Seven Gates of Heroism

Chapter Five

A guy with his hair covering his face is sitting outside my destination, a burned up building looking close to painted over. It's a been a long day of travel. I yawn as I look around the neighborhood, because I haven't been in a city nowhere near the ocean. I text the mayor that I left town as the car comes to a stop. She sends back a thumbs up when I open the door. I stretch when I step out. Quickly realizing something. "You've all been quiet." I think to myself.

"Travel is best left quiet for the one doing it." A'liet says.

"Or we just wanted to not have a large discussion or argument while you just wanted to sit in a car." Cairy adds.

"Guess I should thank you for that one." I say in a whisper. I walk up to the guy, he looks up pulling his ear phones out of his hair. "You dungeon master?" he asks me.

"You bet, though, I'd wish you'd say with a three in the name. Saying it out loud feels wrong." I explain. He stands up, boots crunching as he comes a little above my head. I notice his flaming skull black t-shirt and green cargo pants. Kind of doing the edgy goth look.

"Don't mansplain it to me, I know. Nice to meet you, I'm Dick." he says, reaching his hand out for a shake.

"Marrel, Can't I just call you Richard?" I ask awkwardly. I take his hand in mine and shake it.

"Nope. So..... you lost your dad too?" He asks awkwardly.

"That's not how you start a conversation." I reply.

"Yeah I know. Mom is making dinner inside if you want some. I was just looking for something to say." he tells me. I scratch my chin, I had been texting him on my way here. By the time I got here, I had explained the situation to him.

"Yeah, I can eat, but I'm leaving later. We can chill while I decide what I'm doing." I tell him.

"Cool, we can both leave together." Dick agrees. I squint at him, bothered by his sudden inclusion.

"Stay here. This is a me thing." I tell him. He walks closer using the shade on him to make him look scary.

"Nah. It's a we thing." he says. I scratch my hair causing some of it to go over my head.

"Uh fine," I say confused. He turns, walks up his front steps and opens the door to his place, I catch the scent of chicken. The inside of the house, looking dark with a few lights here and there. The kitchen and dining room being the only big sources of light.

"Glad we came to an agreement, Marrel. I just need some closure." he adds. I follow him inside. "Hey mom, meet my friend!" he yells into another room and slugs his key from his pocket to the side. They land in some dish in the corner. When I see that, my eyes finally adjust to a room covered in burnt wood keeping up with the house. He turns his head to me while walking, "......What's your name again?"

"Marrel Indel, maybe your mom heard of my dad too." I say.

He scratches his ear, "doubt it, she hasn't gone many places since dad died."

"So, losing family really changes things," I think to myself. We stop at a large white table covered by a white cloth in a dining room. Dinner being bowls of spaghetti in three different spaces with only the two people living here, I guess the space is for guests. Dick and his mom sit across from each other, I sit next to Dick. It's quiet, I'm guessing because I just got here. 

"So how did the encounter with Rock go?" Dick asks, his mom flinches as she puts her fork in her food. "Did it go like mine did?"

I turn my head in his direction, "what?! Elaborate." I tell him.

"Well my dad was known around here, just like the details you said. When Rock came to our city, I found that guy in my parents' room. Standing over my dad while he was in bed. The room felt weird, polluted with the air of tension. He just stood there, staring at Dad asleep in the bed." he explains.