MoPako System

Quin narrowed his eyes. This was it; this was the map to finding out the hole in their past. Quin folded it and kept in his pouch. It was time to make his escape. The problem was that the thugs were already banging on the doors.

Nevertheless, he went to the closed rusty window covered by a barricade and used his pocket knife to force out an opening from the gaps. Exerting all his strength, the wood splintered and gave in with some of the nails coming off. Unfortunately, it also curved his pocket knife.

*BANG*

He kicked the board, escaping through the window right in time as the thugs crashed open the door.

"Quick get the intruder!" Quin ran through the side of the building, intending to escape through the forests when he saw through the corner of his eye that the thugs posted there was gone.

'A trap?' He didn't hesitate for long and took that path instead. When he got down from the stairs, he could see the guys were passed out. Above them stood the nun, Jess. Her uniform still as pristine black.

"I see what you're up to then. You're doing what Master Hartold asked you to do, didn't he?"

"Jess! What are you doing here? I thought you—"

"Now's not the time. We have to get away first."

"Hey where the hell are the people guarding in here!" Some screamed from above. The thugs were gaining on them.

"Let's go, I'll lead the way." Jess ran ahead of Quin, who was bewildered at the turn of the events. Against his expectations, the nun appeared to know where she was going as she went up the first exit way he'd marked on the way here.

When they ascended the stairs, there were no other thugs.

"Is this your handiwork too?" Quin asked. Jess shook her head.

"It's not. The gang members posted here went away after learning of a situation—that's how I got inside with no problems." She explained as they ran.

As soon as they exited the alleyway behind a local shop, Quin could see some disturbance on the main street. People were all going towards in one direction.

"That should be… the underground market. What's happened over there?"

"I don't know. Someone pulled a prank, perhaps." Quin narrowed his eyes at her even while they blended in with the crowd. Her being so composed when she shouldn't, in all rights, be here, was a cause of concern. It reminded him of the face she has whenever she gets serious about church matters—especially praying.

He kept these questions to himself for another day while the two kept their heads down. Soon, as they arrived at the threshold gate between the outskirts and the main town, they met up with an unexpected party. Mettel, Cavien, and his younger brother Raynel. All of whom looked worse for wear.

"Huh? What are you doing here, Ray?" Quin asked.

"No, what are you Three doing here?" Jess interrogated. The three boys were tongue-tied. Obviously hiding something as they averted their eyes.

"Uhhh, we were just playing here yep. Cavien was interested in looking around the outskirts so we came here. More importantly, what are you two doing here, together even?" Raynel gazed at them.

"Don't change the question Ray, I can see your attempts."

"Uhh…" Before Raynel could answer, an enraged yell reverberated the outskirt streets—the bystanders distancing themselves with fear from the source.

"Bastard! You took something from my Secret Room! I know its you, Quin, don't think you can hide from me, I know your scent!" Gun Hotez, with an angry face was charging towards them like a bull. A retinue of the black bandana co. accompanied him with scary faces. Quin and three kids paled.

"L-l-let's run!"

"Go go go!" Yet, Jess remained where she was, still as a statue. Quin was about to take her hand when a flash of red and white light blinded everyone there.

'It's over!' When they all opened their eyes, they saw Tryndale apprehending Gun Hotez while Erick standing over the groaning thugs lying on the floor.

"It seems you've forgotten your place, dog. Your barks may have been entertaining for a while but it has crossed the line for the degree of disorder you've caused."

"Bastard! That guy stole someth— ugh!" A boot stepped on his face.

"Even if that may be the case, I simply don't care." Erick whistled.

"Let up on your judgement, let's hear him out on what he has to say—I knew you'd been ruling here as a boss or whatnot, but is it my eyes trickin me or were your thugs about to beat up an old man? That's somethin' I can't ignore."

"Wa-wait. I don't know what you saw, but I am talking about that guy who broke into my sweet home and stole personal valuables—am I not under your law as well?"

"Ah that sentry post you loiter around at, personal valuables most likely stolen or acquitted through unofficial means. How that different again from what you do? Hmmm, none, right?"

"Bullshit!"

"Okay alright, we all pay y'all for that. But how do you explain the beating an old man part?"

"Th-that! I don't know! They just did that on their own, nothing to do with me." Erick laughed as if he'd heard a funny joke. Indeed, it was a funny joke.

"I think playtime's over. We'll let you off with a slap on your wrist and call it a day. What you say?" Gun Hotez glared at Quin for a while before he nodded. With a quick wrap-up, the Outskirts Syndicate were left alone just like that. However, there were a lot of questioning for Quin and the others. Arwen somehow found herself being a part of the group after the situation has been defused.

"Would you mind telling me what exactly led on to this happenstance/ Best tell everything." Tryndale asked Quin. Erick, meanwhile, held Mettel's wrist while

"Uh uh uh, ain't goin anywhere just yet. You got some explainin' to do, young man. Did you just, is it what I think it is? You use some magic?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Mettel's face was lost.

"Don't go acting coy. I saw you using a Tezhe on those bandit gang over the underground market. And what even led you to that place with two other kids? Hartold may blast me—no, Jess why did you leave Mettel alone anyway?" Erick shifted his attention to Jess, who averted her eyes with a funny-looking quivering smile.

"I-it's not what you think. I thought I could leave him alone with Mother Laresa. Mettel must have sneaked out or something."

"Am I really seeing a nun shifting responsibilities? To the Mother at that? First time I saw this in my life." Arwen spoke by herself, which were heard by the others. Jess couldn't help but hide herself even more.

"No excuses eh? Hey little man, I know you don't like being treated a baby but we take our eyes for a sec and you shootin' blast magic explosive fireballs outta nowhere."

"I did not! There wasn't any fireba—" Raynel covered his mouth, Mettel's eye widened.

"Aha. Got you. I am not even sure why you're hiding this fact—it is utterly stupid if you ask me. Now give me all the details just like Quin over there." Quin was like a meek child in front of Tryndale's stern gaze. But as Tryndale listened further, his eyes changed and the two went away in secrecy.

"Hey listen, it's all my fault!" Cavien shouted.

"I was the one who forced Raynel and Mettel to come along with my stupid plan. I am not sure either what happened back there on the underground market, but it's my responsibility this even happened!" Erick slapped him on the shoulder.

"Good accountability. I like that. But Mettel ain't getting off. I had to have the whole story. Now, come clean." Eventually, Mettel sighed and was about to do as he said when:

"Who's confessing what?" Out of the nowhere, right amidst their group of party was the disproportionate figure of a cloaked figure holding a gray wooden staff, blue sparks flickered around him—Hartold the Old Man of the Spire appeared.