Heist Pt.3
(Word count: 2317)
POV: Omaren
Date: June 367 Ac (3 years ago)
Location: City of A'anora, Occupied Ak'aaran territory, Northern Mahador.
The sun was rapidly setting below the horizon, illuminating both the sky and the water of the ocean as if they were on fire, with hues of reds, orange, purples and pinks. The city's darkening streets had been left largely deserted by this point in the evening. Curfew was fast approaching, and i was nowhere near Jakun's inn. In fact, i could hardly be further away right now. As i turned a corner onto a main street, lined with shuttered stores, i took out the paper Jakun had given me from my pocket. I had to look over at the directions again and follow them in reverse in order to get back home. I usually had a good sense of orientation when hunting in the forest, but this city, with its multi-story buildings and maze-like streets, confused me a lot. That's when i suddenly heard footsteps and the sound of people talking behind me. I stuffed the paper back in my pocket, accidently hitting the pouch full of coins that i had attached to my hip. I swore internally at the sound it made, and then looked around in a mild panic, trying to find a place to hide. Out of time, i opted to hide behind a nearby stack of crates. It was far enough away from the wall that i was able to slip behind them and crouch down but close enough to cast a shadow onto the wall behind, helping me stay hidden. If i stay silent, they won't see me. I hope. The footsteps grew louder, as did their voices. I couldn't understand what they were saying however, but the language sounded similar to the one the soldiers talked to each other in, so i knew they weren't locals. That, and the sound of metal clanging every time they took a step also made it obvious that they were in fact soldiers. Good thing i'm hidden. Who knows what kind of question they would ask if they saw me. I had a clear view of the street in front of me through a hole in the stack of crates, but not to my right, which is where they were coming from. However, their voices and footsteps grew louder still, so i knew they were coming my way. One of them whispered something to the other, who then laughed loudly, so much so that it startled me. I didn't have time to calm down as they then appeared through the hole. As expected, there were two of them, dressed in the same armoured attire as all the other foreign soldiers in the city. Thankfully, they walked right past the crates as they talked to each other and didn't even glanced towards me. A few seconds later, they rounded the same corner i just had in the opposite direction and left the street. That's when i noticed the pain in my chest and realised i had been holding my breath this entire time. My heart was thumping loudly in my ears. I wasn't sure if it was the fear or lack of air, but i took a few deep breath to get some air back and to calm myself and eventually, it slowed down to a normal rhythm. Since i couldn't even hear them anymore at this point, i was pretty sure that the coast was clear now and so i got up, and started tentatively started walking towards the Inn again. * * * * * I was maybe about half-way there when i saw something that made me stop. The sun had fallen well below the horizon by this point, turning the sky into shades of deep blue and purple. Stars began to shimmer above the city as the air was starting to cool down for the night. All of those things made what i was seeing even weirder to me. The door to a nearby the house was open, casting a warm glow onto the pavement in front of me. The light was cut by the shadow of a little boy, sitting alone on the steps leading to his house, playing with some kind of wooden toy. His back was turned from me, but his silhouette immediately made me think of my younger brother, Loharen. The last time i had seen him was during a tranquil night like this one, 3 months ago, as he was being dragged away onto a Koccechi* by the same kind of soldiers that were also all over this city, going gods only knew where. I hadn't been able to follow it. Me, and a friend that had been staying over at our house at the time, managed to flee when they started rounding up the people in the village, or killing them, but Loha was too slow and he got caught. He tried freeing himself by blinding the soldiers, but it didn't work. However, it did get them very interested in him once they realised that he was a light mage. He was knocked out and stuffed into the chariot, along with a couple of other people. All mages. I tried going after them, but i was stopped by my friend who was hiding with me as he made me realise that there were too many soldiers for me to take on. I would just end up being captured too. I've though about this moment every night since then, wondering if i could have done things differently to save him. Maybe i should've let myself be captured. But would they have kept me alive knowing i was a firemage? Maybe, maybe not. Thinking about all this ate me up inside, but i couldn't help it. I felt guilty and ashamed. As i walked towards the child, i grew more and more hopeful that it was my little brother sitting there, despite a voice in the back of my mind telling me otherwise. I ignored it. Maybe he managed to escape them? He's only 12, but he's strong... But could he have even gotten into the city in time? Maybe he sneaked in after they closed the gates... And if he found a way in, maybe we could use it to escape together... My train of though stopped as the boy turned to me. It wasn't him. My heart grew heavy as the boy smiled and waved his hand at me. I forced a little smile and did the same. Then, who i assumed was his mother came to the door and called him back inside. As the boy groaned and stomped his way into the house, probably annoyed to be cooped up inside during the cooler evening, the woman looked at me with an air of suspicion. "Curfew's coming, young man. You best be getting home." she said. I nodded at her as she closed the door, and shuttered the adjacent window for the night, letting darkness and silence fill the street once again. I felt so alone all of the sudden. I swallowed hard against a lump in my throat. Tears pricked at my eyes as i let out a shaky breath. For a second, i really though i had found him. More so, i convinced myself it was him. I shook my head and tried to focus my mind on getting back to the inn. It was getting late. I made my way down the street and turned onto another, the sound of my rapid footsteps echoing in the empty street, until i arrived at a large public square. I recongnised that place as i remembered passing here earlier that day, only now it wasn't full of people and food stands, but completely empty. Nevertheless, being here meant that i was close, barely 2 minutes away from the inn. Ok, now i just need to turn onto that street over there- I froze. From the other side of the plaza, a second pair of soldiers made their way towards me from the very street i needed to take to reach the inn. I whispered out a curse as i realised that i didn't have time to hide this time, not that there was anything left to hide behind here. I tried backing away as slowly and quietly so that i could take another street and go around the soldiers. However, one of them spotted me. I winced as he tapped his colleague's shoulder and pointed at me. I need to get out of here, fast. "Hey, stop right there!" One of the soldiers yelled at me in a broken accent. I was already running away, and there was no way i'd willingly surrender to them. The last thing i needed right now was to get captured with a pouch full of money, right before curfew. Not to mention that i was a mage. Even if they didn't arrest me on the spot, they would ask too many questions and i didn't have any good answers for them. At least, i didn't have my mask on anymore to raise even more suspicion, and while them seeing my face would have been a problem earlier in the day, it was too dark now and they had been too far away to see it. I'd better keep it that way. Running down the street and retracing my steps, i tried to remember if i had crossed any good hiding spot where i could wait them out, but i couldn't think of anything, until i spotted something to my left. A narrow alleyway that curved out of view and that was difficult to see from the main street. I ran down it, only to realise that it was a cul-de sac, and the curve was little more than a small alcove. It's gonna have to do. I waited there in silence for a while, but i didn't hear anyone come for a long time, to the point that i was about to leave and try to make it back. That's when they appeared at the end of the alley. I quickly retreated my head back into the little alcove as they entered, praying to Es'kai* they didn't see me. Shit, shit, shit! Why'd they have to come down here! Their footsteps grew closer and i prepared myself to fight them. I clenched my fist, sensing mana flicker in my hands. I wasn't sure if i could take both of them down, but i'd be dammed if i didn't try. Suddenly, the bells in the city rang out, three times. The soldiers stopped, briefly talked to each other, and then retreated. I let out a sigh of relief and made my way out of the alley. Three bells meant 5 minutes before curfew. I'll be cutting it close. i looked both sides of the street and saw no one, so i began running towards the Inn again. In no time, it came into view. It was a tall building, one of only a few above 3 stories in the city. The entrance was only a few steps away from me as i ran past it. I couldn't enter from the front door, Mr. Jakun had made that very clear before. Guests in the lobby could see me enter, as would potential soldiers on the street, alerting them to where i lived. I ran around the building and reached the courtyard area in the back, which was fortunately deserted at this hour. I spotted my way inside: An open window, on the farthest side of the building across the courtyard. I weaved around the ornamental plants and jumped over the large colourful stones which for some reasons Mr. Jakun was very fond of, and reach the window. It was high above the ground, and rather narrow. Despite not being small, i struggled to reach it, and had to pull myself up on the window sill with my arms and by climbing the stone wall below it with my feet. I eventually managed to pull myself up and pass through the window, but i pushed a bit too hard and fell down on the other side. Thankfully, i landed on my blanket bed just below the window, which helped cushion my fall. Just as i sat up to catch my breath, i heard the bells ring out outside. 5 times, which meant that curfew had started and that i had made it back just in time. Then, there was a knock on the door. I got up as it opened. "I heard you enter. How did it go" He said, eager. I shrugged. "Good enough, i think" i said to him as i grabbed the coin pouch from my hip. "So, you got the m-" He stopped as i put the pouch against his chest, which he promptly grabbed, opened, and started counting. i rolled my eyes as he did so. Does he think i can't count? Or that i stole some of it? He cleared his throat as he finished and looked at me. "Good job, Otha." He said, tapping my shoulder. "Nobody saw you enter here, right?" I shook my head. "Nope, all clear. But i just want to be clear about something." He raised a eye brow at me. I took a deep breath. "I'm not doing something like this ever again." I told him as clearly as i could. Mr. Jakun didn't seem particularly happy about it or by my attitude, but conceded after a moment. "Ok, fine. You did well today, so i'll considerer it enough to buy your stay. I won't ask again". "Thank you, sir" "You'll keep doing the rest of your chores however. Understood?" "Of course, no problem." Jakun nodded back at me. "Good, now get some sleep." He said, closing the door on his way out. I sat back in my bed and leaned against the wall behind me. All i hoped for now is that what i did today wouldn't come biting me in the ass.
Part 1: Part 2: Part 4:
*Koccechi (Ko-ke-shi) Local Ak'aaran name for Occomor Chariots.
*Es'kai (Esh-Kai) Ak'aaran Goddess of Fire and messenger of the gods. Patron goddess of all firemages.
Date: June 367 Ac (3 years ago)
Location: City of A'anora, Occupied Ak'aaran territory, Northern Mahador.
The sun was rapidly setting below the horizon, illuminating both the sky and the water of the ocean as if they were on fire, with hues of reds, orange, purples and pinks. The city's darkening streets had been left largely deserted by this point in the evening. Curfew was fast approaching, and i was nowhere near Jakun's inn. In fact, i could hardly be further away right now. As i turned a corner onto a main street, lined with shuttered stores, i took out the paper Jakun had given me from my pocket. I had to look over at the directions again and follow them in reverse in order to get back home. I usually had a good sense of orientation when hunting in the forest, but this city, with its multi-story buildings and maze-like streets, confused me a lot. That's when i suddenly heard footsteps and the sound of people talking behind me. I stuffed the paper back in my pocket, accidently hitting the pouch full of coins that i had attached to my hip. I swore internally at the sound it made, and then looked around in a mild panic, trying to find a place to hide. Out of time, i opted to hide behind a nearby stack of crates. It was far enough away from the wall that i was able to slip behind them and crouch down but close enough to cast a shadow onto the wall behind, helping me stay hidden. If i stay silent, they won't see me. I hope. The footsteps grew louder, as did their voices. I couldn't understand what they were saying however, but the language sounded similar to the one the soldiers talked to each other in, so i knew they weren't locals. That, and the sound of metal clanging every time they took a step also made it obvious that they were in fact soldiers. Good thing i'm hidden. Who knows what kind of question they would ask if they saw me. I had a clear view of the street in front of me through a hole in the stack of crates, but not to my right, which is where they were coming from. However, their voices and footsteps grew louder still, so i knew they were coming my way. One of them whispered something to the other, who then laughed loudly, so much so that it startled me. I didn't have time to calm down as they then appeared through the hole. As expected, there were two of them, dressed in the same armoured attire as all the other foreign soldiers in the city. Thankfully, they walked right past the crates as they talked to each other and didn't even glanced towards me. A few seconds later, they rounded the same corner i just had in the opposite direction and left the street. That's when i noticed the pain in my chest and realised i had been holding my breath this entire time. My heart was thumping loudly in my ears. I wasn't sure if it was the fear or lack of air, but i took a few deep breath to get some air back and to calm myself and eventually, it slowed down to a normal rhythm. Since i couldn't even hear them anymore at this point, i was pretty sure that the coast was clear now and so i got up, and started tentatively started walking towards the Inn again. * * * * * I was maybe about half-way there when i saw something that made me stop. The sun had fallen well below the horizon by this point, turning the sky into shades of deep blue and purple. Stars began to shimmer above the city as the air was starting to cool down for the night. All of those things made what i was seeing even weirder to me. The door to a nearby the house was open, casting a warm glow onto the pavement in front of me. The light was cut by the shadow of a little boy, sitting alone on the steps leading to his house, playing with some kind of wooden toy. His back was turned from me, but his silhouette immediately made me think of my younger brother, Loharen. The last time i had seen him was during a tranquil night like this one, 3 months ago, as he was being dragged away onto a Koccechi* by the same kind of soldiers that were also all over this city, going gods only knew where. I hadn't been able to follow it. Me, and a friend that had been staying over at our house at the time, managed to flee when they started rounding up the people in the village, or killing them, but Loha was too slow and he got caught. He tried freeing himself by blinding the soldiers, but it didn't work. However, it did get them very interested in him once they realised that he was a light mage. He was knocked out and stuffed into the chariot, along with a couple of other people. All mages. I tried going after them, but i was stopped by my friend who was hiding with me as he made me realise that there were too many soldiers for me to take on. I would just end up being captured too. I've though about this moment every night since then, wondering if i could have done things differently to save him. Maybe i should've let myself be captured. But would they have kept me alive knowing i was a firemage? Maybe, maybe not. Thinking about all this ate me up inside, but i couldn't help it. I felt guilty and ashamed. As i walked towards the child, i grew more and more hopeful that it was my little brother sitting there, despite a voice in the back of my mind telling me otherwise. I ignored it. Maybe he managed to escape them? He's only 12, but he's strong... But could he have even gotten into the city in time? Maybe he sneaked in after they closed the gates... And if he found a way in, maybe we could use it to escape together... My train of though stopped as the boy turned to me. It wasn't him. My heart grew heavy as the boy smiled and waved his hand at me. I forced a little smile and did the same. Then, who i assumed was his mother came to the door and called him back inside. As the boy groaned and stomped his way into the house, probably annoyed to be cooped up inside during the cooler evening, the woman looked at me with an air of suspicion. "Curfew's coming, young man. You best be getting home." she said. I nodded at her as she closed the door, and shuttered the adjacent window for the night, letting darkness and silence fill the street once again. I felt so alone all of the sudden. I swallowed hard against a lump in my throat. Tears pricked at my eyes as i let out a shaky breath. For a second, i really though i had found him. More so, i convinced myself it was him. I shook my head and tried to focus my mind on getting back to the inn. It was getting late. I made my way down the street and turned onto another, the sound of my rapid footsteps echoing in the empty street, until i arrived at a large public square. I recongnised that place as i remembered passing here earlier that day, only now it wasn't full of people and food stands, but completely empty. Nevertheless, being here meant that i was close, barely 2 minutes away from the inn. Ok, now i just need to turn onto that street over there- I froze. From the other side of the plaza, a second pair of soldiers made their way towards me from the very street i needed to take to reach the inn. I whispered out a curse as i realised that i didn't have time to hide this time, not that there was anything left to hide behind here. I tried backing away as slowly and quietly so that i could take another street and go around the soldiers. However, one of them spotted me. I winced as he tapped his colleague's shoulder and pointed at me. I need to get out of here, fast. "Hey, stop right there!" One of the soldiers yelled at me in a broken accent. I was already running away, and there was no way i'd willingly surrender to them. The last thing i needed right now was to get captured with a pouch full of money, right before curfew. Not to mention that i was a mage. Even if they didn't arrest me on the spot, they would ask too many questions and i didn't have any good answers for them. At least, i didn't have my mask on anymore to raise even more suspicion, and while them seeing my face would have been a problem earlier in the day, it was too dark now and they had been too far away to see it. I'd better keep it that way. Running down the street and retracing my steps, i tried to remember if i had crossed any good hiding spot where i could wait them out, but i couldn't think of anything, until i spotted something to my left. A narrow alleyway that curved out of view and that was difficult to see from the main street. I ran down it, only to realise that it was a cul-de sac, and the curve was little more than a small alcove. It's gonna have to do. I waited there in silence for a while, but i didn't hear anyone come for a long time, to the point that i was about to leave and try to make it back. That's when they appeared at the end of the alley. I quickly retreated my head back into the little alcove as they entered, praying to Es'kai* they didn't see me. Shit, shit, shit! Why'd they have to come down here! Their footsteps grew closer and i prepared myself to fight them. I clenched my fist, sensing mana flicker in my hands. I wasn't sure if i could take both of them down, but i'd be dammed if i didn't try. Suddenly, the bells in the city rang out, three times. The soldiers stopped, briefly talked to each other, and then retreated. I let out a sigh of relief and made my way out of the alley. Three bells meant 5 minutes before curfew. I'll be cutting it close. i looked both sides of the street and saw no one, so i began running towards the Inn again. In no time, it came into view. It was a tall building, one of only a few above 3 stories in the city. The entrance was only a few steps away from me as i ran past it. I couldn't enter from the front door, Mr. Jakun had made that very clear before. Guests in the lobby could see me enter, as would potential soldiers on the street, alerting them to where i lived. I ran around the building and reached the courtyard area in the back, which was fortunately deserted at this hour. I spotted my way inside: An open window, on the farthest side of the building across the courtyard. I weaved around the ornamental plants and jumped over the large colourful stones which for some reasons Mr. Jakun was very fond of, and reach the window. It was high above the ground, and rather narrow. Despite not being small, i struggled to reach it, and had to pull myself up on the window sill with my arms and by climbing the stone wall below it with my feet. I eventually managed to pull myself up and pass through the window, but i pushed a bit too hard and fell down on the other side. Thankfully, i landed on my blanket bed just below the window, which helped cushion my fall. Just as i sat up to catch my breath, i heard the bells ring out outside. 5 times, which meant that curfew had started and that i had made it back just in time. Then, there was a knock on the door. I got up as it opened. "I heard you enter. How did it go" He said, eager. I shrugged. "Good enough, i think" i said to him as i grabbed the coin pouch from my hip. "So, you got the m-" He stopped as i put the pouch against his chest, which he promptly grabbed, opened, and started counting. i rolled my eyes as he did so. Does he think i can't count? Or that i stole some of it? He cleared his throat as he finished and looked at me. "Good job, Otha." He said, tapping my shoulder. "Nobody saw you enter here, right?" I shook my head. "Nope, all clear. But i just want to be clear about something." He raised a eye brow at me. I took a deep breath. "I'm not doing something like this ever again." I told him as clearly as i could. Mr. Jakun didn't seem particularly happy about it or by my attitude, but conceded after a moment. "Ok, fine. You did well today, so i'll considerer it enough to buy your stay. I won't ask again". "Thank you, sir" "You'll keep doing the rest of your chores however. Understood?" "Of course, no problem." Jakun nodded back at me. "Good, now get some sleep." He said, closing the door on his way out. I sat back in my bed and leaned against the wall behind me. All i hoped for now is that what i did today wouldn't come biting me in the ass.
Part 1: Part 2: Part 4:
*Koccechi (Ko-ke-shi) Local Ak'aaran name for Occomor Chariots.
*Es'kai (Esh-Kai) Ak'aaran Goddess of Fire and messenger of the gods. Patron goddess of all firemages.
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