Through The Fractured Lens

Draven Valtier

I let out a grin, still feeling the alcohol swish around in my system.

The heat in my stomach boils, as I get excited just watching the doctor tremble before my own eyes, without me even having to do anything.

I slowly reach my hand down, aiming for the thin blade strapped to my back. Not even a few seconds later, the doctor yelled at me, telling me to stop.

"Don't even think about it!" He shouted.

As the minutes passed my grin only grew larger. I looked over at the boy, who seemed to have an idea, and I picked up on it instantly. I gave him a slight nod, acknowledging him. Now, it was just a matter of time.

And that time passed quickly, as the window to strike appeared quite fast.

As his grip on the handle shook, I grabbed the closest medical container next to me, hurling it at the doctor's face.

The thin glass sheet outlining the case shattered upon impact, causing him to reel back in pain, glass shards stabbing into his cheeks.

I rushed forward, grabbing one of his hands and pulling it back, snapping it.

The doctor screamed in agony once more, which entertained me to say the least. The dagger dropped from his hand the moment after, as his focused shifted to the perfect arm readjustment I graciously gave him.

Watching as the dagger clanked to the ground, I dropped my body downwards, snatching it off the floor before the doctor could realize he had dropped it.

I tossed it up, spinning it in the air, before grabbing it back, gripping it tightly. I swung the dagger directly at the man, slicing through his face with a clean cut, scratching his eyes in the process.

"These cuts of mine are quite precise. I think I'd make a great doctor, what do you say?" I asked, staring at the doctor that was now holding his hand firmly over his right eye.

"Well, if you aren't gonna use that mouth of yours, I'll take it from you!"

Rushing forward, I sliced from his chin up, and then across his lips, creating an almost red X mark across the bottom half of his face before blood began pouring out of my markers, making him use his broken arm to help cover it.

"You dirty bi—" The doctor tried to speak.

However, not much came out.

"Unfortunate, but I don't have time to waste. Goodbye now," I replied.

"Wai—" the doctor began to plead with me, efforts futile as I wrapped around his body, using his own blade to slash through his back, as the blood caked his once shining tile floor.

His body fell to the floor with a loud thud, slightly startling the boy—Lucian, I think his name was. Can't exactly remember.

Must be my bad memory, always have a hard time remembering things.

Lucian

I look over at the doctors body that had just tumbled to the floor. Draven had made quick work out of him, which was quite entertaining to say the least.

Looking up at the old man, I never got the time to properly look at his appearance.

While it was obvious he was on the older side, he was quite tall—the physique that most men would die for. His brown hair was a bit long in the front, drooping down over the sides of his face, with a slightly overgrown beard resting on his face nicely.

Blood soaked his face, but he never seemed to mind. He wiped his expression off his face quite fast, which was a mix of joy and curiosity.

What would he be curious about? I asked myself.

"Well, that was a bust. Let's get a move on then, shall we?" Draven spoke up, breaking the silence that loomed over.

"Yeah, sound's good to me," I replied, before shooting up from the mattress.

Draven kicked open the door, purposely attempting to alert anybody around, making them get out of the way. We walked down the hallway, and as we passed to the entrance, we noticed the lady at the front was nowhere to be found.

"She caught on quick," I added, chuckling slightly.

"Seems she values life a little more than that doctor of hers," he shot back.

As we walked out of the medical ward, the blinding sunlight made my eyes squint, until I regained my vision a few moments later.

The surrounding area became even more busy as the day passed. Around evening time, so I would assume most are on the rush home for dinner.

"Where to, gramps?" I asked Draven as we continued walking.

"Gramps, eh? You're lucky your just a kid. Anyway, we'll keep heading down for a bit—gonna meet up with an old friend of mine, maybe one that could help you with your... interesting situation, to say the least," he explained calmly.

Whatever happened to me, I didn't really mind all that much. Despite being a child to everyone else, I've lived enough lifetimes to survive on my own at 7. 

Although, this continent is still very foreign to me, which may prove to be a disadvantage.

We continued to walk in silence for a long while, until I looked over at Draven, who seemed to have a question stuck on his tongue.

"What's up? You look like you got something to ask," I spoke up.

"Ah! It's nothing, don't worry about it," he mumbled, clearly not expecting me to open a conversation like that, although I still did notice that he wanted to ask something, as curiosity painted his face clear as day.

"Just tell me, I don't mind," I replied.

"Kid. Where are you from? Really," he asked, which shocked me to my core.

Regardless of my obvious age, unless he knows something about my life—does he? I wouldn't think his suspicions would be anything above simple curiosity.

"Just an unnamed town in the mountain, same as you," I answered.

Despite me feeling confident in my ability to answer these type of questions, I couldn't help but wish for the topic to change soon, as Draven felt like he genuinely realized something different about me.

In most lives, I'd been regarded as a special child. However, nothing more than that. 'A gifted child', they'd say. 

Yet, Draven appeared to not believe just that.

"If you say so kid, but you are a strange one, I will admit," he finished.

"Not as strange as your unrelenting love for alcohol," I fired back, which caused him to boil in embarrassment just for a second, before his face cleared up.

"Ah, you just reminded me!"

Draven pulled out a worn flask from his pocket—presumably alcohol, and began downing it like it was the last drink he'd ever have in his life.

"Don't worry, I won't take it from you, I promise," I sent as I laughed.

***

We continued walking for more than an hour as we passed through many different zones of the city of Vorrak.

Residential and commercial zones, more sparse farmlands, markets, even soldiers—likely the guards of the castles. It all was so beautiful, and so much to take in. I wish I had more time to properly explore, after all, it was new. Anything new, even at the slightest degree, excited me.

I had experienced all the same for all too long.

Finally, Draven instructed me to stop, turning me to my right, pointing at a manor. It was gated, with a guard standing just out front.

We walked up to it, and the guard immediately stopped us.

"State your business," he shouted.

"Draven Valtier, he should be expecting me today," Draven replied. He showed no emotion as to the guards rude initial outburst, and remained calm.

Seems there more to this old man than an alcoholic bloodstream. 

The guard replied near instantly, his face beaming red.

"Ah, y-yes, Mister Valtier, my apologies, really. You can head on in now," the guard replied, clearly regretting his attitude from earlier.

Draven began walking in, and I took in his wake. The manor was beautiful. Dual fountains laid perfectly symmetrical to the sides of the yard, as dirt pathways shaped around a beautiful garden that stretched out far.

Clearly noticing my focus, Draven shifted over to me.

"Quite nice, huh? Growing up rich has quite the perks. An unlimited supply of alcohol, girls, and of course, a badass house," Draven snapped before he let out a chuckle.

We continued walking in a peaceful silence as I observed everything around me.

It was beautiful, truly. All of it.

Finally, we reached the main door, which was more likely the tallest door I've ever seen. What type of giant needs their doors to be this high? I asked myself, letting out an obvious grin that Draven seemed to notice.

"Whatever you're thinking, kid, snap out of it," Draven told me, before knocking.

"Get your ass out here, you swine!" Draven shouted, startling me.

Finally, the door swung open, as a man as tall as Draven, but clearly older, answered the door, anger caked clear over his face.

"You didn't need to shout! Just knock you je—" He shouted back at Draven.

"Good to see you," Draven interrupted.

"Good to see you too, I suppose," the old man replied.

"Now, you clearly aren't here to slam on my door and shove formalities down my throat, so come on in, and let's chat," the old man spoke very clear.

I wonder about this guy, and what his relationship to Draven is.