Seventeen - The hope of a sunrise

I wake up.

Feeling better.

Is it still the same day?

I did not dream.

I think…

I clean myself and head down.

Too much lost time.

I do not like wasting time.

Not after what I saw coming here.

The girl who worked here greets me.

“Hello young boy. Feeling better? Kasamba said you had a lot of fun.”

I nod.

“My name is Izzat. I run things around here. Do you want to eat something.”

I nod again.

We walk into the eating room.

There was two tables on opposite walls. One of than had an old man eating. She seats me on the other.

“What brought you here?” The old man asks me.

“I am here to join the fight.”

“Fight, huh?” He is in disbelief. “We here on the mountains do not have the same fights was you, young boy.”

“This will be everyone’s fight. Sooner or later.”

I stand up.

Too fast.

I lose my balance. I lean on the table so I do no fall.

“Calm down, kid.” She sits me back on my chair. “Do not be too excited with an empty stomach. It is not good for your head.” She puts a full plate in front of me. My stomach agrees with a loud noise that is not good.

It is delicious.

After the meal, I head back to the Tavern. I have to talk to Kasamba.

Arriving there, it was closed.

Izzat said that I could go inside from the back end.

I knock the door.

Kasamba opens it.

“Are you alive?” He asks me while laughing.

I stare angry at him.

“Calm down, kid. I am joking. You sure had fun last night. Everyone liked you. You are more fun when you are flushed.”

“Just ignore what happened. I do not even remember much anyway.”

He burst out laughing even more. “Do not worry. My job is to take care of drunk people.”

I am a little bit ashamed.

I do not know why.

I hate that that befallen upon me last night.

“What is the special reason you are here for?” He asks.

“I was with the nomads in the desert for a period of time. I was there helping. My assistance was no longer necessary. So master Meneneus sent me here.”

“I have not heard that name in a long time! He is still alive? He was a tough one back in the days.”

“What can I do around here?”

“The is still plenty of work here in the bar. You just arrived; you could give me a hand on some chores. I will pay you.”

“No! The clouds. They are getting bigger. We do not have that much time to waste.”

“We can make our own time, boy. And we need to get to know each other too. Rushing things can lead to bad endings. The good things take time to happen.”

He was right. He do not know who I am. He does not have any reason to trust me.

“You can get to know people better when they are working.”

“But…” I stop myself. I take a deep breath and agree with my head.

“Good boy. Now go set up the tables. You had a lot yesterday. It is going to take a long time for you to pay me back that amount.” He laughs.

Without realizing a whole week had passed.

Everything seems new but familiar. Out of place but like it belongs there. It is weird to have people surrounding me all the time. Not having to wear a mask or a disguise. I am not alone anymore.

They all call me “boy”.

I did not want to use a fake name. They understand that I am no one. I became no one so now I have to be what I am. They respect my decisions. My name is not more important than what I have to offer.

Working on the tavern is new and exciting. Waiting tables was not on my plans. I clean the place during the day and work the nights taking care of the costumers. My agility is more than necessary all the times I had to avoid extremely happy people from bumping on me.

They party all night.

For me it is work, but it is fun too.

The most fun even is to see magic being used everywhere. I missed so much this freedom.

Spells and people flying, constructs and golems that are not trying to kill me all the time, the colorful sparks, the noises, the excitement of magic and how all of it shapes the surroundings.

I miss my people.

The city was bigger than I anticipate.

It goes deeper and deeper inside the mountain.

Just a small part is on outside, that what we can see from below. Streets leads you to caves and a whole plaza built on the core of the mesa.

A city inside the mountains.

Tunnels connected with speed carts that can transfer you to other closer mountains.

Fojstar is probably bigger than the Capital.

The subterranean city was built for people to escape the cold outside.

Inside is warm. Hot even.

No need for layers and layers of clothing.

The true city resides inside.

Part of me still feels guilty for being here.

I am distracted by all of this, but time to time, when reality hits, I remember that down there people are still struggling because of the Capital.

The whole world should be like Fojstar.

The whole world was once like this.

More and more, seeing this freedom with my own eyes; my hope of taking down the Council grows and grows.

I am not here just having fun. I am training on my spare time. Being able to use magic is a perfect time to strength it. To become a better warlock. I have been talking to other warlocks, and fighting, and training and improving.

No one here says anything about the rebellion. I did not even heard anything about it. I tried asking people but they do not know anything. A lot of people had no idea of what is happening down there.

This is mad.

Why was I sent here?

Was Meneneus wrong about what people here are doing?

I have to believe I am not here for nothing.

Keep moving.

Especially Kasamba, I feel he is hiding something from me. He is the kind of person that knows everything.

Is he still testing me?

I do not like being tested.

It is a waste of time.

The world is in danger.

I am enjoying this city but I have to remember why I am here.

I have had no new order or missions.

My dreams had been only memories.

I still do not know if they need me.

It has been too long.

My theory that they maybe think I am dead is proving quite true. But the connection magic that delivers the orders would not make this mistake, right?

I do have a mission.

My mission is here.

I have doing what I am doing to get the Kasamba’s trust or do whatever I need to do so they can trust me.