Waxday, Week 94, Month Decimus, Year of God 488

  Rogertain Bootmaker had opened up a boot shop on Rat Boot Lane a couple weeks ago. He used cheaper leather from Lvier District rather than the high-quality material Thyrian’s shop used from Allaech District. This attracted more customers, especially ones who weren’t in possession of enough money to afford boots from Thyrian. Business had been the opposite of booming for Lou, and he was barely making any tips. On top of that, his salary had shrunk slightly. Fortunately, he still lived with his parents whose jobs were stable, but it was sad he couldn’t provide as much as usual for them.

  He was busy sewing the sides of the boot onto the sole for the day’s only customer. Lou had seen Kylian buy a pair of boots from Rogertain’s shop for only 40 bronze compared to Thyrian’s 70 the other day. They were losing longterm customers quickly.

  All of a sudden, Thyrian stood up. To Lou’s utter astonishment, he sighed. “Take the day off, boy.”

  “What?” Lou asked incredulously. “But I’m in the middle of making boots.”

  “I’ll take over. Not like we’ll have more customers,” Thyrian said, getting up. “Here, boy. Give me the boots.” His voice was calm and patronly today, a far cry from his usual cynical demeanor. Somehow, the shop’s hard times had the reverse effect on his demeanor than would be expected.

  “Sure thing, Master Thyrian,” Lou said. “I wanted to go home anyway.”

  Thyrian smiled. “Good. Go home.”

  Lou stood up and began to walk to the door. “Master Thyrian?” he asked.

  “Yes, boy?” Thyrian replied.

  “Do you worry that the shop’ll go out of business?” Lou asked.

  Thyrian sighed. “Do I think the shop will lose customers? Yes. But in the long term, quality matters over price, and we’ll probably have our customers back within a few months. Even if the store does have to close down, I can sweep the streets or work for Rogertain. So no, I’m not worried.”

  Lou waved goodbye and exited Thyrian’s shop. The man had always had an unusual personality and outlook on life, but these past few weeks had strangely affected him. This troubled Lou. How could Thyrian be acting so nonchalantly about losing his business?

  He splashed down the street, making sure to step in every large puddle he could find. He had no legitimate reason to, it was just something he enjoyed doing for whatever reason. Rain dripped off his hood and into his face. He grumbled, bent over and wiped the water off.

  It happened too quickly to react to, yet slow enough for Lou to experience every second of it. His foot slipped on the paving stones, and with a surprised yelp, he fell to the ground. Searing pain ran up his lower back, which had taken the brunt of the impact. The blow jostled Lou, and it took a second to recover from the blinding flash of extreme pressure.

  There were a few passerby out at this time, but they were all courteous enough not to point and laugh at Lou’s trip. Grumbling, he got up and continued to walk to his home.

  Lou lived with his family in a modest apartment near the center of Rat Boot Street. Thyrian’s shop was at the opposite end of the street, so it took a couple of minutes to walk the familiar path home. The stairs to his apartment extended out into the street. It was located on top of another apartment belonging to a family Lou didn’t know very well.

  He walked up the stairs and stepped under the faded grey awning that covered the entryway. Rain dripped off of it and into the gutters that carried rain off the buildings and into the great troughs that ran alongside the streets and eventually into the elaborate sewer system beneath. He removed his coat and shook the rain off of it, then opened the unlocked door and stepped inside.

  The familiar sounds of his mother and father talking quietly reached him. His father was named Martinez and his mother was named Maresa. They had been bootmakers, but retired once Lou became an adult. They worked part-time at the food distribution centers now, giving surplus food to the poorest of the Fire Caste laborers who couldn’t afford their own food. They had always been quiet and melancholy, probably due to losing two of their three children to disease. They were sitting on the couch, discussing trivial things.

  “You’re home early, son,” Father said. “What happened?”

  “Thyrian let me off early, Dad” Lou answered. “Not enough customers.”

  Father said nothing. Mother spoke up. “Do you want some food?”

  “No thanks, Mom,” Lou answered. “I had some bread at the shop.”

  “Well, I’m going to head to the distribution center in a few hours. Do you want to come help out?” she asked.

  Lou mulled it over. He wanted to do something - anything - to keep his mind off the oddities that were dominating his life.

  “You could invite Van,” she suggested. “You two haven’t been with each other as much as you used to.”

  “His grandpa and great-aunt are sick,” Lou responded. “He and his mom have to take care of them, because the other family members are busy managing the sewers. Can’t stop that job just for the sake of a dying loved one.”

  “I see,” Mother said. “I hope the family is doing well.”

  “As well as can be managed,” Lou said. “It’s hard losing loved ones.” At this, Father flinched and turned away. He had never gotten over the loss of Rolandin and Caladayv. Lou immediately realized his mistake. “I’m sorry, Father.”

  “Not your fault,” Father groaned. “You or me didn’t kill them. Fungus did.” He wheezed. He was getting on in years, and he was aging too quickly because of the trauma he went through fifteen years ago.

  “Honey, are you sure you want to go?” Mother asked Father. “You don’t seem too good.”

  “I’m fine,” Father responded. “Just got something in my throat.”

  Lou sat down on the couch between his parents. He reclined, putting his head on the back of the couch. He sighed and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.

  Some time later, he was gently awoken by his father. “Time to go, son,” he said. “If you still want to come.”

  “Of course,” Lou replied. Without further discussion, he got up and walked to the door. He and his parents donned their coats and exited their apartment. The rain was pouring down harder than it had been that afternoon, a harbinger of Stormday tomorrow. The sun, hiding behind the clouds, had gone down, bathing the world in darkness broken up by the Lux-powered streetlights. Some Wind Castemen were already flying about, relighting the streetlamps. Being a lamplighter was the lowest position in the Wind Caste, but it was still higher-ranked than even the highest of the Earth Caste. Usually Robin the guard was one of the Wind Castemen who lit the lamps, but he wasn’t here today.

  Lou’s father pulled out a large grey umbrella wide enough for the three of them to stand under. The father, mother and son crowded under the portable shelter it provided.

  “So, which distribution center are we going to?” Father asked. “Usually I go to the one on Crimson Rat Street.”

  “The sewer system under Orange Emu Street collapsed the other day,” Mother responded. “Lots of people from Orange Emu Street, Green Emu Street and Glittering Frog Street lost their jobs. We should help feed them.”

  “All right,’ Father said. “But that’s on the other side of the city. It’ll take at least 20 minutes of walking to get there.”

  “A little rain never did anyone harm,” Mother replied in a happy voice, playfully slapping Father. “We need the exercise. Lou sits all day, at his work.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “You’re right,” Lou responded. “The people at Orange Emu need our help.”

  The family walked vaguely northwards towards Orange Emu Street. The rain kept pouring down hard, so hard that it began to soak through Lou’s “waterproof” coat. He shivered and pulled it tighter around himself. There were barely any other people outside at this time - Lou saw maybe one or two others walking, each of them huddled down and moving quickly. The wind began to pick up at this time too, driving the chill harder into Lou’s skin.

  They had walked for around twenty minutes when Mother began to speak. “I wasn’t expecting the rain to pour down this hard,” she said in a loud voice that Lou heard clearly over the wind. They were in a narrow street that didn’t have an actual name. Most people considered it part of Green Emu Street, but Lou didn’t much care for the descriptor.

  “I’m kind of worried,” Father responded. “Do you think it could flood?”

  “Maybe,” Mother said. “Wait… It’s more likely to flood because the sewer system for Orange, Green and Frog is trashed. The rainwater could build up without going into the sewers.”

  “Do you know anyone around here we could stay at?” Father asked. “I don’t want to risk getting flooded.”

  “No,” Mother said. “Closest friendly place is the distribution center. It also acts as a shelter for the homeless during particularly dangerous storms, so we can spend the night there if needed.”

  “Let’s hurry up,” said Lou. “I don’t want to drown.”

  As if on cue, a faint rumbling sound began to overlay the wind. It gradually grew louder and louder.

  “Uhh, what’s that?” Lou asked frightfully.

  “Oh shit. Oh shit!” Mother responded. “It might be a flash flood!”

  “Get to sundamn cover!” cried Father. He began to run towards the nearest door. Mother began to follow him.

  That was when the flood hit. Most floods in Urbs Sacer were very mild - they were slow-moving and only came up a few feet at most. The people were used to stepping in water, so they paid most floods no bother.

  This flood was different. A monstrous wall of water suddenly appeared in front of Lou, moving at immense speed. The terrifying torrent turned the corner from a side street and began to spread out, not losing depth. It was several feet taller than Lou, and moved with the speed of a galloping horse. It funneled into the street Lou was on, ripping lamps from their posts but not denting the strong stone buildings. The awe-inspiring force of nature flooded onto the street like a funnel, a narrow-yet-strong wave of water heading directly for Lou and his family.

  Time seemed to slow down as raw, animal panic shot through Lou. Without thinking, he ran to the left and started to leap for cover in a small alcove between an apartment and a tailor’s shop. He could vaguely make out his parents running to an alcove on the opposite side of the street.

  If Lou had been just a split-second quicker, he would have made it. As his feet left the ground in a desparate leap to safety, the flood slammed into Lou like a cat pouncing on a mouse. If his feet had been on the ground, he might have been able to remain stable. However, since he was in the air, the wall slammed into him and picked him up.

  The air rushed out of Lou’s lungs as excruciating pain flared up his side. None of that was comparable to the terrifying panic he felt. He could barely do anything but flounder and try to gasp for air. He was able to get his head above the surface of the water after a few seconds. By this time, the flood had carried him a few hundred feet away. He couldn’t see his parents, and the layout of the buildings were unrecognisable. The water began to recede now that it entered an area with a working sewer system, and the level lowered to the point where Lou could get his feet under him.

  The water had carried him to a dilapidated part of the city. Its buildings looked dirty and had chunks missing out of them, and there were no streetlamps or signs of life. The only time people came into this part of the city was to ensure the sewers worked, and that only rarely. Lou had never been out this way before, and he was mildly unnerved. What could be lurking in this abandoned zone?

  The Wind Caste guards make the area safe, Lou thought to himself. But do the upper Castes really have our best interest at hearts anymore? He got his hands under him and pushed himself up. He checked for injuries, finding only mild bruises on his legs and torso. They stung, but he wasn’t too worried about them. He stood up and surveyed his surroundings.

  To his left, right, and front, ruined buildings extended as far as the eye could see. While the incredibly strong stone used to construct Urbs Sacer’s buildings and sewers still stood strong, the glass windows and concrete outcroppings had withered away. Turning around, Lou saw that the street he was on branched back onto a different, obviously habitable street a few hundred feet away. Lamps glittered, reflecting off the ankle-deep water that had once been a tremendous flood. That must have been Green Emu or Glittering Frog street. He sighed with relief. Hopefully, his parents were okay.

  Lou began to slosh tentatively towards the street lights. His head still reeled from the experience he had went through. He leaned against a wall to stabilize himself as he walked forward. He had walked a hundred feet towards safety when he heard faint voices in the background.

  He tensed, sudden fear flooding through him. The voices were quiet, and they were coming from behind him. Anyone in that area who was bothering to be quiet probably didn’t want people hearing them - and were dangerous. He quietly slipped into a nearby alcove, taking care not to splash or disturb the layer of water. He stood perfectly still and slowed his breathing. As his heart beat more and more rapidly, the voices became clearer.

  “...hear that?” asked a man. His voice was deep, yet fearful.

  “Probably the wind,” another man replied. His voice was also deep, but his words were drawling in an Yncend District accent. “Or debris. Flood really messed the abandoned zone up.”

  “So,” the first man said. “When do you reckon that we’ll unveil the Blade of Rain?”

  Lou started. The Blade of Rain was the chosen noble who would herald mass sacrifice and the elevation of the nobility!

  “New Year’s,” the second man drawled. “We’ve already found him. Just a few more weeks and he’ll be all ready.”

  “Wow,” the first man replied. “Finally, we’ll be in paradise. Swimming in beautiful, clean water just like the Rain Caste. Man, am I glad I wasn’t born a commoner.”

  “Me too, windbrother,” the second man said. “Let’s go back. Don’t want the peasants getting suspicious, now do we?”

  “At least they’re gathered up in one area ‘cause of what we did,” the first man said. “Makes ‘em easier to corral.”

  “Like a herd of turtles, they are,” the second man said. “Plodding along, slow of mind and body, unable to fly.”

  “At least we’ll put their bodies to good use and their souls out of their misery,” the first said. They began to walk in the opposite direction, away from Lou. The splashing of their feet slowly receded into the distance. When Lou couldn’t hear them anymore, he quietly left his alcove and walked back towards civilization.

  His heart was pounding. So what Nevos and the priest were saying is true! Our leadership wants to kill us, and they’re gonna do it now! Lou wanted to warn everyone, and he prepared to belt out a quick speech.

  But what can we do? If we rebel against the nobles, they can just fry us with their eye beams and we’ll be powerless to hit them.

  He turned onto the lit street, which hadn’t been hit by the flood. Several people were moving about, all heading towards the food distribution center. A few turned their heads towards Lou. As he scanned the group of people, he spotted a familiar face: Rorican the drummer. He had been performing on different streets lately, and he had mentioned this morning that he was going to Orange Emu Street to “Lighten the mood.”

  “Hey, Rorican!” Lou called.

  The older man startled. “Yeah, Lou? What are you doing here?”

  “Have you seen my parents?” Lou asked. “I was caught in the flood and separated from them.”

  “You were caught in the flood?” gasped Rorican. “Are you injured?”

  “Not really,” Lou replied. “Have you seen them?”

  “Yeah, I saw them come out of the flooded area a few minutes ago. Far as I know, they’re at the distribution center.”

  “Thanks,” Lou said as he began to jog off towards where he presumed his parents to be. A few minutes later, he arrived at his destination.

  The food distribution center was a long, circular building with a sloped roof extending about half the height of the surrounding buildings. Its walls were very thick, and its main purpose was to be both an emergency shelter and a storage facility. Currently, its raised doors were open to the outside, with warm light spilling outside from within.

  Upon entering, Lou found himself in a massive room crowded with people. It had a low ceiling, but extended for the building’s entire width. It was structured much like the common room of an underground farming village, with support beams holding the heavy ceiling up. Spiraling staircases extended to the upper floors, where large quantities of food were stored.

  At the bases of several of these staircases, large tables had been set up, heaped with loaves of bread, bowls of soup, jugs of mossbeer, and other foodstuffs. Loose lines extended from them, full of people anxiously awaiting to fill their bellies. Many other people stood alone or in loose groups, hunched over food and drink.

  Lou quickly picked out his mother and father, and made a beeline towards them. They were talking in worried tones to a Wind Caste guard, clearly asking him where Lou was. Although he tried to be careful, he accidentally bumped into a couple of people, eliciting grunts of surprise and swears.

  “Mom! Dad!” Lou called. “I’m here!”

  They turned. “Lou!” Mother called. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine, just a tad bruised,” Lou responded. “The flood swept me a couple streets away.”

  “Glad you’re alright, son,” Father said. “Here, let me check you for injuries.” He bent down and began examining Lou, lightly patting his legs. The bruises were barely noticeable, and Lou didn’t flinch or grunt.

  “Guess you’re fine,” Father said. “Glad you are. Here, let’s go distribute food.”

  Lou and his parents spent the next few hours giving food to the gathered people; ladling soup into bowls, placing loaves of bread on tables, and doing assorted other tasks.

  As the night wrapped up, the assembled people began to place bedrolls, sleeping bags and blankets on the ground. The rain was too intense to risk people heading home for the night, so everyone would sleep at the center. Lou chose a bedroll and lay down near his parents, who curled up in a large blanket.

  Although the past two or three hours did much to distract Lou, the fear he had felt earlier crept back into him. His world was going to end, and he might play a pivotal role. That thought chilled him to his very core.

  As he drifted off, he saw the sole Wind Caste guard patrolling the chamber of sleepers. As the armor-clad man’s gaze swept across the room, it lingered on Lou just a tad longer than felt comfortable.