Chapter 5
Let's see how this plays out.
I took a deep breath, and walked towards her with the air of what I think is confidence.
"You're not thinking of stealing, are you, my lady?" She froze for a second and then turned around, her blue eyes glistened, they were too beautiful to be correlated to this street.
"Is that how you greet people?" she asked, I predicted her voice to be as sweet as sugar but, her voice was strong, not manly but, strong, her words were not sugar cotted, and that was the thing that I loved the most.
"No, only the interesting ones." I replied with a grin on my face.
She crossed her arms. "And what makes you think I'm one of those?"
I considerate she was interesting but I think she's more fun, and I loved it. The alley reeked of old cloth and burnt bread crusts. But somehow, her presence made it all feel... unreal. Like a gem fallen into soot.
Our conversation continued with the time; it was fascinating to spend my time talking to her, after so many years, I had fun speaking to someone as much as her. The last time someone spoke to me like that, it was probably a court lady who wanted to slap me. Elicia didn't want to impress me — and for some reason, I liked that more than flattery.
Her words were intriguing to hear, not because of her words or her voice but the way she speaks them, her voice was filled with boldness and a hint of someone who was craving for revenge, or it was just my imagination.
Our conversation kept on gripping my excitement, finally I managed to let her agree to let me tag along behind her, we stole things together, or maybe she alone did. She was stealing apples and my attention with equal ease. I didn't know which was more dangerous.
She was strong and had brain, at least much more than me, so what in world led her to be a thief? Maybe it was not my place to question it, so I didn't.
Thinking of it, her instincts were abnormal, it didn't take me long to realize that she was checking if anything was not normal around us while talking, maybe she was the not normal one herself. She flicked her hair off her shoulder like it was nothing — but I could tell she was listening to every footstep behind us.
The air stank of boiled cabbage and wet brick. A distant shout echoed from a drunk or a fight — maybe both. She didn't even flinch.
She joked, but there was something in her voice… a heaviness, like her words were dragging chains behind them. I almost asked — but I didn't want to scare her off.
I didn't perceive when it was evening.
It looks like it's already time to go to home, how should I tell her about it as she probably thinks me as a thug?
"Big brother." She said, for some reasons, it felt very satisfying to hear it from her mouth.
"Yes, my dear sister?" I chuckled.
"Never mind. I'm not calling you that." She looked like a cute lady, but I cannot get deceived by her look, as she is probably a street fighter in some ways as it's not much different to fight while steeling or in a street fight.
"So, Kallian, you have to leave for now." That's the gloomiest think I have heard in my whole day.
"But why? I was having fun."
"Because I'm going home." She spoke.
"Even better! I wonder what kind of house a lady like you has."
My excitement bar was too high. "But… my little sister's afraid of strangers."
"You have a little sister too?" I wonder what is she like? "Is she as interesting as you?"
"I don't know if she's interesting, but she's definitely… cuuuute." I wonder what she would be like, when someone as beautiful as Elicia is narrating her adorable.
"I wish I could meet her."
"Maybe someday." Ahh, I think it means no. "But can you at least tell me where you live?" I asked her.
"Why should I tell you?!" she looked appalled, maybe she thought I was going to murder her family, I think I should work on my way of speaking.
"Because I'm worried about you."
"You? Worry about me? Never." She took it as a joke.
"I am,"
She sighed, pointing to a side alley.
"See that last tent-like structure in the corner? That's my house." She pointed at the ragged structure, and I stood there, dumbfounded. That was her home?
I didn't know whether to be angry at the world or just impressed she walked around like royalty despite that. But still, that was too much, it is even shorter than my bathtub.
"That's…"
"Yeah, yeah. Now, off you go."
"Bye," I said, with a smile.
"Bye." I don't know why but she looked a little stunned as she keeps staring at me.
It seems like I have to go to home now, I wish I can keep meeting my first ever female street thief interesting friend.
I looked at her until she seems to reach her home.
I stretched my arms behind my head, and walked away, at some distance I found the carriage and the guard I arrived here with.
"It took you longer than expected", said the guard, with a face that clearly tells I am just asking for formality.
"Actually, I found one of my old friends here"
"Do you really expect me to believe that you found a friend here, at street?"
"Why do I even need to fill the expectation of a mere guard" I smirked, brushing my hairs by my hands.
"You are right, my lord, I apologize for crossing my boundaries", he bent a little.
"No need to apologize, let's move ahead" I got into the carriage.
I feel bad for behaving like this, but what can I do, he is probably just a spy my dad sent to check that I am not stepping beyond my boundaries, as he can even stop me. I felt weight of something in my pocket; I checked my them.
The half-eaten apple, a smile struck my face. I wonder how her family is like? I wonder if her family is as worse as mine?
Probably not.