Unsealing Emptiness

A Polite Bandit

Ozul had just gone back to sleep when suddenly he felt some air fluctuations. It was for the first time he felt some winds before they died down, following which he could hear some movement just outside his place.

Ozul had already guessed that the magical seal even blocked sound from reaching him! So him hearing sound from outside confused him a little.

Just as he was thinking, The door suddenly burst open.

He was annoyed by the loud sound, but the thought of seeing something new after all this while forced him to calm his nerves.

Just as he soothes himself down, The opening from the big door let in the bright rays of light!

This sudden light very much irritated him.

Again, he was a six years old child who, from birth, hated the light. Not only that, but they locked him in a completely dark area for all six years of his life! So, even if the sunlight did not directly fell on his eyes, it bothered him to no end.

Ozul instinctually closed his eyes. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes, but no one entered through.

.....

“W-ho-o?” Ozul had no choice but to speak out loud. His voice was cracking a bit at the end.

Outside the warehouse, Razor and the other bandits were stunned. They never thought that someone sealed a living person inside of here! Not to mention that the old setting of this place told them that it could be at least a couple of years when someone last came here!

It caused them to become even more suspicious. There could be other circumstances involved, but it would most likely mean that this person was dangerous!

The bandits were already exhausted. They certainly did not want to run anymore.

But the deed was already done. Now the bandits had to face the consequences.

Resigning to their fate, They entered the warehouse. Not being able to see anything, Some of them did a magic chant, and suddenly, they had a ball of fire hovering in front of them. The floating fireballs were enough to light up the place.

What they saw stunned them again.

The bandits saw a child. But the astonishing thing was that they saw a child about six years old with only one limb! His eyes were staring at them as they could just read everything about them.

They felt naked under his emotionless gaze. The kid’s face looked as if the gods contemplated for decades just to carve this ideal doll! His skin was as if this world’s impurities had never even come near him! He had black eyes together with raven black hair.

[A/N: Reference Picture here. Just imagine him six years old. I am bad at appearance descriptions.]

‘The world is undoubtedly unfair!’ Was everyone’s thought after seeing this perfect piece of a doll.

They would have just considered him some child of a god if not for his missing limbs.

——————————

Ozul could see a group of men staring at him like he is some kind of an exotic item.

He was always sensitive to emotions. Ozul could see the surprise, pity, and envy? In their eyes. Ozul had not taken out the black mass, thinking that it may just scare the people away. He did not know what is normal in this world and what is unusual.

“Who?” Ozul asked again when he did not receive any answer from before.

“Oh... We were just passing by and stepped on the runes, which removed the seal outside...” The bandit leader came out of his daze quickly and replied cautiously. He hurriedly explained himself.

‘This kid may look harmless, but I can’t take any chances.’ Razor thought inside his mind.

“Oh! It’s okay.” Although Ozul found it weird that no one was standing guard outside and the seal was so easily removed, however, he did not put much thought into it. He kept his emotionless face as it is.

Unknown to Ozul, There were monster repellents set in the vicinity of the warehouse. It kept the random beasts from coming near it and destroy the seal by mistake.

But the repellent cannot prevent humans from approaching it. Hence, after six whole years, the first group of people to venture here freed Ozul from this prison.

“Uhh... so how are you doing?” Razor awkwardly replied since he could not just stay standing there, staring at the kid. Razor could see the kid was not very into the talks.

Ozul just kept gazing at Razor for a couple of seconds before he laid back on the table, closing his eyes.

“Uhh...” Razor scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

‘This kid is truly unusual! He was imprisoned here for who knows how long, and he does not even show a hint of excitement for being free. Instead, He chose to sleep! If only he did not have his arms and a leg missing, I would have even considered just to capture him and sell him as a slave! But the kid gives me weird vibes, and together with how he was sealed here, I should not anger him.’

Razor had a long monologue inside his mind. He considered everything before deciding not to test the kid’s limit in case he would regret it. Anything can happen in this world, even a six years old disabled kid may be dangerous.

Bandits or not being reckless would only cause their demise.

Razor motioned with his hand towards the group to keep their voices down. Once done, they all gathered in a group some few meters away from Ozul.

”

*whisper*

The sun is setting, and we just need to spend the night here. The kid is odd, alright! We don’t know who sealed him here and why. We better not disturb him in case things go south.”

“Let’s just lay around here and spend the night. The kid does not seem to find trouble with us, so we should not either. Tomorrow, before sunrise, we will be on our way.” Razor laid out his ‘plan’ in whispers.

Every one of the bandits here had survived to this day due to the wits of Razor. Hence, they had no objections whatsoever.

The group soundlessly laid down on the floor and tried to sleep in the eerie darkness.

. . . .

The morning came without any notice. The sun had not risen yet, at this time, The bandits slowly started to wake up only to find Ozul staring at them while sitting on the table.

That vacant stare was unnerving for them.

The bandits planned to leave. They were just in preparations when,

“Where?”Ozul simply asked.

The meaning was clear; he was asking them about where they were planning to go. Even though Ozul liked sleeping, He knew that it would become much better while being ‘complete’. Staying here would not help him in that. So, leaving now was the best option.

Again, Ozul was no idiot. He knew his priorities.

Facing such an unexpected question, The group paused for a second. But the short half-naked guy was swift in his answer.

“We are heading towards Azmar town. Do you want us to escort you?” The short half-naked guy dumbly asked.

Ozul did not bother replying but just nodded his head. Seeing their interaction, Razor was annoyed at the half-naked man.

“Dibly! Come out here, you idiot!” Razor shouted at him while walking outside. He did not want the kid to hear his conversation.

“Boss! What did I do now?” Dibly asked as he was confused as to why Razor was mad now.

“Why did you offer him for the escort!”- Razor.

“But didn’t he let us stay? So I politely wanted to return his favor.”- Dibly.

“We are bandits!!! When did we start being polite?!”- Razor.

“Uh... sorry?”- Dibly

“Idiot!” Razor spat as he walked away. They had already offered the kid to escort him to the town. They couldn’t take it back, and besides, the city was also their destination. Bringing a kid together won’t matter much. It was just that he wanted to stay away from that mysterious kid.