In the streets of eastern quadrant of Sevenren city, three people limped as they tried to escape their pursuers.
"Why? Just why are we being attacked?!" said the oldest of the three people.
The other two were not as good as the oldest one. Each one with their own injuries and blood drenching their clothes. If someone were to judge them by their clothes, they would think all three were homeless and poor.
Was it far from their truth before today? Not by much.
All three were from the lowest middle class families of the city of Sevenren. The middle one was damaged the worst. She had two broken ribs, one of her ears permanently tore off and her clothes covered little to cover her dignity.
She supported the other two. But the other two did not care enough to notice where they grabbed her. Why would they? They themselves needed support when they were in the middle of a warzone.
The other two were adolescent males. And both had grabbed on her breasts as their arms rested on her shoulder. It was not the perfect way to get supported. However both had those exact arms broken nearer to the wrist. So grabbing on her opposite shoulder was out of the realm of possibility.
This was one of the scenes of the war that had enveloped the territory of Sevenren.
People would mistake that the territory of Sevenren ended with the boundary of the city of Sevenren. But the city was just on one corner of the plateau that was called the territory of Sevenren.
The war to seize Sevenren had reached other towns, villages and cities of its territory.
All because of one lie out of the many.
Anaphol killed Bulwark only because she did not agree to let in other kingdoms and nations to attack the territory of Sevenren.
A lie that spread as the armies of the nearby territories of the Confederation of Tarna entered and attacked other villages, towns and cities of the territory of Sevenren.
The only army from the territories of Confederation of Tarna that intended to march to the city of Sevenren, the real warzone of this conflict, was the army from the Principality of Rentilaco.
Every other place became a warzone because other territories wanted to seize the wealth, resources and people for their own selfish needs and to have more slaves.
This news had reached city of Sevenren.
Don Extea was furious. But he was exhausted as well. It had only been two hours since the clash of all the forces began.
Shrik landed next to him as lightning.
"Uh…uh..uh," Shrik bled from one of his shoulders. But the two kids he had saved grabbed on him tightly.
"You are safe here." He smiled but didn't show his bloodied teeth, his head was aching non-stop and he so wanted to kill someone right about now. He looked at Extea.
Extea's eyes were hollow. Whatever had caused it gave a shiver to Shrik.
Extea spoke. "Get to the northern sector of the city. There are few people still there."
Shrik's left eye quivered. "I have to still first go back to…"
"You don't want to. And it's an order." Extea was firm. His eyes regaining hints of health. Shrik looked down at the two kids. They looked up at him.
"I-uh, I will go back but first let me check on the north. Ok? Trust me I will."
That's exactly when the hand on his shoulder became tighter. He had forgotten of the teen girl.
"All you adults are the same. Lies and lies." She let go of his shoulder and took her siblings hands and walked to one of the corners.
There were other survivors as well. All cowering in fear, bruises and tears.
"I promised. And that means something." Shrik snapped back. His jaws tightened, he did realize how much bad in shape he was to know his limits.
He only saw the teen nod. Extea at that moment called out, "Hey, girl. What is your name? Its needed to make sure you are not one of the enemies. While at it tell me the names of the kids too."
Shrik's head was in the middle of turning his head to Extea when the girl spoke out. "Cyn Walo. These two are Newa Walo and Huret Walo." She kept walking.
"There is not a family by the surname of Walo in Sevenren." Called out another member from The Outro Restro.
"And I am surrounded by liars who may as well kill us in the middle of the war. Why should I give you our real names?" The so-named Cyn Walo snapped.
"I did not tell you to stand still Shrik." Extea exhaled, "Girl, you saw how you travelled here, you witnessed the battles that happened when the storms descended, and you saw how my staff member Shrik helped your parents and gave them a good advice to survive."
He stood up, and took steps to walk to tand right behind the so-named Cyn. He placed his right hand on her shoulder. "I don't ask you to trust me. But trust in the bounty hunter Anaphol."
A slight hesitation emerged as shaking from her. Her siblings grabbed on her hands tighter.
"Why him? Isn't he responsible for all this?" She spoke in a whisper.
"Because he isn't. This was bound to happen since the appearance of the teleportation poles." Breathing in Extea continued, "Now, the reason I need your names is because my another staff member Leto can check who is alive and who isn't and who is part of the enemies if he knows their real names. It is something similar to the magical battles that are happening all over."
The same voice that had cut in earlier said, "Yup, that's me. Leto Hisen."
Shrik's left hand rose with a golden glow the same as the one he applied to the teen and the kids parents to apply to his shoulder. A different hand reached it before him.
He turned to face the source. "Worin, you don't have to. Save it for the-"
Worin cut in, a woman of a healthy build in white clothing. "Save it! You are also my patient." Her hand had a mix of silver and gold light. It pressed against his bleeding shoulder. The injury within vanished while his body was rejuvenated.
The so-named Cyn Walo replied to Extea, "It doesn't matter. Mom and Dad had already accepted that…" Her eyes teared up. "I am Cyn. From today. I don't have a surname for I am an orphan." Her eyes even with tears stared death into Extea's eyes.
"Huh," Extea breathed. "Fine, what about the kids?"
"They…they, uh-"
The little one out of the two grabbing on her sister's hand spoke, "Why are you changing your name, Windy?"
The other was more devastated. He reply had the touch of emptiness, "I am Den Furor, and she is Rinma Furor."
Leto spoke instantly, "There is a family by the name of Furor with house in Gyptro's stride lane. They have three kids by the name of Windy, Rinma and Den. But Windy has changed her name forever to Cyn." His voice had an echo following it.
Shrik vanished again.