Beyond The Fallen Sky

Morning in Rat Town started at 6 in the morning, it was the time when the guards changing their shifts and the gates were opened, those that work for the town operations and managements also started their duty at this time. At 7 am, the town would begin to come to life, people leaving their homes for work, stall started to open up, and traders from out of towns also started to pour in as well. At the town guard house, located at the town main gate, 5 guards can be seen gathered together, fully armed and wearing their protective gears as well, one of these guards were John, Rat Town Militia leader.

"Sir…do we really need this many people to evict a single person, sir?". (Rookie)

"Well…maybe not…but we can never be too careful….". (John)

John said with a smile, answering the rookie. Sure 5 people including him might be excessive for a single family of a man and a woman, but only if that family is a normal family.

"The one that we are evicting today is…that Azra….". (Rooney)

"That cripple drunkard?". (Rookie)

"Careful with your words, boy…. that's our fella you were badmouthing about…". (Rooney)

"Relax, Rooney…he's new…he doesn't know anything about that fellow...". (John)

The lax atmosphere turned tense, as Rooney one of the veteran Rat Town militias suddenly grabbed the rookie collar and scowl at him. Jack calmed down the tension, and Rooney also stepped back, for Jack and Rooney, the topic of Azra is rather a bittersweet memory.

"That fellow…is once a part of our brotherhood…heck…that guy was stronger than any of us in his prime…. Rooney. Did you remember that guy used to brawl with Mutants with bare hands?!…". (John)

"Hahaha! that guy really is an idiot! but a strong idiot! hahahaha…Hah~…. how has he fallen…. Sigh~…". (Rooney)

The rookie stayed silent on the side as the 2 veterans were busy reminiscing with their mood waves up and down.

"That oaf of a man…got injured…badly, whilst defending the town a long time ago…he's alone…stood in the middle of that very gate…fighting dozens of Savages…. all of the guards including both of us were fighting on the other side of the town….and he is all alone here, at that time, the other guards died…. he survived…. when we get there. He was leaning on the closed gate on the outside…all bloodied…his skull was bashed in, leg broken and mangled…...". (John)

John pointed at the town gate before the group of guards, telling the old tale, that many also knew about. Many thought that it was just a made-up story, but it's turned out to be true.

"Our guy survived. But become crippled….and thanks to that bashed skull of his…. he became erratic and violent…. a shell of a man he was before…. sad story really…". (Rooney)

The rookies can see that, that well known violent drunkard is a good friend to nearly all the guard veteran, only now understand why every time that man made a trouble, everyone just seemed to let him go, so there was a history before it all.

"And that is why we need this many people to evict one person…. despite how he looks right now…who knows if he's still got that fire in him…Hahaha…. let's go…". (John)

Reluctant or not, bitter or not, the town council has spoken, so Azra family had to be evicted today. Hopefully nothing bad would happen, after all, he was both John and Rooney friend, both of them owed him their lives, oh how the wheel of life has turn.

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Waking in the morning is still hard for me in this body, I supposed the old me used to just sleep like a log and wake up late. His cranky mood is really annoying to deal with, so I actually just stayed still and silent for 20 minutes on the bed just so the mood swing calmed down. Natasha on the other hand, woke up at 6 am on the dot, and started to packed up all of our stuff. She does it carefully and silently as well, didn't want to wake me up, I guess, being a wife to the old me, she knows what to do to not trigger the bad mood, I guess.

Still, she does a very good job and it was done all around me, in just an hour, she is already finished. There are not many things inside the house, but to packed it all up so fast, it a feat itself. All of our belongings fit inside of 2 rucksacks, she packed everything so well that she just turned the gunny rucksack into a proper backpack. Even the old and rotted shelves, were packed. She took it apart and tied small plank up with the firewood.

"Honey…. Wake up...". (Natasha)

"...I already woke up a long time ago, Nat…".

"Oh…sorry…were I'm being too loud?". (Natasha)

"No, you were silent…even I shocked how you can move that fast silently….".

"Haha…really, I am used to it…here, drink some water first…". (Natasha)

"Thank you…I am lucky to have such a good wife…".

"Oh you…". (Natasha)

She knows of my mood swings, and appreciates that I choose to calm it down silently, last night of us having a good dinner and slept side by side, shown its effects, as she can now react kindly and accept to my compliment.

"Here…let's eat this…it's an apple…a fresh one. Should be good enough for breakfast…".

I pulled out the bag of fresh fruit from my inventory, and take out 2 apple and gave it to her.

"An apple? a breakfast? Honey…I don't understand that big words…anyway. This is food, right?". (Natasha)

"Yes…it's a food. Just cut it us. And eat it…I head to wash my face first...".

I was once again reminded that apple might no longer existed on this earth, she doesn't even know what breakfast is, that said a lot about food situation in this world. After washing my face and come back out, Natasha already skillfully cut the 2 apples, since she is a sensible person, she managed to cut them in the normal way. But she still wants to take just a half of her apple and handed me 3 parts, I handed her part and just ate mine in silence, that gesture, made her smile bloom again, it was so easy to pleased her.

Today plans were simple, whilst in the town we will carry our belonging out the normal way, just haul everything on our shoulders. But after we left the gate, I would put everything inside of my inventory and after that we will make haste straight to Star Gas Station. Natasha agreed with my plan last night almost eagerly and without any questions, just 'yes'. it was astounding how much she put her trust in me.

"[Sir, it is now 6:45 am…. we should start moving right away, Sir…]". (Alfred)

"(Alright, thank you, Alfred) …Nat…we should get moving now…".

Natasha put her kitchen knife away, I supposed that knife is also her self-defense weapon, as she sheathed it on her belt. And then, she helps me get up and handed me a makeshift crutch, that she said she made it a few days ago as a gift for me. It was made from a sturdy 'Y' shaped tree branch, and I am thankful for that as my left leg is awkwardly bent, with this at the very least I would be able to walk comfortably.

".…Honey…we will be fine right?". (Natasha)

As we walked out of our house, Natasha lingered reluctantly, her hand runs gently off the house wall, she was about to teared up, so to calm her down, I grabbed her hand and hold it firmly.

"...I promised we will, Nat…this time…we will start anew…I promise…I will make you a much better and more beautiful home, than this…believe me.".

Using her other hand, she wiped her tears and smiled widely at me.

"I believed in you, Honey…I hope that that beautiful house you promise…will have both of us in it…that is all that I need…". (Natasha)

With a smile on our face, we left our house, in search for a new one that would give us happier future.