The rustle of brightly colored fabrics piled high on wooden racks and the hum of the townspeople filled the air in the cloth shop in Hildern, a busy town just outside the forest. Sunlight pouring in through big windows shone on rolls of silk and cotton, giving the joyful chaos a warm glow.
But Leo sat at the worn counter, his rough fingers tapping a restless beat, his crimson eyes far-off and stormy.
His mind swirled with questions. Erin Dranemount, who are you really? Tied to Goddess Celestia? Or that cult’s Goddess Ashtarya? Why do you feel so familiar? His jaw tightened, teeth grinding as he recalled how Elynn had followed Erin’s order to freeze him.
This fucking system betrayed , he thought, anger bubbling like a storm about to burst.
[Respect!]
Elynn’s voice broke through his thoughts.
Leo’s irritation flared, and he snapped back in his mind, Respect? After you betrayed ? You’re just a tool made by that Goddess.
[Negative!]
[Even with Goddess creating ! No one has access to command except you!]
[I was programd to guide you!]
[So in short, even the Goddess doesn’t have access to command !]
Leo’s eyes widened, surprise cutting through his anger. "Are you ssing with ?" he muttered quietly, keeping his voice low to avoid curious looks from the shop’s busy custors. "You clearly followed Erin’s command."
[Reo, I’m also programd to stop you from hurting yourself or harming people important to you!] Elynn explained, her voice firm but patient, like a teacher with a stubborn kid.
Leo’s fist clenched, his whisper sharp, barely heard over the shop’s noise. "Important to ? Erin? Important to ? How the hell—"
A kind voice interrupted, warm and clear. "Sir, the girls changed their clothes," said the middle-aged shop owner, her gentle smile wrinkling her eyes. Leo had told her to give the girls the best, most expensive dresses in the shop.
Vivien’s happy voice rang out, bright as a bell. "Elder brother, how do we look?"
Leo turned, his anger lting like ice in sunlight as Vivien and Lysa stepped from the changing room. They stood together, no longer shadows of the prison but glowing with hope. As she spun, Vivien’s auburn hair caught the light from her bright blue dress, and her eyes glead with happiness.
Standing shyly, Lysa touched the smooth fabric with her fingers in awe, her soft green dress adding color to her pale cheeks.
They were dressed in clothes that made them appear like children once more rather than prisoners, replacing the filthy, torn rags of their captivity.
Lysa’s eyes were wide with wonder as she followed the delicate stitches; it felt miraculous to be wearing clean clothes for the first ti in months.. A shy, trembling smile grew on her face, fragile but true, as if she could finally believe in a world beyond the prison’s walls.
Leo’s face softened, a warm, real smile breaking through the storm in his heart. He stood, dropping the coins from Erin’s pouch onto the counter with a soft clink, her gift grounding him. With a proud tone, he patted their heads with both hands and remarked, "You both look like little angels."
His voice was steady but kind as he turned to face the store owner. "Where can I find a decent restaurant?"
Grinning, she gestured to the door. "A restaurant is close by. The food there is very delicious."
With a nod, Leo led Vivien and Lysa to the storefront, their little hands warm and confident in his.
After a few minutes, they three were sitting in a restaurant that the shop owner referred to. The sll of spices and baked goods wrapped around Leo, Vivien, and Lysa as they sat at a little table by the window, late afternoon sunlight streaming in.
Vivien ate eagerly, her hunger fierce after three days of starvation in the prison. Even as a noble girl, the simple restaurant food—plain but filling—brought a big smile to her face, her cheeks stuffed with bread.
Lysa stared at her plate, her thin hands hovering over the fork, mories of the prison’s darkness creeping in, where hunger had dulled her.
Leo, chewing his food, noticed her pause and muttered, "Co on, girl, eat it."
Lysa looked at him, eyes wide, like she needed his okay. He kept going, voice gentle but firm. "We need to travel three days from now. You gotta be strong if you want to see your family again."
Vivien, mouth full, piped up, her voice bright. "The food is really great here!"
Lysa’s hands shook as she picked up the fork, taking a small bite of at. The taste hit her hard, her body trembling, tears welling as she fought to hold them back. Leo tapped her back lightly, voice soft. "Don’t worry about anything. Just eat." She nodded, eating faster, matching Vivien’s pace, her hunger waking up.
Leo watched, heart heavy, wondering how many months she’d been stuck in that awful place. She needs ti to heal, he thought.
Then his eyes flicked around, sharp but quiet, spotting two figures in the corner watching him for a while. Their rough clothes and hard stares marked them as tougher than the usual townsfolk.
After a few minutes, the figures stood, heading for the exit. As they passed, one muttered, voice low just for Leo, "et us at the back street."
Leo didn’t react, taking a slow bite of bread, face calm. A shadow wraith slipped from his shadow to Vivien’s, without getting noticed to anyone.
He stood, wiping his hands, and said, "Girls, eat everything like good kids. I’ll be back in a minute."
Vivien looked up, curious. "Where you going?"
Leo glanced back, a small grin on his face. "Just a talk about sothing."
She nodded, eyes bright. "Co quickly!"
Leo stepped outside, boots crunching on the cobblestone as he followed the n into a narrow alley between the restaurant and another building.
The two n waited, their faces hard but careful.
One, a big man, spoke first. "You guys not using masks now? You look so young." His tone was rough, eyes narrowing. "Anyways, why’d you use us to get the two goods?"
Leo caught their aning, noting the dress he’s wearing where Leo took from the first floor of prison, and played along, leaning against the wall, body relaxed but his red eyes sharp, ready to act if needed. "You an about the slaves?" he said, voice smooth, testing them.
The other man, leaner with a nervous gaze, nodded. "Yeah. Your group taking from another trader or sothing?"
Leo’s smirk was cold, his tone vague. "Let’s say we’re... expanding our sources. Why’s it matter to you?"
The big man frowned, wary. "Matters ’cause we’re the ones moving the goods. If you’re cutting new deals, we need to know who’s calling the shots."
Leo stepped closer, letting a hint of danger into his voice. "Bosses don’t share every detail with the muscle. You know how it works." His eyes narrowed, voice low. "But if you’ve got complaints, I can pass ’em up. Who’re you reporting to?"
The lean man shifted, voice gruff. "We work with Voren."
Leo nodded, staying cool. "I’ll talk to Voren directly. Sorry for the trouble. I’ll deal with him myself."
The big man grunted, satisfied but stern. "Deal it properly. We don’t need to lose our work." They turned, slipping back into the busy street.
Leo stood still, watching them go, mind racing. Stirring up small fish makes the big ones slip away, he thought, deciding not to chase them. Voren’s na was a clue, one he’d follow later. For now, Vivien and Lysa were his priority.
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