Chương 11: Big dreams

From beyond the balking officer and horrified onlookers, he spotted the towering figure of Elenya, flanked by Astrid and Edmund, approaching with a brisk pace. He sighed with relief as the screaming officer continued the frantic questioning, voice high-pitched over the hum of the street. A heavy and authoritative hand landed on the officer's shoulder and t he man spun around, face twisted in anger.

"It's alright officer," Edmund said with a tone of absolute certainty. The officer frowned and his face grew redder than Elenya's hair.

"Unless you can explain why a Blessed kid, without a hunter permit or army clearance is standing half-naked over a corpse of… of whatever the plowing pits that is … then you will sod right off!" Wretch glanced at the new pair of pants and white shirt he had received just the day before. What remained were bloody rags, and the shirt was more dark red than white.

"Here is my badge," Edmund said, pulling out a worn leather wallet, flipping it over to reveal a metal emblem of a fire stitched to the leather.

"I am Edmund Richter, captain of the Richters Company."

"We are sanctioned hunters from the Bureau, who tasked us with tracking this creature just yesterday." He gestured over the railing to the city far below.

"After a skirmish in the Lows, it escaped here." The officer grew pale as Edmund continued.

"This young man," he said with a nod towards Wretch.

"Has a talent for climbing, seems he got the job done." He glanced at the mangled remains with the detachment of a professional, then turned to Wretch, giving a sly wink.

"He is also part of Richters Company." Wretch's eyes grew wide, his mouth opened and closed. He grew red, like he was about to explode, and a vein appeared on his forehead.

"Yeeees!" He hissed quietly through his teeth, shaking his fists towards the ground. The officer stared, first at the corpse, then to Wretch, having some sort of meltdown, and back to the eloquent hunter-captain. After a pause, the man shook his head and stepped back with a mumble. Wretch exhaled a deep breath, and turned to Elenya. She had her face in her hand, shaking her head. Astrid on the other hand peeked out behind her, giving two thumbs up.

After Edmund had taken command, he sent for a clean-up crew and ordered the area cordoned off with the officers' blue ribbons. The Richters gathered around the remains of the horror to examine it.

"First let's see what the core looks like." Edmund said, pushing the corpse to lay on what Wretch guessed was its back. It rolled to the side, revealing a jagged ribcage.

"Looks kinda human," Elenya said. Astrid peered closer through her glasses.

"A small one if that's the case, though it's hard to tell with all the stitched muscles." She poked at the thread at the base of the limbs, pulling out a long purple spring.

"Strange, I doubt it was born like this."

"What then?" Wretch said, trying to hide his euphoria. Astrid turned to them.

"It either stitched itself together like this, or it's been made."

"We'll leave the rest to the Bureau." Edmund said and pushed down his hat and reached far into the gore of the creature." We've done more than enough." He ripped out a glowing coal.

"I will wait for the Bureau to arrive, file the paperwork. You can go home and get yourself cleaned up, tell the girls to prepare a feast."

"Later big man," Elenya said, placing a plate-sized hand on Wretch's shoulder and pulling him along, away from the gruesome mess. Astrid gave a quick wave and hurried to catch up. They walked along the snaking walkways and bustling streets of this particular Spire. The crowd parted before Elenya's towering figure, the long clothed halberd swaying over her back.

"Listen Ratty," Elenya said without looking at him.

"Don't get cocky, just because you survived your first hunt. Keep pulling stunts like that and I won't bother learning your name." Astrid stepped up to walk beside them.

"Give him some credit, Elenya. But yes, that climb and jump was beyond reckless." Wretch scratched the back of his head with a clawed hand.

"Yeah, sorry, I just felt like I had to prove something. How did it look?" Elenya, eyes on the road, answered with a flat tone. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"Cool as hell." Wretch looked up at the giant. She paid him no mind but continued in a unmoved voice.

"Also, your form when fighting is trash. You can't even swing a knife. We'll have to work on that." They turned a corner, a businessman yelping at the sight of them, bloodied and bruised.

"That's her way of saying you did good," Astrid said with a smile. Wretch opened his mouth to reply, but the praise felt increasingly discomforting. He gave a cough and changed the subject.

"I have been meaning to ask," Wretch said.

"You said if you kindled ten times, you can ascend to a higher tier. How many times have you done it?"

"Four," Elenya responded flatly.

"And I, only three," Astrid said, shaking her head. They crossed a narrow steel bridge that connected the minor spire they were on with the central one, Saints Summit. Below them, steam and smoke rose from the chimneys of the Lows, flowing between the towers according to the wind.

"I want to grow." Wretch said.

"Quickly if possible. But also search for my father. I just don't know where to begin, you have any ideas?" Wretch asked, clawed fingers fidgeting with his torn clothes. Astrid raised a brow.

"No clue, hunters come and go, join and perish at all times. If you had a name though, that would be a different story. Best bet is likely the archives."

"The Archive?" Wretch said with a look. Astrid pushed down her hat.

"Yes, but you'd need to ascend to Fireling to get access to the important things."

"Good," Wretch said, "I wouldn't want to meet him as an Ember." Elenya let out a breath, stepping up to the front door of Richter Company headquarters.

"You survived one night, quit the dreaming little guy, your chances of ascending to Fireling or Blaze are close to none." Wretch looked up at the two suns in the sky, one darker, and the other a faint hue of purple. Both hung far over the city.

"No," Wretch said as his eyes moved to his clawed hand, opening and closing it at the foot of the steps.

"I will make it." Astrid and Elenya both turned towards him from the now open door. Wretch meet their gaze and Elenya scoffed.

"Big dreams kid, can't say I hate that." The house was quiet. Whisky, the cat, lazed in the beaming sun from the balcony, with Jonna and Jenni having left for school. Elenya let out a gasp at the sight of the feline creature.

"Aren't you a little too perfect today, Whisky?" she said, crouching down and petting the cat with utmost care and affection.

"Are you Elenya's little fluffball? Too cute, yes you are." Her tone was strained to a high pitched baby-like voice. Wretch looked to Astrid, who was walking towards the kitchen, unsurprised by the switch in character. Elenya turned her head with a frown, snapping back into her demanding tone.

"That's your room." She said and pointed towards a door.

"Go. Rest and shower. Should be some clothes in the wardrobe. And Saint help you if you leave so much as a smudge on Whisky." Wretch stood straight "Yes! No smudge, promise."

"Also! You are number four in the command chain. So don't you dare be proud."

"Yes, ma'am!" He replied, scurrying into his room and closing the door. He uttered the words she had said again.

"This is your room." It was strange, having a space that was his. That had never happened before. He stood and looked at it for a moment. It felt nice, but a part of him wanted to open the window and never return. That way he would never lose it. It was small, about four meters across. Stone walls. Wooden floor that creaked underfoot. Below a glass window stood a thin, steel framed bed. A cupboard with a mirror above it and a small door to the bathroom next to a gas lamp controlled with a metal switch. His kingdom.

He flipped the switch, and the pipes gave off a soft hum. Moving along the walls, Wretch traced the copper gas-tubes with his human hand, feeling the texture against his fingertips.

"Mine," he whispered with a faint smile still plastered on his face. He threw the bloodied clothes into a corner and jumped in the shower, the hot water limbering his sore muscles.

"Even better than yesterday!" he muttered in relaxation. In the wardrobe, he found a pair of large black pants and a massive, oversized white shirt. Even larger than the ones he had borrowed the day before. Wretch didn't have much, just his leather-bound book and the coal. Carefully he pulled them out from under the bed and placed the book in the top drawer. The glowing coal from the ratling, he clutched with both his human and non-human hands. Inspecting it, he could see a glow under the coarse surface.

He tried what felt natural and focused. His mind reached out for the fire within the rock. To his surprise, he could feel it, a texture against a sense he couldn't quite explain. Gently, he pulled. The stone hissed. A soft, fiery thread of light swayed through the air into his chest. He took a breath and steadied for what he knew would come. A rush of flame burst through him, clawing pain and whispering madness rushing through his flesh. After a moment, it subsided and he breathed out.

Between his claw and human hand, the coal crumbled to dust with a fizz. He closed his eyes, looking inward. Times Kindled: 2 He was making progress after only this short time. No wonder the coals were valuable, you'd kindle so easily compared with hunting a frightening beast. The fatigue from the last two days returned all at once and he crawled into bed, nesting in the cloud-like softness.

"Is this how everyone feels sleeping in a bed?" He said, pulling the quilt up to his chin. His mind slipped away without worry of food, water or safety. The last thing to go through his half-dreaming mind was the words of his father, scribbled into the tome on his nightstand. Grow thy flame and meet me at the summit. What remains of you, I shall call kin.