Sinister thoughts. Medieval myths. Golden shrines.

He prayed. Soon, soon he’d leave his past behind. Mischief, trouble, that’s all he was good for.

“Shyzun, today. Here are the trophies I earned for marathons. The shirt I wore for three weeks straight, still covered in horse blood, and mine. And, my medal of honor, which I don’t deserve.”

He placed them at the feet of the statue. “Chester said I should start work. He offered me a job. I’m going to take it… Two years ago, I was more happy than I ever could be. Had I known, it would not last for long, I would have cherished it. Mura cheated on me, then led me down a rabbit hole. She knew I wouldn’t survive.” Chuckle. “But, fuck her, and everyone else. I’m out. To think back, it’s so weird. I was so naive, so unconscious of my decisions. I’m starting to doubt your existence.” He looked at it in the eyes. “If you’re the God of Blessing, had you given it to me two years ago? I should have ran the first time I caught her. Fuck love.”

A motel. Today he decided to stay here. Left everything behind. A new identity was crafted for him. Knock. Knock.

“Hello, Chester. Why are you here so late?”

“How are you?” he smiled.

“Fine, what about you?”

“Remoi left early today. He gave me this.” A golden necklace.

“What is it?”

“It belonged to his daughter.”

“So?”

“I think something has happened. Remoi looked worried, rue. He’s caught in a mess that could be the end of the shrine.”

“Are you asking me to—”

“Just to investigate. Nothing else. I want to know what he’s gotten himself into.”

“I can’t.”

“You’re fit for this... “ He squint his eyes, the metal around his cameras bent. “This is your first job.”

Between the dark alleys, he made his way through. Taxes. That’s all Chester gave him. Remoi left saying he needed to pay his taxes, but he had paid yesterday. Taxes. The first spot to search had to be the Amavada Bank, it’s where the local taxes are collected. A small bank, for a small town.

Knock. Knock. “Did you find anything,” Chester asked.

“Here,” a list of all transactions Remoi made in the past month. “He paid his entire bank to Tridum. I’m not going there, I chose to walk out.”

The metal around Chester’s eyes spread out. “Why would he?”

“He’s not who you thought. Just cut out his name.”

“No, I can’t. Everyone knows he works there, if they find out, we’re over.”

“What? They, no.”

“Calm down, Medeev.”

“Look, from what I’m getting,” Medeev started walking back and forth in a quick pace. “No! No! No!”

“What is it?”

“I think his daughter might be… forced into trafficking. I— I— It’s something Tridum has done before.”

“Are you sure?”

“This, he only does it, if you break his rules, he— he did it. No! I just fucking walked away from it!”

“Calm down, Medeev!”

He sat on his couch. Poured himself a drink, “he’s returning, to him.”

“I’ve heard horrible stories of Tridum, is he going to make him watch?”

Medeev looked right through Chester. Chester sunk back, he could explode. Never had he processed humans as such vile creatures. The look on Medeev’s face said it all. Now, Chester knew why this town was called, “The Village of Anarchy.”