100 A Meeting With Liam [I]

The night came and the egg still hasn't hatched. Ethan was still with me in the room. He was peeking outside through the window.

"Ethan, you're comin' with me?" I asked him. I was preparing to meet Liam.

"Nope. I have something to do tonight. You might wanna tell me whatever he tells you. I don't think he's gonna harm you anyway so you'll probably be safe," he said.

"If you say so."

Trying to be as casual as possible, I didn't wear my suit. Instead, I wore a plain shirt and pants. We'll be meeting at the Hankala Inn.

"I'll go," I told Ethan before I went out of the room.

On my way down the stairs, I met Mr. Gab, the landlord of this apartment.

"Where are you going late at night?" he asked me.

"It's not that late yet."

"It's already nine, mister."

"I'll be meeting with a friend. I'll be back before you know it."

I heard him say something behind my back but I paid him no mind and went on my way. I bet he was just being nosy as usual.

The bells tinkled as I pushed the door open. For some reason, the memory of that man burnt to death at the plaza resurfaced in my mind. The night when we arrived here, he was partying his heart out. And the morning we checked out, he was displayed at the plaza, accused of being a sorcerer.

I wonder. Will that be my faith too the moment they find out who I really am?

No, Sean. Stop thinking about that.

I pushed those unpleasant thoughts to the back of my head and proceeded to the front desk. Unlike the first time I came here, there were only three people. A woman and two men having dinner.

"Hello, mister. How may I help you?" asked the young man with tawny hair at the front desk.

"A room for one, please."

"How long will you be staying?"

"Around three hours maybe."

"I see. A meal service?"

"No, thank you."

"Okay. Wait for a bit," he said before writing something on his record book. "A room for one. Staying for three hours only. It's currently nine-thirty, mister. Are you sure you'll only be staying for three hours?"

"Yes."

"Okay. No meal service so that will be 8 dimi."

He made me fill in some information on a piece of paper he's given me after I handed him my payment. He gave me the key to my room after I finished.

"Is anything wrong, mister?"

"Nothing." I was just surprised to have the same room the last time I came here. That's all.

Finding the door with a large 301 written on it, I took a deep breath before pushing it open. There's no one inside. I don't even know why expected to see someone else inside. That's just stupid.

I sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the door, and basically did nothing else.

"Now what?"

Liam told me to just rent a room in this inn and he'll come. But how's he gonna do that if he doesn't know which room I'm in? Whatever. Knowing that he's a peculiar, he'll probably do something that defies all reason and logic.

Probably around two minutes later, I heard three brisk knocks. That's probably him. I opened the door and wasn't surprised to actually see him standing outside. He didn't wait for my permission and sauntered into the room and told me to lock the door.

"So what is it you wanted to tell me?" I asked him.

"I'll get straight to the point, Mr. Jack. You're a peculiar now, aren't you?"

"Uhm… yes. I think so."

"I won't ask what your peculiarity is. I'm hoping you do the same," he said as he pulled the chair going to the bed and sat on it. For some reason. He reminded me of Ethan when we first met. "I supposed you already know what will happen the moment the people find out what you are."

"Yes, I know."

"Then this will be quick. Let me introduce myself again. I'm Liam, the warden of all peculiars in Sratol. If ever you find yourself in trouble, you can find me but I suggest not getting into trouble in the first place."

"A warden?"

"Yes. And as a warden, it is my duty to look after your safety and to ensure you follow the rules we have as a peculiar. D'you know what those rules are?"

"No. I only became a peculiar last night."

"First, you are not allowed to expose you're a peculiar and how you became one. Exposing yourself might bring trouble to other peculiars. Second, there's a warden like me assigned to every area of the world. We're very territorial so do not go into their territory without notice. Any unmonitored peculiar will be considered a violator with or without any knowledge of it. And lastly, fulfill the promise you made in exchange for your peculiarity."

When Liam said that, I felt a tug in my chest.