Halonar

Death

A quiet breakfast started in the morning. Then, he set up shop, like he always did.

As Jack waited for customers, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. The market, typically lively and filled with the chatter of vendors and customers, now held an air of suspense villagers whispered among themselves, casting sidelong glances at Jack's stand.

"WHERE IS IT?!" Shouted a familiar voice.

Cain approached. The first thing he noticed about him was there wasn't any injury to his face. Not a scratch.

"I didn't-" Jack started, when suddenly the hero's hand shot forward, grabbing Jack by the shirt. The hero was smaller than Jack, yet he lifted him with ease. Before he could respond, Jack was flipped over his stand and thrown to the ground, landing several feet away.

"Do you think I don't know when you're lying?" the hero asked, "You lowlifes are ungrateful for what we do!"

Jack tried to get up, but he felt a boot on his back that slammed him back down. Jack winced in pain. He heard Othid's voice.

"Stay down."

Jack felt the boots digging into his back.

"Let him get up." The other hero ordered. Jack felt the boot lift off his back. "Get up," the hero demanded. Jack slowly rose up with his hands raised. "I was going to return the gold, but it was taken from me."

The hero stood face to face with Jack and scoffed, "do you know who I am?"

Jack shook his head.

"I am Cain the Conqueror, level 109." Cain snarled, "and you are nothing."

Before Jack could respond, Cain punched him across the face, breaking his nose. Jack stumbled, as Cain prepared for a second punch, Jack crossed his arms, somewhat blocking the next punch. But Othid slammed into his knee, causing Jack to lose balance. Then Cain pulled out his sword, and pointed it at Jack's face.

Never in Jack's life had he felt genuine fear. He now noticed a crowd of people gathering around him, they all kept their distance.

"Last chance" Cain growled, "Where's the Malanin Viarma?

"I don't know." Jack coughed, through a mouth full of blood.

Cain roared and slammed the flat end of his sword into Jack's face, causing him to lose consciousness.

The impact sent him flying into one of the other stands in the market, fruits vegetables and bread flew everywhere. Frightened townspeople retreated further while maintaining their view of the conflict.

Cain glanced around at the crowd, and managed to relax his tone. "Do not fear, I have saved you from this criminal!" he forced a smile and put his hands on his hips triumphantly, as if he was waiting for some sort of applause. The townspeople were hesitant, responding with weak applause. Cain grunted in dissatisfaction, and sheathed his sword. He muttered.

When Jack woke up, he was sitting in a pool of dried blood, which cracked off as he peeled his clothes off. Some time had passed. It was noon, as the sun was in the middle of the sky.

He surveyed the square. Cain and Othid were nowhere to be found. Jack slowly got up. Still dazed. His nose hurt and he was pretty sure his leg was broken. Jack hid the pain, and walked back to his stand, which had been flipped over and ransacked. Most of the stuff inside was gone, Spare change, knickknacks and other things. He folded his stand, which was still intact, and put it into the empty carriage that he used as his storage container. An old mirror inside the carriage revealed his injuries, his body was covered in bruises, his leg swollen, and his nose was crooked.