Eric arrived in front of the military's branch within the inner district. Tying his llama to a nearby stable he entered the building. It was a clean-cut type of place with a serious atmosphere. There was the main hall where a multitude of front desk men and women spoke with people.
Walking further, Eric could see one of the doors open and a glance through that door was a large cafeteria. The smell of food reminding the boy he hadn't eaten in almost three days.
Walking forward, Eric stood in line as he approached the front desk area. "Greetings, how might the military share the world's burdens?"
Eric shook his head in confusion, "Are you out here because of disciplinary action? That was the most unnatural way to say hello. Who even came up with that goofy line for----"
"ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT!!! Geez, I really need some booze and fine women. Haaaaa. What the fuck do you want kid?"
Eric's eyes grew exasperated looking at the man. He seemed like he was in his mid 30s with a five-o clock shadow. His frame muscular while his hair a curly light brown, though messy. His skin a healthy bronze while his eyes were a cool charcoal black.
"Man, you really did get sent here for disciplinary."
"Why the fuck is the one-eyed mummy yapping. Aren't you fuckers supposed to be dead. Always resurrecting and giving the living a hard time."
Eric's face drooped at the comment about his coverings.
"Hahaha, no way is a guy who fucks up his job telling me about myself. I know I hurt your feelings, you'll probably go vent it on some poor prostitute."
The man's eyebrow twitched erratically. The two went back and forth cutting into each other's appearances and livelihoods. The surrounding people stood and watched the exchange as the two intently ripped on each other.
"Davieeeeee!!! Do your damn job!!!!" A male in his late twenties appeared. The man had espresso brown skin and onyx black low-cut fade.
The curly haired man looked at the man that now approached and sighed.
Eric's face morphed into schadenfreude, the shit eating grin only serving to increase Davie's clenched jaw. Eric whispered, "The customer's always right."
Davie's eyes shrunk as he snapped the pen in his hand. The superior officer approached and stood next to Davie berating him.
"This is the tenth time you've been an ass to people who need help. You're not getting out of this position unless you shape up. Don't think everybody here doesn't know why you're here. If you want out, either quit or get it together."
Davie's facial muscles twitched as his breathing increased. The man looked about an inch from snapping and Eric enjoyed every moment of it.
'Serves this guy right for ragging on my....' Thinking of his still burned face, Eric was then depressed.
"My name is Bass. I apologize about my underling's conduct, but I ask that you not antagonize him."
Bass looked at Davie who blew literal steam out of his nose. "How can I help you, kid?"
"It's sir, I'm not a child." Davie wanted to open his mouth but looked at Bass who had a stern look.
"How can I help you, sir?" Eric laughed a goofy laugh for a literal 30 seconds. Davie was fuming at this point.
Bass intervened, "Kid, come on, what is it?" Eric finished up his laugh before his entire demeanor changed. "I bring news of a Demon Raiding party as well as suspected demonic activity taking place in the Ornaum forest. I would hope that the military steps in and administrates justice for us working class folk."
Bass' eyes squinted while Davie himself grew serious. Bass mulled the news over for a minute before questioning.
"Do you have evidence?" Eric shook his head frustratedly, "If I hadn't used a thousand-mile talisman, I'd have been dead. A bastard golem, a nivarean Minotaur, green fire imp, and someone from the shadows. I had saved about a dozen women from some orcs and we ran into the raiding party not long after. The women were sacrificed, and I used my talisman before I even got a look at what was summoned."
Davie stood up looking at Eric deeply, "Bass." Davie said nothing more but Eric could tell that he at least believed him. "I know Dav, you know the politics involved and what's at stake if we give any of the enemies quarter."
Davie bristled, his face stern and angry. "Alright kid, I'll see about getting a few qualified individuals to check out the forest." Taking out a detailed map, Bass asked Eric where he had last seen the raiding parties.
'Man, i gotta buy a map as detailed as this. I'll never get lost.' Finished pointing out what he knew Eric hastily added before Bass left.
"I went to a village chief, I-I think the village's name was Furn Village. I met the village chief but he refused to send word to you guys. Please, please help the people. That chief.... he seemed off."
Bass turned his head to the side but didn't turn around completely. "We'll work on it kid, thank you." Davie himself was quiet, very quiet. Throwing something to the kid he spoke, "Business is over kid. Move on so I can help the next person. That right there is a communication ball, it has my contact in it."
Eric studied Bass as he walked away and Davie who wouldn't look him in the eye. 'They're not confident in getting anyone out there.' Mirth filled the boy's eyes as he walked away not even saying thank you.
Davie looked at the ground and shook his head. 'I'm sorry kid, we'll do what we can.'
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Eric walked around listless for awhile. 'I still remember Rose's face. How grateful she had been when we saved her. She still died anyway. Does anyone even remember those women?'
Eric just walked around in the inner district not saying anything, he was very clearly glum. That and his mummy like appearance generally turned people away from him. Walking for an unknown amount of time, Eric reached a black smith area. The sounds of metal clanking, water sizzling, and iron sharpening drew him.
'Huh. Iron Dragon's Shop. Let's take a look.' Going inside, Eric looked around at the store, the wares were on the surrounding walls and an old man sat lax at the head of the store, behind the counter. The old man hadn't opened an eye, just sipping and blowing on his pipe.
Not a single customer was in the store and Eric listlessly looked around. The floorboards creaked as he moved but Eric said nothing.
'Why do I feel so numb.' As the thought occurred, darkness started to take hold of him. Eric could feel himself drowning in an endless pit of despair. 'Who will remember me when I die. Maybe.. Maybe I should die?'
This time the old man looked at Eric, his face scowling as he observed the boy.
Eric didn't know when, but the old man had appeared behind him and placed his hand on his back. An energy different from qi hit the boy. Eric's body shook as though he was shocked with electricity.
Black blood dripped from his mouth as he coughed up something. The old man burned the thing before Eric even got a look at what it was.
"Speak boy, where the hell have you been that you had a Hades hatchling in your body?" The old man was short, his head sparse of hair but his eyes felt like they were swords ready to be unsheathed.
Eric looked around and felt like he'd woken up from a dream. "What the heck. Where, even am I?"
Seeing the boy's confused look the man snorted and walked back to his seat. "If you ain't buying anything bugger off!" Eric regained himself and felt like his soul was clear, looking around at the different weapons, Eric saw swords, hammers, and many of the more mainstream weapons but he didn't see any of the whips.
Taking his whip and short sword out of the spatial ring, Eric placed them on the counter. "Sir could you be so kind to do some maintenance on my weapons. I would also like to buy another short sword like the one I have."
The old man looked at Eric with a detached gaze as he took the weapons in hand his eyes went wide. "Boy, you bring surprises one after another." The old man flicked his finger at the weapon and the whip shimmered. The same with the sword.
"Work of my dumbass daughter. Bitch is still alive and won't come over to rub my feet and pay for some of my meals." Eric smiled wryly at the old man's comment.
Taking the whip, he held it before Eric and inserted an absurd amount of qi. With a bang the whip disintegrated.