Heroes.
Valiant warriors that shook the world. With unwavering resolve and ridiculous power, they were beacons of hope for the weak, yet harbingers of despair for the wicked.
Those glorious days are but a fond memory.
The Lotus District of Idini.
Culture and flair fills the atmosphere as the suffocatingly narrow and maze-like streets weave through the colossal towers of stacked buildings and housing, luring you from the Outer City into The Pistil. In one of these homes live a certain troublemaker and his great uncle.
10 years ago…
Bonk! "Screw you old man!" Cried Manya, rubbing his head.
"You damn brat! How many times do I need to tell you to stop sneaking out on your own? It's not safe!" Old man Tinto exclaimed, his face warped with rage.
"Yeah, yeah. Hurry up and croak. When I grow up I'm going straight to Heaven." Manya blew a raspberry.
Bonk! Bonk! Bonk! Old Man Tinto knocked him on the head three more times.
"Wahahaha! you should think before you speak brat, growing up won't make you a god!" Old Man Tinto howled, holding his stomach.
Bonk! He knocked him once more for good measure.
He continued, "Anyway, stop joking like that, you'll get us in trouble! We already have enough on our plate hiding your Taint since your Limiter doesn't seem to work. Don't make things harder than they already are! Now go to bed brat! You’re annoying!"
Manya tauntingly stuck his tongue out and ran under his covers. Shortly after, Old Man Tinto sat and sighed as he watched him gleefully, before heading to bed also.
The house was small and cramped with moonlight rays creeping through the tapestry. Only consisting of a couch, two futons and a kitchenette, the couch slouched meekly on the floor with obvious home made repairs stitched onto its leather. The kitchenette hid in the corner with freshly used pots resting on the stove, a rusty sink void of plates and a drainer only containing two. The two futons laid perfectly clean and neatly on the floor, where Manya and Old Man Tinto rested.
The following morning, panic was brewing in the Lotus District. The word spread like wildfire.
"Gangsters! Gangsters are here!" The denizens of the Lotus District yelped, frantically trying to warn everyone.
Manya awakens to the alarm of cries and panic from the crowd flocking outside. Old Man Tinto was overseeing the rubber farm, leaving Manya home alone again. Hearing the chaos, Manya poked his head out through a tiny circular window looming above the kitchenette. Flocks of people running from The Pistil, screams of panic, children not much younger than him crying in fear. All of this made Manya dangerously curious.
Following his usual routine, Manya geared up ready to sneak out yet again. He wore cream harem pants , a common clothing for men in the lotus district, and a green vest with a graphic of sunglasses embroidered onto it. His clothes were worn and unclean, as his vest sat on his body the wrong way round with the right strap falling off of his left shoulder. Manya wore an oversized backpack, even bigger than him, and picked up a long twig before jumping out of the window.
The fall was absurdly long, the air pulled on his cheeks and harem pants as he soared through the air, plummeting onto the floor below. Finally, he landed. His face smacked into the concrete, echoing through the alle.
His body went limp and lifeless.
A twitch.
A signal pulsed through his body as he jumped back on his feet and beamed.
In the blink of an eye, Manya was sprinting towards The Pistil, drowned in curiosity. He had only heard of gangsters through rumours, they are said to be ruthless savages that go from district to district reeking havoc. It is even said that they go to Heaven whenever they want. But the most scary rumor is that they have somehow removed their Limiters. Meaning their tainted abilities are free for them to use. The power they wield must be disastrous.
Finally, Manya arrived. The booming plaza that was once the pistil was now barren. The air was thick with the smell of mischief. A cold sweat overcame him as the aery silence only gave way to the sounds of the environment. The wind howled as he ventured deeper into The Pistil, almost like nature itself was egging him on. And there they were. Three beasts stood tall in The Pistil.
"Hey!" Manya exclaimed.
The group of Gangsters had made themselves at home, they set up a couch and a table and were playing cards in the middle of the street.
"Hey!!" Manya exclaimed again.
This time it seemed to get their attention. One of the gangsters, seemingly the leader got up from his seat and approached Manya, his aura completely engulfing the environment as he adjusted his crimson suit. Manya couldn't move a muscle as this giant neared closer. The man crouched down to Manya's level and got in his face.
"That's not a very nice way to introduce yourself to a stranger," he uttered.
Manya was completely terrified, he couldn't move a finger nor utter a word.
"bffft" A snigger came from the couch.
"Bahahahahahaha! Leave that damn kid alone boss, Bahahahahaha!" Another gangster on the couch, a round man, was in tears.
"Gahahahaha!" The leader burst into laughter as well.
"So immature.." the third gangster sighed.
The suffocating aura suddenly disappeared.
"My name's Jirocho" He said, wiping his tears.
"The fat guy is Bobby, and the evil-looking lady is Kate. Don't worry, they're harmless." He reassured Manya, patting him on the head.
"Evil-looking? how mean." Kate elegantly replied.
Manya quickly smacked his hand out of the way.
"Go away! We don't want Gangsters!" Manya was trying to look tough but it was clear he was trembling.
"No worries, we'll leave as soon as possible. We just have some small business to attend to. I'm here to see a man named Zakuya Tinto. Have you heard of him?" Jirocho had a sinister smirk plastered on his face.
~ END ~
