Lost Ones - A False King

Chapter 15 - Lost History

Three hours earlier.

Rain pours over the entire city, drenching every roof and alley in Rilgohin. The streets are empty, with only the occasional sound of footsteps strutting across the wet sidewalks. At this time, Emmod and Novel are in an unremarkable shop in the Whitepool District, at Korbach the hatmaker's place, 'Redurb's Hats'.

Due to the weather, customers stayed away today. Korbach and his apprentice, Sinul, took advantage of this to tidy up the shop. Even the deepest corners were thoroughly cleaned to pass the time.
However, when Emmod and Novel entered, they paid little attention to this work.
The brothers didn't intend to stay long. They had been nearby by chance, and since Korbach had picked them up from the castle, they thought this would be the best place to get out of the rain for a moment before heading home.
"Do whatever you want. We're closing in an hour," Korbach said indifferently as he continued cleaning his work machines. That was a little less than an hour ago.
For the past half-hour, they've been sitting together by the small fireplace, drinking tea after Novel managed to convince Korbach to join them.

Sinul also used this as a chance to finish his work early.
He went on to talk about the small place he called a "filthy hole" where he lived alone in the Shinemore District.

"Has it always been such a ghetto?" he asks Korbach directly.
"No," Korbach replies, "The creation of the four city districts after the takeover of the land led to that. The ones responsible, especially the king and the officer of this district, Barder, quickly managed to systematically exclude the citizens there from the rest of Rilgohin's society."
"Why?" Novel asks.
"Well," Korbach begins, leaning back in his chair, "It's a common tactic when you want to isolate and confine a specific group of people who are seen as inferior by the ruling society and treated accordingly."
"And which group of people is that?" Novel asks, confused.
"Can't you think of anyone?" Korbach responds.
The boys' faces are filled with thought. Novel and Sinul are at a loss as to whom Korbach could mean. Only Emmod has a plausible answer in mind.
"The Crimson Crusaders," he says confidently.
Korbach nods in agreement.
"Unbelievable," Sinul says, astonished.

"We even know some people who live there," Novel adds, emphasizing, "But they have nothing to do with the crusaders, I think."
"I suppose that's because no one wants to be associated with the crusaders ideologies anymore, hoping to escape the district. Living there automatically means living in extreme poverty," Korbach explains.
"But if I may ask," he continues, "Who do you know that lives there, besides Sinul, of course?"
"Mitch and Prigill," Novel answers promptly, "They're siblings too and in our class."
"I don't have that kind of luck," Sinul says regretfully.
"Why not?" Emmod asks.
"No money. No support from my parents," Sinul lists pitifully, "It's barely enough for my hovel, which I'm already very grateful for. But it'll be a while before I can afford something decent in one of the other districts."

"It's really a shame," Korbach says angrily, "It used to be that anyone striving to gain more knowledge could go to school. Today, it's almost a privilege, which only became clear after the creation of the four districts."
With that, Korbach stands up and pours the contents of his cup into the fire, which flares up brightly.
"You don't seem to be from the wealthiest sort either," Sinul says directly to the Brymbach brothers, "How is it that you have money for school?"
He has already noticed that the brothers aren't wearing the cleanest or most well-kept clothes.
Emmod and Novel are unsure whether to take Sinul's remark as a compliment or an insult.
"Our mother told us that our father inherited a lot of money from our grandparents," Emmod replies, "After his death, she inherited it and put it aside. The rest is barely enough for a small house on the outskirts of the city, but we can manage."
"Well, that's something," Sinul says.
"But let me tell you what's the worst part of my district," he continues, steering the conversation back to himself.
Emmod and Novel don't mind and listen intently.
"The crooked soldiers," Sinul reveals, "They take bribes, abuse their privileges, and the authority of their positions!" he says angrily.
"Are they allowed to do that?" Novel asks, baffled, "Can't the officer do something about it?"
"Him?" Sinul laughs bitterly, "Who do you think the soldiers learned it from?!"
Emmod and Novel are speechless.
"Fortunately, right next to my apartment is the Rogue District," Sinul continues, "The soldiers avoid that district."
"Why?" Emmod asks, looking at him as curiously as Novel.
"Well..."
"Stop with your ghost stories," Korbach interrupts.
"But old man," Novel says, frustrated, "We're old enough for ghost stories."
"It would be nice if he were only talking about ghosts," Korbach says, "Wait, what did you just call me?"