It was the time of sun rise and the sun—it was slowly bestowig it's gaze upon the world who's destiny was unknown. The stained mountain, they were shining with the crimson light as the morning sun is often red-orange.
The stained forest were happy to recieve the sunlight and the birds living on those stained forest; they were singing their own songs unknowm to mankind.
The waterfall—it was falling with it's own might and the water currents, they were telling their own stories to the surrounding.
Lucien was ready to go the place written on the page to sell the armors and weapons. He looked around—a royal horse with carriage. He underatood that who was the owner of that horse with carriage.
Then, he heard a voice.
"Stay right there! ".
His mind started running with thoughts, 'Wait, a robber? '.
The voice further speak, " Slowly turn around! ".
Lucien listened and slowly turned around and thought, 'Ah, so a robber. '.
It was an armed robber and these types of activities were quite common in this time period.
The robber said, " Give me all your valuables if you do not want to die! ".
Lucien remained silent and still like a wall. He did not move even a single muscle—though his skills were enough to kill 100 robbers like that.
Lucien was waiting—either for something or someone.
The robber further spoke, " Do you not love your life!!? ".
Lucien remained silent and still again, no expression and no movements.
A squirrel passed by them—no movement.
A few minutes passed and the robbers expression turned to irritation and he started moving towards Lucien slowly.
He was holding a dagger. It was very sharp, Lucien could see it's sharpness.
The robber came closer to Lucien but was still maintaining his distance because Lucien had his sword.
Lucien's hands were up but still, why take a risk?
Few minutes more passed and a smile came on Lucien's face.
Robber spoke with anger, "The fuck, why are you smiling!? ".
Lucien remained silent and the robber, he heard a breathe behind him.
He slowly turned back and a man, taller than both of them—a bow rested on his shoulder.
The armor had the symbol of the sun and his mighty aura was enough to speak of his strength and status—a commander.
He was the same commander who entered the inn when Lucien was about to leave it and the royal horse with carriage also belonged to him.
The commander grabbed the face of the thief and pulled him in the air—he was now floating in the air.
The grip was so hard that the pain made him loose his grip on the dagger; it fell on the ground.
Lucien's hands down—looking at the scene with calm expressions.
He thought, ' Sometime, using mental power is better than using physical. '.
Lucien could easily annihilate the robber by himself, but he wanted to act as a weak merchant only.
Commander called the guard, who were nearby and the guards took the robber with them.
Commander spoke, "Are you fine? ".
His voice, it was very deep. It had no arrogancy, more like a voice of someone who has experienced many hardships.
Lucien spoke, " Yes, I am alright, sir. ".
A smile came on the commanders face but the reason—it was unknown. Commander spoke, " You can call me commander Ervis. ".
Lucien knew that already, but he acted like he didn't.
He said with a soft voice(though his voice was deep too), " Yes, commander Ervis. ".
Commander further asked, " What is your name? ".
At first, Lucien thought, 'Why is he getting so clingy? ' but then, a plan came up in his mind.
He replied, " Medivas. ".
Even though his real name was Lucien Vale, but he used a fake name to keep his identity hidden.
The commander asked, " Medivas and? ".
He was trying to ask his surname too but Lucien, he had no surname to tell. He kept his mouth shut for few seconds and spoke, " I am sorry, but my grandfather has restricted me from telling my surname to anyone.".
Commander spoke, " Your grandfather? ".
There was a silent among them after that for few seconds, they could even hear the birds chirping out of the kingdom walls.
Commander spoke, " You see young man, the wagon behind you belongs to my old friend, Mediv. He often come in the kingdom around this time but I didn't see him around yet. ".
Lucien was put into deep thoughts because a concidence occurred just now. Lucien got that wagon from an old merchant he killed and now he learned that, that the old merchant's name was Mediv which was similar to the made up name.
He replied, " Wait, so you are that friend of my grandfather? ".
Commander's eyes widened, he opened his mouth to speak and asked, " How can that be... he never told me about his son or daughter or a grandson. He told me that he had none. ".
A smile came on Lucien's mouth and he speak, " That is because my grandfather always wanted to keep my identity hidden. You see, my father and mother, both belonged to different kingdom and when they married each other—many people in anger tried to kill them and after I was born, they successfully murdered them both and after that, my grandfather had took care of me. To save me from those people, he keep my identity hidden. ".
A sadden expression came on the commander's face, not because of the sorrowful death of Medivas' parents—but because that his old friend didn't trust him enough.
He asked, " So where is your grandfather now? ".
Lucien developed a sad expression on his face and said with a cracking voice, " You see, my grandfather.. he.... he just passed away last weak. ".
Commander was now put into despair because he never thought that, that could be possible. He didn't say any word for few minutes, there was silence between them.
After few minutes silence, he spoke, " But.. but how? ".
Lucien started explaining, "It was a crimson moon night and my grandfather heard a voice, a voice of my father from outside. He couldn't control himself and went outside—though I tried to stop him. The moment he opened the gate, the mimicri monster came and slaughter him. I tried to protect him but as soon as I cut down the monster, he was dead. ".
Lucien's expression more sad from before, fake tears in his eyes.
A mimicri monster is a monster which mimicri the voice of those who were/are very precious to us to lead it's prey out of it's den. It looks exactly like a skinny man with long hands and his body is covered by black furs with white bright two eyes with no life.
Commander's expressions were even sadder than that of Lucien's.
Tears started running down his cheeks—though Lucien's tears were long gone.
The commander spoke after clearing his tears, "So that is why you are taking care of your grandfather's buisness now? ".
Lucien spoke with a firm voice, " Yes! ".
Commander offered him his condolence.
Lucien just wanted to go to the local market and sell all the armors.
Commander spoke, " I will guide you to the local market. ".
It was even better for Lucien because he was just going to ask for the way to the citizens of this kingdom but now, a commander was going to guide him.
Lucien's eyes widened and his mouth open with the expression of happiness—though it was all fake. He nodded in approval and both of them get on their rides and went towards the local market.
On their way, Lucien saw more people than before and more shops—though mostly were flower and cloths shop.
Lucien could hear the chatter of the people; the most annoying thing to him. The commander was silent—lost in the memories of his old friend.
After a ride of half an hour, both of them arrived at the local market.
The market was full of weapons, armors and orbs.
Orbs are the source of talent through which even a commoner can control talent in the form of magic.
You can think of an orb as a grimoire. All the orbs are silver in color and their size vary according to the amount of power they can produce.
The noise of people was even more here—though Lucien knew that but still, it was annoying him more.
He found the place rented by Mediv to sell his stuff and he parked his wagon nearby to it.
His surroundings; everything was made up of cheap wood. A large sign board on every shop with their name. The design of every shop was similar to each other.
Lucien opened the backdoor of the wagon and started taking out the stuff to sell.
Commander also get off his ride and started helping Lucien—though he didn't expect that.
Few of the things also caught his eyes but he didn't speak yet.
Lucien successfully arranged all the armors and weapons in the shop—it was not very big.
It was cube in shape and the volume was 27m³.
The walls, ceiling and the floor were made up of wood.
The commander himself check some bows and he found few interesting.
Lucien was noticing everything and knew that if he convinced the commander, he can earn some good profit.
He asked, "Do you like anything, commander Ervis? ".
Commander answered, " Yeah, I like few bows. ".
He said, " You were my grandfather's old friend, I can give you those bows for free. ".
The commander paused for a second because Mediv himself never provided such service to him.
He replied, " No, even though I was his friend I can not do that. I will pay the amount. ".
Lucien's heart was smiling as if he succeeded.
His plan was simple, first to make commander feel special then to sell him the bows in higher price.
He said, " Ah, okay, but still I will give you some good discount. ".
The commander smiled and showed him a bow he liked the most. It's color was crimson—it matched the color of the crimson moon.
Lucien opened the ledger book and checked it's price and the talent, 13 gold coins and electric infinity talent.
He said to commander, "Commander Ervis, it's talent is electric infinity. You can launch infinite amount of arrows from it and every arrow will be made up of electricity. ".
Commander's eyes widened and a smile on his face, he spoke, " That's what I was searching for! ".
Lucien thought, ' Caught a good fish. '.
Commander asked, " What is it's price? ".
Lucien answered, " 27 gold coins but for you, only 17 gold coins. ".
Gold coins were the most expensive form of currency during that period and to cut down 10 gold coins from the original price in the form of discount, it was really a big thing.
17 gold coins were of no importance to the Commander.
He payed the price to Lucien and Lucien sold the bow.
Few hours passed and just like that, the evening came once again.
The commander was gone and Lucien, he sold most of the things and earned a good profit. He was able to scam the commander but he knew that it was impossible to scam these commoners as they all know of these tricks.
He in total earned 54 gold coins, 231 silver coins and 432 copper coins which in total accounts for 71 gold coins(1). He was at the level of low-tier noble now. Lucien really didn't think that he could earn this much.
There were still a few armors left to sell and he decided to call it a day.
He loaded his wagon with the remaining stuff and went back to the inn.
On the way, he came near a dark street, the street was full of darkness, no light—as if it wanted to devour anyone near to it.
Lucien heard a scream—scream of a woman from the street. Even though it was dark, Lucien could see inside it what was going on.
Couple of men violating a woman and her body. She screamed for help but no one, no one dare to help her.
At first, Lucien thought, 'What good can I get from helping a lady? '.
His mind filled with thoughts and he gave a sigh.
He got off his wagon and went inside the street. Every person's gaze upon him as if he was marching to his death.
The men violating the woman looked towards at him—each of them carrying a rusted dagger.
Everyone of them charged at Lucien and Lucien's eyes—they were fixed at the pitiful condition of the woman, ripped clothes, wounds on her face and body, nose bleed.
He unsheethed his sword and in the next moment, those men fell on the ground with their head separated from their body.
His gaze still fixed at the woman who was crying while covering her body with her hands. Her long brown hairs, brown pretty eyes, her fair skin, her body enough to make any man go mad and she was really beautiful. From her clothes, Lucien was clear that she was a noble. She was wearing chemise(2) as an upper layer, Bliaut(3), a cloak and wimple and vier(4) —though they were ripped now.
Lucien took off his cloak and put it on that lady to hide her exposed body.
She was still crying but she wanted to thank him—though her voice not coming out.
Lucien without any thought, grabbed her hands, he could feel the warmth of her hands but he had no interest. His heart was beating at the normal pace; as though he had no interest in a woman.
He pulled the woman a little to make her stand up and walked her out of the darkness of the street to the light of the gaze of the setting sun.
The autumn winds made her messy hair flow with them and the hair strands touched the face of Lucien—he was once again irritated and let go of her hand.
Everyone were froze at their places as they saw Lucien and the lady coming out alive from the darkness of that street.
Lucien's eyes staring those people—as if telling them to not look at the woman with those eyes or they must pay for it with their life.
The stare scared those people and everyone went on their own way.
Lucien looked at her face—still crying. Lucien gave a sigh but he knew that it was not her mistake.
There was someone familiar standing infront of him, commander Ervis with widened eyes—as though he recognized the lady.
_________________________________________
(1) If we take, 1 gold coin=15 silver coins
1 silver coin = 15 copped coins,
therefore,
231 silver coins = 15.4 gold coins
432 copper coins = 28.8 silver coins= 1.92 gold coins
adding all,
54 + 15.4 + 1.92 = 71.32, approx 71 gold coins.
(2)Chemise: A soft linen or silk long-sleeved gown worn as an inner layer.
(3)Bliaut: A fitted, long-flowing gown made of silk, wool, or fine linen, often with a tight waist and flared sleeves.
(4)Wimple and Veil: A cloth wrapping that covered the head and neck (for modesty).