—Hehehe, here we go, one, two, UP! —Leónidas gave an enormous jump that took him to a tram stop on a higher level.
—Over here, ma’am, let me help you. —Thank you very much, giant, — Leónidas extended his hand to an elderly lady who was struggling to make her way through the tram crowd.
—And here it is, get off carefully, ma’am. —People of different types got off and on, many lived their normal lives, few adventurers came through these parts far from the entertainment sectors, workshops, or team houses.
—Thank you very much, mountain boy, good luck. —The older woman continued her way to the civilian housing sectors.
—Yes, here is my stop too. —Leónidas looked at the side of the illuminated station; a gloomy and lightless alley stretched to one side, ignored by the vast majority; walking several steps into this, he turned right where at the end he found several subjects; from the front, with his hand he pulled aside the fence that succumbed to his strength as if it were grass and wicker.
—Look who arrived, boys. —A man in poor-condition clothes approached Leónidas; his beard and hands dirty with soot were still warm from warming himself in front of the barrel that gave light to the abandoned square.
—Ha, ha, ha, I told you he would come. —said another man with shoes made of newspapers.
—I think the boy is crazy, what did you return for, son? —A lady came out from among several boxes and wood, supported by a cane; her small den barely resisted the weather but at least it kept her covered from the wind.
—Mr. Valper, I have told you not to light cardboard in barrels, it can be dangerous; I brought Geotechnia heaters, here you have them!! —Leónidas took out from his enormous bag five devices wrapped in metal grids that, upon activating a button, emitted a soft and continuous heat.
—Haha, Leónidas, thank you, that was what I told Valper but he didn’t listen to me. —said the man with newspaper shoes.
—Ha, you wish, old geezer, you were the one who brought the barrel. —Leónidas looked a little more among the bags, taking out two water jugs and instant food.
—Hahah, Leo, you are a sweetheart, aa, yes, spicy Naglesh-style noodles, these are the good ones. —The lady, tired, sat on a stone bench in the center of the abandoned square.
—Here you have Mr. Banadis, Mrs. Palmer; I brought medicine for your ear, Mr. Valper. —Leónidas took some medicines and gave them to the gentlemen.
—And where is Mr. Lemin? —Leónidas asked, holding a pair of gloves and a fur hat.
—… —Everyone fell silent.
—Leo… I understand that you want to help, it is more than we deserve; Ifritia is a cold place, and sometimes the nights give us an escape from this situation, it is not always what we would want but… at least it is an option. —Mr. Banadis took Leónidas’s arm.
—U… Understand… —Leónidas was holding in his hand the hat and the new gloves he brought, looking at them fixedly; a sepia tint covered them; the barrel in fire fought inch by inch with the cold of the Thar-Abbys nights.
—Oh, son, don’t feel bad, we are just street people, that is how we live and that is how we die; if it makes you feel good, we could collect money for a funeral, it is in the south mausoleum… take it. —A small napkin with beautiful handwriting in charcoal said: Row 4, Niche 5, Poppies Salon.
—Yes… I… I will go leave his things tomorrow… —Leónidas put away the fur garments and took out some more.
—Here I bring you more, pillows and blankets; my friend Jacob told me that this burner uses few quartz cores, it will be safer than the barrel. —Leónidas moved his hands and body so that they wouldn’t perceive his tears.
—Thank you, Leo, you are a great help, we would like more people to be like you. —Valper gave him a few pats while Banadis did the same on the opposite side.
—But and you, son? Don’t stay in ruins for some old people; if you have money left over, you should find a damsel to lose it on, eeee, he, he, he, he. —Mrs. Palmer gave him a nudge.
—Listen, Leo, tomorrow there is a charity event, I heard it is for a group of children and their family; if you want, we can go help them, what do you think, eh, Muscleman!! —Banadis and Valper gave him encouragement, making strength poses like Leónidas.
—Yes, sounds good, how many kids are there? —Leónidas took a little sparkle: —There are six children, Leo, better save your strength, it’s almost going to rain.
—Yes, it is better to return, take care a lot… Ah, yes, here I leave you these blankets, they are… thermal… for the cold. —Leo sighed a little, standing up, and smiling at them said:
—Then I will see you tomorrow, tell the kids that the amazing Leónidas will go to give a show, for charity!! —
—Hahaha, that sounds like our Leónidas, right boys? hahaha. —Mrs. Palmer and the others watched Leónidas leave; he seemed a little more animated about the next day.
—Cough, cough, COugh, COUGH, COUGH, COUGH, COUGH, COUGH. —Mr. Banadis spat out an enormous blood clot.
—Banadis!!! Are you okay? .. Here, here, did it pass? —Palmer and Valper.
—Yes, I am okay!! It passed. —Banadis breathed deeply, his lungs whistled like a locomotive when the air passed.
—Well, my underwear!! You sound like an old trumpet, you should go to the doctor and your feet are almost dead; the last time I saw them they had worms and that was five days ago. —Palmer looked at him seriously but decided to withdraw.
—Nah, nonsense, I’ve been worse; besides, I’ve lived enough, I’m at the limit. —The gentlemen withdrew, each to their small refuge. Banadis looked at his trembling hands, took out three gold ingots from a fine velvet fabric bag.
—For the children, he, he… I will be a hero like our Leo. —A firm and chiseled smile remained on his face when they found him in that alley.
—Haaaa… I am home, finally. —Mina was returning from the academy; the team house was deserted. Agitating a polished stone stick, Mina turned on the lights of the place; Iluminas flickered with life, bathing the living room and the kitchen of the first floor with light, to then press the radio button looking for music.
—In other news, three trafficking and organized crime cells were dissolved north of the housing sectors, several firearms without registration were secured previously linked to crimes in the academy; I ask, Geno, where is the Director? We haven’t heard anything from him or his board of directors for a while; criminals are on the rise and the Thar-Abbys institution presents a grave conflict of interest where adventurers are put in dang…. —Mina turned off the radio, sighing, threw her jacket and pants on her bed, and took a bath.
—Yes… there is no peace in the city of eternal adventure… —Mina took a quick bath and changed into slightly softer clothes, a pair of pants and a cotton plaid shirt were her choice; she headed to the kitchen and looked at what ingredients she had.
—Jacob invited us, those breads were delicious and helped in the cold.. How was it Bishkiac ??? Here is Biskyash, ha, the recipe book that Ithil bought is really useful. —Mina read the book attentively, it possessed a tab where she could stop it to follow the recipe.
—Yes, I have flour; spices? Pepper, clove, rosemary, parsley… Brandy or Rebril liquor?…. Hum, I think we have a little liquor from Leónidas and Inola, yes, here is Real de Naglesh. —Mina searched among the small stone cellar they had in the kitchen, the size of barely a cupboard, it kept the food and ingredients fresh; it was embedded in the floor on the kitchen wall.
—I think Jacob told me once that this liquor was strong… —Mina set aside a little and put the liquor back in the small cellar.
—And here it is!! Heh, he, he, he, lean beef, I waited all week to make a dish, he, he. —Mina savored the delicious meat with pleasure, chopping it agilely with two knives, she obtained ground meat that she mixed with the spices; she kneaded the flour with water and the liquor and with a little lard made small balls filled with the meat.
—Ready, in the steamer for an hour… I think I’ll sit down to read. —Preparing a coffee, Mina noticed how Leónidas arrived.
—Leo, what’s up? Back from the gym? —Leo gave a thumbs up, cheerful, he answered:
—That’s right, sister Mina, Leónidas made a new record, lifting 950 kilos on the bench; hahah, it was difficult but not impossible. —Leónidas proud, Mina looked at him from the armchair without being amazed.
—How nice, 950… and did you see the first place? There is a score table there. —Mina took her coffee from the coffee maker and let it rest.
—Oo, yes, it seems there is a Golden Demon who lifted 1250, he is in first place; I have to look for him and beat him soon. —Leónidas clenched his fist looking at the sky, his mission to conquer the bench was beginning.
—Hahah, I want to see you try. —Mina looked at him defiantly while the lid of the steamed breads gave soft and loud hops.
—..That hair… those arms… YOU ARE THE GOLDEN DEMON!!! —Leónidas, in shock, opened his mouth.
—Hehehe. —Mina took a sip of her coffee and sat in the armchair.
—Hahaha, Golden Demon, I will see you at the gym eventually; for the moment Leónidas will go take a bath. —
Leónidas went to the second floor, disappearing up the stairs.
—MINAAA… I WAS LIZVA’S FIRST TIME!!!! —Jacob entered violently through the main door excited; Lizva was behind, Jacob’s words made her explode in red from embarrassment.
—PFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTT —Mina spit out the coffee she was drinking and ran in front of Jacob; giving him a blow, she left him dry on the spot.
—LIZVA!!!, DID JACOB TOUCH YOU? ANY PERVERSE EVOCATOR TRICK? JACOB, HOW COULD YOU!! I WILL HANG YOU BY YOUR BOOTS, DWARF!! —Mina was holding Jacob by the boots and was about to hang him when, amazed, she heard the most velvety voice she had ever heard:
—No, don’t do that! Jacob didn’t do anything to me!! —Lizva replied to her while giving small taps with her hands.
—Lizva… YOU CAN SPEAK!! —Mina, amazed, let go of Jacob who fell on his head to the floor.
—YOU MUST SPEAK WELL, JACOB!! Little and ruinous spoiled brat, you scared me!! —Mina scolded Jacob and Lizva for a few moments and ordered them to take a bath. The cold of the rainy afternoon was beginning to be felt; small and very cold drops that to the touch were like small needles; Lizva and Jacob looked at each other like mischief partners and ran to the second floor.
—Hello Mina!! Magaska has returned!! Hummm, Varneth wants to tell you something, oo where are the others? —Magaska, cheerful, took two hops inside the house.
—Aa, Magaska and Varneth, welcome, you can use the bathtub, it’s cold outside, oh, the others? Mm, Leo is here but I think he is going to go out, I won’t go anywhere, Ithil and Inola haven’t arrived yet, they shouldn’t take long and Jacob has already finished his bath. —Mina noticed the bag Magaska was carrying.
—Oh, I see… the others should arrive in time for dinner, let’s wait a little and you will be able to carry out your plan. —Magaska took a potato chip from the platter that Mina had in front of the living room sofa.
—Very well, I will wait…. woaaa, the chips are good. —Magaska took another chip.
—Hahah, sister Mina and sister Magaska, I’ll go out for half an hour, back soon. —Leónidas was carrying two enormous black plastic bags.
—Sure, Leo, we will see you later, dinner today will be as a group, right Magaska? —Mina gave a slight nudge to Magaska; she looked at her with huge eyes and replied:
—Yes, the presence of everyone is requested today, IT IS MANDATORY!! —Magaska said in an important tone.
—Hahah, sure, sisters, I will see you here, I’m leaving and returning!! —Leónidas took the bags and left the house.
—Where is Leónidas going, Mina? —Magaska and Varneth asked, intrigued by the two bags.
—He, I have seen him go out like that a few times but it is a mystery. —Both remained looking while Leónidas was lost in the rainy afternoon.