Tenebris Renasci: A World of Magic and Gunpowder

Alex quickly removed his hands and struck a pose, "It was just a stick, but uhm…. what's your name?" He said with a smile and wink.

"But your nose is bleeding!" The girl exclaimed, pointing a finger to Alexander's face.

A small trickle of blood dripped down from his nose and streaked down his lips.

"It's just blood, now what's your name?" Alexander asked again, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.

"It's Marcus." The girl replied with a giggle, she then approached Alexander with a dirty rag pulled from her pocket.

As she began to wipe Alexander's nose, he noticed that despite the rag's appearance, it smelled like flowers.

"That's a weird name for a girl," Alexander replied as Marcus continued to wipe his nose.

"I'm a boy," Markus replied as he took a step back.

What? A boy? I-Impossible!

Alexander took a step back and assessed the shirtless boy, his expression increasingly grew vexed until eventually he cringed.

I have to get rid of all evidence of this blunder.

Alexander turned his gaze to Elise as he pointed towards Marcus, "Elise, off with his head!" He yelled.

"Eep!" Marcus was shocked, looking at Elise with pleading eyes.

Elise looked at Marcus, then back at Alex, with the radio still in hand she looked like a confused penguin, "A-are you sure my lord?"

Alexander's eyes widened with enlightenment.

Wait….. I could get this boy killed?

A grin formed on his face. "Yeah, I've been craving a little violence." Alexander then cackled, as his hands rose high in the sky, fingers wiggling wildly.

Elise voice was filled with uncertainty as she shifted her gaze between me and Marcus.

"Well…. I'd have to put the radio down to get my sword, my lord."

Damn, she's right, I guess, you'll live for now Markus.

Alexander turned towards Marcus, "You've been spared. Not because I like you, but because my radio is more important than your life."

Marcus nodded rapidly, his long blonde hair shifting back and forth.

There was an awkward moment of silence between the three of them. The sounds of the city seemed to fade in the background as they all stared at each other.

Alexander turned his gaze towards Marcus, attempting to get a better look at him. He looked to be around 5 or 6 and appeared to be homeless.

Maybe I can take him with me? It'll solve the loneliness problem.

"You got a family?" Alexander asked.

Marcus shook his head, then smiled, "I've been living with the owner of that store."

Marcus pointed towards the building that formed the right side of the alleyway that he was playing in minutes earlier.

Marcus's expression grew grim, "You aren't going to kill him are you!?" He asked worriedly, looking at Alexander with pleading eyes.

Alexander shook his head, "Nah, I was wondering if I could take you with me."

Both Marcus and Elise gave Alexander confused looks.

"M-My lord, y-you can't just take children off the streets!" Elise exclaimed with a panicked voice.

Wow, so I can kill him, but I can't adopt him…. Make it make sense!

"Why, he's homeless isn't he, no one's going to miss one street kid," Alexander replied.

"We should at least speak to the shopkeeper!" Elise exclaimed, "And your father!"

Ughhh, all this power, and I still have to listen to my servants.…

"Fine, let's get this over with." Alexander waved his hand in resignation and began to head towards the shop.

The shop was small, with a large display window, showing a variety of items from canned goods and small novelty items.

Elise reached the door first, pushing it open with her shoulder, a small bell rang, and a man behind the counter looked up with a smile on his face.

He was a mature gentleman, probably in his thirties or forties, but he aged fairly well, his long brown hair had a few gray strands and was tied in a bun.

His eyes glowed green, and he was missing the tip of his left ear, making it significantly shorter the his right pointed ear.

The store owner shifted his gaze towards Elise and chuckled. "A pathfinder huh, what the hell did you get yourself into this time Marcus."

Marcus took a few steps forward.

"I accidentally hit him with a stick, but it's ok because this boy wants to take me with him!" Marcus exclaimed while pointing at Alexander.

The store owner's eyes widened, "you aren't planning on killing him are you?" His voice was slightly shaken as he turned his gaze towards Alexander.

"I'm just a kid man, I don't kill people on a whim….. who do you think I am?" Alexander scoffed.

Marcus slowly turned his head towards Alex, his eyes narrowed, "But you said to cut my head off..."

Alexander shrugged.

Ehhhh, you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

"What?!?" The store owner almost fell over.

But Marcus didn't stop, "he also said that radio was more important than my life!"

Marcus pointed towards the radio in Elise's hands, and Elise dropped her head in shame.

Am I wrong though? That thing costs 16 golden Embers.

"Well it's expensive," Alexander muttered.

"May the goddess save us all." The store owner whispered as he held his forehead, "Can I ask why you want Marcus?" He asked as he composed himself.

"It's simple." Alexander began, "I live in an empty mansion, Marcus lives on the street, Marcus comes with me, he's off the streets and my mansion is a little less empty."

The store owner nodded, shifting his gaze toward Marcus, "Well, do you want to go with this boy?" He asked as he gestured towards Alexander.

Marcus looked towards Alexander, looking him up and down, then shifted his gaze back towards the shop owner, "Well, it would be fun to have a friend." Marcus replied.

Maybe I should sweeten the deal?

"And you'll be able to get good food and clothes, and actual toys…"

Alexander grinned, and took a pose with his arms out wide, "… And you get to see actual swords!"

Marcus' eyes widened with excitement, and he quickly looked back towards the shop owner, "Can I go, can I, can I, I promise I'll visit every week!" He pleaded.

The shop owner smiled and nodded his head, "All alright, but remember, you promised to visit every week, not me." He chuckled softly.

Good, everyone wins.

Alexander nodded, he was satisfied and began heading towards the door.

But no one was following him.

Alexander turned around in confusion, "what's the hold-up?" He asked irritably, a vexed expression on his face.

"Well, I just…. I still can't believe it." Marcus fumbled with his fingers, looking at Alexander with a genuine smile and curiosity in his eyes, his ears wiggling slightly.

Oh no, am I having one of those moments, one that will determine our friendship for the foreseeable future?

Alexander couldn't help but cringe, "Dude, let's go already, you can think about it in the car."

Alexander walked over to grab Marcus' hand.

"A car?" Marcus asked, his tone full of confusion.

"You mean the carriage my lord?" Elise asked while tilting her head curiously.

"Sure," Alexander replied frustratedly.

Alexander began leading Marcus out of the store, they were followed by Elise, who was still holding the radio, but it seemed she had become comfortable with its weight.

The bell rang as they opened the door.

Alexander turned to glance at the shop owner one last time.

"I have never seen such a strange child." The shop owner mused as he returned to fixing the items on the shelves behind him.

Alexander licked his teeth as he chuckled softly.

As the group walked back onto the sidewalk, Marcus' grip on Alexander's hand grew tighter. "So, are you going to take me with you?" He asked with a hit of disbelief in his voice.

Ugh, if I have to confirm this one more time, I'm going to fucking explode.

"Yes I'm taking you with me, is it so hard to believe?" Alexander's irritation was growing by the second, "I wouldn't be holding the hand of a random stranger if I had no intention of getting to know them."

Alexander's answer seemed to put a reassuring smile on Marcus's face, his eyes twinkling with excitement, "Thank you…." Marcus paused, his expression growing perplexed, "what's your name?"

"Alexander, Alexander von Daname."

"Thank you, Alex."

"That's not my name….."

Suddenly Elise joined in the conversation, "My lord, we've arrived at our carriage." She picked up her pace, walking ahead of Marcus and Alexander.

She placed the radio on the back passenger seat and then motioned for Marcus and Alex to join her.

"Given our new additions, you will sit on the driver's bench with me, and Marcus will sit in the back with your radio."

"Alright," Alexander said as he released Marcus' hand and approached the passenger side.

Elise picked Alexander up and lifted him into the seat. As Alexander settled into the seat, he shifted his gaze towards Marcus, who was staring at Liz in awe.

"She's pretty isn't she?" Elise beamed as she walked over to Marcus, she outstretched her hand, and Marcus hesitantly took it.

"Yeah," Marcus replied.

Elise led him to the back seat and helped him enter the carriage.

Marcus settled down into the seat, his gaze darted around the carriage's interior, "woah, I've never seen something so fancy before." He giggled.

"Get used to it, because there's a lot more where that comes from," Alexander said with a confident grin.

"Where are you headed next my lord?" Elise asked as she sat on the driver's side.

Honestly, I think I've had my fill for today.

"Let's head back home Elise."

"As you wish my lord."

The drive back towards the mansion was relatively uneventful, there were a few moments where Marcus would ask a question, and Elise would answer it.

Soon the mansion came into view, and Alexander glanced back at Marcus, who was staring back at him with a smile and a tilted head.

"Whatcha think?" Alexander asked with a smug grin.

"It's big," Marcus replied with a soft voice.

That's all he has to say?

"I guess so," Alexander replied as Elise parked the carriage beside the stables.

It didn't take long for Elise to take Alexander and Marcus out of the carriage.

Once they were out of the carriage, she grabbed the radio from the backseat.

"Lead the way, my lord." Elise gestured towards the gate, and Alexander nodded.

He then reached out his hand towards Marcus, who immediately grabbed it, a simple form of normalcy beginning to form.

Huh, I guess I like physical contact more than I thought…

As they walked towards the gate Alexander looked up towards Marcus, his head moving back and forth as he looked at the city in the distance and the mansion in front of him.

The guard at the gate tipped his cap towards the trio as they approached, before opening the gate.

As Alexander walked the familiar cobblestone pathway, he was surprised to see his father, a man he'd barely spoken to, standing at the door with Olivia by his side.

They both wore simple clothing, the kind you'd wear around the house when there's no guest to impress.

As the trio approached the front door, Alexander's father's gaze grew intense, "Alex, why didn't you tell me of your outing today?" He said, taking a few steps forward.

His overwhelming presence made Alexander stumble back a few steps.

"W-what?" He stammered.

Suddenly Olivia rolled her eyes, "Lance, you're scaring him, just because he didn't invite you on his day out, doesn't mean you should throw a fit."

His father smiled, "It's not fair my love, I wanted to be the first to take him to the city."

He then chuckled as he grew closer. "Besides, my boy would never be frightened," Alexander's father squatted when he got close enough, "he's a Daname, and with that name, comes the courage of a thousand men."

He then ruffled Alexander's hair, before turning to look at Marcus.

I guess I'm not I'm in trouble?

"And who's this pretty young lady right here?" Alexander's father looked at Marcus with a delighted expression.

Marcus puffed out his chest, "Marcus sir, I'm a boy, not a girl." Marcus deepened his voice as low as a six-year-old could, which wasn't much.

Alexander's father chuckled, "My apologies young man, what brings you to my home?" He asked with a grin.

Marcus looked at Alexander, and Alexander shifted his gaze back towards him, then he looked at his father.

"Well after Ava left, I've been feeling a little…lonely, and this kid just so happened to be in the ally, we talked for a bit, and I decided I liked him, so I took him with me," Alexander explained.

His father chuckled loudly and leaned his head back.

After a moment he calmed himself down and placed a hand on Alexander's shoulder, "My son, you can't just take what you want, no matter how pretty they are."

He glanced at Marcus with a smirk.

Why do I get the feeling my father thinks there's something else going on?

"Anyway, father can I keep him?"

His father paused for a moment, scratching at his chin he looked up towards Elise, "What do you think?"

Elise nodded her head, "I think he'd make a fine playmate for lord Alexander, sir."

Lance nodded his head and stood up, "Very well, then I leave this boy in your care," he then pointed towards the radio in Elise's hands, "What in the goddess' realm is that contraption?"