《Argus》 Prologue A middle age man could be seen walking down an old ally holding a small bag. He was tall with broad shoulders, big arms and a substantial belly, the tell tale sign of someone who clearly enjoyed his fair share of alcohol. He had long black hair and a roughly trimmed beard, in witch a few streaks of grey could be seen starting to appear, he walked along humming a surprisingly melancholic tune despite the relatively lively atmosphere that surrounded him. Vendors called out advertising their best products, merry shouts came from taverns and bars with their doors left ajar, inviting the tired workers and soldiers to enjoy themselves a bit with plenty of alcohol and possibly a glass or two with one of the waitresses if they were feeling particularly generous that evening. He passed a group a group of old women chatting as they strolled along with what seemed to be their grandkids, one of them wearing a sash on witch the symbol of a tree flourishing under the sun and moon was visible, indicating that she belonged to the communion. But none of these scenes seemed to really bother or intrigue the man who, on closer inspection, seemed to have a bit of a vacant look in his eyes. Indeed, if one looked closer, they would see a small lag in his step, or the way he occasionally glanced at the families that walked by or that he passed. Eventually his tune ended and he walked in silence, continuing down the seemingly never ending street until he saw a girl no more than 18 holding a baby as she walked down the road happily with a similarly young man. -''''It''s not fair... not fair at all.'''' he mumbled as he kept walking, but no matter how he tried he could not get the scene he had witnessed earlier out of his mind. Eventually he arrived at a rather high end store with the nameSander''s Sandbox written on the window beside the door. The inside was well kept and clean, with gleaming metallic trinkets lined up on the shelves: little metal people that would walk once wound up, a ball that would roll around on its own if left on the floor, and a music box that played any music it heard back at you, etc. the man put the bag on the front desk as he went through a door leading to a hallway that led to two more doors. He begrudgingly entered the door on the right, the one on the left leading to his workshop, the only place he could tolerate being these days without feeling the need to smash his head on the wall until he fell unconscious. As he climbed the stairs behind the door on the right, he muttered to himself: -''''Breakout my ass. It''s impossible that this keeps happening every few decades, whatever it is, it''s not a coincidence.'''' He entered the room at the top of the stairs. The inside was surprisingly luxurious with another door leading off into another room on the side .Their was kitchen, a nice wooden table with four matching wooden chairs around it. Their was also a dark green goat fur couch in one corner that matched nicely with the curtains of a similar shade drawn across the windows, obscuring the warm glow given off 24/7 by the '''' Star'''' a massive yellowish crystal that hung from the ceiling of rock hundreds of meters above the city. As the man passed the chairs he stopped to look at them for a moment; ''''Guess I may as well sell them, some rich prick''l probably buy it for twice the amount I did.'''' He thought to himself as he ran his hand across their finely polished backs. He looked at the dust on his fingers and scoffed. The man passed through the door separating the two rooms. Inside was even darker than the main room, and a figure could be seen on the bed, along with another much smaller figure in a crib on the other side of the room. The man went to the window and opened the curtains just a crack and, moments later, the figure on the bed shifted and began to speak in a raspy, broken voice: If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. -''''Back already old man?'''' the voice said, the smile in it''s voice evident. -''''Just passing through, don''t mind me.'''' He snorted, but in slightly better spirits than before. -''''Did you get it?'''' -''''Yes, it''s downstairs, wasn''t easy though. Pharmacist made a fuss, telling me I had to pre-order it at least two months in advance, then when I offered to pay triple she threatened to call the red-capes and tell them I was coercing her. It was almost funny... almost.'''' -'''' Sounds rough, you should''ve brought me along, I would''ve charmed her into giving it to us for free.'''' -''''Looking like that? Not likely.'''' -''''I will have you know that solely relying on looks leads to impossibly shallow relationships, and that poor pharmacist that you bullied deserves much better than that from an expert like me!'''' -''''It''s been what, like, 3 and a half weeks? Sal would turn in her grave if she heard her husband talking about moving on that quickly. In the end you were a bad choice after all...'''' -''''Hey, hey old man I''m joking alright! Tch, become so old you can''t even take a joke? The old man just smiled wryly and looked out the window. now that the light penetrated the room the figure on the bed was finally visible: dirty blond hair that had begun to fall out, intelligent green eyes, a sharp and elegant nose along with high cheek bones, all of witch rendered him quite an attractive man. But there was something overwhelmingly wrong about him. The way he moved his head was stilted and unnatural, he couldn''t move his legs at all and, when he did turn his head, nearly half of his face was a dull grey that slightly reflected the light coming in through the window. with a distinctively different and more serious tone of voice he sked the man: -''''How much longer?'''' -''''You haven''t been counting?'''' the man replied -''''Would you be willing to count down the days you have left to live? Besides, days just kind of blends together ever since I''ve been cooped up in this room.'''' -''''Guess not. About 3 days, give or take a few hours'''' -''''Damn, I did pretty good. Better than most anyway.'''' -''''Have to give credit where credit is due I guess. By the way, what about him?'''' said the old man, pointing at the crib. -''''What do you mean? He stays with you, after all your his only living relative. Besides didn''t you tell me you always wanted a son? Teach him how to walk, talk, run, work, laugh and all the rest. He''s all you''ve got and your all he''s got so it shouldn''t be too hard right?'''' The man looked at the crib in silence for a few more moments and then turned to the young man and asked: -''''What should I tell him about you and Sal? He will get curious and overly curious kids are the worst kind, get into all kinds of trouble.'''' The young man lay there in silence for quite a while pondering the question until he finally opened his mouth: -''''Tell him she shined brighter than the star could ever hope too; tell him her smile could melt even the toughest metal, but her punch could crack open the thickest skulls; tell him she would talk about all the different areas of Argus that we would all go see together, and all the tasty meals we would share; Tell him he would''ve had at least four siblings, maybe more, and we would all go to the moss fields outside the walls to picnic. Tell him she was too bright for this bleak world, so it decided to send her somewhere far away where she can laugh, sing and dance to her hearts content forever.'''' The man stared at the young man for a while and nodded, then after a few moments he asked: -''''And you?'''' The young man stared out the window and said: -''''Tell him nothing '''' The man looked at him before turning away while saying he had to go open the shop, but as he was about to exit the room the young man stopped him: -''''Swear it.'''' He told the ma, but the man remained quiet. -''''SWEAR IT !'''' The young man shouted before breaking down into a violent fit of coughing. The man just stood there, watching him and, when the coughing subsided, he left silently. The man descended into his workshop after changing the closedsign toopen,sitting down and running his hands through his hair. He had lied to the young man, he would die sometime in the next 8 hours, but he figured it would be less painful if he didn''t expect it. He pulled out a little silver disk about the size of a pocket-watch from his desk and began fiddling around with it as he thought about what he was going to do, staying up for hours before finally falling asleep. The man woke up several hours later and, after some contemplation, climbed the steps and entered the room, finding the young man motionless, seemingly asleep. The man knew better though, and covered his head with the blanket, before turning to the crib and approaching it. Inside was an infant no more than 3 weeks old, with whisps of dull grey hair on his head and an innocent look on his sleeping face. The man watched the child for a while before taking out the disk he had been working on earlier, this time it had a thin chain attached to it and he placed it around the child''s neck. on it was an assortment of strange markings and symbols, but in the centre was just one word: NOAH Chapter 1 1337 A.c. (After construction) The great city of Argus was considered by many to be the greatest human achievement to date. Situated in a massive geological cavity hundreds of meters high and thousands of meters wide, some even believed that it was built by angels to protect mankind from the many disasters and calamities nature wrought upon them in the past. From the nigh impregnable walls, designed to protect the city from the terrors that crawled out from the many dark tunnels that connected it to the rest of the world, to the great palace, situated in the centre of city , that basked in the ever present glow emanated from the star. It was truly a sight to behold to anyone who had never seen it before witch, interestingly, was no one. Every single soul that inhabited Argus had been born and raised in her, never leaving the confines of her walls, and yet, to date no one had ever felt the need to, and were content living their lives regularly, with little to no change. It was, however, precisely this daily life that Noah Tallus found quite dull. Perhaps it was because he had mostly grown up on his own, his grandpa having to tend to work and his store most of the time, but he had always sought more than was presented to him. In fact it was precisely these feelings that brought him running into his grandpa''s workshop one day as he worked: -''''Old man! old man! Listen to this, in 7 cycles my group is going to visit the Archive! Who knows, I might even be able to find a book about the god tongue in there somewhere.'''' He yelled energetically in his grandpa''s ear. The old man turned to look at him and for just a moment he saw the face of his son-in-law smiling back at him, but after blinking, the smiling young face and mop of long grey hair was back to torment him, as it had these past 13 years. The old man opened his mouth and said grumpily: -''''Is that so? Good for you. Of course I seem to remember the consent of a guardian being needed if you want to go, and last time I checked you spend more time running around on rooftops and ducking through market stalls than you do reading. I think you would have a better time helping me in the workshop or running errands for Jerald rather than roaming around some dusty old library.'''' Noah''s face paled in horror when he heard his grandfather''s words and was quick to respond: -''''It''s not just some dusty old library, It''s the largest collection of knowledge in all of Argus! Please let me go. I have 7 whole cycles before I go, that''s 56 entire hours. I can help in the shop when I''m not with our group''s instructor and I can run errands in my free time so PLEEAAAASSSSEE let me go?'''' The old man pondered his proposition for a minute or two, witch felt like a gruelling eternity for Noah. Finally he looked at his grandson and nodded saying: -''''Fine. But on one condition: under no circumstances are you to cause any kind of trouble like you usually do. If I get a single complaint from the instructor I swear I''ll lock you in this workshop until you polish every single item in this store!'''' Noah just smiled when he heard this and thought to himself:'''' The old man is getting softer, two years ago he wouldn''t have let me go, period.'''' But on the outside he smiled and quickly agreed, before running to go tell his group that he was coming with them. The old man just shook his head as he watched him run off while muttering to himself: -''''If I had known all those years ago the sheer amount of trouble that kid would cause me I wonder if I still would have decided to take care of him. I don''t understand why he couldn''t be more like Sal, always caring, smiling and peaceful. Instead he just had to turn out like his troublemaker of a father.'''' He entered the shop through the back and began taking inventory when he heard the jangle of the small belle attached to the door, signalling the arrival of a customer. It was a soldier, a member of the wall patrol, as one could tell by the small brick pattern brooch that held his red cape around his shoulders. The soldier addressed the old man in a lively voice: -''''Long time no see, Sander! Looks like you''ve been doing pretty well for yourself in my absence.'''' He said, looking around the shop and examining the items neatly lined up on the shelf. Sander just grunted and carried on with his work, seemingly ignoring the boisterous client. However the soldier didn''t seem fazed or even surprised, walking up behind the counter and draping his arm around Sander''s shoulder. the Problem was that Sander was at least half a head taller than him, so it made for a rather uncomfortable, if rather comical scene. A sigh escaped Sander''s lips as he finally stopped what he was doing and turned to look at the soldier. Short brown hair, a nose slightly too big for his face, and big grey eyes with a distinct sparkle hidden within. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. -'''' What do you want Dan?'''' He asked as he eyed the soldier. -''''How cold of you! I can''t even stop by to greet an old friend anymore?'''' Retorted Dan as he removed his arm from around Sander''s neck, instead folding them on his chest as pretended to glare at the old man. Sander simply looked at him with a deadpan expression before reminding him that the last time he had stopped by to ''''just greet him'''', he had taken Noah with him to a bar and nearly got the poor boy drunk. He was saved only because Sander realised that it was a bit too quiet in his room and, realising he was not there, had gone to look for him. Dan just looked away, giving the usual excuse that Noah was going to be a man soon and that he should be able to handle a cup or two of booze. Sander just sighed: -''''I guess I should ask how things are on the wall. We don''t hear much about what goes on up there around here. Do they come often?'' the lively atmosphere died down and, after a short pause, Dan responded: -''''Thing''s could be worse. It''s not that hard to push them back, but that''s mostly just because they aren''t very smart and just run at anything that glows in a crazed frenzy. Still gives me the creeps though, not matter how many times I see them it always will. I remember the first few weeks up there, I would have nightmares about them. I would dream that they climbed over the walls, rampaged in the streets until finally there were so many of them that the light from the star would be completely blotted out, and we would be plunged into eternal dark.'''' Sander listened silently before opening his mouth after a few moments: -''''Argus has stood tall and proud for 1337 years. whatever you dreamt will never happen, its impossible.'''' He stated firmly. Dan seemed to regain his composure before agreeing with Sander, his good mood appearing to have returned. -''''That said, where exactly is Noah? Please tell me you haven''t locked him up in that smelly old workshop, forcing him to make the trinkets you''ve sold to gain your wealth. If that is the case I''m afraid I will have to arrest you, seeing as this kind of exploitation is utterly unacceptable.'''' This actually drew a rare chuckle from the old man who looked at Dan as if he had grown a second head told him: -''''Their are days I want to do that so bad I have to consciously remind myself I can''t. The boy drives me insane! I have tried to teach him my craft but he refuses to learn, by the Allfather he won''t sit still for more than 10 minutes! I get complains from his instructor about all the mischief he causes and the foolish and dangerous things he does. Honestly I have no idea what goes on in his head, like, just earlier he came to me because his group was going to visit the archive and he begged me to let him go. Last time I checked he is about as compatible with books as oil is with water. If he continues like this he will end upmaking a mistake that not even I can fix.'''' Dan listened to his rant with a small smile on his lips and, when it was over he just chuckled and commented: -''''You must really care about the kid.'''' Sander just smiled wryly and answered: -''''I care about him too much, he''s going to be the end of me, I feel it'''' -''''there are worse ways to go'''' Dan replied with a smile. -''''Aye, you''re right about that much'''' Sander said quietly as the face of a certain young woman flashed in his mind. -''''Well, tell him I said hi, can''t be late now, cycle''s about to start.'''' Sander nodded to Dan as the latter left the store, flipping the Open sign to face the street on his way out, before disappearing into the crowd.
Noah walked down the street with a skip in his step. The cycle was about to start and he didn''t want to be late or the instructor might complain to the old man about it, witch Noah could absolutely not afford On his way there he stopped at a fountain for a drink, witch was normal seeing as most regular homes didn''t have running water as the logistics for that would simply be too complex and costly for the average person. Instead these fountains were placed at regular intervals and provided the many inhabitants of Argus with a clean and convenient supply of water. Like the fountains, nearly all public facilities in Argus were very well kept and supplied seeing as thousands of people used them every day, like the massive bath houses with heated water or lecture halls where children from ages 11 to 15 were educated on the basics of society, history, basic biology, etc. Noah was on his way to this exact lecture hall when he heard some voices coming from a nearby ally and, when he went to see what it was, found 3 men beating another man. By the looks of it it had already been going on for some time and the man was barely conscious. Noah watched one man kick him in the stomach violently, sending the contents of the man''s stomach back from where they came, another punched him in the eye, leaving a purplish bruise that was sure to leave a scar. The last one took his right arm and broke it at the elbow with a sickening snap. Noah watched all this unfold with a slightly stunned expression, until one of the men noticed him and told him to leave, lest he also recieve the same treatment. -''''Why are you doing that to him?'''' Asked Noah as he looked at the worn and bruised man with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. -''''He owes us money.'''' Replied one of the men. -''''A lot of money'''' Added another. -''''I see...'''' said Noah seemingly thinking and, after a moment of hesitation asked:'''' So you''re basically just having him pay you back by taking a beating instead of giving you money?'''' the third man turned to Noah and, after looking him up and down, approached him. Immediately Noah tensed and, fearing the worst, closed his eyes. He waited 2 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, but the punches never came, so he opened his eyes and saw the man kneeling down in front of him, handing him a small silver coin. -''''What''s this?'''' He asked looking at it and turning it over in his hands, not understanding the meaning behind the sudden gift. -''''Keep this with you always, and whenever a dept is owed to you and the debtor won''t or can''t pay you back, flip that coin. If it''s sun side forgive them and if it''s moon side, well, do as you see fit. Now go, this man''s coin landed moon side, so don''t concern yourself with him.'''' The man said as he got up and turned away, silently dismissing the boy. -''''What''s your name?'''' asked Noah to the man who already had his back to him. The man was silent for a moment then replied: -''''It doesn''t matter, a lesson is more important than a name. Now go.'''' Noah left the scene with a frown on his face but then, remembering his initial goal, began running in the direction of the lecture hall, already coming up with a new excuse for his tardiness. Chapter 2 The great palace of Argus, also known as the Monolith, stood at an impressive one hundred and fifty meters tall, it''s imposing obsidian walls rising impossibly high over the bustling city below. It had a circular structure, with a hollow interior, closed off from the outside world only by the intricate and mesmerising stain glass roof depicting the flourishing tree, Argus''s symbol. Hundreds of doors lined its sombre hallways, leading to rooms housing all manner of individuals. From the crystal guard, the order of knights loyal only to the grand marshal, the second most important man in the entire city, to the ministers, selected by the lord protector to aid him with the administration of the subterranean metropolis, to even the servants, hired to keep every corner of the giant obsidian tower spotless. It was generally well known that the higher ones room was, the more importance that person held. The Monolith was, in many ways, the backbone of the city, and it stood tall on e slightly elevated plateau in the very centre of Argus. Encircling the Monolith was the golden road: the area of the city where the roughly 200 noble houses of Argus claimed residence, separated from the rest of the city by a low wall, only about 15 meters high. behind this wall was the silver street, where the many wealthier citizens lived, as well as the many craftsmen and merchants, all people that had made their fortune through a keen mind or precise handiwork. Finally, behind the silver street was the iron avenue, home to the majority of the population as well as most public facilities. It was important to note however, that despite the seeming divide between the people, discrimination based on class was a rare and frowned upon practice, most people instead remembering that golds, silvers and irons alike were all part of one big machine. And if that machine stopped working due to a golds pride or an irons resentment, they would all meet an unfortunately gruesome end.
-''''No matter how many times I look at it, it never ceases to baffle me.'''' Commented a boy from the balcony of one of the highest rooms in the entire Monolith. -''''The way it''s all superbly organized, put together, and run as though it was a well oiled machine. It''s so impossibly immaculate It almost feels wrong.'''' He continued as he watched the city stretch out before him, bathed in the pleasant glow given off by the star. -''''Nothing and no one is ever perfect, my lord. There are plenty of despicable and unforgivable acts committed in the star''s shadow.'''' Said a man in his late twenty''s who, from the intricate yet light armer he wore and the elegant sabre he wore at his side and the purple cape fastened around his shoulders, appeared to be the boys bodyguard. -''''Is that so? Tell me of some of them. After all I scarcely have the time nor the means to observe these things for myself.'''' The boy asked the soldier in a curious yet somewhat amused voice. The soldier looked at him for a few moments and couldn''t help but be impressed by what he saw. Even though the boy had just turned 16 he already exhibited a keen interest in city affairs, not only that but he was also quite intelligent and was also very proficient in the art of swordsmanship for a boy his age. But his most captivating feature by far was his deep blue eyes that looked as though they perceived more than a regular person should. That coupled with his neatly trimmed chestnut hair and his tall frame served to give the boy a rather regal appearance, uncommon for a boy his age. -''''As you wish, my lord. For example, some of the soldiers take fees from brothel owners to turn a blind eye, or in many cases ear, to many of the... disturbances, that tend to occur off cycle. Or the farmers who illegally sell their products to some of the wealthiest noblemen for triple the price that the granary pays for them, who buy them simply to ensure that they receive the best of the best. These are just two examples but I assure you my lord, there are many more.'''' Answered the soldier as he observed the pensive look on the young lords face. After a while the boy answered in a rather nonchalant tone: -''''A necessary evil. The city watch ignores some trouble and let''s them sort it out on their own, in return the business owners are cooperative and pay the due taxes. Same with the farmers who sell to the nobles, the city after all simply can''t afford to buy at a higher price than we currently do en masse, but the nobles can. In this way the farmers make more money and the city saves money, in fact if you ask me it''s quite ingenious, though technically illegal.'''' He continued saying: -'''' When I called the city immaculate I meant all of it, good and bad, light and dark. It would help no one if the Monolith suddenly decided to sweep away all injustice, only for the city to descend into chaos.'''' The soldier hesitated a moment before sighing and nodding: -''''It is as you say my lord, still, no matter how many times I try to convince myself of the veracity of your words it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.'''' The boy merely chuckled and looked out once more over the city. After a minute or two he asked the soldier: -''''Tell me Gus, how long do you think it will be before the lord protector names his successor?'''' Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The soldier Gus had a thoughtful look on his face for a little while before answering: -''''Hard to say, my lord. The lord protector is a very work oriented man and he seems to be in relatively good health, at least as far as I could tell. That said I believe it won''t be too long from now seeing as he has been in power for nearly 30 years, and that amount of work on a daily basis is bound to take it''s toll on his body eventually. I would guess he would name a successor in the next five years, no later.'''' The young lord nodded at his words and fell into thought once more. Finally turning to look at his trusted bodyguard with a serious look in his eyes before opening his mouth: -'''' Tell me honestly Gus, what are the odds of the lord protector naming me his successor?'''' He asked as he fixated his gaze on his stalwart guardian. Gus shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. While he didn''t want to offend his lord, he also realized that sugar coating his words would do neither of them any good. Noticing Gus''s nervous demeaner, The young lord exclaimed in an annoyed voice: -''''By the Allfather Gus, out with it! If I wanted someone to tell me what I wanted to hear I would hire a whore for the night and be done with it. The reason you are still by my side when so many others aren''t anymore is because of your honest and honourable nature, not because your some half-witted bootlicker.'''' Upon hearing this Gus merely sighed and addressed the boy with tired voice: -''''My apologies, my lord but I do hope you understand where I''m coming from, after all you have done rather horrible things to others for much less than speaking their minds.'''' The young lord simply scoffed, saying: -''''Those fools deserved every single thing I did to them and even worse. They got off lucky if you ask me. Last time I checked your pride would never allow you to lie to me, much less badmouth me behind my back, so enough of this and tell me your honest opinion on the matter of succession.'''' Gus just sighed, before beginning to inform the young lord as he had been commanded: -''''As I previously stated, lord protector Ragnel will have to choose a successor in the next five years or so, and I believe the most likely candidate for the position is duke Ferells son Oliver, as fo-'''' -''''WHAT ? HE WOULD MAKE THAT SPINELESS FOOL INTO THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN ALL OF ARGUS ? SURLY HE IS NOT THAT FOOLISH.'''' The young lord exploded, gripping the balcony''s railing so tight his knuckles turned white. -''''My lord, you asked. I am simply laying out the facts as they are. You knew you wouldn''t like them when you commended me to speak them.'''' Gus said in response to the boy''s sudden outburst. The young lord simply waved his hand, indicating he should continue. -''''As far as naming you lord protector, I''m afraid it''s quite unlikely. Maybe a 20 out of 100 if even that. From what I can tell this is largely due to your somewhat... capricious personality, as well as the fact that Oliver is very well like by the silvers as well as the irons. He is known for being kind as well as quite intelligent and studious, why, he has even decided to join the communion and learn magic witch, as my lord knows, is quite the daunting task.'''' -''''Sounds to me like you agree with the lord protectors judgment.'''' The boy said, looking at Gus accusingly. -''''Don''t get me wrong, your accomplishments are just as if not more praiseworthy. What 15 year old knows the entire history or Argus as though he had written it himself ? or has mastered both fencing and archery to an outstanding degree? My lord, I merely speak the truth, and the truth is that with your particular talents and personality, you would be much more suited to be grand marshal than lord protector.'''' The young lord considered his words for a while, and was about to respond when suddenly a knock came at the door of his room and a feminine voice, probably one of the maids, was heard from the other side: -''''My lord Simon, Lord protector Ragnel has summoned you to the dining hall for the second meal. He asks you to be punctual, as he you will not be alone. That is all.'''' A look of surprise flashed across the young lords face before turning into a small smile -''''Tell the lord Protector I will be present.'''' He replied to the maid, who acknowledged it before quickly departing. -''''Looks like you''ll be able to speak with the lord protector yourself about the succession.'''' Remarked Gus as the young lord turned to head to the bathroom to begin preparing for the meal. -''''That won''t be necessary, after all I wouldn''t want to bore the lord protector with my childish worries.'''' Replied Simon with a smile on his face. This time though, Gus noticed a hint of something a tad more sinister flash in his eyes before disappearing near instantly. -''''Would you like me to call a maid to assist you?'''' Inquired Gus. -''''Don''t bother, I don''t mind washing up by myself. Besides, I have a lot to think about.'''' He answered before closing the door behind him as Gus took up his usual post in front of the door, ensuring no harm come to his lord.
Noah walked down the Main road of the silver street with a gloomy expression marring his otherwise good-looking face. He couldn''t believe the instructor would punish him for being 20 seconds late to the hall, making him clean the entire thing once the cycle had ended. He had wasted at least one and a half hour for such an insignificant mistake. He continued down the road hoping his grandpa wouldn''t be too mad at him for being late, and began looking in his pockets for something to relieve his nervousness when his hand close around the silver coin the strange man had given him, the incident that had led to the mess he was in right now. He had never seen a coin like it his entire life, after all the coins in Argus didn''t have any designs or patterns on them, and were just perfect circles of either bronze, silver, gold or wood, wood being the most valuable due to it''s rarity. He flipped it around in his fingers a few times, examining it and even biting it to check if it was fake, but to no avail. He then thought back what the man had told him: -''''Sun side up means forgive, while moon side up means judge. But witch side is the sun side?'''' Noah pondered as he looked at both sides of the coin. One side had a long crescent shape engraves into the edge with beautiful intricacy, while the other had a strange looking circle that covering most of the surface, the outline of witch seemed to be intentionally uneven. -''''What an odd coin, maybe grandpa will know something about it. Definitely wasn''t worth the trouble though, I''d best ignore similar situations in the future.'''' He thought to himself as he pocketed the coin and quickened his pace. Chapter 3 Just off silverstreet''s main road, about a hundred and fifty meters upstreet from Sander''s Sandbox, stood a large and quite inviting establishment. Once the most recent cycle had ended, workers from all over the silvertreet would flock here to get a good meal and a few drinks, blowing off some steam before heading home to get some much needed rest. Above the entrance hung a slightly crooked sign with the image of a keg leaking wine drawn upon it, with words underneath reading ''''The worker''s paradise''''. It appeared to be quite a fitting name indeed as even now, two hours after the twin chimes of the belle had rung, signifying the end of the old cycle, people could still be seen coming and going at a lively pace. It was right about now when Jerald, the owner, after having served the umpteenth meal and drawn the gods know how manyith beer, began to wish he could just kick his legs up and relax instead of putting himself through the stress and chaos that came and went with each customer. Even so he never complained since, aside the worrying creaking of his knees when he stood up, he remained in good health despite his old age and, besides the butcher''s daughter who would help wait the tables, the only people running the place were him and his wife. -''''Wish I had a son or two to take care of this place, I''m getting too old to be waiting tables. I''d rather just dump this place on someone who can actually manage it properly and appreciate all the work I''ve put into it. It was a profitable business back then but now I can''t seem to get rid of it. What good is having money when it''s too exhausting to walk to the gambling den to spend it.'''' He grumbled after finally sitting down with a groan, the last customer having just left moments ago. -''''What about Noah? Sure he may be a bit young but if he starts learning once he finishes his education I think he would take good care of the place.'''' Suggested Irene, the waitress as she passed Jerald by, skilfully balancing a dangerously high stack of plates with both hands. -''''HA! There''s a good joke if I ever heard one. The brat is giving even old Sander a run for his money last I heard. If not even he can get through to the little pest how do you expect me to so much as bring up the subject with him?'''' -''''Now now it was just a suggestion. Perhaps you should try appealing to his sensible side, after all he can''t very well spend the rest of his life running around the city pissing off the guards.'''' Irene responded before entering the kitchen and saying something to the person inside. Jerald frowned before going over that scenario in his head several times, but no matter how he spun it, in each instance it was bound to end with Noah simply giving him a cheeky smile and running off after telling Jerald to ''''Watch him''''. He heaved an exhausted sigh before wondering how things had ended up this way. for most of his life he had always heard his elders talk about the joys of aging and the peace of mind they received by passing things on to the next generation, but seeing as he had no next generation to pass it on to, peace of mind had long since abandoned him, leaving only bitterness and anxiety in it''s stead. -''''Fuck this, can''t even go drink and gamble my sorrows away anymore like I used to. Aging fucking blows.'''' He muttered to himself before feeling a heavy object connect with the back of his head, causing a dull ache to begin spreading across it. Furious, he turned around to look for his assailant, only to find his wife standing behind him, arms crossed across her chest and a triumphant expression on her face. -''''That''s a win in my book. If getting older causes you to finally start behaving responsibly than I hope you live forever. the less time you spend throwing your money away and getting drunk, the more time you can dedicate to finding someone to take over running this place while we retire. Also don''t curse, you know how I feel about it'''' she said while leaning down, poking his chest with her index finger. Laura had never approved of his two favourite pastimes and it had often become a point of contention for the couple. But seeing her smile and hearing her words left the old man feeling quite irritated, and he was quick to push her finger away, exclaiming: -''''Gods woman, will you leave me be? Just because you finally get to have your way doesn''t mean you have to rub it in at every opportunity you get. Also it''s my home and I''ll curse if I bloody well want to.'''' Laura frowned at this and was quick to voice her discontent. -''''See now that''s exactly the attitude that''s kept you virtually friendless despite our years of living here, and kept the Allfather from blessing us with kids no matter how many times we tried now look a the mess we are in because of it. Were I you I would start considering the possibility that perhaps it''s time to mellow out a bit and enjoy life, because at this rate you''re going to die a lonely, grumpy, bitter old man.'''' You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Jerald sighed and listened patiently to his wife''s reproachful words. She was right about most of it and he knew it, although he wouldn''t be caught dead admitting that fact to anyone. The idea of having children had always made him nervous, after all he wasn''t exactly keen on having smaller, louder versions of himself running about the house causing all sorts of mischief. In the end it was more than likely that it was his conflicted feelings that had kept them from having any, instead they had immersed themselves in work, and well, despite their success Laura was right: he was terribly lonely when she wasn''t around, and he would sometimes catch her looking at families passing by from the kitchen window, betraying her longing for children and leaving Jerald feeling unimaginably guilty. Once she had finished chewing him out, Laura headed back to the kitchen to finish tidying up, and Jerald got up with the intention of heading to bed when, out of the corner of his eye he saw a piece of paper on the bar table and, curious, he picked it up to read, recognition flashing in his eyes before pocketing it and heading for the door. But when he looked out the door, what he saw made him smile despite himself. -''''Perfect timing.'''' He thought to himself, before calling out a certain boy''s name...
As he slowly approached his grandpa''s store, Noah slowed his pace as he thought of what he was going to tell the old man to explain his absence. Sure , it way not have been the first time he had come home late from his lessons, but for the first time, at least as far as he could remember, he was genuinely worried about what the old man would say. Of course there was always the chance that he would get off with nothing more than being sent to the workshop with a kick in the pants and a stern warning. If he was lucky the old man might even believe his story of being twenty seconds late. But it was far more likely he would assume he had been off roaming the city, trying at all costs to avoid coming home. As he pondered this unfortunate possibility, a loud voice called out to him from across the street. -''''Oi, Noah, come here.'''' Noah turned, instantly recognising the voice and berating himself for not having thought of this before. The voice was, of course Jerald who beckoned Noah to come inside as soon as he approached the door, sitting him down at one of the many now vacant tables. -''''So ? What do you want ?'''' Asked Noah, who, caught off guard by Jerald''s unusually friendly attitude, wondered if the old man had had too much to drink or, better yet, fell and hit his head, tricking him into treating him like a human being instead of just a young pair of legs. His hope''s were instantly shattered however, when Jerald lightly smiled and began speaking. -''''Nothing much, just wondering if you wanted to make a little money is all, You see I have a little job to do but I''m quite tired, running a restaurant is hard work after all. That being the case I could really use a good pair of legs to help me out.'''' Jerald explained amiably. Noah, sensing an opportunity, quickly made it seem as though he was thinking hard about the offer, finally answering Jerald with hesitation in his voice. -''''I don''t know if I can. I was just on my way to go help gramps in the shop and I''m a bit late already.'''' he said, scratching the back of his head apologetically. Jerald, surprised by the sudden revelation, was quick to reassure him. -''''Oh don''t worry about that, I can stop by the shop later to tell him you were late because you were running errands for me.'''' ''''Perfect'''' Noah thought to himself as he looked Jerald with a defeated expression on his face, before finally sighing and agreeing. -''''Fine, but I want a silver coin for my trouble.'''' A vein popped in Jerald''s forehead as he wondered just how shameless this kid could be. Jerald wasn''t stupid. they both knew that Noah would get reprimanded as soon as he went home for being this late, and Jerald was essentially agreeing to cover for him with Sander. It was a kind of agreement the two had with each other that kept them both happy: Noah ran errands for Jerald and Jerald would vouch for Noah should he get in trouble with Sander. They were both fully aware of this yet Noah still demanded an entire silver in addition to all the rest. -''''Now you listen here you little shit, and listen good. 3 browns is all your sorry little ass is getting and that''s final. Or do you not want me to help you out?'''' Jerald said in an aggravated voice. Noah just chuckled and made a counter offer. -''''8 browns and I won''t tell aunt Laura you swore at me'''' -''''5 browns that''s as high as I go.'''' -''''6 browns and a meal later. That''s my final offer.'''' Noah replied with a smirk. It was in moments like these that Jerald was glad he had not had children for if this is what it was like, then it couldn''t be worth the trouble. -''''Fine, now take this and deliver it to the head gardener and bring back what he gives you. Normally$ you should find him in the Cathedral. Now get the fuck out before I change my mind'''' He exclaimed before handing Noah the paper and leaving the room in a huff. ''''Guess luck is on my side today.'''' Noah thought to himself as he left the restaurant. He looked in the direction of his grandpa''s shop for a moment, silently apologising to the old man before turning and heading in the direction of the Cathedral. As he walked he began thinking. -''''Now that I think about it, the head gardener would be the perfect person to ask about the strange coin that man gave me. After all, I''m pretty sure head gardeners have access to all the information they desire from the archive.'''' -''''Speaking of the archive, if I go near the Cathedral than I''m bound to get a great look at it before the other''s. I wonder if the head gardener knows anything about the God Tongue, though even if he did he probably wouldn''t tell a nobody like me. Still, there''s no harm in asking.'''' It was with these thoughts turning around in his head that Noah began making his way to the Cathedral. A trip that would mark the beginning of the end for Argus and It''s many citizens. chapter 4 Simon''s POV Simon and Gus, having finished preparing, strode down a long and luxurious hallway leading to the monoliths dining hall, paintings of past protectors hanging from It''s smooth, dark walls. The pair, having finished preparing, were on their way to join the lord protector for the second meal. As they approached the dining room, Simon slowed his pace. He had his suspicions as to the reason for the lord protector to something as insignificant as a meal, and was currently thinking of the best way handle the unfortunate situation he was inevitably about to face. Stopping right in front of the great oak door that connected the two areas, he signalled Gus to keep watch, as he stealthily put his ear to the door , wishing to obtain a better understanding of who was in the room aside from the lord protector, as well as the topic of discussion that, by the sound of it, they all seemed quite enthusiastic about. -''''Glad to hear it. I can scarcely think of a better match for a man of your ability. I trust I''m invited to the wedding ?'''' Simon instantly recognised the voice, a it belonged to lord protector Ragnel, although it carried an uncharacteristically jovial, almost humorous tone. This only served to set Simon more on edge, as he could not think of anything that would put Ragnel in such a good mood while also benefitting him in some way. Finally gathering himself, he entered the room, only to have his many worries bear fruit, as sitting around the table was not only lord Ragnel but also duke Ferells, as well as his son Oliver. Still, Simon walked in with confident steps and a polite smile on his face as the guests rose to greet him, never once betraying what he truly felt inside, as he had to make a sound show of politeness and etiquette, as well as pretend to get along with Oliver. ''''At least for now.'''' he thought to himself, before taking his place at Ragnel''s left side as Gus took up his usual post several steps behind his chair. Duke Ferells was a man of short stature, about 1,65 cm to be precise. A bald head and neatly trimmed beard, along with an expensive looking monocle on his left eye, gave him a sophisticated, scholarly appearance. Oliver on the other hand, differed quite drastically from his father, at least physically. Standing at 1,81 cm tall at only 18, with naturally thick and unruly blond hair, bushy eyebrows, a goofy grin as well as a rather large belly. All in all he looked like a friendly man who didn''t take life too seriously, preferring instead to enjoy himself to his heart''s content. That said he was by no means a fool, and if the rumors were true and he did end up going to the communion to learn spellcraft, then he could end up being a serious obstacle for Simon in the future. Upon Simon''s arrival, lord Ragnel immediately ordered the meal served, before quickly bringing the young lord up to speed on the most recent developments concerning the duke''s family, as well as his own. Ragnel was exactly what Simon imagined the person who invented the words ''''Stern and unsmiling'''' had in mind before officially introducing them into the common. A big body, well kept, short grey hair, no beard and a very pronounced jawline all worked towards making him look intimidating and in-charge. But this very same person was now looking at Simon with a twinkle in his eye and a smile, before beginning to speak. -''''Ah Simon, I''m glad you decided to join us. You''ll never guess what Louise here has just told me. Go on, tell him.'''' Ragnel told him in a merry voice, before beckoning the duke to repeat what he had just told him. -''''Of course, my lord. As you know Simon, Oliver here has grown into quite a fine young man, and as such must find a suitable bride for himself, Coincidentally I just happened to be approached by marquess Waldo, who proposed the marriage of Oliver and his oldest daughter Aliana. Not willing to let such an opportunity pass us by, we agreed and, as of next cycle, they are officially engaged.'''' Simon didn''t miss the hint of malice in the duke''s words, clearly directed at him, and ignored it. Instead opting to congratulate his son, fishing for any information the large oaf might let slip. The boy''s father couldn''t very well answer for him after all. -''''Well, isn''t that lucky indeed. You have my sincere congratulations Oliver, as well as you, your grace. This is indeed sudden news, though tell me, for I truly am quite curious, what was your first impression of the girl? I was only fortunate enough to see her two or three times when we were little, you see.'''' Hearing the question directed at him, Oliver lowered his fork, witch had been in the process of stabbing a large juicy piece of meat, and looked over at Simon while scratching the back of his head, an embarrassed expression on his face. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. -'''' To tell you the truth I haven''t actually met her yet, in fact I only just found out about it right before coming here. I remember seeing her a few times but that was a ling time ago. I don''t even know if she will recognise me when we do meet.'''' Hearing this, and seeing the slightly displeased look the duke shot his son, Simon smiled inwardly as an idea of just how to handle the situation began forming in his head. -''''I wouldn''t worry too much about that, after all you have your entire life to get to know everything about her. Were I you I would however worry about making a good first impression, as from what I hear many people, especially women, tend to judge a person they have just met rather quickly, and being judged positively in that scenario can go a long way toward building a lasting relationship with that person.'''' Everyone in the room looked at Simon with surprised faces, wondering what exactly had led him to this conclusion, as it was something that could only be learned through years of experience. Seeing their expressions, Simon just laughed and gestured behind him. -''''Don''t look at me so, I was merely quoting the words my bodyguard told me when I first arrived here two or so years ago. I have found that he has a surprising amount of wisdom when it comes to the subject of women, especially when it comes to making one''s self look good in their eyes..'''' -''''Is this true, captain?'''' Asked lord Ragnel, looking at Gus curiously. The latter, after a small bow, nodded once before answering in a stiff voice. -''''Lord Simon speaks too highly of me. I simply speak the truth as I have witnessed it during my life, and whether or not it corresponds to reality is not for me to decide.'''' Ragnel nodded before once again focusing on his guests and the food set before them. -''''Still, Thank you for you''re advice, I will take it into consideration before meeting Aliana.'''' Oliver told Simon with a smile on his face. -''''Speaking of weddings, when do you think you will be engaged lord Simon ? I''m sure that your looks, coupled with your many talents have brought many young ladies, as well as marriage proposals your way.'''' Asked the duke, looking Simon up and down curiously. At this the young lord frowned and was about to answer when Ragnel also joined in. -''''He is right Simon, It''s about time you start thinking of these things if you want to begin establishing connections with Argus''s aristocracy. If you simply cannot choose, or postpone it much longer, than I will personally find you suitable match.'''' Upon hearing this Simon''s lips twitched, before he finally regained his composure and answered with a respectful ton. -''''I am honoured, my lord, that you would take such an interest in the matter, going so far as to settle the matter personally on my behalf. However if I am being honest I have not given it much thought, seeing as I have just had my sixteenth birthday. I still consider it a matter for the future as for the moment, I am rather preoccupied with learning to fight, as well as how to aid in running the city, should I ever be put in a position necessitating these particular know-hows. That said If my lord desires I make a match sooner, than you are free to pick anyone you find suitable for the role, and I will carry out your will.'''' Ragnel frowned slightly after hearing this, and was quick to voice his disapproval of Simon''s approach. -''''If you so loath the idea of marriage I won''t force you, however the less you wait the better. I understand that you don''t find it important at the moment, but having the backing of a powerful house will benefit you greatly in the long run, after all, it is unlikely for you to be named grand marshal without some form of external help. Also I have told you many times to call me uncle in private, ''''my lord'''' sounds too formal.'''' Simon clicked his tongue. The cat was out of the bag now as everyone in the room looked quite shocked at Ragnel''s words. Not even Gus had known his identity and now it had been laid bare before his greatest rival. He shot a glare at Ragnel before quietly concentrating on his food, refusing to speak for the rest of the meal, save for the occasional nod or polite one word answer. Many things were discussed, and Simon listened attentively to all of them. However his unwillingness to engage in the conversation bothered Ragnel, to the point that he dismissed Simon as soon as they had finished eating. After congratulating Oliver one more time, he bade them all farewell, leaving the dining hall with quick steps. -''''I didn''t realise you had a nephew. I always thought you were an only child.'''' The duke said nonchalantly, looking at Ragnel to see his reaction. -''''I am, he''s Ashley''s nephew technically even if that''s not quite right either. I apologise for his earlier behaviour, you see ever since I brought him here two years ago he insisted on keeping his identity a secret, though I never understood why. I suppose he is upset at me for revealing it to you.'''' Replied Ragnel in a matter-of-fact tone, Understanding flashed in the duke''s eyes as he finally realised why no one seemed to know exactly who Simon was. It was simply because no one knew other than him and Ragnel, and try as he had to find information on him he had always come up empty handed. After hearing Ragnels words, Oliver made a confused face before asking him why he thought Simon would try to hide his identity. Surely he had nothing to lose and everything to gain from being the lord protectors nephew, and to this Ragnel simply shrugged. -''''Your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps he wants to dissociate himself from me in order to prove himself, or maybe he just feels like he doesn''t belong. Either way it doesn''t matter seeing as everyone will know about it once he is named grand marshal in the future.'' Hearing this, the duke smiled and proceeded make a request. -''''I think it is simply his young age and immature mind at play, my lord. While we are on the subject of succession however, I was wondering if we might... discuss the matter before leaving.'''' -''''Of course, I don''t mind.'''' Answered Ragnel as he sunk into his chair as the duke began speaking. capter 5
After leaving the dining hall, Simon walked down the corridor, the very same one he had used two hours earlier. As he walked he observed the portraits of all the past lord protectors, admiring the talent and work that had gone into making them. He stopped in front of one of them, a man with a trimmed moustache, short brown hair and and deep brown eyes, the text under the painting reading: ''''Jeremiah FIsher, twenty-eighth protector of Argus, served from 978 to 802.'''' As he observed the portraits, he noticed the curious look on Gus''s face. -''''Alright, out with it.'''' He told Gus before moving on to examine another painting. -''''Then with your permission, I would like to inquire as to how you are related to the lord protector. You couldn''t be his nephew as it is a known fact that he had no siblings, but the way he addressed you does indeed seem to point to a relatively close relationship between you two.'''' -'''' As observant as ever I see, though I suppose there is no harm in telling you the truth. It is true that I am not hi real nephew, even if he likes to call me that. I am the bastard of his second wife''s cousin, the now deceased count Artem. Upon the counts sudden death, the lord protector took pity on me and provided me with the best possible education, including the martial arts of sword play and archery. Then two years ago he brought me here, presumably to groom me to become the next grand marshal, after witnessing first hand just how suited to the role I am.'''' Gus nodded at this as he finally had a clearer understanding of the young lord''s situation. But then another question surfaced in his head, and he was quick to voice it. -'''' But if that is the case, and your role as grand marshal is all but secured, than why bother trying to become lord protector ? Would it not be wider to accept what is given to you with gratitude rather than biting the very hand that feeds you ?'''' Hearing this question Simon remained silent, as he went from one portrait to the next, looking at the faces and reading their names before finally, after several minutes he spoke without turning around. -'''' Tell me Gus, looking at this wall, what do you see ?'''' Gus wore a confused expression on his face, before finally observing the wall. -''''I see history, the past protectors of Argus, as well as art, the talent of those who painted them. What do you see, my lord?'''' Although Gus couldn''t see it, Simon''s face turned into a sneer. -''''I see nothing, paintings of people no one even knows existed. -''''My lord what exactly do you mean ? Surely you are not denying the existence of all past protectors.'''' Gus asked with a perplexed tone. Simon simply scoffed, before asking him another question. -'''' Tell me, do you perchance know of a man named Axel Carver ?'''' -''''No, I don''t believe I do.'''' -''''What about Harglow Eckard ?'''' -''''No.'''' -''''How about Leomord Ferry ?'''' -''''No my lord.'''' -''''What of Kai Latera ?'''' -''''Nothing I''m afraid, tell me my lord, is there a point to these questions ?'''' Simon just raised his hand, pointing out three paintings on different parts of the wall. Gus, understanding the meaning behind his words, remained silent, waiting for the young lord to enlighten him as to the meaning behind his bizarre words from earlier. His silence eventually paid off, as shortly after Simon began speaking, disdain oozing from his every word. -''''What makes them so special ? Their title ? Their social standing ? I guarantee you are not the only one to have forgotten, or perhaps not even known who these men were, in fact I would go so far as to say almost everybody in this entire city is exactly like you. So why should they be remembered, but a common mason or barmaid forgotten ? You asked me why I wanted to become lord protector so badly, and I''ll tell you: It''s to be remembered. I will engrave my existence into every man, women and child in this entire damn city, I won''t settle for living, then being forgotten when I pass, No , I will ensure this city remembers me till every man has perished, and every stone has turned to dust. History will never forget me, and its people will know my name.'''' Gus was stunned upon hearing this, and when he collected himself all he could think to do was to mumble to himself ''''Those are some lofty aspirations.'''' while shaking his head. -''''Not an aspiration. A promise.'''' Said Simon firmly. -''''Now come, there is a certain young lady I must pay a visit to.'''' At this, the pair left the sombre corridor, making their way to the Monolith''s entrance.
Noah''s POV Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Noah made his way through the bustling city streets on his way to the cathedral. He had spent most of the walk hoping that the head gardener was actually in the cathedral, as well as wondering just what questions exactly he should ask him seeing as he was, in fact, the central figure of the communion, as well as the official caretaker of the archive. As he pondered these things, he found himself at the entrance of the city square, a massive open marketplace situated in front of the ''''fence''''. Knowing that to get to the cathedral necessitated the traversal of the square, he moved forward into the throng of people moving about the massive plaza. Looking around, he saw market stalls where vendors called out to passer-by''s, beckoning them to try their latest goods and street performers dancing and singing, all to the great amusement of the crowd. After walking for a little while however, Noah caught a glimpse of a large, ornately decorated golden door. The realization of what it was made Noah stop in his tracks and stare at it, as the boy often daydreamed of all the things he would see should he ever cross the magnificent door. He imagined a road made entirely of gold, with mansions lining its perfect edges, with rich, lush grass covering the surroundings. And in the centre stood the Monolith, the great tower from witch he imagined it was possible, on the highest floor, to witness Argus in its entirety. He was rather quickly pulled from his daydream however, when a big man with a pig carcass slung over his shoulder bumped into him. Noah immediately apologised, to witch the man just grunted and told him to be more careful next time. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, he arrived in a small allyway where he slumped down against the wall, catching his breath after the surprisingly complicated task of crossing an active marketplace. After a few minutes he got up and, looking around, decided to see where the ally led, seeing as he wasn''t too fond of the idea of re-entering the urban nightmare that was the city square, in fact he was pretty sure he had seen the city watch cutting off a persons hand, though he didn''t know why. As he walked, he scrunched up his nose at the dirty, stagnant smell that lingered in the confined little path. It wasn''t bad enough to warrant gagging but just bothersome enough to make the walk truly unpleasant. After a little while however, he noticed something leaning against one of the walls. From where he stood it looked like a pile of rags, but what he found interesting was the slight rise and fall that occurred every few seconds. Noah decided to approach it, but when he got close it shifted, and suddenly sat upright, the rags falling away revealing a distinctly human appearance, albeit an unusually small and dirty one. Dirty brown hair that went down to his shoulders, a slightly hunched back and a small frame with narrow shoulders all served to make him look quite weak, fragile even. But his most distinctive feature were his eyes, being a shade of grey similar to Noah''s hair, examining him with a wary gaze. -''''Hi there.'' ''Noah said, approaching the boy as casually as possible so as not to startle him. The boy just looked at him, as he slowly lifted himself before starting to back away. -''''No no, It''s ok to stay, I''m just passing through, be gone before you know it.'''' He hurriedly told the boy as he quickly started to walk in the opposite direction, after all the boy had been there first and he didn''t want to disturb him. But as soon as he turned his back, he heard a ''''swoosh'''' sound, and before he knew it he was on the ground with a knife pressed to his throat. -''''Money. Now.'''' The boy said with a high, raspy voice. -''''I DON''T HAVE ANY I SWEAR, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU EVEN DOING ?'''' -''''Robbing you, now I''ll say it again. Money.'''' -''''I TOLD YOU I DON''T HAVE ANY, NOW GET OFF ME BEFORE I CALL THE WATCH.'''' -''''Go ahead and call them, they won''t hear you, not here at least.'''' Noah froze upon hearing this. What the boy said made sense, after all they were squeezed between two buildings and he didn''t know how far it was to the main street. Far, he guessed, judging by the confidence in the boys voice. -''''Okay, okay. I don''t have money with me now, but how about I finish my errand and bring you back to my grandpa''s place with me. I''m sure he wouldn''t mind giving you money, especially if it''s to protect me.'''' At these words the boy stopped, and asked him whether this was actually true with cautious optimism. Noah nodded as best he could from his position on the pavement. -''''I promise you it''s the truth, so please just let me go and I''ll take you to him.'''' The boy considered his words, since if what he was saying was true, he might be able to get a lot more than he had originally anticipated. As these thought ran through the boys head, he unconsciously loosened his hold on the knife, slightly lowering it. Noah, not willing to let such an opportunity pass him by, immediately launched his elbow backwards, catching the boy square in the nose. As he fell backwards, blood gushing from his nose and his grip on the knife loosening. Noah rolled over and jumped to his feet, grabbing the knife that the boy had let drop and pinning him face down by sitting on his back, knees on his elbows. Their roles had reversed just as quickly as they had been established, this time with Noah holding the knife in front of the boys neck and the latter, despite his feeble resistance, utterly and completely at Noah''s mercy. -''''You should really think more carefully before attacking someone you know, in fact I''d say you got lucky with me, had it been someone else you would likely be in a much worse situation than you are now.'''' Noah told the boy with a confident smirk on his face. -''''If you''re going to kill me than do it. It''s not like I have anything to live for anyway. whether I managed to rob you or you ended up killing me, I would be happy either way.'''' Noah furrowed his brow hearing this, sure his living conditions were hard to say the least, but he thought the boy was a bit too young to ^give up on life that soon, in fact he looked even younger than Noah. -''''No parents ? No friends ? No goals or hopes ?'''' -''''No, no, no and no. Tell me do I look like a hopeful person to you ?'''' .''''Well I guess not but still, you should try. My grandpa once told me that as long as you have a sharp mind, a good weapon and the willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve your goal, than you have no excuse for being a failure.'''' -''''Fuck off. If you''re going to kill me then get on with it. I''m not interested in whatever your grandpa thinks. He hasn''t lived my life or gone through the things I have so he wouldn''t know jack shit about my situation.'''' After saying this the boy spat on the ground and closed his eyes, preparing himself for the killing blow. But then he felt the weight on his body disappear, and upon opening his eyes he saw Noah standing a above next to him, offering hm a hand. -''''Get up, I''m no murderer. I have a delivery to make but after that I''d like you to go back with me, It''s not much but I''m sure my grandpa would like to have an extra helper in his shop.'''' The boy just looked at him blankly, before whispering. -''''But I just tried to rob you, why would you help me ?'''' -''''Why not ? You don''t seem like a bad person, plus If the old man has someone else to help him he''ll get off my back a bit, at least I hope.'''' The boy stared at him for a few more seconds before taking his hand and pulling himself up. -''''I''m Noah by the way.'''' -''''Sam.'''' -''''Nice to meet you Sam. Now, I just have make a quick trip to the cathedral and we can be on our way.'''' Sam nodded, and the two set off in the direction of the main street.