Chapter 4- Secrets of the Shadow

As expected, Felix didn’t show up the next day.

Enteico and Keith had decided to take a day off. For the past few days, they had been running on fumes. Enteico had decided to study his mythical arming sword more and found that it could transform into most weapons that he could think of. Not all of them, curiously enough. He needed to look into that.

Keith, on the other hand, had decided that they needed to cool off, so he dragged Enteico out of the Crusty Corner, as Keith had decided to infamously name the area where the two discussed their plans for the day. Terrifyingly enough, Keith had alluded that the name was given to another section in his barn.

The two entered the bar, where the Omada Platoon was celebrating their earlier conquest in beating the mythical dungeon in full swing.

Keith looked over at Psoli waving his mug in the air and making light froth spill off the top from the amber liquid bubbling beneath it.

“Come on, it looks fun. Plus, we won’t be celebrating the death of your first pet unlike the rest of these shmucks,” Keith said, punching Enteico in the arm.

Enteico rolled his eyes. There simply was no point in getting mad at Keith, because even Keith wouldn’t get mad at himself. Not because he was likable, no in fact sorely the opposite.

Enteico sighed as he remembered the time he had to tell Keith it was not fine to laugh at someone who had drowned despite 20 lifeguards posted around the swimming area. It was a client’s funeral and also the last time Enteico ever invited Keith to meetings.

Then again, in Keith’s defense, the cause of death was so bizarre, that even the merchant couldn’t really blame him.

"No thanks, I'll pass on this one," Enteico said, adjusting his seat to let a woman next to him take her seat. She was wearing a hat over her slightly tanned face.

“Suit yourself, lemme take a sip of this water and…” Keith said, lifting a small glass to his lips and gulping it down.

Keith gagged on the strong sensation assaulting his thorax.

“Lemme guess, not water?” he asked in a strained voice.

Enteico shook his head. “Nope.”

“Ah well, flip it," Keith said walking over to the group and talking with a few people as they laughed and welcomed him in.

“How is it that he’s a better people person than you?” the woman next to him asked.

“One of the many secrets of the universe.”

Keith grabbed everyone’s attention by climbing atop a table.

“Hear ye, hear ye! My fellow good chaps, 'tis I, the leader of the deadly assassin clan, Francy Le Crois Raitoningu the ten-thousandth!”

“Can’t wait to see where this goes…” Enteico muttered to himself.

“Today, you celebrate the murder of a mother, whilst I celebrate a boy, nay a whiny little bitch becoming a man. My friend, Enteico Renzo Shinsuke Mamorou!”

“Aaand that is definitely not my name.” Enteico facepalmed as he realized the alcohol Keith had chugged was finally catching up with him. Enteico was absolutely going to tell Keith all about his drunken speech when he was more level-headed.

"For you see, my fellow sods, this lad has finally decided to withhold my teachings and tear away the inequity upheld by society. What manner of tomfoolery has he bested, you ask? Well, I shall answer, you nitwitted numpties!

“I congratulate him on beating up an absolute bitch without a care in the world that she was a woman, something that all of you sodden curs would lose your marbles at!” Keith slurred.

At this, the entire bar stopped laughing and shot a disapproving glance at Enteico, as well as the lady next to him, who looked on in disgust.

“Wait, no wait, I can explain…” Enteico started but never continued as Keith slurred on.

“And not just that my maties, oh no no, he also broke a rib, which is why she is not celebrating with us at this moment! Truly an astounding specimen for all of us to follow and tear down the façade implemented by Simp-like hooligans!”

Enteico hid his head in his hands as it seemed the people around him were glaring daggers into his skull, the woman next to him moving slowly away from him.

“To that, I drink to his health and hope that he may continue down his path of enlightenment, and lead us to finally eradicating non-equality! May we bathe in prosperity and crusty bodily fluids!”

No one joined in.

“Louder, you puberty-ridden hormonal cads!” Keith yelled.

Psoli stepped forward and raised his glass. “To victory and women!”

As the men clanked their glasses and drank, the women were either remarkably annoyed and left the bar or rolled their eyes and complained to the bartender.

The bartender simply stated that they could take it up with the manager of the bar and pointed to Keith, who was too drunk to register any words at all.

“Is he always like that?” the woman asked Enteico.

“Slightly less misogynistic, but yes.”

“Funny hearing that from the guy who beats up women.”

“Woman. Singular. Once, because I had a valid reason to do so.”

“You have a shop in town, right? What is it called?” she asked.

“Well, it’s the moonlighter shop outside the town square.”

Keith wobbled over and spluttered “Hey, there he is, the sod who finally decided to listen to my glorious saying.”

“Which one?” Enteico asked his drunk friend.

“If men can be dropkicked, so can women! Speaking of which, hey Maria! It’s time for some payback, you sleazebag!” Keith said walking over to a group of people.

“Great. Anyway, you were asking me something?” Enteico turned back to speak with the woman.

“Yeah, meet me behind your shop.” The woman said nonchalantly.

“Woah, woah lady, we just met, don’t you think you’re moving a little too fast? I ain't complaining, just saying.”

“Not just you,” she said rolling her eyes. “Bring your friend Keith along as well.”

Enteico was immediately appalled by her suggestion and was about to protest when he realized something.

“I didn’t tell you his name was Keith.”

“Just do it. Don’t ask questions.”

She seemed flustered by his observation, but Enteico was distracted by a loud noise caused by Keith and a group of people fighting.

“BAR FIGHT!” A woman with a broken nose declared.

Keith laughed and then grunted as he got the wind knocked out of him when the woman scissor kicked him in the chest.

Enteico turned back to resume his conversation with the woman, but she crashed past Enteico and fled, disappearing from Enteico’s field of vision into the massive crowd outside.

“Yo Enteico, I need some assistance over here!” Keith said, getting piled on by a bunch of people swept up in the thrill of the bar fight. Enteico ran to help Keith, a sense of dread piling in his stomach over the fact that a piece of Keith’s past had finally managed to catch up with him.

And whether they liked it or not, it wasn’t leaving anytime soon.

“My grandfather could piss in my drink and it would still taste better than your alcohol!” Maria yelled, smashing a bottle of Keith’s Moon Juice onto his head.

Keith slurred from the impact. “I don’t appreciate you giving me a taste of my own medicine. Also, please keep your kinks to yourself.”

Keith got knocked onto Enteico by a random punch from nowhere. The smell of alcohol was overwhelming as Keith muttered something.

“Look out.”

Before Enteico could question him further, Keith rolled off and Enteico got decked in the face by Maria.

Felix stepped into the bar, but when he saw a man shoving an entire arm up a person’s ass and somewhat…enjoying it, disturbingly enough…Felix decided that it was finally time to show up for work and left the bar.

His employer, however, was still in a precarious position.

They were now being tied to a chair and doused in Keith’s Moon Juice.

Keith merely laughed and stated, “You cannot defeat me with my own juices! I poured my sweat, blood and other questionable fluids into making it. You FOOLS!”

At this moment, a man quietly drinking Moon Juice on a counter gagged and spat it out so hard, covering another man with mucus and Moon Juice.

The bartender cleared his throat and simply announced something that made everyone halt their fighting immediately.

“I’m adding damage charges to all of your tabs.”

________________________________________________________________

“So, you’re telling me this chick just showed up and wanted to come over to the shop?” Keith asked.

“Well, yeah that’s about it. She also said that she wanted you to come along.”

Keith drew a sharp intake of air through his teeth. “That’s rough man. Listen, if you want her all to yourself, we can talk it out with her. I seriously hope this doesn’t get in the way of our friendship…” Keith said, placing a sympathetic hand on Enteico’s shoulder.

“No, apparently it’s not that,” Enteico said, immediately.

“Oh. Well, in that case, she should’ve phrased it better. Also, I lied about the whole part where I would talk to her about you and our friendship. If you’re gonna get some, you do it on your own.”

“You really are the best wingman I’ve ever had,” Enteico said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“I’m the only wingman you’ve ever had,” Said Keith as Enteico opened the door to the shop.

Keith stopped Enteico from entering the shop immediately.

“Keith, you ok?” Enteico asked, genuinely concerned as Keith stood staring at the doorway of the shop for a few minutes in silence.

“Stay here.” Keith went inside the shop and closed the door behind him without another word.

Enteico stood outside, puzzled. What the hell is going on? Who the hell was that woman? Why was Keith acting so weird? And where the hell was Felix?!

Enteico listened. The inside of the shop was quiet.

Too quiet.

Enteico barged through the door, rushing to find Keith.

In the middle of the room, Keith stood next to a broken chair and an upturned table.

At his feet laid a dead body.

“Keith? What did you do?” Enteico asked.

“Where did she say she was going to meet us?” Keith said.

“There’s a corpse in our shop and you’re interested in meeting up with a girl?” Enteico asked, his voice unusually high-pitched.

“Not for my usual reasons. I promise.” Keith said.

Enteico hesitated and then spun around as the door behind him opened.

“Hey guys, sorry I’m late but…AHH!” Felix yelled as he saw the body.

“We know.” Keith and Enteico said, simultaneously.

“THERE’S A DEAD GUY ON THE FLOOR!” Felix yelled.

“We know,” repeated Keith and Enteico.

“The strange lady said she would meet us behind the shop,” Enteico said.

“Ok. I’ll check it out. Don’t touch the body.” Keith warned.

“Why?” Enteico asked.

“Oh…uhhh…herpes. I think.” Keith blurted, walking outside through the backdoor.

Enteico followed Keith and convinced Felix to watch the body. Felix wasn’t willing to help out potential murderers, but gave in once Enteico stated that he would be seen as an accomplice as well if he told anyone about the dead man.

Felix made a vow that he would never challenge another blacksmith without his tools ever again.

“Where is she?” Enteico asked, greeted by an empty backyard and the calm wind blowing through his hair.

Keith handed Enteico a note. It was scrunched up and written hastily, the handwriting was a mess and the page was stained in blood.

They know where you are.

Keith and Enteico heard Felix scream.

The duo rushed inside to find Felix grasping at an invisible force choking him. Keith rushed to grab a lamp nearby and simply held it near Felix. The force vanished and Enteico watched as something darted towards the door out of the corner of his eye.

“Was that…?” Enteico asked, in disbelief.

“Don’t let his shadow escape!” Keith said, jumping out the window.

“Wait! Keith!” Enteico called after him, but Keith was already out of earshot.

Enteico and Felix ran after Keith and his invisible target. At first, Enteico wasn’t even sure what exactly it was they were after. But, just before Keith reached the marketplace, a stall suddenly collapsed which caused a crate of fruits to fall over.

Amidst all the chaos, Enteico barely made out the shape of a shadow that ran vertically onto the side of a house nearby. There was no object making the shadow, which made it even more impressive that Keith was still on the chase.

The shadow seemed to hop from roof to roof, bounding across with supernatural ease. It always seemed to use the two-dimensional shadows as platforms to move across. Keith followed suit, jumping from the roof he was on to crash into a window, landing with a practiced roll before running after the shadow again.

Enteico needed to get up there to back up Keith. Unfortunately, parkour wasn’t his strong suit. Nor was any physical activity.

“Enteico! Jump!” Felix yelled.

Enteico jumped based on pure instinct and landed on a platform that seemed to suddenly emerge from the ground, giving him a foothold to hop onto the roof above.

Felix seemed to be able to shift the ground around him, creating convenient bridges atop crowds of people and shifting obstacles in his way. He had almost caught up with Keith.

Enteico, on the other hand, was not doing so well.

He slid off a loose tile and stumbled, causing him to fall off the roof. He barely managed to save himself by turning the sword into a dagger and using it to hook onto a ledge nearby. The people below him started yelling at him to get down.

Enteico’s vertigo kicked in and he felt uneasy in his stomach.

I fucking hate heights. Fucking hate heights. Fucking hate heights.

Enteico was now unable to do anything but slowly take his time getting down from the roof without hurting himself. Which was pointless, as he slipped off the ledge and came crashing down into the meat vendor below.

Keith and Felix kept running after the shadow, while Enteico got back up to run after them.

Psoli came out of nowhere and Enteico bumped into him, getting knocked onto the ground. Psoli appeared surprised to see Enteico and seemed to be considering giving Enteico another beating, especially since Keith wasn’t around.

“Watch where you’re going, runt,” Psoli said, walking away quickly.

Enteico dusted himself off, using his sword to support him after being knocked into the ground so much.

That was it?

Usually, this would have been the perfect opportunity for Psoli to harass Enteico. Crashed into a meat vendor, caused a public disturbance, destruction of property. The reasons to justify beating up Enteico right here and now were all lined up.

So why wasn’t he taking it?

Enteico followed Psoli discreetly. He saw the man take a right into a corner and passed Enteico’s shop. Then, he went off the path to the main entrance of the town and walked into the woods surrounding the town. The large, inactive volcano nearby faded from view as the forest blotted out the sky with its lush green canopy.

Psoli walked for a few minutes and then stopped. He took a look around to check his surroundings. Enteico was now definitely convinced Psoli was up to something. Thankfully, Keith had once taught Enteico that it was better to control his breathing to avoid detection from monsters than to hold it, especially since after holding air in the lungs, you would make significantly more noise breathing again and exhaling.

This time it wasn’t a dungeon beast, but Psoli had the same intelligence as one.

Same thing. Aluminium, Aluminum. No difference.

Enteico hid behind a rock and used a couple of bushes to cover his head, just in case. Even though raiding with Keith was the equivalent of slowly removing his brain cells one-by-one, Enteico was grateful for the survival tips Keith threw in with his awful jokes every once in a while.

“Did you bring it?”

A man jumped out of the tree above him, covered in a cloak and a mask. Enteico panicked as he saw the symbol embroidered onto his cloak. Two blades attached to an outline of a bracer.

The Alysides clan.

Since when did Psoli charm the fucking Assassins?!

There were many clans of assassins in different regions. Much like the bounty hunter guild, Assassins were mercenaries bound by a very different code. Some preferred facing off against a bounty hunter than an assassin, others disagreed. But one thing was indisputable; the clans all had terrifying abilities that made them a force of nightmares.

“Here’s the protection fee,” Psoli said, handing a bag filled with loot and Bitma.

“And the special request that covers the payment of the next 5 years,” Psoli said, handing the man a giant package.

The man held the package, observing and studying it, swinging it around before adjusting his mask.

“Not this one.” The man said, throwing the package towards the tree Enteico was next to.

“W…What do you mean? That was the one you had specified the last time we met up! We had a deal!” Psoli said, anxiety shaking his voice.

“Our employer had given us the specifications of the item. This is not what he had requested.”

Enteico felt the wind, a once calming presence, become a malicious entity pricking his spine, sending chills down his body. His right arm felt numb wrapped around his sword.

“The clan wants the item. No ifs, ands, or buts.”

Keith must have been rubbing off on Enteico because he had to stifle a laugh from what he just heard. The assassin spun around, alerted by the sound. The wind blew his cloak off-center and he adjusted it, turning back to Psoli.

“There is also another alternative method of payment. You will no longer need to pay us the protection fee if you succeed in proving yourself in this endeavor. So, I expect you to take it more seriously, as it is far more important than any other previous requirement we have asked from you." The man said.

“Anything to stay on good terms with you folks,” Psoli said, relieved to be offered a second chance.

The man took out a parchment and showed it to Psoli. “There is a man rumored to have been spotted at the mythical dungeon raid. He is a wanted murderer and has conspired against the Alysides clan to overthrow the clan’s teachings and traditions.”

“Can’t say I found anyone new or suspicious at the raid when I went there, aside from the usual. Do you have his name?” Psoli asked.

The man nodded.

“Keith Alysides.”