Then suddenly, another merchant got up and shouted at Commander Gaden.
The Merchant: How can you trust your word? You just imprisoned us. We aren't naive enough to trust the rich and those who are in power. The village that I grew up in was seized by the Maleverlem Empire because you people in power got the country in debt.
The merchant then pointed his finger at Gaden directly with his shaking voice.
The Merchant: My family has to go into the forest to find a place to live; all of the good land suddenly, a group of rich people says they own it. You don't understand what we, the lowest in society, are like.
Gaden shouting back at the merchant,
Commander Gaden: I also had a family. I may have dressed well and had power, but I had to sell my soul to them so I could give my family a confortable live.
All merchant the assistant man stared at Gaden,
The Merchant: You people who study in the upper class of society and your act won't fool us
Commander Gaden: Acting? You see my face, and you think I'm acting.
Gaden then reached for the dagger on his waist, and he then cut the armor on his other hand and stabbed his own arm. His hand was shaking as he pulled the dagger out slowly, as the merchant watched
The soldier then grabbed his arm.
The Soldier: Commander, what are you doing?
Then Gaden pushed the soldier, and the soldier fell backward.
As his arm bled, Gaden then threw the dagger into the cell, and all of them then took a few steps backward to dodge the dagger.
Then one of the merchants picked up the dagger and let the dagger touch his skin a bit, and it cut him with just a slightly; the merchant panicked and threw the dagger away. The merchant then immediately grabbed his injury to stop the bleeding.
The merchant who got cut: (Screaming), "Ahhhh, it hurt"
Then another merchant ripped a piece of his cloth to wrap around the injured merchant.
The Merchant then looked at Gaden.
The Merchant: You're bleeding.
Commander Gaden: This is what they took away from, I am a soldier from the war who survived to see too much pain, screaming, and begging. Then suddenly everything felt so empty. No matter what infront of him, I can't feel anything. This is the price for my family's comfort; seeing them in pain gives more sorrow than seeing this country burn.
The merchant stares at Gaden, and everything goes silent.
The Merchant: Then about the deal you wanted to offer us, does it still stand?
Commander Gaden: Yes, it still stands. to give all of you more confort, I will give you additional offer, but before that, about your sentence you still have to go to the prison, I can only able to reduce your prison time and I will relocate your family to the village near you and allow them to visit you once every few months, I'll do what I can to get them register and know by the palace to get an allowance, So they can live normally even without their father.
The Merchants look at each other,
The Merchant: Then we accept.
In the palace, Erefield walks by himself, then he enters his office,
He grabs his chair and adjusts it to face the big window and looks at the city.
Then suddenly someone knocks on his door,
Lord Erefeild: Enter.
The official then opens the door and walks inside.
The official: My lord, I am here to deliver the report as you have requested, and also Commander Gaden just delivered his report on those smugglers as well. What do you want to do about this, My Lord
Lord Erefeild: Do you have it intended,
The Official: Are you sure, My Lord? Giving this report to them will reveal what we are trying to create here.
Lord Erefeild: Just let it. In fact, I want you to stop it completely,
The Official: What do you mean, My Lord? We have already had it way through.
Lord Erefeild: What do you want the people to get an overdose and die or something?
The Official: No, My Lord
Lord Erefeild: Then you can understand,
The Official looks at Erefeild; he notices that Erefeild's legs are waving around his fingers are moving like he is listening to music.
The Official: Forgive me for changing the subject, My Lord, but you seem to be in a light mood?
Lord Erefeild: Oh, yes, today is a kinda not bad day,
The Official: Is it so? What the occasion, my Lord
Erefeild: It just felt different. Anyway, what do you think about a beer, a cold beer with a perfectly well-done steak?
The Official: It is indeed a mouth-watering one, My Lord
Erefeild laugh,
Lord Erefeild: Is it right to tell the head maid to prepare my favorite and make it extra?
The Official: Oh, quite unusual of you. It's rare for you to ask for something extra.
Lord Erefeild: I felt like God was watching me, and he said, "You deserve a well-cooked meal"
In the forest, Liatart is walking around, cutting down trees and removing the branches for a wooden shelter,
He then walks to the abandoned house.
Liatart walk around the house; he then stop on the front door, lifts up his hand, and touches the door. He then puts his magic into the door; his hand grabs the handle as the door glows. It opens, then it takes him somewhere.
A shop, full of magic items, accessories, and equipment
Liatart walks in. Then the shop owner turns around and sees Liatart; he raises his eyebrow and looks at Liatart.
Liatart: May I come in?
The Shop Owner then walks to his front desk,
Sane Pier: And who might you be?
Liatart: Someone that Just return.
Sane Pier: Sorry, but my shop doesn't have a coffin in the warehouse right now.
Liatart: But I'm alive.
Sane Pier: I don't know you, and I don't remember one such as you.
Liatart: May I come in?
Sane Pier: The shop is still open.
Liatart then walks to another desk and sits down, Sane Pier staring at Liatart, as Liatart stares at the ground.
Sane Pier: Where have you been all this time?:
Liatart then leans backward and rests his back against the wall.
Liatart: Sleep.
Sane Pier: Sleep? You mean already dead.
Liatart: Then I am here to deliver a message.
Sane Pier: I am not interested in talking to a spirit or the underwear being.
Liatart: You have the holy item behind you.
Sane Pier: They're too expensive to waste.
Then both of them went silent, looking at each other.
Sane Pier: You're the same as ever, dry and barely anything in that head of yours.
Liatart: Anyway, I am here to ask you about the request
Sane Pier: Really? You and I haven't seen each other for a very long time now, and that is the only thing in your mind.
Liatart went silent. Liatart looked away as Sane Pier kept looking at him.
Liatart: Are you doing well? Is your...
Sane Pier cut Liatart off.
Sane Pier: I already forgot what you're talking about. A request I can't recall.
Liatart then stared at the ground in silence. Then Sane Pier broke the silence.
Sane Pier: That power of yours can't be removed from you.
Liatart immediately turned his gaze to Sane Pier. Eyes widen,
Sane Pier: If it frustrated you, don't blame my ability; blame the god for it.
Liatart rubbed his hand aggressively. His mouth was closed, grinding his teeth, and his jaw was flickering.
Sane Pier paused as he looked at Liatart,
Liatart then took a deep breath and stopped rubbing his hand. Sane Pier then reminded him.
Sane Pier: It's been so long, and I don't really remember anything much about you anymore, but one thing you still need to be cautious of, like always. If you hallucinate again, don't fight it; just ignore it. You might accidentally almost kill yourself again, and I already forgot almost everything about you, and I can't magically just remember everything to save you.
Every time you sleep too comfortably, that power will keep messing with your head; you may be awake, but your brain isn't; it will keep on dreaming until something heavy forces it to wake up.
Liatart then immediately looked at Sane Pier, confuse his eye ope wide and his mouth opened slightly.
Liatart: huh…..?
Sane Pier: You forgot again, right? Did you have a deep sleep recently?
Liatart turned his gaze toward the ground and paused.
Liatart: Thanks, Pier, it felt warming to know that you still care.