Something Had To Give

✧ ✦ ✧

I was shocked with the level of endurance from the man I was chasing as he weaved in and out of Redrook’s side streets as if he knew them as well as—or possibly even better—than I did.

And as much as I wanted to make the excuse that my overall malnutrition had caught up with me, or the day’s events had sapped me of all energy, the man’s athletic prowess was well apparent in his strides and ability to maintain proper footing. Even to me, who considered myself an athlete, I was impressed.

But isn’t he a little… shorter than before? Wait, what the hell am I doing!?

Now wasn’t the time to be admiring the guy, I just needed that dagger!

“Yo, wait a minute!” I shouted ahead, but still hadn’t received anything in return aside from snide grins. “I said, wait!”

I was winded, frustrated, and nearing the point of giving up, but there was an odd phenomenon occurring. Once he would establish a bit of a lead on me, the jerk would intentionally slow himself down—almost unnaturally so—to keep our distances from becoming insurmountable. It was as if he was baiting me to catch him, and yet…

“Why… are you… so fast??” I gasped for breath. “When I get my hands on you, you’re dead, you hear!?”

“—!” I saw surprise beneath the hood for the first time as the man bumped into somebody coming out of the alley, breaking his stride just a bit. I closed more distance than I expected to when I narrowly avoided the same bystander.

This is it!

I kicked myself into high gear, using the last reserve of stamina I had accrued to run at my top speed, carried by that hearty swig of fruit juice at Old Red’s Inn.

“I’ve got you now!” I closed the gap in just a matter of strides, but just when I thought I had a grasp on the edge of his cloak…

“HEY, WATCH—!”

There was an explosion of color as I collided with a fruit cart, scattering the contents all over the street. For my part, I face planted into the dirt and gravel, hearing my shoulder pop on impact. Each scrape and bump was magnified under the weight of the day, and I could hardly pick myself back up.

Shit, shit, he’s gonna get away!

“My fruit! I’ll be ruined, I will!”

The merchant I had troubled, meanwhile, waddled around in a panic, trying to collect every fruit as they rolled every which way. Thankfully he wasn’t hurt, but the same couldn’t be said of his livelihood.

“Ugh–Sorry...” Rubbing my sore shoulder, I apologized while scanning my immediate area.

I had ended up in the Palace District before I knew it, and was confused why a lone vendor would be peddling merchandise way out here. There were supposed to be ordinances against that sort of thing, or so I thought.

“Now where is… –!”

The figure I was chasing stopped to look back at me one more time, flashing something that went beyond a smirk. With that, he vanished once again.

Before I could even think about continuing the chase, I heard a booming voice coming from beyond the alley at the large drawbridge leading to Castle Red.

“Just what in the world is going on here!”

4.2

Well, THAT’s just great, it’s HIM.

“Well, well, why am I not surprised?” The Royal Captain of the Garrison himself, Leónidas Von Grimwick, otherwise known by his nickname: Captain Dimwit, approached with several of his men in tow.

And yes, if you’re wondering, I did coin his nickname myself. Fits pretty well.

“I heard a commotion coming from this direction, and what do I find? Redrook’s least affable street rat at the center of it, like usual.”

“Captain Dimwit, what a pleasure.” I couldn’t hide the facetious nature of my smile as I greeted the awful man, and I saw his eye twitch when I uttered his nickname. “When’s the last time I saw you, ‘bout half a month ago, maybe?”

“Why, it must have been when my men last brought you in for questioning.” He sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Remember? Certainly you do…”

His blue eyes pierced through me as brown locks flowed beyond his silver coronet, brushing the steel pauldrons he wore with his pearl armor.

A golden lion crest sat in the middle of his chest, similarly to the Garrison’s other soldiers. Like their captain, they all gave me looks that could kill, their hands on the hilt of their swords.

“Oh I sure hope my men weren’t too rough with you back then, they get rather… enthusiastic about interrogations. Especially when there’s nothing else on the agenda.” The men chuckled in response to their Captain’s jab.

I did remember, seeing as I had caught quite a beating that day. It more or less started when I covered for a sick child who had stolen a potion in the marketplace. And even though I had come in as a witness, I left with a broken nose and swollen eye for my trouble. And because I had a shiv on my person for protection at the time, I was heavily fined.

Redrook was a weapon-free zone if you weren’t officially registered with the Garrison or the Guild.

I doubt I would have been released as soon as I did if Milton hadn’t come to bail me out. That was just how the Garrison operated under the good Captain and his cronies, the bottom of the social ladder was fodder for them, me not least of all who frequently ran my mouth.

“Not at all, but if they’re walking around with nothing better to do than treat me so nice, it might come down to a failure in leadership, don’t ya think?” I saw the man’s eye twitch once again. “There’s plenty of people around these parts in need, and with the violence, street gangs, and all, Beggar’s Alley could use some help. But, of course you would know that as the leader of the city-state’s police force, Captain Dimwit.”

“It’s Grimwick you insufferable brat!” I finally got him to crack, chuckling a bit to myself. “Ahem–I mean to say, the Garrison is doing all they can to serve those… less fortunate souls, but protecting Prince Nou and major areas of commerce and residence is our prime objective. Such is the order of things.”

“Hmm, right.”

“In fact, I have my best men taking care of an urgent matter in the Residential District, as we speak, along with your friends at the Adventurer’s Guild.”

The undead problem, as I heard Gerard mention in a panic.

“Seems kind of selective to me.” I finally said. “Deciding who deserves protection, and who doesn’t. Who died and made you king?”

Perhaps a bit in poor taste for an expression, considering what had befallen the royal family and who had primarily been in charge of their safety.

The failure for that pointed up the chain of command in the Royal Garrison, but one of the Captain’s direct subordinates had taken the fall for him. He knew that as well as I did, but getting Grimwick to spill that inconvenient truth would be a herculean task.

“Then tell me, Ren. What do you do to keep peace and order within the city?” Before I could muster a retort, the man continued. “Oh, I know, you run around like a wannabe vigilante, starting fights that spill into our streets. Pretending all the while to be amongst the otherworlders who actually matter.”

I glared at the man, his words striking a chord.

“No abilities to speak of, no companions, and you reek of animal feces and campfire smoke. Disgusting!” He continued mercilessly. “On top of that, you’re ignorant of our ways, disturb the peace, and pay little mind to the effect it has on your surroundings. Take this farmer here as a cautionary tale.”

I panned my gaze over at the man whose cart I had run into. He practically wept over his ruined fruit, many of them having been bruised and trampled by other carts rolling by.

“Listen here, that was just an accident! It has nothing to do with–”

“—This old man was contracted to bring his best fruit yield to the palace for use in desserts for a grand birthday feast for the Prince, and was only set to be paid upon delivery. I hear it was quite a pricey order, by what the castle chefs mentioned.” The Captain tapped his stubbled chin. “So you’ve disrupted the days of not only the Captain of the Garrison and his officers, the chefs in the castle, and His Royal Highness, but you’ve also financially handicapped an innocent man with your negligence!”

He pointed at me, his eyes stern and judging.

“That’s…” I sheepishly looked down, finding some truth in the words of the Captain.

Damn it.

“I’m surprised you have the capacity to wield such a guilty expression, but I bet you’ll shirk your duty, as your kind is wont to do.” The Captain continued his admonishment of me in an attempt to humble me, but I refused to shrink in the face of his words. “How, then, will you atone for your actions? Why, I bet you’ll turn around and—”

“–here, mister. Take it.” Interrupting the Captain, I untied the sack of coins I had received from Milton for taking out Khorag’s goons, along with whatever other coin I had pilfered from their pockets for good measure.

“—Run?”

I handed the coin pouch over to the bewildered farmer who looked at me like he didn’t quite understand what was going on. The Captain’s mouth hung open as he witnessed the exchange.

“What are you playing at??”

“Taking accountability, like you said.” I answered frankly before turning my gaze back to the farmer. “I don’t know if this will cover the whole order, but… I can bring you the rest in the Market District when I get a bit more. Sorry again.”

I wasn’t above admitting I was at fault, even if it made me feel like a big dumbass. I also knew very well that Grimwick didn’t give a rat’s left tit about the farmer, but I wasn’t about to let him gain any sort of self-satisfaction from affirming his biases about me either.

“Ah, it’s fine, sonny... I wasn’t planning on holdin’ a grudge against ya or nothin’.” The farmer’s face lit up, a light smile curling behind his bearded mouth.

Whew.

“Hurts to see such good fruit go to waste, but I should have enough left of my yield to make up the difference by the feast tomorrow night…”

What would have made for a heartwarming display to your average passerby painted Grimwick’s face red with indignation. And even though it was all the money I had to eat for the next week, I wasn’t one to take a challenge of my character lying down. Growling stomach be damned.

“See, Captain. No hard feelings, and a lesson learned, right?” I reasoned before glaring. “So what are you hassling me for, ’uh?”

“I–! I see...” The Captain nodded, sensing his defeat on the matter. A forced smile tugged at his lips, not wanting to lose face in front of his men.

I couldn’t afford to be too smug either, even though it was tempting. Knowing very well that it could have worked against me had the shop owner threatened to press charges or reacted negatively to my olive branch, I thanked his grace for not doing so.

“No matter, my point remains. In due time, you’ll slip up, Ren. And your master, Milton, won’t be able to protect you. Even if you are his errand boy.” Captain Leónidas nodded, gaining back his normal composure and arrogance. “So it would be best not to cross me or the Royal Garrison again if you value your time, as we do ours. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal.”

Like I’d give you another chance to pester me, you big jerk.

“Oh, that reminds me, don’t go struttin’ off just yet…” Having heard Milton’s name, I was reminded of his task for me, and since the Captain was right there in front of me… “I was told to give you this, important news or some such.”

After handing off the missive, I folded my hands behind my head waiting to finally be free of the Captain’s company. The guy I was chasing was probably long-gone, and all I could think about was collapsing in a hostel or alley somewhere for the night. I supposed I would have to worry about collecting my courier payment, meager as it was, tomorrow when the guild counter was open.

“This—! You didn’t read this, did you!?”

“Why the hell would I?“ I shrugged indifferently. “Despite what you may think of me, I don’t go poking my nose into my employer’s business without asking. And tampering with the mail is a serious crime where I come from...”

Had an uncle arrested once for it, on my mom’s side back in the United States. Serious business over wanting to nab the neighbors bank check for what amounted to $11.93. Not exactly a hill worth dying on, was it?

“So Milton wants to initiate the moot now, does he?” The Captain muttered. “Hmph. I suppose it won’t change matters for us now that things are in motion…”

“What’s this about a moot? You have a bad habit of talking to yourself, Captain.”

“It couldn’t concern you less, I fear.” He huffed.

Figures.

“But do tell your master that his suggestion is approved. I trust he’s already spoken to the Institute’s Headmaster about the time and place.” Grimwick rolled up the paper and stuffed it in his satchel. “They always did seem rather chummy, those two.”

The leader of the Institute for Practical Magic in the Northern District, Headmaster Argo. I had heard plenty of things about his magic prowess that bordered on legend. He seemed ancient for a human and his long white beard and wide-brimmed hat gave my mind the perfect image of a storybook wizard.

He was also supposed to be very good natured, but I hadn’t gotten a chance to meet him in-person. I only made it as far as the admissions department when the Institute threw me out on the street, and forbade me from ever stepping within their grounds again. That’s when my reputation as a liar began to swirl, as it turns out.

Suddenly there was a boom, and a plume of glowing debris erupted from the north, coincidentally.

Is that…?

“The Institute!” Captain Grimwick finished my thought.

4.3

Another explosion came from the same area, making it two billowing columns of smoke in the direction of the Institute.

”What the—!?” I nearly lost my footing.

Grimwick shot me a bizarrely accusatory look, like I had set off a detonator with my mind or something. However, he panned his confusion back towards the carnage, shaking his head all the while.

In the commotion of shouts by panicked civilians, we heard the sound of metal boots clanking against the concrete in the dark. A silhouette approached.

“Captain, Infernals!” One of Grimwick’s men emerged, sprinting down one of the side streets towards us. ”Big trouble! Infernals in the vicinity of the Magic Institute‘s dorms!”

“What, infernals!?” The Captain was beside himself, placing a hand to his temple. ”Zombies are one thing, but those damned fire golems will engulf entire neighborhoods without intervention... How could this happen, were they summoned by a student??”

Earlier it was undead, and now it’s golems. What the hell is going on?

“We couldn’t determine the source yet, Captain, but we haven’t ruled it out.”

It was an interesting theory, that a student could be behind the summonings, but why would they do a thing like that? It went beyond my understanding as an outsider.

“Then we’ll have to investigate later, but what’s the situation like on the ground?”

“The magic students and faculty are launching their own counter assault, but our assistance is required to evacuate non-combatants before sunrise, sir.”

“What happens then?” I asked mostly to myself.

“Just precautionary, but those demons gain their power from the sun. However, they are still plenty nasty to deal with at night.” Captain Grimwick scowled as if remembering something. “I’ll be taking my leave, but don’t forget what I said, street rat.”

“...” I nodded.

“Increase Speed.”

The Garrison soldiers chanted a sort of boosting spell over themselves, and they took off running in a flash towards the Institute, along with the Captain. It was fascinating to see magic up close, even though I couldn’t use it myself.

After skipping dinner—and having given away my funds to procure food earlier— I scooped up one of the discarded and ruined fruits off the ground and dusted it off. I sighed, taking a big bite. A bit of time passed after that.

What a day.

Kicking a pebble, I trudged back to Beggar’s Alley feeling as though I had taken two steps back today. First there was the asshole who pilfered my score, and then the whole fruit debacle. It sounded like Milton and the guild had taken care of the trouble in the Residential District, and I no longer heard any trouble from the north at the Institute either.

Everyone is so capable… but what am I?

I fight and fight, and backslide all the way. I felt detached from this world, from myself. As though I was a spectator in my own life‘s story. Worst of all, I couldn’t even quite remember how I got here. I wondered if things would have been different had I been accepted into the institute after my arrival?

Would I have trustworthy friends? Food in my belly? A love interest, perhaps?

Maybe this could have been my ideal fantasy life, but…

That’s just too idealistic, ain’t it?

At the end of the day, I’m still me. Delinquent, disappointment, sharp-tongue, trouble maker. I was convinced the same would be true in any universe I was in.

“This is the worst.”

My mother always used to tell me that I had to go out and make good things happen for myself without worrying about a handout, but I couldn’t bear this feeling much longer, living only for survival.

I’m tired.

When would my luck begin to change, huh?

“Ren-kun.”

I heard a faint voice whisper in my ear, but when I peered around, I was alone on Redrook’s streets, as usual. So I continued on my way, ignoring the fact that I was now hearing things on top of everything else.

“Guess I need the shuteye.” I scoffed to myself. ”Hope that old mattress in the alley ain’t taken…”

…

…

…

“Ren-kun…..”

…

…

…

“… there was no other way.”