The City of Ionia

The streets were like the bottom of a wet vase. A few droplets of people and nothing else. It was the type of quiet that one could sleep through without an issue. To sit back and gaze at the birds as they flapped by. I yearned for these moments.

I took a bite of my ginger cookie.

Still nothing, I thought. I placed the cookie beside me. Someone hungry enough could take it.

Though the peacefulness was soothing, it was concerning why hardly anyone was out. Ulm never slept. So why did this feel like a dead city? I wanted the answer but didn’t want to ask anymore. It was like a weird itch, not bothering me too much.

Leaving the cookie for the hungry, I slid off the ledge and wandered.

“You can remove your eyepatch.”

“I prefer to keep it.”

“Doesn’t it get uncomfortable?”

“You repeated the same question before, and I’ll give you the same answer. I’m wearing it for safety measures.” I must’ve looked like a fool talking to myself to the few people around. At least, that’s how it appeared.

“It was a novice mistake. A repeat is highly unlikely to occur.”

I stayed silent, not wanting to answer. I buried that memory in a confined cave underneath the world. It was a mistake I never want to repeat. I’ll carry the guilt on my shoulders to the grave.

“Are you refusing to answer?”

“...”

“Do as you wish. After all, it is your body.”

Clouds weakened the sun as they acted as a shield. It’s been two months without them. Two months without the usual noise and chaos that occurred. Two months without seeing everyone from the Bariac Cult.

Harley, Jeremy, Ruby, Randy, I could finally see them all. How wonderful.

“Those thoughts are clouding your goals. You must detach yourself and not get too close. Otherwise, they’ll only become a burden.”

Right. I went on this miniature journey to separate myself from them. One day, I’ll leave and never see them again.

Wait, why sulk? This was the situation from the start. The entire reason for me joining the cult was to get stronger, which I did with the help of the thingy.

Soon, I’ll leave the cult, I thought while staring at the cobblestone street.

While internally sulking, nearby yells silenced the chirping birds. Instinctively, I rushed towards the noise, which came from an alleyway.

Six men beat the living hell out of someone. They were much bigger, and a couple were armed.

The man’s nose was crooked with blood gushing out, and one eye was near shut. His lips were bruised and busted, and his originally white tee was tainted red.

“What you’re looking at? Huh?” Said the bald man, pulling the beaten rag-doll close to his face. Baldy turned to me, spitting on the ground. “Go home, miss. It ain’t your business.”

I stood in silence, observing my potential opponents. Six men with wide frames and thick arms. The six of them combined could probably lift a mountain without sweat.

“Go home!”

“Leave, or you’ll end up like this guy!”

They continue to spout nonsense. Will they ever learn that being big doesn't translate to intimation?

I took a second look at the victim. “He’s a child…”

“That stole from us. We’re just teaching him a valuable lesson.”

“That’s right. It’s not our fault he’s a weakling.”

“Ya, ya, the strong feast on the weak.”

They all shared a laugh, which my words interrupted.

“The strong feast on the weak?” I couldn’t help but smile. “If that’s the case, then allow me to enjoy my own feast.”

A man waved his dagger. “Huh? Are you threatening us?”

“Listen, missy, just because you’re frail doesn't mean we’ll go easy.”

“Frail?” I repeated with a laugh of my own that echoed in the sky. “Frail? If you view me that way, then so be it. But I’ll warn you,” I revealed my hidden eye. “Don’t let appearances fool you.”

They took a couple of steps back. One clattered their teeth, the other shielded their mouth, and another’s throat tightened, unable to breathe. What a lovely sight.

“R-R-Red? It’s red!”

“Her eye is red!” A man stuttered.

They backed up into a corner with nowhere to go.

“Do you know why my eye is red?” I asked, smiling so wide that my lips separated.

They shook their heads, unable to properly speak.

It’s the color of the aftermath I leave.” I pulled a dagger from my belt. “Since you’ve seen my eye, I have no choice but to be tainted in red again.”

***

I arrived at a local motel with the boy on my shoulders. The secretary’s face screamed with horror, probably because of my appearance. I dropped a handful of golden outis coins on the desk, telling her to treat the boy well. She agreed, probably because of the money. I carefully placed the boy on the lounge couch and left without a word.

“Are you sure leaving the boy alive was the correct move? There’s a possibility he saw your eye.”

“He’s unconscious.”

“It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

I didn’t answer. True, I should’ve killed the boy in case he’d seen my eye. Truthfully, I didn’t think I could bring myself to it. I couldn’t kill a child. I, too, was in that situation. A struggling, hungry child with no money. It’s a brutal and wicked world. To survive, you must not fall behind.

“You’ve never willingly revealed your eye. I find it odd how you broke your own rule.”

“I guess the child reminded me of myself. Fighting, doing whatever it takes to stay alive. To get a vicious beating like that, it brought back a few unwanted memories. I guess I revealed my eye because of that.”

“It’s rare for you to mention your past.”

“Ya… I guess so.”

On my way home, I stopped by a pond to wash myself and my clothes. I could not let my arrival be tainted with red.