If I am to tell you the story of Henry Ward, I must first tell you the story of humanity.
I must tell from the first time Taint descended from cracks in our realm, and how it turned us for the worst. Of how those same cracks grew larger, and how Others slipped into our world to feast on us. I must tell you of how for a millennium humanity endured, of how kings and their kingdoms rose in fire and fell into ashes, of how men became heroes and then martyrs.
Then, I will tell you of Henry Ward, my friend, my brother, and the unholy savior of humanity.
- From "THE UNHOLY CHRONICLE" by Edvar Thorn.
****
Henry Ward was lying on rusty iron city bench waiting for the Ministry branch to open. The iron bench was not entirely uncomfortable, coupled with early morning chill and the ragged clothes he had procured in the city, Henry would say he was in better shape compared to his time on the road.
When the sunlight touched his closed eyelids, the waiting was over. He did not know the time, but sun was fully out and the business day had started. Henry walked toward the Ministry building with cold still clinging to his back. The building stood four story tall with gray reinforced walls and scarce windows, a small administrative branch even in borderland city like Gilliad. There were two unmanned turrets on the roof top which did not warrant much confidence, but it was alright, this was no city wall in which survival of the entire city depended on.
And if one day city wall were to fall, Henry doubted even 100 turrets on this building with soldiers aiming at abominations would make a difference.
And walls fall like flies in border cities, Henry mused.
But he knew better. Gilliad had become the heart of the region after the Corrins had surrendered the city to Ministry. Then, Ministry had come with their trains and electronics and guns, most importantly the guns, and fired the engines of progress turning Gilliad to this giant behemoth of iron and concrete with bullets for teeth and fire for breath. still, this building looked shabby and uncared for, devoid of any color or identity. But Henry understood well that wealthy did not linger here. This was the outskirt of the city closer to the gates and wilderness beyond. Walls reminded them of the dangers of tainted world and they did not like to be reminded that they could die too.
Henry entered the building and walked past the two security guards who, to his relief, did not bother to look at him more than a moment. Then he moved toward one of the administrative desks, there were six in total placed within small distance of each other, he chose the one without any people in front of it. Stood still and looked at the writing on the wall. Ministry Is The Tomorrow, it said, written in black ink, with a symbol of a golden eye beside it. The pupil resembled a drawing of a sun, coupled with a golden color, he guessed that it was supposed to portray Ministry as the eye that shines light on humanity's tomorrow. Yet, under the white lightbulbs of the hall, even golden sunlight looked grey and lifeless, much like an empty promise.
"… ahem…" Henry cleared his throat with quiet worry.
The Ministry official took his eyes from the screen in front on him and gave him a scrutinizing look and said, "Porters come from the back and this is the administrative hall, do you know this boy?"
Henry let out the breath he was holding in relief. This was the first time someone inside a guild or an agency had considered him a human enough to start a conversation. In past two weeks he had visited numerus Private guilds and agencies and response had been a mix of being barred from entering the building, few threats of violence, and of course many "piss offs, street rats, worm foods, and dogger's diarrhea" thrown at his face. He could fight them, but he reflected that fighting was not a very good strategy to do while trying to get a job. It could also get you killed or thrown into jail, but that was secondary concern.
The last insult "doggers diarrhea" had specially thrown Henry out of loop. He had killed few doggers, but he never stayed long enough to find out if they could get diarrhea or not.
Then again, Henry was not delusional. He knew the treatment he received was mainly because of his looks and clothes. His unkempt hair was a messy and greasy bush of black hair reaching down to his shoulders. His clothes were patches of old and dirty pieces sewn together unceremoniously, which did not resemble any of the original clothes they were salvaged from. He had not bathed in three days, if you could consider rubbing your body without a soap under autumn cold rain a bath.
In short, Henry looked like another orphan beggar boy in the city, which coincidently, he was.
"I asked you a question boy"
Henry broke out of his stupor.
"Yes… I mean no…" Henry said with stupid hurry.
"No what, boy? You don't know that porters come from the back?"
"No, I meant I'm not a porter and I don't plan to be," Henry said with more decorum now. "I'm here to sign up as free hunter and take up missions."
The Ministry official gave a dry lough and said, "a boy your age signing up as a free hunter? Don't joke with me boy. I'm not as patient as I look."
Henry felt himself getting angry, but did not act on it, he needed to be accepted as a hunter as soon as possible. He was tired of wondering in streets of Gilliad, looking for a scrap of food.
Two weeks ago, I was worried I might end up in the belly of some beast, and now I'm complaining about walking in the streets of safest city in region. Life is truly strange. Henry thought.
"No sir, I am not a boy, I am 17 … I think, which is a year older than what is required to sign up." Henry explained calmly.
"Well, you are a bit tall for your age, and I reckon you haven't stopped getting taller yet, but still, you are boy until you grow a few strands of bristle hair on your face." The official said. "Now then, tell me your name and citizenship number to see what credential do you have to offer?" Then, he added, "are you a Ministry citizen, right?"
"Yes, sir." Henry answered, "names Henry, Henry Ward. And as for citizenship number I must have had one, but I don't remember now"
"Henry Ward … Ward, wait a minute!" Official said with new understanding in his voice, "are you an orphan from city of Ward, the one that fell 8 years ago?"
Henry wasn't surprised of his accurate guess. Orphans were given the surname of the city they were born in. And there was only one city in region with that same name.
The fallen city of Ward.