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Kresimir followed the man outside the inn and around back, which didn’t exactly add to the vote of confidence in the man’s, well, non-psychopath look. Mibec opened the door to a little building at the back of the inn, one might think it was used for storage or something but that definitely wasn’t the case. As Kres stepped into the dimly lit little shack, the walls were lined with all kinds of weapons. It was almost as if it was a stash for an army or something. Knowing they were in Neued, maybe it had been and this man found them and decided to keep everything. That likely wasn’t too far from the truth or too farfetched. Mibec walked over to one of the walls and opened a small window that let in enough light to be able to see everything more clearly. ”Do ya know how to use a weapon?”? He gestured at the various weapons lining the wall. Still not a vote of confidence in him and it was beginning to make Kres just a little bit nervous. He shook his head, and resisted the urge to step backwards towards the door. ”Do ya know how to protect yourself?” Still not helping, Kresimir thought as he shook his head once more in response to the question. Mibec sighed, as if disappointed and turned his back on Kres for a moment and started walking towards the far back of the little shack that actually seemed a little bigger on the inside.

Unsure as to if he was supposed to follow or not, Kres decided to stay put. Which seemed to be the best answer as the oban returned rather quickly with a document rolled up in his hand. He moved some of the smaller weapons, knives and arrows and such, off of one of the benches and opened the document. It was a map of Oba with bits of Tendaji penciled in by hand after the creation of the Oban map it seemed. ”We’re here.” Mibec said promptly as if he was beginning a war meeting. ”The best places to visit in Oba are Tivrod, Jatine, and the capital Sulburi. Tivrod is closest to us which means they’re friendlier towards your kind. Jatine has turned into a rather tourist attraction. Everyone wanting to see the fresh water springs and oasis feel of Jatine. Ya should be fine blending in there. Sulburi is different. They will not treat ya as kindly there. The king may have changed but many still hold grudges. As it being the capital and such, it holds many fine things to see if ya wish to know about Oban culture.” He stopped and seemed to give Kresimir a once over again. Kres wondered what he was thinking about but he did have to agree that the route that Mibec had laid out did seem like a good one. And after that he could probably travel into Matori with little problems. His gaze turned back onto Mibec who seemed to be looking around the shack for something rather important. His left pointer finger was extended as he searched, telling Kres he was likely looking for “just the right one” of something. What he was actually looking for Kres had no clue, maybe he was finally to the “you can’t defend yourself so now you die” part of their conversation that he felt had been building up.

Mibec stopped then and reached into a pile and pulled out a round shield. ”Well if ya can’t fight ya can at least keep from being hit.” Mibec handed him the small round shield which Kresimir took tentatively as Mibec eyed him again. ”Ya have siblings don’t ya?” Kresimir eyed in him surprise. ”Four siblings.” He said specifically. This caused Mibec to smile. ”I thought so. Ya have a protector look about ya. Ya may never have to use this but if ya do…” Mibec’s hand quickly found its way round the hilt of one of the swords as he rushed at Kres and started his swing. Kresimir reactively pulled the shield up and hunkered down. ”But if ya do,” He repeated, his sword stopped just a few inches from the shield. ”Ya raise that shield like one of ya siblings was behind ya.”

Mibec reset himself and put the sword back against the wall. Kresimir too, righted himself and relaxed fractionally. ”Mr. Mibec sir? I only asked for places to visit. Can I ask why you’re doing this? Why you’re helping me to this extent?”

Mibec eyed the boy, as it seemed he did as he chose his words carefully. ”Ya not ready, boy, to go out on ya own. Ya might end up dead in a side street of Sulburi because ya left home without your own safety involved.” He paused. ”My people aren’t perfect. The Gods know we’ve done some horrible things.” There was a look in his eyes that made Kresimir wonder if he’d seen, or maybe even done some horrible things in his lifetime. The look was fleeting, however, as Mibec met his gaze. ”I don’t want ya to be another reason Nerad damns us for all eternity.”

Kresimir stood silently for a few minutes as he thought about Mibec’s words. Perhaps there was more to the Obans than he originally thought. Mibec warned him to be careful of some Obans yet here he was helping him. He supposed it was sort of like the split among the alkidikes. Heck not even all shifters were that great. With a nod, he smiled at the man who was trying to keep him alive, if only for the souls of his people. ”I appreciate all of your help, Mibec. And, I so rudely didn’t introduce myself. I’m Kresimir. You made good points with your route and I think that is the way I’ll travel if it has the approval of such a knowledgeable man.”

This caused Mibec to snort, someone just called him knowledgeable. ”Oi and boy, if ya have time and appreciation of the arts, stop by the Red Amaryllis in Sulburi. If ya going all the way there, that’s a place you can’t miss.”

Kresimir smiled and thanked the Oban as he made his way out of the shack with his shield in hand. The last thing he caught with his glance back was a grin on Mibec’s face as he gave him a last wink. Kresimir thought he might have heard laughter but he was just excited to go to the market and get stuff for his trip. And of course to show off his new shield. Mibec had a point, the shield would likely come in handy when pulling Vallen out of fights or keeping wild beasts from pouncing on Seze. Why hadn’t he thought of it before?


Word count: 1,134

To say that Kresimir was enjoying his time in Oba would have been an understatement. For starters, it was so incredibly different than where he grew up. It made it to where there was so much to see, do, and experience. Even so, he found himself sticking around one certain area, Sulburi. If someone were to ask him why this was he’d answer simply that the capital of Oba always had the most going on so he was sure to always be entertained. That was part of the reason at least. The other part was that he had found a particular girl, well in all rights a woman, which held his eye for a little longer than well anyone and that wasn’t because she was one of the only Yaeli he’d ever seen in the capital. Of course, he had no way of knowing if she harbored any feelings for him but was content enough to think of themselves as friends. He didn’t always see her very often yet that didn’t keep her off his mind. Some could call him a little boy with a crush…and they’d be correct.

In any case, besides his little crush Kresimir actually enjoyed the city of Sulburi, the culture was just so vast he enjoyed getting to experience all of it. Unfortunately, there were also parts of that culture he didn’t wish to experience. Oba had a long history and if the war had gone any differently, the shifters might have only been added as slaves under the Oban’s control. That was something he couldn’t imagine. To have no will but your masters. To not be able to live a life of your own. To have to answer someone’s every beck and call. To Kresimir, it was something he couldn’t even begin to imagine. He felt for the matori people for all their kind had suffered and even wished he had been old enough to help free them from that evil king’s grasp. He knew things were better now but not all things were perfect. That was something he was going to witness first hand.

The young shifter was adventuring outside his normal radius to take in some new sights. That was how he found himself in a small pub, or at least what seemed like a pub. Perhaps at one time it had been quite the interesting establishment. Since then however, it seemed to be in disrepair. Despite that, there was a small collection of people mingling and enjoying a few drinks. The fact that the majority of them were matori and the curious glances people threw him didn’t escape Kresimir’s attention either. He found himself a seat at a makeshift bar, the stool was a little wobbly but it supported his weight as he ordered one of whatever everyone else was drinking. It was in the quietness as people watching that he heard the muffled bangs and shouting, sounds that caused his brow to crease. They were noises that sounded like someone was in distress: panicking.

His head swiveled around as he tried to locate the source of the muffled noises. Once he saw a door with a Matorian leaning against it nonchalantly, he knew something else was going on. The bar tender, an older matorian woman of small stature set down his drink and slightly shook her head. It was for that reason that he knew he had to intervene in whatever was going on. Kresimir stood, the shield on his back gave him a small measure of comfort. As he approached the man leaning against the door, the noises were noticeably louder and most definitely coming from behind the door. Now, whether it was a being or a beast behind that door the shifter didn’t know. What he did know was that whatever it was shouldn’t be making such noises.

Some of the patrons seemed to sense that trouble was brewing and excused themselves. Glasses without their owners accompanied many a table as the already small group dwindled down to just three others, all of whom seemed to be guarding that door.

”You should just move along shifter.” The one to the right said, his gaze not wavering.

Kres knew he couldn’t though and shook his head ever the slightest bit though he knew they would notice. And they did. The one leaning shrugged and to Kres’ surprise moved out of the way and opened the door. Inside was an Oban who looked to be about the same age as Kres was. He was bound and gagged, a blindfold over his eyes though he registered the sound of the door opening and became very still and quiet. The boy didn’t seem to have any noticeable wounds though from his sudden stillness at the open door told Kres things were likely much much worse.

The leaning man, though he wasn’t leaning anymore, kicked at the oban. A dull thud was heard as the matori’s foot collided with the Oban’s thigh. ”He’s our former master’s son.” He said quite proudly. ”He offered us a ransom but there’s no amount of money or goods that could give us the same feeling of us giving the Obans a taste of their own medicine.”

Kres shook his head. ”I know the Obans wronged your people for a very long time, but this isn’t the way to retaliate.”

”And what do you know? Your people have never suffered an ounce of what we had to go through daily in all of your people’s history. You know nothing.”

Kresimir knew he was right. These people had every right to be angry and hostile to Obans. He knew that if another shifter beat or mistreated his family that he would go to great lengths to protect them. In a way, that’s what these matori men were doing…perhaps not in the correct way. Kres felt himself torn, should he let these men continue this act of violence when they could make a very good case for why they’re doing so? It was a matter of morals and one that he never thought he would have to figure out.

He was about to step back when he saw the smile creep up onto all three of their faces and they started to move towards the small closet and the Oban boy. He made up his mind quickly as he pushed through the trio, and positioned his shield in front of him and the boy. ”No.” He said simply. Kres turned his head slightly backwards towards the boy. ”Can you untie yourself?” He asked. He didn’t hear an answer but heard slight rustling behind him and a few minutes later there was a hesitant hand on his shoulder.

Kresimir’s eyes narrowed at the three men and he tried to look threatening. He reached to his waist and pulled out a few coins from his coin purse. It was a considerable amount, more than they deserved. He threw it at them. ”We’re leaving.” And to his surprise, they parted, two on his left and one on his right. He used his right hand, the free one, to try and keep the boy close to him just in case they decided to try something. And again, to his surprise, they did nothing.

The two managed to make it out of the pub and Kres pulled the boy along with him at a fast walk just in case. After they were a considerable distance away, he took the time to ask the boy a few questions. He was the son of a business owner, though he didn’t expand to say what kind of business it was. And after coaxing out of him the location, Kresimir escorted him home.

Kres refused however, to be invited in. He didn’t save the boy for any kind of reward. In fact, Kres had almost walked away. It was that smile on the leaner’s face that seemed to hold such malice, Kres knew that no matter what had been done to those matori in the past, it wouldn’t justify what they were going to do to this Oban. It made him rethink how he saw the Matori for sure, and he knew he would need to be careful about making blanket assumptions as he had previously been doing. And to always, always, do the right thing. Even if others may be justified in their actions, he cannot use their reasons to justify his own inaction.


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