ITD WESTERN AU LOREDROP PART 3
The outside world, its problems, and the hero are back in action!
The world beyond Earth Hell appears calm, as if nothing has changed, but that only seems so on the surface. After Sin's removal from power, the Sins, eager to gain as many souls as possible, began to influence the lands beyond Hell through their connections. This primarily involved illegal activity, which gained momentum over the course of a couple of years, developing into entire underground dens and criminal gangs, intoxicated by their permissiveness thanks to contracts with the Sins and demons*. Corrupt authorities overlooked their activities, and it seemed things would only get worse… until a hero appeared out of nowhere!
Sahu also holds an important position in the AU – he cleanses peaceful lands of criminals, though he regrets the bloodshed. In his early 20s, he even served as sheriff in a particularly troubled area and came out unscathed. Society isn't bothered by his personality contrast: his transformation from a good-natured pacifist to an instant killer who ignores wounds. The murders of smugglers and criminals are encouraged, as the safety of ordinary citizens has been precarious in recent years.
But despite the general approval, Sahu hasn't established any comradeship with anyone. His eccentricities are obvious in close contact, and he can react to everyday things as if he'd just been released from the basement where he'd been kept his entire life. And that's hardly the truth. Sahu doesn't remember his entire childhood, and his guardian, Argyle, who excelled in surgery, explains this by citing amnesia due to a physical trauma he suffered during those years. And the "triggers" Sahu has lived with his entire life are also consequences, only they were channeled in the right direction. At least that's what Argyle says.
The "hero's" life spiraled until one day Argyle gave him a particularly important assignment. Where did he get the information about this assignment? Who knows, Sahu's guardian always planned ahead, and whoever got the information about Earth Hell from can only guess. Sahu's mission was to go to Hell, learn more about the bigwigs there, relay that information, and, if possible, kill those bastards. This was shocking to Sahu, but he couldn't disobey due to his strict upbringing and duty.
Before the journey, the hero was warned that he would have to walk after disembarking the train, and for good reason…
Earth Hell is invisible from afar and appears as a mirage only upon approach (thanks to Sin and Phil's pact). From afar, it's just a vast, empty space, overgrown with evil legends: gunfighters and wanderers avoided this doomed place.
And even having information that there is a prosperous and a less prosperous part, he wandered into the wrong place.
"Understanding the Beauty of Birdcage"
Sahu ventured into the depths of Birdcage, hoping to find help or learn more. But he found nothing but slums and gangs. After several days there, he grasped the core principles: first, this place doesn't care who you are or where you're from; it will drag all your humanity into the dirt; second, alone, you're an easy target. And he cemented the second lesson.
His appearance as a city boy from a wealthy family easily gave him away against the dusty landscape. And he miraculously avoided a bullet to the head when he simply ducked.
The noise attracted nearby vagabonds, who decided to rob and kill the stranger. But before the shooter fled, Sahu remembered him, and then a fight ensued. Thanks to his triggers he won, but due to blood loss, he managed to lose his balance and fall into the river. A tragic end for a hero… but no. Someone pulled him out of the river and, at the same time, from the afterlife.
When Sahu awoke, he was greeted by a pleasant young man who tended to his wounds and brought him back to his senses. He was the first living creature in Birdcage who hadn't tried to kill him. According to Clash they were at an old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere — an abandoned place he and his friend had recently discovered. Clash wasn't fazed by Sahu's awkward questions and responded to them more comfy than the outsiders. A simple conversation of everyday matters distracted the hero from his recent trauma. The "savior" even shared his biography, although in such a dangerous place, trusting strangers is life-threatening.
Clash was born in Birdcage, but was unable to find companions or close friends due to his naive, good-natured nature. Such sentimental qualities repel most, searching for subtext within them, terrifying them, and for years they viewed him with suspicion. Clash wandered the Birdcage until he found a companion — the only one unafraid to trust. The idea of such a friendship touched Sahu, who had no companions or particularly warm, close connections (Argyle was not the stereotypical abusive father and had never used violence against Sahu; he was emotionally withdrawn and weak as a parental figure). Even he himself opened up a little to his new acquaintance.
They chatted for a long time about various things until the comedy peaked: Clash's friend — the same shooter who had practically finished off Sahu — came up to the second floor, mired in semi-darkness. He immediately lost his cool and was about to interrogate the hero, but Clash held him back, assuring him of Sahu's trustworthiness and kindness. Sahu nodded helplessly, feeling the metal barrel of the gun pressed against his temple, biting the inside of his cheek to hold back his triggers.
Clash's best friend had a negative attitude toward Sahu. The irony was that the wounded former sheriff had nowhere else to go, and his steed remained in the same area where he'd clashed with the bandits. Clash allowed him to stay there as long as he wanted, even if his friend objected.
Trash refused to introduce himself to Sahu in any way — he avoided his company and ignored him, wandering off during the day. Such a crude nickname embarrassed Clash, but Trash didn't give it up simply because it had kept him alive in Birdcage for years, no matter how bitter it sounded.
Trash isn't a name, but a nickname he earned in the orphanages he'd been in. He was a hellborn who, as is usually the case, was simply dumped into an orphanage without even a name. Eyes like his are considered a sign of low birth, descended from a lesser demon, which only made his life more difficult. There was simply no chance of finding a family.
Because of bullying, he was sent to other orphanages (they exist in the circles of Betrayal, Gluttony, and Deception), but each time the situation worsened, as did the abuse from his peers. It all ended with him simply being thrown out onto the streets at sixteen. He had no choice but go to the Birdcage.
Most hellborns survive in Earth Hell by making contracts with demons — they give them their souls, and in return, the demons provide them with protection and a stable life. These are usually working relationships, but the catch is that after death, once in Hell, the hellborns continue to work for them, which lasts forever. For example, Skitzo made such a contract with Idolatry, but Idol is loyal and treats him well. In other cases, demons are cruel to those who are half-human. Since childhood, Trash had been haunted by the thought of ending up in Hell due to his origins, no matter how hard he tried to improve, and the idea of selling his soul to some demon was even more frightening.
Years before meeting Clash, he had screwed up, done the worst things in his life (developing an addiction to the taste of human flesh), worked as a mercenary, and when everything seemed to be at rock bottom, Trash met him. Since then, the former (or not quite) mercenary has viewed Clash as family and cherishes him.
So far, Sahu has struggled to establish a normal relationship with Trash, but he doesn't blame him. He's wary of Sahu's friendly gestures, seeing him as a city boy who will betray them at the first opportunity. The hero is recovering poorly from his serious wounds, but he tries to help them both to compensate for his presence in someone else's home (his city upbringing is taking its toll). Sahu has also started keeping a full-length diary, recording all his observations for Argyle.
P.S. Sahu's horse is alive; Trash found him in a nearby field and brought back, even though he's not very good with animals. He also silently returned Sahu's lost hat, already mended… oh well.
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