Chapter 23: The Turning Wheel of Fate
Chapter 23: The Turning Wheel of Fate
As Rayn approached his home, he spotted his neighbor, Anna, standing by the door, wearing thin clothing and holding a small basket. She waited in the chilly autumn breeze.
Hearing footsteps, Anna looked up and smiled sweetly at Rayn, dimples forming on her cheeks as she spoke:
"Rayn, these are pies I made with the wild blueberries and hazelnuts you gave me last time. I wanted to give them to you earlier, but Mint told me you were attending the Page training and only returned on Saturday evenings."
Rayn's heart softened at the sight of the basket she offered.
Fate had dealt this girl a cruel hand, yet she remained grateful and kind.
He had only shared some wild fruits with Mint, and now she wanted to repay him.
It was late autumn, and the evening breeze was cold, yet Anna, in her thin clothing, had been waiting at his door.
Rayn gazed at the five neatly arranged pies in the basket, momentarily at a loss for words.
After a while, Rayn stammered:
"You gave them all to me, but what about you?"
"I kept a few for myself!" Anna smiled again, turning to leave with a hint of cheerfulness.
Rayn stood there, momentarily forgetting to even say thank you.
As Rayn entered his home, Mint noticed the small basket in his hand and asked with sparkling eyes, "Brother, is this for me?"
Rayn smiled and patted his sister's head, "These are from Anna, your sister."
"From Anna? No wonder she hasn't played with me these past few days. She said she was helping at Aunt Mary's."
"Helping?"
"Yes! Almost no one in town is willing to hire Anna. Aunt Mary occasionally asks her for help. Anna is poor, and making pies requires flour, which is expensive. She can only earn enough by helping others."
Mint's innocent eyes fixed on Rayn as she spoke clearly.
Rayn stared at the pies in the basket, falling silent.
After the family dinner, Rayn retired to his room early to rest.
But he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Suddenly, he thought he heard a faint cry and the sound of something heavy falling from the neighboring house.
"Anna's house?" Rayn's pupils contracted as he immediately thought of the recent child disappearances in town.
Could the culprits have targeted Anna?
A surge of anger rushed to his head.
Rayn sprang up from his bed like a fish leaping out of water, grabbed a nearby woodworking hammer, and darted out like a nimble cat.
As he drew closer to Anna's door, the muffled voices he had heard earlier became clearer:
"This girl's got some spirit. Boss, after you're done, it's my turn to enjoy some fresh meat! There's only her in this house, so don't worry. We're gonna have a good time tonight, hehe!"
"Damn, it's been a while since we had such tender prey! This time, we'll have some fun."
"Actually, Scarface, you picked a good one! She's a bit skinny, but she's pretty!" another voice, presumably the boss, added.
"After we're done, we can sell her to the Wilderness Brotherhood. They recently raised their price, so we can get a good deal."
"Boss, leave it to me! I've been pushing the cart around the south side of Glintstone Town these past few days."
"Waa..." a muffled cry, presumably Anna's, as if her mouth was covered.
Ordinary people might not hear this at such a distance, but Rayn, whose physical condition had improved significantly, could hear it clearly.
"Pat!"
"Clatter!"
The noises became more distinct, occasionally accompanied by the sound of earthenware shattering on the ground.
"Hiss!"
The sound of tearing linen echoed through the air.
Rayn stood outside Anna's house, his heart filled with anxiety. He wanted to rush in and save her, but there were at least two assailants in Anna's room. If he acted recklessly, the consequences of failure could very well be the lives of both himself and Anna.
As the cold night breeze brushed against him, Rayn's initial panic gradually subsided.
Should he call out to the night watchman?
But that would create too much noise, and there wasn't enough time anyway. Besides, if the watchman forced the intruders into a corner, they might kill Anna in desperation.
Should he call for his father's help?
Rayn shook his head as he recalled his father's aged face and stooped figure, erasing the thought from his mind.
Rayn glanced at the wooden hammer in his hand, one end pointed and the other rounded. It was a tool his father used to repair the old furniture at home, and although it was a bit old, it was well-preserved.
Rayn held the pointed end upwards and concealed the hammer in the slightly oversized sleeve of his shirt. He took a step forward and knocked on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Anna, are you home?"
The room fell silent, and faint voices could barely be heard, so faint that even Rayn's keen hearing struggled to make out the words.
"Boss, I'll go check it out. It sounds like a kid. Should I just grab him and bring him in?"
"Scarface, just get rid of him quickly. We've got business to attend to tonight, so don't make too much noise!"
"Damn, this little girl may look small, but she's got some strength!"
Heavy footsteps sounded from inside the room. The person inside seemed to peer through the door crack, assess the situation, and upon seeing that it was just a young boy, they opened the door with a creak.
Rayn found himself face to face with a stranger, a man without any scars on his face, which puzzled Rayn as to why he was nicknamed Scarface.
The man's curly yellow hair and tall, muscular build gave Rayn an oppressive feeling.
His hand rested on the hilt of his sword at his waist, and his expression was alert.
"What are you doing here, kid?" The man's fierce gaze scanned the small, weak boy before him. Satisfied that the boy posed no threat, he relaxed and spoke casually.
"I-I'm here to see Anna," Rayn replied, feigning a timid and frightened expression. "I-I brought her a gift."
"I'm Anna's uncle. Anna and her aunt have already left Glintstone Town, and this house now belongs to me. You don't need to come by anymore." Scarface forced a smile and lied, claiming to be Anna's uncle.
"But why did Anna leave so suddenly without saying goodbye to us?" Rayn lowered his head and mumbled, his fists clenched tightly. He seemed to be lamenting the abrupt end to a budding romance.
Under normal circumstances, Scarface might have teased the boy, but right now, he was in a hurry to attend to other matters. He waved his hand impatiently, indicating for Rayn to leave.
"Okay, then... But could you please deliver this small gift to Anna for me?" Rayn asked.
"Hmm? Sure, give it to me." Scarface hesitated for a moment but extended his hand without thinking much.
He just wanted to get rid of this annoying kid quickly.
The small iron hammer slipped from Rayn's sleeve and landed in Scarface's outstretched hand, who immediately gripped it tightly.
Rayn maintained a calm expression and continued, "I prepared a gift for Anna," Rayn said, his expression calm.
As Scarface leaned forward to take the gift from Rayn, he felt a sudden dizziness, and his vision blurred, unable to see Rayn's hands clearly.
Scarface's heart raced, and his scalp tingled.
A gust of wind blew into his face, causing his curly yellow hair to fly wildly.
A small black dot appeared in Scarface's line of sight, rapidly expanding into the pointed end of the small iron hammer.
(End of Chapter)
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