In the City’s Alleyways

As Henry walked the streets, he saw an unusual number of knights walking and patrolling the streets. "It's almost nightfall and there's no escort of royals or nobles, why are there so many knights?" He remarked.

"What's that you're carrying?" Knights carrying torches were conducting inspections amidst the citizens' complaints and grumbles. "Its just some food I'm bringing home for my family." "Let me see it." A knight walked over to Henry. "No need." An older knight came and the other one backed down. "Henry, right?" "Yes." He answered. "You once gave away an entire stock of food to us when we needed it." "Ah, I remember." Henry doesn't. "You can go through now." The knight answered. Henry held his basket but had his other hand in his pocket, he always brought along a silver dagger which Jura gave to him and treated it as a lucky charm.

"Why do we even need to conduct inspection anyway? Its not like we're crossing city borders or carrying precious goods?" Henry asked. "Harmful fugitives have been spotted and are currently on the loose." A knight replied. "On the loose? Isn't it your job to ensure that things like this don't happen?" Henry remarked. "That's enough, the inspections are done you can go." The older knight ordered. "It's been like this all day." 'Not my problem.' Henry remarked internally but suddenly had a realization.

He recalled pieces of the conversation that Metas' group underwent. 'I need to remember, that wasn't a dream.' He recalled their discussion, "escape." "Infiltrate." "On the run." He paused, then began walking faster. Walking then turned into running. "Not a dream, as real as everything else. If the supernatural reaches this place, its bad news." Henry remarked.

An explosion of an unusual color erupted in the streets. "Bandits! Bandits are attacking!" With shaky breath, Henry pulled out his dagger, as figures began to emerge from the smoke.

Earlier that day, Metas, Ellyn and Yuria reappeared back into the alley and they walked to emerge back into the streets. "It's noon already?" Ellyn exclaimed. "It seems like time flowed differently when we were there." Yuria remarked. "Let's go. We have plenty of time." Remarked Metas. As they peeked at the crowds of the city, they saw patrols of knights walking around and interrogating some of the townspeople. Glancing at the paper that was posted on some of the walls and being shown to the citizens Metas motioned for them to hide.

"Looks like they're out for us already." Metas whispered. "Luckily I've ditched my old armor. Huh. Who would've thought I'd be branded a deserter and fugitive after all the years I spent-""It doesn't look like they quite drew your face right, but they got your gray hair correct." Yuria remarked. "Why do you have gray hair?" Asked Ellyn. "Hrmph." Metas mustered a small smile. "I was born with it. Anyway, I think I could cover it up with a hood or a helmet. What's harder to cover up is that arm of yours and her hat." He then pointed to something and the two squinted as more posters highlighting her prosthetic, and Yuria's witch-like attire.

"Are you suggesting I put my arm away for a while?" Said Ellyn. "Maybe you could wear a really long glove." Yuria suggested. "Even if I did that, I can't exactly use my crossbow from behind a glove." "Well, I'm not putting this away. I don't even know where I would hide it. And I'm not exactly leaving it." Said Yuria clutching her hat. "In any case, we should do all we can to prevent us from being seen." Metas remarked. 'You guys stick out like a sore thumb.' "Ah!" "Don't... do that." Said Metas.

The group was collectively surprised. "For emergencies or important info only! You almost made us break our cover!" Metas quietly, but aggressively remarked. "Maybe we should throw these out if you're not going to be useful." Ellyn pulled out the orange crystal from her pocket. 'No! I'm sorry, I don't have any of those left!' The boy exclaimed. "Communicating by thoughts huh. Nifty." Remarked Yuria. "Let's get on with the plan." Metas exclaimed.

They looked at the street and around the area. "Looks like these guys go in groups, it's going to be difficult to get one alone." Ellyn stated. "Do we just slip one of these crystals in their pocket?" Yuria asked. 'Well, if they have one, I should be able to read them and get the information you need.' The boy remarked. "We need some kind of distraction." Metas answered. "I have an idea." Ellyn said as she picked up a nearby rock discarded on the ground. "Don't want to waste any ammo." She remarked.

Yuria looked on curiously, while Metas was more confused. The gears on her arm started turning and twisting and she bent it, primed to throw. The stone hurtled across the air, its path was below the view of the crowds and its speed made it seem like a fly simply buzzed by. She threw it to the small building next to them, impacting the glass window with a loud crash. "What was that?" "Over here!" The knights went toward the sound to investigate. "Hide!" Ellyn and Yuria crept into a nearby bush.

"Seems like there's nothing here. Search the area!" One knight stated as they looked inside the empty house and around the area. The other knights had some interest, but soon dispersed, leaving only a single knight investigating behind the building. Satisfied, he walked back to the streets but Metas then slipped the crystal into his pocket. "Hmm?" The knight turned around and saw nothing and walked away slightly perplexed.

'Stop.' The boy ordered. The knight then turned around and faced the wall and remained motionless. 'Knowest thou of two young knights, the names of which are Sethan and Asralyn.' "There are… too many knights. Don't know them all." He spoke quietly as if in a trance. 'Focus. Remember. Sethan, a captain, youngest of them.' "I remember… I heard of him." 'Where is he right now? Or where is he going?' "Don't know. But all knights are being summoned back urgently." 'Good. Forget this conversation and return to your comrades.' "Are you alright?" "Huh?" Another knight approached the knight who turned around from facing the wall. "Were you talking to someone?" "No, the heat must be getting to me." "Let's go. We still need to conduct more inspections elsewhere." The knight swung around as if he sensed something. "Is anything the matter?" "Not at all, let's get going." The two soon left whilst the group was still in hiding.

'So that's manipulating someone's mind. Scary.' Yuria remarked to the others using the thought transference. 'That's what they all say. I'm a little scared of it myself.' The boy answered. 'So, we don't even know if they're here and yet we're still going through with it?' Ellyn pondered. 'But to learn more information, we have to get closer or search through more knights.' Metas stated. 'It's all right. Besides, aren't they coming to the capital anyway?' Yuria asked. 'Well, that is true, but we might be too late. For the chaos that will erupt soon.' The boy gloomily remarked.

There was silence for a few moments. "Well, that was impressive, I almost forgot you had that thing and I was even a little shocked when you disappeared." Said Yuria. "This thing does come in handy." Said Metas after taking off the invisibility necklace. 'Hmm… A fetish that obscures the wearer from sight, a truly useful tool.' The boy stated curiously. "Let's keep moving." Said Metas, leading the way. They began to walk cautiously through the alleys, watching for the knights that occasionally peeked from the main street, and hiding accordingly. Shady "merchants" and riffraff were walking along the less-tread path as well but were scrambling from the knight's themselves and paid little heed to the group.

Don't stop to look at anyone, best not to draw any more attention.' Metas reminded Yuria who almost turned her head towards the suspicious figures walking by. 'Wait. I hear something.' Ellyn said as she listened to sounds from the path ahead. "You know what you're doing is warrant for punishment, is it not?" A group of knights were ahead past a corner questioning some of the back-alley folk. "But nobody's been taken in for this for a long time, its not like its some sort of serious crime. Go to every street corner there's people doing what we do, we're as honest as any other merchant, selling fine goods!" "Maybe if you know something about this, we'll let you off." The knights showed them the papers relating to Metas and the others.

'Tsk. These knights are as rotten as them.' Metas internally remarked. "You mean those posters around town, haven't seen anything- " "Wait, I think I've seen people around here that look like that!" "You did?" The other one was surprised by this. "Sure, you couldn't miss them." 'Maybe I should've hid it away after all...' Yuria remarked holding onto her hat. "Cultists kidnapping people right in the city and now traitors and witches are running loose? You guys should really be doing your jobs." "Right. Run along now, or we're actually going to do them this time." one of the knights exclaimed.

'They're coming this way.' Ellyn warned. 'Hide.' Metas immediately quickly looked around searching for any hiding place to take advantage of. "You know, you didn't have to threaten them like that. In my experience, there's nothing crooks like them would fold to like money, give them a little bribe. Playing nice plays well in the long run." Another knight remarked. "I agree with that sir, but is it not enough to ignore their crimes, we have to reward them for it?" "Listen, these guys aren't burning down villages, or ransacking towns. In fact, they're making use of those who don't have a place in society. You think those women would have anything to eat or drink without their pay?" "I… Understand." The younger knight said with gritted teeth.

"Good. If we keep focusing on these small-timers, we won't have any time left to bring down the real evildoers like bandits or these upstarts running loose in the city." The younger knight noticed something peculiar, a large stone seemed to be wedged in the middle of an alleyway. "Enlon, is something the matter?" The older knight asked. "No. Let's go." As they passed, the group breathed a collective sigh of relief as the knights went out of sight. The stone blockade created by Yuria using the chalice crumbled as they slowly crept out of the cramped alley which they hid in.

Metas peeked out and glanced at the direction where the knights went in, but they had already been out of sight. As Ellyn dusted herself off she remarked: "Was that the only way we could hide from them?" "I was wondering too, but it seemed like the best way at the time. What about the relic, wouldn't it help in hiding?" Said Yuria. "It seems like this thing only masks the wearer's presence. I don't think it would work well under a close watchful eye." Metas switched his gaze from the pendant to the other two. "But we can certainly try." While Metas wore the pendant, Yuria and Ellyn held with one of their hands. "Woah. I can still see her." Said Ellyn. "And her as well." Said Yuria. "But we can't see you." Ellyn remarked. "Yep." Metas then took off the pendant and put it in his pocket, with a bead of sweat rolling down his face.

They then continued walking cautiously down the alley corridor, Metas recalled a portion of their plan that they discussed earlier. 'If the entire knights' company have mobilized a force, there's a few of them we should watch out for. The unnamed, black-cloaked order of knights are dangerous enough each of them, but there's those that stick out even among them. They're often called shadows, but often in hushed whispers and gossip by the people. In the recent wars that the kingdom's been having, since most of the major force was sent out, these knights were the main powers here that were responsible for "keeping order". They've been prowling for some time. There's Endro, he wields a relic he's mastered after years of training. He doesn't wear any unique armor and does not flaunt his rank or status, and so blends in with the others, differing only in the relic he wields, a compact golden cube which can turn into a metallic spiderweb, he can capture or disarm most enemies with ease, he's to be avoided and not to be confronted one on one. Alroc, unlike Endro who was a part of the order before, was a noble who asked to join.'

'Wait, is that even allowed?' asked Ellyn. 'The royalty and by extension aristocracy, have control of the "knights" exclusively and he's proven very well in executing missions. Although, those that questioned him or frequently butted heads with him all mysteriously died.' Said Metas. 'So, a rich guy buys his way into a secret group of knights just to kill people, got it.' Said Yuria as she chewed on a piece of chicken. 'I always knew nobles had a thing for hunting although it seems this one's more deranged. They hunt for the sake of killing and bring back trophies instead of meat for food.' Ellyn remarked, whilst filling a bottle with liquid and stuffing a rag on its opening. 'What are you making?' Yuria curiously asked. 'Since we ran out of that powder, I thought it would be useful if I made some things we can ignite or throw; and there doesn't seem to be any gunpowder left here. Figuring how stuff works and how to use them, something I picked up from the old man.'

'In the knight's underground order, it's imperative that all its members obey all orders by the exact detail and anything less is bound to punishment or execution. Alroc arguably follows this more than any of the others and makes him deadly as he is secretive.' 'I'm... Sorry.' Yuria suddenly apologized. 'Hmm?' Metas was surprised by Yuria's statement. 'It's because of me that they're hunting you down and now your family is in danger as well.' Said Yuria. 'It's alright, it's already passed. Besides, I'm just dragging you along with me and putting you in risk, it was because of me that Felkin-' 'Its fine. Its like you said, it passed.' Ellyn interrupted Metas. 'Besides, you should apologize to me too. If it wasn't for you guys, I'd be at home spending time with my old man right now.' She said with a smile and meant it in jest, but it appeared to have affected both Metas and Yuria.

In the present, Metas once again addressed Ellyn and Yuria. "Again, I'm sorry. I realize now if you want, you two can leave, its my fight after all." "Hmph. We're would I even go except with you guys?" Wondered Yuria. "Its fine, lets just move." Said Ellyn dismissively. Metas led them as they walked and gripped tightly on his spear. Above them standing on the rooftops was a watchful figure, hidden in the shadows. "I see. More prey has made their way into my hunt." Metas felt someone staring at his direction and quickly peeked at the rooftops above but looked away when he saw nothing.

They walked through the vast interconnected passageways that made up the in-betweens of the city, the walls were damp and the ground was muddy and dirty. The boy instructed them still as they made their way through the maze-like paths of the area. 'Turn left here.' 'I never knew that this place was so vast, nor the extent of the dealings that happen here. If we didn't have you as a guide, I'd be forced to go back out to the streets instead of walking in circles here.' Metas remarked in his thoughts. 'Don't mention it. Even though this place is really gross, Its best if you want to slip past and move through the city undetected. This place, after all these years never changes, the spirits don't seem to care outside of their own matters, and could I even change anything?' 'From the little distant villages out there, to even here, it seems like it's the same…' Metas thought. He momentarily let go of the clutched crystal in his pocket to think and remark with himself his own thoughts.

They kept walking and followed directions. Ellyn walked, not being distracted with her thoughts or the happenings around her and focused on their plan and the goal. Yuria was familiar with the various everyday dealings of thieves and the sufferings of those with poor fortune but could not help but peek or glance at the unfortunate souls who were scrounging for scraps or begging for food and lay across the side of their path. With each person they passed he thought: 'I need to keep moving forward, I can't help all of them, I never have. If we delay any longer, we're putting more than ourselves in danger.' He reminded himself this as he trudged through the streets.

A small child, dressed in rags, buzzing with flies, and covered with dirt came up to Metas tapped him in the leg and looked up at him expectantly. He stood tall over the fleeting figure and began the motion of reaching into a small pack he carried to give a coin or some supply but stopped himself, looking around at the other denizens of the area who stared at him intently. "Get back here! Hey!" Some men had brought along chains and sticks and called for the child that seemingly slipped their grasp. One of them came forward and dragged it along the ground but the child seemed not to care and had its gaze transfixed at Metas, who might have seemed like a tower to him. The child suddenly anchored itself and refused to budge and one of the captors swatted him with their wooden stick that was akin to a small club.

"Stop!" Yuria yelled out, one hand already in her pack but instantly felt regret and looked back at the other two nervously. "Hey missy, better keep your hands of our merchandise if you don't want to get hurt." One of them reached for a knife at their waist as they grinned and snickered among themselves. "Unless you are willing to give some coin?" One of the men exclaimed. 'You guys can deal with this however you want.' The boy remarked. The moment one of them stepped forward, one of Ellyn's bolts struck his shoulder. "We have a tendency to get into trouble at every step of the way." "Look at her arm!" And "She shot him." Murmurs of words erupted from the folk who retreated but still watched the conflict.

The men taken aback, stood still and watched as one of them lay on the floor and cried in pain. "Get them!" One of them shouted and they all ran at them with knives or wooden sticks brandished in hand. In an instant Metas smacked one in the chin with the blunt end of his spear, knocking him out and with a continuous motion he snapped his fingers and sent out a small spark of flame, igniting the shirt of one of the men leaving him running away screaming. 'I've barely done anything that I can call myself a Knight, at least I can do this.' Metas thought. "He's got fire magic?" "I don't want any part of this!" The remaining ones ran as Ellyn pointed her arm in their direction as they ran in fear.

"Thanks, everyone." Metas looked back but the poor folks were already hidden away due to the conflict. As he turned around the men who were running into the distance, they were struck down. "Wha?!" Metas pulled out his spear, as knives made their way into the flesh of the two nearby them as well. "Get behind me!" He exclaimed. Yuria grabbed the child and stood behind Metas, and Ellyn scanned the area, aiming her arm at all directions. "Who's there?" Metas asked. "You did the right thing putting those evildoers in their place. How sloppy not finishing the job." A figure clad in black cloak stood atop the roofs, their clothes almost encompassing their body, like a curtain draped over a formless figure. He also wore a unique beaked mask, which was immediately familiar to Metas.

"You!" Metas remarked. "You recognize me? I see, I recognize you. You're the boy they've all been clamoring about." "Alroc." Metas readied himself. Ellyn and Yuria looked back at Metas and then back at the man quickly and with a nervous expression.