The man takes in a deep breath, then starts his monologue:
Beastfallen are people who've been chosen as direct inheritors of powers that belonged to Beasts. Those deities once ruled the world, but due to how fast humans evolved they are confined to the Wild Area. With time, even the Wild Area will be conquered.
Beastfallen, demons, devils, whatever people want to call them are sentenced to death, no matter the age. Children of Beastfallen usually inherit the powers, there have been times where powers aren't passed down, but it's very rare for this to happen. Sometimes, in aggressive Beastfallen clans children who don't inherit it are left to die.
People who do inherit it directly tend to change over the course of time. As mentioned before, the Mark only chooses people who can handle all the evil tendencies. People who are chosen, are indeed the worst of the worst. There have been exceptions, but those people are so few they aren't even worth mentioning.
However, before Beastfallen came crawling out of the mud there were Beasts. Massive animals, gods, or demons nobody is exactly sure what they are. All people do know, is that they had powers that varied from extracting water from the air to being able to kill somebody without ever touching them.
The man sighs, "As you can probably tell, most of us are killed before we have a chance to live. So since I can't live in villages with people I just live with some bandits in the wild area".
"Are you friends with them?"
"Hardly", he scoffs, "We have a strict business relationship. I make a ruckus with my fire and they to do the hell they want", he looks at his wounds, "The last couple of times wasn't so bad, but it looks like this time the knights were prepared for a battle".
"So, is making fire the only thing you can do?"
"...Yeah", he frowns, "Why does it sound like you're disappointed?"
"Oh, well I'm not", Alonso smiles, "That's still pretty awesome. What's not so awesome is you breaking into villages and killing people", Alonso begins to help himself with bandages and ointment.
"Sorry", he says, "But I need to eat, too".
Alonso's eyes wander around. His legs tap the floor and he fiddles with his fingers.
"Do you have another question?"
"Two actually. Is that okay?"
"Sure, ask away".
"Here we go, the first question!" Alonso excitedly says, "Why are you so nice, now? A couple of hours ago you wanted to kill me. Or it sure looked that way. What changed?"
At first, the man is taken aback by the sincerity of this question. Second, he grabs his bandaged stomach and lets out a wholehearted laugh. An emotion that comes straight from the gut, any harder and the wound would have probably opened.
After his display of joy, he answers the question.
"I still have some dignity. You saved me, so it's only fair that I don't act like a dick".
"But that was too fast. Nobody gets that nice in a split-second", the boy winces as he tightens a bandage around his own injuries.
The man nods, "Yeah, I get where you're coming from. I can go back if you want me to".
"No, this is better", he smiles, "Alright, the second question. You ready?"
"Sure".
"What exactly do you mean, living in the Wild Area? From what mom, and now you, are saying: it's suicide to live there, isn't it?"
"Beasts aren't as common as before".
"But they're still deadly, right?"
"For sure. If you find yourself having terrible luck and run into one---you're dead".
"What about the people like you? No offense, but, y'know", Alonso raises an eyebrow at him.
He nods, "Yeah, we'd definitely rob you and use you as a sacrifice if we ever needed it".
"That's nice", he says, "Do you think I could survive a journey through the Wild Area?"
The man ponders for a couple of seconds. He nods his head.
"With your attitude, I give you a ninety to ten chance of survival. If you manage to get your hands on some weapons, maybe those odds will increase. Maybe",
Alonso nods his head, an idea brewing in his head.
"Don't even think about it".
"I wasn't", Alonso says, he eyes him from the corner of his eyes, "Want some food?"
"Always".
"Me too", Alonso laughs, "Hey, by chance do you have anything worth selling?"
"No, not re---"
"Do Beastfallen have bounties on them?"
Like before, Alonso's tone becomes dark and his hazel eyes darken. His body freezes and it's almost as if his body increases in size and strength.
But, as always, these moments come-and-go for the growing Alonso.
The man freezes, due to the shape of his body he's unable to do anything extreme. His fingers tense and he clenches them in case of the worst-case scenario.
Despite the heat of the situation, both of these men stand still, glaring at each other. One almost completely at the mercy of the other, and the other unaware of the weight of the words he just said.
Alonso finally snaps out of it. He blinks multiple times and with each one, the color returns to his eyes.
He scratches his neck, embarrassed by his behavior.
"S-sorry 'bout that. That was an odd question to ask", Alonso walks to the exit, "I don't really care what you'll do from here on out, but I'm going to get some food---Or I'm going to die trying! You can stay here, or leave. Up to you, my dude. Just please, don't mess with my stuff".
With that said, Alonso walks out of the Shantyhouse and into the slums.
***
Alonso stands in line, waiting for his turn at the recycling center. The line seems to extend way past what the naked eye can see. People fight for the closes spots in line and others defend their spots. Of course, some blood is split but for now, no corpses lay on the ground.
The elderly, adults, children, and even entire families wait in line for the possibility to attain some sort of nourishment.
Alonso holds a piece of chainmail armor he found in the slum. Although, the way his knuckles are so bloodied and bruised may suggest something else.
"Alonso?"
The little boy looks over his shoulder, "Oh, hey, how's it going?"
"It's been a while since I've seen you. To be honest I thought you bit the dust on one of those raids".
"I refuse to go out that way. The only death's I'll accept are of old age, or going out in a blaze of glory".
"Well, you-do-you, I guess".
"Would you have been sad if I died?"
The girl shrugs, "Not really", her eyes betray her tone.
A teenage girl scratches her dirty skin. Just like the little boy, her clothes are tattered and her skin is covered in a layer of ash. As a woman in the slums, she keeps her black hair short and wears a tight chest wrap under her tattered clothing to hide any men from having dangerous thoughts.
Isabella sighs, "Not anything fun, man", she sighs, again, "Life is an ass".
"Preach it, sister", Alonso says, "Hopefully, it can get better".
She smacks her lips, "Yeah, I hope so too", she eyes the walls that keep Cora safe from the outside, "I know this is a repeat conversation, but man I'd give anything to go outside. I don't want to live my life inside these walls my entire life".
"But what would you do about the Wild Area? You'd die right away---N-n- offense, but I'm just saying".
"I'd rather die giving my life towards something, than living here and end up doing nothing", Isabella tightens her grip on the shield she carries, "I'm going to get money and leave this place, even if I don't have all the equipment I'll still go".
"What'd you do if you ran into a Beast?"
"That's an easy question! I'd run away!"
"Won't they just catch you and gobble you up?"
"Ha! They can try, but I'm pretty good at running. Doubt those massive animals could catch up to me".
Alonso smiles, but he still believes that dream of hers is a fantasy. But when he looks at the fire in her dark-brown eyes, he can't help but get goosebumps.
Isabella playfully smiles, "I haven't seen you in a couple of months, but I'm surprised you know a lot more about the outside than the last time we spoke. What happened?"
"Oh, that's because I have a weird guest in my home. He doesn't speak much and is way too nice. Actually, now that I think about it, I don't even know his name".
"Yeah, that is kinda weird to let someone inside your home without knowing their name---wait, is he there now?!"
"Yup. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Are you stupid! Of course, there's something wrong with that! What if he robs you or something?!"
Alonso scoffs, "As if I have anything to steal. I mean, he can take the vase and my medical supplies. But there's not much else to steal", for some reason, he giggles, "If he does take that vase, thinking he can use it for something all he's gonna get is a pile of ash".
"Oh, uh", Isabella says, a realization dawning on her, "Samuel died?"
"Yup", Alonso says, "He worked 'till he dropped, the only thing he left behind for me was all those medical supplies. Poor dude".
"The last couple months haven't been good for you, either".
"Nope".
There's a moment of silence as the two reminisce on their pitiful past.
"The offer still stands, if you want to join me in my suicide mission, you can".
Alonso smiles, "I'll think about it".
"Next!"
When you're having fun, time flies. The same goes for a deep conversation with a friend. The two of them have made it to the Recycler, their only source of food for the moment.
"Whatcha got for me kid?"
"Here we go sir", Alonso lifts up the chainmail armor, "I almost died getting this".
"So did everyone else here", he states, he then scoffs, "If only this were untouched, but oh well---Here", the man holds out 15, "This is all that I can offer for it".
"15? Really?"
"Move on kid, there are more people in line. Just be grateful I even gave you something", the recycler grins, showing off his ugly mug, "How about next time you die? Maybe then you can bring something worthwhile".
"That doesn't even make sense".
With great reluctance, he moves out of the way. Isabella steps up and does her transaction. Of course, with the loot she brought the amount she received was much more than the boy.
Alonso stands there with his arms crossed. Isabella playfully sticks out her younger.
"How much did you get?"
"300", she says.
"Woah, lucky".
Isabella scowls, "What do you mean, lucky? I had to work to get this shield! There's no luck in the slums, you should know that!"
Alonso holds out his hands in surrender, "You're right, my bad".
Isabella pinches her nose, "No, you're fine. Sorry for going off on you", a pause follows, "So, what's your plan for today?"
"Well, with 15 there's not much I can do. Maybe get some grub and go right back into the trash mound".'
Isabella frowns, "That's boring".
"For now, that's my life sister".
"Why don't you go towards the Northen Mound? There's much better loot over there".
"Yeaaaahhh, but I don't want to die".
"You won't die, don't be a drama queen", she says, "Look at me, I'm not strong at all but I'm still alive. So, if I can do it, so can you---actually, let's get some food and afterward let's go there together".
"W-wait what?"
Before the boy can show his distress, Isabella grabs his wrist and rushes forwards.
"Hey, I don't want to die, not yet!"
Isabella laughs, "Too bad because you're going to one day! Why not make a ruckus before going out?"
Since Alonso's house is so close to the exit of the slums, he scavengers primarily in the Southern Mounds, the safest of all four sections.
The Northern Mound is a place only the strongest and smartest have the guts to enter. Within this area bandits, murderers, drug dealers, brothels, and the worst of humanity gather. And, a young boy and a sixteen-year-old girl are about to enter it.
Little did Alonso know, that journey was going to change everything.
And not for the better.
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