A man was walking in the busy streets of the town as he overhears all kinds of conversations. One of the murmurs said that there was a village in the west of the town that was attacked by the undead. They also that said a couple of people have died in the attack.

  Another one goes like this...

  "Hey, have you heard? They said there were some minstrels that decided to perform here," Excitedly said by a man.

  "Wait, really? That's unusual. Our town barely gets any attention at all." Another man replied.

  "Yeah, that's true, I think they already arrived at the center of the town."

  This one piqued the man's interest.

  The man was 6 foot tall and had deep blue eyes and was obviously curious about the performance. The man walked past the gossipers after deciding to go check the town center. He felt the rays of the soft afternoon light that made him cover his eyes slightly every now and then as he moved skillfully through the streets that he knew well.

  When he finally arrived at the center of the town, he had to push himself forward as there was a crowd blocking his way. Then he finally found a clear sight, he quietly watched the performers.

  They wore simple tunics and trousers which weren't in any way special and obviously that wasn't the reason why there were so many people watching them. Apparently, one of the minstrels manipulated water, guiding it across the air as if she were dancing gracefully with itself. The man smiled, he always found this type of things entertaining.

  Behind the female performer was another performer but this time, it was a man with an athletic build and an attractive face. The performer stepped forward and smiled at their audience. The man took another step forward, his second step caused the path to freeze in solid ice that continued to expand on the ground.

  Chilly air sent shivers to the spine of the spectators. The man then proceeded to conjure a staff that was made out of ice.

  There were loud applauses from his audience even the tall man spectating was entertained. The tall man was so immersed from watching the entertainers that he didn't even notice someone approaching him until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

  "Getting jealous, Kalle?" Coming from the owner of the hand.

  Kalle turned, looking at the man just to find him with a crooked smile. Kalle stared at him for a moment, his hand clenched in a fist. He was the same height as him, blonde and wore a red robe with a metallic pin with a symbol of a bird on it.

  "Cedric," Kalle spoke with a neutral tone.

  "Why the long face? Not happy to see me?" Cedric mused with his head slightly tilted.

  Kalle was not happy at all. He never liked Cedric, and he was sure that the feeling was mutual as they really never got along.

  "Have you heard? my patron asked people with magic to look for a powerful artifact? Wouldn't you be interested in helping? Oh, wait you can't. " Cedric said sarcastically.

  Kalle wondered what relic he was talking about. He was born without magic which was not uncommon, if fact a lot of commoners don't have magic yet almost everyone dreamed of having magic growing up and only a few people had the innate ability for it and especially fewer in this small town where he grew up.

  "Curious, aren't you? Of course you would be, but unfortunately, I don't think any relic would help your case." Cedric said smilingly.

  Kalle was trying his best to ignore Cedric but it wasn't that easy. Cedric being able to sense Kalle's thoughts spoke

  "Oh, someone seems annoyed. What are you going to do? Ask your stupid old man for help?"

  Kalle pushed Cedric back, clearly annoyed by his remarks.

  "Oh mad now?" Cedric asked sarcastically. Before Cedric could say another word, which would probably be an insult, Kalle held his shoulder with his other hand and used his free hand to punch him in the face.

  Cedric's eyes were in shock as he staggered slightly backwards due to the impact. He held his nose which was bleeding. Cedric wiped his nose and smiled

  Cedric straightened his posture when he saw Kalle who was about to strike him.

  However, before Kalle got near enough to strike, an icy spear appeared in front of them. Both of them flinched, being surprised as they took a step back. It was the scepter the performer was using, now it had turned into a spear.

  The performer spoke firmly, "I am sorry, but fighting is not allowed. If you haven't noticed, this is our show. it wouldn't be good for our business if you steal the attention of our customers." The performer showed a half smile.

  Kalle looked at the audience surrounding them, he realized that the people are staring at them. Despite being annoyed, Kalle apologized to the performer which the performer accepted.

  "Well, it's no big deal. Make sure to behave. " The performer said with a smile on his face.

  However, Cedric was not in any mood to apologize. He grasped onto the performer's spear and smirked. Then he opened his mouth,

  "And what happens if I do want to steal your audience?"

  Surprised by the remark the performer raised a brow, "I don't think you understand the situation.”.

  Hearing this made Cedric laugh, "No no no, you don’t understand the situation.”

  As Cedric spoke, his hand showed off a dim red with steam coming out from it.

  The performer widened his eyes.

  "Why? did you expect me to be magicless? Where's that smile on your face?" Cedric said smirking; indeed, the performer's face was no longer smiling. Before the performer could even respond, the sizzling sound from the melting ice grew louder as the shaft of the spear split in half losing its sharp edge.

  The crowd gasped at the scene, the performer looking perplexed but quickly regained his composure and spoke,

  "You shouldn't have done that.”

  "Why? What about it?" As Cedric said this both of his hands started to burn with reddish fire which made the performer and Kalle take a step back.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Cedric raised his hands in a motion as if he were summoning fire; however, before he could finish his ritual, a strong torrent of water hit him, one that sent him reeling backwards.

  Cedric looked like a drenched dog; soaked clothes, hair hanging messily over his face. He looked as if he was about to bite someone. Before he could recover, he saw another icy spear when he looked up. This time it was pointed to his neck. He looked at the performer for a long time before raising his hands.

  "Fine, you win." said Cedric smiling. "But I'll remember this." He said while staring at the female performer who attacked him, with the pretentious smile swiped from his lips.

  The performer moved her spear away from his neck allowing Cedric to stand up. As he did, he went past the performer and bumped Kalle along his way out.

  "Next time, you won't be this lucky." He whispered as he passed by Kalle.

  The crowd parted to make way for Cedric. Most of them seemed afraid they might get caught up in the mess. Kalle stared at Cedric as he left. He knew that the “next time” was promised.

  "You do know that he was trying to provoke you, right?" as Kalle heard this, he looked behind him. It was the male performer.

  "I know." He responded with a gloomy voice.

  "If you didn’t strike first, he would not have been able to use his magic against you." The performer said, to make Kalle aware as to what caused the fight.

  "I know that as well." Kalle said obviously still brooding over something.

  The performer looked at him and chuckled softly. He thought that the man in front of him made a silly move by attacking an individual first knowing that the opponent would be allowed to use magic against him legally. Between brave or foolish, he tried to find the right word to describe the man. But that would not matter, the man was already to his liking.

  He offered his hand and introduced himself,

  "I'm Anthon Winterheart and that..." pointing to the female performer "is my sibling Eli Winterheart." Eli slightly bowed her head.

  Kalle remembered what Eli did to Cedric and made a mental note not to piss her and her brother. Kalle shook his hands and introduced himself as well,

  "Kalle Thyllos. I apologize for the disruption caused."

  "No more, that's fine. Don't think about it. Just be more careful from now on." Anthon said sounding worried.

  "I know. Thank you for your concern. I'll be leaving. It’s a pleasure meeting both of you."

  "And the pleasure is ours. " He watched Kalle’s back as it was slowly disappearing from his sight.

  "Kalle Thyllos? Thyllos... why does it sound familiar?" Anthon thought out loud, wondering where he had encountered the name.

  Kalle walked through the stalls of the markets, he passed by the vendors and moved through the streets until he found what he was looking for. A two-story tavern stood in front of Kalle. It was made with sturdy stone walls, supported by wooden beams. The tavern was old yet sturdy.

  Kalle pushed the door open to enter. There were only a few people inside. It was still early for customers to rush after all. A big man with his trimmed beard and a female with her short hair both seemed busy serving some of the customers. The female saw him and nodded courtly.

  Kalle decided to seat near the counter, placed his hands in front of him, still deep in thought. He moved his hand to his pocket and took a silver pin with an insignia of a bird. He remembered snatching it from Cedric when he purposely bumped into him. He knew the insignia well, he remembered Cedric telling him about his patron, he knew who his patron was. He could never mistake it, as that man was the owner of the insignia on the pin.

  The man he loathes with all his heart.

  It took him a few minutes before the bearded man had his hands free. When he was, he moved closer to Kalle. The man stood tall in the opposite of the counter.

  "What did you steal this time?" The man with a deep voice asked with an emotionless face.

  Kalle knew the man didn't like the habits he has developed.

  "The service in this tavern seems to be getting worse. The waiting time is getting longer. " kalle said ignoring the question. “I should have gone to a different tavern.”

  "And I should've adopted another kid." The man plainly said. "And also, you didn't answer my question.”

  Kalle flicked the pin in the man’s direction. The man caught it with his one hand and stared at it. Upon realizing what it was, his eyes narrowed.

  "It’s no big deal, Gabriel." Kalle said as if defusing the man's thoughts.

  "It is, you know I don't want you to relate to him. It won't do you any good, it won't do us any good." Gabriel said sounding worried.

  Kalle stared at the man, he knew him well, he respected him, and he also knew that Gabriel only wants what is best for him. He was the one who took care of him after all.

  "Don't worry, I don't plan on doing anything stupid." Kalle said trying to assure Gabriel

  Gabriel stared at him for a moment. "You know that this is not the first time you have said that." Gabriel said.

  Kalle managed to let out a hearty laugh... Gabriel knew him well.

  "How is Lyra?" Kalle asked

  "She is doing fine. Far more fine than you would have done." Gabriel said.

  He knew Gabriel was right.

  Lyra was the woman with short hair assisting Gabriel with the customers. She looked like she has gotten the hang of it. She was the same age as Kalle and needed some place to work at and since the work at the tavern did not suit Kalle and Gabriel desperately needed an extra pair of hands they decided to hire her.

  Gabriel suddenly remembered something.

  "Wait, I almost forgot. Who did you steal this from?" Gabriel said holding the pin.

  Kalle told him the events that happened earlier.

  "That was very much like you." Gabriel said with both his arms crossed, "and you shouldn't fall for that again." Gabriel followed.

  "I know I'm not really good at keeping my temper in check, you know that. Also, can I ask if you’ve heard about the the relic they had been searching?" Kalle asked, pointing at the pin.

  Gabriel could tell that Kalle was avoiding the topic. He also knew what he meant. He always knew things. Gossip has its wings, and his tavern was the nest.

  "I thought you said you won't be doing anything stupid?" Gabriel looked at him suspiciously.

  "Just curious." Kalle said shrugging.

  Gabriel flicked the pin back to Kalle which he caught.

  "It's nonsense, they are said to be searching for the source of all magic, something called ‘Pandora’. One that used to be wielded by someone powerful." Gabriel said now sitting at a chair opposite of the counter.

  "Such a thing exist?" Kalle asked, now even more curious.

  "If it did, then why would they start searching only now? Also, the idea of having an age without magic was merely a theory." Gabriel said now sliding a tankard of mead to Kalle and taking a sip of his own.

  "Thanks." Kalle said as he reached for the mead and took a sip.

  "I never understood how you can drink that. I always need something stronger." Gabriel said as he looks in his rum.

  "And I never understood how you can work while drinking that." Kalle pointed out.

  He took a sip again.

  "So, you think they are chasing legends?" Kalle asked

  "I can't say for sure, but legends always have origins. Don't they? The only thing I'm sure of is that it's not for us to find out." Gabriel said.

  Kalle thought so too, It was not up to them to find out, he repeated in his head. Tired of the day, he told Gabriel he wanted to rest and said thanks for the drink.

  He got up from his seat and headed to the stairs where his room was located. Gabriel looked at Kalle who was about to go upstairs,

  He felt extremely worried. For what reason? He didn't know.

  When Kalle reached the second floor, he held the doorknob of the first room and rotated it, making a clicking sound. Once he opened it, he laid on his bed tired. He put the pin on top of the nightstand and decided to sleep.

  After Kalle's dreamless sleep he woke up in the middle of the night. He tried to go back to sleep but it was useless. He thought of the things that had happened that day. He thought about the pin, he thought about the owner of the insignia. He hated the feeling of not being able to do anything.

  He looked out of the window. It's already dark.

  He decided he needed a walk and took his cloak. He went down the stairs. The tavern is now full of people: Travellers, locals and all types of people. It is the time when customers arrive the most, the peak hours.

  Kalle saw Gabriel who was busy with all the customers and decided not to disturb him. He always thought of helping him. He tried several times, but it always doesn't end well. He isn't suited for making drinks nor for serving them. He was too short tempered. in the end both agreed it would be best for Kalle not to help.

  He opened the tavern door and felt the cold air on his face. He didn't know where he was going. He just walked aimlessly in the streets brooding about what happened over the day. Suddenly he saw an alley, one he had never even set foot in. He knew that there was nothing interesting in that alley. He didn't know why, but he decided to enter the alley.

  Kalle walked at the the narrow passageways of the alley cautiously. Suddenly he saw a silhouette at the end of the alley, Kalle squinted to see more clearly. Then he recognized that it was a woman running towards him. The woman bumped into him and apologized before running again.

  Kalle noted her appearance. The woman had curly hair and was about 5'7. She looked to be in her 30's and had an attractive face.

  He was about to continue his walk when he noticed something shining near his foot when he crouched to inspect the object more closely, he realized that the object was a necklace of some sort with a yellow crystal pendant. Kalle took it and looked back, hoping to see if the woman was still there.

  She was not.