Aodhfionn

"Hey, Big Brother? Did you miss the monk over there because of how eyesore he is, and you didn't want to look at him? Otherwise, how can a worthless monk go to the inner city?" came a voice behind Ezio and Abbot.

Ezio could swear he could hear a pin drop if one threw at the moment. The surrounding around the gate to the inner city was quiet as it was. And when the voice behind said those words, all the voices present vanished. Ezio saw an indistinct smile forming on Abbot's face before it vanished without a trace.

"Kennedy, you garrulous idiot." The guard who previously nodded to Abbot spoke with a dark face, as he saw who was the newcomer.

"What is wrong, Big Brother?" Kennedy who just arrived started to understand something was amiss. Ajax, Chief Guard of the lower city, was his blood brother and doted on him since they were very small. This made Kennedy be spoiled and do reckless things in the city since he had the backing of his brother. But now his brother actually scolded him.

"Is something wrong with this monk?" he thought, but it was too late.

Ajax arrived before his brother and punched him in the face. Kennedy with a bloody mouth fell to the ground as a few of his teeth fell out. Ajax stepped on his brother and made him prostrate before the duo.

"Apologize now! Apologize to these esteemed guests or face your death," Ajax said sternly. By now Kennedy understood what he did, but he still could not wrap his head around it. If they were so important, how come they let me mock them previously. How could they abstain from paying the pitiful few coins for the entrance fee? And what would my brother do if he knew what I did to these two at the front gate?

"Ah, so it was Mr. Guard who mocked us at the gate of the city. I thought the voice was familiar." Ezio said with a mocking smile as he looked above the guard who was prostrating in front of him. "I almost didn't recognize you without all those "lowly monks, bald bastards, worthless scum of the society" words of yours." Ezio aggravated the situation as he understood what Abbot meant when he said 'A king would not crush bugs with his own hands.'

"You did what?" Ajax flared up as he stepped on his brother's arm harshly breaking the bone in his arm. "Apologize quickly or I will kill you myself," said Ajax as he ignored the pig screams of his brother.

What the hell is happening? This can't be happening.

"I—I am a blind fool. How can I not notice esteemed guests who honored me with their presence? This lowly dog is so ashamed of his actions, please punish me." Kennedy said with lots of hardship.

"Now, now. It is okay to make mistakes, what is important is having to repent for the wrong actions. If you think you are punished enough, you can rise, and you will be forgiven. No one can run from the judgment of the heart." Abbot said with an amicable smile. But what Ezio saw was the smile of the devil.

"I am—" before Kennedy could finish what he wanted to say, Ajax's foot on his back crushed more and made Kennedy's backbone squeak in pain.

"I am still long away from being forgiven. I will do my best to repent from my actions. Please accept my apology." Kennedy changed his initial sentence.

"Let's go," Abbot said and turned around.

A king would not crush bugs with his own hands. I saw the Abbot in new lights. Who could have thought this pristine man had this playful, manipulative side to him. I wonder when he started to plan all this. Did he notice this Kennedy guy is coming to the gate of the inner city as well? Or did he just leave it to fate?

After passing through the gate of the inner city, the Mana and the Qi in the air doubled to Ezio's surprise. The streets were cleaner and made of stone, unlike the mud roads in the outer city. The shops and houses were made of marbles and stones that were nice to look at. A towering palace could be seen on the other side of the city, looking over its turf. Ezio felt an aura coming from there, but he could not put his finger on it. Is this the feeling of a common man looking at a sovereign? I don't feel pressured at all. There is an aura trying to work its magic on me, but I don't feel anything at all.

After thirty more minutes of walking, Abbot stopped in front of a shop. Its name was "Aodhfionn's Smith". There was a strong man at the side of the shop working on the anvil. The man noticed something and turned around. When he saw the newcomers his eyes moistened but he held them back as he started to walk toward the duo.

"Old mukker. it's been damn too long," he said as his beard flailed. He was a strong man but was short. Shorter than Ezio, but his body was sturdy. His arms were as thick as Ezio's legs. He looked like he missed lots of leg days.

"Aodhfin, old friend. It's been too long alright. You look old now." Abbot said with a teasing tone.

"Ye damn bald. Hoow can ye say Ah am old? Ah am in mah sprin', Ah am still single ye know." Aodhfionn said with furrowed brows as his pace grew larger. He threw the heavy-looking hammer to the side, to Ezio's surprise it made the earth beneath them tremble. And finally, when he arrived in front of the Abbot, they bear-hugged.

"You're gonna make me jealous." Ezio sighed. True friendship ha? I never had this one I guess.

***

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