Chapter 17: New Begining

Tom didn't like how Jack handled the last mission, and insist he must be trained to be more of a background character. Throwing him to another world for him to learn.

                In another world, a little girl, no older than 10, running from a flame of her town, burning away to the ground. This fire was caused by pure accident and grew bigger over time. The girl ran to the nearby forest, crying and screaming to her heart’s content, eventually losing her way back home; now lonely and afraid, she wanders to find her way back, finding no progress. She eventually made camp on a fallen hollow log, to sleep through the night; sobbing quietly till the tiredness shuts her up.

               Being wide awake the next morning by the sound of footsteps and rustling of the bushes, she put her hands on her mouth, hoping not to be found. The footsteps got closer to her safe log, eventually the log was disturbed by whoever sat on it. She screams so loud in her head, that some of it leaked out of her mouth. She learns that she wasn’t in danger, in fact, whoever is out there is mumbling to themselves. She listens in closely and was able to make out a phrase, “What is a background character?” She was confused about this, curiosity took over her body and decided to peak with the help of the holes of the log, before she got the chance, she made too much noise doing it and disturb whoever was nearby, as evidence of a shout and surprise of his voice. She quickly made herself still to avoid any more clues. “Hello?” She was caught and was already thinking of what’s going to happen next

               The stranger showed himself in one end of the log, giving her a clear look of his face; brown hair, blue eyes, but no black circle in the middle of his eyes, she remembers her parents having it when she was forced to look when ether she was in trouble. “Do you need some help?” The stranger said, she was shock of his response, she took her chances and nodded yes. “Do you happen to be from the town that was on fire?”  she nodded yes again. “Then do you want me to take you back?” Her eyes were wide open, being the greatest news, she ever heard, it does sound too good to be true, she said to herself, but she has little options. She nodded yes, with more feeling this time. “Ok then, I’ll take you back.” His head was no longer in sight and she was making her way out of the log. Her eyes were adjusting to the new morning sun and sees the stranger in full view, he stands tall, with a red jacket and blue pants, looking down at her. His face is emotionless however, giving off no sign of kindness or intimidation. “Follow me.” The stranger said. The girl follows the order.

               The walk was very quiet, with both parties having nothing to say to each other, hearing only the sounds of their footsteps in the forest. The girl breaks this silence, “Mister, thank you for doing this for me, but do you mind if you give me your name?”  The man stayed silent for a little while, “Its Jack, you mind telling me yours as well?” She thought it was only fair, “Cacyie.”  Jack and Cacyie walked in further silence, Cacyie moves closer to Jack, in sighting a little more trust for him. It was shortcoming as they finally reached their destination.  The village Cacyie ran away from has burned to nothingness, not a single sign of life here. What was left of the town is a pile of ash. Cacyie couldn’t help but get to her knees and look in despair of what happen Jack couldn’t help but feel guilty, looking down at the sobbing child, hopes and dreams crushed and withered.

               “Do you want to try to look in another town? I’m sure someone you know would be there.” It took a while to come to her senses, getting back up to her feet. “Sure.” Jack turned around, hiding something, and confirming it, Cacyie couldn’t help but feel unease. Turning back to her, he said, “There is a town further down to the left, we can try our luck there.” She became suspicious of Jack, she never knew a town over there. She was now on guard of Jack. “Ok, let’s go then.” Cacyie said. She continued to follow Jack, down the path to where the next, “town” is. She had little choice however, she’s cold, tired, and hungry; she got away from the fire in a panic, with nothing but her pajamas on, a few burn marks can be seen from her dress and skin, Jack doesn’t bother to help Cacyie out yet, not giving her food, clothes, and not even carried, like how her father would carry her. “Hey Cacyie, are you hungry?” Jack said to her, her eyes gleaned with hope, but still on alert. “Yes.”

               “Good news is that a traveling merchant is coming by, let’s try to buy something.” Cacyie leans behind Jack to see a carriage coming towards them, two horses and one guy guided them on the path. Jack waved for them to stop, and stop they did. Jack said to the merchant, “Do you have any food to sell?” The merchant nodded no, Cacyie was sad, as her stomach growls for food. The merchant saw the little girl, shocked at her condition. He pulls back to the wagon to pull out a pair of clothes for her. A blouse and pants, with socks and even shoes for her. Cacyie was excited to get some new clothes, her pajamas were starting to wear off, holding them with glee, “I guess that’s coinvent, sigh, how much for the clothes?” The merchant gave the dirty eye to Jack, “Its free for the little girl.” Jack was unphased by his attitude, and the merchant went on his way.  Jack yelled out to the merchant, “The village has been burned down, there’s nothing there.”

                The carriage comes back to them, leaving them behind again to the path they were in. Jack looked down at Cacyie, who seems to be having a hard time, with whatever she is thinking, with the clothes she is holding in her hands “Why don’t you go change?” Cacyie is furious of his question, “Do you see any place to change at?” Jack was sort of confuse to what she was talking about, he did look around to see nothing but the plains they were at. “What’s the problem?” Cacyie almost lost it, but kept her composure, “I can’t have people looking at me while I change, then I’ll be exposed, it’s just a rule we have in society.” Jack thought about it for a moment and disagrees, “You don’t need to hide anywhere to change.” Cacyie was about to go on a tangent, but Jack stopped her, he taught her the steps to change, without changing. She wears the pants first, the socks and shoes next. She then puts the new blouse on top of the dress she’s currently wearing and then remove the dress from under the blouse. Removing the dress without exposing herself. “And that’s how you do it.” She was amazed at this revelation; she remembers always being behind closed doors when changing. “You ready to go?” Cacyie smiled with her new clothes, “Yes I am.” She said as her stomach growls again. She held her stomach, craving for food. Jack insisted they should continue anyway.

               On the walk, Cacyie couldn’t help but be curious of Jack, didn’t he have stuff to do? He was taking to much of his time to help her out. The way he just offers the help was weird as well. “Hey Jack, don’t you have anything to go back to? Why are you going so far to help me?” The midday wind was blowing to the meadows of grass, nearly an infinite amount from the view. “Well I had nothing else to do, and you needed help, so I helped, is there anything wrong with that?” Cacyie couldn’t help but feel modesty from Jack, “Then are you looking for some kind of reward after this?” She must know this answer; it will prove if Jack is a good person or not. “Yes and no.” What kind of response is that? She thought to herself, everything is uncertain with him, first the ‘town’ and now this. Nothing is straight from him.

               The sun is now sitting on the horizon line, they been traveling for hours now. Jack didn’t show a sign of tiredness, Cacyie however might as well be crawling on the ground. Her tongue was sweating, her feet is aching, and her stomach was in knots now. Any more walking and she will lose it. “The town is just behind those rocks.” Jack said as he pointed out to the middle of the empty field with two boulders there. Cacyie rubbed her eyes, and prayed to see a town there, her wish didn’t come true, and Jack was a dead man in her eyes. “I don’t see a town here Jack.” Jack was scratching his head in question as well, “Hmm, the map said there is a town here.” He proceeds to walk forward to the boulders, trying to confirm his statement. Cacyie couldn’t help but be upset, walking away from him and his ‘town’ that was here. Cacyie heard some unfamiliar noises, noises that weren’t there before. She looks back to find a fortress before her, she couldn’t believe her eyes, telling herself that there was nothing there before, but her eyes didn’t lie. She looks for Jack, who looked back at her. “See, I told you there was a town here.”