Drunken Mess

"Problem?!" I stuttered.

"Yes! problem! don't take me for a fool but you need to keep yourself in check!" He said grumpily.

"B-But I didn't do anything?"

He was like wildfire, spewing embers everywhere spreading his anger and I, like grass, immediately caught flames in his wake.

"It's not about what you did now, it's about what you did then!" He sneered.

Only one thing came to mind and it left a foul taste in my mouth. I couldn't look straight into his judgemental eyes that peered beyond my being, vying for an argument. Destructive as he was, I didn't do anything to deserve his insensitive words.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about..." I feigned ignorance.

But I knew my face couldn't lie as I could feel everything was written on my bare face. The slight twitching of the right cheeks, eyes rolling towards the left, trembling lips that made me stutter; these were "Tells" that I knew one of which my face was making.

"You take me for a fool?! Each individual in this Fortress knows about what you did, the only fool who wouldn't think so otherwise would be you!"

"I sense nothing in you, you stutter as if your own words are to betray you. Eyes full of doubt and fear; No conviction." He continued.

I just stood against the onslaught of his words, I didn't know how to react but each word pierced right through me. I trembled, trying to contain my emotions all at once.

"What do you know?" I muttered.

"What?! You've got something to say?!"

I just stood there quiet. Not even gathering the strength to face him.

"That's why your father died," As he spat to the side before he turned around.

He swiped to his side then took a big gulp, clearing his already groggy voice. I couldn't take what he said, my hands trembled at his words. I bit my lip in anger.

"Take that back..." I said softly.

"Take what back?!" As he chuckled.

I threw my fist towards his face as my body came along with it, carrying the full weight of my lower body as I twisted my core.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW?!" I shouted as I did.

My fist passed through him, my clouded thoughts had completely forgotten that he donned this troublesome ability. I fell so pitiful on the ground face-first since I mustered too much force to brace myself from falling.

I had a face full of dirt then hurriedly stood to do him another. To which he retaliated with a swift slap, making me fall on the unforgiving ground again.

"See, this is why he died," He mocked.

I turned to look at him with watery eyes that made it hard to see clearly.

"I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO SAVE HIM! HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?!" I shouted.

But as my vision cleared I saw his face, the face that contained the same amount of grumpiness had changed. What I saw surprised me. It was odd, his face was very restrained but if I didn't pay close attention enough I wouldn't notice it, since his usual drunken-state masked it.

It had the same look a mourning person would have, a person who had lost someone dear. It bugged me.

He knelt then grabbed my collar, as he spoke in a hushed and condescending tone.

"Did you really? because from what I know, destroying almost half the city asleep is something I would hardly call saving."

"So, let me ask you again--Did you? really? try?" He said slowly.

I couldn't answer, I didn't know what to say. Did I really try? or was I just desperate? scared? stupid?

"Tsk! You're nothing but a coward," He remarked in annoyance due to my silence.

He pushed me by my collar as he stood, we were faced with a familiar voice. He stood taller behind the drunkard as the sunshine shadowed his stern face, it showed his displeasure from the situation.

"What are you doing? I just called you here to train recruits, not beat them!"

Instructor Weylham turned towards Bardel.

"Oh! Nephew! Right on time!" He exclaimed.

"NEPHEW?!" Shouted the surprised recruits that remained around us. Anyone who was down the ground suddenly got a jolt of energy because of the surprise; Anyone who heard that would have the same reaction.

The word 'Nephew' still resounded in my head since I couldn't believe it. How could it be, they looked and acted so different. The only thing that I could remotely connect them with was their strict training habits.

I watched them argue with each other as I still couldn't wrap my head on the idea that they were related. I heard the faint murmurs from the survivors around us, thinking the same way I did.

"Look at my Nephew getting angry!" He teased.

"Stop calling me that! or else the recruits will keep thinking of how we're related!" He argued.

"So you're even ashamed of your own uncle now? is that it!?"

"Stop! changing the subject?! I can't overlook this! Even the Commander will do something about it!"

"By Gaia's name then make him do so! I haven't seen that sniveling brat ever since I left him control of this place!"

"Can you just please go?! I swear you're making me regret ever getting in touch with you in the first place!"

"I came here as soon as I could! One of the knights reported this scene!" He continued, displeased.

"Fine! fine!" He replied.

As he turned to walk away, but before doing so he left another word against his reprimanding nephew.

"I see--This is why they're all pathetic, you've gone soft."

As he proceeded to move away drinking from his bottle that never seemed empty. Meanwhile, Bardel's countenance held a scowling look as he saw him move further away.

"I could never predict him," He mentioned.

He sauntered towards me, ordering me to stand. I tumbled to a proper position before I could say anything.

"He's a handful," as he exhaled heavily.

"He's always been like that even before he left this Fortress, mercenaries under him always had a hard time."

"Mercenaries?" I asked.

"Didn't you know? Bardel Fortress is best known for its mercenaries for hire, but that's just a cover. He headed the Fortress at that time."

That would make sense I thought, we were hiding in plain sight. I now understand why we could openly train on the fields without any trouble. But my mind was still boggled at the thought of their relationship.

"He's your uncle?" I asked again.

"Well, aren't you asking too many questions?"

I stared at him intently, expecting that he'd answer my question.

"Does it really matter?" He said with hesitation.

Unwavering, I kept staring at him with the same amount of effort.

"He is, and he isn't--"

"What do you mean?" I eyed him with curiosity.

"Technically, he married my aunt so basically he's not blood-related per se."

I now understood what his actions meant, he couldn't exactly call him as family.

"Ehem! anyways, enough of old tales. Get back inside Pip is looking for you," He continued.

"You better hurry, that man doesn't like to be kept waiting."

"Who?"

"Just go! You'll know everything once you get there!" He said in a frustrated manner.

I was boggled since the name rang a bell in my head, but couldn't quite remember from where. That made it more frustrating as I tried thinking of it more.

As I went ahead passing by Bardel, he uttered.

"Did we really have to get him back?"

In a regretful voice that made it very clear he wasn't amused by the presence of his drunken uncle. Soon, he ordered knights that would tend to the recruits.

I was looking at the ground as I tread the trodden path towards the drawbridge. My peaceful walk was disturbed by a couple of knights that passed through me as if I were air.

"Excuse you," I muttered.

They went towards the field full of beaten down recruits. Those that were badly beaten had been carried by them while the rest had to make their way back inside.

"That drunk doesn't know how to hold back," I thought.

Some of them had dislocated shoulders or arms that looked painful. Their groaning made it more than evident.

I found myself walking over the worn but sturdy wooden planks of the drawbridge. I looked over the railings and saw my reflection onto the waters of the moat.

It was a natural river that winded down from the upper regions of the area, I could clearly see the fish still swimming through it. The fall was at least ten meters down before one would hit the flowing water.

My eyes found the gatehouse, it reminded me of the same gates from home. Every single moment of it was vivid in my head, the panicked people, angry knights of the Empire, and finally, the loud clamoring of the gates as we sped through.

My daydreaming was disturbed by recruits running towards the Bailey of the Fortress. I could hear them clearly as they sped through, group by group.

"The Princess of the Empire is inside!"

"I heard she had a face to die for!"

"Princess huh?" I thought.

As I passed through the gates, my feet were met by the muddy cobblestones that splashed with each of my steps. I found myself staring at a crowd in the middles of the Bailey. The commotion garnered recruits, knights, and anyone of the like.

I was a little bit curious about who this famous "Princess" was? so I inched a little bit into the crowd as I painfully tried to peer through. Eventually, I gave out since they all stuck to each other like glue, trying to please whoever was in the middle.

Especially with my horrible reputation, it was highly unlikely that I could get through the masses. I walked away from the crowd only to bump into a knight. His countenance had strewn into an indescribable expression.

This man was currently displeased with my very presence and I could feel it.

"What are you doing here you monster?!" This man shouted at me.

His displeasure garnered attention from the crowd, people with the same disposition against me voiced out.

"Stay away murderer!"

"Get the Princess away!"

"Are you trying to taint her too?"

"You sinful man!"

The jeering of the crowd was annoying so I ignore them, but even as I tried to walk away they kept me surrounded by their numbers.

"Let me through!" I struggled.

They were pushing me inside the man-made circle as they kept their contemptuous shouting. They all raged against me, I could see their individual eyes that carried deep hate.

No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't get out of the situation. I tried keeping a low profile and keeping to myself but I still somehow ended in this kind of scenario.

Soon, I fell onto the ground, what followed next was foul play as they threw dirt at me while some had spat or stomped at me. I couldn't stand up as their onslaught didn't end.

I could only curl into a ball while pitifully protecting myself from their petty attacks.

"Why? Why? Why? Why?"

I kept asking myself the same questions as I endured the pain. I was only passing through, was that how much they hated me? I clenched my fists out of mixed emotions.

I didn't know what to feel anymore. I saw their piercing eyes in between my fingers as I covered my face...

I hate those eyes, those cold piercing eyes that had no warmth. I had always been subjected to those eyes. I hated that I had to endure this kind of torture every other day.

I hated that I had to go through every day alone. I hated that this certain feeling inside me, a feeling that something was missing. I hated that I had to go through every day that I wanted to live.

"I hate everything," I muttered.

My hands felt warm at the touch of my face. What followed was a dim light that slightly lit against my eyes. I just wanted everything to be gone.

"What are you guys doing?!" Said a familiar feminine voice.

"Stop it!" She continued.

The shadows that towered against had dispersed, then I saw a singular shape through my hands. This person's interruption had taken me by surprise. The feeling within my hands had vanished along with the group.

"Knoxx are you alright?!" She asked.

I had still curled into a ball and not wanting to let through anything.

"Hey?!"

"Stay away!" I shouted while shooing her away with my arms.

"It's me! come on!" She said.

"I don't know you! stay away!" I shouted again as I pushed her with my eyes closed.

I just wanted to be alone. I didn't want to deal with anyone right now.

"Aw, aren't you glad to see me?" She said in a slightly disappointed tone.

I finally loosened my tensed eyelids and saw this familiar character.