The alley was damp, the air was heavy and it was filled with the stench of rotting wood and earth. Emil stood at the entrance, his heart started pounding like a drum in war. In front of him, three hoods loomed over a gaunt child huddled against the grimy brick wall
The boy didn't look a day older than twelve. His tattered clothes were dirty, his dirt-grimed face was pale and it was filled with terror, and his trembling hands wrapped around his ribs, where the men had likely kicked him
A burly thug with a jagged scar down his cheek jerked his head in a lazy curve toward Emil. His eyes glinted with amusement
"And who the devil are you?" he snarled, and then he started cracking his knuckles
Emil clenched his fists. His brain shouted at him to turn around, to go away. He was not tough. He was not special. He was nothing
But his body didn't respond
"I could ask you the same thing," Emil said, and he was attempting to keep his voice level high, to show that he was not afraid at all "Three grown men are jumping and ganging up on a kid? That's pathetic, don't you think?"
The scarred man blinked and then he collapsed into a fit of laughter. His companions followed suit, their deep, thunderous laughter started ringing out in the alleyway
"Oi, you hear that? The little nipper thinks he is a bloody hero or something!" A bald, hulking thug laughed and dabbed a tear from his eye "That's adorable" then he said to Emil "Hey kid, go away this is not a place where you should play hero"
"Listen up, kid." The scarred man took another step closer, and he was now shadowing Emil. "I'll offer you a choice. Turn around and fuck off before I break your legs and throw you in front of monsters"
Emil gulped. His belly wanted to do just that. But something rooted him where he stood
"Let the kid go," he said, his voice was unyielding. "And I'll pretend that I never saw anything and will also let you go"
The bald goon sneered. "Oh? And what if we don't? What can you even do? Little rascal"
Emil's face contorted into a sneer "Then things will get ugly"
His heart raced. He knew it was a bluff. They also knew that it was just a bluff
There was a moment of quiet, for a fraction of a second. Then the scarred enforcer's grin twisted into something sinister
"Okay, kid," he breathed "You go first, we will see what you can even do"
Suddenly his fist flew out, straight at Emil's face
Move!
Emil hardly flinched his body simply moved on its own. The punch whizzed by his ear, missing by inches
Emil knew that it was just because of sheer luck
Emil didn't have time to think. The momentum of the thug kept him coming, and Emil's instincts kicked in. He kicked that guy in his gut
His foot caught the thug in the belly, but weakly. It was like kicking a brick wall, Emil felt the impact
The thug barely flinched
Emil said to himself "Shit. That did nothing to him, this body is so trash"
But Emil wasn't done yet. His eyes looked around. A broken wooden stick there!
Without hesitation, he picked it up and swung to hit the head of the man
CRACK!
The wood split into the man's head. He staggered and started cursing
"This fucking little bastard"
The bald thug rushed forward.
No time.
Emil dodged. Move, move, move!
His hands snapped out, and they started taking hold of the kid's wrist
"Run! And don't loo back at all"
The boy hesitated
Emil wouldn't allow him to decide. He dragged him forward and ran
Behind them, the bullies shouted, their heavy footsteps pounding on the cobblestones and they started following them
They weren't fast enough
But Emil wasn't either
His breath started to burn in his throat. His legs were weak and shaking. But he pushed on, hauling the kid through the turning alleys
Left. Right. Another right
His gaze darted around, seeking an exit
Then a gap. A thin slit between buildings.
There!
Emil elbowed forward, dragging the child along with him. There was not enough space for the thugs to be able to follow along
When they reached the other side, Emil's lungs were on fire
They kept running. They never broke the pace
Not until the screams faded in the distance behind them
Not until they were on the opposite side of town, hidden in the shadows of an abandoned alley
Only then did Emil finally let go of the boy's wrist, colliding with a wall
His chest was pounding very hard. His hands were trembling. His heart was going to burst
That was… insane, way too much insane and intense
He wasn't a fighter. He wasn't even close to being tough. He had no idea how he'd done that at all
But he had
And he was still in one piece
Elbow Room
A gentle voice interrupted the quiet
"Why did you help me? And who are you?"
Emil turned
The boy stood there, looking at him with wide, cautious eyes. Up close, Emil could see the bruising spreading across his arms, the dried blood on his lip
He looked vulnerable
And yet… his eyes weren't filled with fear. They were sharp. And they were Analytical
Emil let out a breath. "Didn't like the odds. Three to one? Seemed unfair to me so that's why I helped you"
The boy frowned slightly. "You knew you were weaker. You could have died because if I"
"I could've." Emil rubbed his hair, sighing. "But I didn't and that's what matters the most"
Silence lingered for a moment
Then
Something caught Emil's eye
A letter
It protruded from the boy's pocket, its golden wax seal catching the dim alley light
His breath was stolen
He knew that emblem
Carefully, Emil pulled the letter from the kid's pocket
The crest of the Empire Academy
His hands shook
He looked at the boy, his stomach churning
"You" Emil's voice was harsh "Who in the devil's name are you?"
The boy's face faltered
And then
A small, knowing smile spread across his lips