"Ay lad, you hearing me!" Alastair's voice could be heard, as though it was being deafened through a sea of clouds.
Percival lifted his head, his eyes still slightly closed, only just adjusting to the atmosphere around him. A groggy voice sounded. "Did I.. fall asleep again?" Percival looked towards Alastair, his eyes shooting open as he realised he must have fallen asleep while waiting for them to wake up.
"You've been resting here a while lad, I figured you'd need the sleep if you came here so early in the morning. You want to tell me what you were here so early for?". Alastair spoke with kindness, the sound of curiosity residing in his tone.
"I was taken to some room underground, a couple streets over, i woke up there and managed to make it out. I didn't know where else to go sir".
Alastair looked towards Percival, he smiled. "That's okay, you're welcome here anytime. As promised, I'll tell you more about what we do here, your pay as well as which duties you'll be taking care of from here on out.
"We here are the ones who protect civilians from attacks, this world is more dangerous than im sure you imagined.
"It inhabits creatures not of this world. Our duty is to fight them, but to also make sure they never interact with others. They can only be seen, sensed and touched by those with awakened abilities. These creatures cannot be killed permanantly, their bodies merely breaking apart and reforming elsewhere. These creatures possess similar abilities to ours, however, their abilities are not as potent. Are you following along lad?".
"I think so, although, if they can't be killed for good, how are we meant to stop them?".
"I'll get into that another time, you shouldn't be faced with one of these creatures for a little while. Until you've awakened your ability, you won't even be able to see them.let alone interact with them.
"The next thing about them is that they can interact with those who may not be able to interact with them, which is why we're tasked with making sure civilians are always kept out of the way.
"These creatures do not form often, although, when they form they are very dangerous". Alastairs eyes seemed to unfocus, almost as if he was recalling something from a time long ago. "The next thing, awakeners have been known to make deals with these creatures, this is the reason behind why some awakeners attack others. Keep that in mind young lad, just because they are also an awakener, does not mean they fight for the same cause".
Percival chimed in, almost cutting off Alastair. "Why do they make deals with these creatures?".
"They are offered power beyond what they could imagine. Do you recall the branches of those abilities I informed you about, specifically the abilities that affect space, time, and matter? Those abilities originated from these creatures, and had been bestowed upon those who fight alongside them. They were never meant for the hands of human nature. Merely tamed by the beasts we fight. But in turn, these kinds of abilities come with a backlash. Offering great strength in return for life. These creatures feed off the life-force of humans. Their payment from the ones who join their fight, is life."
Percival, stunned, didn't know what to say. He only thought about Eliza, then back to last night.
The demeanour she possessed, the 'gang' she was a part of, and her making it clear she wasn't here to harm Alastair.
As the pieces started to fall together, so too did questions arise. Percivals mind, a labyrinth of curiosity, filled with more and more questions. Some, had their answers met through common sense, whilst others, lacked their associates.
"Why is it that some people decide to work with these creatures? Those benefits seem nice, but not at the costs they come at". Percival asked the question which best seemed to fit the atmosphere around the room.
Alastair thought for a second, before looking towards percival, a hint of despair, clouding his hazel eyes. "Some.. aren't naturally evil. However, some people see the world as a shackle, believing the only way to be set free.. is through the death of those around them ;they sit back and watch as the terror they set free englufes the streets, leaving nothing but blood, misery and and a reflection of guilt in the aftermath".
Silence filled the air around the two, seated at opposite ends of the table. Both pairs of eyes, seemingly giving glances towards the floor. Before it was broken, not by one of them, but by Lisa whos voice could have even been heard from the upper class districts.
"Morning sir!! Oh, and good morning Percy!! It's good to see you decided to come back! I honestly didn't know what to expect when you left yesterday, whether you'd be here, or stay home. But ah!! So happy you came back!!".
Percival resisted the urge to block his ears with his fingers as he looked towards Lisa and waved. "Good morning, someone's in a good mood today". Alistair chimed in, "that's her every morning, if I got to sleep in to 10 every morning I'd be just as loud too".
Laughter erupted from the table, and a chuckle from the girl who now stood beside the table, holding a small mug of what seemed to be coffee, with a dash of milk mixed in for texture. With a puzzled look on her face, she asked, "why were you guys so silent a moment ago?"
"I think I speak for the both of us when I say that we were just caught up in thought". Alastair seemed to pave the road for Percival to walk along if he so chose to. "That's right, sometimes silence is the best treatment for thought". Responded Percival, both quickly and sure of himself.
"Hey sir, don't you think we need a new chair now that Percy is joining us? We can't exactly have a two seater table for three".
Lisa, standing upright, sipping her coffee, brought the idea before them both.
"That's actually is a good idea, I'll see about getting a new chair this afternoon. For the time being I think we should start cleaning up the bar upstairs. It's been run down for far too long". Alastairs face beamed with excitement, almost as if remembering the way it used to look brought back fond memories.
The two who were seated at the table nodded simultaneously as they sat up, tucking their chairs in behind them.
Crash!!
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Was that the windows upstairs? I thought they were boarded up. I never noticed but maybe the glass has always been intact, just covered by the boards.
The three who were now standing next to each other looked towards the door in front of them. They all understood what had happened upstairs.
Thump. Thump.
Footsteps echoed upon the creaking wood panels that lined the floor upstairs. They sounded heavy, but not as if they knew the layout of the bar. For the upstairs was always pitch black, even in the middle of the day.
The three opened the door infront of them, breaking into a sprint up the stairs.
They found themselves facing a man. Tall, slender, his eyes a soul piercing grey. His arms, neck and body by the looks of it were covered in tattoos.
Percivals eyes widened, recalling the incident from the previous evening. "Watch out for his tattoos! He can form objects through the ink in his skin!!"
The three of them seemed to break formation, almost separating on instinct.
The last time he reached to his left arm, however this time he took hold of his chest. Blood seeped from the spot where he dug his fingers into, the flesh being ripped apart as he tore a long-sword from the depths of his skin.
The sword had a leather bound handle, long enough to fit both hands. The guard seemed to reach out from where the handle met the blade.
Long, sharp and deadly, the blade hung out from the top like a hornets stinger; light reflecting from the stainless steel as if had never been used.
The man linged forward, his sight set on Alastair. As he hoisted the sword towards the old man, it was parried. The sound echoing across the room like a drum. Alastair stood there, knife in hand; the metal from the knife clashing with that of the long sword.
Percival, stood in shock.
"Didn't think an old man like me could fight his own battles lad? Sit back and grab a drink, we are at a bar". Alastair chuckled, still holding his ground against the push of the long sword.
Lisa who seemed to be lost in thought, opened her palm in front of herself. Forming through the energy surrounding her hand, a ball of light seemingly emitting a current of electricity.
She held it still, pouring her own energy into it; it seemed to take a toll on her own body.
Alastair pushed back the man with tattoos, before standing straight, looking him dead in his grey coated eyes; a single question left the mouth of the old man. "What is your name?".
"Larlock".
The single word escaped the mouth of the man standing before them. Without hesitation he lunged once again. This time, aimed for Percival..
"Thunder.. heed my call, and answer my orders!!" A bright spark emitted from the palm of Lisa hand, now facing Larlock directly.
Larlock stopped in his tracks unable to make a move fast enough; the ball of electricity, a direct hit to his body.
As the smoke cleared, Larlock stood, seemingly unfazed by the girl ability. "Strong. But not nearly enough".
Percival, who's mind had always been over those around him. Noticed something the other two had not.
Pupillary dilation reflex. An autonomic response to pain. This happens involuntarily, meaning no matter how much he wished to hide it, he felt the shock from that ability. The stronger the intensity of pain, the greater the dilation. His eyes seemed to dilate in response to a great deal of pain.
"Lisa! It might make no sense, but can you produce another ball of electricity?!". Percival screamed across the room, seemingly friendzied.
"It's not going to work if it didn't do anything the first time! This is your first real fight, you don't have enough of a grasp of the danger were in! I can't go wasting my power on a shot that won't affect him". She seemed disappointed, and almost useless tone resounding in her voice.
"It's not a waste. It affected him Lisa, he's putting on a facade, i can explain later. Just shoot again!!". Panick spread across Percivals eyes, he realised they might not have that much time left "put your trust in me!".
Lisa's eyes hit the floor. Countless thoughts running tracks through her mind.
She lifted up her palm once more, imbuing all the energy she had. The electricity danced a waltz throughout the crevices of her hand. She closed her eyes, ready to release the power welled up within herself.
Slice..
Larlocks blade slid across the side of Lisa's body, blood trickling down through the cut in her shirt. Her palm closed, the electricity fading.
Lisa's knees hit the ground, her hands holding the spot that had been sliced.
"Lisa!!". Percival ran towards her, but in that instance, Larlock sprung towards him.
Clash!
Alastair stood in front of him, their blades colliding once more. "Lad, go help Lisa, I'm here to protect you both".
Percival merely nodded, running towards where Lisa was kneeling. She looked up. "I'm sorry, I hesitated. I couldn't put my faith in you, I'm sorry".
"Don't apologise, it's not your fault". Percival tore a piece of his shirt, wrapping it around the wound. He stood up facing the two, whos blades were still in collision after collision.
Clank! Clash! Bang!
One after another, the sword swung, each time held in place by the knife that was held in the hands of Alastair.
Thump!
Larlocks leg had lifted off the ground, and swung towards Alastair's side out of nowhere. Unable to react in time the kick sent him flying into the bar.
Crash!!
Alastair lay, in the midst of the wood that seemed to rip under his weight. His eyes open, yet his body, unmotivated. He looked towards Percival, his eyes full of sorrow.