Halonar

Elsewhere

The wood creaked underneath his feet.

Jack had tried to make himself as quiet as possible, but there was only so much he could do if the boards gave him away. It was dawn, so most of the guards were asleep. But he saw a few lanterns in the distance near the ship.

Jack patiently waited for both of the lights to disappear behind the ship, then he quickly rushed up the ramp.

The inside ship wasn't well lit, hiding would be pretty easy, besides, no one would bother checking, because a spell would be cast to make sure all the cargo was on board, not to make sure there were stowaways.

He found a comfortable spot between two barrels of rum, and sat down. He had no food with him. Hopefully he would be able to get some when the ship arrived at its destination.

Jack stared at his bloody shovel, thinking about what he had done. He had let his anger get the best of him. There was no real evidence that the Adaraians had actually murdered his family. Yet he felt a strong sensation that they had indeed done it.

What was his name? Cal, Carl, Caleb...

He felt the ship begin to move.

No... not right now. Now he needed to sleep. Jack yawned and laid on his side. Before he knew it, he was asleep.

He woke to the rapid sound of footsteps above him. Light seeped through the spaces in the wood above him.

Jack scrambled to his feet. He needed to get off. Now.

He frantically looked for an exit. He had made the foolish mistake of not planning his exit last night.

A door in the hull grabbed his attention. It had just been opened. He sprinted towards it, exiting the ship

He blew past two guards who had their backs to him. He didn't look back.

And he didn't stop running.

Finally Jack arrived in a populated area. He took a quick look around. The area was crowded.

He didn't see anyone chasing him.

Jack sighed in relief. Now he needed to make a new life for himself. But he needed money.

Jack groaned. Upon further observation, he deduced that the town was industrial based and not agricultural based.

Hours passed, and with each passing moment, Jack's hope waned. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the streets, Jack found himself at the outskirts of town, contemplating his next move.

Just as he was about to give up, a voice called out to him from the crowd. "Hey, you there!"

Startled, Jack turned to see a figure clad in the emblem of a guild member, their features obscured by the morning light. "Are you looking for work?"

Jack's initial hesitation gave way to cautious optimism. "Yes, I am. What kind of work do you have in mind?"

The man stepped forward, their faces illuminated by the gentle glow of dawn. "Greetings, I'm from the Autumn Branch guild, and we're always on the lookout for capable fighters." He continued. "I have a job that might interest you."

Jack hesitated, he was not very good at fighting. He could hold a sword and swing it, but didn't know any technique.

As Wyatt led Jack through the winding streets of the town, they arrived at the guild's main building—a modest room adorned with a few wooden tables and chairs. The atmosphere was tense with anticipation as Jack stepped into his new surroundings, the silence heavy and unwelcoming.