Located at the border of the Commoner District, the South-East neighborhoods were adjacent to the bustling Trade District, separated only by a narrow stream. A small bridge spanning across the stream gave the South-East residents easy passage to the countless shops and stalls that had made the Trade District famous throughout the Ebon Realm.
While none of the fancy and large gilded stores were situated anywhere near the South-East, lfyn still considered his small patch of the Trade District the best in the city. It didn’t matter that none of the posh or aristocratic citizens gave their patronage here, in fact, he preferred it that way. This small neighborhood of stalls and shops was for the common people and he loved them all the more for it.
Even as he walked through the busy morning streets, he couldn’t help but admire the rugged old buildings. Small as they were, the vendors sohow always managed to have exactly what he was looking for and if they didn’t, they always had sothing just as good.
The bustling of the crowds had only grown louder and livelier in the last few weeks. With the ‘mysterious’ disappearance of the Rat Snake gang and all that followed, people had begun to feel safer in their neighborhood and had begun to venture out more frequently, not just out of necessity, but for enjoynt.
While humans and goblins comprised most of the commoners in the city, the owners of the stalls were mostly drows, and a few humans and dwarves. Goblins never had much to call their own in the city, but lfyn felt that was slowly changing. Even now, he spotted a few goblins in the crowd, heading towards their jobs or simply going out for a stroll. The few that saw him, in turn, lit up with pride and nodded respectfully as he passed by.
It was strange, goblins he had never t recognized him, and not just goblins, humans, and many of the other resident dwarves and drows did too.
The whole thing felt very odd to lfyn. The slums had once been his ho, no one had ever given him a second glance before. Hunger had been his only constant friend. And now he was running an errand to buy food for not only himself, but his friends. Not once in his short 16 years would he have ever dread things would have changed as much as they had.
The scent of fresh bread wafted over him and he looked up at the familiar shop. It was a small bakery, with sun-bleached wooden planks that had seen better days many, many years ago. Despite what the shop looked like, Mr. eves still managed to bake the best bread in the neighborhood.
Sandra had once told lfyn a bakery in the North-West Sub-District served the best bread and pastries. He hadn’t visited that bakery yet, but he doubted anyone’s baking was better than Mr. eves’.
Even now, the old baker was already outside, stacking steaming hot bread on top of one another on his display.
Always on ti. lyfn smiled. He was about to place an order when a woman stepped out of the crowd and approached the baker first.
“Hello,” she smiled excitedly. “Are you open by any chance? Or are you still prepping?”
On a closer look, lfyn noticed the woman was younger than he thought. In her late teens, perhaps? Her chestnut hair was cut short, barely reaching her shoulders, an uncommon style among the human residents, but he thought it suited her well. Faint freckles spotted her cheeks here and there. Her expression was calm, but the glint of hunger in her dark green eyes betrayed her eagerness.
Mr. eves opened his arms wide and stared pointedly at his fresh wares, “We always open at first light.”
“Oh? Is that right? Good to know,” she nodded to herself as if making a ntal note.
Mr. eves looked her up and down and raised his eyebrow, “You’re not from around here, are you?”
The woman winced, “Is it that obvious?”
“Your boots have grass stains on them. There isn’t much grass in this city, so I’m guessing you’ve only recently moved from the Valley,” Mr. eves shrugged. “Also, most shops in the Trade District open at dawn and close at sunset on account of the undead sentinels patrolling the streets. Even a toddler Hollow Shader would know that.”
The woman’s face grew red as she stared at her boots sheepishly. “I didn’t know that…”
“My, you really are fresh in the city, huh?”
“My family and I just moved in yesterday… I haven’t gone anywhere, until now that is,” she mumbled.
Mr. eves smiled disarmingly in the way only an elderly person could. “Well, you ca just in ti. The war with those savages in the valley has only grown worse these last few months.” 𝘙ἈꞐꝋ𐌱Еs̈
“Yeah, you have no idea. Luckily, my father got a job working at one of House Azol’s wineries,” she said proudly. “And so we were able to move here.”
Mr. eves whistled, “Working for a Nad House, that is quite the honor. Pays well, too.”
“Yes, it does, but…” her voice trailed off.
“The city is more expensive than you thought, huh?” he said sympathetically.
“It’s just, those naplates! How can anyone afford to buy those things yearly?” she grumbled.
“If you ask , you might as well call it robbery,” he laughed.
“I know, right!”
The old man smiled, “Then from one human in this City of Shades to another, let welco you to the Trade District. I’m Donivan eves, but you can just call Mr. eves, everyone here does.”
“It’s very nice to et you, Mr. eves. I’m Anika,” she bowed politely.
“Well, Anika, what would you like this morning?”
“Five fresh loaves, please.”
“Buying breakfast for your family?”
“Yes, sir. They’re all still asleep, I thought I might surprise them.”
“Oof, I wish my granddaughter was as filial as you,” he chuckled. “Anyways, that’d usually be three copper coins, but for you, it’ll be just one. Consider it a ‘welco-to-the-neighborhood discount.”
“Thank you, sir,” she smiled warmly.
“My pleasure. Now, just give a mont and I’ll—” Mr. eves suddenly stopped and his eyes locked on lfyn standing a few paces from the shop. “l! I didn’t see you there. Good morning!”
“Good morning, Mr. eves,” lfyn smiled.
“What brings you here, today?” the old baker asked.
“I’m running an errand for Karen since she doesn’t trust Witt to go buy ingredients on his own,” lfyn said. “The first item on the list is bread, so here I am.”
“The usual then?” Mr. eves asked.
“Please,” he said.
“50 loaves, coming right up.” The baker glanced at Anika apologetically, “Sorry, lass, give a few monts. I need to help our friend here, first.”
“Ah, I understand,” she nodded uncertainly.
“No, please. The young miss was here before , help her first,” lfyn said.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot. The temple’s food must co first,” Mr. eves said adamantly.
Before lfyn could argue, the old baker had rushed back inside to grab enough bread for the order.
Anika eyed the goblin curiously, “So, l, was it?”
“Uh, y-yeah. lfyn, actually, but people just call l. You can call whichever you want— w-what I an to say is, I don’t mind being called either, I guess…”
She grinned, “Well, nice to et you, lfyn. I’m Anika. You can just call Anika.”
“Y-yeah, will do.”
“So, you work at a temple then? Are you like an acolyte?”
“Huh? Oh, no, but I am close with an acolyte at the Southside temple.”
“So what do you do then?” she asked curiously.
“Um, that’s…”
“Ah, sorry!” Anika winced. “I didn’t an to put you on the spot. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“No, it’s not like that, it’s just—”
“Oi! Old man, get your ass out here!” an orc in the crow yelled.
lfyn turned around and saw two orcs dressed in grey cloaks saunter up to the bakery.
Mr. eves walked back outside and grimaced. He quickly smothered his worried expression and smiled forcefully, “Kardyn! Zom! Nice to see you two. How can I help?”
“Took you long enough, old man. We need 30 loaves of bread, now.” Kardyn tossed a couple of silver coins on the stall counter.
“Ah, yes, just give 20 minutes and they’ll be right out,” Mr. eves said hesitantly.
“Huh? 20 minutes? But you’ve got at least 30 loaves right here. Are you trying to fuck with us, old man!?” Kardyn snarled.
“No, not at all! It’s just that that bread is already spoken for. It’s going to the Southside temple to feed the orphans and the priests. Please, if you just wait a few minutes I promise we’ll have your food right up.”
“Oh co on, I’m not going to wait here like an idiot. My friends won’t be very happy with if I’m late. So, in the interest of both our lives, give my food, now,” Kardyn said in a threatening voice.
“Um…” Mr. eves swallowed and glanced at lfyn worriedly.
“I think old man eves has gone a little senile,” Zom spoke up. “I an, why else would he think he could get away with making Jagged Blade Gang wait?”
“You know, I think you’re right, Zom,” Kardyn suddenly grinned. “Maybe we’ll have to remind him what happens when you dare disrespect the—”
“Ah! The Jagged Blades! I rember now,” lfyn snapped his fingers. “Your gang runs a small business in one of the eastern sub-districts, right?”
“Huh? Who the fuck is this kid?” Kardyn raised his eyebrow.
“Run away little goblin, before you say sothing you regret,” Zom warned. He glanced at Anika, “The sa goes for you, human.”
Anika nodded fearfully and looked at lfyn. “We should go,” she whispered.
“It’s strange, don’t you think, Mr. eves?” lfyn said calmly. “That a pair of gangsters think they can harass your business even though their little gang is far, far away.”
“Y-yes, I think it is strange,” Mr. eves nodded hesitantly.
Kardyn’s amber eyes grew hard, “What was that, old man? Are you really siding with this little fucking goblin? Do you have any idea what my people will do to you when they find out you—”
“—You’re clearly far from ho territory, so I’ll make this clear,” lfyn interrupted. “Mr. eves, his bakery, and all his staff are under my protection.”
“What did you just say?” Zom growled.
Kardyn laughed with an angry expression, “Can you believe this little shit, Zom? Just because the Rat Snakes fell, now a bunch of kids think they can just waltz up into this neighborhood and call it their own?” He suddenly drew his sword from his sheath and pointed at lfyn, “I’d be careful with your next words, goblin.”
lfyn didn’t flinch nor step back, he didn’t even bother looking at the ard orc. His eyes were entirely focused on the crowd around them, at another goblin who was looking back at him, expectantly. lfyn gave a subtle nod, then finally turned his attention to the orcs.
“I’ll say this once, leave. Your gang is not welco here or the Commoner’s South-East Sub-District,” lfyn said.
Kardyn laughed disbelievingly, “You’ve got so balls, kid. But that shit won’t save you.”
“lfyn, we really should go!” Anika pleaded.
“It’s too late for that, missy,” Kardyn snarled.
“Wait. lfyn?” Zom frowned. “Kardyn, stop!” Zom reached out and grabbed his partner’s shoulder.
Kardyn shrugged him off, “What’s wrong with you?! Are you actually afraid of one little goblin?”
“One?” lfyn asked quietly. He slowly raised his hand, palm flat. “A lone goblin will be picked off by the wolf packs…”
lfyn let his hand drop.
A series of high pitch whirs zipped down from the roofs of the nearby shops. Kardyn was knocked back and crashed into the ground, three arrows lodged in his chest. Zom cried out in pain and collapsed, a single arrow protruding from his knee.
“...But a pack of goblins can slay a dire bear,” lfyn finished in a frigid voice.
Zom scread in agony and rolled on the ground. lfyn casually picked up the Kardyn’s sword and walked over to Zom.
“Wait, no! Please, we didn’t know! We didn’t know this was the Cinder Brood gang’s territory!” Zom cried out.
lfyn cocked his head to the side. “Gang?”
“We are not a gang,” ca Sandra’s voice from a nearby rooftop. She jumped off nimbly and walked over to stand next to lfyn. “We are a tribe.”
Suddenly, a dozen young teenagers erged from the crowd. Most were goblins, but a few were humans and one was even a drow.
Jack, a human and the tallest of the teens, stepped forward and drew his bow taut. “We don't take lightly to people threatening the First of the Cinder Brood.”
“I’m sorry, it was my partner’s fault! I tried to stop him!” Zom said in a panicked voice.
lfyn ignored him and raised his sword above Zom’s chest, ready to strike.
“rcy, please! Gods, please, have rcy!” Zom whimpered.
“l…?” Anika whispered and took a shaky step back. “Who are you people?”
lfyn looked at her and faltered for a brief mont, before his expression hardened, an imitation of the one he admired most. “We are Lunisian.”
Without hesitation, lfyn stabbed Zom in the heart.
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