Sitting in some dilapidated building was not how I wanted to spend the evening. I’d much rather be at home, but hey, at least I’m not alone!

You may be wondering why I’m even in here. Well, I’m wondering the same thing in all honesty.

Maybe Savage knows? He’s usually very in the loop about things.

"Jeff, are you retarded, or retarded?" Instead, however, Savage questions me in a rather scathing manner.

What an awful way to speak to a friend, especially someone so benign and gentle such as myself.

"How about yesn't?"

"What were you thinking!?" He ignores my previous response.

I mean, key point there, I wasn’t really thinking, nor do I have a clue at what’s really happening.

But that's when I come to an epiphany.

"Just tell me. Why would you do that?" He presses.

"I've just realised something important…"

"Finally, out with it,"

I have to wonder why Savage is the one asking the questions. But this next query I’m certain is of a more pressing urgence.

“How are you not dead?” Or bleeding for that matter, the man has about thirty arrows in him and his ragged steel plate didn’t stop as many as one would have liked. And I may not be a doctor, but I know having that amount of arrows lodged in oneself in most cases, causes death.

Lily also chirps in agreement with me. At least someone’s on my side. And that someone is Lily, the white bird. Don’t ask me what bird she is. If you do… Don’t blame me for being rough. Your murder may or may not be unintentional.

"I'm already dead," Wow, what a way to dodge the question, I'm impressed. "Anyway, answer my question!" Savage's eyes light up in a blue blaze as he gives me the look that he's about to strangle someone. Let’s hope that it ain’t me.

But really now, what happened? My head just hurts, but I still try and push through the wall pain and orient myself to the day’s events, even under Savage’s searing gaze.

Well, if I recall correctly, the name’s Jeffrey. No last name though, I'm not anyone of note to have such an honour.

Used lived on some frontier village out in the sticks before eventually moving to the city when my village was burnt down. Upon arrival at the city, I was hired as a city guard here. Nothing special about me, just you're average guard, doing guard things, and well, guarding places. As a guard does. The other’s always stayed away, but that was all good, they were donkeys anyway.

And well, on this particular day off day of mine, I decided to chill at market square with Savage, as he calls himself. Quite a peculiar name, and well, I’m 100% one to judge but as mercenaries and adventurers tended to have their secrets I didn't pry.

We were loitering around browsing street vendors every now and then, until Savage commented, noting a striking transaction taking place in the plaza, "Oh, well ain't that rare," he stated phlegmatically.

The transaction in itself wasn't all that rare, nor were the contents of the trade anything special, however, it was the customer that caught his eye. As well as mine…

Looking over, I immediately felt something off about her. It was nigh instinctual. She looked human with golden hair and a simple dress, however, there was another addition that made her facade fall apart. Fox ears. More specifically, the individual in question had a set of fox like features, with fox ears on her head, and a furry tail to boot. A demi human. — A rare sight in the human predominant Astra Kingdom. —

Something that I allegedly don't take kindly to.

Considering that I supposedly called her an 'abomination' before brutally murdering her in broad daylight. The absurdity of that claim was outrageous!

What was even more outrageous was when my fellow guardsmen sold me out! Even going so far as to claim me a godless heretic!

Sigh. The path of life truly is mysterious, isn't it? Hey, at least I still got my bird and Savage. Like a true friend, Savage stayed with me even when everyone tossed me by the wayside.

"I won't be your friend in a minute if you don't explain yourself," He states, the blue blaze burning brighter beneath his visored helmet.

"Aright, alright," I stutter, "I'm not sure what happened, I don't remember much but I just lost control of myself, like everything was tellin' me it needed to die. However, I don't see why they had to malign me like that."

"I think you forgot that you just butchered a person. In the middle of the city plaza as well," Savage reminded calmly.

“Ehh, I have my doubts on that statement.”

“You should not be. It happened. I watched it.” The steel hulk growls out in that gravelly, staccato tone.

Ah shite. If that was true... Does that mean I'm the bad guy? Oh damn, now I'm doubting my conscience. But really now, was that a reason to start calling me a heretic? That seemed a bit extreme.

"Well, Jeff, because you are severely affected with the stupids, let me remind you. You committed a hate crime in broad daylight, wearing a dark apparel whilst also shouting rather particular expletives. It's just a bit, y'know a tad bit reminiscent of what the cultists do, and now, as a result of your rather clever actions, we're being hunted down by both the city and the tree huggers," His voice echoes beneath his full helm giving him much larger presence than his already large physical presence.

Rude, that was beyond my control, and I can't tell whether he was being sarcastic or serious, maybe a mix of both. But he still raises a good point.

I'm being beleaguered, regardless of whether I committed a murder or not. But they believed a commited a murder. A felon. What doesn't make sense are the elves. Last I heard, tensions were high between the elves and Kingdom, so why aid the Kingdom in capturing me?

That was a bit of shite if I dared to say.

And the bastards didn’t just call me any ol’ cultist, nooo, they were calling me a heretic, because of they would. To really antagonise a man like me, you’d have to do that. What are heretics you may ask? Well, they’re an enemy of… everyone really. Those guys are actually insane. It hurts to be likened to those lunatics.

Actually, nay, I dare say that their mania does not come from the moon, for they are actually inconceivably, in every way, unokay.

I remember hearing a story about a whole knight’s order being purged by a single of those folk over literal grass —Yes, grass. The green stuff—. Scary stuff I dare say. Needless to say, I would not want to be invited to their ranks. Even if I was given the chance.

That’d be the pinnacle of stupidity. I’d most definitely never see myself do such a thing. Anyway, moving onto more important matters.

“How we getting out?”

Being trapped in a city is pretty bad. Especially if you’re wanted as well. That makes it really, very bad.

In response, Lily gives me a high trill whilst flapping her wings in the air. Flying a circle around me, she then lands on my shoulder.

I have no clue what this demonstration was supposed to acquaint me with, but I can honestly say with zero shame, “I thought you were a crow. Why are you tweeting?”

The birb turns to me, giving that vacant glare that all crows seem to have. As I thought, she really is a crow. Barring that, I still have no ideas on how to escape this situation. I can’t just retreat home that’s for sure, but where to go after I leave the city?

And taking centre focus is how to leave the city.

Got any ideas? “Savage?”

“Jeff, it’s time you learnt that there are… repercussions for your actions.”

Repercussions? I didn’t do jack though!

“Siiiiighh,” His exhale is much like a rumbling wind in the deep quiet, fanning the blaze in beneath his visor, “I swear you weren’t always like this… Good gods above, you actually hurt my soul.”

“I hurt you’re soul? How long has this been happening for?”

“Too long.”