God's Gone AWOL

[5] Resentment

[EPISODE 5: VIDEO GAME LORE]

Medieval Europe.

Rain hammered down on the little village, drenching every roof and wall. It was the kind of rain that would soak into a person's very bones. The kind that could transform even the dustiest, driest dirt road into an unrecognizable swamp. A dreadful, dark, itching, chilling rain. The likes of which could only ever be suffered by the inhabitants of Earth.

Amidst the grey deluge, a single Mylar elegant, white horse leisurely splashed it's way up the town's main street, unbothered by the copious amount of mud, water, and feces beneath it's hooves. Despite the endless downpour, it kept it's head high as it maintained its steady pace. It was so flawless in appearance that the few members of the peasant-class unfortunate enough to still be outside blinked several times, wondering if perhaps the animal was some sort of mythical creature —for it truly looked like the depictions of ancient fairies, and there seemed to be a white glow surrounding it, lighting up the blue night air with it's unreal perfection.

The horse was not a mythical creature. It was just a horse. However, the white-clothed figure riding atop the horse certainly was.

Weary from the incessant rainfall, he had drawn his hood over his long, dark hair so the top half of his face was completely hidden from view. Despite this, anybody looking at him could still tell that he was beautiful beyond compare, with glowing skin and an air of impossible elegance. His cupid's-bow lips didn't show the slightest change in expression. His slender finger gripped the horse's reins as he slowly pressed onwards.

Never once did he glance down or take any interest in the surrounding village. At least, not until he heard the distant sound of singing...

Chaos reigned inside the little tavern, but it was a happy sort of chaos. There were so many people packed into the rickety wooden building that it was quite possible that the entire town had shown up. Everyone was laughing, talking, singing, drinking their fill of alcohol. A roaring fire built up in the stone chimney prevented the cold night from sneaking in, and the chorus of music drowned out any and all sounds of thundering rain. The whole building was practically glowing with a warm aura of comfort and delight.

Wooden flagons clashed together, accompanied by the echoing splash of foamy liquor. A blushing maid holding a pitcher danced her way up and down through the crowd, collecting money and topping up everyone's drinks. Her smile reflected the joy of every single person squeezed in around her.

The densest part of the crowd was the space right in front of the band of minstrels. The people up front were all clapping their hands and stomping their feet, belting out the lyrics of the song with the kind of heartfelt gusto that only those at the bottom of the structured world could muster. Most of them reeked and were covered in a thick layer of grime, with tangled hair and the scent of alcohol on their breaths. Everyone's faces were flushed a shining red as a result of the alchohol and the blazing hearth. The minstrels themselves were in a similar state, most of them missing teeth or infected with lice, but all of them exceptionally happy.

Only two people in the entire inn were decent in terms of health and appearance.

The first person was dressed in a dark shade of green, with high cheekbones and long hair tied up into a ponytail at the top of her head. She was perched up in the rafters above the crowd, her arms coiled around the wooden beams for support. Her slender legs swung in time with the music as she gazed down at the scene with a satisfied smile. This was Lilith Hellbourne.

The second person was dressed in a faded red dress, with pointed ears and a fanged smile of mischief. She was mixed in with the minstrels, piping away on a strange type of reed pipe instrument acquired from who-knows-where. The music she produced was light and earthy, like the whistling of wind through the boughs of a pine tree. Her fingers tapped the round surface with unmatchable skill, but her ability was not designed to draw attention only to herself. Instead, she managed to blend it with the other instruments, the whole band complimenting each other perfectly.