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Something was definitely wrong, that much Enek was certain of.

When he opened his eyes, a strange sight had greeted him. The scene around him was not that of the wilds he had been traveling with his strange new companion, but instead of the sprawling city of Reoun. The city were Enek was born and grew up however looked just as it did during his childhood. The walls hadn't been re-expanded yet, the city's center weren't reinforced, and more importantly the district he was in hadn't been burnt down yet during an Orc raid. As he took the strangeness of it all in, a flash of something going by in the corner of his eye caught his attention. A child had entered into the same alleyway, which caused Enek's blood to run cold.

===

The child digging through the garbage was no other than himself when he was about 6 or 7, the exact age was lost on him now. Muddy brown hair, hazel eyes, sharp facial features even at a young age, although to be fair that might have been from the malnourishment. Yes, Enek recognized this moment from memory.

It had only been about a year since his father had died while out with an adventuring team. His mother had been gone for a few years by this point, having been lost to an illness that had swept through the lower districts of the city. Though his father and he had lamented her loss, there was no other choice than to simply carry on. His father had hated leaving the boy alone when the time came to leave on a job, but it was either that or bring in no coin and they both starve.

His fathers close friend and partner on the job had knocked on the door one day, carrying a somber expression, a set of worn gear, and a small bag of coins. Simply setting the things down and shaking his head to young Enek, the message had been clear, no words were needed...

With the steady flow of income cut off, the home was soon lost to taxes, forcing young Enek to the streets. What coins had kept were quickly spent on food, and within days after he had resorted to more unsavory means of survival, which lead to this point in time that he seemed to be recalling. The child pulled a half eaten leg of meat from the garbage, hanging off the bone and smelling somewhat foul. Eating around the rot and tossing back what was unsalvagable. He had experienced once already the effects of food poisoning, and it was not one he wanted to replicate.

The boy looked down the rest of the alleyway, and didn't even give a glance to Enek. Was he invisible, was this truly just a dream? The question was answered when a moment later a figured stepped through him into the alley. This man he remembered, Lucky Jack, ran the local 'trade' cartel. Reoun was a large city, so folks rarily noticed when a child or two went missing every so often.

Lucky Jack stepped into the alley. Two of his thugs following right behind him, both big apes with brains like rocks and smiles like cobras. "Well 'ello there lad. Couldn't help but notice you been stealin' from one o' me men down the road. A few apples 'ere and there aint so bad, but it tends to build up over time. So me an' the lads 'ere thought you could repay the debt with a bit o' work." He spread his arms so matter of factly it was sickening.

Young Enek's eyes darted about, searching for an avenue of escape. A distraction, a hole to slip in, anything dammit! His options were limited to little more than the way he came in from, and it was likely Jack had that covered by goons already as well. Biting his lip and clenching his fists, despair slowly crept in. 'Am I going to die? Covered in mud, with an empty belly, as a slave?' He wondered to himself. There was another option though, but the prospects of it didn't excite him. He looked back at the minions Jack had with him. No weapons, just their brawn and fists this time. Obviously Enek hadn't rated high enough of a threat to warrant even a sword on the belt. The same did not apply for him however and he glanced at his fathers old gear that was strapped to his body, particularly the shortsword.

He reached down, drawing it from the leather sheath and brandishing it at the group. "Stay the hell away from me!" He shouted at them, a mix of fear and desperation in his voice.

Lucky Jack smiled widely. The portly man pulled the midnight black hat from his head, fanning himself with it. The golden rings around his fat fingers jingled as he laughed. "The lad seems to 'ave found himself somethin' sharp." He glanced to his two guards. "He'll hurt himself, he will. So take the lads toy away from him." He motioned forward with his chin, causing one of the men to step forward.

"You may take it, but not without losing something you value in the process." Enek's eyes focused on the minion. "Am I more valuable than a lost finger, or several? You never know, I might get lucky an take the whole arm." He swallowed hard, playing for time and hoping his bluff would pay off.

The man looked back to his boss, who simply shrugged at the hired muscle. The minion turned back to Enek and resumed approaching. Reaching slowly towards the boy, he snapped forward with lightning speed and wrapped his fingers around the childs neck. Lifting the boy off the ground, who was kicking frantically, he went to grab the blade. The boy's kicking finally found its mark, planting firmly in the man's stomach and causing him to gasp and jerk his arm for a moment. The moment had come, an opening had arrived, and the child brought the shortsword down on the man's arm. A large gash sliced open, and he dropped the boy to grab it as he cried out in pain. "Gaah! The fucking brat!" His eyes bulged as the situation came back into focus.

Enek didn't have any other options from the start, it was kill or be killed. When the man had reeled in pain, the boy brought the sword edge right through his knees. As the man fell forward to the ground the sword came back around in a full arc, right into his awaiting neck. The sound was dissatisfying. It was equal parts wet with a bit of a crunch. The cut was not clean in the least, and lay lodged halfway through the goons thick neck. The damage was done however, as blood leaked rapidly from the wound and he collapsed to the dirty alley ground.

A stray blood splatter marked across the boys hands, chest, and face and he turned his gaze back to Lucky Jack and the remaining guard. They both wore a look of disbelief, as they slowly backed away. "Well well, you've impressed me today lad. Didn't think ya had the stones to do it. Alright then, we'll be leavin' for today. But don't go thinkin' this is the last ya seen o' me." He turned with his guard and left the alleyway, looking over his shoulder back at the boy.

The guard laying on the ground coughed and shakily reached at his neck. The man clung to life, but not for long. The sight was too much for young Enek and he fled from the alleyway. Stowing the blade he simply ran, folks giving he looks of concern and fear as he dashed past. Finding a quiet place a few blocks over, he dropped against the side of a building and sunk to the ground. Tears streaming down his face and body shuddering, he curled up on the spot before closing the world out around himself and softly sobbing to sleep.

===

Enek could only stand by and watch the events unfold, they were his memories after all, he knew what the outcome was going to be. He followed his younger self and slumped against a nearby wall as well.

"I should find Taeln's family, I know he had a younger brother and mother... Though I can't exactly bring them back his personal gear and coin anyway." He muttered out loud to himself, his thoughts turning to his fallen partner. The elf had been crass, ungraceful, and a bit of a penny pincher when it came to buying and selling, but he had also been Enek's oldest friend and companion.

===

Seeming to sense his thoughts, the world shifted around Enek's eyes. The scene this time was a few years later than the previous. A young Enek of about 11 or 12 stood at attention along with a line of other adolescents. Most of them had been outfitted with armor scraps and worn out weaponry. The rag tag line of child mercenaries listened on as a scarred elven man shouted orders at them. Assigning groups of two, each child was given a partner. It didn't matter what you were doing, or where you were going, they were order to not leave each others side. Young Enek's partner stepped to his side, a taller elven boy who introduced himself with a smack to Enek's shoulder. "I'm Taeln, shrimp. And don't forget it."

Enek scowled up at him. "It's Enek, not shrimp. And if you call me that again I'll shiv you." His hand rested on the pommel of the shortsword at his hip.

Taeln grinned down to him. "Ha! I think you and I will get along just fine...Enek."

The elven adult shouted. "Stow the fucking chatter!" Each group clamped their mouths shut before returning to attention. The elven man went on to explain mission objectives and strike points where each group was assigned.

===

The memory slowly faded from view as another took its place, even more time had passed. Enek and Taeln marched down a roughly cut forest path, gear strapped to their backs. The boys were about 16 years old in this memory, and as a whole not much had changed aside from growing taller. A split in the path presented itself along the road. One side slopped down into the valley and towards the sea, showing a sign marked as 'Malas'. The other pointed higher towards the mountains, where snow capped the peaks rested with a sign that says "Deidon Hold".

They shared a look as they gave each path a thoughtful glance. Both heads eventually turned towards the sea path however and they nodded in silent agreement... Along the path after some travel, Enek stopped in the path. His eyes looking off the path into the overgrowth of the forest just barily kept at bay by the constant travel of the road. "There's...something over th-" His words were cut off as a spear flew through the air, just passing over his shoulder.

Both boys pulled weapons as a group of goblins leaped from the vegetation. Various shades of green and spears as long as they were, it was a wonder they had been able to throw the first one at all.

One of the goblins stepped forward, large bone piercings through his nose and both ears and eyes like molten rock. He screeched something at the group and they surged forward with spears bared. Enek and Taeln took the defense, sweeping aside the first spear points at them.

Taeln parried aside the next rushing blade, bringing his blade in a full body swing to cut through the two nearest goblins. Springing from that stance, he put the next goblin on the defense as his sword came down for a verticle cut. It raised the spear, blocking the blade. Taeln responded with a swift kick to the things gut, causing it to stagger back in pain and opened it up to a following diagonal cut from its shoulder to hip.

Enek brought his free hand fist into the face of the first goblin to attack him, forcing it back a step. He sidestepped the thrust from another as he charged at him. He brought his shortsword down across this ones back before closing the distance towards the first. He brought his knee into the side of its chest causing it to crumple to the ground. The goblin looked up at him with fear as the point of the sword entered into its chest.

The battle had lasted no more than seconds, yet the adrenaline pulsed heavily in their veins. They both took deep breaths, regarding each other and to the goblin leader. The pierced up goblin didn't wear a look of dismay or fear however, instead it was more smug and satisfaction. Enek's eyes widened as he realized why a moment too late when a blow to the back of his head caused his vision to blacken immediately.

He re-awoke the the feeling of someone slapping his cheek. "Hey, get up. You're laying in mud, you know the girls will never go for you with clothes covered in dirt." Enek opened his eyes to the grinning face of Taeln. "There's that beautiful smiling face, come on pal." He offered his outstretched hand to Enek, who took it and got to his feet.

The battleground around them was a massacre. There was a new body laying dead, likely the one that had hit him from behind, as well as the goblin leader sans his head.

Rubbing the back of his sore head, the feeling made him slightly dizzy but he shook the feeling off as they marched on down the path.

===

The world, more specifically the memory faded around him as he came to and opened his eyes to the waking world. It was early dawn light, and the fire had sputtered out some time ago. As he went to sit up the feeling a furred hand across his chest reminded him to the sleeping companion laying cuddled against his side. Enek looked Asyr over once more and noticed her soft breathing and slight smile on her face. He reached up and gently rubbed one of her soft ears, causing her to mumble happily in her sleep. Laying his head back down with a smile he closed his eyes to doze off for a bit longer, the feeling was too nice to interrupt just yet.