The shopkeeper had the old man's ear but he wasn't only talking to the old man. His words were meant for Zane too.
"Never forget where you belong."
Zane bit his lip.
The shopkeeper darted his eyes away and let go of the old man.
The old man cried, apologized again and with the ashbread still in his mouth, he picked up his sack and stumbled out of the line.
The shopkeeper straightened up and went back to the counter.
"Why did you call us here? I have other things to do too." Xavier spoke.
Zane frowned. He didn't understand this man at all.
He would throw a stone at a rich or possibly a Halocrat girl, he would argue with the Priest, he would throw a whole person to their death to save Zane.
And yet, not once did he focus on the pitiful old man taking a beating for a thing he didn't even do.
The other gutterborns in line, they simply moved forward to take their chance of getting food forgetting how one of them got humiliated a few seconds ago,
Why do we keep going through this? Just stop taking the food.
That's one of the reasons Zane never stood in such lines.
Yes, earlier he thought free food wasn't that bad of a deal. But seeing the situation, he remembered why he never accepted the deal.
He would brickhaul one hour extra instead of filling his stomach with humiliation.
"Right. You two." The shopkeeper spoke. "You were the one of the flamers who joined the prayer today, right?"
"Yes." Xavier answered.
Zane nodded too.
But the shopkeeper only focused on Xavier. Not looking at Zane at all.
"So you witnessed something horrifying. That's why by the orders of the Priest Horum you two will get special blessings. Your belief saved you from death. The First Flame would like us to reward you."
Zane jerked his head at the line.
And what he expected to see, he saw.
The faces of contempt and jealousy.
"What is the reward?" Xavier asked.
The shopkeeper smiled. "You can take as many offerings as you want. Both of you."
Zane squinted his eyes.
"That's really generous of the Priest." Xavier said.
That's why it's suspicious.
"We didn't bring anything to carry." Zane said.
"I have one bag here."
The shopkeeper reached out his hand in empty space and his hand vanished.
As if a pocket in the air.
A handy skill.
Soon he took out his hand and on it was a yellow medium sized bag.
The front of the bag read: The Glory Order church—First Flame's Abode.
The shopkeeper gave the bag to Xavier.
Xavier took it.
He looked at Zane.
"What about him?"
"He can use his tunic. Spread it and I will give whatever he wants."
Xavier clenched his jaw.
Zane saw it.
Now he cares? Does he love me or something?
"You have a bag for me but not for him? You only have one bag?" He asked.
The shopkeeper sighed. "Yes. I only have one bag."
"Why?"
"Because only those who aren't looking forward to filling their hunger with the offerings won't bring their bags. Whereas his kind," The shopkeeper looked at Zane. "His kind always brings something as big as possible and they bring their whole family with them. So I only keep one bag with me for those who only want the offerings because they respect the First Flame, not use him."
Some special blessings.
Zane would have loved to know where such hatred came from but he figured the answer he would get would be the same history the Priest recited.
Or probably because it was easier to hate those who were already hated.
Zane might have ignored the shopkeeper's remarks but Xavier's mood only worsened.
"He is my friend. He should get a bag too."
Friend? When did that happen?
"No more bags. Deal with it. And you can't give your bag to him. It is meant for you."
The shopkeeper remained sterned and the only reason he entertained Xavier was because he wasn't filth. Anyone else would have received the shining stick treatment.
Xavier clenched his fists and Zane felt the gazes of the other gutterborns.
Offerings distribution only happened for one hour. They couldn't speak out their complaints but Xavier was wasting their time.
He saw a kid licking his empty tin bowl standing in the line and that did it for Zane.
"It's fine, Xavier. I don't mind. I don't want anything anyway."
The shopkeeper quivered his brows.
"You don't want anything? You are refusing the Flame's offerings?"
Zane paused. Constructed his words and then said:
"I am too lowly for his offerings. I don't deserve unlimited food. I am the child of a thief."
The shopkeeper stared at Zane for a while and Zane dropped his head to make it more convincing.
"Fine. If that's your wish. But are you sure you really don't want anything?" The shopkeeper asked again, smiling and by the tone, Zane felt he was being tested.
As if the shopkeeper wanted Zane to say something wrong.
He ran his mind for possible scenarios and then he remembered why he had come to the shop in the first place.
"No. I want something. I want the Idol of the First Flame. I will pray to it daily in my home. I want that."
The shopkeeper lost his smile.
"Right." He said.
"Give me one too. And two Ember Dumplets. But not in this. I will also spread my shirt." Xavier returned the bag to the shopkeeper.
The man simply shook his head and stored the bag back in his air pocket.
Then he turned around, probably to take the First Flame idol.
Zane remained standing, waiting but Xavier had some other plans.
The moment the shopkeeper turned around, he reached out his hand and picked up a fistful of Sun Drop Candies from the counter.
Zane's eyes widened.
He just did not... That's a death sentence.
Xavier stuffed the candies in his pockets and looked at Zane.
Zane stared at him and Xavier simply winked.
He will get me in trouble one day.
"Here are your offerings." The shopkeeper faced them again.
Xavier stepped forward and spread his shirt, smiling as if he didn't steal just now.
The shopkeeper placed two white steamed dough and one miniature idol of the First Flame—a yellow sun embedded on a clay dyed in golden color.
Xavier stepped back and Zane's turn came.
"Come here."
Zane stepped forward.
He spread his tunic towards the shopkeeper and before the idol could be placed on his tunic...
[ Major Quest Generated! ]
[ Quest: Lose The God ]
[ Objective: Drop the First Flame's Statue. ]
[ Rewards: (1) Synchronization +1.0 (2) One Merge Free ]
[ Does the Host accept? ]