KEVIN'S POV (CONTINUED)
I snuck in through the back passage that was luckily free. There was noise outside the house from the front door. I peeped and I could see some people with swords, they probably are adventurers tasked with investigating what happened.
"Shameful what happened to the old man", one said as him and another strolled inside the house. I hid quickly but in the rush, hit my leg on the plate laying there, making some noise.
"Shh... what's that", his companion asked.
"That's probably the rats... it's the slums, what do you expect?", he answered laughing, "I just want to get this over with and go to Julia's to have some fun," he added laughing.
"What about your wife?", the other asked.
"That hag can have the bed to herself tonight, sometimes I wonder why I married her," he replied with a big laugh. Scum.
In that moment it caught my eyes, Old man Kyne's book. I was sure of it. It was old looking and from where I was I could smell the dust from it. And a little bit of lavender. I always wondered why Old man Kyne smelled of lavender when I visited. I heard it was an expensive herb. It was carefully arranged at the table.
"Merbings", someone called out from the outside.
"Let's go", the companion, possibly Merbings, alerted the other one.
"You shouldn't treat such a sweet lady like that," he added as they left
"You marry her then," the other man replied bursting into a weird laugh.
As soon as they left, I crawled trying to be as sneaky and quiet as possible to the table, swiped the book and rushed back.
Hah. So old Man Kyne was really dead. The thoughts of it hit me one more time. I couldn't say goodbye. Gone, just like that. Tears started rolling from my eyes uncontrollably.
I heard someone come in again. This wasn't the time to be sobbing. Let me move out.
I ran, hands wrapped around the book, as fast as I could, like I could run away from the pain I was feeling.
Shit. Shit. Why this? Why Old man Kyne? Those Garrick bastards. I wish I had the strength to take revenge.
'Revenge without power is just a weak man's fantasy'. The words popped in my head as I ran. Old man Kyne would always tell me whenever I came to him after having a fight with the kids and gotten beat up.
I needed power. Power to be strong. Power to never be weak again. Power to freely take revenge on those that hurt me.
I stopped briefly, looked at the sky.
Fuck. How miserable. How miserable the life of a weak man is. How miserable Old Man Kyne's death must've been. Hah...
I used one hand to clean the tears on my face. I saw soldiers riding their horses towards the direction of Julia's. Edmund must've done his job well. I shouldn't show him this pathetic side of me.
I rushed forward. To the scrawny hideout I could call my home. To the place that kept me warm. The place where the other people that treat me like family are, waiting for me.
I am never going to be seeing Old Man Kyne anymore. Not going to hear his stories. Share in his wisdom. I was not going to hear his laugh, or cough, or yells anymore.
In a life that still bore unforeseen days for me, I was going to spend them without Old Man Kyne. How sad a life it is.
Is this the life that the Gods have set for me?
---
THEODORE'S POV
I could hear the galloping of horses from afar. Time to go.
The presence of the unforeseen guest was a variable I hadn't accounted for but it was also a gain. From learning about magic and how it is done to learning about this secret organization. I saw all his memories; friends, lovers, enemies, all of it from childbirth. As far as he could remember.
With the bone-changing techniques of the Hao sect, I could take his identity.
Was it like this? Feel the qi, condense it and imagine?
A fire lit up when I thought of it, after applying the magical codes and everything.
This is cool.
It quickly lit off. With what I learnt, a human being cannot perform this without having a magic circle. A magic circle stays in the heart, unlike qi that resides in the dantian.
The magic circulation from his memories was lacking. A lot. And he learnt this from a Fifth Circle mage he called his master in a magic tower. Toiled for years before he could even get it from this 'Master'.
How pathetic.
The Heart Sutra of the Shaolin is a hundred—no, thousand times better than this. I guess I'll look at it later.
I held the bag tightly and with my Qigong, quickly sped towards the hideout. This much loot should be enough to change our current situation and make us live better. For the meantime.
I plan to see more of this world. Perhaps visit this magic tower and see all the beautiful things in it so I would need more. Haha.
On getting to the hideout, I could see Edmund at the entrance.
"Welcome back", he greeted softly as he bent there drawing things on the ground with a stick.
"Yeah", I responded.
The atmosphere with him was not like we just completed something big. Well he wouldn't know about the loot, but I expected him to be livelier.
What's making this young lad so down?
"Are you alright?", I asked as I walked towards him.
He looked up with sad eyes, "You remember Old man Kyne?", he asked.
Old man Kyne? Oh. I remember. Kevin would always talk about him to Edmund and Theodore.
"Yeah, what happened?" I asked.
"He got killed three days ago. By those Garrick scums", he answered.
What? Killed?
We both stared at each other, and he looked back at the house.
"Kevin's been sad since he came back", he said, "I wish I had the strength you showed us this morning Theo", he added, clenching his fist very tightly.
I looked into his eyes. He was dead serious. I'd have praised his motivation if this was a better time.
I placed my hands on his shoulders.
"I'll teach you how to be strong", I said reassuringly.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yes... Have I ever lied to you?" I replied.
"Well... No. Ah... That one time that you promised not to tell Kevin that I punched that kid that was talking bad of him and you told him," he replied.
This cheeky bastard.
"Forget about that..." I said tightening my grip a little on his shoulders. Technically that wasn't me.
"I promise to make you strong. Okay?" I added.
"Okay", he replied.
"Let's go meet Kevin".
We both stepped inside the hideout. Kevin was seated at the very end, he looked at us as we came in. He must've quickly cleaned the tears from his eyes to make us not see.
"Hey... How'd it go?", he asked as we got closer.
I sat next to him without answering. Edmund stood there watching us.
"I heard what happened", I said breaking the brief silence that had formed. "How are you holding up?" I asked.
He looked like he could cry anytime soon, but he tried as hard as he could to hold himself back.
"I'm good, don't worry", he answered, sniffing.
I stared into his eyes. How sad they looked.
"Most of Garrick's men are dead", I said sharply.
A sudden light ran through his eyes, surprised. Edmund gasped and immediately they asked, "What?"
"Garrick's men. The ones that were with him, about 9 of them, are dead. I killed them," I answered back.
I could see the surprise in his eyes as he analyzed what I just said.
"What about Garrick?", he replied, clenching his fist.
"Alive. But more dead than alive. He'll live the rest of his life as a broken man. Legs and mind", I replied.
He looked at me, took a deep sigh and to my surprise, he asked, "Are you alright?"
The question took me by surprise.
Am I alright?
When last did I get that kind of question? I've always been strong. A Conqueror. My subordinates dared not question me. My friends, the Plum Blossom Saint, the Shaolin Abbot and the Namgoon family head must've asked that question when we started out in Murim but we quickly separated because of the war with the Demonic Sect.
This brought warmth to my heart. Mine. I couldn't shake this off as Theodore's. This was mine.
"I'm alright. Look at me, do I look like I'm hurt", I answered, laughing.
"Are you sure?" Edmund asked. He looked worried.
"I'm good, man" I answered again, firmly this time.
Kevin took another deep sigh, "No amount of killing will bring Old Man Kyne back", he added.
Yes. No amount of killing.
"Vengeance in his name will glorify him", I cut in.
"Only a strong man seeks vengeance", he replied. He was truly a smart lad.
"Theo promised to make me strong", Edmund cut in.
Kevin looked at him, and turned to me, "I don't know what's been happening to you lately, but, will you make me strong too?" he added.
"Yes", I replied. "I will make you guys one of the strongest men alive" I answered.
I could see a grin form at the side of his lips after I said that. "Strongest huh?" he muttered.
"You remember those two that roughed you guys up yesterday?" I asked.
They both nodded.
"Why don't we start our vengeance with them—if you're ready", I added.
"I'm ready", Kevin answered with hesitation.
"Me too", Edmund answered.
They were determined. Good.
"For Old Man Kyne", I responded, stretching my hand forward.
"For Old Man Kyne", they answered as they brought their hands forward too and put it on mine.
Excellent. Let's go hunting.