Chapter 104: House that Matters

"People without a House live in the slums, kid," Glenn told Ned. Lightly hitting the horse's hind. The carriage slowly approached the east gate. "Creating or joining a House anywhere in the city of Bogblot will protect you by its law. Of course, you will be taxed. But the freedom it gives you is far greater than the tax itself. Freedom to walk the streets, exclusive items only sold to Houses, and Hunters get more with it. They will be taxed less from selling monster parts."

Ned sighed pondering things. A House, huh. Freedom to walk the street. Repeating the words, Glenn uttered in his mind. I need it to find the man who knew about the Mark.

"Well," Glenn said. Pulling a piece of paper, folded in square, out of his pocket. "If you think you don't need it, then join someone's House. But, be wary, kid. Joining someone's House means you are entitled to carry out the House Jobs."

"What about your House, Glenn sir?" Ned said.

Before Glenn could answer, the carriage came to a halt beside the glaring guard. The guard which Glenn waited before entering the gate.

"Where to?" The man said, receiving the piece of paper. He unfolded the cramped paper and gave a recognized look at Glenn. Whereas, Glenn remained silent.

Burned skin, messy hair, and an impatient look. The guard eyed Glenn and the insides of the carriage. He nodded and waved a hand, signaling the other guards that our carriage was clear to enter the city. Before he returns the paper, the guard pulled silver under the folded paper.

"Next!" The guard said. Signaling Glenn to move on his way.

Ned's carriages stopped under the iron gate, they waited as the guard pulled iron levers and gears. Then one of them signaled Glenn to proceed.

The horse seemed to be overridden with joy as it stomped its way into the inlaid road. Ned could smell a strong whiff of burned bricks, dried herbs, and a redolence of mixed ambiguity.

The city was bustling with recognized outfits. Merchants of different levels cried as the Hunters made their way into the shop.

Two to three storey structures wore dried mosses, vines shove their way between the cracks of the building. While fat trees randomly grew between here and there, some along the edges of the bricked roads, others beside the buildings, and markets.

The clock strikes high in the middle. But the humid inside the city was brisking. It proves as Ned wore his cloak without having to drop a sweat. The city was surrounded by forests and swamp, and canals were abundant, that the city made it as a system of transportation; for both heavy loading and citizens travel.

"You won't," Glenn said, responding to Ned after some time. Striking the horse to turn around a narrow alley. "If you do, you'll never leave Bogblot. My House works here. My master's House." Glenn revised himself.

After a couple of hours of treading the slums, or the outer layer, Ned and Glenn made their way in the middle of Bogaressi. A place where a mix of people traded with different crafts. Be it Hunters, merchants, lesser nobles, freeborn, and some lucky citizens from the slum. They all trade in the middle.

The horse neighed and stopped at a shop, designed with perfect craftsmanship of woodwork. Circular patterns, angles with perfect sides labeled the owner to be a master craftsman. The shop wasn't massive due to the illusion of two taller buildings squeezing it in the middle.

Glenn parked the withered carriage outside the shop. The shop that labeled 'House of Wood' was stationed with only a single attendant as Ned and Glenn pushed their way inside.

Ned stumbled upon a hint of vanilla and cedar as the door of wood pushed open. Racking chairs, tables made of coiling wood presented themselves in a dusty manner. Never been sold. Ned thought as he eyed one of the cabinets with stained glasses and dusted surface.

"I'm here to buy a chair," Glenn said. Presenting a silver coin at the lady attendant.

Contrary to the furniture shop, the attendant wore a high end set of garments. From the looks, the silk of her vest was smooth, her hair, although curly, was tied neatly and looked presentable.

"Would you like the chair made of ash-wood, redwood, springwood, or smoked wood?" The lady attendant said, her voice was at twenty. Direct and honest. Or was she?

"Smoked, please," Glenn said in response.

The lady wasn't bothered by how Glenn looked with his healing scratches and sliced clothing. Instead, she was more concerned about the silver presented in front of her. She lifted a brow and said. "This is not enough, do you know how much a smoked wood cost, good sir?"

Glenn turned his plumped neck to Ned. "Kid," he said. "Decide now, will you found your House or join?"

As if his round voice wasn't enough, he turned towards Ned. "Don't worry, kid," he said convincingly. "What we're doing here is not against the law of the Great House of Soak. Some genius exploited a flaw in the system, which allowed him to create Houses with less charge. You can always disband your house—if ever you created one. Simply come back here, sign some papers, and that's it. No more House."

[Found a House, Ned.]

ICE chimed to be persuasive within his thought.

[It will be much faster to find Roy if you found a House.]

I will found a House, ICE. Ned replied, echoing. It's just that, I don't know what to name it.

[What comes first in your thoughts when you want to found a House?]

[Does it bother you?]

Yes, actually. For me, this isn't just a House. I might carry the name of it for the rest of me. Ned sighed.

"Kid," Glenn said. Breaking Ned's thoughts.

"Yes," Ned replied in haste. "I'll be founding it."

"That would be thirty silver," Glenn said to the attendant.

The attendant nodded and smiled. An honest smile. "Please wait as I process your request." The attendant left through the plain door at her back.

"You heard the lady," Glenn said approaching Ned from the cabinet. He held a three-finger across his chest. "That would be thirty silver, kid. So, do you have a name?"

Ned nodded. But, Ned, he himself wasn't sure what to name his House yet. It should be a House that matters. Ned thought. Yanking the tie of his pouch strapped on his waist and pulled the silver with a fist. Never thought it would be this expensive. Ned shook his head and handed the bunch silver to Glenn.

"Your lucky kid," Glenn said. Receiving the silver. "Aside from nobles of middle Houses, and some distinguished merchants, and of course, Hunters. Almost, no one could found a House. Not without this, of course." Waving his hand filled with silver.

"Glenn sir," Ned said, inspecting Glenn. "I could make it on my own here, why bother waste time and accompany me?"

Glenn pulled Ned's cloak and walked near the door. Beside the door was a window of thick glass, carriages, and merchants passed by across the shop.

Ned shook his head. So that's it. He thought. "How much did they gave you, Glenn sir?"

Glenn smirked. "It's not how much," he said subdued. "But how many."

Ned cocked a brow. "Was it worth your time?"

"More," Glenn said with a sunny smile. "In fact, I could rest for a year with it. Accompanying you kid is more than the worth of twenty silver. But, since I'm feeling bliss. Seven is more than enough."

Ned cocked his head and smiled. "So, what was it? Seafoam ale? Island waves?"

"None of the two," Glenn said, shaking a head. "Better."

"Seafoam Crown?"

"No."

"Winter Blend?"

"No, kid. Try harder."

Aside from wine, I don't know others tasted. Ned thought. "Princess Peach?"

Glenn nodded. "And the other one."

Ned smiled. "Maiden's Cocktail."

"Ten," he said. Raising both of his hands. "They gave me two-barrel for now. But the blue hair pirate said the rest will come maybe next month or two. And an added twenty barrel of Princess Peach. Now you know why my smile reached my ears. I'm going to rival those medium Houses for a year. Maybe, start my own tavern with it. See? That's why accompanying you, is more than worth my time." He laughed and patted Ned's shoulder.

If only my life was that simple. Ned thought. But, seeing Glenn's honest smile, Ned could only shake a head.

The door behind them cracked open. The attendant came along with an old man. Gray hair, but wasn't due to aging, a natural gray, a handsome man during his prime age.

"Who will it be?" Said the old.

Glenn approached the old man, gave the thirty silver, walked back, and patted Ned's shoulder and pushed him toward the two. "We'll depart from here, kid," Glenn said. Smiled, walked outside, and left a blinking eye to Ned. "Thank you, and may the Maker helped you find Roy."

Ned bowed and smiled in response to Glenn's and turned around at the old man. "That would be me."

"I guess so," said the old man. He then waved a hand gesturing Ned to follow him. "Come."

They exit the shop passing along kitchens of some sort and entered another dimly lit alley. After almost a minute of ten, passing different alleys, Ned was stopped by the old man near an iron door. He knocked. Paused, knocked. And paused. And knocked. The door opened after the third knock and gestured Ned to go inside.

Ned followed another man, plump, yet having an air of efficiency.

There it is, again. Ned thought. Knitting his silver brows under the dimly lit passage. Ned focused and tried to sense the people around him. To his surprise, he could feel nothing. Same as Glenn. Ned thought. I can't feel anything from them. Like nothing. They don't exist. No energy, no intent of some kind. ICE—

Before he could order his system, Ned was ordered to enter another shop. The passage was shadowed by towering structures. Faintly lit by the sun. Ned entered the shop and hoped that it would be the last.

"That would be the last," the plump man said. "Now, go."

Upon entering, Ned was welcomed by a male attendant seated in the center of the glass room. They seemed to be near the center of the city since the structures outside the tainted glasses were different from what Ned had seen. Well maintained, trees planted neatly, and the street wasn't crowded with random people.

"If you may, guest," said the male attendant in a smooth and well sewn pale-green suit. He was pointing at the chair across his table.

Ned, in black and black, sat on the well-cushioned chair. Dividing the two with a table cleared of other unnecessary tools but only a piece of paper and a quill.

"Guest," he said. "Please fill the paper with the name of your House."

Ned ran the quill in his finger and paused. 'What comes first in your thoughts' he remembered ICE's suggestion.

Unbeknownst to Ned, his hand moved as if it has a life of his own. He has been thinking about the Empire on which he was first created. He seemed to can't forget the old him in his old place. It was like Ned was drifting on his own. He snapped, and read the writings he himself wrote. He wasn't feeling reserved or regret.

I don't need to forget my past. He thought and smiled. Ned felt satisfied and said. "House of Sskat."