Far to the east sat the State of Lenan. Free in name, not bound by any organization and especially world government. Yet wreathed in practice. The word freedom here doesn't exist. Being Free here meant hunger, filth and a man learning to barter his bones for coins.
'Curses, when will I be free from this hellhole'
Kael was a member of white scar unit in the town Liana, one of the towns of Lenan. His role in all of the missions was being meat-shield, bait and picking up bags of the fighters. Just to earn a few pennies, he had to put his life on the line.
'Geez, 5 coppers? That's not a wage. It's charity with their spit on it. Honestly I am going to kill them.'
If Kael could, he would have done it long ago. But he was not strong enough to face the members of his unit. That was the bitter truth. They were seasoned warriors, veteran. while Kael was just an amateur, newbie.
While he had just started to train himself. His newly developed muscle tissues were not something to boast about yet not something to be ashamed of.
The salary Kael got from working hard the whole day was barely enough to keep him afloat. His expense was not much despite the fact that Kael always dreamt of living in a luxurious apartment and eating extravagant,lavish meals. This Idea was enough to keep him living and enduring this hell. He could only eat a meal once a day or two if he was lucky to get his share from missions.
Kael was on his way to his shed, thinking about the food he was going to eat. He was especially excited because he was going to eat meat. Yes, real meat. He had to spend his entire month of savings to eat this delicious meal.
But he couldn't show his joy on his face as there were too many people who could just steal his food and kill him on the street. In a hurry, he crashed into a soldier who was coming from his opposite side.
'Ouch, this basta- crashed onto me on purpose'
"I am sor—"
Just as Kael was about to complete, A Fist as big as a brick reached his face as fast as a bullet. Kael could not see any movement and the fist struck Kael's face like an iron hammer. Kael fell to the ground and acted as being unconscious to avoid trouble.
"Hey Kid! Where are you from? huh?"
The Soldier kicked Kael who was on ground, and kept hitting. Blood ran out from Kael's mouth,nose and bruises appeared on his face as though it was swollen. Yet the soldier did not stop hitting him. The soldier unsheathed his sword and struck him on his head with the hilt of the sword.
The pain flowed in his body like oxygen in blood. His ribs screamed from pain with every kick. Kael spattered blood. He was gulping the blood to quench his thirst which he had to endure for 3 days as the squad members didn't provide him water. His ribs were severely broken, His chest was becoming heavy. But he was pretty much used to it due to heavy damages done on him while doing the task of meat-shield and baits. At least his body had become somewhat durable.
His breathing became terrible, heavy. He was slowly running out of oxygen. His insides were going crazy.
'Hah- Hahhauhhh- Ugh It hurts,This guy is probably from black feather squad which is a rival of white scar and that's why he is letting out his anger on me who is in white scar unit.'
The soldier kept hitting Kael, the people on the street were having fun watching this. Kael did not take the hits too seriously. He was used to this as it was a daily occurrence for him. He just wanted to go home quickly and then train crazily to get revenge for all of this. But Kael had enough of it. He stood up, glared at the soldier with piercing eyes.
"Fuck don't hit on my face!"
As he finished talking another bullet struck him exactly on his face. Bullseye.
'Aw man, he hit me in the face again. Lets just fall over to quickly end this, shall we? It hurts…. I guess I will have to take 2 first aids with the meat.'
Suddenly a familiar voice full of vigor came.
"What are you doing? Don't you know he is a member of White scar unit?"
'From where this barbaric guy popped up, it was all about to end.'
He was Theo, One of the town's strongest and also Second-in Command of our unit. He was tall, His hair was red matched with his red shirt which was made from the leather of a horrendous beast he had hunted a few weeks ago. On top of that he wore a white robe with a symbol of the white scar squad on it. Pretty much it was their uniform but he wanted to wear it flashily.
"Erm… He purposely pushed me… while I was going and when I asked him to apologise he just stood there."
The soldier hesitated and started sweating down his neck. Yet he recklessly said while avoiding Theo's eyes.
'Son of a Liar! You didn't even give me time to apologise.'
"So he just pushed you…. and that was enough reason for you to beat him up that mercilessly? Should I also beat you up?"
Theo's anger rose seeing that the members of black feather were beating his squad members that openly and mercilessly. He reached out his hand to his back to pull his greatsword but he was blocked by a man appearing out of thin air.
He was the strongest person in this town. Unaffiliated with any unit. He hunts alone and lives alone. He was pale, tender yet Taller than the barbaric Theo who was known for his height. He had a single blasphemous weapon. A dagger.
It was not the first time Kael had seen him, Kael had multiple interactions with him when he was exercising and training his body in the nearby forest. His name was— There were whispers in the whole street. Townspeople were left flabbergasted.
"Hey, isn't that Denver? Why did he appear now? Rumor has it that he killed an entire sword unit because they were not interesting. Something big is going to happen."
There were all kinds of whispers in the street. Some unbelievable, Some underwhelming.
"Let's not escalate this, Okay? Theo."
Denver said this in a calm tone but Kael could see what he meant. On Denver's appearance, crowds kept gathering in the street. He was not a man who could be seen easily.
People were eager to see him in action. Power meant everything afterall. fame,wealth,authority… everything.
Deep in the heart Kael was envious of the power Denver had. This was one of the reasons he wanted to become powerful. He wanted Freedom like Denver had.
"Or… what?"
Theo became furious by Denver's tone. His veins were bulging out due to his anger.
'What the Hell! Was Theo this tall?'
"Are you sure you want to fight here? the people won't be safe if we start fighting here."
Denver said in a calm tone as if Theo's anger did not worry him even a little. Theo took time and looked at his surroundings and shook his head. He saw a little girl trembling, clinging behind her mother's skirt. Everyone in the street was looking at Theo.
"Oh…..Oh! Excuse me for my rudeness."
Theo looked apologetically and bowed his head little to his neck as if refusing to bow any lower. Denver smiled and patted Theo's shoulder. Kael was still laying down on the ground and acting unconscious while the soldier just stood there astonished by the series of actions that happened because of him.
'Ugh… forget meat, this was more interesting. This encounter between the two strongest men of the town was really rare.'
Kael's stomach growled so loudly due to hunger. He was embarrassed if someone would hear it.
"Its alright theo, no need to be sorry"
Denver said in a mocking tone.
"Coming back to the matter of your squad member. Shouldn't we leave it for them to settle on their own? that's how humans grow after all."
"I meant that we should follow the commandments of the Lenan and organise a Duel between the soldier and Kael."
Denver looked at Kael with a mocking face and smiled indifferently. Denver's face looked like this was very interesting. As if all the boredom had gone from Denver's life. Denver was always bored wherever he went. He used to find it interesting whatever happened to Kael.
'Done! I am done for! Let's look at the bright side. I can avoid people at least for today so that no one can steal my meat'
Theo scratched his back of head, pondered for a minute and made a decision.
"Alright…you know If you bring in the commandments of the Lenan, I cannot refuse."
They both glanced at the soldier expecting yes as the answer. But of course, the soldier has nothing to fear. Kael was weak as hell. There was a difference between the land and a building, if not sky.
'Can you ask me whether I want to duel or not….
How did this come to this? These bastards know I cannot hold my own against him for even a minute.'
Denver smiled and looked at the people in the surrounding.
"Okay so it is decided, There will be spar between Kael and the Soldier tomorrow in the morning near the plaza. According to the commandment of Lenan, Whoever wins shall have complete reign over others body,possession and soul. Whoever breaks commandments will be considered a serious offender and will be met with direct execution as laid by the 'Vran the code bearer'."
'Huh? Rei- reign what? What the hell are the commandments of the Lenan? Why was I never told about this? I am going to end up being a slave of that soldier? No way! I would rather die than be a slave.'
Soon the whole crowd started shouting altogether. Their voices and their stomping resonated with the ground creating a terrifying ear-deafening sound.
It was the rumbling of titans, the whole street felt alive. Chanting.
"Commandments of the Lenan! Commandments of the Lenan!"
'It seems like there is no choice. First I will have to find out what commandments are to avoid being executed during any mishaps happening during duels. Secondly I will have to devise a plan that could guarantee my victory. Even if that plan turns out to be cheating or evil. It doesn't matter. But first I'll savor the meat.'
Kael steeled his…..resolve… or hunger in one way or two.
Theo came and picked Kael up on his shoulders. Theo whispered in his ears.
"You're awake, aren't you?"
Kael was shocked by being caught and that too was not by Denver but by a barbaric bastard who just agreed to betting his team member's life.
"Stop acting. I know you're awake."
Theo stared at Kael for a minute or two and was about to toss him to the wall of the street.
"Fine, then. Keep sleeping."
"I am awake! I am awake! You moronic barbaric of a vice leader."
However the rude words Kael used, Theo still let it slide.
Theo smiled indifferently for a few seconds and then he was back to his usual self. He stared at Kael.
"Don't you think you were quite rude to me just now?"
"You call that rude? huhhhh? bastard? you just bet my life on tomorrow's duel. You literally know I won't be able to win."
Theo and Kael exchanged fierce glares at each other.
"Okay Fine, I am sorry. Alright? But It was wrong of you to throw me in the 'campfire'."
Theo smiled and turned his head away in remorse.
"What? You don't think you can win? Should I cut your throat here and now to save you from dying with embarrassment or living with embarrassment."
He was not joking. If Kael had told him to do so, he would have killed him at this instant. Theo's tone got more strong and clear. Theo made an indifferent face devoid of emotions.
"Listen Kael!"
"You lack desperation. To survive in this harsh world. You don't need petty resolve or courage. You need to be desperate to burn alive. Just for the sake of being alive."
Theo pulled his gigantic greatsword from his back and thrust it into the ground. Just its impact made the tremors across the street. He glared at Kael menacingly.
"If you're scared then run away while you can. Don't appear tomorrow just to lose your and my team's face if you don't even plan on winning."
After completing what Theo wanted to say, he disappeared into the shadows of the street.
Kael was left alone on the street. Repeating what Theo just told him. It wasn't just words. They were power in itself.
'He is right. I was just too passive all this time. After all, I alone managed to survive this far because I was desperate. Desperation to survive and achieve my goal.'
Kael's eyes glittered with enlightenment. He sat down for 4 Hours. Finding Clarity and the Goal he initially had in his heart. After sitting there for 4 hours, he finally realised what he was missing. The Goal he had since the beginning when he was alone. He grabbed his amulet dancing inside his cloth and stared at it.
Kael clenched his hand and then slapped his face. He stood up but the pain from the hits from the soldier did not vanish. His ribs contracted as if trying to bulge out from this enormous pain. His head was swollen, there were bruises all over his body, His right shoulder was dislocated. But he still felt light.
'Ouch It hurts. I guess I will definitely have to take more than 3 first aids with meat. Talk about useless expenses in dire situations. I wonder if I will be able to reach home.'
Somewhere in the corners of dark alleys of the street. Theo was staring into the darkness.
"Is that enough?
I said what you told me to. Just like I had recruited him into my team. Now stop bothering me and my team. That kid is going to die anyway."
***
Somehow he reached his shed which was small and big enough for him to take cover in and sleep. The moment of expectation had arrived. He was finally able to eat the meat he had dreamt for months.
After fully savoring the meat which instantly melted in his mouth after putting it inside. Just after he finished eating, he took a bottle of medicine and gulped multiple pills at once. It was painkiller pills.
Someone knocked on the door. Kael instantly washed his mouth and cleaned all the things so nobody could tell he ate meat.
After cleaning, he went to open the door which could hardly be called a door. If the visitor wanted to, the door would have fallen off just by a heavy knock yet the knock's sound echoed unnaturally with just minimal force on the door.
Kael opened the door. An unexpected guest had arrived.
It was Denver.