'Two against one? And I can't even dodge out of this circle? This is basically an execution!'
Darien thought he'd have to play along in order for them to have a good time like always. It wasn't as if they would actually harm him with their weapons.
He adjusted his stance inside the marked arena Jakob had drawn for him and prepared his mind to rely on
But just then, Darien noticed a group of silhouettes sailing across the field in their direction. He recognized them immediately—their swaggering gait, bouncing shoulders, and laughing faces.
'What?! Not them!'
"The Ash Rats are here. Let's run now."
Darien lowered his voice and began to step back. It was never too late to flee from the Ash Rats, even though they were advancing quickly. He warned his friends because he knew they had no chance of escaping unlike him.
"Really, Darien? Trying to run from the spar this way?"
"Yeah, very nice excuse."
Jakob and Mirielle weren't buying it! They smirked and rolled their eyes, ridiculing what they assumed was his fright.
'Why don't they believe me?'
'I'll just run and they'll chase after!'
Darien spun around—only to spot two more of the Ash Rats cutting across from the rear. Jakob and Mirielle froze, their sneers vanishing, replaced by stunned realization.
But it was too late to flee now.
The Ash Rats closed in on them with speed when they noticed Darien's alertness. They gathered the three children ruthlessly by fanning out to trap them. The circle then tightened, shoving Jakob and Mirielle back into the middle as they attempted a last-minute escape.
"Where do you think you're going, little scums?"
One of them barked as he shoved Jakob without compassion. Jakob almost tripped from the force. Another jabbed Mirielle with the blunt end of his stick.
"Trying to run? Hah! You three must think this field belongs to you!"
None of the Ash Rats even bothered to lay a hand on Darien. They knew from experience it wouldn't amount to anything. He was too quick, too slippery. It felt like trying to grab water with bare hands.
In every previous encounter, Darien had darted away before they could so much as corner him. It wasn't worth their effort anymore, so they focused their cruelty on Jakob and Mirielle, who had been their favored targets for months even before Darien entered the picture.
Jakob's bamboo spear was yanked from his grip, and Mirielle's bow was snatched, leaving both of them defenseless. They were shoved back into the circle as Vallic, the leader, stepped forward with a smug grin plastered across his face.
"Well, well, if it isn't the brave little hero from yesterday! Did you think we'd forget how you got in our way, huh?"
The tallest Ash Rat, the leader—Vallic—jeered satisfactorily. He was in his mid-twenties, an Unawakened, but an Ascended knight—that Darien was sure of. This was why Vallic had great fighting skills compared to the average person dwelling in Lanthold.
Darien couldn't say the same for the other Rats. His system only granted him the innate appraisal ability to inspect items and beasts, not other people. Perhaps, Darien could make that skill as well.
"Albino, won't you leave? Is today special?"
Darien didn't flee because he wasn't the only person being harassed. If he had been the only victim, he would have left the moment he saw them approaching.
But it was because Jakob and Mirielle were involved—that was why he stayed. His absence would've meant not knowing what they'd do to his friends, since the Ash Rats' reputation was far from clean.
'If I also run to get help, they'd drag them off to someplace else.'
Darien refused to hand over his wooden sword when it was demanded. He pointed it at Vallic's throat.
"Leave us alone."
Darien was met with a dark response. Vallic chuckled, his broken lip curling.
"Leave you alone? Maybe you should ask your friend here why we're really here. Tell 'em, Jakob! Or should I?"
"What did Jakob do?"
"He broke one of ours' nose yesterday, with this cheap bamboo stick of his!"
Jakob wanted to attack, but two Ash Rats held him tight. Darien didn't like one bit the way they restrained both friends, but he resolved to end this quickly, even if it meant going one-on-eight with these grown youths.
"Liar! Darien, ask him what they were doing!"
Darien didn't even need to ask. He already knew the Ash Rats' ways, because they were widely infamous in the low district.
The Ash Rats weren't an actual gang by name, but rather a loose band of young men who thrived on fear and extortion. They roamed the low district daily, picking easy targets, pretending to be from the middle district's enforcement squads to scare off opposition.
It was a trick that worked far too often, especially with how well they dressed compared to the ragged commoners. They extorted merchants for "tolls," harassed anyone who couldn't pay, and delighted in humiliating those too weak to fight back.
Darien once witnessed them tie up a street vendor to a post and leave him out in the rain just because he couldn't cough up the pieces they sternly demanded. It was Darien who alerted a senior, and together, they helped release the poor man.
Stealing money from children was their specialty, alongside other vile acts that were heavily looked down on by the gods. They were, of course, one of the reasons Madame Faewyn protected her granddaughter, Mirielle.
Vallic was the leader—this was the head eight, although there were a few more not in attendance.
Darien hated Vallic with all his might. Both of them had developed a very strange chemistry of hatred over the week. There was this unexplainable, twisted connection between them: Vallic saw Darien as that untouchable small child who made a fool of him, and Darien saw Vallic as his first true archnemesis in Eldermead.
If the sword were of steel and not wood, Darien wouldn't hesitate to thrust it through.
Jakob and Mirielle were forced to their knees, and their pockets were searched for money. Jakob received a hard blow to his stomach that made him grunt and double over, while Mirielle cried out, struggling against the rough hands that held her.
Darien didn't like the sight of unjust cruelty.
"Enough."
The Ash Rats froze their nefarious acts, while their leader, Vallic, smirked at Darien's audacity.
"How much to leave us alone? I've got some money for bail."
The young silver-haired boy tabled his request coldly, because he knew money and pride were all that the Ash Rats were about. He expected mutual reciprocation, and he received it without delay, as if Vallic had already put that in mind before approaching.
"Two gold pieces. For each of them. Pay up, little dove. I plan on breaking your friend's teeth."
'Two gold? Shameless robbers.'
Darien clenched his jaw, but he released the sword without uttering a word. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out slightly less—three gold and eight silver.
The coins were tossed into the air, and Vallic caught them with a grin. He quickly counted, narrowed his eyes at the missing silvers, then arrogantly scoffed before nodding.
"Smart child. I've always liked you. You've got guts…"
As Vallic turned, he proclaimed that Mirielle's bow would not be returned. It was pretty and would be of good sale, unlike Jakob's bamboo spear that could be seen anywhere.
"Give it back!"
Mirielle cried, but one of the Rats yanked her hair hard enough to make her whimper, while another kicked Jakob in the back, sending him sprawling to the grass. The Ash Rats laughed and began to walk away happily and without a care in the world.
'Utter fools. I'll turn the tables next time.'
Darien thought as he watched their backs disappear. Jakob and Mirielle staggered to their feet, brushing dirt off their clothes.
"Thanks, Darien… those bastards never quit."
"All they'll do with the money you gave them is waste it on booze."
"Do you know which tavern they usually go to?"
Darien asked with intrigue. If he knew where these hooligans got drunk, then he might put an end to them and their vile acts in the low district.
"Yeah. There's a place called Red Boar, just on the border of the middle district, close to here. You can't miss it. There's a filthy red sign, always loud."