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Chapter 14: The Cloak of the Unknown Owner
Scene 1 — Inside the Inn
Sunlight gently filtered through the small window, dancing on the curtains swaying with the morning breeze. Renion slowly opened her eyes, feeling the soft light on her face.
She sat up, stretched, then got up and headed to the bathroom.
Renion (speaking to herself in the bathroom):
"I don't have clothes… I'll have to wear the same ones again."
She took a shower, put on her clothes, and stepped out.
She looked around… Kiura was still asleep. She smiled mischievously, grabbed a pillow, and—BOOM!—threw it hard at his face.
Kiura jumped up immediately, taking a combat stance.
Kiura: "What?! Is this an attack?!"
Renion laughed:
"Hehe… no, this isn't an attack. Just get up and wash yourself."
Kiura, mumbling:
"I got up for something useless…"
Renion:
"Come on… come on… hurry up."
Kiura:
"This is exactly… what a second mom would do."
While he was complaining, he noticed Zokimoshi doing push-ups on the floor as if in a combat camp, not a simple inn room.
Kiura got up and went to take a shower. He came out a little later, drying his hair.
Kiura: "Alright… your turn, Zokimoshi."
Zokimoshi: "I already showered in front of you."
Renion, puzzled:
"And when exactly?"
Zokimoshi, proudly:
"At night."
Kiura, surprised:
"But it was so cold!"
Zokimoshi lifted his head and said in a samurai tone full of self-confidence:
"Those who feel cold are weak… We samurai don't suffer… we don't fear… and we don't cry…"
Renion ignored him, putting her hand on her stomach:
"I'm hungry. Let's go find something to eat… or steal from the merchants."
Kiura:
"We don't want to steal."
Renion:
"But we have no other choice."
Then they left the inn, followed by the two.
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Scene 2 — City Streets
The morning sun was warm, and the city was alive. Merchants opened their stalls, children ran through the alleys, guards patrolled steadily, and the aroma of fresh bread rose from a nearby oven.
The camera rises to show the interconnected alleys, the big and small houses, and the large fountain in the middle of the city, then descends back to the three.
Renion:
"We have no money… what should we do?"
Kiura:
"I don't know."
They started walking… but something strange happened.
People moved aside, left and right, to avoid just one person… Kiura.
He stopped, lowering his head.
Kiura (whispering):
"This feeling… familiar. It's starting to bother me."
Then he said clearly to Renion:
"Why are people afraid of me? And why weren't you… or Zokimoshi… scared?"
Renion sighed:
"Mana… black with a purple tint. That color scares people. People's mana is orange, and kings and nobles' is golden. But black… it doesn't exist in this world."
Zokimoshi:
"I'm not afraid of anything."
Kiura:
"Then why weren't you scared?"
Renion:
"Honestly… I was a little scared. But you were the only one who could help me. I was lost, so I followed you."
Kiura's face turned red with embarrassment:
"Stop saying… these things, you fool…"
Then angrily:
"And why didn't you tell me before?! Wait, if I'm scary, why wasn't Orfan or the guard scared of me?"
Renion grabbed his shoulder to reassure him:
"I don't know but… we'll find an arms merchant who sells a cloak or mask to hide mana. Let's go."
Kiura:
"Let's go to Orfan's house."
Renion:
"We can't because we want it now and we might be late while looking for his house."
Kiura:
"Alright, I understand."
They headed to one of the merchants. But when he saw them… especially Kiura… he began sweating and stepping back.
Kiura (calmly):
"We want a cloak or mask that hides mana."
The merchant, in a trembling voice:
"Sorry… I can't… please leave…"
Kiura lowered his head.
Kiura:
"So… it's real."
Renion:
"Don't worry, we'll find someone else."
Zokimoshi:
"Let's kill this merchant."
Renion, angrily:
"Shut up!"
Kiura:
"I'll be back shortly… don't follow me."
Then he entered a dark alley; narrow, damp, full of the smell of garbage, and barely any light reaching it.
Kiura (whispering):
"This feeling… I know it… something from my memories is returning…"
Suddenly—
A black cloak fell over his head.
He grabbed it, surprised.
Then—
BOOM!
A bag of gold fell on his head, leaving a red mark.
Kiura, in pain:
"Where is this falling from?!"
He lifted his head…
At that moment…
A sword descended toward his head at high speed!
It came close, directly in front of his eyes. His eyes widened, then he dodged immediately, and the sword plunged into the ground.
Kiura:
"What?! I almost died!"
He looked up… nobody.
No shadow… no footsteps… no sound.
Kiura:
"This is strange…"
He put on the cloak. His presence completely vanished; as if he were a person without mana.
He hung the bag of gold on his waist, carried the sword on his back, and exited the alley.
When Renion saw him… she didn't recognize him at first.
But as he got closer, she recognized him.
Renion, surprised:
"Kiura?! How did you get this?"
Kiura:
"I don't know… it fell from the sky."
Renion:
"Amazing! Mana disappeared! Seems like you're normal now!"
Zokimoshi raised his eyebrow:
"Be careful… it's an enemy, who are you?"
Renion:
"It's Kiura, you fool!"
Zokimoshi approached him, sniffed him, then… pulled his face, started stretching it, then lightly pinched his belly.
Zokimoshi:
"Same smell… same stupidity… same power… yes, it's him."
Kiura:
"Call me by my name only! And don't do that again!"
Renion:
"Let's go to the guild."
Kiura:
"Alright…."
Zokimoshi added:
"To the 'inspection'! By the way, what's the inspection?"
Renion:
"Guild!"
Kiura:
"Right… what's the guild?"
Renion walked and explained:
"It's a place where the strong gather to take on missions. They complete them in exchange for rewards."
Kiura:
"I understand."
After a short distance… they arrived.
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Scene 3 — In front of the Guild
An old swinging wooden sign… holes on it, scratches, broken windows, tilted stone lamps, and a heavily scratched door. It looked like it had survived a hundred years.
Renion:
"I guess they're evil."
Kiura:
"I guess they're thieves."
Zokimoshi, with a fighting smile:
"I guess there are strong enemies."
— To be continued —
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