In the bustling Aurië market, Kieran ran with ragged breaths. His dirty face was tense, but his lips curled into a victorious smile. The worn small bag containing the stolen money was hidden securely under his shirt, tied with a cord so it wouldn't fall out.
As he turned into a narrow alley, he accidentally collided with a woman in a white robe. Kieran's body recoiled slightly, and he almost fell. The woman clutched her shoulder bag tightly but didn't seem disturbed.
"Forgive me!" Kieran said hastily, panicking as he glimpsed a shiny green object in the woman's bag. He didn't stop to check, instead immediately continuing his run.
Shortly after, Neir arrived at the alley. Her breath was ragged, her red hair disheveled by the wind. Her eyes briefly met those of the woman in white, but her focus remained on the boy getting further away. Without a second thought, Neir resumed her chase.
The increasingly crowded market streets forced Kieran to think fast. He jumped onto a pile of wooden crates near a house wall, then nimbly pulled himself onto the roof. His steps were light and practiced, avoiding the fragile roof tiles.
Under his shirt, the small bag felt glued to his skin, the only reminder of his boldness today. "Almost there," he muttered to himself as he jumped from one roof to another.
At the edge of the roof, he jumped down through a hidden opening protected by brick rubble. It was the entrance to the Den of Shadows, a hiding place known only to a select few.
---
The Meeting at the Hideout
In the dark, damp underground room, its walls adorned with creeping tree roots, Greva stood with her arms crossed. The old woman with gray hair stared at Kieran with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
"You foolish boy! You caused another commotion, didn't you?" she scolded, snatching a handful of spicy powder from a leather pouch at her waist. With great vigor, she threw it towards the boy.
"Hey! Ouch, that stings!" Kieran rubbed his stinging eyes. "Do you always carry this stupid powder, you old hag? You must be a failed witch who wanted to be a cook."
"Don't talk back, boy!" Greva stepped closer with an intimidating glare. "Do you know how much I have to do to cover your tracks? Lyara provided all the information in detail—the layout of the money, the fishmonger's schedule. But you had to draw attention! Did you even hear our instructions?"
Kieran suppressed a laugh while grinning. "Yeah, yeah, I heard, but I thought it was better to provide some entertainment. People are too bored with their lives, so I helped them have some fun. For free, you know."
Greva snorted loudly, her face growing redder. "If I hadn't intervened, you'd be dragged off by the city guards by now!"
"In that case, you deserve an award. 'Hero of the Little Thieves'," Kieran retorted mockingly.
Before Greva could truly explode, a flat, heavy voice cut in. "That's enough."
Rasmus, a sturdy man with a cold expression, stepped into the room. The sharpness of his gaze immediately silenced the atmosphere.
"You two arguing like this just makes you look like children fighting over a cookie," he said without expression.
Greva snorted, while Kieran smiled thinly. "If there were cookies, I'd definitely win. Greva's too old for food fights," Kieran replied, trying to tease.
Rasmus ignored the comment and continued in a serious tone. "If you want to fight, wait until I set up a stage in the town square. I'm sure the citizens would pay to see your drama."
Kieran tried to hold back his laughter but failed. "A stage? Will you be the narrator? With your cold face, you'd be perfect for a horror story."
Greva let out a long sigh, clearly losing her patience. "Rasmus, I beg you, stop. Your jokes are worse than this boy's attitude."
Rasmus raised an eyebrow, still flat. "I was just trying to lighten the mood. But if you don't like it, I'll invite a clown from the neighboring kingdom."
Greva rolled her eyes, while Kieran chuckled. "Good one, Rasmus. I'm sure that clown will teach you how to make proper jokes."
Rasmus stared at Kieran emotionlessly. "And I'm sure you need a course on listening to instructions."
Silence. Kieran finally looked down, though his lips still held a trace of a mischievous smile.
Rasmus then approached and looked at them both. "Tomorrow, there's a new mission. This time, we won't make any more mistakes. And Kieran," he stared sharply at the boy, "if you draw attention again, I'll make sure you become target practice for Lyara's archery."
Kieran swallowed hard but still grinned. "Archery practice? Make sure I get armor first."
Greva slapped her forehead, unable to bear the frustration. "I need herbal tea after this."
---
The next morning, Neir woke up earlier than usual, even though the sun hadn't fully illuminated the sky. The cold morning air touched her skin as she got out of bed, feeling the softness of the blanket she had just left. After refreshing herself with a quick bath, Neir walked to the small table beside her bed.
There lay the green pendant she had found yesterday, silent on the fine cloth she used as a base. Slowly, she picked it up with both hands, feeling its weight, slightly lighter than she had imagined. The pendant seemed to call to her, and without hesitation, she put it around her neck. As the cold metal touched her skin, she felt a strange sensation, as if something had connected within her—something more than just an ordinary piece of jewelry.
Neir looked at herself in the small mirror hanging on the wall, noticing the pendant's shimmer under the soft morning sunlight. A slight smile graced her lips, feeling that something was different, though she couldn't explain what it was.
After that, Neir hurried out of her room to the main room, where her mother, Mariela, was already busy preparing goods for the day. Neir's mother looked slightly tired; her eyes, swollen the previous night, had now healed, though a slight redness remained.
"Mom, let me handle setting up the stall, okay?" Neir said enthusiastically, carrying a small crate of freshly cleaned fish.
Mariela turned to her with a soft smile, though weariness showed on her face. "Alright, but be careful. Don't drop them, Neir. These fish must get to the market in perfect condition."
Neir nodded eagerly, feeling more confident after wearing the green pendant. She arranged the fish carefully on the table, making sure everything was neatly organized. Her heart felt a little lighter today, despite the lingering curiosity.
Upon arriving at the market, Neir helped arrange the merchandise while her mother went to the fishermen to get additional fish supplies. Several customers had already come, and Neir served them politely.
When Mariela returned with a large load of fish, she carried a special basket with leather straps placed on her head. The basket was designed to keep the fish fresh during the journey. Inside were several types of fish like red snapper, mackerel, and skipjack tuna, which were the mainstays of their trade.
Towards noon, Mariela asked Neir to deliver a fish order to Mr. Gharrick's house. "Take this on your bike. And be careful on the road," Mariela instructed while packing the fish.
Neir beamed. She remembered Mr. Gharrick's promise to teach her how to read. The joy was so evident on her face that it made Mariela curious.
"Why are you so happy to see Mr. Gharrick?" Mariela asked curiously.
"Mom," Neir began hesitantly, but her eyes shone with strong determination. "I want to study with Mr. Gharrick. He said I could come to the library anytime."
The words struck Mariela like a thunderbolt. She, who was adjusting the position of the fish basket, immediately stopped her work. For a moment, shock was clearly visible on her face. "Study?" she repeated, making sure she hadn't misheard.
Neir nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Mom. Mr. Gharrick told me the first time we met at the library. He even said I could start anytime."
Mariela fell silent for a moment, swallowing the bitter reality hidden behind this simple request. She looked at Neir with a forced gentle smile, then nodded. "Of course, dear. You can study as much as you want with Mr. Gharrick."
Yet, behind that smile, her heart felt as heavy as carrying a large stone. Ten years have passed just like that... and I only managed to teach her simple arithmetic. And even that was to help with trading, not for her own sake. I've been too busy thinking about survival until I forgot her most basic needs.
"Mom?" Neir called, snapping her mother out of her thoughts.
Mariela snapped back to reality and smiled again.
Neir looked down awkwardly,a sense of guilt creeping into her heart. She knew her mother was holding back sadness over the money lost yesterday—money that should have been for buying new supplies. But Neir also knew her mother wouldn't bring it up again, not after she tried to smile to cheer her up.
Neir tried to lighten the mood by hopping excitedly and exclaiming, "Thank you, Mom! Thank you for allowing me to study with Mr. Gharrick!"
Mariela chuckled softly, then stroked Neir's head. "Yes, dear. You can study with him as much as you want. He's a good man, isn't he?"
Neir nodded eagerly. "Of course! He's the library keeper. The first time we met, I knew he would teach me many things. He even said I could start learning anytime."
Mariela smiled softly. "Yes. We've known each other for quite a long time. He's one of my most loyal customers. But he rarely comes to the market—probably because his work takes up a lot of his time. Luckily, he always finds a way to keep ordering fish from us."
"I'm glad we have a customer like Mr. Gharrick," Neir said. Yet, in her heart, she still felt awkward. She knew her mother was trying to hide her disappointment after losing the hard-earned money.
"Neir," Mariela called softly. "Be careful on the road later. And don't forget to thank Mr. Gharrick for being willing to take the time to teach you."
"Yes, Mom!" Neir smiled, then ran to her bicycle. The bike had been modified to carry a fish basket on the back. She checked the basket briefly, ensuring everything was secure before starting to pedal away.
The scorching midday sun made her shadow appear short on the cobblestone road. The noon wind felt like a reluctant hand's sweep, not strong enough to cool the body but enough to tousle her red hair. Although she felt a small sadness for her mother, Neir chose to focus on her new promise: to study wholeheartedly, to make her mother proud.
Mariela watched Neir leave with a faint smile, like a painter satisfied with the final stroke on their canvas. However, she remained unaware of the small detail that had escaped her notice—the mysterious green pendant Neir had found now hung around her daughter's neck, shimmering softly like a dewdrop catching the midday light.
Just as the wind hides the traces of its heat among the trees, so too did the pendant conceal a meaning unknown to Mariela. But for now, she was simply a mother whispering a silent prayer in her heart, hoping this day would bring new happiness for her daughter.
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