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Short chapter today. I won't grow as a writer if I don't get any criticism, so any feedback is welcome.

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Chapter 7 – There and (I'm) back again.

Wilson.

At the docks of Gol-ta.

Sav is acting weird. Weirder than his normal furtive self.

“I'm not coming out Sav, not until you tell me where we are going.”

“I don't have to be tellin' you nothin', just haul yourself outta there. All calm-like, you hear?”

A few minutes ago he got off the wagon again and was haggling with a deeply tanned, robust looking man in stripes. There was a lot of arguing involved, along with finger pointing. The fingers were mostly aimed either at myself, a nearby boat, or the fort in the Upper city. It was at this point that I started to get nervous.

I'm being taken to the Upper city.

With my strength, I can easily break out of these manacles and destroy a boat or two, but if they haul me up to that thick fortress, I might be in trouble. Sure, I could blast holes through the walls with my fists, but what would happen if one of the walls collapsed on me? That wall could pin me down just like the walruses had.

The walruses were easy to get rid of when I hit them, and walls might not give me trouble. But what if they have more cursed items like these manacles? Or some sort of cursed trap? I'd either start losing strength if the curse was powerful enough, or I'd die from suffocation if there was a weak curse and I couldn't get the wall off of me in time.

They might even have a curse that completely saps my strength.

This could be a trap.

“I don't want to go to the Upper city” I say defiantly.

Sav sighs.

“Ya either be getting' up there or we wait here forever, tha' Merchant needs to say ya.” Sav said, annoyed.

“Woah there Sav, you know you shouldn't call him that.” The robust man injected with a stern voice. I hadn't been able to hear him before, but he had made his way closer to the wagon while Sav was try to convince me.

“Ya be mindin' your business, I'll be mindin' mine, thank you.” Sav said icily.

“Just don't bring me trouble.” The other man shook his head and with a shrug of his shoulders went back to mind his boat.

I was so interested in the exchange and the tanned man's deep baritone voice that I forgot to stay on point.

I turned back to Sav.

“I'm not going.”

…

Instead of immediately responding, Sav took a moment to think. I'm not trying to be rude, but it's a new look on him. He isn't the type of person one would describe as 'thoughtful'.

“Y'claim to not knowin' nothin', I don't be believin' you. If what you say is true, then accordin' to you, where you goin' if not up the Upper city? Hmm? Got nowhere for you to be stayin' here.”

After his deliberation, all he said was this.

And he had me, because he's right.

I don't have anywhere else to go.

---

Sav.

As if arguin' with Rilan'o wasn't right tough, now this Magekin won't get out the back of my wagon. Is he actin' like a child cause he thinks I'm soft? If no one was around I'd give 'im a good thrashin' with my spear.

...

Nah, I know I wouldn't be. Right scary, this one is.

Rilan'o was bein' all rule-followin'. Told me he wouldn't bring the Magekin over with any restraints on. He has no idea the look in this ones eyes before he was wearin' the Sealers.

The rules about criminals in the Upper city be strict. They ain't allowed. The rules ain't a good thing to be broken, certain. I remember bein' about when they announced the change. “Think of these rules as your body.” was all they said when it came to punishment for breakin' the rules. No one quite understood until the first idiot went and stabbed someone.

They broke all the bones in his body. I still be shudderin' when I'm rememberin' seein' it. He was just a bloody mess, whimperin' for a few days. City has run right smooth ever since.

Too smooth for me. Rilan'o here fancies 'imself some sort of prince of the water with all 'is rules and such. Before I just need give 'im a few whacks, or just a good threatenin', and then he would be actin' alright. Can't do it no more without 'im cryin' to the guards. Rilan'o is blasted if he thinks guards or anythin' save him against a Magekin.

Speakin' of the beast, the Magekin is bein' all whiny. At this point I just am hopin' we get 'cross the water before it's dark.

I've no idea why he's bein' difficult now of all times. He was right 'appy puttin' the Sealers on, strange as it is.

It must be some new game he's gettin' at. I hate to be playin' 'is games and blast-it if I'm gonna lose my spirits to 'im, but I have to get 'im movin' somehow. What should I do? If I tell 'im more I have no idea what he'll get up to...

I'll just go with 'is blasted story. I'll not even fake that I be believin' 'im. Just this should be enough I reckon.

“Y'claim to not knowin' nothin', I don't be believin' you. If what you say is true, then accordin' to you, where you goin' if not up the Upper city? Hmm? Got nowhere for you to be stayin' here.” I lie to him. He can really go wher'ver he wants.

He should know that, but I reckon 'is game right now won't let 'im argue. If I can get 'im to drop 'is game or come with me, either way is fine.

Why he lookin' so sad though?

I almost feel bad for 'im.

Almost. Maybe I'm gettin' soft after all...

Heram my patience is thin, but he's finally shufflin' out.

Here comes the hard part.

“Let me see yer hands.”

“Why?” Why!? Why does he think, this blasted Magekin is messin' with me.

“We can't be bringin' you across the water lookin' like a criminal.” I don't need to say it, I can feel Rilan'o's approvin' stare on me.

Blast him.

“Wait, not a criminal? Wait, y-y-you're takin' the manacles off?” he says all timid-like. Now I can feel a burnin' stare from Rilan'o on the back of my head. I never said he be a criminal, Rilan'o don't know the weird ideas these Magekin come up with. Hearm, I never said nothin' about bein' a criminal.

I'm gettin' a headache from this long act this Magekin be puttin' me through. I'm only happy thinkin' I get drop this headache on the Merchants lap soon. Then it will be the blasted Merchant's problem, certain.

“Yes, now let's not be draggin' along, c'mon.” I prompt him to show me his hands.

“U-u-u-uhhhhhh”

Has he gone even more stupid?

---

Wilson.

Still at the docks of Gol-ta.

I'm not sure what to do. I've been in this prisoner dilemma since I first met Sav only because these manacles continue to help me gather my thoughts. I honestly don't want to take them off now that I'm forced to. These chains have ironically come to give me a sense of safety. From myself.

I know what I have to do though. I can't risk going into that heavily fortified island without my full strength. I'd rather be somewhat out of control than to be dead. I have to make the rational decision here.

I have nowhere else to go. The fact that Sav is letting me take off these manacles banishes all my minor doubts about my situation. I'm going to that island as a guest. I don't really have to worry for my livelihood there, I think.

My decision is further aided by my lack of options. I'm scared of the other citizens in this city now that I've seen their reactions to me. Sav has treated me roughly, but well so far. He doesn't like me, but I don't really see any fear from him. Whoever he is taking me to seems to be expecting me.

I just have to trust this slightly toothless Sav to remove these restraints, and hope or even pray that things don't go awry from there.

“Ok, go ahead Sav.”

“You've been takin' a while thinkin' this over. Now I'm a thinkin' it might not be such a good idea...”

“Just take them off, Sav”

He looks at me for a moment then grumbles in affirmation. He reaches over and with fingers quicker than I can see he's managed to undo them.

They grow as they fall to the ground.

---

Wilson, the wonderful.

Here.

Now.

Ahhh. I think I just let out a breath of air that I didn't know I was holding.

It doesn't feel as hot out anymore. The rasp of thirst that was creeping in my throat is fading.

My knuckles itch.

I can feel the corners of my mouth being tugged upwards.

My eyes cooly survey my surroundings anew.

Twitch? What twitch?

Someone like me doesn't have facial ticks.

I don't have any ticks either.

I hate insects like ticks because they always hide until it's time to bite me.

I hate insects because one kept biting me over and over again a few days ago, just because it couldn't draw blood.

I hate insects because they're hard to kill with punching.

I really really hate them.

...

I just realized something.

Hahahahahaha.

Look out world, Wilson the Wonderful is back.

---