Chapter 3: Burned Out
The fire had reduced his hut to a pile of ashes which he had accidentally set the night before.
Moriarty rummaged through the debris, hoping to salvage something of value.
He felt the wind sting his face as it whipped up the ash, making him sneeze and smear his skin with black.
'Heh, the wind is as harsh as ever,' he remarked. 'It's like it wants to erase any trace of my home.'
He tried to ignore the pang of loss and anger that welled up in him. He was no stranger to suffering and misfortune.
"Finally!"
He let out a triumphant cry when he finally found what he had been looking for: a wolf skin sling bag that he had acquired from his previous job. It was the only useful one of the few items that had survived the inferno.
He needed to find a place to rest, away from the harsh wind. He trudged for an hour until he reached the end of his desolate farm. He was exhausted from the ordeal, but he had no choice.
He was greeted by a sight that made him smile: a river that sparkled in the sun. It was a rare oasis in this dry land. 'This makes up for the long walk,' he thought, as he admired the view.
He cupped some water in his hand and drank it. It was crisp and pure, revitalizing him and satisfying his thirst.
He then sat under the nearest tree, which had no leaves. The tree was next to the river, but it looked like it was barely alive.
*Munch* *Munch*
He tore into the bread, savoring its taste. It was from the bag that he had salvaged from the fire.
He wondered how the aristocrats made such sturdy goods that could withstand the flames. He was intrigued.
He felt refreshed and full after eating. He then dove into the river, scrubbing himself clean.
He washed away the dirt and ash from his skin and hair. He felt a surge of joy and relief as he rid himself of his bad luck.
'This is one of the benefits of living away from the city. I can enjoy a free bath. I don't have to care about conserving water.' He thought, feeling calm and content.
He rinsed his clothes and draped them over a tree branch, leaving him in his underwear. He stayed in the water while they dried under the sun.
As he did so, he remembered his life in the city, where he had worked as a jack-of-all-trades.
Back then, he could only afford to bathe once a week at best, and sometimes only once a month. It was common for people to be so unhygienic, only the aristocrats bathed daily.
But Moriarty's situation was worse, his job made him dirty and stinky in a few days. He often dealt with trash, sewage, and carcasses. His smell was so foul that it made him lose his other jobs because of it.
Moriarty had fun in the river, trying out different things that he had never done before.
He sometimes floated on his back, drifting around, or dived deep into the water. He explored the aquatic world, amazed by the colorful fishes and plants.
He spotted something shiny on the river bed. He exclaimed, 'Hey, what's this?'
He reached for it and pulled it out. It was a painting that someone had discarded or lost. He threw it back as soon as he saw what it was. He didn't even glance at the image.
'I've had enough of paintings.'
He had a hunch that it was something strange or obscene. He wondered who would create such a thing and why they would throw it in the river.
He kept searching the river bed, finding it enjoyable and amusing. He lost track of time as he did so. He found some items that he puzzled over how they got here, such as a shattered sword, clothes riddled with holes, an arrow, some boxes, panties, and some unrecognizable debris.
'Diving is more fun than I thought.' He thought, as he grinned happily.
He didn't mind that he didn't find anything worthwhile. He was glad to experience something new and thrilling.
"This is what life should be like."
He swam back to the surface, feeling rejuvenated and pleased.
"Aaah, that was great. I might…"
He was about to say something, but he stopped when he felt a cold metal on his neck. He looked up and saw a sword aimed at his throat. He also saw several soldiers around him, wearing armor and helmets.
He quickly counted them, 'One, two, three… crap, what's happening here?'
"Intruder! What are you doing here in this fortress!" One of the soldiers shouted at him, demanding him to answer. He looked stern and suspicious.
Moriarty was shocked and confused by the sudden change of events. He had no idea what they were talking about.
He looked around and realized that he had unknowingly swum into a military base. He saw a huge stone wall with towers and flags on it. He also saw cannons and guns pointing at him from the wall.
Apparently, the river's current had carried him away, leading him to the nearest place where there was a massive structure.
The river had bent to the left, making him lose sight of his land. He had drifted for hours as he dived and surfaced, unaware of where he was going.
He had reached the Lorelei Fortress, the border of the enemy kingdom that his farmland was in. It was a colossal and formidable fortress that protected the entrance to the kingdom.
A wide river ran in front of the fortress, coming from various sources inside and outside of their kingdom.
A drawbridge was at its gate, linking the fortress to the other side of the river.
Moriarty understood that he had made a grave mistake. He had accidentally entered hostile territory, and now he was in grave danger.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone