Zik perched atop a bench on the sidewalk with blood shot eyes that scanned the passing traffic. Clutched tightly in his hands was a tiny flask made from some unknown alloy.
He glanced at it incredulously before raising it's bottom up and taking a swig from it.
".... fucking hell!!" he cursed loudly as the liquid scorched his throat. A few pedestrians threw curious glances his way but he paid them no mind, he was going to have a higher status than them after all...if he survived what was to come.
He got up from his sitting position before tossing the flask, spilling the last of it's content on the pavement and drawing more stares.
He really didn't know what people got from alcohol and now that he had tasted it all he felt was disgust. Still he needed it's boost of false confidence for his next course of action and yet he couldn't help but lament
"What a waste of precious credit..." He mumbled as he shook his head slightly before heading down the street
Garbed in a plain T-shirt with a matching pair of pants Zik didn't look out of place in this part of the city but he didn't blend in either.
In this part of town populated by the rich and powerful where the random passerby was outfitted with glittering designer brands and the likes he didn't really belong here and so a bubble of space was formed around him as not one of those rich snobs wanted to get themselves tangled with a middle class "filth" like him.
Yet, Zik continued along his path unbothered. The most they could do to him in this neighborhood was this little bit of social isolation which was nothing compared to what awaited him.
After walking for about thirty minutes, Zik arrived at his destination.
A towering wall at the end of the street spanning a length of about half a kilometer and a height of about 20 meters. A gigantic gate was rooted in the middle of the massive walls serving as a passage way of sorts and right on top of the gates, a placard was mounted it's words written in bold letterings that were hard to miss. It read
"CALLUM CITY ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT, VON CLAN"
Standing directly in front of the towering gates Zik could feel the weight of the decision he was about to make. His shoulders tensed, his pulse thundered against his ribs threatening to burst out of his chest, his breath hitched, shallow and uneven. He was having a panic attack and he knew it but then just as he was about to give in to his fear and turn around the gates emitted a large groan as countless gears began moving to open the massive door.
A soft voice but firm voice resounded in his mind
"Get in before the gate closes, kid"
The voice was soft but it was enough to snap Zik out of his spiral as he took various deep breaths before stepping through the gates with large strides.
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Hey guys.
Author here.
Really short chapter? Yeah I know. It's more of an introduction to set the tone. See y'all in the next.