Port of Blackpool

It was almost lunchtime when Eryth and I left the Adventurers Guild. And my mind still lingered on his question: Where would that bottom line you speak of be for those you love? It was silly of me not to answer, but somehow I couldn't.

I wanted to scream anything for my family… but could I kill a child? An infant? I hadn't even killed a person before! And yet I'm expected to slaughter another who couldn't defend themselves.

This very line of thought made me want to puke. It was disgusting.

Following the dark cloak of Eryth through the streets, I stared at his broad shoulders, unable to imagine the amount of suffering he went through. Both wife and Father died the very same day.

"Eryth," I said to the silent man, maneuvering through the streets effortlessly, his face covered by a thick furry coat.

"What is it?"

"What of your Mother is she—"

"Alive? Yes, the harlot lives," he replied most unexpectedly. "Come look here." he pointed along the elegant cobblestone towards a massive port far as the eye could see with a field with ships docked and various creatures boarding and onboarding. "All this belongs to me, as per my father's will."

Shadows suddenly covered me as I looked up into the skies peering at the scaley beast whipping through the clouds at horrid speeds that would make any plane or helicopter seem like a snail. They held an almost reptilian shape, with black scales, the size of humans, and eyes of pearly yellow, and upon this monstrous creature stood a lone man, riding it as though it were a horse.

"Wyvern Riders guards sent by the council to regulator crime, and so on. By my authority with enough evidence and my consent, they have the right to open any cargo I deem unsafe."

My eyes glowed as I peered at the large ports and warehouses stretching for miles. The air was salty, and yet as the light struck the surface of the water, it gave of fascinating glint that made everything seem like a dream.

The water was a rich azure blue. Everything seemed new and maintained. At the same time, dozens of ships on the surface of the water or sailing through the air seemed to dock one after another.

It was enthralling.

"To own all this, your Father must have been a big shot! Do you really own one hundred percent?"

"I do." Eryth replied rather pridefully, " The Lysander legacy resides in this one place."

Lysander? Is that his surname? Eryth Lysander.

"YO! ERYTH!!!!"

I was startled by the booming voice that shook the winds. I looked up as a man suddenly leaped off a wyvern about a mile into the air.

My heart practically leaped out of my chest, and I lept back as he came crashing into the earth, cracking the cobblestone beneath his feet. The giant of a man, who towered over me with muscles larger than my head, crackled with laughter, 'it's been a month! What brings you here? And where are your guards? Your death will put me out of work!"

"Good to know where your priorities lie," Eryth fearlessly said, tone still and without trepidation. " Izalith, this is the captain of my Wyvern Riders. A Felrien Giant. Sir Eono Grif"

"Hi!" I shouted, unsure if he could hear me. Gods, he was so tall! His fingers look bigger than my entire body!

Eono snickered. "First time seeing a Felrien?" I nodded, memorized by his greyish skin, alongside the tribal markings along his skin. "Well, I'm one of the short ones—true Giants aren't allowed in Blackpool."

"But aren't you—"

"He's a Felrien Giant, meaning one of his parents isn't of the same species as the other. So in human terms, Eono is a half-blood. Half-blood Giants are called Felrien Giants." Said Eryth and Eono nodded in agreement. "So? What's up, Eono? Surely you didn't jump down here and destroy part of my cobblestone for no reason."

"Your mother is here with her new boy toy. Just giving you a heads-up. I've already notified Zeff, just in case they try something." He said, and Eryth sighed.

"Good looking out; I'll deal with it."

"You'd better. I'm close to a promotion. And your word will go a long way!" He shouted and leaped a few miles into the air in a single bound, landing upon a wyvern who roared.

Could I jump that high? I wonder what his stats are!

This world is so cool!

"Come along, Izalith. If you want to know how fucked up this world is. Meeting my mother will just about do it." He said, in a bitter sigh, " I wonder how many are dead. Fuck."

Why do I feel I'm about to get mixed up in some family drama?

"I'm not really one for meeting people." I hesitantly said, swinging my eyes away from his—the moment he paused to look at me.

I hated people! Gods. I swear I only do it when I have to! Talking to people can be so god damn annoying. Ninety percent of the time, I don't even want to talk to my parents. It's exhausting. Strangers are even worse.

Hearing nothing for a while, I peeped and stared at Earth, giving me a death stare, and my strength left me.

"What does that mean?"

"Umm, I-I I don't like talking? I guess." I said, unsure how to explain.

"Your talking to me." He pointed out.

And it's killing me.

"I can see that. Umm, how many people will be there?" I weakly asked, feeling the life drain from my body.

I can't grasp how people find talking to strangers enjoyable. It's weird. Still silence; that's my comfort zone. A cup of tea, a book, and the empty silence, what more can people want? God, I loved Covid. Death aside, it was so peaceful.

"Ten, maybe twenty, I don't know. Why are you asking? You didn't seem to have a problem on the street." He stated, and I nodded, unsure what had gotten into me.

"No one spoke to me, and I was in a new place. It's different. " I exhaled, sighed, groaned, pouted, and finally slapped my cheeks, "I got this! Bring it!"

"...Are you ok?" He genuinely asked, with the most sincere expression, going as far as to place his hand over my forehead. "You sick?"

Cheeks burnings, I took a few steps back, " No touchy. It's weird."

"If anyone is weird, it's you. Let's go, and get your mind straight. Mother is a hawk at sniffing out weakness." Passing me by without a second look, I felt myself once more in a position I'd rather not be within.

"Hey, Lily, can you show me what I got?" I finally said, following behind Eryth.

"So now you remember me? You cut me, deep woman! I am your system! How could you ignore me?" The System representative cried, giving me more than just a headache.

"Just show it to me," I pleaded. "just show me what I got from the system."

[Ding]