Pawn Of The Forgotten Fate

I'm standing in front of the shop again. My promise from last night is mocking me in the face.

"Can you take these two bottles of wine to [Divena's Pawn Shop]? It will be closed starting tomorrow and I must somehow thank them for keeping the box safe."

He asked me so nicely, who was I to refuse?

With a pained smile plastered on my face, I pushed through the doors. This time, she wasn't asleep. She was sitting behind the counter, her hands folded neatly on the table, as if she'd been expecting me.

"Will this place shut down?" I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

"Yes," she replied with a faint nod. "It isn't very profitable here, so my master is planning to move to another town."

I handed her the bottles and relayed what Aion-nim had instructed me to say.

"Please, thank him on our behalf," she said softly, her tone sincere.

I nodded, unable to find the right words, and stepped outside.

The night sky stretched endlessly above me, a blanket of stars twinkling against the velvety darkness. The cool breeze carried with it the faintest scent of earth and flowers, soothing my restless thoughts.

For a while, I walked in silence, letting the beauty of the night calm my nerves.

But as time passed, I realized something unsettling. I didn't recognize my surroundings anymore.

This is why I should've brought the map. Why did I have to be so overly confident in my memory?

Now, lost in the unfamiliar streets, the quiet of the night began to feel less peaceful and more ominous.

I don't feel a single presence of anyone living.

This place felt completely remote, and every instinct screamed that I shouldn't be here.

If I die, no one will ever find my body.

That morbid thought sent a shiver down my spine. My eyes widened, and my senses snapped to attention.

If there was one thing I could trust, even more than my memory, it was my instinct.

Since childhood, my instincts had saved me from countless close calls and accidents. Misfortune seemed to follow me like a shadow, and one way or another, I always found myself in bad situations.

This felt no different.

I resisted the urge to run. Running would only alert whoever or whatever was out there. Instead, I forced myself to stay calm and scanned my surroundings, searching for something… anything that could serve as a weapon if things went south.

But all I could see were broken walls, piles of rubbish, and large metal objects half-buried in the debris.

Even if I wanted to pick up one of the heavier pieces, I doubted my twig-like arms would be able to handle it.

I blame Louie Aldene for being so weak.

The thought flickered through my mind, almost bitterly. My current body was a far cry from anything remotely strong or capable, and right now, that weakness felt like a curse.

While I was still searching for something to use, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. A second later, I was shoved hard against the wall, my face squashed painfully against the rough surface. My glasses fell with a clatter.

"Did you take it?"

The voice was low, smooth, and ridiculously attractive.

What the hell's up with this sexy voice? He could be in an ASMR.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I managed to say, my words slightly muffled against the wall.

His grip on the back of my neck tightened, and I could feel waves of anger radiating off him.

That's it. I'm going to die.

It was nice knowing everyone. I'll miss Aerin, Aion-nim, Lyaeus, and even Ambrose.

Ambrose. He wasn't much of a talker, but I know we had a connection. I hope they all live well without me.

"I saw you coming out of that shop," he said, his voice sharp but calm in a way that made it more terrifying.

The pawn shop?

"I went there to give them some wine. It has nothing to do with whatever you're talking about," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"What did they do to deserve that kind of gift?"

"They kept-" I started, but stopped myself. My pride, or maybe my stupidity, flared up. "Actually, I don't want to tell you! If you want to kill me, then just go ahead! I'll haunt you for the rest of your life!"

His grip stiffened, and I suddenly felt something cold and sharp press against my back.

Is that a knife?!

My heart stopped.

Why did I have to open my big, stupid mouth?!

The knife stayed pressed against my back for what felt like an eternity. The sharp point barely moved, but the threat was clear.

After what seemed like a long internal debate, the man finally pulled the sword away. Relief barely had time to wash over me before he yanked me off the wall only to slam me right back against it.

He's got serious issues that needs to be checked.

In those fleeting seconds, I caught a glimpse of the weapon. It wasn't the knife I'd feared. No, it was a full-blown sword.

Fuck me.

Before I could process this terrifying realization, the hand gripping my neck began to heat up. At first, it was subtle, a faint warmth, but it quickly escalated. The temperature rose so fast I felt like my skin might blister. Panic surged through me, but I clamped it down.

Never show weakness. But what do you do when your neck feels like it's about to catch fire?

The pain was unbearable, spreading like wildfire. It coursed through my head, burning as it traveled through my veins, igniting every nerve it touched.

And then it reached my chest.

The heat pooled there, intensifying until it felt like my heart might burst. My breaths came in short, ragged gasps, and my vision started to swim.

A final wave of searing heat swept through my body, leaving me dizzy and weak. My knees buckled, and darkness began to creep in at the edges of my vision.

The last thing I saw before everything went black was a pair of cold, calculating red eyes staring straight into mine.

When I opened my eyes again, a familiar ceiling greeted me.

Not this again.

I rubbed my eyes, blinking a few times to clear my blurry vision. As I shifted to get out of the bed, I noticed someone holding my hand.

Frowning, I glanced around, squinting hard in search of my glasses. No luck.

I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes to figure out who it was.

Aerin.

She was passed out in the chair beside me, her small hand gripping mine firmly as if afraid I'd disappear.

I tried gently prying my hand free, but instead of letting go, she tugged my entire arm toward her, her grip tightening even in her sleep as she mumbling something incoherent in her sleep.

"Let me help you," a sudden voice said from the corner of the room.

I jumped, my heart skipping a beat.

Why is he always so damn quiet?!

Turning my head, I saw Aion-nim standing there, his expression calm as usual, but his eyes fixed on me with an unreadable look.

Aion-nim got up from the chair and helped me release my hand from her grasp. He picked her up and gently laid her on her bed next to me.

"Come with me."

I followed him downstairs.

"Open the box."

A large box sat in the middle of the kitchen table, dominating the space.

Curious, I opened it and found a neatly folded cloth and two smaller boxes nestled inside.

I pulled out the smallest box first and opened it carefully.

Inside, I found something that resembled contact lenses.

Don't tell me...

"I couldn't find your glasses on the site," Aion-nim said, his voice calm as ever, "so I had them make you something you wouldn't lose so easily."

You underestimate my ability to lose things.

Still, I had to admit, seeing something as modern as contact lenses in a world like this was unexpected.

What else do they have here? Smartphones? Coffee machines?

Setting the box aside, I picked up the cloth next. Unfolding it took longer than I expected, and it took me a moment to figure out what went where.

It was a black cloak, complete with a hood large enough to conceal my entire face.

"Every time you step outside, wear this," Aion-nim instructed. His tone was unusually firm, almost like he was trying to convince himself as much as me. "It will... protect you from the sunlight for a longer period of time, yes. Do not leave the house without it."

I nodded, though his pause gave me the impression there was more to it than just sunlight protection.

Later, I'd confirmed that Louie Aldene had albinism, and now, so did I.

Because of it, I had to wear thick clothes during the day or only venture out at night. It also explained why I was so weak and always cold, no matter how many layers I wore.

Great. As if I didn't have enough problems already.

But deep down, I appreciated the effort Aion-nim had gone through.

The final box sat waiting on the table. It felt similar to the item I'd delivered yesterday, though this one looked much newer.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I reached out to open it only for Aion-nim's voice to stop me.

"Open it only when you're being attacked or threatened. Not before."

I froze, my hand hovering over the box, before slowly withdrawing it.

Looking at the three items laid out on the table, a pang of guilt hit me.

"I already owe you so much. You really didn't have to do this," I said, my voice low.

"Tch."

… Was he angry?

"What nonsense are you talking about?" he said, his tone sharp but not unkind. "You owe me nothing. I am responsible for you, just as you are for Aerin. Treat everything I do for you as a gift from someone close."

The sincerity in his words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I couldn't respond.

This man is too good to me! Louie Aldene was a lucky guy… I'm starting to feel jealous of him.

I nodded silently, unsure of what to say, and picked up the contact lenses. Carefully, I placed them in my eyes, one at a time.

They fit perfectly.

He reclined on the chair with a sigh and pointed to the seat in front of him.

"Sit."

Why do I feel like this has happened before?

"What happened that night?" Aion-nim's voice broke through the silence, steady but tinged with concern. "You've been unconscious for four days."

Four days?! What did that bastard hit me with for me to take this long to wake up?

I explained everything to him in detail.

Fortunately, the girl from the store was going in the same direction as me. She found me lying unconscious on the ground and had called for help.

"Did he have anything distinctive about him?" Aion-nim asked, his tone calm but focused.

"I couldn't see his face clearly, so I can't say for sure," I replied, "but he was taller than me, and he had red eyes."

"Hmm."

Aion-nim leaned back slightly, resting his chin in his hand, deep in thought.

That's when Lyaeus entered the kitchen, his usual carefree energy radiating off him.

Aion-nim didn't even glance up, his mind still occupied, when Grape, being Grape aggressively slapped him on the back without a second thought.

The sound echoed through the room, and Aion-nim flinched, and I winced instinctively.

Wrong move, pal. Very wrong move.

"See?" Lyaeus said, completely oblivious to the danger he was in. "I told you he'd be awake in no time. You were being too much of a worrywart." He turned to me with his usual grin. "How are you feeling now, Lou?"

"I'm good," I replied, but my warning look was directed straight at him.

Lyaeus, of course, didn't notice.

Aion-nim hates it when people get even slightly aggressive with him, and that slap wasn't just aggressive, it was strong.

He stood up slowly, his movements deliberate, and only then did Lyaeus realize what he'd done. His grin faltered, his eyes widening in fear as he took a few cautious steps back.

"I had no intention of doing that," Lyaeus stammered, hands raised in surrender. "I didn't realize it would be so strong. I'm sorry."

His voice was almost a squeak by the end, his usual confidence crumbling under Aion-nim's sharp gaze.

Aion-nim glared at him for a moment, then rubbed his tired eyes.

"Have you seen anyone with red eyes?"

Grape tilted his head and pondered for a while.

"No. As far as I know, nobody in this town has eyes of that colour."

"The one who attacked Lou had red eyes and was noticeably tall. Can you find him?" Aion-nim asked, his tone calm but resolute.

A menacing smile spread across Lyaeus's face.

"Certainly I can. If he's still around here somewhere, this will be a piece of cake."

"How quickly can you do this?"

"Two days at the most."

… Are they planning to torture him?

"You should let the authorities handle this," I blurted out, trying to inject some reason into the conversation. "Don't put yourselves in harm's way for something like this. I'm okay, aren't I?"

Both Aion-nim and Lyaeus turned to me, their expressions a mix of disbelief and exasperation, as if I'd just said the most absurd thing in the world.

"Just because you're all right doesn't mean this never happened," Aion-nim said sharply. "Stop worrying about useless things and take the day off. Lyaeus will help me with the store today."

"What? I've got my own place to worry about!" Lyaeus protested immediately.

Aion-nim fixed him with a deadpan stare. "Ambrose handles everything there. You're just the owner in name. So you'd better help me, or else I'll throw away your secret stash."

"Tch."

"Do not 'tch' me, you drunkard."

"I should have never trusted you with my hiding place. Even you betrayed me in the end."

"Too bad for you," Aion-nim replied without a hint of remorse.

He turned back to me, his expression softening. "In any case, you can go back to your room, Lou. And don't wake Aerin up. She hasn't left your side these past few days, so let her rest a little longer. Oh, and take these with you."

He handed me a small bundle of items, and I nodded guilt gnawing at my chest.

Why is this body so weak?!

I sighed, resolving to make it up to Aerin later.

I got back and gently closed the door behind me. Aerin's soft breathing filled the room as I placed the items in their respective paces.

Who could that man be, and what did he want from me?

Once I finished, I sank into the chair, letting out a quiet sigh.

I thought that he might've been Xion, but that's not possible. He has normal dark eyes and is only a couple of inches taller than me.

But that man looked at least six feet tall.

Could he be from that Visage group?

Xion did steal something of great importance from them. It wouldn't be surprising if they were searching for it everywhere.

Visage is an odd group, operating without any clear ambition or unified purpose. They act impulsively, driven by an obsessive need to collect rare and valuable things, materials, weapons, animals, and even intelligent beings, including humans.

Yes, that must be it.

One of their members must've been searching around the area, saw me, and mistakenly thought I was the thief.

I let out a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness it wasn't Xion. If it had been him, my fragile plan for a peaceful life would've gone up in flames.

As the tension drained from my body, I sank deeper into the chair, my mind finally settling.

I truly thought I would die that night. No matter why he let me live, I don't appreciate him putting me in danger.

Fatigue began to weigh on me. My eyelids grew heavier with every passing moment, and before long, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

I woke up to the feeling of being crushed by something or rather, someone.

It was Aerin.

She was crying, her small arms wrapped tightly around my waist, her face buried in my stomach.

"I apologize for crying," she said softly between sniffles.

Sitting up, I gently brought her to my bed and made her sit beside me.

"Crying is nothing to be sorry about," I said, ruffling her messy hair. "Even I cry sometimes."

She rubbed her nose and sniffled again, her big eyes still glistening with tears.

"Do you have any injuries?" she asked, her voice trembling.

I smiled, trying to reassure her. She's so cute sometimes. No, scratch that, she's cute all the time.

"No, I'm all right," I said, patting her head. "So stop frowning, because tonight I'm going to tell you two completely new stories."

Her lips curved into a small smile, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

"I got scared when I saw you being brought in like that," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

That must've been tough on her, especially at her age.

I rubbed my face, letting out a sigh. Then I looked her straight in the eye. "I promise I'll be more careful from now on, okay?"

Her expression softened, but her resolve didn't waver. "You have to be! And also, I'll come with you wherever you go. I may not be able to fight, but I'm quick. So, I'll run back and bring Sir Aion to beat up anyone who tries to hurt you."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that.

Aion-nim? He's all brains and slender build, I'm not sure how intimidating he'd be in a fight. Lyaeus, on the other hand? That's a completely different story.

"I guess I'll have to depend on an eight-year-old to protect me now," I said, grinning.

"Yes," she replied confidently, her tone leaving no room for argument.

We spent the next few minutes chatting, saying whatever nonsense came to mind, the conversation light and silly. It wasn't long before Aion-nim called us down for dinner.

Just as we were about to leave, she stopped and looked up at me, her expression serious again.

"You won't get hurt again, will you?"

"Of course not! Why should I spend my days lying in bed when there's a perfectly explorable city right here? Don't worry, things will be fine from now on."

Famous last words.

And oh, how I'd come to regret those words later.