Sydney was a quiet girl who sat on a stool at a cash register in a shop in the city that was far below the palace. She sighed as she saw the celebratory fireworks go off, they reflected in her eyes as she noted how well they looked with all of the thousands of stars in the night sky, but was soon torn from her thoughts as the shop's front door swung open. Sydney knew who it would be, but wasn't expecting the extra guest. Atlas nodded at her and mumbled a quick greeting as he disappeared into the back room, and the other man she recognized as the Emperor because of his caste marking on his face. Sydney merely just stared at Icarus with wide eyes, and he stared right back at her. Atlas reemerged from the back room with common looking clothes, no doubt their disguises, and tried to explain the situation to quiet girl. "So where do you plan on hiding him?" Sydney asked as she quickly looked out the window to make sure no one suspicious was heading towards her store. "Well, I was thinking of hiding him here. At least until I can find a ship to Lilliput, or perhaps to the Cannibal Islands, just somewhere that they wouldn't think to look for him," replied the red eyed mercenary, who was quite exhausted from making sure that they got out of the escape tunnel that was filled with nothing but traps that the Emperor seemed to set off without even trying. She turned to look at him as if he were crazy. "Have you lost your mind? Hide him here? You do realize that they'll search the city first before checking anywhere else, and they'll have the port closed for at least a week to make sure no one comes in. Just really, how do you expect to hide an Emperor in a city where everyone knows what he looks like. And even if you do manage to disguise his face, they'll be checking peoples hands. They'll know who he is because his hands aren't calloused." Icarus looked at his hands and saw she was right. His hands were smooth because he has never needed to do hard labor. They would know, and they'd find him. He looked like he was going to be sick when Atlas spoke up. "How stupid do you think I am, Sydney? Of course I know they'll be checking hands, and I know that there won't be an outgoing ship for at least a week, which is why I have a plan. I made sure to get two jobs at a coal mine so as to get his hands to become rough, and to also get enough money for passage on a ship. And they won't recognize him without his caste marking." The girl sighed and said, "What makes you so sure that I will hide you both here, or that I won't turn you in?" Time stopped and all three looked at each other, until Atlas finally said, "I know you won't turn us in because of Penelope and Alexander." Sydney's face turned white at the mention of those names. Icarus looked at the both with confusion, for he did not know of the meaning of those names, he did not understand the importance those names held for both Sydney and Atlas. Sydney muttered something about how this would be the last time she'd allow him to guilt her into doing things with those names, and led them to the attic. "This is where you'll be staying. Don't make too much noise, and don't bother me for food." She said to them and went back down the stairs. In the attic there was nothing but hay, which was strange because Sydney did not own animals, and this was not a farm. All was quiet until Icarus asked, "Who are Penelope and Alexander?" Atlas did not look at him, but instead looked out the attic window before speaking. "Penelope was a woman who took care of her younger brother and her son, Alexander..."
Once, a long time ago, there was a woman named Penelope who had a son named Alexander. She was married, but her husband had died in a war. So it was just her and her child, until her parents had a son of their own. Her parents died when her brother was born, so she decided to raise her brother as well. Years went by and the small family was happy, until a new Duke came to power. The old Duke had died of heart troubles, so his arrogant and greedy son became the new Duke. This Duke wanted to marry the most beautiful woman in all the land, which happened to be the boy's older sister, Penelope. No matter what gifts the Duke gave her, she would not accept his hand, for she still loved her dead husband. This went on for months before the Duke was fed up with it, and wanted to make her an example for those who would dare to oppose him. One day, the boy went off to make sure the cows didn't stray too far from the grazing grounds, and his sister and nephew were left alone at the house. The Duke came and set fire to the house, which forced the mother and her son to flee. The boy came back and saw the house up in flames, but he also saw the Duke killing Penelope and Alexander. The boy held their bodies in his arms and swore revenge against the Duke. The boy then sneaked into the Duke castle, and made sure the Duke's bedroom door was locked from the outside, and set fire to the Duke's house, and so he got his revenge. A mercenary, who had been hired to kill the Duke by some rival nobleman saw how well the boy had done and decided to make the boy their apprentice. When the mercenary asked the boy's name, the boy threw away his old name and said "I bear the weight of guilt and revenge on my shoulders, my name is Atlas."
End of part 3: Story Time.
Once, a long time ago, there was a woman named Penelope who had a son named Alexander. She was married, but her husband had died in a war. So it was just her and her child, until her parents had a son of their own. Her parents died when her brother was born, so she decided to raise her brother as well. Years went by and the small family was happy, until a new Duke came to power. The old Duke had died of heart troubles, so his arrogant and greedy son became the new Duke. This Duke wanted to marry the most beautiful woman in all the land, which happened to be the boy's older sister, Penelope. No matter what gifts the Duke gave her, she would not accept his hand, for she still loved her dead husband. This went on for months before the Duke was fed up with it, and wanted to make her an example for those who would dare to oppose him. One day, the boy went off to make sure the cows didn't stray too far from the grazing grounds, and his sister and nephew were left alone at the house. The Duke came and set fire to the house, which forced the mother and her son to flee. The boy came back and saw the house up in flames, but he also saw the Duke killing Penelope and Alexander. The boy held their bodies in his arms and swore revenge against the Duke. The boy then sneaked into the Duke castle, and made sure the Duke's bedroom door was locked from the outside, and set fire to the Duke's house, and so he got his revenge. A mercenary, who had been hired to kill the Duke by some rival nobleman saw how well the boy had done and decided to make the boy their apprentice. When the mercenary asked the boy's name, the boy threw away his old name and said "I bear the weight of guilt and revenge on my shoulders, my name is Atlas."
End of part 3: Story Time.