ROSES HAVE THORNS-Chapter 34 - Tristan & Rupee

"I told you already, there’s nothing going on with the people of the church! Now stop asking all these stupid questions and get the hell out of here!’

SHUT!

Another door was slammed in Dominik’s face as he tried pressing for answers.

"That’s house number four we’ve visited and been rejected at. I think I’m starting to see a pattern here, and I don’t like it." He told Kurt as they left the place.

"Yeah. House number one was filled with expensive things. House number two immediately slammed the door after shoo’ing us away when we brought up the kids. House number three was a no-show. And now this one didn’t even bother to hide his animosity towards you."

"Very suspicious. Oh hey, looks like that was the last house in this area." Dominik told Kurt as he looked at the list. "Next up is downtown and a few places at the posh side of Eldoria."

"Posh side?"

"Mmhm. Lots of estates and mansions around there. My dream is to one day buy a place there for me and Mia to retire at."

"Sounds nice. I’m rooting for you. So which is closer?"

"Thanks. Downtown’s closer. Although it’s a two hour walk from here."

"Two hours!? What about the posh area?"

Dominik pointed at the mountains as well as a couple of hills far off in the distance.

"... That’s way too far. Seriously, how do you people get around without any cars?"

"I don’t know what a car is but we have two options. Take a carriage by horse or use the teleportation circle."

"What’s that?"

"Well, as the name implies it’s a magical circle that teleports whatever or whoever stands and activates it."

"That... sounds awesome. Never mind the car, let’s use that."

"It’s expensive though?"

"How expensive?"

"10 gold coins."

"10? that’s not ba–"

"Per teleport. It’s 10 gold coins per teleport. That does not include going to-and-fro. Unless there’s an immediate emergency happening, us poor people have to cough up the coin to use it"

"What a scam! Why is it so expensive?!" Kurt looked disgusted.

"It uses too much mana." Dominik shrugged.

"But you’re a prefect. Surely, you’re allowed to use it, right?"

"Nope. It’s the church’s property."

"...Are you sure the churches are the actual good guys here?"

"Uhm, hello misters." Two homeless kids came walking up from behind them.

’Finally, they show themselves.’ Kurt thought as he turned to look at them.

"What the?? Where did you two come from?"

"Calm down, Dominik. They’ve been following us this whole time."

"You knew? Why didn’t you say anything?"

"I didn’t want to potentially spook them. So, I waited for them to approach us first."

"But what if they didn’t show themselves?" Dominik looked between the two dirty kids and Kurt.

"Then whatever they had to say wasn’t important enough to warrant our attention. We’re busy as it is. However, it looks like they finally revealed themselves, so," Kurt crouched to meet them eyelevel. "Why’d you follow us? Got something you want to say?"

"Uhm..." The boy spoke nervously while holding the girl’s hand. "Are you... part... of the church?"

Kurt carefully looked at the terrified boy and then the girl,

’This girl, although covered in mud and filth, I see she has golden hair and crystal blue eyes. She matches the description of the kids the church is taking.’

"No, we’re not part of the church. See my friend here, he’s a prefect and we’re looking for the kids the church took in."

"Hi." Dominik waved.

"See big brother! I told you they were the good guys mommy and daddy told us about!" The scared girl found the courage to speak up.

"How old are you two?" Kurt asked.

"I’m eight and my sister is six." The boy relaxed a little after seeing how happy his sister was.

"Hey! I was gonna tell him my age!" The girl pouted at her brother.

"And what are your names?"

"I’m Tristan."

"And I’m Rupee! Me and my brother are on an adventure!"

"Where are your parents? And why are you so dirty?" Dominik also crouched to speak with them.

"T-they are... uhm..." Tristan looked at his sister and then at Dominik and Kurt as if to tell them something.

"Hey Rupee," Kurt called, "Why don’t you tell Mr. Prefect here all about your adventures while me and your brother have a quick chat."

"Ok! Come Mr. Prefecky! I have so much to tell you!" She dragged Dominik by the hand and stood some distance away from them.

"Alright. You can tell me now. Your sister won’t be able to hear us."

"Mmhm." Tristan nodded. "After we got home from church on Sunday, the bad people from the church came. They were talking about how my sister is going to serve the holy baby in the future and that they were there to take her for training."

"I see. Then what happened."

"T-then *sniff* after mommy said she didn’t want to give her away they started shouting."

"Where was your sister? Was she not at home?"

"N-no. *sniff* She went to play at her friend’s house."

’So that’s why she doesn’t seem fazed.’

"Can you tell me what happened after they started shouting? Do you remember what they said?"

"T-they wanted to give us a lot of money, but my dad gave it back. After that they shouted even more and then *sniff* and then *sob* t-they k-killed my daddy! *sob* And then *sniff* they took my mommy up the stairs and then *sob* and then *sob* sniff*"

Kurt quickly pulled Tristan into a hug and rubbed his back to calm him down.

"Shhh, it’s buddy. If you don’t want to say anymore you don’t have to. Thank you for being so brave and staying alive until now."

’I can pretty much guess how this story ended. Come to think of it, at the third house we visited, no one answered.’

Tristan cried for another 5 minutes before calming down and pulling himself out of Kurt’s arms.

"Are you okay now?"

"...Yes."

"Good. Then let’s go back to the prefect and your sister."

Kurt held his hand as they walked back to Dominik and Rupee who was currently riding on his shoulders.

"Hey, we’re done talking."

"Big brother!" Rupee practically jumped off of Dominik and landed like a cat.

"Be careful Rupee! What if you hurt Mr. Prefect!"

"No. Mr. Prefecky is very strong. He’s ok. Right?

"It’s all good little man." Dominik gave him a thumbs up.

"Still... let me see if you’re okay, Rupee."

While Tristan was checking up on his sister, Dominik pulled Kurt aside and asked, "So?"

"It’s bad, Dom. Remember the third house that no one answered at, it belonged to those kids. They’re basically orphans at this point. They’ve been wandering the streets since last Sunday when the church came to their house to take the girl. But when their parents refused, they got murked. I take it you can guess what happened to the mother especially."

"What the fuck..." Dominik whispered.

"Yeah. I’m guessing they kept Tristan as leverage for when they tried kidnapping Rupee later, and that’s how he saw the whole thing. He then somehow escaped, quickly got to his sister and told her they were going on an adventure."

"Dammit!" Dominik slammed his hand against the streetlamp. "Weve gotta take them to the station. Oh shit, but what about the house! There could still be evidence..."

"Slow down, Dom. Let’s take them to the station first. I highly doubt there’s any evidence left after nearly a week. That would be too sloppy of them."

"You’re right... you’re right... Hmm? Kurt, your hand is bleeding."

Kurt didn’t even realise that his hand was balled up tightly into a fist. His nails digging deeply into his flesh, causing him to bleed.

"Oh shoot... didn’t notice. It’s just hearing about how a child loses their parents always seems to get me."

"Here, give me your hand." Dominik took Kurt’s hand and poured water over it using magic.

"Water magic too? I thought you only had fire. Fire and water... pretty broken if you ask me."

"Heh, I am the second strongest at the prefect station. With the chief being the strongest. Although if you ask me, I’d say I caught up and surpassed him already."

Dominik reached into his green cloak under his armor and took out a bandage to wrap around Kurt’s hand.

"What else do you keep in there? You’re starting to look like a magician"

"Oh, you know, this and that. There, it’s all wrapped up."

"Thanks. Now let’s get those kids to the station. This should count as evidence of the church’s wrong doings, right?"

"Yes. Although not as substantial since we have no concrete proof that it was the church who caused this other than the word of these kids."

"What? That’s stupid, Dom, and you know it."

"I know but it is what it is."

"Well, I’m not gonna stand here and watch these kids’ lives get ruined because of insufficient evidence."

Kurt looked at the kids who had finally been brought hope in this messed up twist of fate and came to a decision.

"Take those kids to the station. I’m going back to their house to check for clues or any dirt they’ve missed."

"Really? But how are you gonna collect evidence, if there are any left?"

"Don’t worry," Kurt held his pocket where his phone is, "I have a way."

After seeing the determined look on Kurt’s face, Dominik gave in and smiled at him in approval.

"Alright. I’ll meet you at the station, yeah?"

"Yes. See you later."

"Alight kids!" Dominik turned to Tristan and Rupee, "Let’s get you all cleaned up at the Prefect Station!"

"Yaay! We won the adventure game!" Rupee celebrated.

Tristan looked at Kurt as he walked away with Dominik.

"See you later, mister! And thank you!" He shouted.

Kurt waved at him without looking back as he left for their house.

....

rustle rustle

*meow*