[Skell]
"Then you're ready?" the guardsman adjusted his seat across the table. "You… have been listening, haven't you?"
My wrists drew far too much of my attention. I flexed them repeatedly. They were free. Unshackled. I couldn't let that change.
"Yes. You want answers."
A crown of rounded antlers pointed my way as he nodded, poking through tidy brown hair. The deerfolk dipped his quill into an inkpot and hunched over a blank paper. "Your name, please?"
"Skell Valzo."
"Occupation?"
"None. Currently."
"Are you a resident of Selem?"
"Visitor."
"All right," he stopped to scribble with black-tipped fingers, "next question-"
"Look." I sat up, surrounded by the exact sort of cramped, oppressive room I'd come to hate. "I need to know: are you throwing me in a cell?"
The guardsman paused, gaze drifting to a nearby vent as he awkwardly scratched at his patchy beard. "I'm not so important as to decide who is and isn't jailed. That would be up to the courts…"
Courts. That word sealed it for me. When faced with time in prison, some people slam those who talk of other suspects, throwing around words like "rat" and the like. Call me the same and I'd wear the insult like a badge. I wouldn't hesitate to spill everything that scumbag thief had done, and more importantly, make sure I wasn't tied to him by the thinnest thread. I couldn't afford to rot in a cell; I'd had my fill of rotting a long time ago.
Which is why, ever since I was "politely" escorted to the guard station, I'd been crafting a persuasive testimony with which to plead my innocence.
It was almost a shame I didn't get to use it.
"-although, I very much doubt it will come to that," continued the man, just as I opened my mouth.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll explain soon. First, let us review what's happened so that we're on the same page."
"Uh, okay. Sure." I watched him cautiously.
Starting with a deep breath, he went on to describe the events of the chase, from the chaotic markets to the solitary rooftops to our dive onto the street. The recounting was, well, oddly accurate.
"You seem confused," noted the guardsman. "Did something I say contradict your memory?"
"No, no, not at all. Just, where'd you get all this info?"
He laughed politely. "The people, of course. It's no understatement to say you left behind a fair few witnesses. Some brief questionings here and there and my colleagues were illustrated quite the picture. To tell the truth, I almost wish I'd seen it myself."
Couldn't have been over an hour since I caught the thief in the market. These guys work fast.
The guardsman cleared his throat. "However, you might take more interest in what else they testified to. A portion, let's say 'passionately', claimed you to be as much a menace as Coll: the thief."
I slumped in my chair. Of course they did. Throw the baby out with the bathwater, why don't you?
"But others were more charitable," he went on. "They said you and your associate rescued an elderly woman and her granddaughter. And that you only attacked Coll after he first doused you in boiling water - in other words: justified self-defense. Lastly, there were claims you chased after him in an attempt to retrieve a stolen hand mirror. An item we found on his person."
"E-exactly!" I bent forward, "so you get the picture: he pickpocketed me, and everything that came after was an attempt to get back my rounds and mirror. Though… I didn't expect him to run once I caught him. Or blow up a cart."
"We suspected as much," he jotted. "Which is why I'm certain you won't have to concern yourself with standing before a judge. After all, no law directly forbids taking back stolen property by force."
I'm… off the hook? Really? Yes! Maybe this city guard isn't so bad after all!
"Perhaps a charge of disturbing the peace could be applicable," the deerfolk mused, "or had you delivered deadly force, but - to be entirely honest - we see other aspects of this incident to be more significant. Such as the thief's actions. And that of-"
His conical ears rotated of their own accord, as if pinpointing a familiar noise. "Captain…" he muttered under his breath.
"'Captain'?" I asked.
Clumsily he bumped out of his chair, hurrying to collect his paper and writing tools. "N-nothing. Though," he spoke quickly, "if you intend to sue Coll, do not, erm, hesitate to return to this station - or any station to jumpstart the proces-"
A loud triple-knock beat at the door. We barely had the time to consider inviting in whoever stood outside it before they barged through.
"Bonjour, bonjour!" an affable voice filled the room - that of a bald guardsman's, his head both shaped like, and as slick as, an egg. "Ah, splendid! I see you've made short work of the questioning!"
"Not… quite," the deerfolk struggled to meet his gaze, "but at any rate, Captain, I notice you're early."
"And for good reason," he spoke with a smile fastened to his face. "Our friend down the hall is in no humor to talk. Won't even spare me a look me in the eye. Guess he knows nothing he tells us will lighten his sentence, eh?" he broke into a hearty laugh.
I watched the two quietly. He means the thief? What would he have to say that they don't already know?
The guardsmen tried to match his captain's spirit, even if he clearly didn't find anything funny. "Yes… well, I've gone ahead and gathered some details from Skell, here. I didn't get everything," he tried to hand the Captain what he'd written, "but-"
"Ah ah, no need," the bald man rejected the paper, "we have enough testimony - his is unnecessary. There's only one question I have for our vigilante."
"What?" I laughed dismissively, "I'm not some vigilante, I just-"
"Your work is appreciated, officer," he interrupted me without even glancing in my direction. "But you may leave us; I will take over from here."
"I-" the guardsman slowly pulled back his findings, "yes, thank you sir." he nodded and sped past his boss, taking one last glance at us before meekly closing the door behind him.
The Captain took a breath that screamed "about time", and proceeded to the empty seat in front of me.
"Greetings," he finally deigned to look at me, head catching the flickering light of the room's wall-mounted candle. "I am Captain Mercer."
"I'm not a vigilante," I repeated.
He stopped partway down for a split-second, before lowering himself fully onto the chair. "Right," he closed his eyes and chuckled. "My apologies. You are no vigilante. Merely a civilian who disregarded law enforcement to punish a criminal. I should have spotted the difference."
"I was robbed," my hands tightened. "What was I supposed to do?"
"The only sensible option: seek out the nearest member of the Guard." Venom dripped from his smile. "I'm certain they'd have sorted matters to your liking."
"There weren't any. Not in the market or the streets."
"Then you must not have looked hard enough. They tend to blend in, you understand?"
My anger spiked. "Listen, I did nothing wrong. No law directly forbids taking back stolen property by force - and my attempt to do so counts as justified self-defense."
"…Hm," his rising brows wrinkled his otherwise smooth head. "You know your terminology. Most don't."
Well, your underling does. Doubt he'll mind me borrowing his words.
"I'll admit," he watched the candle's dancing flame, "prosecution would be weak in your case. As for your friend? I regret that I cannot say the same."
"Wha- Niles!?"
A hint of glee corrupted his smile. "Indeed. For his crime, I estimate a brief ten year tenure in one of our fine prisons."
I nearly flew out of my chair. "Ten!? For what!? Niles helped me get my stuff back - he did exactly what I did!"
"On the contrary, my friend. He cast magic, as is corroborated by numerous eyewitnesses. A crime, as you must be aware."
My bones ran cold. His Ivy Cling… Shade!
"No, no," I pounded a hand against my chest. "He cast magic for my sake, all right? Without it, the thief would've escaped with my stuff and those boots - Niles doesn't deserve to waste away behind bars for being a good man."
He didn't react. "Please, settle down. I'm sorry, but it appears personal ties blind you to the crux of the matter."
"…Say what?"
"Law outweighs all else, including the opinions of laymen. And by breaking it, this 'Niles' has surrendered all right to be referred to as a good man. It could not be more simple."
I rose from my chair and glared down at the man. There was so much I wanted to say. And several things I wanted to do.
He returned a self-assured look: easy eyes, and expectant brows. Without a word he told me that anything approaching violence would go very, very badly for me.
"I would prefer if you sit, please. There's still more to discuss."
Several seconds came and went. Stick a magnifying glass in front of my eyes and my stare would've lit the man aflame. But mean looks were all I could get away with. I relented, and dropped back into his stupid chair.
"Splendid," he said. "Now, as for the nitty gritty: witness accounts imply this Niles is not of a wealthy personage. Carries himself off-kilter, cheap clothes, dirty boots - you understand, don't you?"
My gaze was cold and silent.
Unfazed, he leaned forward and spoke over interlaced fingers. "Being that the needy struggle to afford armament licenses, we speculate he lacks one to permit his casting inside our glorious capital. Perhaps the generous Templar Order could've granted him one of their handouts. But your lively reaction suggests otherwise."
Again, I kept quiet. I refused to let him know he was right.
"There's no need to confirm my suspicions; never have I been mistaken about a criminal. No, I ask but one thing of you, vigilante: where is he?"
…So that's his angle. Must be what he wanted from the thief too. Well, looks like we'll share one thing in common.
I gave him a careless shrug.
Impatience creased his forehead. "Oh? Defending a dear friend from the law?"
"Why would I tell you anything? I'm a free man."
"Are you? Savvy of Lumerit's laws as you are, you must be aware of the obstruction of justice offense?"
I didn't need to know. He was the type to explain either way.
"In short," said the captain, "it's as the name suggests: one standing in the way of due justice. Impeding our investigation, in this case. Refuse to share the whereabouts of our criminal and I fear prosecution may have an easy time with you after all…"
"So that's it? I don't deliver Niles into your lap and you twist the law to lock me away?"
He exhaled. "If that is how you see it."
My anger escaped me and left reason in the dust. "That's not how I see it; that's the way it is." I slammed my wrists on the table.
"What is this?" he looked down, puzzled.
"The conviction you want so badly. Even if I knew where he was, I wouldn't tell. So if you're gonna trump up a charge, go ahead and manacle me."
Strained silence pulled the walls close. The Captains' calm exterior cracked, and his glare cut through me. For a moment, I worried I'd overplayed my hand.
'Till he laughed. "Please, don't concern yourself," a bulging vein contradicted his smile. "We can work without your assistance."
Was… he bluffing?
He rose from his chair and looked to the door. "Eventually this Niles will surface from that dank cesspit. Either on his own, or in the arms of my men. As for you? You may still prove useful in the affairs of our missing criminal. Please. Get comfortable."
I wanted to fire back, but I couldn't get my mind off his words, even as he left. The door clicked a moment later.
Locked in. Great.
I laid back in my decidedly uncomfortable chair, both relieved and extremely anxious. He doesn't think I'll actually be useful, does he? A two-faced snake like him, he probably just wants me there when Niles hears he's getting sentenced. And speaking of him…
Urgh. I should be happy. I'm free; there's nothing this Captain can do besides hold me here until they find Niles. But while I enjoy my freedom, Niles is going to end up behind bars for a decade. For helping me. Abyss. I shook my head.
"Sir! Wait up, sir!" from the adjacent hall came a faint voice.
"What is it?" replied the Captain.
By this point, I'd already pressed my ear against the door.
"We've found him," answered a diligent-sounding woman.
"At last; I thought I'd receive my pension before the man was caught. He's being escorted here this very moment, I take it?"
A pause followed, probably a nod.
"How long before his arrival?"
"Ten minutes, sir. Approximately."
"Ten? After you rode ahead to inform me? That's ridiculous; how far was he from the station? Ah, nevermind that. Might as well whittle down paperwork until he arrives. Throw him in the room with the vigilante - I'll undertake matters from there."
"Yes sir!"
Shivers prickled my bones. Th-they already found him? I knew he'd come across a ladder or something eventually, but now that he's on the way here…
I moved to rest atop the table. They're gonna drag him here, then into a cold cell. All while I watch. Shade! This isn't some monster to fight, and the law isn't on my side like with Hyland. So what do I do? Just wait? Accept his fate?
…If our roles were reversed, would Niles do nothing?
Niles is nuts. Logic argued. Who knows what he'd do.
He'd do something! Emotion rebutted. The right thing, whatever that'd be.
What if's are irrelevant. You're not him.
Right. I'm not, I concluded. Niles is dead-set on facing the Sacred Ordeals. I've my own ambitions to attain…
But I won't leave my friends hanging on the way there.
"All right," I whispered to myself, eyes shut, "less than nine minutes to clear Niles of all guilt, without earning myself a cell across from his. No time to dwell on how crazy this is. Just think."
First, set aside what won't work. Fighting? Don't wanna hurt anyone, and more importantly, don't wanna get hurt. That's out. What about the last time I was locked in a room? Hand of Decay saved me - kind of. Hyland's eyes would agree, but how'll that trick help this time?
Eight minutes and no progress.
No, Hand of Decay won't solve this. Too destructive. Too obvious. Gotta scale back, think simpler. All this is because Niles broke the 'law'. If I could prove he didn't, he'd be home free, right?
"…But he did," I sighed.
Everyone saw, can't pretend it didn't happen. Sure, we could say he had the permission of a license, but we don't have-
Tremors shook my world, just for a moment. There were seven minutes left and I'd just conjured a spark of confidence.
The loot! Outside the sewer those guardsmen emptied the thief's pockets, scattered everything across the cobbles. Surprise stole my attention then, but I remember - with all the stolen goods were those important-looking blue cards. Never got the chance to read them, but that striking color and elaborate calligraphy: licenses, gotta be!
I paced around the room. And since they brought him to this station, stands to reason they stashed what he stole somewhere here, too!
But once I had six minutes left, I realized things were never as simple as I'd like.
My feet stopped cold. There's no way out. Door's locked, and even if I dust my way out, I'd be touched by a miracle to slink through the halls unseen, a second miracle to locate the cards, and a third to get back unnoticed. Just for them to find the decayed lock on the floor anyway. But what other exit is there? Not like there's a window to crack open.
Low on options, my eyes gravitated to the vent in the room's corner: the "perfect" escape route. A sour laugh left my lips. "Yeah, right."
If only the Guard was that incompetent. No, suspects could be left unattended because, far as I knew, no criminal's ever been made of paper.
The vent's opening was broad, sure, but not even a foot high. My head wouldn't squeeze through, let alone the rest. And if escape wasn't impossible enough, metal bars lined it so that even a rat couldn't crawl inside.
Five minutes remained, but I wouldn't give up. I carried a chair to the corner and stood on its seat and peered into the vent - though I didn't exactly have a plan in mind. Darkness stared back.
Then it hit me: the whole time, I had in my pocket the one thing even thinner than paper.
I smirked. "Shadow Form."
After a few seconds, a frown replaced my grin.
Huh? That should've worked - why didn't I become a shadow? Did I say it too quietly - no, that can't be it, you can whisper incantations just fine. Can't be out of mana either; I'm completely full.
I shook my head; time was of the essence. "Shadow Form. Come on, Shadow Form."
Are you kidding me? This worked flawlessly in the sewer, what's the prob-
The candle's flame caught my eye as I turned. Wait, could it be…?
I leapt off the chair and looked around the room. Shouldn't snuff it out - too suspicious. Must be another way.
But the room was bare, except for two chairs and a table. I gritted my teeth and made do. Shroud triggered, I grabbed the wooden table and pushed it on it's end, the other pointed to the ceiling. Next I slid it - quietly - until its legs hit the wall carrying the candle. The fire was trapped behind the table's underside, dimming the room almost entirely.
Between the sewers and here, the only difference was the light, or lack of it. So to become shadow, I must need an existing source of darkness to dive into. I think. Abyss, just work!
"Shadow Form," I whispered with the force of a roar. Instantly I was swallowed by a pool of dark.
A success. But celebrations could wait. Four minutes marked Niles' arrival. And if anyone walked into that room, messy and empty as it was?
…Better not to think about it.
Amidst the dark floor of the room, I directed my murky form - a nebulous silhouette of my body - toward the raised corner where the vent lied. I crept up the wall easily, and slid through the vent's bars like a note under the crack of a door.
———————————————————————————–—————–
For all intents and purposes, I haunted that station. Unseen. Unheard. Unknown.
Now for fairness' sake, my covert movements were only possible inside the system of dark vents that ran throughout the building. But this system branched into every room in the station - all of them needed ventilation, after all. And in one of them, I'd encounter my prize.
Barred windows peeked into rooms of maps and logs, equipment and armor, even the Captain's office. Mercer was inside, ignoring a stack of papers on his table in favor of meticulously clipping his fingernails.
I let go of my irritation and moved on. In three minutes he'd be out of his chair; there wasn't time to stop and scowl - not that shadows had faces to scowl with.
Gliding further through the vents underneath cobwebs and dust, I hit a dead end; two more rooms remained at my left and right. Left was a second holding room where the thief sat alone, head resting on the table. His face was hidden, but his body radiated hopelessness.
If Niles is looking at a decade, then he… no, don't feel bad. He did this to himself. And to you. Keep moving.
I turned the opposite direction. Another room stretched ahead. Perfect. Just what I'm looking for.
Pigeonholes and stuffed-full chests lined both walls. Center of the room stood a circular table. It carried a lone candle.
And all of the thief's loot.
I flew through the vent's bars like an arrow, spectral hand outstretched. In Selem, a single candle could easily illuminate a whole room. And like an idiot, I'd forgotten Shadow Form's weakness.
The instant I curved onto the room's walls, my body was forcefully spat out like chewing tobacco. The hard floor was just as polite at catching me.
Ow… I massaged my chin, picking it and the rest of my body off the ground. Really hope no one heard that.
With two minutes to return to the room, I hurried to the table. Good thing the crime was so recent - they haven't sorted this stuff yet. Now let's see…
Everything was there. Several armament licenses, labelled as such, along with my mirror and rounds, plus whatever else the thief pilfered from other targets. For a moment I considered grabbing my things, too. Although if too much was missing, I figured, it might raise brows. Just a bit longer, I promised. I'll get you back.
As my fingers moved for the nearest license however, I heard the jostling of keys.
I froze. S-shade!
The door opened a second later and in walked two guardsmen.
"What the-" the short one's eyes jumped ahead.
"Hm? What's the matter?" asked the tall one.
"You forgot to relight the candle! Again! It's dark as sin in here!"
He scratched his head. "I don't remember forgetting… But I can see just fine."
"That's not the point!"
Whew, I drifted with relief inside the vents' darkness, way too close. A hair slower pinching out that candle and pocketing the license… urgh, don't even wanna think about it.
I turned to the inky path behind me. Or anything else. Time to hurry back.
—————————————————————————————————
"In here," a thick arm forced open the door.
"I'm telling you I didn't do it! Well, I did, but-"
"The Captain will be with you shortly," the guardswoman pushed Niles through the doorway. The twitchy-eyed woman peeked in, catching me "innocently" adjusting my chair. She shot us a frown, then backed through the door and locked it shut.
Niles stared at the floor through drooping dimglasses. "Aw, I've really stepped in it now…"
"Uh," I waved. "Hey?"
"Huh!? Purple!?" he raced at me.
"Niles? Niles!"
Luckily the table was there - repositioned just seconds before the door opened - to block his spirited charge. He hit the other side and steadied himself on it with both arms. "They're saying I'm a criminal, Purple! I think they're gonna throw me in jail! And worse: they got you too!"
"Don't worry," I relaxed, fingers resting in my pocket, "you're gonna be fine. We'll both be fine."
He cocked his brows. "Wh-why're you so sure?"
I nodded to my side and whispered. "Hurry and pull around that chair. And act natural."
His eyes were both skeptical and confused, but he listened. The second his trousers touched the seat, a triple knock beat at the door - leaving me no time to explain. And again, there was no wait for an answer.
"Ah," the jovial Captain stepped through, another chair in-hand, "we finally have the second half of our dynamic duo. But where have my manners gone? I am Captain Mercer, head of this station. You are Niles, I presume?"
"Yeah, that's me. But there's been some kinda mistake, Cap."
The man's smile shrunk at the moniker, "Please, please, this isn't the place for a debate."
Didn't stop you before…
"I would simply," he continued, placing the chair and seating himself, "like you to answer a few questions."
"Just a few?" Niles reclined slightly. "Well, if that's it, then all right."
My gaze dropped under the table, pivoting to plan B. Just keep talking you two, stay distracted. And Niles, quit bouncing your leg!
The Captain overlaid hands on the table. "Reports attest that you cast magic outside the market. Do you profess this to be an accurate representation of events, or do you assert this to be a false attribution or misperception amongst witnesses?"
Niles gawked at the man, or more accurately, at his jargon. "I… um, well, if you're asking if I cast Ivy Cling or not, then yeah, I definitely did. But-"
There!
"Ah ah," the Captain lifted a hand. "One topic at a time, if you'd be so polite. Now-"
"How about we cut to the chase?" I crossed my arms. "You wanna know if he has a license."
The Captain paused - an unnerving moment of seriousness - before chuckling. "I get the impression you and proper procedure are mortal enemies, young man. But yes, that is the question of the day. An accompanying answer, then, would be greatly appreciated."
"Your answer's sitting in Niles' pocket," I replied.
A twinge of surprise touched the man's face, before he suppressed it. "Oh? Have we descended into blatant desperation, now?"
In the corner of my eye, I kept attention on Niles. My only concern was him acting more shocked than the Captain at my claim. Yet he ended up seeming less surprised than me.
"Nope, not at all," Niles interjected, "I've got me one of them licenses here in my left pocket."
What? I gave him some serious side-eye. He hasn't checked his pocket, or even looked down - how does he know?
The Captain's uncertainty wasn't so easily hidden a second time. "E-enough jests; bring this alleged armament license into the light, if you two are so confident."
"Sure thing, Cap," Niles dug into his pocket and retrieved a blue card, then flung it onto the table.
Mercer's mouth trembled open as he took a second, then third look at the license. "This… this can't be. You…"
Ha! Who cares how Niles knew it was there, Mercer's face is priceless!
"Ho-hold on," Mercer managed to stammer out. "According to the name printed here, this license belongs to a… Barbara Callaway."
…What?
Oh, oh crap… I never got a chance to look at the card. Urgh, of all names, why'd it have to be that!?
"Yes, my name's Barbara," Niles said with complete sincerity.
He's rolling with it!?
"It… is?" the Captain asked. "But, you've been referred to as Niles up to this point."
"You didn't know?" I thought fast. "Niles is just a nickname."
"B-but…" Mercer spiraled.
"Is there some sorta problem with my name being Barbara? " Niles huffed.
"Well… erm, I, er, suppose…"
———————————————————————————–—————–
It was a triumphant walk out of the station.
With a genuine armament license, Niles was legally immune to any magic-based prosecution, and with the thief being the obvious cause of our chase and any ensuing damage, and a laundry list of stolen items - well, there wasn't any reason to keep us. The Guard had bigger, pink-haired fish to fry.
So their Captain, still visibly struggling to make sense of what happened, personally walked us through the station's torch-lit halls. He suspected some kind of trickery, I'm sure. But - as I hoped frustrated him to no end - he had no way to prove the license wasn't Niles'.
And as for me? Well, I couldn't help but smile gratefully at the vents overhead.
Upon reaching the station's entrance, Mercer pushed open the door and let in the evening sunlight, an all encompassing red-orange glow blanketing the city. The sight soothed all - except for Mercer, who stooped close by the door, looking like he'd been sapped of all energy.
Much more animated in comparison was the Deerfolk from before, who passed through the door with two items in hand: a hefty pouch and a hand mirror. "Your things, I trust?"
Since they'd been logged, there was no need to keep them locked away. I took them graciously, and once their weight filled my hands, I felt whole again.
"May the sun light the rest of your day," muttered the Captain, watching us walk off, "Skell and… Barbara."
I held down a laugh, while Niles waved at the man. Behind our smiles, however, we knew what kind of place that station was: an unimpressive, bare-walled injustice that caged almost anyone dragged into its maw.
Maybe it was just the Captain, who held the law atop an infallible pedestal, refusing to accept nuance or exceptions.
Or possibly the law itself, restricting use of our inherent gifts to the rich and reckless, and clasping the rest in chains.
Abyss, I didn't give it much thought, then. No, then, I just wanted to get Niles and I far, far away.
———————————————————————————–—————–
"C'mon," Niles nudged, "go order something!"
I laughed, shaking my head.
"Mate, you saved my hide! They were talking-" he leaned over his steaming soup, lowering his voice, "they were talking ten years. Years. And now I don't have to see one minute! So eat! Or drink! Abyss, man, I'll even pay!"
Someone passed by our table outside the busy café: an exiting customer sipping from a cup of coffee. I cut the desire out of my stare quickly.
"Really, I'm fine" I told him. "Believe it or not, those city guard guys offered me some decent food before you showed up. Don't wanna stuff myself."
"Booo!" he flippantly dropped two thumbs. "Fine. But you better not beg for some of my onion soup."
I scoffed. "Not gonna happen. Though, honestly, I should be the one thanking you."
He sat back, squinting through steam-coated dimglasses. "What for?"
"Don't tell me you forgot already. If it wasn't for your help, that thief - my things - would be a memory. Even back at the station, who knows if we'd be sitting here now if you didn't play along so well. Matter of fact, how'd you know I slipped that card in your pocket, anyway?"
"Oh, that? Gimme a little credit, Purple! You told me I'd be a-okay, then had me sit beside you."
"Yeah?"
His head tilted. "Then while I talked to that crazy Captain, you were digging in my pocket."
"Y-you felt that?"
"Felt? I thought a mole was burrowing in there. Though I'll pay you a compliment: you'd make for an awful pickpocket."
"…I'll mark that off my list of potential careers, then."
"Anyway, at first I thought you were blowing hot air, but after your pocket finagling, and especially after you brought up licenses with a puffed-out chest, I mean, c'mon. I'm not some dummy. Well, not always."
"That's… wow."
"What?" he grinned. "Did you think I was some dummy?"
"No."
A little.
I shrugged. "Just impressed, is all. Guess it's not too shocking in hindsight, but putting everything together so fast? You're good. Especially in your role as 'Barbara'."
Niles seemed pleased. "You're kidding, but with glowing praise like that, maybe I should join one of these theatre companies everyone in the city keeps talking about. Think I'd make for a killer leading man?"
"I'd definitely pay to watch you flail around onstage, if that's what you're asking."
"Hey, if it gets butts in seats, I'd go up there in my underwear. Rounds are rounds, mate. But wait, I'm losing what I wanted to ask you."
"What's that?"
He sipped a spoonful of dark soup, wincing at the heat. "Ugh. Should've waited more. Oh, but what I was saying: this license."
Niles pulled the card from under our table, raising it to eye level.
I smirked. "Wondering where I got it, aren't you?"
"Uh, duh. They didn't call it out at the gate, and there's no way you stole this with those heavy hands, so where'd you get this?"
Pride broadened my shoulders. "Well, first I-"
"Wait wait wait, don't tell me…" he threw hands in my face.
And back down they went.
"You… found it lying on the ground!" he guessed.
"Nope."
"You… forged one!"
"How would I even… no."
"You… saw it floating in the stinky sewer-water!"
Niles' soup bowl was near-empty by the time he finally landed on something resembling the truth.
"You… got it from the thief! Aw, that's it, right? That's the one?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah. Pretty much," I pulled myself from staring dead-eyed at the nearby street.
"Yes!" He pumped an arm. "But, hmm."
"What's with the long face?"
"This license, if the thief nabbed it, that means it belonged to somebody."
Niles studied the card, front and back. "The Guard has the rest of the thief's stolen stuff, so those things will get returned to their owners sooner or later. This bad boy, though? I hand this back to the Guard, say it's not mine, and I give them ten years of my life along with it."
"Right. Well, think of it like this: we recovered everything else that was stolen. Sure it's a shame, but if that trove of valuables goes back missing just one license, I'd still say we did a good deed. Probably a dozen, actually."
Niles' frown didn't perk up. "In a roundabout way, their license saved me. I'm returning it."
"You are? How?"
He lifted his bowl and threw back the entire thing, slurping furiously. Then he dropped it back onto the table. "I dunno."
"What? I mean, great that you wanna give it back, but Selem isn't exactly someone's backyard, and Barbara isn't exactly an unusual name."
"I'll figure it out," he smiled. "I always do."
"You mean we," I corrected.
"The offer's appreciated, but don't tell me you forgot already," he echoed with a grin. "You're supposed to find Oliver. We got a little sidetracked, didn't we?"
I sighed. "I know. Same thing with this Barbara, though. By now he could be anywhere. It's not like I've got a way to track him."
"You're a smart fella, Purple," he stood up, wiping his lips with a sleeve. "I know you'll find a way too."
My eyes turned away. "I… thanks. But, if we both have people to search for - and for you, getting your own license and sword back - then it might be best to… to split up."
He stretched. "Yup, think so too. It's a crying shame - we're an awesome team - but for this, we'll probably slow each other down."
"Yeah…" I agreed.
Ultimately, we always had different goals inside Selem - I knew an eventual split was inevitable. What I didn't expect was for it to affect me.
I stood up. "You've been a good friend, Niles,"
"Why're you talking like this is last you'll see me? We're both in the same city. At worst, ask for me after the Ordeals and I'll come out in my snazzy armor!"
"Yeah. Yeah, you're right," I found a smile. "You're gonna be a Templar. Then we can definitely meet up again!"
And hopefully not in a professional capacity.
He extended a glove. "Exactly! So don't look so glum, mate. We'll see each other around."
I did the same, and we shook hands. "We will. So, good luck."
"Good luck back. For you and Oliver."
—————————————————————————————————
It was getting dark.
Niles ran off in what I figured to be no particular direction, diving into the wave of bodies sweeping through the streets. My plan was a bit different.
In fact, I hadn't even left my chair.
Amara! I finally concluded. Maybe I could ask for her like Niles said I could for him. Being a Templar, she might actually have the pull to get a search going for her brother!
Whistling pulled my ear. I ignored it.
I'll have to prove I actually know him, though. And dance around a few topics, like Ansel. I can make it work. Just have to figure out how I'll word things…
The whistling grew louder. Annoyingly loud.
Urgh, I turned, who the heck is-
"Oh, Skell, there you are!" said an unfamiliar teenager.
At least, on first glance. It was him, the same person I'd accompanied for all this time.
Besides the voice and freckles, however, everything had changed…