THE SILENT TOWN [CHAPTER 10]

As I made my way into the town, the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that hinted at the encroaching dusk. I sought refuge for the night, but a stern request for registration at the guild halted my entrance. Thus, I began searching for this elusive guild, navigating the town's quiet, almost eerie streets. The atmosphere was thick with an unsettling stillness, and an oppressive darkness seemed to cling to the very air, as if the town itself was steeped in the suffering of its inhabitants.

With each step, I felt the weight of unseen eyes upon me, a sensation that sent a shiver down my spine. Was it my attire that drew their attention? My clothing was distinctly different from the locals, whose garb was simple and unadorned. I observed men clad in loose-fitting trousers and thin jackets, while the women typically wore long skirts, their forms modestly concealed. In contrast, I felt like an outsider, a traveler in a land where the norms were foreign.

The town was not large; the shops were few, and the homes lacked any semblance of grandeur. As I wandered, a piercing scream echoed from a nearby alley, a sound so desperate that it cut through the thick silence like a knife. Strangely, the townsfolk continued with their lives, seemingly indifferent to the cry for help. Perhaps it was too faint for them to hear, or perhaps they had grown accustomed to such horrors. My heightened senses, however, alerted me to the urgency of the situation.

Compelled by the haunting scream, I ventured deeper into the shadowy streets, which grew increasingly desolate. The darkness enveloped me, but I pressed on, determined to uncover the source of the distress. The sound grew louder, guiding me away from the bustling main street and into a labyrinth of narrow passageways that felt steeped in illicit activity. A sense of foreboding washed over me; the absence of patrolling guards suggested that the law and order of this place was tenuous at best.

As I neared the wall from which the scream emanated, I could almost feel the anguish radiating from behind it. I cautiously peered around the corner and was met with a sight that ignited a fire within me: three men, brutish and leering, were attempting to assault a woman. 

"Help me! Someone, please help me!" Her voice trembled with desperation, each word a plea for mercy. "I have a child at home! I'm so sorry for borrowing your money; I promise I'll repay it as soon as I can! For the love of God, please let me go! I beg you!"

The situation was dire, and while it seemed to stem from a financial dispute, it was clear that these men were motivated by something far darker than mere money. Their eyes glinted with lust, and I could sense the barbarism lurking beneath their bravado.

"Did you hear that, pal? This bitch is begging us to spare her for the sake of some nonexistent goddess!" one of them laughed, a cruel, mocking sound that reverberated through the alley. It was a laugh so repugnant that even goblins would have found it distasteful. These men were not particularly imposing in stature, yet their arrogance was palpable, a mask for their cowardice.

"Brother, she expects you to be gentle with her!" another jeered. "She has a son. Let's give that boy a brother and a sister!" Their laughter echoed like a death knell, a cacophony of cruelty that sent my blood boiling.

"Why stop at one brother? We're three, and this woman can't pay us back. Let's use her as we please until she's no longer of any use," the third man sneered, his eyes glinting with malicious intent.

"No! Please, no! I beg you!" The woman was on her knees, forehead pressed to the ground, her pleas falling on deaf ears. The monsters before her were driven by a twisted sense of superiority, and it was evident that this was not their first foray into such heinous acts.

"Enough!" I stepped into the fray, my voice steady and resolute. "Leave the lady alone." 

In that moment, I felt a surge of courage, reminiscent of the heroes from the tales I had read in my youth—those who bravely intervened to thwart evil. Yet, unlike them, I bore the weight of authority as the ruler of this kingdom. I could not allow such a crime to unfold in my presence.

"Ah, who are you?" 

"Me?" "I am merely a traveler, but that is of little consequence. What matters is that I am asking you to step back." 

The air was thick with tension as I spoke, my voice deep and resonant, cutting through the din of the night like a blade. My intense glare swept over the group, forcing them to shift uncomfortably under my scrutiny.

"Hey, boss, this guy looks dangerous. What should we do?" one of them stammered, his bravado faltering as the reality of the situation began to dawn on him.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" the leader bellowed, his voice a thunderous echo. "Are you afraid of a mere traveler? Do you think our boss will spare us if we run from someone like him? You've got to be kidding!"

"Exactly," another member chimed in, attempting to bolster their courage. "Don't be afraid. He's just a traveler. We'll beat him and take his belongings. It'll be easy."

"AHH! Well, if you're all so eager for a fight, then let's do it,"

"Excuse me, mister," a trembling voice interjected. I turned to see a woman standing at the edge of the confrontation, her eyes wide with fear. She was visibly shaken, her voice barely above a whisper. "Mister, please run from here. These guys are terrible. They won't spare you."

Before she could finish, the leader of the group, fueled by a cruel impulse, kicked her hard in the gut. A pained gasp escaped her lips, and I could see the agony etched across her face. 

"Shut up, you worthless woman! Care for yourself," he sneered, turning his attention back to me. "Brother, go and get him!"

At his command, the other two thugs charged at me, fists swinging wildly. I stood my ground, waiting for the perfect moment. As they closed in, I seized both their wrists, slamming them into the ground with a force that made them scream in agony.

"How dare you throw my brothers like this?" 

"Let me show you just how daring I can be," I replied, my voice steady and unyielding.

I charged at him, my foot connecting with his chin in a swift kick that sent him sprawling to the ground. As I turned, I noticed the other two had recovered and were preparing to launch their next assault. With a flick of their wrists, they conjured two fireballs, hurtling them toward me with deadly intent. 

With a graceful sidestep, I dodged their fiery projectiles, feeling the heat rush past me. Drawing upon my skill, I unleashed a wave of intense fear, paralyzing them in their tracks. In a blur of motion, I closed the distance between us and struck them both in the gut, their bodies crumpling to the ground, unconscious.

"NO! BROTHERS! YOU STUPID TRAVELER, I WILL END YOU!" the leader howled, his voice a mixture of rage and desperation.

What a fool he, revealing his intentions with every scream as he drew his sword from its sheath. He charged at me, a glint of metal flashing in the dim light.

"A swordsman, how quaint," I mused, a smirk playing on my lips. "Show me your failed sword skills, you novice."

As he swung his sword toward me, I observed his movements with keen precision. I caught his wrist mid-swing, halting his attack with ease. He strained against my grip, pouring all his strength into the effort, but he was no match for me. These hands had once pulled the horn from the Bison King, and I summoned that strength now. 

With a twist, I PLUCKED his arm, the sword clattering to the ground as he fell to his knees, his face contorted in agony. I could feel the tension in the air shift as he gasped for breath, and finally, he collapsed, lifeless, onto the ground.