The Four Empires

…

'Gabriel, not so bad for a name. But feels a bit girlish though...' El's thought.

…

After coming outside of that small one-story house, El following the man to get outside of the alleyway. Until, he greeted by towering buildings, not made of wood, but from what he had heard in the village, namely bricks or perhaps concrete blocks, either way, he did not know.

There are many people walked here and there.

Some were fat, some were thin, but they all had one thing in common: they all looked healthy.

No fatigue and hopelessness that envelop their body like a second layer of skin. No sparkle in the dim eyes, along with the shadow of death like an umbrella overshadowing the pace of hope above everyone's head.

Everything.

Everything was good.

Just as he had heard that the people who lived in the city did not have to worry about dying from hunger, malignant diseases that would eventually take their lives sooner or later, or bandits who killed, raped, and robbed at they pleased if the village was unlucky that day.

'I... I..'.

'I feel uncomfortable… is this jealousy?'

'I can't deny that this is me and my thoughts. Of how lucky they all are.'

El abruptly stopped his steps – silent in his place while looking down at the ground. He didn't know what to think at the moment. Suddenly, he found a pair of black shoes right in front of his feet who was covered by the same shoes, except for the size. El looked up. It was that man, now with a black mask and a large grey jacket, just like the one he was wearing right now, but a smaller version at that.

"You are fine, aren't you boy?"

Shaking his head, El getting rid of all that 'not so good' conception from the inside of his mind. Giving the man a smile, he said. "Nothing sir. I just remember something seeing this many people.

"Alright lad, come on. It was close. This is one of the places you need to be regular, if you were living in Mirthwater."

Running to catching up to the man's big step, El raise a question, intrigued. "Mirthwater???"

"Yes… this is the place you'll going to live. At least for now."

"Oh, I see."

At last, they are finally arrived at that eatery. It was a simple wooden building that appeared old but sturdy, nestled between grand and magnificent structures on either side. Despite its modest appearance, it attracted a large number of people, particularly those who already inside the restaurant. Fortunately, there was a spacious yard outside, complete with its own shade, empty tables, and chairs.

Taking one of the empty tables, that man called for the waiter. He ordered bunches of dishes with name El doesn't understand from that thick piece of black paper. But if it was food made and served in the city. 'Surely, it was going to be good, isn't it?' El assumed with full of expectation.

As they wait for their food, El asked that man. "So, can I have your name now, sir?"

Looking at El in the eye, the man answered. "It won't do you any good if you knew my name, kid."

"… I see… what about. What about my memories. What's happen?"

"Ask other question!!?"

"Uh, why?"

"Hmmmm… this time too I will say, it won't do you any good knowing that."

"Oh wow. You just didn't want to tell me anything aren't you sir? Won't do you any good, won't do you any good. How about different answer next time," El said while rolling his eyes.

"No kidding," the man counter El, then looking away.

El could glimpse something behind that action. And it was, 'Is it… guilt?'

"Alright, here is another question…" after taking a deep breath, El resumed. "You are… sad, aren't you sir?" El asked that, with eyes intently focused on the man's expression.

"Huh. Why do you think so?" the man deflects that question with another question.

"When you touched those books. You look sad. I mean, I don't know how I could fully explain this, I am, you see. A sensitive person when it comes to someone's feeling. Someone's, emotions. Like, I could feel it… and. You were sad that time. Still sad too this time," El recalled the man's expression and the emotion radiating from him, when he brushed his fingers gently from the right to the left along those rows of books.

The only thing he could discern from him at that moment was that grief, hid behind the façade of strength. A sorrow shrouding him. And it feels like he was recollecting something's of the past, and helpless to change the outcome.

There was a crack in his expression that El noticed, but only for a few seconds. El glimpsed upon the poker face that change into that of sorrow.

It was back to normal after that, with silence ensuing, making El uncomfortable and remorseful. 'Maybe it was a mistake for me to asked that.'

After a minute, the man breaks the stillness. His eyes now fixed on the void. "The place where you slept earlier. It was a room once used by my daughter."

"…"

"She likes reading book… and I was a criminal back then. So, most of the time of her life, she needs to hide. Hiding for a failure of a father… I remember that, she is such a sweet child," he stated it flatly, as if it were everyday news. However, El could discern subtle hints of emotion from him. His lips trembled from the weight of the burden it gripped onto him.

"…"

"…"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," El says, with tears already streaming down his face, dampening his cheeks. He looks down, feeling ashamed. Because he believed that, a man shouldn't ever cry.

He didn't want to cry. He really is. It's just… he can't help it.

Because the sheer sadness behind that composure breaks his heart. He doesn't know when or how it comes to be. But El, since he is still a child, can feel the haunting emotions of others to some extent. Sometimes, he couldn't feel anything – numb to any sensations. But this time, unfortunately for him, his senses in that part felt heightened several times, making him acutely aware of the man's suffering.

The stabbing pain in the heart.

Even his fingers now quivering from the man's reflections of that emotion.

On the other hand, the man instead is now smiling. He said, "Oho, you could guess it then. No worries child, it was all in the past."

"I'm sorry… hic…"

"Nothing to be sorry about… you don't have it easy either, yet you still managed to even cry for an old man like me. You are such a good kid," he said, eyes on El who was busy rubbing his eyes with his hands and shirt.

A short moment later, in panic, the man said, "Hmmm, you better stop crying kid. Everyone is now looking at us."

Looking up to understand want the man was actually talking about, El surveyed his surroundings. Few guests there are now looking at their table with weird skepticism. Especially a mother of several children who sat on the outside, glaring at the man with eyes spewing fire that were practically saying, 'What are you doing to a kid, making him cry that much?'

"… pffftt… hehehe," El couldn't help but feeling funny about that misunderstanding. Stealing a shy glance at that particular mother until their eyes met, she then gave El the kindness and the sweetest smile she could muster. El end up nodding, replying to her with a smile of his own.

"Hmmm, you evil, kid. I give that to you!"

Calmed down, El replied to him while wiping his eyes with tissues given by the man. "It's not my fault. You look so intimidating, like someone ready to kill. Hehehe…"

…