Either Way

West Rising, the name of a town somewhere at the east of Eastern Horizon City. It is a harbor town connected to the Rising Sea, one of the largest inland seas in the kingdom.

Further south of the city was the path to the Monarch Pass, and furthermore was still the enormous Monarch Forest. The said pass was between the southern shores of the Rising Sea and northern part of the mentioned forest.

For clarification, when Edwin was travelling back and forth near the Monarch Forest back to the Horizon Mountain during his endurance training, the part of the forest that he always saw was the northwest point of the said forest.

A young man wearing a somewhat old gray longsleeves tailcoat and a merchant's hat walked out of a ship booking facility. He kept the two tickets he was holding in the pockets of his clothes and left the pier.

Even if winter has already ended a few days ago, he still saw some piles of snow on the way.

Later, he went to a hotel then went up to a certain floor and knocked on a door.

"Come in.", a voice came from inside the room.

He entered the room and saw Edwin, keeping something inside a drawer. The boy was wearing the same type of clothes as the man, but in color green.

"Oh it's just you, Allen.", Edwin said. After Allen closed the door, Edwin pulled out two sheated daggers from the drawer.

"Those are not the daggers I gave you, are they?", Allen asked.

"No, I got them in the Monarch Forest.", Edwin truthfully replied.

"Mhm, if they are magical, do not always rely on them.", Allen added. He took out the a ticket and placed it on the top of the table.

"Your ticket. Do not lose it. We will leave by tomorrow dawn.", Allen said.

"Alright, thank you.", Edwin immediately got hold of it and hid it in the pockets of his pants.

As Allen was about to step out of the room, Edwin requested, "Can we eat in an inn tonight? I want to taste the delicacies here."

Allen turned back around and questioned, "Do you have any money on you?"

"Uhh..."

"I will be the one paying.", Allen said.

"Thank you! I promise, it won't be expensive.", Edwin earnestly replied.

...

Several hours passed and night replaced day. The town was like the Eastern Horizon City, albeit its streets were narrower and obviously, the population was lower.

Due to it being an important location for goods to arrive from the other side of the sea, the presence of guards in this town was noticeable; specially at key areas such as the harbor, market, etc.

In the business district of the town, Allen and Edwin were looking around for food stalls and restaurants.

"Whoa, is that a sausage on a stick?", Edwin sniffed the air and approached a crowded food stall.

"Hello boy, do you want some sausages? It's mostly stuffed with crab meat and a few other seafoods.", the vendor introduced. 

The aroma coming from the cooking sausages assaulted Edwin like an army of bowmen shooting a wave of arrows upon their enemies.

"I think I will buy...", before Edwin could finish his sentence, he was instanly dragged away by Allen by his collar.

"Huh? It is just a sausage, there is nothing wrong with it, and I think it's not that expensive.", Edwin complained as Allen stopped dragging him.

"The reason why it smells so great is because of an addictive herb. Combining seafoods inside a wrapper won't smell that alluring.", Allen said.

"Is the herb magical?", Edwin asked.

"No."

"Then why did you drag me away if it's not something dangerous? I know my limits already, it's not like it can hurt me."

"Even if doesn't have any magical properties, it can still be addictive to you who doesn't even know it in the start. Do not underestimate a plant even if it doesn't contain internal energy nor mana.", Allen sternly said.

"Hais, alright, you're the expert.", Edwin sighed and gave up the arguement.

The both of them kept searching and searching for a restaurant until they stopped to a large building with three floors. The exterior walls of the establishment was neatly decorated with wooden engravings, enhancing the already fancy stained glass windows.

"This one seems too expensive.", Edwin commented as he saw the design of the restaurant.

However, Allen entered the shop which prompted Edwin to follow him.

Inside, the walls were painted pearly white with short lines of gold on them. The carvings on the wooden chairs and tables seemed so shiny and intricate that it looked brand-new. Even the candles used for lighting up the whole place emitted a relaxing smell.

There were a lot of people eating in the first floor, even so, the restaurant was by no means to be of poor standards.

"Excuse me, what can I do for the both of you?", a waiter dressed in clean clothes draw near Allen and Edwin.

"I want a table for two on the top floor. Is there a free space?", Allen inquired.

"I'm sorry, the top floor is only for...", the waiter cut his sentence midway when Allen stuffed in a gold coin in his pocket.

"Oh, if you won't mind, follow me sirs.", the waiter said with a more respectful tone this time around and guided the two to the third floor.

Compared to the first and second floor, there were only a very few people in the third floor. In addition, everything in here were fancier and more elegant; with the lighting in the room being used here was a glowstone lamp on the ceiling just like in Allen's bedroom back at Eastern Horizon City.

When the two of them sat down on a spot by a window, the waiter asked, "What do the both of you like to eat?"

"Everything that this floor offers.", Allen replied then gave the waiter ten more gold coins. "Keep the change."

After that, the waiter hurriedly went away to the kitchen.

Allen gazed at the stunned Edwin and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I only wanted to eat in an inn for tonight. I can accept eating in a restaurant too, but not this kind of a luxurious one.", Edwin embarassedly answered.

"Don't be ashamed. If you have money, spend it, you will never know when you will die. A person, whether rich or poor won't be able to spend all his gold if he is dead.", Allen looked out the window and saw the lights of the town.

He then closed his eyes and snored quietly.

...

Very fast asleep, he saw a cornered child on a wall who was being beaten up by a baton by somebody older than him. The kid's nose was bleeding and bruises started to appear as he get hit by the baton overtime.

"I will get more coins next time, father! I will get more coins! I promise will get more coins!", the kid cried out as he tried to cover his face with his arm.

"Damn it! I told you to work harder! This wouldn't have happen to you if you worked harder!", the older person shouted at the kid and continued attacking him with the bat.

Meanwhile, another cries of a younger child could be heard by the bottom of the stairs.

Then the baton held by the man was thrown over to the younger one, almost hitting him!

However, although it didn't hit the child, it made him go quiet and just stared with contempt on the man. A stare of hatred supposedly couldn't be seen from children like him.

"Please stop! I'll work harder next time! I'll work harder! I'll work harder!", tears flowed down and the older kid sobbed heavily.

...

"Hey, Allen.", Edwin called out.

Allen opened his eyes and asked, "What is it?"

"The food's already here.", Edwin pointed down at the table full of delicacies. "Also, the waiter said this is just the first batch."

"Good service.", Allen grabbed hold of the provided utensils and started eating with Edwin.

"Not really, I think almost half an hour has passed." Edwin commented then he inwardly said, 'Whew, what was he muttering all about? It sounds like 'I'll work harder'.'

Later, up until the last food was eaten, Allen asked, "I've been wondering, how old are you?"

"I think I'm already 16. I don't know the exact date of my birth, but I'm sure about my age.", Edwin answered.

"How come you know how to write?" He asked again.

It wasn't a problem for a citizen of the kingdom on how to have the most basic reading skills, but it was another thing for writing, as education wasn't cheap.

"My grandpa taught me. He does some paperwork in the house back at the days." Edwin replied.

A few seconds passed and Allen questioned once again, "What will you do when you already took care of that person who killed your father?"

"I... have no idea.", Edwin shrugged and pondered orally. "I will probably come with you then. It will maybe be so boring after I do that."

...

Some time later, the both of them left the restaurant and went back to the hotel towards their rooms.

On his bed, Allen placed both of his hands at the back of his head and an unconscious thought of something struck him while looking at the ceiling, then he lifted a hand up and examined with his one eye a coin made of stone between his index finger and thumb.

"Those kinds of dreams are coming again." Allen said, "Aftereffects of consuming a Soul Shard."