The Tomb of Dimea (Music)

"A child that is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth."


Snow drifted steadily down onto the roof of a black limousine, slowly making its way down the short final street to its destination. The mausoleum that Alexander had long since called home loomed nearby, towering against the dark overcast skies as the car squeaked gently to a stop. How he hated this place, this monument to misery; but it was the only home he knew, and in a strange way, though he despised it, he still somehow felt living here made him better than everyone else. What was that called again? Cognitive dissonance? No matter. He put it out of mind as the door opened.

Stepping briskly out into the cold, crisp air he shoved his hands into his jacket pockets with a frown, winter had been especially bad this year, poor business dealings with the Bhudev's aside. The car door closed behind him as the the limousine gradually pulled away, Alexander's dark leather shoes crunching the snow beneath them as he walked up the path. A tall dark figure dressed in an expensive suit stood watching from the top of the stairs, a lit cigarette trailing smoke from his mouth. Father?


"You're late."
The deep gravelly voice came, not at all concealing his irritation. "I was h-"
Alexander was cut off as he tried to reply. "No excuses. Don't make me wait again."
The middle aged man turned with a derisive sniff, turning brusquely to go back inside. "Come, there is work to be done. I need you to check over something."
Dutifully and silently, Alex followed, taking one last look at the dreary skyline before stepping inside.




"I've had a look, there's too many discrepancies to just sweep under the rug, Father. Whoever did this was sloppy and it's going to cost to cover it up, we'll need to call Yaroslav again to get the FTS to drop this, or someone at Internal Affairs."
His tone was even as he gave the verdict, setting down the documents in front of him. "Damnit Peter, you sniveling bastard . . ."
Nikolai hissed, mumbling to himself as he paced. "We can't keep paying people off like this, Alexander. If you'd pulled your head in and actually did what I asked, none of this would be happening!"
he seethed, glaring at the impassive Alex. "Sorry, father."
came the reply."Useless, everybody's just so useless. Do I have to do everything myself?"
Nikolai rubbed at his temple as he considered. "Fine, I'll make the call. Go, leave me."
Standing quickly, Alex made for the door before pausing. "I won't fail you again, Father."
The tall man just waved him away in response, already dialing a number and slumping down into a leather couch by the window with an exasperated sigh.





Alex's first step out of the room faltered: He felt like he was falling, and in that brief moment of panic a chill shot up his back. A drop where none was expected; His stomach lurched painfully as he tried to make sense of what happened. Thankfully, the floor was only a foot or so lower than he'd thought as he dropped harmlessly onto the soil beneath. Soil . . beneath?
His eyes darted up to a familiar, if alien sight. A broken black sky with a dim white sun, with thin white wispy clouds flowing lazily towards it in a spiral, all watching over a warped and barren land, save for an enormous onyx tree. This is where he was first introduced to- "Hello again."
Those words, that voice, somehow seemed all-encompassing in this place. The voice was almost a physical thing, curling around him and caressing in a strange, disconcerting way. He turned and bowed as his wits returned to him, keeping his eyes downcast. "How may I serve?"
Quick and to the point. Bandying insincere flattery or asking pointless questions here would end up with him punished, one way or another. They had high expectations of him, for whatever reason. His lips drew to a thin line as he remembered the last time he had failed, an uncomfortable memory. "An item of great import has come to Earth somehow, I have felt this."
Alex waited silently, still bowed, unsure if he should speak. "A book. It is imperative that you find it, and bring it here, to me."
As it spoke, its words oozed in a way that sent a shiver down his back. "W-where am I to find this book? What exactly am I looking for?"
he ventured stammering, still not daring to look up. "Am I to do everything for you? You will know it when you see it, and I desire it. That is all you need to know. Success, is not optional."


Sweat beading from his forehead, Alex stumbled as he was flung back into the mansion, tripping to the floor as his world re-oriented, barely catching himself with his hands. Cooking the books would have to wait.

The city of Dubai was alight, the cool night air brushing past the large buildings. A glowing silhouette that housed some of the wealthiest people and tourists in the country. Of these people Nier was not the richest, although he strives for complete longevity for what he did have. Most of his subordinates would call him a mediator; the people who were closer named him a protector. Meanwhile anyone who had to personally deal with him saw him as no more than a thug or gangster... and they wouldn’t be wrong.




On the outskirts of the main part of the city; away from the large towers and tourists, a medium sized mansion sat in the calmness of a normal living area. A place that was seemingly normal, although the beat of a familiar thud rung out from the interior. Within its walls, deep in the basement of the mansion, you’d find Nier and a few of his subordinates completing another “job”. A gloved fist dripping with blood rested at his side and, respectively, a man sat tied to a chair before him; bloody and battered from the beating he had been receiving. “I’d rather not continue this... I just need you to tell me who you’re workin for”
, he stretched his arms a little and placed a hand on the unknown man’s shoulder. “Can you do that for me? That’s all I need... we can all go home early tonight if you just talk to me.”




The man looked up to Nier slowly before spitting in his face. “Do whatever you must, but tell all of your friends that Farhad will not break to your methods of torture!” Nier didn’t move an inch as the man spoke; only turning after he had finished to remove his gloves and place them into a nearby waste bin. “Towel, please”
, he spoke as one of his companions handed him a white towel, allowing him to wipe the blood from his face. He fixed his silver hair which gave off an almost metallic glow before tossing the towel into the same bin with the sullied gloves. “How will you handle this, Nier?” “Well he clearly doesn’t understand his situation. Unable to... comprehend the air of the room. So I’ll just have to teach him a little.”
He opened a suitcase that sat on a nearby metal desk, revealing a pair of leather gloves covered in deep crimson stains. “You know, I prefer to sleep. In fact I’d probably be asleep right now. Instead I woke up this morning and heard someone was extorting specific people within this city”
, he said as he fixed the gloves comfortably over his fingers.

A silence fell over the room as Nier moved to stand in front of him. “So, Farhad was it? My mother lives here in Dubai you know; and it’s my duty to make sure she doesn’t need to worry any more than she already has to. I was born here. This is my home and as a person in my position it’s my job to show you proper hospitality... free his hands and hold one of them down.”
one of the others approached the captive and unbound his hands, keeping one of his arms secure behind his back. Nier, on the other hand, grabbed his free arm and held it outstretched. “I won’t accept anyone attempting to cheat my family or anyone else’s for that matter. You misunderstand the situation you’re in so I’ll enlighten you”
, he stated as he held the captives arm outstretched from the wrist, placing his free hand against Farhad’s elbow and applying slight pressure. “Just as easily as bones break or tendons snap your boss will have you replaced. When that happens we can get what we need from your replacement. So, Farhad... let us see if you’ll break before your bones d-“


Bz

Nier paused for a moment and released the man’s arm. “Excuse me for a moment. I have to make a quick call; you may continue here as you please”
, he said before exiting the room. He reached into his pocket as he ascended to the upper floor of the building, pulling out a small silver cube that vibrated softly in the palm of his hand. Once he was out of listening range from the others he closed his eyes and spoke. “My lord. Give me your instructions and I shall accomplish whatever it may be without fail.”
he opened his eyes to find himself in a place that would transcend the understanding of most people, although he had been to this place many time in the past. Infinite things cascading from the walls like waterfalls; weapons, armors, shields, banners, random shapes, etc. all made from differing shades of shimmering metals and in the midst of it all sat Nammay.

“Kneel vessel, thou hast forgotten where you stand and whom you stand before.”
Nier’s eyes widened before he quickly fell to his knees and dropped his head to the ground with a ringing thud; blood now slowly beginning to pool around his head. “Good my vessel... Now to the matter at hand. The wellspring of information hast given me knowledge of a book which thou shalt retrieve for me. Its location is unknown, however it is said that it originated from the citadel. I will not bother with too much rhetoric; go and retrieve this book for me. Make haste and do not cause too much trouble between the other Houses. Where you go is thine choice alone and how you handle conflict is up to thee, but as I said... make haste child. Time is of the essence and failure is no option here.”


Before Nier could even lift his head he was back; upstairs in the mansion he was so familiar with. With the screams from the basement now reverberating in his ears he decided to quickly make his way back down. Fuck... that was pretty sudden. I guess I’ll have to get some sleep at a later time.
he entered the room with the others and one of them approached him quickly. “What happened to your head? Why are you bleeding?” she asked, Nier removing the gloves and placing them back into the suitcase. “It’s nothing to worry about, Yarah. Just ran into something by mistake. Make sure our friend here either give us what we need or he doesn’t walk out of here; I have some other important business to attend to”
, he said as he grabbed another towel and wiped the wound on his head.

Nier made his way back upstairs to a lit up living area where a middle aged woman sat quietly watching the television that rested on an adjacent wall. “Hey mom, I’m going to be heading out for more travels; an important wellspring to follow up on”
, he informed her as he approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t now how long this may take.”
“Do be safe, my little Bed-Bug. Don’t push yourself too hard and make sure you get lots of rest”, she said with a soft smile. “Oh, and do try to find a wife while you’re away. I’m sick of seeing you come home alone at your age.” Nier made his way to the door with a chuckle and stepped outside before turning around once more. “Sure thing mom; make sure you take care of yourself as well. The others will clean things up downstairs. Love you.”
He closed the door with a sigh and made his way to a motorcycle that rested by the gate of their home. I’ll have to find a place to start before anything. I’m already exhausted just thinking about all of this. Well, at least I’ll get Some time away from work... kinda.

The city of Dubai was alight, the cool night air brushing past the large buildings. A glowing silhouette that housed some of the wealthiest people and tourists in the country. Of these people Nier was not the richest, although he strives for complete longevity for what he did have. Most of his subordinates would call him a mediator; the people who were closer named him a protector. Meanwhile anyone who had to personally deal with him saw him as no more than a thug or gangster... and they wouldn’t be wrong.




On the outskirts of the main part of the city; away from the large towers and tourists, a medium sized mansion sat in the calmness of a normal living area. A place that was seemingly normal, although the beat of a familiar thud rung out from the interior. Within its walls, deep in the basement of the mansion, you’d find Nier and a few of his subordinates completing another “job”. A gloved fist dripping with blood rested at his side and, respectively, a man sat tied to a chair before him; bloody and battered from the beating he had been receiving. “I’d rather not continue this... I just need you to tell me who you’re workin for”
, he stretched his arms a little and placed a hand on the unknown man’s shoulder. “Can you do that for me? That’s all I need... we can all go home early tonight if you just talk to me.”




The man looked up to Nier slowly before spitting in his face. “Do whatever you must, but tell all of your friends that Farhad will not break to your methods of torture!” Nier didn’t move an inch as the man spoke; only turning after he had finished to remove his gloves and place them into a nearby waste bin. “Towel, please”
, he spoke as one of his companions handed him a white towel, allowing him to wipe the blood from his face. He fixed his silver hair which gave off an almost metallic glow before tossing the towel into the same bin with the sullied gloves. “How will you handle this, Nier?” “Well he clearly doesn’t understand his situation. Unable to... comprehend the air of the room. So I’ll just have to teach him a little.”
He opened a suitcase that sat on a nearby metal desk, revealing a pair of leather gloves covered in deep crimson stains. “You know, I prefer to sleep. In fact I’d probably be asleep right now. Instead I woke up this morning and heard someone was extorting specific people within this city”
, he said as he fixed the gloves comfortably over his fingers.

A silence fell over the room as Nier moved to stand in front of him. “So, Farhad was it? My mother lives here in Dubai you know; and it’s my duty to make sure she doesn’t need to worry any more than she already has to. I was born here. This is my home and as a person in my position it’s my job to show you proper hospitality... free his hands and hold one of them down.”
one of the others approached the captive and unbound his hands, keeping one of his arms secure behind his back. Nier, on the other hand, grabbed his free arm and held it outstretched. “I won’t accept anyone attempting to cheat my family or anyone else’s for that matter. You misunderstand the situation you’re in so I’ll enlighten you”
, he stated as he held the captives arm outstretched from the wrist, placing his free hand against Farhad’s elbow and applying slight pressure. “Just as easily as bones break or tendons snap your boss will have you replaced. When that happens we can get what we need from your replacement. So, Farhad... let us see if you’ll break before your bones d-“


Bz

Nier paused for a moment and released the man’s arm. “Excuse me for a moment. I have to make a quick call; you may continue here as you please”
, he said before exiting the room. He reached into his pocket as he ascended to the upper floor of the building, pulling out a small silver cube that vibrated softly in the palm of his hand. Once he was out of listening range from the others he closed his eyes and spoke. “My lord. Give me your instructions and I shall accomplish whatever it may be without fail.”
he opened his eyes to find himself in a place that would transcend the understanding of most people, although he had been to this place many time in the past. Infinite things cascading from the walls like waterfalls; weapons, armors, shields, banners, random shapes, etc. all made from differing shades of shimmering metals and in the midst of it all sat Nammay.

“Kneel vessel, thou hast forgotten where you stand and whom you stand before.”
Nier’s eyes widened before he quickly fell to his knees and dropped his head to the ground with a ringing thud; blood now slowly beginning to pool around his head. “Good my vessel... Now to the matter at hand. The wellspring of information hast given me knowledge of a book which thou shalt retrieve for me. Its location is unknown, however it is said that it originated from the citadel. I will not bother with too much rhetoric; go and retrieve this book for me. Make haste and do not cause too much trouble between the other Houses. Where you go is thine choice alone and how you handle conflict is up to thee, but as I said... make haste child. Time is of the essence and failure is no option here.”


Before Nier could even lift his head he was back; upstairs in the mansion he was so familiar with. With the screams from the basement now reverberating in his ears he decided to quickly make his way back down. Fuck... that was pretty sudden. I guess I’ll have to get some sleep at a later time.
he entered the room with the others and one of them approached him quickly. “What happened to your head? Why are you bleeding?” she asked, Nier removing the gloves and placing them back into the suitcase. “It’s nothing to worry about, Yarah. Just ran into something by mistake. Make sure our friend here either give us what we need or he doesn’t walk out of here; I have some other important business to attend to”
, he said as he grabbed another towel and wiped the wound on his head.

Nier made his way back upstairs to a lit up living area where a middle aged woman sat quietly watching the television that rested on an adjacent wall. “Hey mom, I’m going to be heading out for more travels; an important wellspring to follow up on”
, he informed her as he approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t now how long this may take.”
“Do be safe, my little Bed-Bug. Don’t push yourself too hard and make sure you get lots of rest”, she said with a soft smile. “Oh, and do try to find a wife while you’re away. I’m sick of seeing you come home alone at your age.” Nier made his way to the door with a chuckle and stepped outside before turning around once more. “Sure thing mom; make sure you take care of yourself as well. The others will clean things up downstairs. Love you.”
He closed the door with a sigh and made his way to a motorcycle that rested by the gate of their home. I’ll have to find a place to start before anything. I’m already exhausted just thinking about all of this. Well, at least I’ll get Some time away from work... kinda.

The city of Dubai was alight, the cool night air brushing past the large buildings. A glowing silhouette that housed some of the wealthiest people and tourists in the country. Of these people Nier was not the richest, although he strives for complete longevity for what he did have. Most of his subordinates would call him a mediator; the people who were closer named him a protector. Meanwhile anyone who had to personally deal with him saw him as no more than a thug or gangster... and they wouldn’t be wrong.




On the outskirts of the main part of the city; away from the large towers and tourists, a medium sized mansion sat in the calmness of a normal living area. A place that was seemingly normal, although the beat of a familiar thud rung out from the interior. Within its walls, deep in the basement of the mansion, you’d find Nier and a few of his subordinates completing another “job”. A gloved fist dripping with blood rested at his side and, respectively, a man sat tied to a chair before him; bloody and battered from the beating he had been receiving. “I’d rather not continue this... I just need you to tell me who you’re workin for”
, he stretched his arms a little and placed a hand on the unknown man’s shoulder. “Can you do that for me? That’s all I need... we can all go home early tonight if you just talk to me.”




The man looked up to Nier slowly before spitting in his face. “Do whatever you must, but tell all of your friends that Farhad will not break to your methods of torture!” Nier didn’t move an inch as the man spoke; only turning after he had finished to remove his gloves and place them into a nearby waste bin. “Towel, please”
, he spoke as one of his companions handed him a white towel, allowing him to wipe the blood from his face. He fixed his silver hair which gave off an almost metallic glow before tossing the towel into the same bin with the sullied gloves. “How will you handle this, Nier?” “Well he clearly doesn’t understand his situation. Unable to... comprehend the air of the room. So I’ll just have to teach him a little.”
He opened a suitcase that sat on a nearby metal desk, revealing a pair of leather gloves covered in deep crimson stains. “You know, I prefer to sleep. In fact I’d probably be asleep right now. Instead I woke up this morning and heard someone was extorting specific people within this city”
, he said as he fixed the gloves comfortably over his fingers.

A silence fell over the room as Nier moved to stand in front of him. “So, Farhad was it? My mother lives here in Dubai you know; and it’s my duty to make sure she doesn’t need to worry any more than she already has to. I was born here. This is my home and as a person in my position it’s my job to show you proper hospitality... free his hands and hold one of them down.”
one of the others approached the captive and unbound his hands, keeping one of his arms secure behind his back. Nier, on the other hand, grabbed his free arm and held it outstretched. “I won’t accept anyone attempting to cheat my family or anyone else’s for that matter. You misunderstand the situation you’re in so I’ll enlighten you”
, he stated as he held the captives arm outstretched from the wrist, placing his free hand against Farhad’s elbow and applying slight pressure. “Just as easily as bones break or tendons snap your boss will have you replaced. When that happens we can get what we need from your replacement. So, Farhad... let us see if you’ll break before your bones d-“


Bz

Nier paused for a moment and released the man’s arm. “Excuse me for a moment. I have to make a quick call; you may continue here as you please”
, he said before exiting the room. He reached into his pocket as he ascended to the upper floor of the building, pulling out a small silver cube that vibrated softly in the palm of his hand. Once he was out of listening range from the others he closed his eyes and spoke. “My lord. Give me your instructions and I shall accomplish whatever it may be without fail.”
he opened his eyes to find himself in a place that would transcend the understanding of most people, although he had been to this place many time in the past. Infinite things cascading from the walls like waterfalls; weapons, armors, shields, banners, random shapes, etc. all made from differing shades of shimmering metals and in the midst of it all sat Nammay.

“Kneel vessel, thou hast forgotten where you stand and whom you stand before.”
Nier’s eyes widened before he quickly fell to his knees and dropped his head to the ground with a ringing thud; blood now slowly beginning to pool around his head. “Good my vessel... Now to the matter at hand. The wellspring of information hast given me knowledge of a book which thou shalt retrieve for me. Its location is unknown, however it is said that it originated from the citadel. I will not bother with too much rhetoric; go and retrieve this book for me. Make haste and do not cause too much trouble between the other Houses. Where you go is thine choice alone and how you handle conflict is up to thee, but as I said... make haste child. Time is of the essence and failure is no option here.”


Before Nier could even lift his head he was back; upstairs in the mansion he was so familiar with. With the screams from the basement now reverberating in his ears he decided to quickly make his way back down. Fuck... that was pretty sudden. I guess I’ll have to get some sleep at a later time.
he entered the room with the others and one of them approached him quickly. “What happened to your head? Why are you bleeding?” she asked, Nier removing the gloves and placing them back into the suitcase. “It’s nothing to worry about, Yarah. Just ran into something by mistake. Make sure our friend here either give us what we need or he doesn’t walk out of here; I have some other important business to attend to”
, he said as he grabbed another towel and wiped the wound on his head.

Nier made his way back upstairs to a lit up living area where a middle aged woman sat quietly watching the television that rested on an adjacent wall. “Hey mom, I’m going to be heading out for more travels; an important wellspring to follow up on”
, he informed her as he approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t now how long this may take.”
“Do be safe, my little Bed-Bug. Don’t push yourself too hard and make sure you get lots of rest”, she said with a soft smile. “Oh, and do try to find a wife while you’re away. I’m sick of seeing you come home alone at your age.” Nier made his way to the door with a chuckle and stepped outside before turning around once more. “Sure thing mom; make sure you take care of yourself as well. The others will clean things up downstairs. Love you.”
He closed the door with a sigh and made his way to a motorcycle that rested by the gate of their home. I’ll have to find a place to start before anything. I’m already exhausted just thinking about all of this. Well, at least I’ll get Some time away from work... kinda.

The city of Dubai was alight, the cool night air brushing past the large buildings. A glowing silhouette that housed some of the wealthiest people and tourists in the country. Of these people Nier was not the richest, although he strives for complete longevity for what he did have. Most of his subordinates would call him a mediator; the people who were closer named him a protector. Meanwhile anyone who had to personally deal with him saw him as no more than a thug or gangster... and they wouldn’t be wrong.




On the outskirts of the main part of the city; away from the large towers and tourists, a medium sized mansion sat in the calmness of a normal living area. A place that was seemingly normal, although the beat of a familiar thud rung out from the interior. Within its walls, deep in the basement of the mansion, you’d find Nier and a few of his subordinates completing another “job”. A gloved fist dripping with blood rested at his side and, respectively, a man sat tied to a chair before him; bloody and battered from the beating he had been receiving. “I’d rather not continue this... I just need you to tell me who you’re workin for”
, he stretched his arms a little and placed a hand on the unknown man’s shoulder. “Can you do that for me? That’s all I need... we can all go home early tonight if you just talk to me.”




The man looked up to Nier slowly before spitting in his face. “Do whatever you must, but tell all of your friends that Farhad will not break to your methods of torture!” Nier didn’t move an inch as the man spoke; only turning after he had finished to remove his gloves and place them into a nearby waste bin. “Towel, please”
, he spoke as one of his companions handed him a white towel, allowing him to wipe the blood from his face. He fixed his silver hair which gave off an almost metallic glow before tossing the towel into the same bin with the sullied gloves. “How will you handle this, Nier?” “Well he clearly doesn’t understand his situation. Unable to... comprehend the air of the room. So I’ll just have to teach him a little.”
He opened a suitcase that sat on a nearby metal desk, revealing a pair of leather gloves covered in deep crimson stains. “You know, I prefer to sleep. In fact I’d probably be asleep right now. Instead I woke up this morning and heard someone was extorting specific people within this city”
, he said as he fixed the gloves comfortably over his fingers.

A silence fell over the room as Nier moved to stand in front of him. “So, Farhad was it? My mother lives here in Dubai you know; and it’s my duty to make sure she doesn’t need to worry any more than she already has to. I was born here. This is my home and as a person in my position it’s my job to show you proper hospitality... free his hands and hold one of them down.”
one of the others approached the captive and unbound his hands, keeping one of his arms secure behind his back. Nier, on the other hand, grabbed his free arm and held it outstretched. “I won’t accept anyone attempting to cheat my family or anyone else’s for that matter. You misunderstand the situation you’re in so I’ll enlighten you”
, he stated as he held the captives arm outstretched from the wrist, placing his free hand against Farhad’s elbow and applying slight pressure. “Just as easily as bones break or tendons snap your boss will have you replaced. When that happens we can get what we need from your replacement. So, Farhad... let us see if you’ll break before your bones d-“


Bz

Nier paused for a moment and released the man’s arm. “Excuse me for a moment. I have to make a quick call; you may continue here as you please”
, he said before exiting the room. He reached into his pocket as he ascended to the upper floor of the building, pulling out a small silver cube that vibrated softly in the palm of his hand. Once he was out of listening range from the others he closed his eyes and spoke. “My lord. Give me your instructions and I shall accomplish whatever it may be without fail.”
he opened his eyes to find himself in a place that would transcend the understanding of most people, although he had been to this place many time in the past. Infinite things cascading from the walls like waterfalls; weapons, armors, shields, banners, random shapes, etc. all made from differing shades of shimmering metals and in the midst of it all sat Nammay.

“Kneel vessel, thou hast forgotten where you stand and whom you stand before.”
Nier’s eyes widened before he quickly fell to his knees and dropped his head to the ground with a ringing thud; blood now slowly beginning to pool around his head. “Good my vessel... Now to the matter at hand. The wellspring of information hast given me knowledge of a book which thou shalt retrieve for me. Its location is unknown, however it is said that it originated from the citadel. I will not bother with too much rhetoric; go and retrieve this book for me. Make haste and do not cause too much trouble between the other Houses. Where you go is thine choice alone and how you handle conflict is up to thee, but as I said... make haste child. Time is of the essence and failure is no option here.”


Before Nier could even lift his head he was back; upstairs in the mansion he was so familiar with. With the screams from the basement now reverberating in his ears he decided to quickly make his way back down. Fuck... that was pretty sudden. I guess I’ll have to get some sleep at a later time.
he entered the room with the others and one of them approached him quickly. “What happened to your head? Why are you bleeding?” she asked, Nier removing the gloves and placing them back into the suitcase. “It’s nothing to worry about, Yarah. Just ran into something by mistake. Make sure our friend here either give us what we need or he doesn’t walk out of here; I have some other important business to attend to”
, he said as he grabbed another towel and wiped the wound on his head.

Nier made his way back upstairs to a lit up living area where a middle aged woman sat quietly watching the television that rested on an adjacent wall. “Hey mom, I’m going to be heading out for more travels; an important wellspring to follow up on”
, he informed her as he approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t now how long this may take.”
“Do be safe, my little Bed-Bug. Don’t push yourself too hard and make sure you get lots of rest”, she said with a soft smile. “Oh, and do try to find a wife while you’re away. I’m sick of seeing you come home alone at your age.” Nier made his way to the door with a chuckle and stepped outside before turning around once more. “Sure thing mom; make sure you take care of yourself as well. The others will clean things up downstairs. Love you.”
He closed the door with a sigh and made his way to a motorcycle that rested by the gate of their home. I’ll have to find a place to start before anything. I’m already exhausted just thinking about all of this. Well, at least I’ll get Some time away from work... kinda.

The city of Dubai was alight, the cool night air brushing past the large buildings. A glowing silhouette that housed some of the wealthiest people and tourists in the country. Of these people Nier was not the richest, although he strives for complete longevity for what he did have. Most of his subordinates would call him a mediator; the people who were closer named him a protector. Meanwhile anyone who had to personally deal with him saw him as no more than a thug or gangster... and they wouldn’t be wrong.




On the outskirts of the main part of the city; away from the large towers and tourists, a medium sized mansion sat in the calmness of a normal living area. A place that was seemingly normal, although the beat of a familiar thud rung out from the interior. Within its walls, deep in the basement of the mansion, you’d find Nier and a few of his subordinates completing another “job”. A gloved fist dripping with blood rested at his side and, respectively, a man sat tied to a chair before him; bloody and battered from the beating he had been receiving. “I’d rather not continue this... I just need you to tell me who you’re workin for”
, he stretched his arms a little and placed a hand on the unknown man’s shoulder. “Can you do that for me? That’s all I need... we can all go home early tonight if you just talk to me.”




The man looked up to Nier slowly before spitting in his face. “Do whatever you must, but tell all of your friends that Farhad will not break to your methods of torture!” Nier didn’t move an inch as the man spoke; only turning after he had finished to remove his gloves and place them into a nearby waste bin. “Towel, please”
, he spoke as one of his companions handed him a white towel, allowing him to wipe the blood from his face. He fixed his silver hair which gave off an almost metallic glow before tossing the towel into the same bin with the sullied gloves. “How will you handle this, Nier?” “Well he clearly doesn’t understand his situation. Unable to... comprehend the air of the room. So I’ll just have to teach him a little.”
He opened a suitcase that sat on a nearby metal desk, revealing a pair of leather gloves covered in deep crimson stains. “You know, I prefer to sleep. In fact I’d probably be asleep right now. Instead I woke up this morning and heard someone was extorting specific people within this city”
, he said as he fixed the gloves comfortably over his fingers.

A silence fell over the room as Nier moved to stand in front of him. “So, Farhad was it? My mother lives here in Dubai you know; and it’s my duty to make sure she doesn’t need to worry any more than she already has to. I was born here. This is my home and as a person in my position it’s my job to show you proper hospitality... free his hands and hold one of them down.”
one of the others approached the captive and unbound his hands, keeping one of his arms secure behind his back. Nier, on the other hand, grabbed his free arm and held it outstretched. “I won’t accept anyone attempting to cheat my family or anyone else’s for that matter. You misunderstand the situation you’re in so I’ll enlighten you”
, he stated as he held the captives arm outstretched from the wrist, placing his free hand against Farhad’s elbow and applying slight pressure. “Just as easily as bones break or tendons snap your boss will have you replaced. When that happens we can get what we need from your replacement. So, Farhad... let us see if you’ll break before your bones d-“


Bz

Nier paused for a moment and released the man’s arm. “Excuse me for a moment. I have to make a quick call; you may continue here as you please”
, he said before exiting the room. He reached into his pocket as he ascended to the upper floor of the building, pulling out a small silver cube that vibrated softly in the palm of his hand. Once he was out of listening range from the others he closed his eyes and spoke. “My lord. Give me your instructions and I shall accomplish whatever it may be without fail.”
he opened his eyes to find himself in a place that would transcend the understanding of most people, although he had been to this place many time in the past. Infinite things cascading from the walls like waterfalls; weapons, armors, shields, banners, random shapes, etc. all made from differing shades of shimmering metals and in the midst of it all sat Nammay.

“Kneel vessel, thou hast forgotten where you stand and whom you stand before.”
Nier’s eyes widened before he quickly fell to his knees and dropped his head to the ground with a ringing thud; blood now slowly beginning to pool around his head. “Good my vessel... Now to the matter at hand. The wellspring of information hast given me knowledge of a book which thou shalt retrieve for me. Its location is unknown, however it is said that it originated from the citadel. I will not bother with too much rhetoric; go and retrieve this book for me. Make haste and do not cause too much trouble between the other Houses. Where you go is thine choice alone and how you handle conflict is up to thee, but as I said... make haste child. Time is of the essence and failure is no option here.”


Before Nier could even lift his head he was back; upstairs in the mansion he was so familiar with. With the screams from the basement now reverberating in his ears he decided to quickly make his way back down. Fuck... that was pretty sudden. I guess I’ll have to get some sleep at a later time.
he entered the room with the others and one of them approached him quickly. “What happened to your head? Why are you bleeding?” she asked, Nier removing the gloves and placing them back into the suitcase. “It’s nothing to worry about, Yarah. Just ran into something by mistake. Make sure our friend here either give us what we need or he doesn’t walk out of here; I have some other important business to attend to”
, he said as he grabbed another towel and wiped the wound on his head.

Nier made his way back upstairs to a lit up living area where a middle aged woman sat quietly watching the television that rested on an adjacent wall. “Hey mom, I’m going to be heading out for more travels; an important wellspring to follow up on”
, he informed her as he approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t now how long this may take.”
“Do be safe, my little Bed-Bug. Don’t push yourself too hard and make sure you get lots of rest”, she said with a soft smile. “Oh, and do try to find a wife while you’re away. I’m sick of seeing you come home alone at your age.” Nier made his way to the door with a chuckle and stepped outside before turning around once more. “Sure thing mom; make sure you take care of yourself as well. The others will clean things up downstairs. Love you.”
He closed the door with a sigh and made his way to a motorcycle that rested by the gate of their home. I’ll have to find a place to start before anything. I’m already exhausted just thinking about all of this. Well, at least I’ll get Some time away from work... kinda.

The city of Dubai was alight, the cool night air brushing past the large buildings. A glowing silhouette that housed some of the wealthiest people and tourists in the country. Of these people Nier was not the richest, although he strives for complete longevity for what he did have. Most of his subordinates would call him a mediator; the people who were closer named him a protector. Meanwhile anyone who had to personally deal with him saw him as no more than a thug or gangster... and they wouldn’t be wrong.




On the outskirts of the main part of the city; away from the large towers and tourists, a medium sized mansion sat in the calmness of a normal living area. A place that was seemingly normal, although the beat of a familiar thud rung out from the interior. Within its walls, deep in the basement of the mansion, you’d find Nier and a few of his subordinates completing another “job”. A gloved fist dripping with blood rested at his side and, respectively, a man sat tied to a chair before him; bloody and battered from the beating he had been receiving. “I’d rather not continue this... I just need you to tell me who you’re workin for”
, he stretched his arms a little and placed a hand on the unknown man’s shoulder. “Can you do that for me? That’s all I need... we can all go home early tonight if you just talk to me.”




The man looked up to Nier slowly before spitting in his face. “Do whatever you must, but tell all of your friends that Farhad will not break to your methods of torture!” Nier didn’t move an inch as the man spoke; only turning after he had finished to remove his gloves and place them into a nearby waste bin. “Towel, please”
, he spoke as one of his companions handed him a white towel, allowing him to wipe the blood from his face. He fixed his silver hair which gave off an almost metallic glow before tossing the towel into the same bin with the sullied gloves. “How will you handle this, Nier?” “Well he clearly doesn’t understand his situation. Unable to... comprehend the air of the room. So I’ll just have to teach him a little.”
He opened a suitcase that sat on a nearby metal desk, revealing a pair of leather gloves covered in deep crimson stains. “You know, I prefer to sleep. In fact I’d probably be asleep right now. Instead I woke up this morning and heard someone was extorting specific people within this city”
, he said as he fixed the gloves comfortably over his fingers.

A silence fell over the room as Nier moved to stand in front of him. “So, Farhad was it? My mother lives here in Dubai you know; and it’s my duty to make sure she doesn’t need to worry any more than she already has to. I was born here. This is my home and as a person in my position it’s my job to show you proper hospitality... free his hands and hold one of them down.”
one of the others approached the captive and unbound his hands, keeping one of his arms secure behind his back. Nier, on the other hand, grabbed his free arm and held it outstretched. “I won’t accept anyone attempting to cheat my family or anyone else’s for that matter. You misunderstand the situation you’re in so I’ll enlighten you”
, he stated as he held the captives arm outstretched from the wrist, placing his free hand against Farhad’s elbow and applying slight pressure. “Just as easily as bones break or tendons snap your boss will have you replaced. When that happens we can get what we need from your replacement. So, Farhad... let us see if you’ll break before your bones d-“


Bz

Nier paused for a moment and released the man’s arm. “Excuse me for a moment. I have to make a quick call; you may continue here as you please”
, he said before exiting the room. He reached into his pocket as he ascended to the upper floor of the building, pulling out a small silver cube that vibrated softly in the palm of his hand. Once he was out of listening range from the others he closed his eyes and spoke. “My lord. Give me your instructions and I shall accomplish whatever it may be without fail.”
he opened his eyes to find himself in a place that would transcend the understanding of most people, although he had been to this place many time in the past. Infinite things cascading from the walls like waterfalls; weapons, armors, shields, banners, random shapes, etc. all made from differing shades of shimmering metals and in the midst of it all sat Nammay.

“Kneel vessel, thou hast forgotten where you stand and whom you stand before.”
Nier’s eyes widened before he quickly fell to his knees and dropped his head to the ground with a ringing thud; blood now slowly beginning to pool around his head. “Good my vessel... Now to the matter at hand. The wellspring of information hast given me knowledge of a book which thou shalt retrieve for me. Its location is unknown, however it is said that it originated from the citadel. I will not bother with too much rhetoric; go and retrieve this book for me. Make haste and do not cause too much trouble between the other Houses. Where you go is thine choice alone and how you handle conflict is up to thee, but as I said... make haste child. Time is of the essence and failure is no option here.”


Before Nier could even lift his head he was back; upstairs in the mansion he was so familiar with. With the screams from the basement now reverberating in his ears he decided to quickly make his way back down. Fuck... that was pretty sudden. I guess I’ll have to get some sleep at a later time.
he entered the room with the others and one of them approached him quickly. “What happened to your head? Why are you bleeding?” she asked, Nier removing the gloves and placing them back into the suitcase. “It’s nothing to worry about, Yarah. Just ran into something by mistake. Make sure our friend here either give us what we need or he doesn’t walk out of here; I have some other important business to attend to”
, he said as he grabbed another towel and wiped the wound on his head.

Nier made his way back upstairs to a lit up living area where a middle aged woman sat quietly watching the television that rested on an adjacent wall. “Hey mom, I’m going to be heading out for more travels; an important wellspring to follow up on”
, he informed her as he approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t now how long this may take.”
“Do be safe, my little Bed-Bug. Don’t push yourself too hard and make sure you get lots of rest”, she said with a soft smile. “Oh, and do try to find a wife while you’re away. I’m sick of seeing you come home alone at your age.” Nier made his way to the door with a chuckle and stepped outside before turning around once more. “Sure thing mom; make sure you take care of yourself as well. The others will clean things up downstairs. Love you.”
He closed the door with a sigh and made his way to a motorcycle that rested by the gate of their home. I’ll have to find a place to start before anything. I’m already exhausted just thinking about all of this. Well, at least I’ll get Some time away from work... kinda.

The city of Dubai was alight, the cool night air brushing past the large buildings. A glowing silhouette that housed some of the wealthiest people and tourists in the country. Of these people Nier was not the richest, although he strives for complete longevity for what he did have. Most of his subordinates would call him a mediator; the people who were closer named him a protector. Meanwhile anyone who had to personally deal with him saw him as no more than a thug or gangster... and they wouldn’t be wrong.




On the outskirts of the main part of the city; away from the large towers and tourists, a medium sized mansion sat in the calmness of a normal living area. A place that was seemingly normal, although the beat of a familiar thud rung out from the interior. Within its walls, deep in the basement of the mansion, you’d find Nier and a few of his subordinates completing another “job”. A gloved fist dripping with blood rested at his side and, respectively, a man sat tied to a chair before him; bloody and battered from the beating he had been receiving. “I’d rather not continue this... I just need you to tell me who you’re workin for”
, he stretched his arms a little and placed a hand on the unknown man’s shoulder. “Can you do that for me? That’s all I need... we can all go home early tonight if you just talk to me.”




The man looked up to Nier slowly before spitting in his face. “Do whatever you must, but tell all of your friends that Farhad will not break to your methods of torture!” Nier didn’t move an inch as the man spoke; only turning after he had finished to remove his gloves and place them into a nearby waste bin. “Towel, please”
, he spoke as one of his companions handed him a white towel, allowing him to wipe the blood from his face. He fixed his silver hair which gave off an almost metallic glow before tossing the towel into the same bin with the sullied gloves. “How will you handle this, Nier?” “Well he clearly doesn’t understand his situation. Unable to... comprehend the air of the room. So I’ll just have to teach him a little.”
He opened a suitcase that sat on a nearby metal desk, revealing a pair of leather gloves covered in deep crimson stains. “You know, I prefer to sleep. In fact I’d probably be asleep right now. Instead I woke up this morning and heard someone was extorting specific people within this city”
, he said as he fixed the gloves comfortably over his fingers.

A silence fell over the room as Nier moved to stand in front of him. “So, Farhad was it? My mother lives here in Dubai you know; and it’s my duty to make sure she doesn’t need to worry any more than she already has to. I was born here. This is my home and as a person in my position it’s my job to show you proper hospitality... free his hands and hold one of them down.”
one of the others approached the captive and unbound his hands, keeping one of his arms secure behind his back. Nier, on the other hand, grabbed his free arm and held it outstretched. “I won’t accept anyone attempting to cheat my family or anyone else’s for that matter. You misunderstand the situation you’re in so I’ll enlighten you”
, he stated as he held the captives arm outstretched from the wrist, placing his free hand against Farhad’s elbow and applying slight pressure. “Just as easily as bones break or tendons snap your boss will have you replaced. When that happens we can get what we need from your replacement. So, Farhad... let us see if you’ll break before your bones d-“


Bz

Nier paused for a moment and released the man’s arm. “Excuse me for a moment. I have to make a quick call; you may continue here as you please”
, he said before exiting the room. He reached into his pocket as he ascended to the upper floor of the building, pulling out a small silver cube that vibrated softly in the palm of his hand. Once he was out of listening range from the others he closed his eyes and spoke. “My lord. Give me your instructions and I shall accomplish whatever it may be without fail.”
he opened his eyes to find himself in a place that would transcend the understanding of most people, although he had been to this place many time in the past. Infinite things cascading from the walls like waterfalls; weapons, armors, shields, banners, random shapes, etc. all made from differing shades of shimmering metals and in the midst of it all sat Nammay.

“Kneel vessel, thou hast forgotten where you stand and whom you stand before.”
Nier’s eyes widened before he quickly fell to his knees and dropped his head to the ground with a ringing thud; blood now slowly beginning to pool around his head. “Good my vessel... Now to the matter at hand. The wellspring of information hast given me knowledge of a book which thou shalt retrieve for me. Its location is unknown, however it is said that it originated from the citadel. I will not bother with too much rhetoric; go and retrieve this book for me. Make haste and do not cause too much trouble between the other Houses. Where you go is thine choice alone and how you handle conflict is up to thee, but as I said... make haste child. Time is of the essence and failure is no option here.”


Before Nier could even lift his head he was back; upstairs in the mansion he was so familiar with. With the screams from the basement now reverberating in his ears he decided to quickly make his way back down. Fuck... that was pretty sudden. I guess I’ll have to get some sleep at a later time.
he entered the room with the others and one of them approached him quickly. “What happened to your head? Why are you bleeding?” she asked, Nier removing the gloves and placing them back into the suitcase. “It’s nothing to worry about, Yarah. Just ran into something by mistake. Make sure our friend here either give us what we need or he doesn’t walk out of here; I have some other important business to attend to”
, he said as he grabbed another towel and wiped the wound on his head.

Nier made his way back upstairs to a lit up living area where a middle aged woman sat quietly watching the television that rested on an adjacent wall. “Hey mom, I’m going to be heading out for more travels; an important wellspring to follow up on”
, he informed her as he approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t now how long this may take.”
“Do be safe, my little Bed-Bug. Don’t push yourself too hard and make sure you get lots of rest”, she said with a soft smile. “Oh, and do try to find a wife while you’re away. I’m sick of seeing you come home alone at your age.” Nier made his way to the door with a chuckle and stepped outside before turning around once more. “Sure thing mom; make sure you take care of yourself as well. The others will clean things up downstairs. Love you.”
He closed the door with a sigh and made his way to a motorcycle that rested by the gate of their home. I’ll have to find a place to start before anything. I’m already exhausted just thinking about all of this. Well, at least I’ll get Some time away from work... kinda.

The city of Dubai was alight, the cool night air brushing past the large buildings. A glowing silhouette that housed some of the wealthiest people and tourists in the country. Of these people Nier was not the richest, although he strives for complete longevity for what he did have. Most of his subordinates would call him a mediator; the people who were closer named him a protector. Meanwhile anyone who had to personally deal with him saw him as no more than a thug or gangster... and they wouldn’t be wrong.




On the outskirts of the main part of the city; away from the large towers and tourists, a medium sized mansion sat in the calmness of a normal living area. A place that was seemingly normal, although the beat of a familiar thud rung out from the interior. Within its walls, deep in the basement of the mansion, you’d find Nier and a few of his subordinates completing another “job”. A gloved fist dripping with blood rested at his side and, respectively, a man sat tied to a chair before him; bloody and battered from the beating he had been receiving. “I’d rather not continue this... I just need you to tell me who you’re workin for”
, he stretched his arms a little and placed a hand on the unknown man’s shoulder. “Can you do that for me? That’s all I need... we can all go home early tonight if you just talk to me.”




The man looked up to Nier slowly before spitting in his face. “Do whatever you must, but tell all of your friends that Farhad will not break to your methods of torture!” Nier didn’t move an inch as the man spoke; only turning after he had finished to remove his gloves and place them into a nearby waste bin. “Towel, please”
, he spoke as one of his companions handed him a white towel, allowing him to wipe the blood from his face. He fixed his silver hair which gave off an almost metallic glow before tossing the towel into the same bin with the sullied gloves. “How will you handle this, Nier?” “Well he clearly doesn’t understand his situation. Unable to... comprehend the air of the room. So I’ll just have to teach him a little.”
He opened a suitcase that sat on a nearby metal desk, revealing a pair of leather gloves covered in deep crimson stains. “You know, I prefer to sleep. In fact I’d probably be asleep right now. Instead I woke up this morning and heard someone was extorting specific people within this city”
, he said as he fixed the gloves comfortably over his fingers.

A silence fell over the room as Nier moved to stand in front of him. “So, Farhad was it? My mother lives here in Dubai you know; and it’s my duty to make sure she doesn’t need to worry any more than she already has to. I was born here. This is my home and as a person in my position it’s my job to show you proper hospitality... free his hands and hold one of them down.”
one of the others approached the captive and unbound his hands, keeping one of his arms secure behind his back. Nier, on the other hand, grabbed his free arm and held it outstretched. “I won’t accept anyone attempting to cheat my family or anyone else’s for that matter. You misunderstand the situation you’re in so I’ll enlighten you”
, he stated as he held the captives arm outstretched from the wrist, placing his free hand against Farhad’s elbow and applying slight pressure. “Just as easily as bones break or tendons snap your boss will have you replaced. When that happens we can get what we need from your replacement. So, Farhad... let us see if you’ll break before your bones d-“


Bz

Nier paused for a moment and released the man’s arm. “Excuse me for a moment. I have to make a quick call; you may continue here as you please”
, he said before exiting the room. He reached into his pocket as he ascended to the upper floor of the building, pulling out a small silver cube that vibrated softly in the palm of his hand. Once he was out of listening range from the others he closed his eyes and spoke. “My lord. Give me your instructions and I shall accomplish whatever it may be without fail.”
he opened his eyes to find himself in a place that would transcend the understanding of most people, although he had been to this place many time in the past. Infinite things cascading from the walls like waterfalls; weapons, armors, shields, banners, random shapes, etc. all made from differing shades of shimmering metals and in the midst of it all sat Nammay.

“Kneel vessel, thou hast forgotten where you stand and whom you stand before.”
Nier’s eyes widened before he quickly fell to his knees and dropped his head to the ground with a ringing thud; blood now slowly beginning to pool around his head. “Good my vessel... Now to the matter at hand. The wellspring of information hast given me knowledge of a book which thou shalt retrieve for me. Its location is unknown, however it is said that it originated from the citadel. I will not bother with too much rhetoric; go and retrieve this book for me. Make haste and do not cause too much trouble between the other Houses. Where you go is thine choice alone and how you handle conflict is up to thee, but as I said... make haste child. Time is of the essence and failure is no option here.”


Before Nier could even lift his head he was back; upstairs in the mansion he was so familiar with. With the screams from the basement now reverberating in his ears he decided to quickly make his way back down. Fuck... that was pretty sudden. I guess I’ll have to get some sleep at a later time.
he entered the room with the others and one of them approached him quickly. “What happened to your head? Why are you bleeding?” she asked, Nier removing the gloves and placing them back into the suitcase. “It’s nothing to worry about, Yarah. Just ran into something by mistake. Make sure our friend here either give us what we need or he doesn’t walk out of here; I have some other important business to attend to”
, he said as he grabbed another towel and wiped the wound on his head.

Nier made his way back upstairs to a lit up living area where a middle aged woman sat quietly watching the television that rested on an adjacent wall. “Hey mom, I’m going to be heading out for more travels; an important wellspring to follow up on”
, he informed her as he approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t now how long this may take.”
“Do be safe, my little Bed-Bug. Don’t push yourself too hard and make sure you get lots of rest”, she said with a soft smile. “Oh, and do try to find a wife while you’re away. I’m sick of seeing you come home alone at your age.” Nier made his way to the door with a chuckle and stepped outside before turning around once more. “Sure thing mom; make sure you take care of yourself as well. The others will clean things up downstairs. Love you.”
He closed the door with a sigh and made his way to a motorcycle that rested by the gate of their home. I’ll have to find a place to start before anything. I’m already exhausted just thinking about all of this. Well, at least I’ll get Some time away from work... kinda.

The city of Dubai was alight, the cool night air brushing past the large buildings. A glowing silhouette that housed some of the wealthiest people and tourists in the country. Of these people Nier was not the richest, although he strives for complete longevity for what he did have. Most of his subordinates would call him a mediator; the people who were closer named him a protector. Meanwhile anyone who had to personally deal with him saw him as no more than a thug or gangster... and they wouldn’t be wrong.




On the outskirts of the main part of the city; away from the large towers and tourists, a medium sized mansion sat in the calmness of a normal living area. A place that was seemingly normal, although the beat of a familiar thud rung out from the interior. Within its walls, deep in the basement of the mansion, you’d find Nier and a few of his subordinates completing another “job”. A gloved fist dripping with blood rested at his side and, respectively, a man sat tied to a chair before him; bloody and battered from the beating he had been receiving. “I’d rather not continue this... I just need you to tell me who you’re workin for”
, he stretched his arms a little and placed a hand on the unknown man’s shoulder. “Can you do that for me? That’s all I need... we can all go home early tonight if you just talk to me.”




The man looked up to Nier slowly before spitting in his face. “Do whatever you must, but tell all of your friends that Farhad will not break to your methods of torture!” Nier didn’t move an inch as the man spoke; only turning after he had finished to remove his gloves and place them into a nearby waste bin. “Towel, please”
, he spoke as one of his companions handed him a white towel, allowing him to wipe the blood from his face. He fixed his silver hair which gave off an almost metallic glow before tossing the towel into the same bin with the sullied gloves. “How will you handle this, Nier?” “Well he clearly doesn’t understand his situation. Unable to... comprehend the air of the room. So I’ll just have to teach him a little.”
He opened a suitcase that sat on a nearby metal desk, revealing a pair of leather gloves covered in deep crimson stains. “You know, I prefer to sleep. In fact I’d probably be asleep right now. Instead I woke up this morning and heard someone was extorting specific people within this city”
, he said as he fixed the gloves comfortably over his fingers.

A silence fell over the room as Nier moved to stand in front of him. “So, Farhad was it? My mother lives here in Dubai you know; and it’s my duty to make sure she doesn’t need to worry any more than she already has to. I was born here. This is my home and as a person in my position it’s my job to show you proper hospitality... free his hands and hold one of them down.”
one of the others approached the captive and unbound his hands, keeping one of his arms secure behind his back. Nier, on the other hand, grabbed his free arm and held it outstretched. “I won’t accept anyone attempting to cheat my family or anyone else’s for that matter. You misunderstand the situation you’re in so I’ll enlighten you”
, he stated as he held the captives arm outstretched from the wrist, placing his free hand against Farhad’s elbow and applying slight pressure. “Just as easily as bones break or tendons snap your boss will have you replaced. When that happens we can get what we need from your replacement. So, Farhad... let us see if you’ll break before your bones d-“


Bz

Nier paused for a moment and released the man’s arm. “Excuse me for a moment. I have to make a quick call; you may continue here as you please”
, he said before exiting the room. He reached into his pocket as he ascended to the upper floor of the building, pulling out a small silver cube that vibrated softly in the palm of his hand. Once he was out of listening range from the others he closed his eyes and spoke. “My lord. Give me your instructions and I shall accomplish whatever it may be without fail.”
he opened his eyes to find himself in a place that would transcend the understanding of most people, although he had been to this place many time in the past. Infinite things cascading from the walls like waterfalls; weapons, armors, shields, banners, random shapes, etc. all made from differing shades of shimmering metals and in the midst of it all sat Nammay.

“Kneel vessel, thou hast forgotten where you stand and whom you stand before.”
Nier’s eyes widened before he quickly fell to his knees and dropped his head to the ground with a ringing thud; blood now slowly beginning to pool around his head. “Good my vessel... Now to the matter at hand. The wellspring of information hast given me knowledge of a book which thou shalt retrieve for me. Its location is unknown, however it is said that it originated from the citadel. I will not bother with too much rhetoric; go and retrieve this book for me. Make haste and do not cause too much trouble between the other Houses. Where you go is thine choice alone and how you handle conflict is up to thee, but as I said... make haste child. Time is of the essence and failure is no option here.”


Before Nier could even lift his head he was back; upstairs in the mansion he was so familiar with. With the screams from the basement now reverberating in his ears he decided to quickly make his way back down. Fuck... that was pretty sudden. I guess I’ll have to get some sleep at a later time.
he entered the room with the others and one of them approached him quickly. “What happened to your head? Why are you bleeding?” she asked, Nier removing the gloves and placing them back into the suitcase. “It’s nothing to worry about, Yarah. Just ran into something by mistake. Make sure our friend here either give us what we need or he doesn’t walk out of here; I have some other important business to attend to”
, he said as he grabbed another towel and wiped the wound on his head.

Nier made his way back upstairs to a lit up living area where a middle aged woman sat quietly watching the television that rested on an adjacent wall. “Hey mom, I’m going to be heading out for more travels; an important wellspring to follow up on”
, he informed her as he approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t now how long this may take.”
“Do be safe, my little Bed-Bug. Don’t push yourself too hard and make sure you get lots of rest”, she said with a soft smile. “Oh, and do try to find a wife while you’re away. I’m sick of seeing you come home alone at your age.” Nier made his way to the door with a chuckle and stepped outside before turning around once more. “Sure thing mom; make sure you take care of yourself as well. The others will clean things up downstairs. Love you.”
He closed the door with a sigh and made his way to a motorcycle that rested by the gate of their home. I’ll have to find a place to start before anything. I’m already exhausted just thinking about all of this. Well, at least I’ll get Some time away from work... kinda.