Path of Ruin: The Dawn of a New Era

22. Ena 1317 of the solar calendar, the capital of Rout Nitis-Rout-en

Luke wakes up first. They are all huddled together, warmed by their own heat. He gets up carefully so as not to wake the others. The sun has not yet risen, a crescent moon shines through the holes in the thatched roof, announcing the end of the night.

The boy is drenched in sweat, his skin glistens at night and his hair is longer. His brown eyes look at his other sleeping friends and a soft smile appears on his sunken, dream-scared face, like a brother looking down on his younger siblings.

Suddenly he grabs his temples and his face twists in pain and Luke stumbles, no wonder he doesn't fall. It takes a long time for the pain to go away. He sits on the ground tiredly. The pain he suffered a moment ago still reflects on him. His illness struck again. He tries to hide it from the others, but he doesn't know how much longer he can do it.

It is clear to Luke that he will not live much longer, but now that he has a chance to survive, or at least to get his rights for others, he is happy. He hopes everyone succeeds, even if he doesn't.

The boy carefully stands up. His head doesn't hurt at all. He walks over to the door and opens it before walking out into the alley.

The surrounding houses are also in ruins. One look at them makes you wonder how anyone can live there, but many people do. As the young man continues to look around, he sees a scene that a twelve-year-old boy should not see. The moon illuminates starving, rotting people gnawed by rats and other vermin. A short distance away, the moaning prostitute is leaning against the house, with a man clinging to it. Elsewhere, a group of hooligans are kicking a barely alive old man, and even from a distance, Luke can smell the alcohol on them.

This spectacle unfolded as far as the eye could see in the darkness, and to the sounds of sighs, pain and roars of drunkards, sprawling slums, Luke walked through them.

He was heading for the old warehouse that stood almost against the western walls. It is guarded by two men in long cloaks and armor several generations old.

Luke heads towards them and whispers one word as he walks towards them, "Night Manere." Their eyes sparkled before they let the boy go and he continues to the old warehouse to deliver the news.

He works for them. Apart from Eon, his other friends are unaware of this. It's his only chance to get medicine. But even so, his condition is getting worse, and even with the medicine he is supposed to be receiving from them now, he will probably last another six months.

If he passes it and successfully enters the academy, he will certainly be cured, but not fined, there is only one ending. And he tries his best to prevent that. Therefore, he performs tasks for them, for which they would execute him after being caught. And today he has the last such task. When he fulfills it, he plans to end his "career".

At the end of the warehouse sits a person draped in a dark cloak that obscures her form, sitting on an ornate old chair. Luke doesn't even dare to look at him and awkwardly bows after he's four meters away.

Next to the person are two mercenaries who provide protection. The person hands the letter to the warrior to his right before speaking, "This is your next task." He points and the man with the letter walks over to Luke. At the same time, he continues to speak in his indifferent voice: “If you want your medicine, you must successfully complete the mission within six days. Details are in the envelope. what are you supposed to do? Now leave.'

"Yes sir." Taking the envelope from Luka, he stands up, head still bowed, and walks backwards before disappearing from their sight behind the barrels and crates. He turns and runs away.

They return to their hut as the first red rays begin to appear in the east. He quietly opens the door and walks in before closing it, and a small voice next to Luke says, “So you're back. You have a new mission, huh.'

"Yes…"

"I see. You don't want to elaborate any more do you?" Eon speaks softly again as he leans against the wall next to the door. The two then walk over to the others.

They watch them for a while before they slowly start to wake up. Sara, Arthur, Ezra and finally Mia.

"How can you two be up so early?" Mia shakes her head as she looks at Luke and Eon.

"Who knows…" When Luke replies with a shrug, everyone bursts into laughter. But he passes them by almost immediately. They don't have time to laugh. He has to go get food for himself.

Finally, they agree that Luke, Arthur, Sára will look for food. The others will stay and guard their hut. Arthur decides to go get something from the disused warehouses, or try to make some money by helping out there, and sets off the same way Luke did the night before. While Luke and Sara go in the opposite direction.

The pair walk through the slums to the east towards the big market and talk to each other. Luke and Sára have always been close, and now that they are alone, they are even closer.

Neither of them speak. They walk slowly in straw shoes down a street covered in dirt, dust and worse. This is how they walk down the street before turning into the alleys. As they are further away from the slums and closer to the market and the city center, even in these narrow streets the conditions are significantly improved compared to the slums. Finally, they walk down the last aisle, at the end of which they stop.

“I think it's time to split Sara up.

"Oh, too bad. Can't you come with me Luke?" He blinks sadly in one of her eyes.

“Sorry, but I really can't today. He answers truthfully, but his disappointment is obvious: "I'll see you in the afternoon Sara."

"Un." The girl nods before Luke separates from her and disappears into the crowd.

Luke weaves his way through the crowd as it moves further and further east. There are richer people, so he weaves through the alleys to avoid their sight.

The young man knows most of the city, except the north with the palace as his shoes. He knows exactly where he's going, so he doesn't hesitate at any turn. At last, before he knew it, he reached a wide street lined with fine houses.