SSS-Ranked Evolution: Worlds Unbound-Chapter 81: nothing bur dust (don’t buy)
To us, Karnak is all we have ever known. Even though it is in ruins, it is still our home." They continued walking through the deserted streets of the town and as they got close enough, the view of ruins became more visible to Ren. They reached a massive wreckage, and the sheer size made Ren’s mouth drop.
The abandoned inn loomed like a ghost of its former glory. Its once-grand facade, adorned with ornate carvings and tall windows, had crumbled under years of neglect and hardship. The roof sagged in places, with beams jutting out like broken ribs, and the walls bore the scars of time—cracks running deep, bricks exposed, and patches of mould creeping like a sickness.
Ren followed the assassin through the shattered entrance, the splinters of the door crunching under his boots. The lobby was a shadow of the bustling hub it once must have been. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the shattered ceiling, casting faint rays over the wreckage. Dust motes swirled in the air, dancing like ghosts in the silence.
The floor was littered with broken furniture and shards of glass. A grand staircase, once a masterpiece of craftsmanship, was now a treacherous ruin with chunks missing, its railing rusted and splintered. Yet, despite the decay, signs of life persisted.
Patchwork repairs stood out among the wreckage—holes in the walls were hastily covered with mismatched wood and fabric, and a large table in the corner had been cobbled together from salvaged planks. Thin blankets hung as makeshift curtains over shattered windows, barely keeping out the chill.
Ren’s eyes swept over the people scattered throughout the room. Huddled figures sat on worn mats and crates, their faces gaunt and weary. Children played quietly in the corner with makeshift toys, their laughter subdued as if afraid to disturb the oppressive air. A woman stirred a pot over a small fire in what might have been a dining area once, her hands trembling from fatigue.
It was only the kids that noticed their entrance, one of them locking eyes with Ren and signalling to the others, "Brother!" she screamed, leaving her battered doll and running to the assassin, hugging him tightly, despite him being covered with mud and blood. But upon seeing Ren and the large animal that she thought was an overgrown dog, she became afraid, "who is he?"
They had quickly gathered attention, and two women turned to see what was going on. Their faces pale and smudged with dirt, dressed in old aprons and rags. What they could see was their saviour, but he was not alone.
"Son? Who is he? Is he lost?" the elderly one asked, but he managed a small smile, putting a weak hand on Ren’s shoulder to show that he was a good thing. Although Luna didn’t take that hand as kindly, and it led her to growl, scaring the kids even more.
"He is an old friend, we beat ourselves up because we couldn’t recognize each other." he let out a small laugh, the laugh passed to the kids, but their hands were plastered against their mouths to muffle the laughter, "we will need supplies, and a bath." he immediately took his hand off Luna before her patience ran out. The women shared concerned looks but immediately went to get the supplies he said he needed.
One of them moved closer to Ren, she looked much younger than the other women. Fear didn’t allow her to get too far, Luna unexpectedly let out a whine, signalling to Ren that she was hungry again when she licked the back of his hand multiple times. Ren shot her a side eye and a judging look, "go." he gave her the command and she sprinted outside. To everyone’s surprise, "she will bring back food." His voice heavier than lead.
He allowed himself to be led into the inn. It was bigger than it looked on the outside with multiple rooms and in those rooms, he found out that many more people occupied the rooms but all in all, they were just a handful less than a hundred. The town used to host thousands of people but barely any people remained.
Ren was placed in one of the better rooms, while it was not immune to decay, it was very clear that the room held one of the richest people. And since he was their guest, he deserved it. And the assassin wouldn’t want his "friend" to be given anything less.
"It isn’t much but it is what we have. I pray it fits you." The young woman who had led him there presented him with some fresh clothes while taking his dirty garbs. His wounds had been treated and wrapped with bandages. He bowed slightly showing his appreciation to her before she left.
His new clothes consisted of some light cotton pants and an oversized cotton shirt, they gave him comfort, somehow resembling what he used to wear when he was still with his mother. He sat on the bed, a low creek coming from the wood underneath. Thoughts ran through his mind, noticing the ruin even more. Realization hit him harder than the truck that ended his previous life did.
The assassin was their support system. And he had almost killed him.
His deep thinking was broken when he heard a knock on his door, soon, the young man let himself in. He, too, had been bandaged but came without a shirt, revealing an extremely toned figure and what looked like a branding mark on the left side of his torso. Ren locked eyes with him before the assassin flashed a mocking smile at him.
Are you from here too?"
"Yes... and returned after I escaped the cruel grip of Doga. We are not much different." a small smirk plastered on his face, his eyes trailing to his side, making Ren’s follow. That was where he got the branding mark from. Doga...was not the kindest
"Friend." A short laugh followed him as he walked in, grabbing the chair closer to Ren, spinning it backwards and sitting on it. Slightly leaning to stare into Ren’s eyes. Silence for just a while before Ren spoke up.
"You protect these people dont you? You are like their god, like their king."
"Far from a king, I am their brother and only family. The earthquake took all they had, so I became all they have. I protect them with my life. For anything to happen to them, I have to die first." his cheerful aura faded, and his worry became visible to Ren.
"This place will fall apart eventually." Ren made the inevitable known. The assassin’s silence said it all. He knew, but he still had hope.
"We have started rebuilding. Though it will not be as great as it used to be, it will be enough for its people." His eyes held lofty dreams and with a faint smile, Ren knew it was his only dream.
"Are you from here too?"
"Yes... and returned after I escaped the cruel grip of Doga. We are not much different." a small smirk plastered on his face, his eyes trailing to his side, making Ren’s follow. That was where he got the branding mark from. Doga...was not the kindest to people outside its territory.
"We aren’t. I fled after I awakened, left my mother behind..." Ren reminisced his life before he became a beast tamer, how happy he was, but even in that happy memory, he could still see Reina and the promise he made to her, "the empire is relentless in taking beast tamers." The assassin listened to him carefully, dissecting everything he said before he nodded, "I have no plan to be in their service and will continue to run till my last breath."
"Where are you headed?" it was his turn to ask a question, no one came to Karnak, so obviously his final destination wasn’t the forsaken town.
"North."
Chapter 15: A New partner?
Are you from here too?"
"Yes... and returned after I escaped the cruel grip of Doga. We are not much different." a small smirk plastered on his face, his eyes trailing to his side, making Ren’s follow. That was where he got the branding mark from. Doga...was not the kindest
"North? The North is riddled with demons that killed the majority of the people here! Why would you want to go there?"
Ren searched his mind for how best to tell his new friend, but maybe some things are best kept to oneself. His eyes fluttered to the window that was slightly open, it had never stopped raining and with each second that passed, it got heavier. His mind drifted to Luna for a minute but knowing her nature, she would be fine. Ren knew he was taking too long to answer, a soft sigh escaping his lips.
"It can’t be that bad." It was his turn to joke but looking at the expression on his friend’s face, the joke didn’t go far.
