Chapter 1 - The Chibi Looter

Sunlight beamed down with a partially cloudy sky. Buildings were ragged with worn down advertisements and negligence. The streets below were bustling. People made their way in crowds, bumping into one another without care.

“Stop that thief!” A man shouted, demanding those around to help.

How cliché. I mocked internally as I brushed past the legs of civilians. Using my shorter stature, I zipped through, long losing the man. Slipping out of the crowd, I found myself in an alley way, keeping my pace.

I held tightly over my cloak, the passersby in their strides nearly knocked it off my head or had it caught on their belongings.

Too easy. I mocked, holding onto a wrapped object in my hand. Popping out from the alley, the street was thinner than the main one, and a lot less busy.

“You, there.” A woman in uniform was off to the alleys side, glaring down at me.

“Uh...” I began to internally freakout. “Yes?”

“Hm... A small boy in a cloak.... I’m pretty sure you’re-”

I broke into a sprint.

“-The Chibi Looter!” The woman grabbed her necklace.

FWWEEEETTTT!!!

Ah shit! I jinxed it again!

“There he is!”

“You’re not getting away this time!”

Two men joined the female officer in pursuit, only being outpaced due to my slippery nature. A golden tint could be seen in my peripheral.

“Hey!”

“Brat!”

Bystanders shouted as I knocked over their merchandise and belongings. The officers were barely delayed, but that wasn’t my goal.

The golden tint as one of the officers caught herself shifted. As she adjusted her angled her hand, the tint would become more apparent and gave off a cold flaky dust. Her aim was shaky as she tried to home in on me.

Too late, idiot!

I ducked below the golden aim sight. An icicle perfectly followed its trajectory.

“What!” The man shouted.

“Idiot! We warned you he is slippery.” One of the officers stated.

“Tch.” I clicked my tongue.

Ready for the next golden tint, two made themselves known. The lines solidified but had a flickery appearance.

Would they use this type of magic on a kid?!

Having my question answered, two fire balls were shot. One was aimed for my lower right acting as a flame thrower, and the other my left side in the shape of a bird, they had me caged.

“Oops.” I mocked, using my free right hand, I caressed the golden line to my left, redirecting the fire bird in the opposite direction.

“WHAT!?!?” The officers freaked out, watching as the fire ball was thrown back.

“Ack!” The icicle officer quickly shot the fire ball will a cold blast, cooling it before it could hit them. “What just happened!?”

The guards were very confused as they picked back up the pursuit.

Ah... I didn’t mean to do that...

I internally reprimanded myself. Distracted by my thoughts, the guards had already got their bearings, as they cooperatively had their sights on me.

Two was bad enough, but three is overkill for a kid! Should I redirect again? Risk being found out?

“We got you now!” The female officer stated.

Ah, a cliché flag trigger. As if on cue, a concentration of blue tinted magic encased the pursuers.

“Ow... My legs hurt from all that running.” The female officer complained as she stopped in her tracks to rub her thighs.

“This thief is so mean, I don’t want to deal with him anymore.” The two other officers took comfortable postures. “Let’s have the Knighted Police deal with them.”

“We are the Knights.” The other officer corrected as they sat down on the concrete.

Uh oh... They’re relaxed... That means...

I cautiously looked around. Choosing to look up at a nearby building where I could see a cloaked individual, glaring down from above.

Ack... I guess I’ll get home... Hopefully she didn’t notice...

I internally cursed the officer who triggered this cliché flag and wandered home.

Cutting through alleys to lose any potential stalkers, I ignored the threatening looking people who occupied these dark corridors. Crammed in these back corners there were those starving, wounded, and desperate. Some preying eyes took notice of my covered-up object of interest.

“Hey there, little boy.” A crackly voiced man stepped in front of me.

“Tch.” I clicked my tongue, trying to hold back my words to his antagonizing nature.

“You seem to be getting ahead of yourself. Coming day after day with stolen goods. That won’t look too good if the knights find you.” He smirked, smugly staring down on my height disadvantage.

“It’s a good thing the knights won’t. You wouldn’t want them snooping around your place of business.” I glared at him.

“Hmm...” His eyes pierced. “I’m glad we’re at an understanding. You give me what you got, and the knights have no reason to bother either of us.”

I could see a tint of magic encircling his leg.

“Hmm...” I pondered. “Nah.”

Clearly displeased with my answer, the man already had his kick aim at my head.

I almost feel bad for the guy.

Seeing a single point on which his magic was concentrated, I met his kick with my own. We clashed, our legs locked mid swings for one another. Neither of us could overpower the other.

“What... ACK!” The man yelled, dropping to the floor and cradling his hurt knee.

“Don’t be so focused on the kill.” I let my piercing gaze down on him, successfully intimidating him.

“W- What did you do! You broke my leg, you bastard! ACK!” He cried as I gave a swift kick to his chin.

“Don’t ever call me a boy again! I’m a girl!!!” I yelled.

“Eii!” The man wailed, feeling the blunt of my weaker kick where every man's weak point resides.

“Now I’m pissed.” I complained, leaving the man to cry the pain away.