The Time for Hiding is Over

He ran swiftly across the damp rooftops, glancing down at the chaotic streets below. Unlike the poor district, the joint guard forces had spread throughout the area, calming the situation and preventing further escalation.

Within minutes, things had settled somewhat, though Sollivan, far from the poor district, could only imagine the scene there now. He recalled the chaos he had been trapped in earlier.

Sigh!

He exhaled deeply, filled with frustration and disappointment. Though his heart wasn't soft enough to pity others, his own poverty had made him understand the feelings of the poor. He felt the injustice of inequality and class division, but at the same time, he didn't care much. He knew that power was everything—it brought wealth and authority.

After a few minutes, he reached the library, where he found Ellis standing near the door, nervously observing everything around him. Ellis glanced anxiously at the alley, barely able to stand still without biting his nails in tension.

"Huh!" Sollivan looked at him strangely before slipping through a small window barely opened due to the thick wooden planks covering it. He cautiously scanned the cold, quiet library, and once he confirmed it was empty, he opened his eyes and quietly ordered Noctis to merge with his wheelchair.

He adjusted his position and let out a long sigh, then slowly wheeled himself toward the door. There, he saw the pitiful state of his friend, but his face showed no concern. Instead, he smirked sarcastically. "See, I told you this would happen. Damn, I should've bet with you so I could take your money."

Ellis moved his hand away from his mouth and slowly turned to look at him, regaining some composure. However, his eyes still looked tired and filled with sorrow.

Sollivan was surprised by his expression and mocked, "Why so quiet? Are you scared of the war?"

Ellis looked into his eyes, then shook his head and replied, "Actually, yes, I'm scared." He smiled faintly, but his sadness didn't fade.

Sollivan was taken aback. He hadn't expected Ellis to be so honest. He thought Ellis would try to maintain his composure, but in the end, he could only think, 'I shouldn't have asked.'

"You're scared of war? I thought you were braver than that."

Ellis's smile, filled with bitterness, widened as he replied, "There's no such thing as bravery in war. You're smart, boy, and maybe you already know everything, but I want to talk and unload my grief to calm my fear. And no one deserves to hear me but you."

Sollivan's sarcastic smile disappeared, replaced by a serious expression. He knew what Ellis was talking about, and calmly said, "Tell me, I'm listening."

Ellis took a chair and sat down. After a brief moment of silence, his expression complex, he began, "You might have heard that I lost my family in the war because of my arrogance and overconfidence. And it's true. I didn't want to leave our home and move to the northern districts, despite my wife's warnings and fears.

I had lived there for a long time, and my neighborhood had never been harmed until that catastrophic day when a projectile hit my house directly. My wife was crushed, and my daughter died from the explosion. As for me, I survived."

"I remember standing unharmed amidst the rubble, seeing the destruction.

That loneliness and guilt gnawed at my heart and made my body wither. It has refused to leave me since that day." He spoke his words with deep sorrow and an indescribable heaviness, yet he became calmer. He no longer trembled with fear and sat quietly, as if lost in his miserable memories.

Sollivan silently lamented upon hearing this but said nothing, continuing to listen quietly.

"You know, I've never told you this, but I had a son—or rather, I used to have a son. He was talented and educated, with a bright future ahead. He wanted to join the court as a juror, but as soon as he learned of his family's death, he joined the vanguard of the army, seeking revenge. But in the end, he died for nothing, leaving me alone. Isn't that my fault too? Why didn't I just leave?"

"Huh, calm down, my friend."

"Your family chose to stay with you. That was their decision, and if they had wanted to leave, they could have. Everyone bears the consequences of their choices, and that applies to your son as well. He chose to fight, so don't overthink it. Carry your guilt in silence, and don't let it hinder you.

You know, this is wartime, and death is everywhere. You're not the first to lose everything, and you won't be the last. And death still awaits you. Who knows? Maybe a projectile will fall on me and kill me, or kill you, or the enemy might breach the walls and slaughter us all. So, focus on the present."

Despite the harshness and strangeness of his words, Ellis calmed down a bit and began to think carefully. After a long silence, he smiled sarcastically, though his smile still carried a sadness he didn't want to fade. "Do you think we'll die today?"

"Heh!" Sollivan grinned broadly and said, "Even if I die, I'll come back as a ghost and keep bothering you in the shop."

"Your ghost is always welcome." The two laughed and exchanged sarcastic banter for a while.

Suddenly, Devlin burst in, running so fast that he slammed into the door. He stumbled to a stop, instinctively clutching the linen bag full of food he was carrying. He quickly scanned the room, let out a tired sigh, and said happily, "I brought food."

"Boy, did you run all over the city? It's been an hour since you left."

"Yes, I couldn't find any open shops in the area." Devlin showed a naive expression and pulled out pieces of bread and square cheese, though the amount was small and hardly worth a silver coin.

Still, they didn't mind. During wartime, prices skyrocketed, and everything became precious. Even a loaf of bread, which usually cost three copper coins, now cost ten.

After eating some food and satisfying their hunger, the three quietly left the library and headed toward the quiet northern districts, where Ellis had bought a small backup house after his family's death.

Time passed slowly, and the enemy continued to bombard the city. The loud explosions didn't stop all day, and the columns of black smoke piercing the sky grew larger, turning the southern districts into a burning land of death. Even the middle districts suffered some damage, though the walls remained intact, and the soldiers tasked with defense and the defensive weapons were largely unharmed. The only loss was the lives of the poor.

Sollivan looked at the smoke rising from the south. 'Maybe my house is now a pile of rubble.' His home hadn't been badly damaged in previous wars, requiring only minor repairs, but now he doubted it could withstand the intensity of the bombardment.

Still, he didn't really care and thought carefully about his next move. Amid the chaos and the tangled web of forces and schemes, some crazy ideas had formed in his mind, though he wasn't entirely convinced by them.

It hadn't rained all day, but the thick, distant clouds approaching promised more rain. And so, time passed, night fell, and the devastating bombardment ceased, allowing the soldiers to rest.

The poor emerged from their hiding places and returned to their homes and alleys to search for any survivors trapped under the rubble. But their fearful expressions and trembling bodies showed the extent of the disaster. It seemed as though things had calmed down slightly and returned to normal, but everyone knew this was the calm before the storm.

As for the northern side, it was silent. People hid in their homes, locking their doors with triple layers of protection out of sheer fear. In a small, dilapidated house that looked out of place in the clean neighborhood, Ellis and Devlin slept on old reed mats, covered with tattered sheets. The house hadn't been used in a long time, so there were no living supplies, and they made do with what they had.

Sollivan sat in his wheelchair, eyes closed, as if asleep. He wrapped himself in a sheet, trying to warm his cold body. But he didn't enjoy the warmth or relax, as his mind hadn't stopped working since the bombardment began. After a long silence, he opened his eyes and looked at the dark wall of the room. In a mysterious tone, he muttered, "The time for hiding is over." He let out a short sigh and turned to look at his old friend and young companion with heavy emotions. He knew full well that his next move would completely change his life.

He had reviewed all his plans and come to a crazy conclusion that left him confused. Yet, after much thought, he decided to go through with it. Not out of recklessness or greed, but out of hope. At the same time, he didn't want to falter in crucial moments. After a long period of rest, he had become hesitant and cowardly, unable to make decisions quickly, always thinking of the worst outcomes. Now, he decided to throw everything aside and take the risk.

He ordered Noctis to wheel him over to Devlin, and quietly, he stood beside him, then gently reached out and shook him awake.

Devlin opened his eyes slightly, slowly and lazily sitting up. In a sleepy voice, he asked in surprise, "Mr. Sollivan, do you need something?" His words were slurred, as if he were still dreaming. As soon as he spoke, he yawned deeply.

Sollivan put his finger to his lips and said softly, "Lower your voice and get up. I need your help with something."

Devlin's eyes widened, and all sleepiness vanished from his face. He was stunned by the serious look on his master's face. He pushed the sheet aside and slowly stood up. He was surprised by what was happening, but he didn't hesitate and resolutely said in a low voice, "What is it, Mr. Sollivan?"

Sollivan paused for a moment before saying slowly, "Do you remember the herb shop on the corner near the main street?"

"You mean the one where you bought medicinal herbs when you had a cold last year?"

"Yes. Wait, don't interrupt me, just listen. Anyway, that shop, and also the shop where you bought the foundation pills. You'll go to the corner shop first and bring me some herbs. Then do the same for the other shop. Take the bag you brought the bread in and hide the herbs well."

Devlin felt confused and asked hesitantly, "The shops will be closed, sir. And what kind of herbs do you want at this time? Are you sick?"

Sollivan was slightly annoyed but didn't show it on his face. He said sternly, "Don't ask, and don't worry. When you go, the shop door will open, and you'll find the herbs placed on the ground. Take only those. Also, when you run there, don't use the light-footed technique I taught you. Walk quickly and pretend to be scared so you don't attract the guards' suspicion. Try to look natural."

Devlin nodded firmly, repeating everything Sollivan said to make sure he understood. After a brief moment of hesitation, he quietly opened the door and left the house.

At the same time, Sollivan closed his eyes and ordered Noctis to appear, transferring his senses to it. Noctis slipped quietly under the door and looked at the dark alley, noticing that the wind had picked up slightly.

But he didn't care and ran swiftly, hidden in the darkness, heading toward the herb shop where he had sent Devlin. As he moved like a ghost over the rooftops, he saw the familiar boy walking hurriedly in a dark street, glancing around suspiciously and fearfully. He passed through the patrols of guards, who paid little attention to him, with ease. He wasn't alone; occasionally, someone from the poor district wandered aimlessly, having no home or person to turn to.

...

Devlin walked quickly, trying to follow Sollivan's instructions precisely. Because of this, he sometimes stopped or slowed down, glancing around suspiciously, showing some fear.

Though his mind was filled with questions and doubts, he didn't want to trouble himself with overthinking. He trusted his master, so his doubts turned into intense curiosity. Without realizing it, some mysterious situations and unanswered questions came to mind, like, "Who is Sollivan?" This made his acting perfect, as anyone who saw him laughed at his clueless expression and didn't pay him much attention.

Before he knew it, he reached a narrow alley branching off the main street. The neighborhood wasn't empty, and some homeless people were hidden in the corners. He looked anxiously at the closed shop and cautiously checked his surroundings. When he saw no one was watching, he walked slowly. He stood in front of the door, unsure what to do. Suddenly, the dark door slowly opened.

Due to the pitch darkness, he couldn't see much. The nearest torch was on the main street, and its light barely reached him. Though he had good senses, he didn't hear anything and only smelled the various herbs. Most importantly, he didn't see anyone behind the door.

He was stunned and felt fear. Involuntarily, he took a step back. But thanks to the faint light from the main street, he could make out some strange shapes on the ground.

'Mr. Sollivan, what have you done?' He swallowed hard and, hesitantly, took a few steps forward, reaching out while keeping an eye on his dark surroundings. Because of this, he couldn't grab the herbs on the ground. He gathered a bit of courage, bent down further, and picked up the herbs, which were far more numerous and varied than expected. He filled the large bag he had brought almost to the brim.

Despite his fear, he didn't leave immediately. He carefully looked at the ground to make sure he hadn't missed anything before running off without looking back.

After he left, blood-red eyes appeared from the darkness. They looked at the open door where the wind was seeping through. In the small house, Sollivan laughed with amusement. 'I didn't think he was such a coward. He's still a child, after all.'

He ordered Noctis to close the door and quickly left for the next shop. As he ran invisibly, his eyes suddenly fell on a group of guards on patrol. He stopped in his tracks and stared at them in confusion. He severed his connection with Noctis and opened his eyes in the house.

'I can't succeed alone. No matter how much I plan, I need help. Devlin isn't strong enough.' The negatives he had ignored began to resurface, and he saw several flaws in his plan. First, he needed to leave the city, which alone was extremely difficult given the number of soldiers and guards spread throughout. The gates were locked and wouldn't open, and given his condition and weakness, it was impossible for him to scale the walls.

His thoughts raced, and he tried to remember someone who could help him, but he found no one. He had no acquaintances or friends, and even if he wanted to seek help from Ellis's friends in the guard, they wouldn't agree and might even accuse him of treason.

He smirked sarcastically, thinking about how foolish he had been.

His desire to take the risk faded, and he became hesitant. 'Have I gone mad? Did I really want to go through with this stupid plan? What a child I am.' But his serious expression, unwilling to back down, made his words meaningless.

After a brief moment of confusion, he remembered someone who had piqued his interest for a while. He had no real connection with this person and had never spoken to him, though there had been some minor clashes between them in the distant past. But unlike others, he knew the truth about this person, which had been deeply hidden.

He smirked sarcastically, reconnected with Noctis, and ordered it to head toward the targeted shop.