The sunshine eclipsed the dark space, as the light dawned upon Gideon. A twitch in his eyes as he awoke, trying to raise his hands to cover but to no avail. Groggy, a pain in the back of his head, feeling his skin tight and crusted on his face. Clinging to the wall he got up and dragged himself out into the open street - trying to remember the last few hours of yesterday.

The screech and blurry moments came through as he walked down the streets, coming to a small square. A fountain in the center as small hand pumps was on the outer rim - a single guard in heavy armor stood by the fountain. Mothers and children were around mostly, filling their buckets and playing, but when he came they stared as he trudged along to one of the lone pumps. The few around gave distance as he ran the cold water, washing his arms and head - a tingle of pain and a solution of murky water made him free of the dry blood. Only after he quenched his thirst and watched the water disappear down the drain.

He looked around with fresh eyes as many children were still staring, but were pulled away by their mothers and older ones when he peered his head around.

Huffing outward a bit with contorted expression. I thought they would be used to things like this? Isn’t it just blood?... I guess what came of it, but I am okay… wait!

He patted through himself, searching for the leather pouch but it was gone. Recalling the final moments of the last night, as Gideon thought they were much like the Council's children, They… took… it…

As his emotions nearly brought him down he slapped himself gently, remembering all that he had planned for the time when he had nothing. It just came a little earlier.

Carefully he walked up to the guard that stood by the fountain, a mountain of anxiety showed in his voice. “Excuse me- which way to the market?”

The guard looked slightly down, slowly lifting his halberd, and pointed to the streets off to one of the sides.

“Thanks…” He replied as the guard returned his position and his stomach settled again before he made his way off.

***

“Filthy beggar!” The old, human man screamed. Trying his best to hit Gideon with his long stick before he went out of the door, and blended into the crowd.

Ducking into a small alleyway he slumped down to catch his breath, as he spent the entire day trying to find work in the Fifth Quarter. Random Merchants, Tailors, Butchers, Bakers, Woodworkers, Smiths… everywhere he could see work resulted in palpable silence. While most ushered him out of their stores when they knew he had no coin. His luck would turn when some berated him, verbally, physically with him escaping as quickly as possible - grateful he dodge that they were hosting the shop.

Now, as the night was coming - he would feel his aching stomach. The only things left he could afford are the crumbs that lay on the cold stone. The rest were eaten, taken home, or resigned to the shops they bought from - he didn’t know where the food had gone.

I guess I should try that house. Though his travels were not so in vain, learning the ways streets and alleys connect, homes claimed but there was one appearing abandoned.

Getting up he disappeared into the alley, and as the stars came out and the people left the streets did he come to a burn-down lot. Littered with burnt-down houses on part of a two-story building stood - covered in many tiny slashes. Nearby, the houses were reinforced with metal at the base, and bars on the windows.

I am not liking this but this is better than sleeping in an alley again. The door still bolted but Gideon went around to the back, there was a hole that he could squeeze himself through.

Moonlight came through the cracks and openings, the stairs to the upper floor non-existent, as was the roof. Many of the furnishings were left but destroyed to a nearly unusable state, and so Gideon began to gather what was still viable. A half divan was propped up by a small stool, a bucket, and a few long pieces of tatter cloth from whatever was left on the floor.

In the shadow of the second floor Gideon tucked himself in, the sounds of skirmishes in the background, letting it all go - he closed his eyes to end the day.

As the moons arched across the sky, an arm, then a leg twitched - blood steadily leaked from his nose. Small waves of pain echoed through the body, but Gideon still rested peacefully before it all disappeared…

***

After two days of just drinking water from the old bucket - the hunger gave into uneasy thoughts of stealing. As yesterday he walked through the crowd, seeing if he could find a person that wouldn’t suffer from a few copper lost. It was until he saw a Goblin try the same - the dwarf slammed him to the ground in a blink, and with ease, carried off without a word from others. Returning early, he slept, dejected, afraid, and running out of options.

The day became his time to sleep as he awoke at the start of the night. Unnaturally sore, he couldn’t fall asleep as the sounds of battle were closer today.

A loud explosion jolted him awake from whatever dreariness he had. Prolonged stress ate away at any self-preservations, relenting against the blooming curiosity.

He crawled through the hole and went through the back alleys with caution, the sounds becoming clear as it was clashing metal.

At the turn to the main battle, a lean Hobgoblin ran past the alley opening, and two hooded figures pursued. Gideon picked up his speed, as he followed, seeing the two attack the one simultaneously with their long swords, only to be parried by his rapier and dagger.

Many colors of energy on themselves and their blades clashed up and down the street, before ascending to the rooftops of the nearby buildings. Having almost lost them in the confusing and sudden turns - they faced one another, separated by a small jump from the alley below where Gideon hid.

“You should have taken the offer.” A feminine voice came through the hooded figure.

“My skills cannot be bought so easily.” The Hobgoblin was still, ready for another attack.

“It is not just coin, but your life that you wager. Are you capable of surviving the Mark, even if we can’t finish our assignments there will be others?” The other, a rough voice commented.

The Hobgoblin almost gave a belly laugh, “Such idiots of those who wield such false power then I would have not been as strong as I am.”

“Well, we could only try to have an easier time.” The woman took a deep breath.

“Bring all of you! I will carry this due for the next ones to come.” The Hobgoblin covered translucent energy - Air Aether.

He kicked off backward the two did the same as they began to chase. The man showed in murky yellow energy - Earth Aether, the woman in soft red energy - Fire Aether.

For an hour they ran, Gideon only just managing to follow by taking risky shortcuts where he thought the battle would go.

In the streets again, the woman gathered Fire Aether along with her sword and carved a wave of heat to Hobgoblin, but with a twirl of his weapons and reinforced Air - scattered the heat on contact. The other followed up, as little dust particles started to coat his sword before he launched the outline a few meters away.

The Hobgoblin didn’t panic as he twirled the wind with his two swords and guided the current himself - changing the direction of the attack. Hurling it at double force to the woman, making her reinforce her sword with her Fire as much as possible for a parry - the shell shattered, but she stumbled a few feet back.

For just a moment, the man was distracted, the Hobgoblin gathered the residual Air to his rapier and struck. A slim-bladed point shot, and pierced through the woman’s head - making her instantly collapse.

The man didn’t stop, taking the chance to empower his sword with Earth Aether and slash the man - dissipating the Air, and impaling through part of the armor. The Hobgoblin was bled along his arm but was able to tumble back to avoid a critical wound. Taking out a potion, before he disappeared into the city - the man continued his contract.

Gideon came out of the shadows as the two went out of sight, an uneasy feeling twisted his stomach while looking at the dead woman. Her eyes opened, and facial muscles relaxed unnaturally with no life left to uphold. Carefully he approached and looked down at the corpse, his chin quivered ever so slightly as he scrunched his face.

I don’t know if you're a bad or good person, but I don’t have anything else. He took the sword and scabbard before searching the body. Taking - finding, a small belt bag containing a small vial of green liquid, five small throwing darts, and a sack with a couple pieces of silver and copper.

Gideon nearly started crying right there, as he took the bag until the sound of slow footsteps came out of the alley. A human, appearing to be a young man, showed a rugged look, he stared at him as he got near. Wearing what seemed to be a patchwork of armor of many different sized pieces and a pair of daggers in his hand.

“Leave it all.” Pointing a dagger.

Without a second of thought, Gideon booked it down the alley that he came from - the Expelled, Scavenger followed.

Gideon just had a head start but no matter how far he went, he heard no peace from the man behind.

I can’t outrun him… He fumbled with belongings as he looked through, the only note being a rustic-looking coating on the darts seeming to be a green residue.

He could only assume but a plan made, stashing the coin pouch in approaching rubble for a last-ditch option.

Putting on the belt bag, he took two darts out, and just as the man turned the corner - Gideon threw. One hit the ground just in front of himself while the other went true, but hit the armor. The man flinched but paused in picking up the dart. Gideon quickly unsheathed the sword, and uncorked the vial with his teeth, before dumping the contents on the blade. In a panic, he rubbed it all over, a slight stinging in his hand as he never looked away from the man.

Seeing it all, the man didn’t wait but threw the dart back - Gideon only saw the arm descend, he couldn’t follow the projectile. Hoping the dart flew straight he dodge to the side, but it didn’t.

Piercing his chest, Gideon let out a muffled scream as the man charged forward. A searing pain came from the wound, Gideon ripped it out. The tiny barbs separated the wound, even more, elevating the pain.

The man came close, a dagger slashed for his gut - he fumbled with the weight of the sword as he just barely intercepted the blitz, but not the follow-through. The dagger continued upwards and made a cut along his forearm, a thrust to his stomach with the other - only shifting his body to the side to make grazed flesh.

At the exchange they retreated and stared, the man calm - collected, Gideon panicking - breathing heavily as he tried to maintain the sword straight.

Again, he charged - his arms danced chaotically, Gideon didn’t know where the attack would come from. Only once did he see the man push forward for an attack did Gideon respond, lunging back and swiping the sword haphazardly - nicking the arm guard, but nothing more.

Another dash, returning a dodge - Gideon on the edge of his sanity trying to follow each slash and thrust upon him. From the side of his eye, he could tell a corner was behind, dodging, he kicked off to retreat just behind the corner. The dagger hit the stone as the man over extended, Gideon raised the sword high and brought down all his might. The man paled, raising his daggers hastily to defend. The weight was too much, defense too loose, as the sword brushed off and weaved through the beaten shoulder armor to cut the flesh.

He screamed as his dagger dropped but Gideon couldn’t budge the sword, only causing pain as the man gritted his teeth and lunged with his other dagger. Gideon let go, stumbling - falling on his butt, looking up as he pulled the sword from his shoulder in horror. The man looked sharply at the boy as he bent down to pick up his weapon, but couldn’t move his hand to clasp it. His arm started to spasm and spread to the rest of his body, his expression contorted in fear and shock as he tried to reach something from his pack before falling to the ground - his entire body convulsing.

Gideon took up the sword, seeing the man could not control his body but his eyes kept following his will.

Why? How? Please… Don't?... Gideon saw his eyes, tears saying it all.

His hands were shaking more than when he fought to keep his thoughts straight, He hunted me… he wanted to kill me… for a few coins…

Gideon’s breath became short and sporadic, closing his eyes he slammed the sword down and through his throat as the questions faded from his eyes.

His emotions froze, his mind only thinking about the next step - looting the body. Taking armor that might fit him, the arm bracers - he set them aside and turned the man over to search his pack. A Low-Grade Health Potion, more coin, and a wooden bracelet - horribly carved and strung together. It seemed like the world stood still as he held it up to himself, thinking about all the possibilities only to turn the man over and rest his hands on his chest with the bracelet.

Everything else gathered, he followed his way back to where he hid the other coin. Lightly picking up the dart he failed, before retreating for the night.

He took another route, peeking at each corner and sprinting to his next spot before he was in the confines of his scorched walls. Slowly placed down the weapons and bracers, he collected some cut cloth and wrapped it over his wounds. Slumping down against the wall, to count the final bits of coin - four silver and thirty-four copper.

Counting again, again, and again… his heart crumbled, his face no better. His eyes flooded with tears, a massive headache onset, his throat began to swell, as his nose started to bleed - he felt like throwing up.

He wanted to bawl, bawl in the comfort of someone's arms, and hear that it wasn’t his fault, that he only did what he needed to, that everything is alright now… but it wasn’t. Stuffing his undamaged forearm into his mouth he muffled his own sobs, not realizing he had drawn blood, making it only harder to breathe from his wheezing.

For hours Gideon didn’t move, crying till he had nearly nothing left, only after he was about to pass out did he drag himself to the bed and end the nightmare for today.

***

All for a few coins… He lay bedridden, just staring at the patched ceiling - feeling pain all over his body, he couldn’t care less, playing the memory over again.

Dinner would soon come to a close, and with all the coaxing from his stomach, he willed himself to take fourteen pieces of copper to leave. When he arrived, he got the biggest meal he could afford - some piece of large steak, mixed leaves, and a side of some blue strings that were bundled together.

He dove in with his borrowed utensils, his mouth danced with joy, but the tears formed did not.

For two lives. The flavor soon died down, feeling a pang of turning guilt that suppressed his hunger.

He pushed himself to finish, to not waste a single morsel before returning. There he lay again until another night came, the sounds were a bit fainter - a thought crept into his mind. Forcing himself to lug out of the house and follow the battle.

Quickly coming upon the clash - two were fighting but not in such a previous grand display. Running through the open streets their force collided, Gideon hid low to the ground and only peered around the corner. He couldn’t see much besides their cloaks and weapons - daggers and a claymore, there was no Aether that he could see nor finesse of their attacks.

The battle was sporadic, as they faced each other only just a few minutes at a time before the one with the daggers ran away. Other battles were near, they seemed to halt, before running off in a mutual agreement - though that didn’t seem to last for too long. An hour after, the claymore caught a break and slashed the other down - wounded, he could not defend a fatal blow that pierced through the gap in his armor.

The body fell as the other looked to be out of breath, bending over to reach for something that he pulled off the person’s neck. It looked like he was going to search the rest of the body until he whipped his head to one of the alleyways away from Gideon.

The sudden action nearly made him jolt until he saw two young female Goblins come out of the shadows. Then, a Human man came through to the alleyway just ahead, and another appeared farther down the street.

The person by the corpse slowly got up, carefully looking at all of them before he ran to one of the empty alleys, leaving the rest of the spoils behind.

Gideon watched as the four marched, till they were a few paces away from each other with the body in the center. He could see one of the Goblin females begin to talk, and the farthest Human nodding along. It seemed that nothing was going to happen until the other Human pulled a sword from his hip and lunged at the other Goblin.

The Goblin dodged a fatal wound, receiving a massive gash on her arm. Together, the woman pinned him with their continuous slashes - cutting him between the gaps in the armor. However the other suffered a grave injury as she tried to block the sword - failing, as it descended upon her armored chest. Denting it, causing difficulty to breathe in the fight, but the man had lost too much blood and fell in a few minutes.

They looked at the other Human - a mace at the ready, but did not attack. Speaking to one another again, as the parties each took a body to loot. Within moments there was barely anything on them, and just as quickly did they disappear into the city.

Gideon did the same, watching his back at every turn until he was in his bed.

It's horrible here, they killed each other with such ease… Is this what Adventures do here?... Is this the only way I am going to live through this place?...

The pressure in his head was building, a sudden pain arose from his chest that made him clench his muscles and grit his teeth. When the pain faded, he keeled over and scratched up in the bed as he held his chest. The pains were getting worse, and spread out, not knowing what was happening, he just assumed it to be remnants of the poisons.

It’ll only last a little bit longer… taking the moment of peace to drift to sleep.

***

Days became weeks but Gideon felt no better, as the pains became more frequent and intense. He would wake from his nightmares to suffer through the pain, finding jagged tears in his flesh and blood dripping from the wounds. Healing was unnoticeable, helped by only mundane medicine.

Gideon didn’t near the walls as he found himself the chance to claim three dead, but only two did he gain loot. Others found the site quickly, but the last one had to abandon as the pain started to flare - he couldn’t even hold his hand steady. What he had, he sold for coin to different merchants, buying blams, bandages, and food. Most of his body was now covered in cloth that bound his wounds, the only things left open were his eyes, mouth, and hands - which still showed mangled flesh but did not bleed. However, he was nearing his limit, just as with his coin - he needed to find something tonight.

It was difficult to hear but the pulse of his heart and breath. Searching for, trying his best to listen - but he couldn’t tell whether it was just a peaceful night or he had lost one of his senses. Half of the night passed with nothing, making him wary and solidifying his resolve to delve into a new area.

I guess- for tonight, I go to the other one. Gideon shifted his direction as he came to a large road that spanned greater than any other within the Quarter - it was the divider between them.

Where Adventurers live… The roads were more unkempt, chipped and open - the buildings a bit more run down with many different patches of wood.

Alleys were just as confusing as he ran into more dead ends than the previous Quarter. The streets were still active with a few people walking in armor and weapons at their sides. Some were fine, but most appeared to be drunk, so Gideon followed his gut to retreat further from the main streets. The crooked buildings became more prominent, as cautious he was he hadn’t fully realized how ruined his senses were.

The wall next to him suddenly burst, chunks of wood hurdled his way - he brought up his bracers - but it was too much, the debris hurdled him to the other side. It hurt everywhere, feeling some of his bandages shredded as pieces of wood wedge new wounds.

Through mild dust he saw an old Human man decapitate the Goblin with his sword, another strapped on his back - covered entirely in a cloth, as not even the pommel showed. The body went loose as it lost hold of the axes, its armor chipped. Tiny scars got lost in the man’s wrinkles, hair - showing strange off patches of grey.

His tired eyes quickly searched the corpse to find an all-black sack - in it a strange potion bottle. The liquid glowed ever so slightly with many colors that refused to mix, with a small vein-like effect pulsing randomly. The man looked at the thing with dread, but soon Gideon caught his attention as he stared back.

***

Elric was requested to his mark when the Guild got wind of someone dealing with Ixir. For weeks he had been trying to sense the tortured energy - but the target showed no sign of it. That was until tonight when their routine diverged and he followed - to an abandoned house within the slums.

Sensing eyes watching, Elric suppressed his energy, posting just far enough away to focus his sense at the location. For just a fraction of a second he felt it, vile energy - the Goblin left the slums soon after, but he had to bide his time as the eyes still watched. They were deep into the Fourth Quarter before they left, and Elric had his opening.

Immediately, he attacked in the street - cycling violet Aether, parallel to the flow of Enir, giving power to his body. He tried to end it with a single blow, but the Goblin noticed swiftly. Countering with Water Aether, he brought up both axes to absorb the blow. Twisting in the air, but landing on his feet - retreating to the alleyways.

The chase began - Elric controlled his output, but couldn’t get a clear shot as the Goblin quickly led through tight corners and only brief skirmishes that nicked the armor. The Goblin changed his approach, smashing and diving through a nearby window. Elric gained a chance, sensing through the thin wall - he launched an attack, creating a massive violet slash that cut to his target. The Goblin was caught unawares, haphazardly blocking the attack but fumbling his balance.

Elric made it through the window in time to launch another, the Goblin blocked, but was unable to distribute the force and crashed through the aged wall. He didn’t waste any time, propelling himself by empowering Enir to his lower body. Swiftly shifting the flow, while concentrating violet Aether to his blade, decapitated the rising Goblin in an instant.

I swear if that bastard doesn’t have it on him. I am going to make Aria find someone else for this crap. Eric searched the body, finding a black sack, confirming the energy he felt when he dug it out.

A Mission completed, he was about to return when he picked up a person in his senses. Bloodied and bandaged he looked at the tortured boy, pausing in a moment of surprise.

His Life Force is… shattered? Feeling the energy crooked and sporadic, as if every part of his body was broken.

Elric crouched down to the struggling boy, a sinking feeling in his gut, and an old memory resurfaced. From his pack he got out a Fair-Grade Health potion, raising it to the boy’s mouth.

Gideon panicked, knocking the potion out of his hands as he screamed, “Noooo!”

Remembering the warning, he didn't want to stay here any longer, so he pushed himself from the wall and began to crawl away.

Elric looked at the spilled potion, confused and a bit mad for the amount of coin wasted. Staring at the sight, he gave a long sigh, before he stood over him and picked him up like a sack.

“We will go to a Temple.” Elric spoke seeing the horror on the boy’s face.

Gideon squirmed, beginning to punch, kick, anything to loosen the man's grip while continuing to stress his throat. “No! Nooo! No Divine! No Church!”.

The boy appeared to hurt his attempts to free himself, so Elric dropped him. Seeing the boy crawl a good distance before trying to stand, falling over, and again…

Elric watched, What is going on?

Curious, sympathetic - seeing the desperate pleas that he did not know. But he couldn’t wait, he went over just as Gideon stood - wrapping his arm around the boy’s neck constricted him in a struggle till he was knocked out.

Shouldering the boy, he arrived at a dead end - an intricate dance on top of stones that ever so slightly sunk, along with a rhythmic drum of his fingers against the wall. The wood folded to a small arch, revealing a staircase that spiraled into the dark.

The bottom opened to a balcony, and a smaller staircase led to an open floor as illuminated flowers hung on the ceiling. A few doors, and an alchemical set to the far wall, while the rest were filled with tall shelves of ingredients and alchemical goods. In the center was a small pit - containing five cauldrons in a circle, all cooking, and with the master’s back turned as she controlled the concoctions.

“Minerva!” Elric, making her jolt slightly - losing focus as three brews failed instantly in a puff of smoke.

“What?!” She turned and yelled.

She had much the same humanoid body, her hair was long but seemed as though it were made of smaller vines. Sprouting little leaves along with them in a natural dark green but now a ting of rustic brown. Skin was much the same but a lighter shade, the flesh slowly faded from the torso to be a soft-grained wood on the appendages - a Satrae. Though her body was covered in heavy leaves and leather blended together for much of her wear.

“You have just ruined hours of work! Have you…” Minerva, looking at the boy Elric began to lay down. “Who did you just bring here?!”

“I don’t know,” Elric replied with a shrug.

“You don’t know… are you out of your mind?!” Showing a displeased look.

“I’m fine but…” Elric replied with a flat face, “this kid is not well?”

“Feed him a potion.” She was about to go back to work, as the rustic color faded from her complexion.

“He smacked it out of my hand.” Giving Minerva pause, “Screaming that he would not take it.”

“Just go to a Temple, it might cost a bit more than getting—”

Elric interrupted, “No. He screamed even louder when I offered the same. Was practically hurting himself to get free after I tried to carry him.”

Minerva gave a piercing gaze, “What is wrong with him.”

“His Life Force is shattered.”

Silence… Minerva opened and closed her mouth many times to count but saw the seriousness on Elric’s face. She approached the sleeping child, and placed her hand on his arm - flowers bloomed over her hand as they just as quickly flaked to dust.

Minerva could not speak - too shocked by what she felt, as she leaves momentarily changed to a hint of blue.

“What do you think? Could it be related to the Mission Aria sent me off for?” Elric pulled out the bottle of Ixir.

Minerva gave a sorrowful look at the bottle, “No… you know this, they would have been drained, ” She threw her hands up in the air. “I don’t know how this is possible.”

“Then, here is your mystery.” Elric returned the contents and went up the stairs.

“And where are you going?” Gaving a stunned look.

“To finish my Mission.” Disappearing into the dark.

Minerva sighed, retrieving the boy to one of the back rooms - plants filled the space, having two hammocks off to the sides, with a bed of vines at the end. Placing him within the bed, the vines began to wrap him completely as Minerva began one of the most tiring healings she had ever done.