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"Hurtful Things & Ghastly Truths" (Gregminster, 1 month before the current events of the RPG) It has been almost a month since the attack that almost cost Coates his hand. That was also the same time when the City Guard’s latest prevention strategy went into effect and produced positive results. With this success, the citizens of Gregminster were more open to adhere to other requirements of the strategy; namely, the early night curfew that came into effect a few days later. So far, no new cases of attacks had surfaced. In fact, the only victims of this move were the entertainment region of the city, which saw a significant decrease of patrons as time went by. But things were about to change…for good. “ Wha…?” Coates exclaimed, staring at the pot on the counter,” This is…for me?” The man before him smiled, nodding slightly. “ Lord Sheena asked me to have this specially prepared for you before he left,” Kat Tan-Gan, the chef, explained the instructions Sheena gave to him before leaving the city,” He regrets for not being able to do this personally…but it seems it was an emergency.” Emergency, huh?” Coates thought out loud, knowing fully well what his friend’s sudden ‘departure’ meant; President Lepant was not happy with him again. As usual. “ Thank you, Mr. Kat,” Coates beamed courteously,” The venison stew will be definitely be appreciated by both my father and I.” “ Your kind words comfort me, Mr. Coates…” Kat replied, his face and voice suddenly becoming solemn in mood,”…especially in times like these.” “ Is something the matter, Mr. Kat?” “ Well…let’s just say the curfew had affected me somewhat…half of what I used to make in a day’s business is gone because of the order.” “ I’m sorry to hear that.” “ Please, don’t be. It’s better this way, since no more people are getting hurt.” Kat laughed softly, waving his hands to assure Coates. But it’s not difficult to notice the disappointment in his voice, or his wrinkled face. “ In fact, I know this is important for our well-being, since I know what it feels to be handicapped---even if it’s just a little.” Coates raised a brow at the remark, not understanding what the chef meant…until he took off the red glove on his right hand. Four fingers. Coates didn’t know what to say. Slipping back on the glove, Kat smiled understandingly,” Fortune was with you, Mr. Coates, in your time of need. Take good care of yourself…you’ll never know when fate catches up with you.” He left as soon as that was said, leaving Coates to ponder on his words as he stood by the door, watching the cook walk away. “ That was delicious,” Gordon remark as he wiped his mouth with a napkin,” I’m surprised you’re eating so little today, son. I thought you liked meat.” “ As long as it’s not fish, dad, I like it enough,” Coates smiled, gathering up the empty dishes customary at the end of meals,” Just that I’m not feeling that hungry tonight.” “ So, what shall we do tonight?” Gordon asked, his voice in anticipation,” Chess?” The board game has always been a favorite of his, and to him pitting himself against his son is a good way to train the young lad’s skill in logic…as well as maintaining his own. “ Sorry, dad, but I have to study tonight. I’ve been quite behind in reading up lately, and I have to send my writings to the Academy soon.” “ Is that so? Well, I guess tomorrow night, then…” “ Also, I have to go over to the bookshop in a moment, since I have to---“ “ What?” Gordon exclaimed, now eyeing his hazel-haired son with slight alarm. The curfew was still taking place as the nights before, and it still was potentially dangerous to be outside in the dark.” You know you can’t do that, Coates.” “ I have to go there and pick up the book I ordered from Crystal Valley…Miss Haleyna, the book-keeper, has promised to keep the store open for me to get it…I’ve been busy the whole day, after all.” “ Coates, you can always wait until tomorrow morning…” “ Dad. There are things I can’t delay, and this is it.” Coates said clearly without looking up, his hands busy clearing up the table,” I need that book tonight, and I will get it tonight. I’m already 19 years old, and I think I can take care of my---“ “ This is not a question about your age!” Gordon brought down his curled hand onto the wooden table, clearly annoyed at his son’s stubbornness,” You were almost killed once, and I don’t want you to get hurt the second time!” “ I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time!” Coates looked up, his own expression was not unlike his father’s,” Life is full of risks, dad, and I understand that now!” “ No, you don’t!” “ Damn it, I have to do this! It’s not like I’m doing this for fun, alright?!” The young man, knowing he won’t get anywhere if this continued, took the initiative. Leaving the table, he moved towards the door that would lead him to the outside world beyond the warm comforts of home. “ Coates, I forbid you from stepping out of the house as long as you are my son!” “ But I’m not, aren’t I?” Coates said blankly, the worlds carelessly slipping off his lips. Gordon was too aghast to speak. As Coates quickly exited himself into the night, the trader could only manage to sit down…in sadness. “ You IDIOT!!” Coates shouted,” You BLOODY IDIOT!!”. The only one roaming the street that quiet night, Coates didn’t see anything wrong with holding back the ache in his heart. How could he? How could he do that to his own father? Of all things he could’ve said to get his father off his case, he had to point that painful fact out in the open again. That he was not his real son. He couldn’t remember that far back in the past, but he had always known that he was adopted when he was young. And even though his father loved him more than anything, providing him with comfort and teaching him everything he knew about his trade (which is really something), Coates couldn’t help but feel as if he didn’t really belong. And that strange water rune on his hand…it’s a mystery how he had it on him since young. The only link to his unknown past. The lying bothered his conscience too. Miss Haleyna closed the bookshop hours ago. Instead, Coates wanted to go to another location…the gut feeling he had made him do so. Why was there blood on the pavement? Coates felt a chill up his spine, looking at the crimson spots that lay in a trail on his path. Its wet, raw smell was in the air, indicating its freshness. Had the mutilator struck again? Was he next on his hit list? “Get a grip on yourself,” Coates murmured, trying to dispel the feeling of fear welling within him. He had come this far, and with all the wrongs he had done that night, he wasn’t going to turn tail and run. Yet. He decided to follow the gruesome trail, somehow knowing it will lead him to a discovery. He just hoped it wouldn’t be his last. Coates’ mouth fell open. What was the meaning of this?! The trail he followed was quite a long one, but his keenness for answers never faltered him. However, its end brought a gasp to his lips. Before him lay an open door, the light from inside illuminating the crimson specks that continued inwards. The door of Kat Tan-Gan’s restaurant. Coates knew now something was terribly wrong. Although he was scared…he stepped inside. And after a while, a scream was heard. Coates quickly rushed outside, his mouth covered with his hand. Unable to hold back, he vomited onto the street. What he had seen was too much, as the city was about to find out the next day. “ Gods, I feel sick.” Juntha gagged, massaging his temples as he sat beside his desk. He was within the walls of Gregminster castle, surrounded by the walls of the City Guard headquarters. “ You and A LOT of people, Jun,” Alen smiled sheepishly as he handed the blonde commander a bottle of ointment,” Good thing I didn’t eat there…I would’ve still be retching my head off by now, if I were you of course” “ Very funny,” Juntha frowned, not sharing his friend’s amusement on his condition,” Who would’ve thought that the mutilator had been using all those runed hands as stock? Damn it, Alen, I seriously thought it was chicken soup!” “ Ah well, you can’t uneat what you have eaten…just try hard to forget how good human flesh tastes like.” Juntha shot a glare at Alen; one that even made the handsome brunette fidget uncomfortably. “ Uh…” Alen tried to somewhat change the subject,” Your sister was really generous enough to lend us her rune. You did tell me she was quite attached to it.” “ Of course, Father gave it to her before he passed away,” Jun muttered,” But she knew how important our need for it is. Remind me to recommend Lieutenant Madelynn for a promotion…she did one hell of a job impersonating Attha last night---I was sure that he would attack her next once his supply is cut off.” “ Using your sister’s rune was a good idea…yeah, considering she managed to lop the bastard’s hand off at the same time, can we say ‘reversal & retribution’, eh?” “ Wherever he is right now, he won’t be able to do much damage. I’ve sent warnings to other states to look out for him, just in case,” Juntha paused, breathing in the smell of the ointment to relieve his dizziness, and then continued,” I already suspected that Kat was behind all this since that day in the restaurant with Attha. I noticed he was mighty interested with her rune, despite other things…” “ Hmm?” Alen raised a brow,” Other things?” “ I noticed something was wrong with his gloved right hand when he came over…the last ‘finger’ was flat and unflexible.” “ And so…?” “ Remember the bruise our boy Coates had when we saved him?” “ Oh…you don’t say…” Alen exclaimed, realizing what Juntha was leading to. “ Four finger marks on his arm.”
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