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"What I Value Most is Not You" (Gregminster, 2 months before the current events of the RPG) Why am I seeing this? I don't feel anything…I don't think I could even if I wanted to; everything is but a cold, listless void, leaving me in my state without being. But my eyes…yes, that was a different matter altogether. My eyes could still function when everything else I have would not, my only sense that had not abandoned me here. I was denied clarity, with that fog clouding my vision, but it was certainly better than nothing. Forms… Those shapes…I could see them before me, ever moving as moments drift away from life. They…were moving…yes…moving around. The little one was at the back, moving swiftly across my field of view, disappearing, and re-entering the scene again in a flash. The others…the bigger one, hovered above me, uttering noises I couldn't comprehend. It reached out to touch me, but I could feel nothing…not fear, distress, anguish…nothing. The smaller one moved towards me, and uttered the same noises. It also reached out to touch my listless form… “ Roo…aa…roo…aaaaa…” What the--? “ Maaa…maaa…maaa…” What ARE those noises? Faceless. They were all faceless. Faceless beings. Strange noises. By right, I should be terrified by now. But I am not. Why? Why am I seeing this? Why…
" He's coming to!" He stirred, finally regaining his consciousness after what seemed to be a long and strange time. As he tried to open his eyes, he could feel the throbbing pain at the back of his head. The room was suddenly filled with noise, and that seemed to aggravate the sensation even further. " Ow…" Coates groaned, slowly rubbing his eyes. " Coates," A deep voice said his name, a tone of anxiousness present within it," Son, are you alright?" " D…dad?" Coates uttered weakly, knowing who it belonged to. He turned
his head slowly to his side, and saw his father, still in his formal clothes,
but looking quite a mess with his hair unruly, face unshaven, and clothes
unbuttoned. But Coates definitely noticed his face most of all, his emotion
a
" Thank the Gods," Gordon smiled, his hand stroking his son's bandaged forehead," I was worried you wouldn't wake up, son." " Wake up…Dad, what happened?" “ You almost lost your hand, that’s what!” Tyler said out loud from the door,” I told you, Sir, you should have gotten your rune removed!” “ Watch your words, Tyler!” Gordon yelled, unnerved by the uncalled for remark. He turned to the rest within the room, his flustered expression still etched on his rough face,” The rest of you, out of the room! Leave us, and get back to work!” “ If you need anything, sir, just yell.” Madrigal, the plump brunette who managed the accounts, tapped Gordon’s shoulder as she followed the rest of the staff on their way out. She was somewhat like Coates’ surrogate mother in the past years, and it’s only natural for her to empathize with Gordon’s feelings. “ Thank you, Madri.” Gordon uttered, his voice softening as he looked back towards his bed-ridden son. As the door closed behind them, Gordon took his son’s left hand into his own, grasping it softly. “ Son, I’m really sorry about what happened last night…” He said, a twinge of regret within his voice,” I didn’t kno…” “It’s okay, Dad…” Coates smiled weakly,” It’s partly my fault also.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “ ---That your son is in love with your greatest rival? What COULD I say?” The young man could manage a soft chuckle, laughing more at himself than at his father’s silly question,” Anyway, it’s alright…let the matter rest. I’ve already found more answers than I ever needed.” He didn’t want to linger on the subject, and Gordon knew it. But still, he was concerned…and with the attempt on his life, even more so. Gordon moved his gaze onto the hand he was holding. On it was the water rune Coates had since young…it WAS an ordinary rune if not for the fact that it had a slightly different design; the symbol had a thin line encircling it with thorn-like shapes protruding out…it made it look like an image of the sun surrounding a droplet of water. It definitely made the rune stand out… Could this be the reason that made his son a target? Coates noticed the look on his father’s face; one of sudden realization and anxiety. “ Dad…is something wrong?” “Coates…maybe Tyler’s right. Why don’t we get your rune removed for the time---“ In a flash, Coates pulled his hand away, slipping easily from his father’s hold. He sat up on the bed, cradling the runed hand near to his chest…his fiery eyes were locked on Gordon, clearly showing him what the young man truly felt about his father’s words. “ NO!” Coates growled,” You KNOW how much this rune means to me!” “ But…” “ I SAID NO!! I’d rather die with this rune than be without it! How could you, of all people…” “ I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Hush, son…forget what I said…” Gordon tried to calm his son down, regretting voicing out his suggestion. Tears were already forming in his son’s blue eyes, magnifying the magnitude of his attachment to the rune, and his disappointment in his father’s thoughtless words. “ This rune is my only link to my past, dad, MY ONLY LINK!!! It may not be anything much…but it’s something that only I know value of. So please, please…don’t…ask me to do that…please…understand this…” At the end of it, Coates collapsed and cried, unable to hold back his thoughts and memories any longer. “ I’m sorry.” Gordon bit his lip at seeing what he had done,” I’m sor---“ Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, followed by Madrigal’s voice. “ Gordon-sir, the City Guard Commanders are here. They’d like to ask Coates some questions.” Gordon got up from his chair, somewhat relieved at the opportunity to let his son be on his own. “ Give Coates a few minutes, Madrigal.” “ Is everything alright, sir?” Madrigal asked. “ Yes, Madri…just do as I say.” No, it wasn’t, Gordon thought to himself. As he opened the door in his way to greet the Officials, he realized that no matter what he did or say…Coastes will never be truly his own. But a man like him can still hope…can’t he?
" Stop looking so sad, Attie. Coates' a strong one…he'll be alright soon." " I know, I know," Attha muttered, listlessly toying with her food as they sat in a quiet corner of the restaurant, " But I can't help thinking that if I hadn't gotten involved in that argument…he wouldn't have gotten hurt." Her brother was the one who insisted that they had their lunch in the very restaurant Coates has recommended the night before; Attha wished they didn’t have to, since everything about it piled more and more of the guilty feeling she already had. Worse, when she could see that many people actually share his opinion as the food was soooooooooo good. " It's a coincidence," Juntha replied," A plain, ordinary, 100% coincidence. Gordon…shouldn’t have done that in the first place…it WAS a public event after all, and he could’ve at least behaved a little more civil…than usual.” Juntha, the blonde, goateed Commander of City Guard, was Attha’s elder
brother. He was supposed to be the one who led the Albion trading empire
after his father, but he opted to join the army instead 8 years ago, thus
passing on his right to his younger siblings. He wouldn’t make a good merchant
anyway; he was horribly bad with mathematics (one main reason where the
army was a more attractive choice), and he simply can’t stand traveling
to many places at a time. But he was a good leader, and it didn’t take
long for him to rise within the ranks. Now, he, alongside Grenseal and
Alen, was in charge of Gregminster’s internal security, and currently facing
the toughest challenge
“Besides,” Juntha paused to chew,” Coates himself should have known better than to brave the streets alone…he had to learn that the hard way." “Jun!” Juntha quickly continued before his sister had a chance to berate him,” He’s lucky to have escaped with just a few bruises. If the Guards weren’t hiding in every nook and cranny, I don’t know if he would be as lucky as he did. Now, Attie, you have to admit…my plan is working.” “ Yeah…” Attha sulked, having to reluctantly admit the truth in her brother’s words. Juntha may seem as if he was bragging, but he was more concerned with proving to his sister that whatever he had in mind was indeed showing results. Having foiled the latest attempt would do well to calm the people of Gregminster, and the City Guard did obtain some vital, if not vague, clues to help them pinpoint their target. It was a pity that Coates couldn’t remember much of what happened, or even the description of his assailant. “ One interesting thing…the Guards that saved Coates described the attacker as quite small in size. But he was strong enough to carry a heavy club to hit the guy…and the fact that his grip left noticeable bruises…” “Small people can be strong, brother…” “ Well, you didn’t try and hold the club, sister. I had trouble holding it properly. And you know what a mighty and fine man I am.” Juntha replied with a wink as he mockingly struck a pose. “ Mighty vain is more like it.” “ Excuse me…” Attha turned to her side, responding to a third voice that had entered the conversation, and promptly saw its owner. It was a thin, middle-aged man with a long black moustache ---he was dressed it what seems to be a cook’s garb. His slightly wrinkled face was beaming as he looked at Attha. “ Uh, yes?” Attha said. “ I came personally to serve your Venison stew,” The man smiled,” It’s not often we get the Commander of the City Guard and his lovely sister as guests!” “ Ah, you must be the chef!” Juntha exclaimed,” I have heard a lot of approvals about this restaurant , so I thought of giving it a try myself. I must honestly say that I have to agree with them, Mr…” “ Kat Tan-Gan…” The man replied, giving his name,” Please, call me Kat…I am glad to hear that is the case, Commander.” Oh dear…not another one of those laughing introductions, thought Attha sheepishly as she looked at the two rip-roaring men, They sound so fake. “ Oh!” Kat exclaimed, pointing at Attha’s arms as he set down the bowl. More precisely, he was aiming at her right hand that bore one of the most rare runes of the land---The Rage Rune. “ What?” Attha asked incredulously, annoyed with the man’s rude pointing. “ Should you be parading that rune around, Lady Albion?” The man asked in concern,” It’s dangerous to tempt fate during times like these!” She couldn’t believe this guy. “ I’ll take my chances, thank you. And you should be worried about those people running out of the kitchen right there…” Attha smirked as she pointed at the sudden chaotic situation that was transpiring behind him…a number of waitresses can be seen frantically searching for the head cook as smoke escaped the kitchen. “EEEEP!!” The cook exclaimed as he rushed off towards that direction. Attha chuckled. But in truth, she was more relieved not to have gone further in discussing about her rune; The rune that her father passed on to the child who led his trading empire after his passing. Her. She wished it wasn’t the case, though. Between the rune and her parents, she would rather have… …her brother staring intently at her??? “ What are you looking at, Jun??” Attha asked, looking at her brother’s suspiciously mischievous-looking gaze. Juntha responded with wide grin,“ Attie, would you mind giving me a hand?” Oh no. Not another plan…
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