Chapter 5 - Familiar blue vial

The early streets were crowded. People made their way around for their daily tasks or finding spots to sit around. Discordia and I wandered, in our wandering she concerningly watched as I sniffled, holding back my tears.

“You should be glad Layla didn’t do anything worse. You hate it when she uses her magic on you.” Discordia stated.

“But!” I held back a runny nose. “I wanted to lounge around today! I was so far on my RPG, and she hid my handheld!”

Discordia watched me pout.

“It’s not like you’ll never get it back. Let’s do something to distract from the pain, okay?”

“Hmh...” I mildly agreed.

Discordia and I had our cloaks wrapped around our waists as we walked, ready to throw them on at a moment's notice.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to try the blacksmiths again after yesterday? Maybe he tightened security around the main shop.” I stated.

“It doesn’t hurt to check. Besides, it was his workspace that got robbed, not the store itself.” Discordia prompted. I felt she was underestimating or not caring to think about it logically.

Finding ourselves at a crossroads, Discordia gave me stern eyes.

“Listen. You’ll go to the blacksmith’s store and not his workspace. Do you understand?”

“Yes... Are we really going to do this before every heist?” I asked annoyed.

“Hmh.” Discordia simply nodded. "Because you’re an idiot.”

With our minor disagreement, we parted ways.

She doesn’t have to be so blunt! That girl! I internally cursed her.

Seeing the shop closing in, I readied my cloak. Before I could throw it on though, a bright reflection hit my eyes. A girl in white armor sat defeatedly in front of the shop, ignoring the comments from the onlookers.

“A holy knight here?”

“She’s so young, I bet she has family higher up.”

“These damn nepotistic brats. Not struggling a day in their lives.”

With each negative observation, Audrey shrunk more in her arms. I could hear tiny sniffles that sounded familiar to my own.

“Are you okay?” I asked, curious.

“Huh?” She looked up to me.

Her blue eyes got my attention immediately, both beautiful and powerful. With pale skin and blushed cheeks, she appeared to be holding back her emotions.

Ack! A rich kid who’s seeing the real world for the first time is struggling? I wonder if she’ll throw something nice my way if I help.

“You look like you're having a tough time.” I observed.

She must be having a similar problem to my own, Layla took my handheld and with no new anime to watch, I’m stealing to make up time.

“Oh...” Audrey rubbed her nose. “Something important to me was stolen... I... I don’t know what to do...”

Oh, she’s a sucker. It's common for those not from the city to get robbed, usually they get scammed to buying garbage but to rob a holy knight is outrageously dangerous.

“Well... You’re a holy knight, right? Surely the Knighted Police will find your thief! They have people stationed all around the city.” I stated.

Information like this isn’t free. I internally prepped my proposal.

“The Police only help on official business... They don’t believe the importance of what was stolen from me and think I’m playing a game on them...” Audrey said with disappointment. “My friends are trying to work something out with the blacksmith... But I know it’s already too late...”

Audrey shrunk in defeat, there was no sense of will in her voice. I understand giving up but in such a sad state irked me.

“Hey!” I made a fist. “Don’t give up on something if it’s important to you! Look!” I commanded her attention, pointing at my hairpin confused her.

“Is that hairpin important to you...?” She questioned.

“Hmh!” I took it off and brought it to her eye level for the two of us to see. “I’ve had this supposedly when I was a baby. I was found with it holding the blanket together that kept me warm when I was all alone.”

“Alone? As a baby? Where’s your parents?” Audrey asked concerned.

“I don’t know.” I chuckled in honesty. “I was found by the person who cares for me now... My parents are likely dead... Killed when the Demon King destroyed the Holy City.”

Audrey’s eyes widened. “You... You were there when the Demon King first attacked?”

“Well, I was a baby.” I reminded her.

Audrey chuckled, now I was confused. “I guess we’re similar then.”

“Huh?” I questioned. “Why’s that?”

“My parent’s both died in that attack as well... And I ended up in the care of a women who I consider to be my mother to this day.”

“I wouldn’t say mine is like my mother. More of annoying and mean older sister.” I pouted but felt a sense of connection. “Look... I’ll be nice and tell you this. Whoever robbed you must be someone pretty gutsy, so the police will not be any good at helping on that. But... The adventure’s hall is full of people willing to do a whole lot if promised the right reward.”

“Reward? Like what?” She questioned.

“Hmm... Since you’re a Holy knight, maybe weapons? Money is kind of abstract in these parts since we trade money and goods equally. Oh, you could try offering living quarters in the capital! As long as they don’t have to fight the Demon King in the front lines I mean.”

“Hmm...” Audrey gave it some thought. “Let me talk with my friends!"

After standing up gleefully, she dusted herself off and rushed into the store.

Hmm... I don’t know why but that felt nice... Ah... I forgot to get some kind of payment...

As my thoughts battled themselves, three people walked out. Audrey and a man both wore similar shiny armor, only the boy wielded a sword. An older woman looking to be around Layla’s age accompanied them. Her red hair was beautiful, her blue eyes were striking, and her attire was more formal being a white dress.

“I hope you’re right about this, Elvire. I don’t think they’ll steal a second time.” Audrey buzzed with her comrades, walking past me she stopped and quickly wandered over to me.

“Thank you for your help! I was scared this was the end.” She shook my arm vigorously, it hurt.

“A- Ah yes! Ow-! G- Glad to help. I’m hoping you find what was stolen from you!” I tried getting the idea of payment out of my mouth, but the handshake really hurt.

“See, I told you she wasn’t just using me for money! She’s a nice girl!” Freeing my hand she announced her observations to her comrades, doubtful of my intentions.

The red hair woman especially had her eyes on me.

Ah, her comrades are not suckers.

“It was nice meeting you, uh...”

“Mallory...” I stated, rubbing my hurt hand and stretching my arm.

“Mallory... That’s a nice name.” She smiled. “I’m Audrey. I promise to repay you for your help today!”

With that promise, the three made their way. I could feel the red hair woman's eyes from a distance. She seems to be very keen.

“Uh, I hope you find what was taken from you!” We waved to one another. The moment felt wasted as I couldn’t get anything but a promise.

I sighed. Throwing my cloak, I entered the store. There were only a few inside, more manageable than the crowd here yesterday.

I guess Discordia was right, only the workshop is their worry. I guess that means we’ll have an easy day.

I kept to the motions of the patrons currently looking around. All cloaked similarly to me. It’s not weird for people to hide their faces with the amount of underhanded deals that happen in this city, but the blacksmith’s shop was weird to be so secretive.

Shelves took up the center space of the shop, covered in both used and recently made tools. I haven’t seen any golden tints yet. Surveying the walls, I spotted a magic outline on the lower part of the wall.

There she is.

Noting my escape route in my head, I kept looking. The other patrons shuffled around. I could feel their attention, but I didn’t know why.

Damn, there isn’t anything of interest here. I guess it’s time to leave.

As I readied to depart, I spotted the golden tint. I eyed the seemingly out of place vial on the counter. It was blue. I have never seen anything like it before, but there was no mistaking the golden tint emanating from it.

This blue tint is very familiar. I couldn’t put my finger on it as I gave it some thought.

The others in the shop were more focused on the shelves over the vial, this is my chance. Grabbing it without making a sound, I felt a burst of attention.

“THERE SHE IS! THE CHIBI LOOTER!” A female screamed.

“Huh?” I gasped, witnessing all the patrons threw off their cloaks and revealing their police uniforms.

“We have you surrounded, and all exits are blocked! Surrender peacefully!” The women with ice magic from yesterday demanded.

“Uh...” I was in a complete daze, I have never fallen for their traps before.

And without thinking, I rushed to my escape route.