Chapter 37: Chapter 36: Returning
The ceaseless clattering and the smattering of sounds stopped as all the scientists had died, the mercenaries still left from their side already departing the site. Some were happy, as if drunk on the sheer brutality they had commenced, while some had sad, longing expressions on their downtrodden countenances as their head hung low, while others still departed from the splattered war front with angry expressions, teeth bared as the reluctantly parted from the objects of their hate.
Today, just like any other day on the sand swept Divide, multitudes of lives had ended. And it wasn't just here, as this sight could be witnessed all over the friable expanse. It was harder to find a place that wasn't baptized in blood, as coagulated lumps of blood hardened and became akin to pebbles. Some of the mages in the ravine picked up the blood pebbles with excited expressions on their face, shoving them into bags hidden within their robes.
This was the view that rudely slapped the faces of the trio, the father and daughter of the three standing with unmoved faces. Whatever appall they had once previously felt died long ago, their minds becoming jaded to the sickening behavior from both the mages and the scientists. Although they adopted different creeds, the materials they collected and their tendency to experiment was most certainly shared.
Ulun endured the wait as he stood ramrod straight, one of his hooks strung on his back and the other still embracing the clasped digits that curled around the bandaged and bound handle. He was fiddling with the parchment on which they had received the job as the rich looking mage leader strolled up to them, the disdain on his face palpable and revolting.
The man pulled out a stamp before mashing it onto a shallow pool of sand he held in his opposite hand, before pushing it down on the folded piece of parchment. Smoke leisurely blew upwards as the man shoved it down, exerting more pressure in an attempt to display dominance. Ulun was phlegmatic, and his expression had not deviated even a little, much to the man's dismay.
When the man finally removed his stamp and placed it into a smaller bag before sticking it into his satchel, Ulun had already escaped a meter away from him. His gait was steady as his feet made long strides, bounding past the mushy, yet already drying, floor, and arrived at the carriage Uris had led Bie to.
"Job's done, so we just turn it in to whatever Barkeep we can," he explained to Bie, informing him of the day-to-day process as he continued. "None of us are hurt because this was a pretty easy run, so we won't have to recover for a while."
He brought his metal enveloped hands up to his chin, before resting it on the gauntlets as his eyes flickered for a bit. He then brought his gaze to Bie's burlap duffle bag, silently counting the lumps that protruded against the sides of the bag as he considered voicing his next thoughts. The overly perceptive Uris had beaten him to the punch, as she already fixed her mouth to inquire something.
"Do you need more weapons? You broke five in total." She held up two fingers on her left hand and three fingers in her right, her lips forming a half pout as her eyebrows arched. She was confused as to how he did it, but every swing he exerted would cause cracks along both his weapons and those of the enemy. Maybe it was an innate ability of his race?
Many demihumans had special skills that suited their constitutions, though she had never heard of a demihuman who could break specifically armaments in particular with just a few touches. A worry nipped at the back of her mind, as she began to think he was the descendent of some demihuman royal family.
Most of their civilization had been scattered once the war started, as both the East and West Renthians destroyed their homeland that was now known as the Divide first, before targeting each other. The ones that did remain, however, were unlike any other divisions of their kin as they had unique abilities that most human Renthians lusted over. They could not be duplicated by either magic or science, however, so after many experiments most of them were killed.
She pushed the nagging thoughts aside for now, as they would deal with the issue when it comes. Frankly, she was just worried the boy would really start beating down upon their enemies with his bare hands, as he had already done that before. He was absurdly strong for someone so little, though it could be partially explained by what she had presumed him to be.
"I think I'll be good for a bit? I have like twenty or so more..." Bie trailed off, recalling the weapons Amitha had given him when he departed. A longing expression settled on his countenance, visible to the two in its entirety as he had already taken his hood off the moment they entered the carriage.
The wagon bumped along as they observed Bie's face, who had then closed his eyes and brought his legs together as he leaned against the short wall that fenced them off from falling. A wrinkled tarp hung overhead, preventing the reach of the sun from cooking their skin as they jostled about.
The trip resumed in silence when the two realized he had no intention in answering, though Ulun shared a quizzical look with his daughter as he silently pointed out something.
The father and daughter shared the same question. Why did the boy not breathe? Where his breaths so shallow that his chest never fluctuated? Although Uris felt the urge to walk up to him and stick her finger under his nose, Ulun held a hand in front of her and shook his head.
--
Hours passed before the carriage rattled into a steady stop. Bie broke his meditation and felt his Ink recover fully, though he was weirded out by the fact that no changes had been made to his reserves. Although people could freely train in the Paths, their bodies would make no changes other than anything they might imbibe. This meant that stats could not be improved under most circumstances, though the skills people would receive and the items they procured made it all worth it.
Bie pulled his hood back up as he followed the ash blonde heads, who were in the process of heading towards the tavern. They trailed past the worn-down sign as they popped through the doorway, the den just as cacophonous as earlier.
Ulun sidled up to the desk, laying the parchment flat as the same voluptuous woman stood at the counter, flashing him a grin before identifying the stamp and pouring over the contents written within. Her smile became droll as she noticed the blood drying over some of the words, though the reward stated on the bottom half remained just as visible. She pulled out a string of silver coins, placing them onto the counter as she threw the parchment in the trash.
"Fifty Shans. Want a drink today?" She asked with a tone of coquettish tone wormed her way into her previously innocuous voice. Ulun merely offered a polite smile and shook his head, before removing six of the silver coins and pushing them back to her.
"A room, please?"
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