I woke up. With a start I peeled weary and hesitant eyes gradually. My vision felt blur. Then I would try to move hand. It felt impossible. My hand hurt. My entire body throbbed. I gasped and encouraged myself for a deeper effort. The pains I felt made my effort feel feeble.

"Don't force it," A voice called out suddenly. "everything at its own pace." Then the speaker stepped out from the corner.

The partial darkness graced us by the flickering torch and my absentmindedness spared me no chance to ascertain a foreign presence.

I peered deeply and met with familiar eyes. The firm looking man observed me with blankness. I recognized him. He was my saviour.

"Its you." I breathed. I attempted to move, the felt the stabbing pain in my ribs. Battered as a conquered city gate. I screeched cursing my luck. Coming to Vernise was the worst idea I'd incubated.

The voice huffed at my incredulous optimism.
"Of course." Then the figure leaning to the wall stepped forward.

"How long have I been unconscious?" I breathed restlessly as he advanced.

"Two days. You have been fluttering in and out consciousness. Apparently you were dealt a great blow, except I doubt those hoodlums were responsible for all of it. Too much alcohol was found in your bloodstream. You were trying to drown a feeling."

"I wasn't. It was just the usual."

"I care less of whatever it was. What I do know is that those weapons affirm you are a fighter. But you had put up only a fair defense against your assailants. Which is awkward."

"I..." I stutterered and by good fortune he halted me.

"You need rest. Your body needs to heal." He touched me softly.
"Drink this." He ordered. Then I noticed the little bottle in his hand. He offered it to me. I was skeptical.

"If I wanted you dead you would have been dead already." He urged with dissatisfied gaze. I was still hesitant, though for a while. But his words held verity. He was my saviour after all. I complied.

I struggled and reached for the glass bottle. The transparent container revealed a purple substance. I uncorked it and took appraisal. It was odorless.

"Its a concoction. It would help you heal your body, especially the internally injuries."
Perhaps he still realized my contemplation and spoke.

I took resolve and in a breath poured the liquid  through my mouth. The strange substance did have an awful taste. The little stream touched all part of my throat with a burning effect.

My vision blurred. For a moment it felt like my bloodstream was corrupted by something foul. Intoxicating!

"Don't fight the feeling...fighter!" The voice echoed in my head. I obeyed. The darkness came as a surge, and I let it drown me.

                                ¶¶¶

"Once he wakes, then we give him a choice."

"Choice! I gave him a choice already. To live."

"He is still a free man."

It seemed like a thousand mile away....perhaps a million. But I heard it. Most of it...perhaps all. The squabble!

The voice of the other man came again. It was one I was all too familiar with.
"He still has a lot to speak on."

"Like what?" I bristled lowly.

The both men turned to me and for a moment it felt like I had lost my sanity.

The men peered at me with gaze as fire. Yet I couldn't tell the difference. I couldn't tell who was my saviour. Hair shone a brilliant balance of black and gray, and was trimmed finely. Their goatee was long enough to be held by a band. The resemblance of these men was conflicting.

"Who are you?" I was tensed.

"You see reality and yet you cower. Your saviour lay our midst...and yet you hesitate to reach." One of them spoke.

"He is not strong for your proverbs." The other cut in.

"Who are you?" I insisted with tensed countenance.

"Do not be frightened. I am Kenan Stoneheart, and that is my brother, Crust Stoneheart. Your saviour."

"I merely did the pick up. The bigger credit should be to the physician that saved your sorry soul." The other spoke. It was only then I learnt the difference of this twins.

"I owe you both a great deal of appreciation." I breathed as I struggled to seat. Gasping a little, I rested my back to the frame.

"My brother here saw you fight. He said you had speed and agility to take out all the men, but you were sloppy."

"I am never sloppy. I was taken by surprise that's all." I frowned.

"It seems to me as being sloppy. Yet I am curious as to why you had drunk yourself that much."

"I was having a bad day." I breathed lowly.

"Stop boring him with your analysis." Crust stepped forward. He was clearly an impatient man.
"Who are you?" He held up the sheath of my Kris, with the weapon stocked in.

"No one." I replied.

"Now that is unfair. We told you who we were. Its time to do the same." Kenan twitched his lips.

They were right. Where was the nobility in deceit. I sighed after several seconds, then responded.
"Dorack...Dorack Dun."

"You have a cloud of mystery hovering around you. Still, we figured you are a sojourner. We are open to be your host." Kenan smiled.

"Just like that?" I was confused. 

His smile told me everything.
"But of course not. There is a price my young friend."
The humor vanished and so set in the terror.

"We need your help!"