“Theos?” asks the blond haired boy, interrupting our conversation. “Who’s that?”
The old man, Theos, is sitting in front of me. How the fuck did it come to this?
-
Go back to right after the two boys left the tavern. I had heard nothing useful other than something about Acheron. Then, out of nowhere, the old man was standing right next to me. I look at his face and recognize him as Theos the War Phoenix.
“I couldn’t help but notice you eavesdropping on us,” said Theos. “Why don’t we have a chat while they’re gone.”
His presence is overwhelming. I nod and get off my seat and walk over to the table, sitting in the unused 4th chair. Theos sits across from me.
“Thank you,” says Theos. “Now, why were you eavesdropping on my conversation?”
I mumble something about being curious. He shakes his head.
“I know it’s more than that. You have the look of someone looking for something. In this case, you’re listening for some form of info. I noticed that you visibly deflated when the conversation went on for a bit, meaning that you didn’t hear what you needed. Now, what is it that you’re looking for?”
Don’t tell him anything. Someone could overhear you and tell the Emerald Skull Pirates about you.
He tilts his head.
“Let me guess,” he says. “You look about 18-19 years old, and given the fear I’m sensing within you, you’re afraid of something. You can’t be from the news, and you most certainly aren’t an assassin. So my best guess is that you’re a lost Altavistan.”
I freeze in shock. He notices.
“My dear boy, I know you’re scared of the Emerald Skull Pirates, but they have long since stopped hunting Altavistans when the Shining Pirates began to protect them. And the majority of the natives are still missing.”
“H-how-?”
“Let’s just say simply, I want to help you.”
Before he can say anything else, the 2 boys walk in.
And that’s how we got here.
-
“We were just talking for a bit,” says Theos in response. “He asked me about something and we had a conversation about it.”
Why is he lying and covering for me?
“Hello,” says the dark-skinned kid.
I nod back.
“Wait for me outside,” Theos tells me. “We’ll finish our conversation later.”
I walk outside. I lean over the railing and look out to the blue sky.
“Well, well, well,” says an ugly voice. “What do we have here?”
I turn around. A group of 5 thugs stand in front of me.
“Give us your money, or else we’ll make ya.”
I narrow my eyes and clench my fist.
“No,” I say quietly.
“Alright then,” says the thug. He creates a magic circle made out of water. “Get ‘em boys.”
I take a fighting stance.
“Come and get me,” I growl.
End of Chapter V
