Terror Three - Windtouched

Terror Three - Windtouched

Terror Three - Windtouched

Go away, girl, one of the thugs says.

Im not calling him a thug to be insulting or anything, thats what he is.

[Gael - Of the North Quarter]

Initiate Dockworker

Initiate Thug

I eye him and his two buddies up. They all have two classes, nothing above Initiate. That makes them... kinda really weak. They all look adult too, though one of them is young enough that he might just be an older teen.

Im beginning to wonder if everyone is this weak here. Mom wouldnt be too happy if I reached adulthood and was only at Initiate. It would be a bad showing.

Actually, Im not sure she would be displeased so much as disappointed. I have a good Mom, the sort who probably wouldnt mind if I decided to change careers one morning.

Hey, kid, did you hear me? Geal asks.

Hey, Geal, look at her clothes, the other older guy says. He gestures at my cloak and the clothes beneath.

Theyre nothing special, just some plain riding skirts split down the middle and a clean blouse. I suppose they do have some embroidery. Iris and edelweiss and lavender, all carefully sewn into the edges and hems with silver thread.

Oh, right, this is probably really expensive. He thinks Im rich.

Well, that or the man knows enough about flowers to recognize the patterns, then happens to know what each sort of flower means. I can barely keep track of that myself, so Im thinking this random thug doesnt know.

I literally just need to know where the Temple of Darkness is, I say. You guys can go back to... uh. I tilt to the side to see past the thugs. It looks like theyd been kicking the snot out of someone.

Kind of awful, but Im not here to police this city.

Geal shifts from foot to foot, then shakes his head. Go away, girl.

I shrug. Alright.

Geal! Shes rich.

You want the whole city guard all riled up because we hurt some nobles get? Geal hisses back.

Oh hey, hes not stupid.

No need to hurt her, Geals buddy says. He steps past and grins at me before a knife slips out of the dirty cuff of his shirt. How about it, girl? Care to be a little charitable?

No thanks, my gold is for me to spend.

I think Ive made a mistake. Theres a flash in their eyes, and I can almost taste the greed in the air.

What was it? Do I look too weak? No, it had to be the mention of gold.

Of course. Gold is worth a lot, and these guys probably dont see anything bigger than Mortimer-minted silver coins passing around.

Gentlemen, I think youre about to make a very big mistake.

I can see the thug with the knife hesitating. Im stronger than he is, just out of sheer level. I have fewer classes, but thats not too impressive.

I can feel my lips twisting up, and I allow raw emotion to flood my core. Disgust. Its what comes easiest in a situation like this, and I dont see why I should wrack myself to feel something more for three idiots like this.

The lump the others had been kicking coughs.

Oh, shoot, was I seen?

As the pile of clothes shifts back, I can see that that wont be a problem.

Its a girl. Maybe my age, maybe a bit younger. Its hard to tell, shes all skin and bones and her clothes look like potato sacs. Her eyes are covered by a grimy bandage.

Actually, I dont think I need to mention the dirtiness of any one part of her, shes entirely filthy. Her hair is matted and tangled, and her clothes are stained and covered in soot. She looks like a mess.

The beating probably didnt help.

Are you okay? I ask.

She smiles. A huge, happy grin. Shes missing a tooth and her lips are bloody, but it doesnt detract from her smile any.

I can, literally, feel the joy radiating off of her.

A Joy mage?

Im okay, miss, she says. Thank you.

Uh, yeah, no problem, I reply. You wouldnt happen to know where the Temple of Darkness is?

I feel bad after saying it. The disgust is leaving me already, and the feelings leave me kind of empty. Im aware, academically, that I should either feel bad for the girl and her situation, or maybe I should be disgusted by the way shes dressed, but I cant manage that right now.

The girls smile twitches. I do.

Oh, cool. Can you tell me where it is, and do you need help?

Ah, I should be okay? They didnt hit me too hard. If someone dies here the guard get angry about it. They didnt want to have to carry me to the Roughs either, so I can still walk.

I nod. If you can lead me to the temple, I can pay you a little.

She perks up, then pushes off the ground to climb to her feet. It looks painful, but she doesnt so much as wince.

Can you see? I ask.

I know my way around.

Somehow, she looks worse standing up than sitting down. I move over to her, but before I can reach out, she shakes her head and raises a hand. Geal and his friends thought that Miss was wearing a nice dress. Im filthy, I wouldnt want to get you dirty.

Oh, I said. Thank you? Whats your name?

This entire thing was really awkward.

My names Felix. She grins. Just a normal beggar from the Roughs.

[Felix - The Blind Joy]

Novice Windtouched

Whats your name, miss?

My name? Oh, Im--

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