Kyne and Pieter Smit continued their journey through the narrow alleys beneath Sandburg, a hidden world that seemed to live by its own rules, far removed from the splendor of the city above. The light of sparse oil lamps hanging from the stone walls cast long, slow shadows following their steps, creating a gloomy atmosphere that felt oppressive, yet for some in this place, such darkness had become part of everyday life.
Along the way, Kyne could see small houses huddled close together, most constructed crudely from old, blackened wood, others with thatched walls reinforced with wooden frames to keep them standing. The narrow alleys were filled with the sounds of life—low laughter, quiet conversations, and the occasional crash—making the place feel bustling, but beneath the bustle lurked a sense of foreboding that was hard to ignore.
The people of the underground city lived with what they had, without luxuries, without the real protection of city law, yet still surviving in their own way. Kyne watched it all with calm eyes, though a strange feeling arose within him that he found hard to explain, as if this place had a vague connection to the dark shadows that now lingered within him.
Their steps finally slowed as Pieter Smit stopped in front of a small, seemingly simple house. It was made of natural, untreated brown wood, with tightly packed thatched walls and a low, slightly sloping roof. There was no high fence or guard, just a small courtyard with compacted soil, large enough for two people to sit comfortably.
In the courtyard, Kyne saw two men sitting opposite each other, a wooden chessboard placed between them on a simple table. The pieces appeared to be in mid-game, some having been knocked aside, indicating a far from relaxed contest. One of the two men immediately caught Kyne's attention—his face calm, his eyes sharp but friendly—and Pieter Smit seemed to smile slightly when he saw him.
Kyne and Pieter Smit approached quietly, until finally the man raised his gaze and looked directly at Pieter Smit. His face suddenly brightened, as if he'd seen an unexpected old friend.
"It's been a while since you've visited," the man said, standing up, a warm smile etched across his face. "And I'm glad you're here again."
"Hahaha," Pieter Smit laughed lightly as he stepped forward and shook the man's hand firmly. "I just came to visit... and to ask for a little help from you."
"Oh?" The man's eyebrows raised slightly, indicating both interest and caution. "What kind of help?"
Pieter Smit glanced briefly at Kyne before returning to his friend. "This young man is possessed by a demon, and we plan to perform a ritual to expel the demon from his body. However, I'm missing one more person to complete the summoner role for the ritual."
The man's expression immediately changed, his smile fading and being replaced by a serious expression. "Wow... this is terrible," he said quietly, then his gaze shifted to Kyne, examining the young man from head to toe. "How did you become possessed by a demon? Did you do something bad somewhere that made the demon angry with you?"
Kyne opened his mouth, but before he could answer, Pieter Smit spoke up. "It's not like that. He accidentally opened an ancient book, and he didn't know it was the seal of the Demon King Lucifer, who had been locked away for hundreds of years."
That explanation brought a moment of silence to the courtyard. An underground wind blew gently, rustling the straw on the walls, while the man took a deep breath.
"Very well," he finally said in a firm tone. "I'll help you with your ritual tonight. For now, let's just chat and play. It's not often we get to see each other." He then turned to Kyne with a small, more friendly smile. "Oh yes, young man. Can you play chess?"
"Maybe a little," Kyne answered honestly. "But not very good at board games like chess."
"Then, play for me," the man said, standing up and stepping away from the table. "I'd like to chat with Pieter Smit."
Kyne nodded slowly without saying much, then sat down on the still-warm wooden bench. Before him, a chessboard lay in a rather complicated layout, clearly not a beginner's game. The man who would be his opponent smiled faintly, as if trying to lighten the mood.
"Don't get too focused," he said casually. "Let's just play casually."
Kyne nodded once more, then began to study the chessboard intently. He took his time, his hands moving slowly as he moved his first piece, trying to read the flow of the game without any pressure. The game lasted quite a while, with several moments where Kyne nearly lost the lead with a single wrong move, but somehow, his instincts helped him persevere.
Several times he paused for a long time before moving a piece, his brow furrowed slightly, while his opponent waited patiently without pressing. The game felt relaxed, yet challenging, and Kyne had to admit that he was fully focused on not losing.
Finally, after a move he hadn't expected to succeed, Kyne managed to force his opponent into checkmate. The man paused for a moment, then chuckled, shaking his head.
"I didn't expect you to be so clever," he said sincerely. "Congratulations on your victory."
Kyne smiled slightly at the compliment. "I've only been learning a little bit, and I didn't expect to win the game."
The man then stood and extended his hand. "My name is Enzo. Let's play again sometime, okay?"
"I'm Kyne," he replied, shaking Enzo's hand. "Nice to meet you."
After that brief introduction, Enzo returned to his house, leaving Kyne to slowly rise from the bench. On the other side of the yard, Pieter Smit appeared to have finished his conversation with his friend.
"Young man," he called. "Let's go home. It's getting dark. Don't forget to say goodbye to Uncle Andrew."
Kyne approached and bowed politely. "Thank you for letting us play. See you again tonight."
Andrew nodded with a faint smile. "Be safe on the road."
Kyne and Pieter Smit then left the modest house and continued their journey, this time not following the same path, but continuing their journey toward one of the exits from the underworld of Sandburg City, a narrow path that gradually climbed upwards.
-
The exit from the underworld of Sandburg took Kyne and Pieter Smit through a stone passage that gradually climbed upwards, the air growing fresher, though the lingering smell of earth and dust lingered on their clothes. Their footsteps echoed softly against the narrow walls, until natural light began to appear in the distance, signaling that they were nearing the surface.
When they finally emerged from the city's underworld, the atmosphere above had changed drastically. The sun was nearly setting in the west, painting the sky a warm golden orange, while the shadows of Sandburg's buildings stretched across the cobblestone streets. A gentle afternoon breeze blew, carrying the sound of horse-drawn carriage wheels and the footsteps of workers returning home after a long day's work.
Kyne walked beside Pieter Smit, his gaze sweeping around calmly. The city above felt very different from the underworld they had just left, brighter, more open, yet somehow also more precarious. This was where everyone met—the good, the desperate, and those who lived their own lives, without a care in the world.
They walked along the main road, until, without realizing it, their steps led them back to the place where Kyne had first met Pieter Smit. The place looked the same as before—a fairly wide cobblestone street, a few old buildings on either side, and a small intersection rarely used by trains.
But this time, the atmosphere was different.
Two men with intimidating looks stood in the middle of the road, forcing Kyne and Pieter Smit to stop. They were muscular, much larger than most, with broad shoulders and muscular arms. Their faces were covered in irregular black marks, mixed with old scars that made their features even more menacing.
One of them took a half step forward, grinning condescendingly. "If you want to pass this way," he said hoarsely, "you'll have to tip us."
He paused for a moment, then his smile widened. "Or…"
"Or what?" Kyne asked flatly, showing no sign of trepidation.
"Or you're not allowed to pass through this way!" the man snapped.
Kyne stared at them with a calm expression, then tilted his head slightly. "This is a public road," he said casually but firmly. "So why are you forbidding us from passing through?"
Those words seemed to trigger a repressed anger. The man's face flushed, the veins in his neck tensed. "Hey, little brat," he said menacingly. "Are you courting death with us? Do you know who we are?"
Kyne let out a small sigh, as if finding the conversation boring. "I don't know," he replied. "I don't even want to know. You're just two idiots who like to abuse public facilities to take other people's money, aren't you?"
That statement made the two men's eyes widen. Their anger exploded beyond containment.
"Fine," one of them growled, clenching his fists. "You're the one who wants to die!"
Without further warning, the two attacked simultaneously, their footsteps pounding heavily on the cobblestones. Pieter Smit instinctively stepped forward. "Young man, what are you doing?" he called out worriedly.
"Don't worry," Kyne replied, glancing at Pieter Smit, his eyes full of confidence. "I'll handle this myself."
He looked forward again, his body slightly lowered, ready to receive the attack. The first man swung his fist with full force, attempting to strike Kyne in the face, but Kyne quickly angled his body, narrowly avoiding the blow. Before his opponent could retract his hand, Kyne retaliated with an elbow to the ribs, sending the man staggering back with a grunt.
The second man didn't hold back. He attacked from the side, attempting to knock Kyne down with a vicious arm slash. Kyne raised his arm to block the attack, the impact paining his arm, but he held on. With a swift movement, Kyne spun around and kicked his opponent's leg, knocking him off balance and nearly falling.
The fight was intense. The previously quiet street was now filled with the sounds of clashing bodies and heavy breathing. Kyne moved nimbly, utilizing speed and precision, while both men relied on brute force. Kyne narrowly missed several clean hits, and several of his attacks missed their mark, making the fight feel evenly matched and exhausting for all involved.
Time seemed to slow, and sweat began to bead on Kyne's forehead. His breathing was becoming a little labored, but he stood his ground, refusing to give up. Neither man seemed to be doing much better; their steps were becoming heavier, their attacks no longer as swift as before.
Finally, all three stopped for a moment, standing a few paces apart, staring at each other, breathing heavily. There was no clear winner—they all seemed overwhelmed.
"Young man, are you okay?" Pieter Smit asked from behind, his voice filled with concern.
"Don't worry about me," Kyne replied, wiping the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. "I can still stand."
Pieter Smit stared at him for a moment, then sighed softly. "That's it. Just stop," he said, his tone firmer. "Leave everything to me."
Kyne hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded and took a few steps back, making room for Pieter Smit to advance. The two burly men chuckled, clearly disdainful.
"Hey, you old bastards," one of them sneered. "You better stay out of it."
Pieter Smit stepped forward calmly, his gaze sharp but controlled. "Do you know who I am?" he asked, pointing at them.
"Whoever you are, it doesn't matter to us," the other man replied dismissively. "You better stay out of it!"
Without another word, Pieter Smit slowly took off his jacket. Beneath the simple outerwear, a large star was clearly visible on his chest, gleaming in the sunset light.
The two men froze.
Their faces changed drastically, from angry to pale and frightened. Their eyes widened, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"What…?" one of them trembled. "It can't be…"
"You are…" the other stammered.
Pieter Smit stood tall, his aura calm yet authoritative.
"The respected sheriff of the town of Sandburg..."
"...Pieter Smit!"