The Confrontation

“Who?” Ashur asked the mayor impatiently.

“Quick, Mun, tell us,” the elderly lady demanded, equally enthusiastically.

“Alright, alright,” the young man held up both hands in mock surrender. “I’ll tell you.

Initially, I couldn’t seem to recall any alchemists in our town. But then, I remembered that Klide had once trained with a foreign Master from faraway lands. Since then, there has been a rumor circulating around town that he became an alchemist, but no one can confirm whether it is true.”

“Klide? That monster?” The old woman gasped in disbelief. “He, an alchemist?”

Ashur frowned in confusion, not understanding who they were referring to.

Seeing Ashur’s puzzlement, Mun briefly explained, “Klide is the son of the local healer. He was born with a disfigured face and looks rather atrocious.

His mother, the healer, had tried almost everything to cure him, but nothing seemed to work.