Dark Turn

Wise stretched, letting out a satisfying sigh as his back made a popping sound, his bones shifting into place. 

The bathhouse was fabulous. After a long and thorough soak, he was feeling more refreshed than ever. His skin was glowing and his temperament was good. 

The girls had enjoyed the bathhouse just as much as him, currently they were all showing signs of drowsiness, an after effect of the steamy bath.

"I guess that's enough for one night, let's go home." Wise said. 

They agreed and began to walk down the streets of Teasei. The trek from the bath house to the queen's mansion was uneventful.

After arriving at the house, the girls looked rather displeased that they would be once again sleeping in the queen's mansion, but they knew how important it was that they maintained their false ignorance. 

It was not like they were being mistreated, to Wise's surprise, the queen actually treated them like revered guests. 

As Esme and Freya stepped into the house, Wise grabbed onto Daphne's wrist and pulled her back. 

Daphne looked confused and frowned with sleepy eyes. "Yes?"

Wise pulled her closer and whispered into her ear, to avoid being heard by the guards watching them from the shadows. 

Once he finished speaking, Daphne nodded and proceeded into the room. "Good night,' she said before shutting the door behind her. 

"Well that is that." 

Wise left the mansion, noticing that the guards had returned to their positions around the house as well.

It was less than four hours to daybreak, and Wise needed to get some sleep if he wanted to look his best for what would be the semifinals of the event. 

"Mister, mister!"

Wise looked around to find the person who had spoken but saw no one. 

"Down here sir!"

Right at his feet was a small Ork child with fuzzy black hair and youthful green eyes. He was dressed up in ragged clothing and had a bag across his chest as well as a few masks on his hand. 

"What do you need, little one?"

The child stretched his hands towards Wise, showcasing the masks. 

"Buy a mask?"

It was a festive mask, Wise had seen a few people wearing. Black wooden frame with several glistening gems engraved on its surface. 

The boy was selling masks to make a living, if it was back in his former life, this would have been considered child labour. 

Wise sighed and bent down to a knee. "How much?"

The child raised two fingers up. "This many!"

He reached into his pocket, about to pull out a golden dragon when he paused. 

He could not give that to a child, if anyone saw it with him they would think he stole it and even if they didn't some people were willing to kill just to get their hands on this much money. 

Instead of giving him the golden coin, Wise decided to pay him enough money to buy ten masks… 20 bronze coins. 

The boy's eyes brightened in surprise as Wise stuffed coins into his tiny hands. "T-thank you Mr!"

Wise ruffled the child's hair. "No problem kid, now go home, it's getting late."

The child nodded enthusiastically and skipped in the opposite direction. 

'What do I do with this?'

Wise had absolutely zero use for the mask, but he could not find it in his heart to toss it into a bin so he slipped it into his shirt. 

He then continued his journey home crossing a number of establishments when a woman suddenly burst out of the corner, running frantically up until she bumped into him.

The woman bounced off his chest and unceremoniously fell back on her butt. 

"Are you okay—"

The Ork suddenly got up and ran up to Wise, her eyes wide in fear. "H-help me."

Wise glanced at the corner she had come from but noticed no movement. 

"What do you need my help with?" He asked, taking a good look at the woman.

She was young, no older than twenty five and had grey hair with white strands mixed in between. Her clothing looked bigger than her and there was a bloodstain on her bruised cheek. 

Wise could feel her trembling in fear as he held her shoulders, and her eyes were consistently darting from place to place. 

'Shit…'

Wise recognized the woman immediately, it was the same woman who had bumped into him just yesterday.

Back then he chose to ignore his suspicions, leaving it for a brave hero to handle. How had she found her way back to him?

"Something is after me!" She yelped and got a little closer, staring back at the direction she came from. "Please, please, I need your help."

She cried, tears welling up in her eyes. 

Wise had no idea what she was facing and he doubted it was something as simple as a few bullies or a gang. 

The best move would have been to leave her to sort herself out. It was not his business and he had a lot on his hands already…

But how could he when she was crying and had tightened her grip on his shirt? 

"Calm down," Wise said, running his hands down her shoulders in a calming manner. "What is after you?"

The woman gulped and stared at him, her grey eyes gleaming underneath the moonlight. 

"Demons."

'Demons?'

Wise nodded, his eyes hard. He pushed the girl behind him and slowly crept toward the turn. 

But when he arrived, it was empty.

'Is she lying?'

There was no need for her to lie, and Wise was sure that her fear was very much true.

Demons were tricky creatures, but it was hard to believe one had found itself inside a city such as this. 

'Maybe she saw wrong?'

It was a possibility, but could he leave her alone with just that assumption?

Wise sighed and glanced at the young woman who was holding onto the back of his shirt. 

"Come with me."

She nodded in agreement and they both left the area. 

The stalls were all closing, preparing to rest up for the next business day and so the streets were relatively lonely. 

Wise walked by a number of shops, only to stop in front of one specific establishment—a bar.

"Is there something wrong?" The girl asked, staring at the building. 

Wise shook his head and smiled at her. "No, everything is fine."

Leaving the building behind, Wise and the mysterious woman continued onward. 

***

They both arrived at the inn shortly after and were about to climb up stairs when Wise noticed the receptionist staring at them. 

He was a young Ork, a funny guy Wise often chatted with whenever he came to get dinner. 

Currently, he was giving Wise a sly look, raising his eyebrows as he glanced between the girl and Wise. 

"She's not—" Wise began but stopped half way. It was probably best this way…

'Misconception was far better than mystery, this way maybe he'll leave her alone.'

He winked back at the receptionist, and the Ork nodded in approval. 

When they arrived in the room, Wise locked up all the windows, lit a candle and handed the girl a glass of water. 

She had gotten calmer but her hands were still slightly shaky.

"I have to go out for a while…" Wise began, he could already see the girls agitation begging to rise so he quickly added to what he had said—

"It will just be for a hit. This Inn is safer than most, no one will find you here."

She nodded but said nothing. "By the way, what is your name?"

"My name?" She paused and smiled faintly. "Rosalind..."

"Alright Rosa, l'm Wise, I'll be back soon." He offered her a reassuring smile before leaving the room. 

But for good measure, Wise used Esme's ability to create a small barrier around his room. 

He had not practiced much with it, but this much was possible at least. 

As Wise was once again embraced by the chill of the night, he began walking back the way he came, proceeding swiftly. 

There was something he had noticed on his way back, something he needed to investigate at all costs. 

Some minutes later, Wise found himself once again in front of the bar he had observed on his way back. 

The building had a large oak double door at its entrance, and just above the door was what appeared to be the preserved head of a wild beast. 

He walked up to the door and gently pushed it open…

Wise's gaze hardened as he stepped into the room. 

His feet stepped on something moist, but Wise had already realized what it was even before entering the building— it was blood. 

The room was dark, with only a single light illuminating the space, while the others had been damaged beyond repair along with the rest of the room. 

But even without the lights, Wise could see the bloody macabre with perfect clarity.

Strewn across the room were countless bodies of Orks with varying degrees of savage injuries. 

Throats that had been split wide open, crushed skulls, torn bellies and missing limbs. 

"The Fuck? What the hell happened here?"

Wise walked deeper into the room and bent down to better observe the bodies. The head of the closest man seemed to have been ripped open by a large claw. 

The force on impact was so much that the wooden floor beneath his head was also ripped apart. 

Wise leaned a little closer, there was a black piece of material still lodged in the man's head…

'What is that?'

'Could it be part of the monster's claw?' He wondered. 

He reached for the wound, about to grab the object, when the door behind him burst open. 

Tens of heavily armed Orks suddenly rushed in and looked over to the bodies before staring at the man perched down in the midst of the madness. 

The man that seemed to be the captain gritted his teeth as he yelled, "M-murderer! Don't fucking move!"