The frantic sound of a sixteen-year-old's footsteps on the wooden floor disturbs the calm that reigned in the inn's great hall, where people eat and drink around large round tables to find a little rest. All eyes in the room—belonging to men marked by age and hard labor—follow the boy's strangely modern clothes, which stand in stark contrast to the tunics and breeches they all wear.
"Hey! Come back here, thief!" exclaims the innkeeper, leaving his counter to give chase after the young man.
Running for his life, pursued, his arms full of apples, the fugitive manages to get out of the inn, now finding himself in the middle of a street crowded with people. Out of breath, he looks in all directions, looking frightened, before resuming his run through the crowd. The innkeeper also comes out of his establishment and begins chasing the boy through the passersby, not hesitating to shove those in his path.
"Give me back everything and I won't hurt you! Guards!"
Butting his way through the crowd with his shoulders, the young man manages to reach a small, shady alleyway deserted by the crowd, where the sun's rays struggle to make their way through the rooftops of buildings several meters high. He steps inside without paying much attention, but quickly stops when he realizes that what he thought was a quiet little alley between the stone walls of the houses is actually just a dead end with a massive wooden fence at the end—and the trash and other debris piled up at its base aren't enough to help the boy climb over it. He turns around, ready to head back, only to realize that the man who had been chasing him is now standing right in front of him, out of breath but pleased to have cornered him.
"Well… you're fast, kid."
The man advances slowly. His steps are slow, like those of a wolf hunting its prey, and he remains on guard in case the teenager tries to escape him again.
"Come on, give me that back now."
The boy clutches the few apples in his hands tighter and tighter as he backs up until his back touches the wall of the alley. He knows this man won't go easy on him, and fear is written all over his face. His eyes dart in every direction, scanning for the slightest open window, the slightest wall he could climb, the slightest opening the innkeeper might leave, until a voice interrupts them.
"And what exactly are you planning to do to him?"
The man turns toward the exit of the alley and spots another teenager who appears to be the same age as the one he was chasing, standing between the sunlight flooding the main avenue and the gloom of the alley. His teeth clench as he continues to glance over his shoulder to make sure his target isn't escaping.
"None of your business, kid!"
"Oh? Really? Thanks for reminding me."
Annoyed, the innkeeper starts stamping his foot and clicking his tongue.
"Fine, who are you and what exactly do you want?"
"Me? My name is Reinhold, I'm just here to help people who need help… What could be more human, after all?"
"Oh, really?"
The man who had just interrupted the situation begins to move forward step by step, leaving the light that bathes the wide avenue.
"Well, that's just perfect, kid, because I'm the one who needs help in this situation! We have to stop that thief!"
He points at the other boy, stuck at the end of the alley. Reinhold tilts his head to the side, pretending not to understand, while his eyes fall on the few apples in the fugitive's arms.
"A thief? Did he walk off with all those apples without paying?"
"Exactly!"
Reinhold walks up to the innkeeper, pulling coins out of his pocket. He grabs the man's right hand and hands him the money, then flashes a big, cheerful smile that leaves the innkeeper flustered.
"Here you go."
"Um… Well… Thank you…"
"You're welcome."
The man walks away, flustered, almost staggering, casting one last glance at the two teenagers before disappearing into the crowd at the end of the alley. Reinhold, meanwhile, turns to the boy he has just saved.
"Are you okay?"
"Um… Yeah, I'm okay", says the strange boy.
Reinhold's eyes fall on the many red berries trapped in the arms of the boy he's just helped.
"Do you want some help carrying them?"
"Yes, thanks."
Reinhold took three apples and placed them between his arms and chest, just as the other teenager had done.
"By the way, I'm Reinhold Dashon. What's your name?"
The other boy extends his hand with difficulty so as not to drop all the fruit, all while smiling broadly.
"Me?"
The stranger stares at the hand for a long moment, not hesitating but deep in thought, searching the depths of his memory.
"I'm Martin Piaret."
"Nice to meet you, Martin!"
Reinhold's broad smile unsettles him for a moment, but he quickly sets aside his confusion to shake his hand.
"Yes, I'm glad to meet you too!"
The moment their skin touches, Reinhold flinches slightly and his cheerful expression vanishes. His eyes fix on his new friend's hand, which Martin notices.
"Are you okay?"
"Um… Yeah… Yeah, I'm fine… Don't worry…"