NEW HORIZON (PART 2)

 

The door made a quirky creak as Erici slowly opened it. She was immediately greeted with hostile glints, as if being united with a enemy and yet. I couldn’t understand why these bunch of bakers would have an enemity with her. The cakes and pastries showcased looked perfect as if casted from clay. I wondered tasting this creamy heaven in my mouth and the rich and hot smell of the oven, the natural flavor of such a place was better air freshner than the most expensive eau de cologne. It straight up looked like a set up as in an imperial kitchen.
  Erici went to the man sitting besides the cashier. He was unlike the others, having a dubious look on his face. He gave a crooked smile when Erici confronted him, wearing a blood stained apron; the man raked of gut and flesh. He was a big person, having half of his face painted with some sort of yellowish fluid. His gray hair drenched in wax, he had set them in a very swanky manner. She tossed something that appeared to be a silver coin which he catched mid-air with his index and middle finger of his left air. “….So you are the one. Let’s see how this ends, Erici.”, the giant groaned.

One of the workers there opened a door to the basement, that was initially locked when we arrived. As soon as we entered he closed the door behind us, Erici walked downstairs without a sweat of hesitation and I was being a scared rabbit or a rat. Having come down we were blessed with an abomination of an entrance. Instead we found our selves in the back alley of some weird dark and charred town. My feet felt a mush, I looked beneath it to find dead black and wet moss. The sky had an a vivid range of grey clouds. It was very cold and the damp in the surrounding, and my flummoxed face was having a hard time dealing with it.
  “…..Oh my god, Erici! Where am I ?”, Where was I exactly? This place was the complete antonym of where we just were. The people wore clothes of it seemed as of very coarse fabric yet some seemed to wear very extragavant clothes; lets say they dressed as nobles but do not recognize these place as anywhere on earth. There movements for some reason seem rather inhuman. The shops, stalls, taverns, inns that I saw when I peaked outside on the street were straight out of a medivial-steampunk game but very much detailed. Although I was hyper consious of my new surroundings, it wasn’t like I was getting a dicey feeling out of this.
  “Dgereszik, and don’t wander around you’ll sully yourself in that Analoum trash.”, Erici arrogantly spoke. This was the first time I saw her in such a mood. Sure, she would sometimes warn or bashed me but she did it not in anger but in care and affection. Truly, a sister I never had but this was different and it troubled me so I asked her what was wrong.
  “You see their movements and mannerisms are simply not human?”.
 

  “Yeah but maybe because we are in a different culture”.

  “There not humans.” What did she mean they were not human. They looked alright to me, they were backward but that doesn’t mean they are ripped of their status as human.
  “But Erici, they look human enough to me.”
  “Let me sprinkle this in your eyes”, she took out an anonymous eye drop. It was kind of the plastic bottle you’d find at an optical medical considering I am using the correct term. She then proceeded to put a drop of it in either of my eyes. Suddenly I could see a change in their physique. There were tails, animalistic ears of all sorts. I could not understand where they came from all of sudden-
  “Let’s quickly run our errands and get going. I’ll tell about this at home.”, she sighed in hurry. We entered in the door infront of us, in this back alley. It’s door pane was smudged with dust and dirty snow  and the frame had marks of swords and axes on it. When I tried to push it, I noticed that the door was jammed. Erici ordered me to slam the door. And with that, I mustered all the force and so I rammed my body in the door. It worked! The door was opened but I crashed into the table in the room. My head bumped into a handle onlybe ricocheted into my collar bone.
  “Once again coming from the back door, eh, Frederyck”, a guy around my age or maybe elder came in from another entrance. He was tall and handsome, his physique roughly was as like me but muscular. He was the type who would bathe in girls but never bothered getting involved, the type envied and ridiculed behind his back. He wore a leather apron same as like the man from the cake shop, black hair shiny and his yellow eyes glimmed with calm and zenith.
  “Well you see, I don’t want my trouble my senses with subhuman garbage. Coming to these place in the first place fills my body with great bloodlust. So by avoiding them, I am extending their lifeline. And-” But then, this guy interrupted
  “Okay, okay I get you. Now quit giving the same explanation as last time.” I watched her in amusement as she was being casually discriminating. I don’t know the social heirarchy in this world but…
  “He the man behind the faction split and your rebellion”, he glared at me. His calm eyes showeed traces of hatred against me. Erici nodded in agreement as to ignore as unneccessary argument.
  “Thomas here, is clueless to everything I am here for doing. He is flabbergasted at this heretic sorcery…. Basically I am telling that he is harmless”.

“Harmless?..... for now at least”.

His words. I didn’t understand why he was being a jerk. At least Erici looked like she was acing her real casual self; guess she likes him. Not that it was surprsing but he looked happy too, when replying to her so I tried to stir up some conversation.
   “Is he your boyfriend, Master”, I tossed the coin of curiosity in a still lake. I wanted to see a flustered Erici but unfortunately I was enveloped by even more hostile glare from this guy.
   “I could have been but unfortunately certain someone is her centre of universe.”, he had a deep scowl on his face, as if he appied more pressure, his skin would tore of his forehead. This had started to piss me of as well. He was being straight up asshole at this point, maybe I would even adhere him but at least give me a fair reason.
  “I told you my answer before Centauras. This is my decision.”

  “So hear this as well. I won’t let you waste your life and yout on this abomination”.  I remained silent as Erici stayed neutral. She didn’t was a commotion right now. As an extremely straight person she likes to complete swiftly without even a trace.

 “Hey Erici, looks like this chic’s on period.”, I mocked him wholehearted. His behaviour was admoniable. I was first all a guest, and second he treated me as garbage and even started hurting Erici. She didn’t say it but I know, her heart is more fragile than her tough-guy persona. Centaurus didn’t take one bit of it. He was so heated up, veins surfaced on his clenched fist. I knew what was coming for me and wouldn’t be able to dodge it without any damage. And then –bash- he punched me in my ear. knocking me out instantly. He must have anticipated that I was far stronger than I actually was, thus explaining the power in his hands. I instantly hit the ground, laying unconsious.
 “Now you have done it Justin. I said he was harmless.”, the puncher got consious of his egregious and uncouth act. But he was still somewhat satisfied with his result. He digustingly washed his hands as if he had touched trash. This was beyond excusable even for te calm Erici.
 “It seems you have lost your sense of differenciating between human and filth living among them. ” Erici sighed.
 “I didn’t think the Marnagnle would be so weak”. He spoke while he took out a two shopping bags out of the cabinet. Tey were different from the ones back home. They were intricately decorated cloth bas rather than paper.
 “You are naïve Frederyck. Your foolish decision had broke the organisation into multiple factions. I only sided wit the neutrals because of you. The executionists had started making plans to kill it before its too late, your own life is in danger as well”. He was really concerned about his dear friend who had strayed from tue victory according to him.
 “I am the being a child here? They are. Believing in some godforsaken legend to kill poor Thomas. Besides according to the original story, a Marnagnle has to be very strong and intelligent so as for a successful ritual. He is some what cunning but he isn’t someone I can categorise as strong.”
   Centauras gave a wry smile, as he handed over the goods. He had understood, intimidating her was not an option

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW HORIZON (VOLUME 1 CHAPTER 3 PART1)

 

A month has passed since Fred started living with me. The winter is growing milder and milder with each passing day, to a give warmth to every life in this world. The frozen lakes and ponds, the ice is slowly breaking and thinning out so I feel excited to see the nostalgic sight I was always fond of. I can see the end of my dark ages, finally. Thanks to this random stranger, I can see the ray of hope once again.
  She doesn’t talk much about herself, and her attitude has also mellowed down after I agreed co-operating. She is like a mirror, or I can even say a wall. I vent out on her, time to time. I do feel bad, for dumping all my frustrations, anger, worries, sorrows on her but she doesn’t really mind it that much. For many a times, I asked her to do the same for her but she would always ignore them.
  Erici also made a health recovery program for me, which I’ve been following from last month. It involves of extensive body training, martial arts, weight gain and lots of other junk. I cannot get why I would require this. Sadly enough, she pours lot of effort into teaching but the the results are not so great. Even so, I have not given up yet. At least till she would teach me, I would face anything she throws at me.
  I finally got a haircut, its not very shiny but well it is a lot better, getting a haircut once in awhile really relieves stress for me. Also due to this weird student-master relationship Erici has created yes at first when she talked about it, I jumbled it with me being a slave I have to wear a uniform. A plain white shirt on black pants and formal black shoes. I would be like some high standard bodyguard if I buffed up, Fred’s mouth dropped when she first saw me like that but when I tried to tease her about it she gave a nice tight slap. She also marked with some weird insignia, a tattoo under my left ear. She say it is for safety purpose, like every other thing she has provided me, yet despite a month I only know her name and maybe some of her favourite foods and movies. Other than that Erici Frederyck is a total stranger. But it is nice to have her, I mean she is rehabilitating me. Maybe she may have some ulterior motive but she is cleaning me off the filth, and for that I must thank her from bottom my soul. I also have to apologize for my rude behaviour, although it was justified I kinda feel bad now.

November 2^nd, 594. Today.

I was really hyped up for this day. The warm summer sky that has bestowed upon me its blessings, and also motivated me to move out in the companionship of the day. Of course Fred will accompany me because I know I may freak out al of a sudden. We would be shopping at some place called Graldian Leatherworks. I basically have zero prior experience of this specific shop, searched about it on the net but there weren’t any reviews nor a directory of that place. Today is a Sunday, so I just don’t want to bump into people I know. It would be really awkward to randomly face them all of sudden, the chances are slim because I was rather inconspicuos in school and outdoors. I will be also visiting a Jiradiniya. Now don’t even know what that is but according to Erici, it is basically a library and book store. Excitement is currently running through my veins. One of the reasons is that this would first time going out with a chic. But I don’t know why but this seem superficial, and deep down I certainly feel hollow.

   “Let’s get going shall we”, Erici was finally ready. She was wearing clothes similar me, so were looking like partners straight out of some detective or spy movie. She was also wearing dark glasses which I envied because she was looking a lot cooler, there was this firm look on her face, which was full of experience and wisdom even though she was only an year older than me at best. It would seem that we were on a cosplay date but that was a fantasy. If such a beautiful girl becomes my girlfriend I would be such a happy man but a fact would remain that she would be the one to save me and not the other way around.
   I locked the door and we were ready to move downstairs. Purposefully using stairs so that my heart wouldn’t beat out of my body and also comtemplate over today’s goals.  Erici was walking a couple of step behead, she had her guard on. It was like were in enemy territory with uneasy silence enveloping us, as if at any point an the foe would ambush us. Some of the pedestrians stared at us with a curios face, they seemed scared but curious to talk to us. I couldn’t help but feel embaressed. I enjoyed the way, the girls looked at me too. They would ogle out like a kid watching a sweet shop display, but I would look away in fear of being talked to. Also Erici was with me, so it wasn’t like they would have any confidence to come to me. Now I don’t understand if that is a win or a loss. I thought, Shit! Because of this chic always being around I’d never get a girl.

   We were in front of a bakery when I spotted a duo of girls, one of who was around my age and the other looked a bit older were passing by on the other side of the lane, one of them looked familiar; seem to be muttering between themselves. One of them, a girl wearing white skirt  with an intricate pattern of red roses embroided on it, and the botom of the skirt laced with roses as well, a sunhat covered her blonde head. The other much older, looked like her assistant or an attendant. This girl looked exceptionally beautiful amongst us. Beautiful or ugly, I didn’t intend to talk to anyone without a gender bias. So I looked at Erici, in hopes of she declining their offer but she turned her face towards the blondehead and instead of a no asked them to come over our side instead. My jaws dropped after seeing her poor face reading. I sighed in despair, as they walked to us.
   “Damn Tom, where were you”, she looked straight into my eye as if she would be dissapointed if the answer was no. I tried to focus on her beautiful face as if I was thinking very hard.
   “Huh! What the fuck you forgot about me. I am so gonna punch you. Did you lost your brain while I was away, you didn’t even respond to my letters. Wait did you even receive them?”, she looked very frustrated but those words flicked something in my brain. Elizabeth Grannert? But why would she be here? She had become quite a celebrity after that silly drama and now randomly spotting her.
  “Elizabeth, the fuck are doin’ round here. Did they screw you?”, I responded in a shocked tone. There was no reason to be couth around her because we lose all civility when talking to each other for some reason, and that shocked the older lady. She turned her face towards Erici and nodded as she carefully scanned her head to toe.
  “That chic’s your girlfriend? Boy aren’t you lucky. Anyway, you gotta tell me why you never responded to my messages in last three years and I cannot even contact your parents . You must give me a good treat as an apology- ”. At that instant I experienced my heart skip a beat. For the first time in three years, I had heard those words. Elizabeth had her memories unaltered and unscathed. I couldn’t control myself, the dam that was my sorrow was destroyed. Tears started flowing without any obstruction. A pane of a black window, that had blocked my rays of hope. Erici was like a counsellor but I never trusted her to confess such a heavy secret to. As these thoughts and contradictions rushed my brain, I found myself bawling over the ground. Elizabeth was astonished to see me like that, she understood that she touched a nerve.
  “I am sorry for this intrusion. I don’t know what I did but it seems I did something despicable”. Elizabeth began to think, she was somehow at fault. But that was no it, it was the opposite. I had finally found someone to vent out the dreadful night.
  “No, actually…. Can I get your phone number. Thomas doesn’t have a phone. He would like to contact you later. And if possible, can you make a meeting possible?”, Erici stepped in, for some strange reason she understood me. I was thnkful to her, as I myself was not in any condition to think rationally like that. I just wanted to lighten my heart by sharing my burden without being called a numbskull. Eizabeth looked concerned, and she agreed without a single thought. I have some great friends and I betrayed their affection for me. Such a dork, I mocked myself. Erici humbly took their leave, I watched my friend’s back as she disappeared beyond the horizon.

I was sobbing my heart out, unaware and cut of from the outside world, when I felt a soft hand carressing my hair. I could feel the emotions behind them. It was a desire to see me through this excruciating agony. As the master lifted my chin as if urging me to stop my panting.
  “You are strong, Thomas. More than I ever will be. Even if you betray my expectations, I will happily accept my defeat if it is to see your smile. I request you…. will you stop lamenting.”, while saying that she gently hugged me and patted my back. It was soothing, as if I was in a mother’s arms. Her coarse and blank demeanour was a façade and nothing more, I was now definitely sure. She was genuinely caring and  it comforted more than it would if for instance if it would have been Camarelle Windon. All of the emotions that were seeping out were once again in control. The vague directions my mind was running to make peculiar connections of two and more unrelated topics to make an answer out of nothingness, had been demolished. When one’s soul goes berserk and finds itself in turmoil, chaos enveloping sanity and comman sense itself becomes nonsense. I hardened my will and decided no to succumb to this melancholy once again.

For the past ten minutes after I broke down, I sat on the pavement recollecting myself. Erici stood beside me contemplating the situation we ust encountered. It looked as if she was a little surprised of the commotion but I do not know why it was like that.
  “Erici, let’s go. I think I am feeling better now.” She admired my now reddened face and swollen eyes as I uplifted myself, in an elegant  manner. As my emotions settled that I cried among girls like a kid, that hurt me but I thought it would be better to forget this topic now that finally I am ending this impasse. Erici pointed to a bakery about two blocks rom our current location.
  “…..Why were you crying?”, she was quiet and gave me time as tore myself out but it seems she was astonished of this atypical sight. I kept silent, she was conveyed that I did not want to talk about this anymore so will we silently trudged over to the destination.