Warning : You might get addicted.
"He is the anomaly!"
"He was never supposed to save anyone!"
"Now he lays, forever forgotten by those that he granted salvation to."
"Like an old, iron rusting away in the depths of an unexplored lushness hidden beneath an ocean of trees somewhere in the world."
"His name? never uttered, deleted in history!"
"But.. what if I know his name..?"
"His name is.."
The thunder bellowed as loud as an explosion, silencing the bangs of the droplets slamming down on the tin-plated roof, bringing a lightning so bright it illuminated the blinding darkness surrounding the house filled with holes.
"CALESTRO!"
— A girl, seemingly in her teenage years with unkept hair, a dirty countenance and ragged garments released a soft, giggle as she screamed a name throughout the dark, wooden room.
— The child, visibly smaller and way younger than her was sent unto a daze, mouth hanging open.
She remained giggly for a short while, the sounds of her cackles only ever broken by the falling droplets on the tin roof, and the ocassional seeping of water through the ceiling, descending towards an array of half-filled buckets, scattered unevenly throughout the broken room.
"..Wa..Wat..!? Kal..estro?" — The child, with a sloppy accent muttered. The lass, smiled and leaned in closer before placing an index finger above her lips. "Shh..No one should know..!"
— "..Wo..Waw...!!" - with a gleeful smile, the child raised his fist. "da seym.. naem as mee...!!" - He exclaimed, sending the lass into a serie of unrepressed laughter, to which, the child just stared at her, eyes wide open.
After a short while, she wiped a tear off her eyelid and whispered. "Calestro.." Before giving the youth a.. natural, yet solemn smile, partly illuminated by the lightning that irrationally flickred through the abyss.
"..Ye..yea..s?"
"Calestro.." — The girl leaned in closer.
"..Hah..? I..Ay seyd yees..?"
"Calestro..!" — The girl leaned in closer.
"...Eeh..? wa..wat is dis..?"
"Calestro..!!!"
*SLAP!*
"How long ar' ya gonna freeload 'round here aye?" - a man, with a bearded countenance, a chubby disposition wearing a green bandana over his head, a black, white striped t-shirt and brown, buckled pants topped off with a pair of leather boots, stood beside a sleeping young man. A pipe protruding from his lips, ocassionally suspending a few bubbles into the air.
...
"..Gnn.." - The young man groaned, slowly lifting his eyelids which showed a blurred vision of the individual before him. He then closed them back off and allowed his head to fall back into the white pillows, before turning away from the man and facing the wooden walls. "Five..more..minutes.."
— The raspy, unbothered response of the youth caused a small vein to throb inside the forehead of the man before he let out soft sigh and closed in on the bed. "Wakey.." — He leaned in. "wakey." — He leaned in further, now whispering those words like a freezing blade unto his eardrums. "..Gnnn.." — The young bloke groaned again before moving, causing the man to raise an eyebrow and turn his gaze at his sleeping face. "hm?"
"grrr..ehehehehehehehe."
— The young man's once displeased expression transitioned into a goofy grin, saliva dripping from his opened lips.
"Softie...Burwolf..sandwich..more..Haustro..ehehhehehihihi.."
— The man paused, before he pulled out a small, cylinder-like contained from his pocket labelled: [Burwolf Mix]. He then pulled the hand of the young man and then sprinkled some Burwolf Mix unto it, after a generous amount was added, he slowly hovered the hand over the young man's nose.
*sniff* *sniff*
"Ahhhh.." — The young man's mouth opened before..
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
— The scream resonated throughout the establishment, disrupting the customers downstairs and causing some birds nearby to fly away.
...
"Awakey now eh?" — The individual, crossed his arms and asked the youth, whom is now sitting above the bed, embracing his right hand that was transitioning into a pinkish color around the edge. "..Wha..What the Hell Haustor..!!" — The young man exclaimed, sucking on the damaged area hoping to alleviate some of the pain while a drop of tear was present on his eyelids. "..Ain't not way Imma let ya." The man, whom was named: Haustor gently pushed the young man's hand away from his mouth. "Mouth is as dirty as a stinkin' toilet, you ain't someone lookin' for some bacteria now lad?" — Haustor sighed, causing the young man to softly wince.
"Anyways.. get ya ass out of bed, and start grindin'! sun's ain't gonna wait for yer lazy ass!"
*Growl*
A faint rumble was heard echoing throughout the room.
"It appears.. that my stomach wants to join this conversation.."
Haustor, smacked the young man's head.
"Idjat, just get those finely washed uniforms of ya'self on ya body and head downstairs ight?"
The young man grasped it's head and winced, as Haustor left the room.
"awawawawa...always a jerk.." — The young man murmured.
Haustor turned around.
"Whadd'ya say?"
"No, I mean.. I want some beef jerky.."
...
Another busy day unfolded in a small eatery located at the outskirts of a settlement bustling with activity, which was open at dawn, peaking in the afternoon and closing at dusk: [Haustor's Delight.] — As the sun reached its highest point, customers mostly males with sweaty dispositions flocked in, quickly filling up the wooden tables and chairs.
"Son! Spare us a bite will ya!"
"Coming! Sir Berthodt!"
"Boy! Tip is on the table!"
"Most appreciated sir!"
"That was utmost satisfying."
"I take it that everything is into your tastes?"
"Beyond it actually. My compliments to your Chef."
"Alrighty, off to the site! See ya Calestro!"
"Take care Brother Anthony!"
— The young man, from earlier. Whom beared the name: Calestro was now robed in a brown tunic and leather pants, wearing wooden slippers, having a darkened apron over his body while sweat prolifirated around his face, mostly from his hair that was stored inside of a hairnet. He worked tirelessly, assisting the customers and obtaining dishes from Haustor, whom laboured inside of the silent kitchen, dominated by an array of delicious aromas.
— The sun slowly descended into the horizon and as it approached the divide of the endless sea, illuminating the entirety of the sky, which was filled to the brim with floating silhouettes, with a pleasant, warm autumn-like hue.
*Ding* — The bell, signalling the opening of the eatery's door chimed once more, as a man passed through with a satisfied expression, waving a small goodbye to the two individuals inside.
Now, silence. The mouth-watering aromas still lingered ever so presently in the air, despite having none to savour their goodness. Calestro, whom earlier was filled with vigour, now found himself slumping above the wooden, scratcy counter, chin falling first. Haustor sighed; before slowly opening his mouth.
"...Aye, kid." — The usual raspy intonation echoed. "..Yeah? What? Overtime is it?" — "Nay...It's just." — Haustor paused for a few seconds before his mouth went agape. "..Still remember the time this old bag took yer sorry ass in?" — Haustor asked.
Calestro pondered for a short second, though slightly puzzled by the sudden question, it made him release a soft chuckle.
"Twenty-first of Autumn, Year Five-Hundred and sixty one. Five minutes before sundown." — Calestro recited flawlessly, to which Haustor let out an amused chuckle. "What in the hell are ya..? ain't ya possibly a machine?" — Calestro sneered. "...!" — Before the young man's brows perked up. "..woah..! exactly a year ago.." — To which, Haustor nodded. "..aye. exactly a few months ago as well since ya took that." — Haustor replied, causing the young man to raise a brow. "..that? what's that?"
Haustor let out an exhale. "..oh well.. this silly old aye received some news."
"..About what exactly..?"
"..ya still remember that adventurer's exam? that gump you partaked in a few months ago.."
"..oh...the one where I was ultimately rejected? what about it..?"
Haustor released his third sigh before retrieving a wrinkled letter from his pocket and sliding it over to Calestro. The young man grasped the paper, though Haustor's mouth went agape once more, seemingly somewhat hesitant in his words.
"Son..Congratulations."
...
The sun slowly began to rise and greet the land with its pleasant morning illumination, lighting up the blocks and waking up the slumbering folks. Meanwhile, at a certain room in Haustor's eatery where the young man; Calestro used to always crash in was..
empty.
The bed, unfitting for the youth's tardiness was now neatly arranged, no wrinkle visible in sight. Looking around, the wooden flooring was also properly maintained, though the drawers that were once filled with garments, radiating an exquisite polish now remained as an empty storage box. The room was quiet, clean and.. empty.
The Hallway connecting the room to the other sections of the second floor was also quiet. No youth in sight, no presence felt, except for the lukewarm ray of light penetrating the cracks of the walls and the ceiling. Downstairs, the shop still held no customers, but there was a person sitting beside the counter, wearing a fine garment and a small sling bag around his torso.
Calestro, the youth was gazing at main swinging doors of the establishment, while ocassionally stealing glances at the clock that was hanged in the center of the wall. He tapped his fingers in an irrational pattern while slightly swinging his legs back and forth.
While a single drop of sweat slid down his, snow-white facial countenance, he muttered; "Come on..Come on.." — continuing his constant exchange of focus from the door unto the ticking clock. While the other hand tapped on the counter erratically, the other, was grasping a wrinkled letter.
"Haustor.. where are you..!"
...
In the outskirts of the town, a large amount of individuals gathered around and toured the area with bags, baskets and products in hand as they examined one stall from another, one was selling an array of fresh harvests, second was selling a newly-brewed batch of vials while others were bartering for general goods. Though, each stall and store differed in products, what related them to on another was their noise, the owners and sellers were always yelling, while the buyers were always haggling.
Amidst this chaos however, a certain burly man walked through the dusty, stone-brick road, eyes directed at what's in front of him, looking concentrated and unfocused at the same time, somewhat overwhelmed with an afterthought.
A few feet away, a certain man, with a white, dirty apron, chubby disposition saw him pass by, his eyes perked up and he immdiately cancelled his butchering of an animal in front of him to call out to Haustor.
"Hey..! Haustor! Is it the usual just like every..." — Haustor continued his walk, ignoring the call of the chubby man.
"...day?"
—
Haustor was picking up a fresh array of condiments and vegetables before proceeding to the owner of the stall. "..Haustor..? why are you buying.. Ghost Roots?" — The owner remarked, to which Haustor blinked. "..Oh nay nay nay... just get it out for me will ya..." — The owner paused before chuckling. "You never told me you were creating recipes based on alchemistic hexes..!"
—
"Sir..Sir..?" — Now, the man sat below a wooden umbrella, and beside a finely-decorated table just outside of a local café. "Sir..?" — The lady, whom was clad in a maid uniform flicked her fingers in front of Haustor.. to which he flinched. "..Oh..apologies lad.." — The lady's eyes went wide. "Mr..Haustor? why would you be eating at another restaurant..?"
—
Haustor treaded through the roads of the marketplace with still a distracted expression, he remained this way until he left and arrived at the quieter yet same number of people present; town square. Several announcement boards were erected around the perimeter, and a marble statue of a certain individual was built at the center of the square, guarded by an armoured individual that took notice of Haustor's absentmindedness, he paused and slightly squinted his eyelids before slowly approaching the distracted Haustor.
"Hey ya fool!" — The guard called out to him before patting his back.
Haustor.. devoid of any energy just looked back at him and muttered a soft; "Heya there." — Causing the armoured guard to raise a brow. "Quite the deceased energy you have there.. are you practicing being dead or something?" — The guard clicked his tongue, causing Haustor to stop in his tracks. "..It ain't mucho, I'll see ya around." — Before Haustor continued once more. "Wait..!" — The guard reached out, before abruptly stopping midway, as he saw the Haustor disappear into the townsfolk, he just scractched his head and whispered. "..Do be looking out of it today.."
—
... "The kid.. his lazy ass probably left by now." — ..Adventurer's huh? what a load of jackass, why would'ya praise a bunch of knuckleheads..
A certain memories of mine flashed inside of my head, contributing to the already splitting headache I was already tanking.
"..Hau..st..or..!"
"...a...d..!"
I shook my head, attempting to silence these tones.. it's been years. Why am I still hung up over this..
I continued my walk, though still overwhelmed with not just doubtful visions but also annoying memories I wanted to settle. "..at least the kid.. doesn't know." — this are some really annoying memories.
Leave me alone dammit.
screw this.
I shook my head before releasing a deep sigh.
Kid would be gone once I arrive home... but whatever... My mind uttered, though I feel slightly.. different from it. I can't understand why.
After what felt like an eternity of treading, I finally arrived to the place I called home and sustained my living for over five years now.. I look at it and wondered, before a certain flashback corrupted the view, reverting it back to the previous state.."ughh!" — I covered my mouth, this is probably the worsest episode I had. Sweat began to proliferate as I heaved a deep sigh.
I'm attracting some gazes.. I need to act right. I straightened my posture and began to walk towards my eatery, a group of people waiting outside perked up as they saw me approach the establisment, some even waved; goodmorning! to me, which I ignored
One even came up to me.
"Haustor..! Finally! I was famished..!"
"..sed."
"Haustor?"
I paused, thinking.
"Closed. I'm closed for the day."
"..Huh..What..?"
— I muttered as a reply, before slamming the door shut and locking it. I wobbled towards one of the chairs near the tables, and sat down, attempting to calm myself down.
Get a grip fucking damn it.
why am I like this..
such a fucking baby.
I began to loathe and scratch my head violently.
I fucking hate this.. leave me fucking alone damnit..! I don't—
"Haustor!"
until.. a familliar voice pulled me out.
...
"Whadd'ya want..?" — Haustor asked the Calestro whom was waiting patiently at the counter, his words radiating off a slight sting to it. "I freakin' told ya.. examination starts an hour after sunrise eh.. then why are you still here.." — Haustor remarked. "..I wanted to at least do a farewell." — Calestro uttered, the final word at least causing a vein in Haustor's forehead to throb. "Well there's no need, especially such a pansy shit." — Haustor then pointed at the door, head still facing the floor. "Leave. I still need to clean."
"Haustor..I—"
"I don't wanna fucking hear it! Dammit!" — Haustor yelled.
"Save your fucking goodbyes! I don't want it!"
Calestro's face dropped.
"..Save your farewells.. just leave dammit..I ain't got all day."
...
"..Then.. there will be no farewells.."
— Calestro stepped forward towards Haustor.
"..Thank you."
— Calestro whispered.
"For looking out for me all this time."
"..."
"In a way.. you were like a father figure to me.. one I never had."
"..."
"..I roamed the streets before you took me in.."
"..."
"soo.. thank you."
"..."
"..Dad." — Calestro smiled.
"..!"
Calestro, left out a soft scoff, seeing Haustor unresponsive. Dejected, He then headed for the swinging doors before..
"..Hey kid." — Haustor called out.
Calestro looked back.
"Retirement is still far, you one year kiddo. I'm not firing you.. therefore. You better fucking come back alive from whatever you do.. dammit. I won't forgive you if you do."
Calestro paused.
But it was settled with a soft, lukewarm smile.
"Deal. I will, Dad."
..?
"There is a lot of people awaiting outside.. are we closed today?" — Calestro looked back, after seeing the group if folks gathered at the front of the eatery.
"..."
"..No." — Haustor replied.
"Tell them we're Open."
— Chapter I. Fin. —