The City of Ionia

An uneventful two hours passed. I served customers and did a little cleaning here and there. My manager kept barking at me to smile more while on the floor. He’s been trying to get me to smile like that for years now. When would he accept defeat?

Other than that, things were going smoothly. There was no commotion or abnormal difficulties. That was until a group of three burly individuals walked in. They wore all black, and two had masks that exposed their eyes. It was a winter mask you would wear so the wind wouldn’t bite your face. It was weird, especially since spring was just around the corner. And it wasn’t even cold.

“Jill, do you see those guys—Ah!” Mia quietly yelled, hugging a handful of menus, “They’re sitting in my section.”

“Do you want me to serve them?”

“I’ll miss out on tip money. But they are also scary-looking.”

“I’ll split the tip.”

Her eyes lit up like a child. “Really? You would do that?”

I gave a silent nod. She thanked me and rushed to the back. I took a deep breath and walked over to their table.

Three burly men. Two with masks, one without. They are all black. No weapons on their waist. They weren’t at all intimidating, but that was just me.

I took their order and served them when it was complete. They didn’t give any issues. They were just oversized people wanting someone to snack on. Nothing too crazy.

I overheard a few of their conversations, though they whispered for the most part. It sounded like they were trying to go after something but failed. I didn’t know what, nor did I care. I just wanted my shift to end.

They got the bill and paid without a fuss—that was until I was whistled over. I somewhat cared about that. They were whipping at me like I was some animal. It was ridiculous.

I walked over to them and threw an unpleasant, “What?”

“Are ya doing anything later,” asked the one without the stupid mask.

My answer was instantaneous. “No.”

“Great. We’re heading to the big Walisburg event. Would you care to join?”

His fingers ran down my thigh and back up.

I stood there, frozen, not because of his touch but because of what he said.

The Walisburg event was held every year in the biggest city in the outside world. It featured music, games, shops, and food. It was the one event almost every outsider attended. I’d known about it for a while but never went.

There was a reason I never went. I’d never told anyone and never will. Only one other person and I knew about it. I promised to meet someone there when the time was right. But at this time, it was too early.

“I’m good,” I said.

“You sure?” He reached his hand around my rear.

That’s when I slapped his hand away.

“Touch me like that, and I will kill you.”

Judging by his look, rejection was hard to come by. He stood, looming over me.

“Knock my hand away again, and I will strangle you so hard that your head will burst.”

I spread my arms like a bird, exposing my body to attack.

“Do it,” I demanded with a grin.

He definitely wasn’t expecting that answer.

The man's eyes were violent. His pupils held a fire that was ready to be unleashed. He could bark all he wanted, but I knew he wouldn’t do anything.

Lyghtenberg wasn’t a great town. Wannabe bandits walked around as nuisances. They rarely did anything other than bother people and act big and tough. Their existence was looked down upon. Every time a situation escalated, wannabe bandits would be the last standing. The locals would beat them down to a plum. They were nothing but phony flies that could easily be squished.

People like Mia were still terrified of them. She was a fragile woman with a younger brother and an infant child. She told me a story about how bandits looted her house when she was young. Thankfully, no one was killed, but it left her with some PTSD.

I didn’t want to assume they were bandits, but they acted like it. I was surprised that none of them carried a weapon. It was typical to see bandits walking around with a blade.

Though Mia was terrified of them, she came to my not-so-needed rescue.

“J—Jill!” Mia rushed over and pulled me away. “Are you crazy?!”

I smirked with maximum confidence. “I may be.”

“You little bitch!” The man yelled. “Do you know who you’re messing with?”

“No idea.”

“Eh, you’re lucky. I won’t hit a woman in front of others.”

They left as Mia yelled insults I’d never heard. She called them “Three giant walking black beans.” That one made me smile.

Mia wasn’t unique with insults, so I was surprised when they spat out of her mouth. Perhaps her brother taught her? I once knew a boy that age, so I knew I couldn’t be entirely off.

Wait a minute. Did he admit to hitting women in private? Not that I cared. I just found it odd. Why admit to that? Whatever. Not my business.

“Are you crazy, Jill? Why would you do anything to provoke them?”

He got touchy with me, and now I’m labeled as the ‘crazy one’…

“They won’t do anything. They’re all bark, no bite.”

“Jill. Look at you. And look at them. The size difference is there.”

I shrugged it off. “I guess, but it isn’t a big deal. Nothing will happen.”

She looked at me like I was crazy, and her eyes could pop out of her skull. “Jill, you’re not some fighting expert. You have no chance against them.”

I internally laughed.

I threw my hands up for a split second. “You’re right. I stand no chance.”

She rambled on. “Next time, don’t be stupid. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Those words slapped a smile on my face.

Mia has been with me since I moved to Lyghtenberg. She is my first and only friend here. We go out at times, even though she struggles to pay rent. I always insisted that I would pay, but she never accepted. It’s probably because she thinks I can’t afford my rent, though I never spoke to her about my financial situation.

Her brother cared for her infant child—a single mother with an absent father. I could only imagine the difficulties of handling two other lives. I could barely manage my own. I envied her willpower and strength.

Would I be in this situation if I could take care of others instead of pushing them away?

Would I still be in the Bariac Cult? Maybe in Ionia if I defeated the SCAR agent?

I would never know since that future was no longer obtainable. The Bariac Cult days were long gone. Flashbacks constantly replayed in my dreams. Sometimes, I wake up teary-eyed and gloomy.

To this day, I sulked about my failures. Accepting myself for who I am now would mean accepting all of my past failures. Those failures lived inside me, but I didn’t feel too terrible about them. I was somewhat okay with them. I couldn’t accept everything, but I kind of liked who I was. That isn’t so bad, right?