Elicit 2

"You're not who you think you are, boy." the king said.

I couldn't understand what he was saying. I am who I am. My hands are stained. I'm nothing more than a hired hand from the guild.

"What do you mean?"

The king stabbed his sword on the castle floor. "do you see this blade? Trembling, this sword. It wishes to kill you. Don't you remember anything about this fine artifact?"

I stared at it for a few seconds. A murderous aura shudders my spine; the first time that I felt such malice from an artifact.

"don't worry about the guards you killed on your way. They're not dead. Merely clones of silk and metal. Too real, I presume?"

It was too... Alive. I could've sworn those were real. They even had spirits with them.

"I can't go back."

"that's fine. Stay at the castle or go to town. I'll make sure that the guild doesn't kill you." the king reassured. "you're an important piece."

Before I left, his servants gladly gave me some decent clothes. I immediately put them on, finally discarding the ones that the guild provided. I kept my blades and provisions with me, just in case.
---
I made my way out of the castle and arrived at the castle's outer grounds. It seemed like everything was a lie. Do I believe the king? There was no heir, either. Just exactly what is right?

I was still in a daze while walking out the grounds and snapped out of it only when i heard a nagging call that kept saying "mister".

"Mister?"

"Misteeeerrrr!"

"mister?" a little girl tugged my pants."would you buy a flower from me?"

She was small and vulnerable. A thin child with a bird's nest; like-chestnut on her head.

What attracted my attention was not the little girl, not her basket of marguerites, but the instrument strapped on her back. This five year-old child already knows an instrument?

"That instrument..."

"Oh!" she delightedly said. "would you like me to play a song instead?"

I nodded and smiled. She set her basket aside. She unveiled a beautiful crimson viola.

"I hope you like this song, tee~hee" she giggled.

She started playing a wondrous tune. It was do calming and forgiving, almost sad. Such skill from a young age.

"that song was called 'the seven G's'" she proudly announced.

"It felt so warm. You're pretty good, y'know"

"I'm glad you liked it, mister!" she smiled. " I want to become a very good musician someday!"

I smiled at her dreams

"I want to be so good that I'd travel the whole world! Then I'll find someone to be with! Oh! It'll be so romantic!" she said, eyes shimmering.

Dreams, eh? I've never had any. I was trained since I was seven. It was rigorous, and not many survived. I barely remember the kids that died mid-way.

"that's amazing! I bet you'll be very successful someday."

"thanks mist--"

Her stomach grumbled. Her small, white cheeks were red like apples in her embarrassment.

"I'm Elicit" I reached my hand. "I haven't had any decent meals, too."

"You're okay, mister, so I'll give you my name! It's Nicolette! Nice meeting you, Mr. Elicit!" She energetically said. "Hey, why don't you come with me, mister? I know a good place for cheap food!" she grabbed my hand and pulled my arm.

"okay, okay"
I let her tug me all the way to an area near the boundary of the town outskirts.I played along as she happily skipped down the road. We passed by the panzerschwal aristocrat areas, city square, and eventually to the commons. It was a fun, short walk. As I went along, she treated me like a best friend. We went past several houses and hidden paths that we at the guild use. She even had much energy to tell the things we've passed by, and had funny names attached by her.

"we're here!" she said, still filled with energy. We stopped at a run-down bakery. The house was mostly wood and straw, but the oven was stone. There was an enormous wood and stone furnace for cooking and baking outside the house.

A woman came out of the house. She wore traditional baker's rags, and her hands were still covered white. Her head was a bit soaked with sweat, and her thin, white physique was pinkish with work.

She gave me a pleasant smile, and ran towards Nicolette playfully.

"Oh! Lettie!"

"Patt'e!" Nicolette giggled, running towards the woman.

"who's tha man with you?" she asked.

"Patricia, this is a new friend of mine! He's Elicit! He likes my music too!" Nicolette introduced.

I went closer to Patricia and endorsed a friendly shake.

"Elicit, ma'am. We met near the castle gates."

"I see..." Patricia said, half-suspicious.

"Is the bread ready? Oohhh, ooooh! Can he have one too?!" Nicolette said, tugging patricia's apron.

"You have to wait for it for a bit, sweetie. Why don't you go inside and fix the tables for your friend?" she sweetly told Nicolette.

The child nods, and runs toward the wooden house. She was filled with excitement.

"And you..." Patricia changed to a serious tone. "You're not from here, are you?"

I nod

"Well, she treats you more than a guest, so I guess you're okay. She's quite a handful, but she's a good judge of character. Even better than anyone else I know. And I know a lot around the commons."

"What happened to her parents?" I curiously asked.

"That's a question too early to ask, isn't it?"

"she's too good of a musician for her age. So I was wondering about..."

"...the instrument?" she cut me off.

I gave another nod

"That violin was her mother's memento. It looks so old, but it plays like it's new. I think it might be an artifact."

I was impressed. A child like Nicolette can use an artifact? It takes a large amount of spirit control to make one tick. She does it with practically no sweat, even with a smile.

"Benny and I took her in when she was only two. She's never let go of it ever since."

Nicolette suddenly burst out the house. She waved energetically from the distance. The meal was already ready.

"You know...I've never seen her so excited like this." Patricia said "It's like she thinks of you as a relative already! Hahaha!" she passes off the joke.