Limits

When I arrived at the slums area, I asked about Paul. One of the people pointed me towards his place, in exchange for some money. When I got there, I saw Paul working away on a small anvil. There was a small furnace in the corner of his house, and small workbench. This sight was heartbreaking. A man who achieved mastery in smithing, was reduced to such a state.

I walked up to him, and stared. I didn't know what to say, this was my fault partially. If not for the skills I learned, he wouldn't be in such a situation. Paul spoke first, but he didn't recognise me. He asked "What can I do for you stranger?". I replied after a while "It's me". Paul dropped his hammer, and took a proper look at me. He invited me inside, and asked me to sit down.

His wife asked "Who is this honey?". Paul sat down, and didn't speak. I walked forward, and said "I'm sorry. If not for me, you wouldn't end up like this. If I just…". Paul stopped me, and I could see tears in Elen's eyes. He asked "Why did you return?". I was stuck for a moment. I had nothing to say, what could I say anyway? "Sorry for destroying your life"? "Sorry that you suffered, while helping me out"?

Elen stood up, and walked up to me. But there was no hate in her eyes, she wasn't crying because they lost everything. She was crying because she was happy. She smiled, and lifted my fair up. "You've grown up a lot". I could only say "I'm sorry". Paul asked, "Why did you return? It's too risky for you to be here". After a while, I replied "I came back to retrieve what is mine. You don't deserve this. Not now, not ever". Paul replied "You are delusional Nex. Do you think getting that fucking sword, is easy? Do you know who she is right now?".

I looked at him, and replied "I do". He seemed stunned, and asked "Yet you still want to get it back?". I replied "That bitch will die soon, what is rightfully mine, will be mine. Paul, Elen… Why did you stay in the city? Why not go back to my village?". Elen replied "This place was our home... ". I shook my head, and said "Your home is where your family is". Paul said "The bigger issue is Royals. They will not let me out of this city anymore. We tried leaving, but we can't". I replied "I can escort you outside. With your strength, you can make it to my village no problem. Paul, this was my fault too. I tried helping that stupid prince, but he sold me out. I'm responsible for this".

Paul sat there thinking. Elen on the other hand, asked "How?". I replied "I wouldn't be back here, if I was the same as before. Many years passed already, I'm no longer someone, they can mess with easily". Paul stood up, and said "Let's go then. You are right Nex. At that place, we will at least have some friends. Here, we only have enemies". I nodded, and said "I will come back in a while to collect you. Just take whatever you want, and wait for me. If you need anything, ask. I will try to provide everything you need". Paul shook his head, and said "We will be fine. Go, deal with whatever you need to deal with".

I nodded, and stepped outside. I headed straight to the inn, the other three would stay at. Inside, I found them sitting at the table, and walked up to them. "Yater, can you help me?". Yater was confused, and asked "Aren't we helping you already? What else do you need?". I said, "Can you escort two people out of this city?". Yater stood up, and said "That's nothing difficult. Who are these people?". I replied "Friends, or rather kind of my family too. They suffered because of me, because of the skills I know. This city failed them, and the Royals will pay for that too".

Yater nodded, and said "Alright, let's go". We went back to the slums, and entered Paul's house. There wasn't much for them to pack. Only necessary stuff they would need for travelling, and perhaps some tools that Paul had for smithing. When Paul and Elen saw Yater, they asked "This is?". I replied "My teacher. He will take you outside of this city. I will accompany you as well". They nodded, took their bags, and we left.

While we walked through the street, Paul noticed something and asked, "No one seems to care, what did you do?". I replied "Don't worry, we will simply walk out of here. No one will stop us". Paul was confused, but then became shocked when we passed the gate like nothing. He asked "We left just like that? The guards would stop me. I can't leave this city, they got orders to retain me here". I smiled, and said "Yep, just like that. We will take you out of the city's range, and then you can continue on your own. We still have some stuff to take care of here".

Paul was still shocked, and simply nodded his head. When we entered the forest, Yater said "This is far enough. No one is going to search for you here. Even if they realise you are gone". They nodded, and looked at me. I said "I will visit you back home. Say Hi to uncle Finch from me. Tell him I'm doing well, and will come back soon for a visit". Paul nodded his head, while Elen walked over and grabbed my hand.

She said "We never blamed you Nex. We always knew Royals were shady. Paul knew this first hand, as he worked for them. They simply discarded us, because we knew you". Paul walked over, and said "We still chose you, over them. Family and friends are most important, remember that Nex". I nodded, and wished them well, as well as safe journey. After they left, Yater said "That Paul is a trustworthy and honest man. You said he was a friend of your family?". I nodded, and said "Yes. He chose to keep quiet, instead of ratting me or my family out. The world needs more of such people". Yater replied "That is true".

We returned to the inn, and waited till nightfall. The plan was simple. They would kill the six Royal Guards, and leave notes. The notes would be simple too. "Another six will die the next day", that's what the note would contain. During the night, all three left the inn, and headed to eliminate their respective targets. It didn't take long for them to return. They were masters, after all.

Irwin as always made some ruckus, but due to the mask, he wasn't recognised. Actually, this was what we planned for. We just didn't notify Irwin about that. His style was not that of a silent killer, he was a master in the Art of War after all. The ruckus had its purpose. The public would find out about the killings, and the Royals wouldn't be able to cover that up. They would have to save face, and find the killers.

Irwin apologise at first. When I told him that we predicted that, and it was part of our plan, he quickly became angry. "It's not our fault, you are who you are. Be happy we actually planned for this, instead of you producing trouble now", Yater said. Irwin replied "I want to be informed too! If that was the case, I would make a bigger ruckus!". This time I said, "And that would be a problem. Because we told you to do it silently, you tried your best to minimize the noise. If we told you "Ah whatever", you would destroy two or three buildings!". Nathan and Yater nodded their heads, while Nathan said "Nex learned a lot. He already knows you inside out". Irwin replied "Whatever", and sat down.

The next part of our plan, was waiting. We had to wait for them to mobilise their soldiers and whatnot. Wait until the leader of Royal Guards came out. 'She will have to act, to save face. Blatant murders in her city, of her own Royal Guards. There is no way, she can let that slide' I thought.