciousness. She quietly walked away, towards the crowded streets ahead.
"Tonight, my quest shall begin."
To the forest spirits, whom request she accepted, she announced the start of her journey.
"Tonight, my quest shall begin."
To the glass filled apple juice in his hand, Cid Kagenou mentally declared the official beginning of his journey as the silent warrior in an unforgiving city.
Adopting an unkempt brown-colored wig, a jet-black jacket outside an optimized slime suit that resembled the appearance of a dark blouse and a jean, he sipped a flavorful taste of the juice through the mouth-cover piece of the mask while enjoying his time in a hall full of curious stares and sneaky glances.
The first thing in todo list. Gaining attention at a bar, checked.
The moment Cid walked through that door with a full-face mask and found himself a nice sitting spot in a corner, all eyes were on him. It was a good thing he's covered his entire face or people would see the grinning he was hiding behind the mask.
Yeah, this was it! The violence and bloodlust from these down-to-earth killers and bullies all fell upon the newest presence in the room. The cruelest, brutalest criminals and killers in town were ready to press their fangs into the existence they deemed weak.
Good. Keep believing. Keep swimming happily in that illusion.
"Is this your first time here?" asked the lady, who served his drinks.
Also! Props to Marie, the kind lady's name. She was generous enough to introduce him this nice little tavern where she was working.
And thanks to her for being willing enough to guide him around the marketplace in search for a normal-looking sword at the cheapest price possible for decoration purpose. The original design didn't have it, of course. The addition just made him look somewhat cooler though.
"Um..."
Ah, Marie was still waiting for his answer. No problem, Cid just needed to reply back in the style of a silent warrior.
Nod.
By using gestures.
"You're not the talkative type, it seems."
Silent warrior could only interact through the use of body language. Hey, if you're going to roleplay something, you have to do it properly.
"Anyway, thank you kind sir for helping me back then. Some of the men here can be really persistent."
Some? Based on what he saw, it was a whole group of men constantly bothered her, including the guards.
"Well, it's not like my position is any better. Especially when you're living in this kind of place."
Ah yes. She'd expressed her occupation to him on the way here. Her tale reminded him of those literatures about Yoshiwara and Kabukichou's culture back in the old word. Sad fate for a kind lady like her. Unfortunately, it was none of his business. Cid the silent warrior was here only to seek info about the serial killer. Plus, ten thousand zeni in a chest.
"If I may ask, what is your name?"
Name? Oh! The name! He forgot to come up with a name for this identity. L-Let's see. If he switched the alphabet to the dominance language of this world, it would be...r...y...u...
At that moment, the tavern entrance opened.
A robed cladding figure joined in the lively atmosphere. While Cid was still busy translating the new name to the current language in his head. The figure picked an empty seat next to him. They chose a bottle of wine on the shelve for a drink and Marie obliged.
Cid noticed someone sat down besides him. That person was strong, he could tell without the need to look. He could also feel their gaze fixed on his mask. Well, here hoping the drawing on it didn't intimidate them too much.
Hm? Wait a second. That longsword looked awfully familiar...
"I smell elf."
HOLD THAT THOUGHT!
Cid's head spun at lightning speed. He almost snapped his own neck while looking at the robed cladding figure...oh, no way.
"You...have you ever met an elf before?"
No way...!
"I've come here...for a quest." The figure unhooded themselves. "I'm also looking for an elf...that looks a lot like me."
BEATRIX!? Here in the Lawless City!? Next to his seat!?
NO WAY! He didn't see this coming! HOW!? WHY!? WHAT!?
"Oh my! You're so pretty!"
Pretty alone wasn't enough of a word to describe her, Marie-san!
Rather than being intimidated by the mask like he thought, she were actually drawn in to him. The Lawless City was not a place for the elves as it goes against their way of living. The population residing here was so rare that it didn't even reach past the total number of fingers on both hands. What did it have anything to do with him? This persona and Cid Kagenou shared the same thing that distincts himself from the rest of the world in her eyes.
The kind of ability sharpened and polished to the same level of the beast-kin like Delta and Zeta. It was something only an elf like Beatrix would possess. In this moment, THAT! That is the greatest danger to his identity!
Gulp!
At that realization, Cid was profusely sweating behind the mask.
Plink Plink Plink!
"I'll ask again." After a moment of silence, Beatrix raised the question. "Do you know any elf?"
The silent warrior couldn't answer that. He shook his head and she titled her head lightly. Beatrix's curious gaze shifted into a scanning look, analyzing him.
Red alert! Red alert! The warning bells drummed full of earth-breaking noises in his mind.
"You are...very familiar. Yet, very different from the people of this city."
Plink Plink Plink!
"Kind sir, your hand is shaking." Marie spoke up.
Oh. No wonder the ice kept hitting the glass when he was holding it. Heh, funny sounds in a crazy situation.
"Kind sir, I think you raise the glass a little too high for the lip."
Oh yeah. No wonder the juice kept dripping down his clothes. He was drinking it through the eye sockets of the mask. Damn it! Clear your mind, meditate your soul and calm the heck down! Take off the mouth-cover piece and do it right!
"Apple juice." Beatrix commented.
Y-Yes? And what about it?
"Cid's favorite drink."
Pfftttt!
Welp, guess that's that. Time to run away!
/
Author's Note: To anyone who doesn't know, Marie-san is an actual minor character in the series.
Thank you for reading. Take Care!