YoTS January ~ 38!

CHAPTER 38

After stumbling blindly through the rancid tunnels, a soft light coming from ahead was almost blinding. Grant heard the sound of muffled chattering, and so slowly unsheathed February Twenty Nine. “I’m ready for whatever lies ahead. I can do anything. I must succeed.”

He wasn’t sure if he was reassuring himself, just trying to find the courage to keep moving, or if he truly felt ready to attack any and everything. The light grew brighter and chattering louder. He paused; it didn’t sound like a monster, just people. “Why would there be people all the way down here?”

“Mommy! A monster!” A small child scampered from behind a wooden crate and hid behind what Grant presumed was its mother. In the dim light, February Twenty Nine glowed with the reflected light. Realising he was brandishing his sword in front of a group of filthy beggars almost as thin as he was, Grant lowered his weapon.

“Please,” pleaded the woman as she clutched her filthy child, “don’t hurt us!”

“I’m so sorry,” Grant lowered his sword and waved his hands furiously, “I would never-”

*Thud*

Debuff added: Unconscious.

Grant came to an unknown amount of time later. He had a throbbing headache, and just barely remembered something hitting him from behind. Someone must have snuck up behind and walloped him with an entire tree to get through his armor and knock him out in one go. He fumbled for his sword, but found his movements restricted.

“You won’t be needing a weapon.” A gruff voice told him. “What are you doing down here? A bit of hunting?”

Grant spat to the side as he strained against his bonds. “Why would I want to come down to this cesspit to hunt?”

“Mind your manners! It may be a cesspit, but it’s our home.” Grant struggled to sit up with his wrists bound. By how they bent when he pushed, he could probably break the bonds and dispatch the group without breaking a sweat; but he needed more information. Sarge’s recent courses had been forcing him to think his way out of situations, rather than just react. In fact, he had even managed to gain a mental cultivation stat if he had read his status correctly. “How did you find us down here? We guard the entrances from intruders… but no one comes here.”

“I came… over the wall.” Grant admitted as he again started to strain against his bonds. They started to creak right away. Good.

“Eh? What do you mean, over the wall?” The man scratched his patchy beard.

In the dim light, Grant couldn’t make out any of their names. “Come closer, so I can see you better? I jumped the wall to escape House Tuesday. Somehow, I managed to hit a branch as I fell and well… here I am.”

“We’re not falling for your tricks. If we come closer, you’ll be able to tell who we are! Can’t trust a Monday!” The man spat at him. “Running from House Tuesday indeed.”

“Listen. I’m not a normal Monday, okay?” Grant decided to share some information, since these people clearly distrusted the Nobility as much as he did. “I’m going to destroy Lord January and go to February. I just want to get out of here, and earn my freedom. I’m warning you, if you refuse to let me go, it won’t go well for you.”

“Lord… January? You plan to kill him? The man is pure evil,” whispered the woman. “He has thrown so many of us over the wall for nothing but… entertainment.”

“No one is coming for us, are they?” The man leaned in and held a rusty blade at Grant’s throat.

“Markus… Leap?” Grant’s eyes widened in astonishment, after reading the nametag.

“No!” The woman cried, “He knows who we are now! He’ll bring others… what will we do?”

Then it all made sense. House Tuesday Peacekeepers had mentioned that Leaps were being thrown over the wall. Samuel, Freda, and Markus Leap’s name tags were displayed as they came into the light; their dirty faces devoid of hope. Freda looked at Markus with hard eyes. “We should kill him, shouldn’t we?”

“I… I can’t do that.” Markus lowered his blade. “It would make us no better than them.”

“I mean you no harm. I promise.” Grant mustered as much sincerity as he could.

“How can we possibly believe that?” Markus snarled, striking Grant across the face. Apparently he was not above hitting him, just killing him. So far. Luckily the hit did nothing but hurt the other man’s hand. “Ow! What the abyss are you made of?”

“You have nothing to fear from me.” Grant figured that honesty was the best policy. “Before I was called Grant Monday, I lived in New Dawn. My name was… Grant Leap.”

“How stupid do you think we are? That’s not possible. Once a Leap, always a Leap.” Markus no longer seemed angry; he was deflated, like the fight had gone out of him entirely.

“I understand. I was like you. I worked relentlessly for no benefit, until I came across this sword, February Twenty Nine.” Grant nodded at the sword. Markus glared at him, walked to the blade, and slowly unsheathed it. The name etched in the blade glinted in the torchlight.

“The fabled Leap sword!” Freda cried out, dropping to her knees and pulling her child to her. “The Leap! He is the Leap! He’s finally come to save us, and all Leap kind!”

Notification: Now friendly with Leap faction (updated from Unfriendly)

Effect: 10% discount during trade with Leap Faction.

Grant wasn’t sure if he should be happy that faction discounts existed, or angry that this was the first time he had ever heard of one. He had been around for years, and never even seen a hint that there were blanket benefits like this. “Whoa… hold up right there. I’m no one’s else’s saviour. I’m only trying to save myself, and get stronger.”

“Please, come with us.” The woman ignored his comment. “Everyone will be excited to meet you!”

After untying Grant - Markus glared at Grant when he saw how frayed the ropes were - the three adults and smallish child followed the path towards an unknown destination. The torch Markus carried provided little illumination, and cast long, ominous shadows. However, Grant paused as the words really sank in: he was almost frozen by what he had just heard. “Everyone…? How many of you are there?”

Markus  was the one to begrudgingly answer him. He was clearly used to keeping this information to himself. “There are only twenty-three of us left… not including you.”

“I didn’t realise there were so many Leaps… anywhere.” Grant admitted uneasily. Markus was much older than him. How long had he suffered?

“There are probably more, hiding on the fringes of society. Outcast, unwanted, unloved.” Freda’s head dropped as she sighed.

“Calm yourself.” Markus tenderly put an arm around Freda. “Our life isn’t perfect, but at least we found our way here… and each other.”

Grant felt a little uncomfortable sharing the couple’s tender moment. Luckily he wasn’t forced to do so for much longer.

“Here we are.” Markus opened an iron door that *screeched* as it yielded. All chatter ceased as they entered. Many troubled faces turned towards Grant. Eyes darted around as people contemplated running and trying to hide from the newcomer. Most sat around a table made from planks of wood balanced on old wooden crates. The cavernous space smelled musty from the damp, and of roasting meat. “Don’t worry! He’s a friend.”

“Ain’t no Monday a friend to Leaps!” One of the bolder residents spoke up. “Why did you bring him here?”

“He’s a Leap in disguise! This man…” Markus clapped Grant on the shoulder, and Grant realized that he was strong enough that the impact didn’t even move him. This was the first time that Grant actually felt strong. “…has the fabled three hundred and sixty-sixth Wielded Weapon, February Twenty Nine. He has the Leap Sword!”

“He’s the one from the prophecy, I know it!” Murmurs of disconnect came from the group. Clearly, no one believed that this was the truth. Freda whispered, “Go on, Grant. Show them.”

Several people yelped in surprise and shrunk back as Grant unsheathed his sword. The steel sung as he unscabbered his Wielded Weapon. He held either end of the blade and slowly walked forward, careful not to further antagonise the already skittish group. There was a collective gasp as the weapon’s name glinted in the light. “It’s true. He’s the one! He has the legendary weapon.”

Another of the group responded. “Not so fast. He could have killed the real Leap and stolen it from the corpse.”

Several people joined in on this voice, demanding Grant be bound while their questions were answered. Women and children cried in alarm at the sudden turn of events; Grant was still carrying naked steel, after all. Finally, Marcus could bear it no longer. “Wait! we'll take him to Auld Leap, he will be able to confirm if Grant is a Leap or not! If he’s not, he’ll have to take a leap out of the sewers; sharing the fate of so many Leaps that came before us.”

Grant looked around at the fearful people and rolled his eyes. He raised his sword, slamming it back into its sheath. If it came down to it, he would cut his way out of here, but he would play along for now. “I agree to your terms. Show me the way.”

The faces around him held an equal mixture or hope and fear. If this was a ruse, their life would soon be over, but maybe… just maybe… Grant was the one they were waiting for. One wisper rang out through the room as Grant vanished into the tunnel.

“Is he really… the Leap?”