Atbah: Are you joking with me, 50 coins?? This is half my coins, this is theft.
The kingdom guard sighed sarcastically and with contemptuous looks: Look who talks about theft—a small refugee in dirty clothes who has many coins and some equipment that seems valuable. Tell me, boy, who did you kill?
Unlike Atbah, who wore torn clothes, the kingdom guards were wearing light armor suitable for desert battles, with some edges plated with gold and several star engravings. Atbah tried to deny the false accusations thrown at him.
Atbah got a little angry: This is nonsense. I told you again, I did not kill anyone.
Kingdom guard: Right, all of you say the same words. Will you pay the entry fee or leave? I don't have time for people like you.
Atbah wanted to object, but—
The kingdom guard shouted angrily: Get away from here, you cursed boy. There are many others behind you.
Atbah moved away from the main gate of the kingdom with regret and anger and vented his anger by kicking rocks.
Atbah: Damn them, who do they think they are? What the hell… if I had enough power, I would destroy this cursed kingdom from its roots. Those damned bastards—do they think I will surrender and kneel easily? I will enter no matter what it takes.
Atbah decided to eavesdrop on travelers or refugees who came to this kingdom to learn some secret ways to enter, but all he heard was about the development of their magic and their ability to read memories, or that it was a great renaissance of the world due to the alliance of all races together, like hybrid creatures.
Atbah: What did I just hear? There are many refugees because of the alliance of different races… but this information does not help me right now. I must find another way.
Atbah moved around the thick walls of the kingdom, touching their rough texture as if they were crushing mountains built to protect this kingdom.
Atbah: It seems this cannot be penetrated or climbed, and the sewage openings and tunnels are tightly closed. Voices, don't you have any ideas?
Whispers: We share the same mind. I cannot think of anything you haven't already thought of.
Atbah: Then what is your use? Just making friendship with me?
Whispers: Just to remind you of your greatest sins.
Atbah: Fine, I failed in that. I do not have any memories.
Whispers: …you…just…don't want…to remember.
Atbah: Stop your nonsense. The important thing now is—do I have any ideas to help me cross or not?
Whispers: … … … …
Atbah sighed in disappointment: It seems I have no other choice but to go back to the gate again and continue eavesdropping.
He returned to the main gate again and continued eavesdropping on people. His attention was caught by a group of hybrid creatures with tails and animal ears but human bodies, and a half-dwarf girl with a normal human height but a very large chest due to dwarf genes and somewhat small ears. They were whispering among themselves and watching around to make sure no one was there, then they decided to follow a person wearing a black cloak like a shadow.
Atbah: It seems the bright lines of fate are guiding me.
Atbah sneaked behind them to know what they were hiding and covered his clothes with some sand to camouflage himself among the hot sand. He waited until they reached their place. Suddenly, they stopped without warning. Atbah quickly hid between sand hills and saw the people he was following pass through the walls.
Atbah: Oh God… it seems I found my way to enter the kingdom. But the hard part now is—how can I enter without anyone seeing me?
Atbah felt confused and scratched his head to find a way to cross.
??: It seems we have an unwanted guest.
What—? But this is impossible… I was watching them… These thoughts ran through his mind as he heard the words of the cloaked person who came behind him. Cold sweat began to drip across his body. He felt as if time had stopped around him. He thought of many ways to escape this dangerous situation and tried to come up with an answer to satisfy the black shadow behind him so he wouldn't kill him.
Atbah: Wait, I am not a guard. I just want to cross like them.
??: Why should I believe you?
Atbah: I heard from some travelers that there are mages who can enter memories, and possibly an organization like yours has this kind of magic.
The cloaked person went silent and moved in front of Atbah and sat before him, but Atbah could not see his face, as if the air around him was distorting his features.
??: Listen, boy. Memory magic carries many risks, like soul distortion and self-destruction. This type of magic is only used to obtain information about traitors or the dead. Are you sure you can handle the risks just to prove yourself?
Atbah hesitated before answering: I have no choice.
??: Haha, I like your quick thinking. Well, it seems it's time for your nap.
Atbah: Wait—
He placed his dark hands on Atbah's head, and strange whispers came out of his mouth. In moments, his body began to boil like fire trying to burn him from the inside. He rolled, trying to extinguish the fire within him.
Atbah: ...
Atbah tried to scream, but no sound came out. His voice became like water evaporating before the burning flames inside him. Then the pain disappeared, and the whole world turned black.
Enough.
He heard the sound of cold water hitting his face. He opened his eyes, filled with exhaustion and weakness.
Atbah: Cough, cough… where am I?
He was tied by his wrists and legs to an old wooden chair.
??: Have you woken up, my dear?
Soft bell-like sounds rang in his ears, her beautiful voice torturing his pure soul. He raised his head to see the owner of the voice and saw a figure like a piece of art crafted with delicacy and devotion: short fiery red hair that could melt any frozen heart, beautiful blue eyes like vast lakes, white skin like frost, pink lips like a field of roses, and a perfectly shaped body like an angel descending from the sky. She smiled—not cold, nor warm—wearing warm red clothes made of expensive wool.
??: Don't you think you overdid hurting our little boy?
The cloaked man bowed: Sorry, my lady.
??: Don't worry, you were just doing your job. Now, let us return to the main topic. Tell me, boy, why were you watching us?
Atbah hesitated because of her sharp gaze: I just want to enter the kingdom.
??: And why risk sneaking in?
Atbah: Because I have no other way.
??: How can you prove you are telling the truth?
Atbah: … … …
??: Your answer is no. Unfortunately, I didn't want to hurt our little boy.
She stood from her expensive chair and approached him, then gently touched his dirty cheeks. Strange whispers came out of her pink lips. Blue light began to emerge from Atbah's eyes, lighting the entire place until it was covered in a bright white glow.
Sharp inhale.
After all the noise, the place became extremely quiet. There were no sounds for miles—or perhaps he simply could not hear anything due to exhaustion.
Inhale.
Finally, he did it. He did all of this to take that eye. He wanted it badly… but he forgot what he felt before doing it. Was it laziness? Lust? Gluttony? Anger? Envy? Greed…?
Or was it pride?
All he could see was the head of a boy younger than him lying on the ground, his face unrecognizable, his brain and internal parts scattered everywhere.
??: It seems this is your deepest secret.
He looked toward the enchanting voice and saw a girl who should not exist in this place or time.
??: O Atbah.
Atbah: . . . . . . ..