Chapter 5: The Bargain

Sun has rosen and the cold night was broken by the sun. A man in a heavy armor got up from where he was resting through the night .

"I see them," he whispered, but the swordswoman he was speaking to was still asleep.

Dragon-Knight noticed her slumber and went to her side, saying, "Hey, wake up. They are here."

The swordswoman opened her eyes and stretched her arms. After realizing what she had heard, she asked, "Are you sure?"

"I'm pretty sure," Dragon-Knight replied, continuing to examine the carrier.

"Can you hear or smell them, Knight?" she asked sarcastically.

"Get up and stop fooling around," Dragon-Knight said.

The swordswoman chuckled and said, "Alright, grumpy. I'll bring out the red and blue. Wait here."

Dragon-Knight didn't respond. His eyes remained fixed on the carrier.

After a while, the swordswoman named Someone came to Dragon-Knight's side and touched his shoulder.

Dragon-Knight didn't sense her presence and was briefly startled by the touch.

"Hah! Got you," the swordswoman chuckled.

Dragon-Knight chuckled as well, saying, "I didn't expect you to be that quiet."

"Honey, I was raised by the most skilled warriors of our time. Of course, I can be quiet," replied the swordswoman who called herself "Someone."

"Yeah, I believe you. Anyway, let's go down there and wait," Dragon-Knight suggested.

As he moved toward the carrier, Someone called out to him.

"Hey, Mr. Beacon, you forgot something," Someone said.

Dragon-Knight turned to her and saw his sword in her hand.

"How did you get it?" he asked.

Someone chuckled, "I didn't get it. You forgot it." She took his sword to examine it.

Someone's laughter stopped. "Where did you get this? It belongs to Shier. How did you get it?" she asked angrily.

Dragon-Knight stayed calm and said, "Yes, it was made by the people of Shier, but it was given to Count Edward as a gift when your people declared independence."

"Oh, I didn't know that. I'm sorry," Someone said, calming down.

"Don't worry, I didn't know either until I had it," Dragon-Knight replied.

Someone handed the sword back to Dragon-Knight and asked, "So, are you a count or something?"

Dragon-Knight chuckled and said, "This sword is given with a title to the protector of Contasia by the Count. Since there is no count on the throne, it's mine until there's a new one."

"What is it made of? I've never seen a metal like that," she asked, intrigued by the sword.

"I'm no blacksmith," Dragon-Knight replied, pausing briefly to recall something. "Alright, I won't talk about it then,"

Someone said and continued walking towards the carrier.

"Sorry about that. I meant to say I'm no blacksmith, but I know what this metal is. It's called cobalt, and you can only mine it in Contasia," Dragon-Knight explained.

"Huh, interesting. Is it durable? It seems to weigh the same," Someone remarked.

"Actually, I don't know. It hasn't broken yet, so it could be durable," Dragon-Knight replied.

Someone climbed onto the carrier to ride the red and blue and asked, "So, what makes it so special?"

Dragon-Knight seemed hesitant to answer and simply said, "There's nothing special about it."and climed to back of the carrier.

Despite there is no clear clue she understand that there is something he does not want to talk about . "I am a blacksmith . Thats why I wanted to know what it is . "said Someone as she tries to change the subject.

"Oh really I didnt expect that from you." Said the Dragon-Knight

Someone chuckled and said " Why do you think that I am too weak to forge."

"I though that you are too young to forge ." said the dragon-knight.

Someone smiled at him and started to ride the carrier to the brothel.

They talked until they arrive to somewhere which is close and far enough from the rogues.

They waited for 10 to 20 minutes and after than they saw the boys that are taken by the rogues.

"Look the boys." Said Dragon-Knight.

"And the tears." Said Someone.

Dragon-Knight hold onto her shoulder amd said "Lets move."

"Alright stay in the back its daylight you shiny walking armor." Said Someone.

The race began, and the Rogues swiftly rode through the city streets, closely followed by the carrier carrying the boys. After a while, another carrier with a similar mark approached, followed by a second, third, and fifth one.

"There are so many, I can't keep track of the original one," Someone said anxiously.

"How many are there?" Dragon-Knight shouted over the noise of the streets.

"I don't know. I think I counted five," replied Someone.

"Are they still together?" asked Dragon-Knight.

"Yeah, they are... wait, oh no," Someone said with disappointment.

"What happened?" Dragon-Knight inquired.

"Three of them blocked the road. One turned left, and the other turned right," Someone explained.

"Damn it. Okay, get us somewhere safe before they spot us," Dragon-Knight said angrily.

"I'm sorry, Knight," Someone said with sadness.

"It's not your fault, don't worry. We will find them," Dragon-Knight reassured, trying to provide comfort.

Someone rode into an alley and hopped onto the back of the carrier.

"What the hell are we going to do now?" asked Someone.

"Alright, it's not over yet. I think I have an idea," Dragon-Knight declared.

Someone felt a glimmer of hope and eagerly asked, "Oh, really? What is it? Are we going to find them?"

Dragon-Knight hesitated for a moment but then revealed, "Before these boys, I was after The Family. A crime organization bound by blood. There's a guy named Slicky Jim who runs a casino for them. I was planning to take action against him, but these boys got in the way."

Someone asked, "So, do you think they will help us?"

"I don't think they'll willingly offer their help, but I believe we can force them to tell us where they are," Dragon-Knight replied.

Someone shook her head from left to right, implying her disagreement, and said, "Nah, I don't think you can force him to help us."

Dragon-Knight replied, "We have no other choice; we have to try."

Someone chuckled and confidently stated, "Hey, stop forgetting who I am. The people of Shier are with me. I think the family would be interested in doing us a favor."

Dragon-Knight grew furious and exclaimed, "You can't owe them. It's too dangerous."

"I understand that you want to keep me safe, but I live to fight. I am a swordswoman, not a delicate girl," Someone said assertively, climbing onto the carrier.

"I will visit this 'Slicky Jim,' whether you come with me or not," Someone declared.

Dragon-Knight took a deep breath and apologized, "Okay, I'm sorry. I'll come with you, but I will take action if something goes wrong."

"Good. Now, get on the back and show me that casino," Someone commanded.

Together, the Dragon-Knight and the Swordswoman known as Someone returned to the city to gather information about the rogues' hideout. The streets were crowded, and despite the daylight, crime was still rampant.

"Hey, I don't know if you've noticed, but this is my first time out of Shier. Why doesn't anyone do something about these thieves?" Someone asked as she rode the carrier toward Slicky Jim's casino.

"Somebody does," the Dragon-Knight responded simply.

Someone smiled and replied, "Yeah, somebody does."

The Dragon-Knight continued, "But one person is not enough."

"If there were more knights around?" Someone questioned.

The Dragon-Knight's voice grew serious as he explained, "Knighthood has fallen for a reason. It would only lead to more chaos."

"We are still here, and we didn't cause any chaos," Someone countered.

"I don't know much about your people, but I can see that Shier is taking a different path from the Knighthood," the Dragon-Knight remarked.

Someone felt annoyed by his comment and asked, "How so? We live to protect, just like the knights before us."

"You live and get paid to protect, and you only live to protect. Alright, we are here. See that big building? It's the casino," Dragon-Knight pointed out.

"I would love to keep disagreeing with you, but I need to talk to that Slicky bastard," Someone declared, attempting to leave the carrier.

Dragon-Knight held her arm and asked, "Wait, what are you going to do?"

"Well, I'll put on a smile and go inside. Now let me go, or I'll have to slash you," Someone joked.

"Alright, but remember, I'll be ready to attack," Dragon-Knight warned.

"Okay, okay, I understood the first time you said it. Bye now, I won't need your help, don't worry," Someone confidently replied, leaving the carrier.

Little did she know, "Slicky Jim" had earned that name for a reason. He was a violent man who would harm anyone who annoyed him and got away with every murder he committed. Joining the family was a golden ticket for him. Thanks to his new father, he could got away from anything he could imagine. Consequently, he grew more and more violent.

Someone approached the door and knocked. A girl with a black eye opened the door, causing Someone's sentence to be abruptly cut off as she noticed the girl's eye.

"Sorry, miss, we are closed," the girl said with a trembling voice.

"Look, I am here to talk to Slicky Jim," Someone stated firmly.

The girl felt terrified at the mention of that name and asked, "What's your business with the family?"

"I am here for the People of Shier," Someone replied, As she thought to herself this girl in front of her needed Someone to help her.

"Wait here," the girl said and closed the door. Five minutes later, a man with a large belly opened the door.

"So, swordswoman, come in. Oh, I gotta take your weapons," the man said.

"I only carry one sword, take it," Someone complied and handed her sword to the overweight man.

"Hah, an axe and a sword are all it takes," the man said with a huge and disgusting smile on his face.

"I don't have an axe," Someone whispered quietly. Her confidence faded away due to the cruelties she witnessed.

"You're really not from here, are you? Hah. Okay, go straight through that hole and turn left at the first corner," the man directed in a sinister manner.

Someone followed the directions and arrived in front of a door. Before knocking, she whispered, "I think I will need the help knight," hoping that he would hear her.

Someone got a hold onto herself and knocked strongly on the door.

A voice came from inside, "Oh, don't get up, Jimmy. I will take care of this."

The door opened, revealing a man who was quite handsome. He had a clean face and mismatched eyes—one yellow and one brown. His black hair had a distinctive red streak. He was dressed in a black shirt and stylish pants. In that attire and with his appearance, he was more beautiful than her.

"Come on in, swordswoman. Take a seat. We were just talking about Shier's women," the man said, laughing alongside the man whom Someone assumed to be Slicky Jim.

"Are you Slicky Jim?" Someone asked.

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. Who's asking?" the man who was sitting at the table responded. He was also dressed stylishly, but it didn't suit him as well as the man who had opened the door.

"I am a swordswoman of Shier. I am called Someone. I am here to talk..." Before she could finish her sentence, Slicky Jim laughed and interrupted her, saying, "Oh, fuck, what a stupid name. Hey, Daniel, just call me Slicky from now on."

The man named Daniel laughed and said, "Oh, shut up, Jimmy. Let's hear what she wants."

Jim's laughter turned into coughing, and he abruptly stopped. "What do you want, woman? Talk," Slicky Jim said gruffly.

Someone took a deep breath and said, "I am after the group called Rogues. I want information about their whereabouts."

"I don't know any rogues, so fuck off, woman," Jim replied, swinging his knife through the air.

"Oh, come on, Jimmy, tell her," said Daniel, trying to persuade him.

"Why do you want that, Danny? Are you gonna fuck her?" Slicky Jim retorted rudely.

"Jimmy, she's a swordswoman. Do it for your family," Daniel urged.

"Well, I will fuck her for the family," Slicky Jim sneered as he got up, ready to grab Someone's throat.

Suddenly, a scream was heard. Before it could even fade away, the door was crushed open by a powerful force.

"Get your hands off her!" the dragon-knight exclaimed, delivering a powerful punch that sent Slicky Jim crashing into the wall.

"You fucking bastard, you're dead, you hear me? Dead," Slicky Jim growled, struggling to get back up.

Jim screamed, "Guards!" But Daniel silenced him, holding him back, and said, "They will die, Jimmy. Let me save our asses."

Daniel stepped away from Jim's side, straightened his clothes, and said, "Sorry about that, miss. I am Daniel. What can I do for you?"

The dragon-knight was still breathing heavily and not in the mood for conversation, so Someone coughed and started to talk.

"Daniel, as I asked, I need information about the Rogues' hideout," Someone explained.

Daniel glanced at Slicky Jim and asked, "Jim, what do you know about it?"

Slicky Jim stood up and said, "I don't know anything. Take your whore and go, you beast."

The dragon-knight took a step towards Slicky Jim and said, "Listen to me, you worthless piece of shit. I will burn every table your family has ever sat at if you don't speak."

"Trust him when he says that, Jimmy. He will burn them for sure," Daniel interjected.

The dragon-knight turned his gaze to Daniel and examined him for a while. He didn't know him, but deep down, he felt something familiar.

"Why do you want them?" asked Slicky Jim as he started to become convinced.

"They are traitors, and they kidnapped some people," Someone calmly replied, though inside her, a raging hatred for Jim burned.

"I will tell you on one condition," said Slicky Jim.

Daniel knelt down to Jim's level, holding his face with his hands, and said, "Didn't you understand me, Jimmy? He is what your boys have been talking about."

Slicky Jim looked at Daniel and then shifted his gaze to the dragon-knight. He realized who he was up against and said, "Bring me that burnt asshole, Carl."

Daniel got up and shouted through the hole, "Carl!" he called.

A man entered the room, some of his hair not growing due to burn injuries. It was Carl.

As Carl came into the room, Someone, the swordswoman, took the dragon-knight's sword and pressed it against Carl's throat.

"Ash, how could you work for him? How could you do this to us, Ash?" Someone screamed, her voice filled with anger and pain.

The dragon-knight held her shoulder and said, "Don't do it."

Someone shrugged her shoulders and said, "Tell me where Dice is."

Carl, the man named Ash, pleaded, "Look, Someone, please lower your sword."

"Tell me, Ash!" Someone shouted, her voice filled with anger.

"They are at the northwest side, after the mountains, before the first Markem island. There is a cave hidden inside the forest near the coast. Please, Someone, let me go," Carl pleaded.

Someone sliced Carl's throat at the room and said "By the rights I got from the people of shier I sentence you to die."

Blood of Carl was now on Dragon-Knight's sword and Swordswoman's hands.

Someone handed the sword back to the dragon-knight, and as she did so, He noticed Daniel's eyes locked on the weapon.

"I believe your business is done here," said Daniel.

The dragon-knight took a step towards Daniel and asked, "Are you from the family?"

"I am an individual. Is your business done?" replied Daniel.

"Who are you then?" inquired the dragon-knight.

"I am a simple traveler. Who are you?" Daniel asked in return.

The dragon-knight couldn't find an answer and turned his back on Daniel to leave.

"I know what you are, Dragon-Knight," said Daniel. The dragon-knight paused for a moment, but then continued walking out of the building.