Chapter 19: New Friends

Chapter 19

01. Reskeme smiled at the clearly angry and hostile man. With a calm expression, he held out the letter to the man and gave him an innocent look. Reskeme said," why good morning I hope I didn't wake you. The man glared daggers while Reskeme pretended not to notice as he said," I am here from the messengers guild to deliver you this urgent message." All the while Reskeme was trying his hardest not to burst with laughter at the man's unkempt appearance.

02. The man took the scroll and grumbled about stupid kids and it being far too early for this shit. Reskeme waited patiently while the man Read the letter. The man Went back inside before Returning with parchment and a writing quill. The thought of using a feather for writing almost made Reskeme laugh but he just managed to contain himself.

03. Reskeme was eyeing up the church insides he spotted some candle holders and in an opened door he could see a table with lots of bottles and other expensive looking things. The man however didn't invite Reskeme into the building. The boy decided it would be a bad idea to enter without permission. After the man scribbled for a bit spilling some ink all over his white bedclothes. The churchman rolled up the letter and sealed it with a candle. The churchman Handed the letter to Reskeme and glared at him before slamming the door in his face.

04. Reskeme was pleased and smiling to himself as he whistled a tune and made his way out of the church courtyard. He walked with a spring to his step, his mood was much improved as he had gotten a silver coin and had made a member of the church have a bad day. Reskeme decided he should go into an alley and Recast his spells as the time was definitely here. Reskeme was getting much better at creating his spells he had one active for over half an hour and the spell hadn't worn off yet.

05.The alleys in this area of the city were mostly clean as this was the merchant's district. Reskeme was confident he would be safe. He made sure no one could see him before he broke his illusion with a whoosh of air. Reskeme channelled as much as he could focusing on changing his skin followed by his hair, he felt the rush as mana flowed thru him before wrapping the mana around himself renewing his illusions. Reskeme was a little nervous as to what hank would say as he reentered the street, he was trying to avoid bumping into people and making his way back towards the messenger's guildhall.

06. Reskeme was not sure why the man at the church had seemed soo grim and a little gloomy when he was writing the letter back the messenger's guildhall. Reskeme dodged through the crowd as he moved down the street. He spotted some guards, one guard elbowed the other and gestured towards Reskeme. The boy was confused until the guard waved him over with a smile. Reskeme nervously walked over to the guard and asked "what can I do for you"?

07, The guard that Reskeme had seen multiple times soo far said, "My friend here doesn't believe you can change your appearance while he was gesturing at the other shorter guard." Reskeme Relaxed, he realized he wasn't in trouble more the opposite the guards were actually excited to see him. Reskeme Said," I can change your appearance if you want?" The guard said," I'm Sargent Mike and this is private Richard while gesturing at the shorter man".

08.Reskeme said, "I am Reskeme I can change your hair colour or even change the colour of your clothes or skin?" "Our clothes, that is an interesting idea" segment mike said with a smile. The guards were dressed in polished metal armour with brown underclothes that were completely practical. Mike said, " I would like a long beard" while Rubbing his clean-shaven face. Reskeme walked forward before saying "I need to touch you to cast the spell." Reskeme channelled his mana when the man leaned forward he envisioned A long thick beard while wrapping the spell around the man's head.

09.When Reskeme removed his hand from the guards' face The man looked down at his long beard and smiled. A whistle came from Richard who said with awe in his voice, "that is amazing I have never seen anything like that" before he stepped forward and took a close look at his friend who now had a beard. Private Richard touched the sergeant's beard and laughed when his hand passed through the long beard like it wasn't there.

10. Sergent Mike gave Reskeme a devious look. Reskeme saw the look and smiled," Reskeme said," I can change your hair colour". Richard looked like a kid receiving candy. Reskeme Moved forward. the guard leaned over making his armour clank and let the boy touch his head. Reskeme imagined smooth skin while channelling mana, he then wrapped the mana around the taller man's head. When the spell was complete Sergent mike burst out with laughter unable to control himself. Reskeme agreed with the man's assessment, going from a full head of hair to looking bald was extremely different. Private Richard looked confused he said," what colour did you change my hair too?" ignoring the question while smiling devilishly Reskeme said, " well I would love to stay and chat but I need to deliver a message" At this, the sergeant nodded before he gave Reskeme a wink and waved him away.

11. Reskeme walked away smiling and chuckling at his joke. The joke also made the sergeant laugh and brightened up the guard's day. He noticed the guard taking a piece of polished metal out of a pouch at his waist before looking into the mirror. Judging by the man's bright red face and the loud laughter of his friend the guard had figured out the young messenger's joke. The guard looked up and locked eyes with Reskeme who gave the man a wink and a cheeky grin. He waved at the guard before rounding a corner with a little more speed in his step.

12. Reskeme was having a good day and making the guards laugh could make them be friendly in the future he thought. Reskeme watched passers-by waiting for a gap in the crowd before slipping through the flow of people and stepping up the stairs to the huge messenger's guildhall. With anticipation and a little dread, he opened the big door. Inside was another messenger who was older and only glanced at the boy before making his way past and out of the building. Reskeme was thinking the man was being rude until He remembered their jobs were to deliver as quickly as possible. On that thought, Reskeme made slight shuffling sounds as he walked towards Hanks counter.

13. Hank looked up from his desk and noticed the young messenger who was now proffering a scroll from the church. Reskeme hoped that Hank would overlook the rip as he was much earlier than Hank had predicted. Hank asked," How are you already back I was sure you would need to wait for at least an hour." Reskeme winked and said," I don't know what you are talking about," Reskeme said innocently. "The church guy was already awake and knew that we the messengers guild like to do our jobs with haste." Hank gave Reskeme a disbelieving look before he decided to let it slide.

14. Reskeme examined Hank as the big man read the message. The large man's face went pale and ashen as he continued to read the message. The guild master immediately began digging through his stacks of paper before taking out a new clean parchment, he then began writing. Reskeme asked, "what did the message say." Hank said, "This is a message for the city news soo I can tell you," Hank continued "a body has been found last night." With a look that conveyed fear, Hank said," The church Reports that a woman was killed by a demon." Reskeme stuttered Wha wha what?

15. Reskeme was shocked and confused trying to think of what exactly Hank was saying. He wondered if there was another demon in the city, the thought terrified Reskeme. If soo than more people would surely die. If the other demon was anything like his own familiar, the demon would surely be scary as hell. Hank said," We need to get out the news, deliver this message to the crier's hall they will spread the news through the city." Reskeme asked, "why are you soo shaken from the news? haven't you received messages of people found dead before?"

16. Hank replied," Harish the high inquisitor stated, the corps was burned from the inside and looked like it was a shrivelled husk. Hank continued"The corps had massive claw marks and burns. The marks were the same as the ones the guard who died after the fire. Hank finished writing his message and grabbed his seal while pulling over a burning candle next to him. With some smoke and the smell of wax filling the air Hank stamped the Scroll sealing it closed.

17. Reskeme found he liked the smell of burning wax, The smell was like the flowers he had always loved whenever he travelled through the market. Reskeme was brought back to his senses when Hank handed him the letter and with a waving motion pointed him towards the door. Hank said," "Go we need to get this news out there, more people may die if we don't share the dire news of the demon". Reskeme was concerned as reached the exit and opened The thick wooden door with a pull.

18. The boy couldn't believe that there was a demon-killing people in the city, He kept glancing side to side and in the dark corners of the building thinking maybe he could spot it. Reskeme didn't think for a moment that the demon would spare his life simply because he was a demon. He had seen the ruthlessness of his familiar and didn't doubt it would kill him with no remorse if they weren't each other's other half. Reskeme bumped into a man who gave him an elbow to the ribs for his troubles before stepping past. The boy gasped at the hit and decided he should pay attention as he walked down the street glancing at the signs looking for the news office.

19. The boy was searching down the street, Apparently, the damned news office had moved since last he had seen it. Reskeme was cursing the inconvenience when he spotted a man on the corner shouting the news to anyone who passed. Many couldn't read and this was how they got news out to the city was the criers. Reskeme was lucky that his mother had taught him how to read before she died. With the depressing thought of his parents, Reskeme walked over to the crier where he waitsed for the man to stop yelling.

20. The man stopped talking and eyed the messenger boy, Reskeme was in a hurry and the man seemed to sense his mood. Reskme asked,"Where is the news office I have a message to deliver." The crier who was dressed in a warm-looking Cotten outfit said," walk down that street and take a left when you reach the end of the street take a right". Reskeme nodded his head before turning and jogging away, he didn't bother to thank the man he was doing his job and needed to rush.

21. Reskeme rounded the first corner and jogged to the end before taking a right turn, The news office was at the end of the corner in a small house with a big sign. The flashy sign said in bold letters NEWS!, Reskeme was impressed at the big practical sign, it told exactly what the shop did with none of the paint and flashiness of the other signs he had seen. Reskeme was panting from his jog and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. He crinkled his nose when a breeze sent the smell of a nearby alley drifting past. With a grimace, Reskeme walked quickly to the windowless front of the news building.

22. Reskeme pushed open the door Ding! Ding! and was startled by a small bell that was jingled as he entered. A woman was in the building behind a counter Reading over papers and running back and forth checking one stack followed by another. The woman didn't even notice Reskeme as he stood in the open door mouth agape at the mess that was the News office. Papers were everywhere scattered like trash in every corner and the woman was like a sailor weaving between stacks without knocking them over. The woman finally noticed the boy who looked concerned to wreck anything by taking another step. She said with irritation," What can I do for you?" Reskeme presented the letter to the woman who had skillfully weaved between the shelves and stacks of paper.

23. She took the letter from Reskeme before tearing the seal and reading the message, Her face quickly darkened, she turned running back into the maze that was the news office. The woman arrived at her desk with astonishing speed and began writing on paper. The woman who was dressed in warm cotton pants and a thick shirt yelled," kyle get your ass out here we have work to do!" A teenager entered the room and was immediately rounded on by the grumpy woman. She picked up a stack of paper as tall as the boy and put it in his hands. She handled the stack easily not a paper falling off, When the teenager saw the stack he went pale and slowly began walking through the maze of objects each step making the massive stack sway. Reskeme leaned against the door, he was excited to watch what was clearly going to be a disaster as the stack of papers began to tip wildly.