Alonso freezes, but before he does he grips the arrow even tighter. Without looking over his shoulder he looks through the corner of his eye to see who sneaks closer.
"I said don't move!"
The little boy begins to see glimpses of the man. From his position, the person looks wounded and is decorated in splashes of red. For right now, that is all Alonso can tell.
"Do you have any food?", the man croaks, "If you say something off-topic, I'll end you".
"Sorry, sir", Alonso starts, "I don't even have anything for myself".
"Lies", the man croaks out.
"You can look around if you want. But all you see is all there is, I'm sorry to disappoint".
The man curses, then he says, "Where's your mom and dad?"
"Dad? Sounded like a great dude, never meet him---Mom?" Alonso scoffs, "You and me both".
There's a moment of silence.
"Goddamnit, you really do have nothing", there's a deep, disappointed sigh that follows the sentence.
With the malice seeming to have disappeared, Alonso turns his head to finally see who the unexpected guest is.
The person suddenly shoots a small, fiery nail from his fingertips. The fiery nail singes the boy's cheek, it leaves a straight-line scar right below his eye. From the cut, droplets of blood begin to form.
"I said don't move".
Alonso does as he says, but with his positioning different, he's face-to-face with the man. Whoever this man he, at this point in time even Mr. Castro could overpower him. Each breath he takes seems to take everything he has, despite the show of aggression a couple of seconds ago.
The little boy transitions his focus from the person's face to his right index finger. A faint display of smoke rises into the dirty air.
"H-how did you do that?"
Without answering Alonso's question the man once again stabs out his finger to shoot. If the little boy didn't slightly move his neck back, who knows where the nail would've pierced through.
However, after this display of violence, the man begins to cough violently. With his foundation gone, he collapses onto the floor and clutches his apparent wounds. He groans in pain, and slowly but surely a puddle of red begins to form.
"I can help you", Alonso says, completely unfazed by this man's act to take his life.
"Shut up, kid", the man coughs out, "You're being too loud".
"If I stay quiet, you're probably going to see the light", Alonso innocently says, "I don't have food, but I do have some stuff to help you. I happen to get hurt, like a lot during my days so this works out perfectly".
The man begins to cough blood.
Alonso cringes, I'm not sure if I can heal that.
"F-fine", the man finally says, "Be quick".
Alonso nods and heads towards the vase. He goes to open it, but a sinister idea suddenly pops in his head. The voice earlier said to fight, this time, it says: Negotiate.
Alonso slowly turns around, his eyes devoid of any color he locks his eyes with the dying man in his home. With no urgency, he stops what he's doing and just stares daggers at him.
The man digs his fingers into his gash. Now, the pain ever so obvious he looks back at the child with desperate eyes.
"W-what're you doing?"
Alonso doesn't answer, at least not at first.
The man coughs once more, "Please, I need help".
"That's better", Alonso finally says, but he's not satisfied just yet, "I have a question first".
"Can't it come after!?"
"...I will only help you if you promise to tell me how you did that", he points to his cheek, "How did you make fire appear from nowhere?"
"Sure, sure", the man desperately says, "Just help me!"
Similar to parting clouds on a sunny day, the haze leaves Alonso's eyes and the sun shines once more. For a split-second, he almost looks confused by what's happening. But after he sees the river of blood grow closer, his body begins to move faster than ever.
Alonso moves the vase aside and opens the wooden table. He grabs what he needs and rushes over to the man.
"Sorry, this might hurt", the little boy sucks in a deep breath. Then lets it out in a relaxed fashion.
"May I?"
"Yes!"
Alonso lifts up the stranger's shirt, he cringes as he sees the massive gash that slides down the side of his stomach.
Look like a sword wound, hopefully, the amount of blood is the worst of the injury.
Alonso begins to wrap the stranger's stomach with so many bandages that soon he won't be human, but a mummy. Of course, the blood quickly soaks the bandages and continues to spew out. The boy grabs two belts and tightens one at the top, and the other below the wound.
The little boy readies another piece of equipment from his table. He ties a nice knot and after showing a hint of reluctance he goes back in.
"Sorry, dude", Alonso says as he stabs the needle in, "But I have nothing that can clean it that well. Or something that can make the pain go away. So, uh, don't go dying in my house...pretty please".
For some reason, the image of the predator with an arrow sticking from out of his head keeps appearing in his mind.
"That's some weird timing", Alonso says to himself. He soon shrugs it off and begins to stitch up the wound to the best of his ability.
Surprisingly, the man only screams for his mother about twice through the entire ordeal.
"And we're done here", Alonso wipes the blood on the man's chest, "You still here?"
The man doesn't respond.
"Well, now that you're all better. If you would be so kind to show me how you did that?"
"Healing takes a whole lot longer than a couple of minutes".
Alonso pouts, "Lame, real quick. You may not die from bloodloss, but you may die of infection and diseases. I just felt the need to let ya' know".
***
Agacia taps the pen on her jawline as she thinks of what to write next. She continues to wear her maid outfit, the cap also on the table, and the bags under her eyes can weigh down Hercules.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"No thank you", she says, "But, once again thank you for lending me this time of day".
Connor frowns, "No, no don't worry about it. You'll still be paid as if you were working---N-not saying what you're doing right now isn't important!"
Agacia smiles kindly, an obligatory smile. A forced smile.
Master Connor isn't so foolish not to notice that. He clenches his fists but doesn't voice his concern. Instead, he strikes up another topic.
"I know it doesn't really concern you, but the Villages to the east are becoming restless. I hear raids are quite often now".
"As long as those raids don't transition towards the northeast, then everything should be fine".
Connor begins to fiddle with his fingers uncontrollably. With his eyes constantly switching between the floor and Agacia's back, it's obvious he has something in his mind.
"Uhm, Ms. Agacia?"
"Aren't you the boss here?", Agacia says, her tone ice-cold. Without giving him a second-thought she continues to write, "Just address me like...like a friend".
For some reason, Connor begins to burn even more intensely. He looks at the floor and tenses up.
She considers me a friend?! No way! I'd be honored to be a friend of hers! But wait, did she really meant it? Are you dumb? Of course, she doesn't!
"Master Connor?"
"Y-yes?"
"If you would be so kind", Agacia holds out an elegant envelope, "Thank you for doing this".
Connor clears his throat. Now, in a "cool" fashion he shoves one hand into his pants pocket, slightly leans back, and grabs the envelope with a grin.
"My pleasure", he says.
Agacia offers a genuine smile, bows, and walks past her employer. Connor can only watch as she leaves, while her presence is no longer with him, that smile will stay with him forever.
He punches the air with a smile.
"Now, to deliver the goods".
***
Master Connor doesn't own the most prestigious Mansion in the area, nor does he truly desire to. However, nobody can deny how beautiful his plot of land is.
The Mansion itself is the epitome of engineering and design. Dozens of small gardens blooming with all sorts of colors only emphasize the Mansion's positive aura. Connor stands at the entrance, admiring his gardens.
"Master Connor", a voice says, "The carriage is ready".
"Thank you, Drew".
Drew, an older maid simply bows and exits the picture. She carefully watches as her Master enters the carriage.
Once inside the carriage, Connor crosses his legs and ponders on what could be. In fact, he's so lost in thought he forgets all about the other person inside the carriage.
"Uh, Connor?"
Connor slightly jumps, he looks towards the other person and awkwardly laughs.
"Oh, sorry Kohta", he says, "Forgot that you were here".
Kohta frowns, "I'm kind of hurt".
"I'm sorry, I've just been so lost in thought these days".
"Thinking about that one lady? If you are, just give it up", he shakes his head, "There's no way you have a chance".
"You don't know that!"
"Uhh, yeah I do. Just look at you? Besides money what do you have? Looks? Hell no, my pet monkey looks better than you".
"Why do you have a pet monkey?"
"That's not the point", Kohta immediately redirects the conversation, "I'm sure there's another lady out there that's within your grasp, go after them".
"But I don't want them---N-no saying women are property or anything, but uh", Connor scratches his cheek, "Is it childish if I said it was love at first sight?"
"Yeah, that's pretty dumb", Khota replies, "But keep suffering in vain. It's fun to watch".
"How about you shut your trap and light this place up. I'm getting cold", Connor points at the wax candle at the window.
Kohta shrugs and does as he says. His index finger catches on fire, but it's much more controlled than the strangers. He carefully lights the candle and blows out the flame on his index finger.
Connor watches but isn't entirely impressed. Instead, he looks down at the letter.
"Have you ever read any of her letters?"
"No, I don't want to invade her privacy. Despite what you say, I still have a chance. But if I do something stupid like that then I'd blow every chance out of the water", for once Connor's tone is serious.
Kohta shrugs, "Well, that's boring".
"You're always trying to start stuff, why?"
"Because it's fun".
"You're a terrible, terrible human being. I hope you know that".
"Of course I know that", Kohta laughs, "I wouldn't have become a Beastfallen if I already wasn't scum!"
Suddenly, the carriage lurches forward causing Connor to fall forward. Kohta stands strong, but even he's somewhat surprised by the sudden movement.
Connor gets up from the floor and opens a small window behind his friend.
"Hey! Is everything alright?"
"...Define alright", one of the driver says. Connor follows his line of sight but his view is blocked by how small the window is. He closes the window and opens the curtains.
He's greeted by a man burning on a cross. Although the words unclear from their position, it's obvious his screams are for help. A small group of people cheer his death, they curse and spit on him. The poor man continues to melt at the cross.
Connor shuts the curtains, he looks at Kohta. His eyes are full of concern.
"It's fine", he says while he clenches his fist, "It's like I said. I wouldn't have become a Beastfallen if I wasn't prepared for the consequences".
"Even so, nobody deserves to die like that".
Kohta tilts his head and smiles, "Some people do. Like me".
"Don't say that", Connor scowls, "You have a terrible personality, but you're not a murderer".
"You don't know what".
"And even if you are a killer, you're still my friend".
"Even if I killed somebody you loved?"
"Yes, I would still consider you a friend", Connor sits back down, "This conversation is actually a perfect segway for something I've been needing your help with".
"You know how I am, if you've got the money then I've got the time".
Connor frowns, but he doesn't say anything in response.
"So, what's the question?"
Master Connor takes in a deep breath, then lets it out in a soft, sigh. He stares right back at the mercenaries daring eyes.
"I need you to kill somebody".
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