He waits in the shade of a white stone wall. The rays of sunlight pour down like grains of dust carried by the breeze. In front of him is the town market, in the square, just up ahead. The families mingle together in joy and the children scamper around in their white linen garments, looking to test out their new toys and games, hoping to be the envy of their friends. The mothers, in their sharply colored blue, green and white full length dresses, barter and purchase, hoping to get a chop of choice and rare meat from Vastitas to feed their future guests and the fathers in their adorned gowns seek pipes and timepieces from Caligo to adorn themselves with.

  Such a lazy and ideal morning hasn’t come around in quite a while. This is the first of its kind in the current seasonal cycle in fact. The rains have finally ceased and the lush greenery has been starting to bloom again in full force.

  Taking a few deep breaths from the warm air and smiling with satisfaction, he begins going about his business. After a few days, it is finally time for him to work his magic.

  Stepping out from the shade, a young man, no older than fifteen year steps out, covered from his shoulders to his knees in a single white garb, his charcoal colored hair falling in thick bangs, contrasting with his choice of attire, but terribly fitting for his musings.

  Stepping in between the crowd and sometimes moving to the front of the stalls themselves as he passes them, within a few minutes, the boy arrives at the opposite edge of square and once more enters the shade of yet another wall, this one noticeably more ancient and in worse condition than the first.

  After a minute had passed, another youth with chestnut hair came out from behind some sealed crates, taller and more sturdily built than the robed boy.

  “So, what did you get this time?”

  The robbed boy exposed the inside of his cloak for just a couple of seconds and the taller youth’s lips curved upwards in a sharp angle and his eyes flashed with momentaneous excitement and something else that his caretakers wouldn’t approve of.

  Behind that cloak, there rested a medium sized leather pouch, some pieces of silverware and even a timepiece. Truly a bountiful catch.

  The brown haired youth crossed his arms and looked at the wall next to the thieving boy and gave a nervous snort and a likewise nervous chuckle.

  “Damn, as impressive as ever. I really couldn’t pull it off like you can”.

  Then he turned his backwards and gestured with his chin.

  “Let’s get going then”.

  Together, they walked past some seven houses before coming to an older building that one could easily tell that it was in disrepair. The door had been partially shattered and so, it did not provide any defense against intrusion, making it obvious that whoever had once lived there did not plan on returning anytime soon, if ever.

  Ducking under the splintered edges of the door as they made their way in, they observed that the stone floor had given way to sprouting greenery, starting to, little by little, making its way towards reclaiming the perimeter back into nature.

  There were also a few crates grouped together in a pile and even some rocks that had come loose from the sprouting grass had been stacked in a pile.

  Resting their backs against the crates and sitting on top of the piled stones were two boys, both seemingly of the same age and both younger than the boy that had just stolen from the people in the square. One of them had yellow set of hair and the other had a hair that was tinted crimson. This last one was not overly uncommon since their town was basically in Praelian territory, but it still often warranted notice.

  Looking at the both of them, who were staring at him with expectation and with the feeling of the eyes of the older boy’s eyes on him, the youth couldn’t help but let out a sigh as he unveiled his catch to the younglings and witnesses their smiles and chatter flare up.

  They had nothing.

  They were nothing.

  What could he possibly gain from risking himself like this on a regular basis? In fact, did the same question not apply to all four of them? If so, why did they do it? As far as the boy was concerned, he was just going through the motions, repeating what he had done so many times before and that now came so naturally to him.

  For them, they probably did it in order to get some excitement out of their lives and to try to rise above their diminished status, through both money and connections. They probably felt good from knowing that they could easily acquire something that wasn’t meant to be theirs.

  Of that last sentiment, the boy could not deny that he felt some kinship with them, but it was still unremarkable and habitual. What purpose was there in acquiring something that was both easy and tried and tested, to the point that it was barely worth him paying attention to it?

  No. The truth of it all was simply that he needed companionship. That was fundamentally the reason for what he had just done and what he had done for quite a long time now.

  He had a skill that somehow others didn’t yet it was valued. Over time, acquaintances with interest in that skill for either their benefit or because they cultivated a similar vocation, ended up drifting into his vicinity, eventually forming a group of individuals loosely held together by a common set of interests.

  “My god man! I can’t believe you keep managing to bring such a haul. I can barely get a few pieces of silverware if I am lucky.”, the fair haired one boy said.

  “True. I can’t believe you keep getting away with it. You would have figured that they would have been on to you by now”, said the one with the rudy mane, this one with a more measured and tame response, arms crossed, eyeing up the young man.

  Aiming to divert their bothersome questioning, the youth replied drily, avoiding eye contact.

  “I wear a long cape”.

  Sensing the awkward tension in the air, the older, taller boy stepped into the conversation.

  “Alright now Seth, no need to question lady luck. We had it good today, that is all that there is to it. Besides, with how nice the weather has been today, I doubt the town guards could even muster the attention to properly do their job. I was supposed to be on guard duty in case of a problem and I could barely fight off the yawns.”

  “Now, this was our turn. Next week it is you two, Leo. Let’s make sure we get that timepiece and silverware to lady Ioanna so that we can get our share”.

  Georgios, the ringleader, gesture the still cloaked boy to give the bounty to Leo, so that he could put it inside one of the crates for a bit.

  He did as he was asked.

  They spent some additional time in the abandoned house just making casual conversation and playing around. Soon enough, Leo started with his trademark drama sketches. He got up on the crate and started speeching and acting as a haughty but noble prince speaking down to his subjects, saying that it was tough, but that he would march into war to protect them, all the while making it overly clear from the way he addressed his public that this showing was all to get a boost in popularity from the masses.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Poor Seth got quickly dragged into his best friend’s pace and despite his initial grumbling, protests and borderline fear born from the realization of the incoming shame, he found himself playing the role of the prince’s woman, complete with being held and handled as if he was one.

  This brought a smirk to the boy’s lips, his cloak still wrapped around his shoulders and now draped over the stones, tracing the perimeter between what was his and the rest of the world.

  Georgios leaned over and hushly remarked “Glad to see you can still make a face like that”.

  The realization of being watched to this extent slightly surprised the boy, which instantly led to a slight sowering of his mood, but he kept a slight smirk all the same.

  “It is good to see Leo getting what he wants, even if he can’t truly have it. At least with this he can obtain it, if only for a bit”.

  “Yeah, the kid is going to be a top actor one day, no doubt”

  The unspoken part of their conversation, that both would never risk to say even in hushed tones while in their presence, was that they found it hilarious that their usual roles of who was the dominating role in their friendship were always completely reversed whenever Leo started this and got Seth sucked into his pace.

  After a while and Leo having run through two extra make believe plays and Seth having been scarred for life, Georgios grabbed the crate, lifted it over his shoulder and gave the order for the four of them to spread out.

  Georgios left using the back door and Leo went with him, while the young man was stuck with Seth for a bit, just to kill enough time so that the four of them wouldn’t be seen leaving together.

  Perhaps looking to get back at him for being a witness to his lengthy humiliation, Seth started pressuring the thieving boy for information in regards to his luck and skills.

  “I will be upfront. I don’t believe you. There is no way that you can take all of that from them without getting caught, cape or no cape… I am starting to think that you bring some of those with you before you even go to the square”.

  A few moments passed until the boy, still with his shoulders slumped forward and his back against one of the few remaining crates, decided to answer. He really wasn’t in the mood for this sort of conversation.

  “You think the time piece got stolen in advance?”, the boy said, his jade green eyes, filled with disdain, peeking out of his charcoal colored curls that fell heavily from his skull, “did you hear anyone at the temple bring it up, even as a rumor? You know if it was theirs then for sure they would have been rummaging through all of our things. Did you see that happen?”.

  He let the question hang in the air for a few moments.

  “And you know damn sure none of us could afford one, so me getting it the proper way is off the table”.

  He locked eyes with Seth, who had to admit that his accusations had no basis but was too stubborn to let this go.

  “Go ahead and don’t tell me if you don’t want “spiky”!

  Seth grinned a little.

  And there it was, the condescension. How he tried to get away from it. He sighed. It was so tiring to be reminded of his unchosen faults.

  The charcoal haired boy licked the inside of his mouth, rubbing his tongue through his sharp canines and biting molars.

  This was why he wasn’t a fan of hanging around with youngsters. No tact and no forethought to go along with their quick temperament.

  And yet the boy said nothing and just closed his eyes and leaned backwards again.

  What did Georgios see in this kid? He is sharp, sure, but he is so easily prickled…

  “Did you get a blessing already? Was that it? Did fate just gift you with the skill with nothing to show for it? Or are you just not going to admit that you cheated in our contest somehow?”

  He just wouldn’t budge, would he? The youth was regretting not keeping the time piece with him, that way he would be sure that he wouldn’t need to sit here listening to this for a second longer than necessary. That way he could actually tell time properly and know how long ago Georgios had left.

  Some context was necessary here though. The four of them worked together, but there was some informal competition between themselves to see who could snatch the most loot each month. The winner would get awarded the money corresponding to the best four items out of the monthly spoils, before an even four way split, regardless if they were the ones to acquire them or not.

  It just so happened that the boy in front of him was not fond of not having won a single time yet.

  The red haired kid just keep talking for a bit and he made an effort to ignore him and wait for the time to pass.

  Until Seth said something he shouldn’t have.

  “You are so lucky to always get out of these things scot free”

  Lucky?

  The next moment, the youth had gotten up and closed the gap between them, like a striking snake and grabbed Seth’s face with a hand cold from the pavement stones and brought his expressionless, almost mask-like face close to his.

  In an almost whisper-like voice, he said:

  “You know, I wish I could have that thick-headedness of yours. It would definitely make my days much more exciting. Maybe I could actually talk back to hard-headed vermin like you when they spewed curses at me, with a little bit more conviction. The guards too. Oh, I wish I could have been as brave in front of them as you are to me …”

  As Seth finally got over the shock of the sudden shift in situation, he gripped the green eyed boy’s wrist and squeezed, in order to get away from him, but he felt the boy’s grip tighten and his once free hand was now also on his face.

  “…so believe me when I tell you boy, I have failed quite a few times. Anyone that takes a good look at me will be able to figure that out, thank you very much. Probably should have learned my lesson then, but I never could stand lacking what everyone else seemed to get their hands on as if it is mere second nature to them…”

  Seth intensified his distress and his grip

  “…God knows the people at the temple wished for this obsession to stop…”

  He pauses for a moment and looks at his own wrist

  “…nice grip there kid. You Vermillions really do have impressive strength…”

  “…thick-headed bravado and superb strength. I am sure they would have come in real handy when I was your age…”

  And for the first time, the dark haired youth smiled

  “…so yes Seth, wouldn’t I indeed be “lucky” if I could just have all the gifts that God has given unto you?”

  And with a sharp tug, the boy finally let go of Seth and back away, managing to free his own wrist in the process.

  The green eyed boy clicked his tongue at seeing the bruises on his left wrist, which were the result of the red haired boy’s continuous grip during their exchange, but he didn’t seem to pay it much attention besides that.

  “So yes kid, I wasn’t born skilled and I don’t play weird tricks. It was just raw necessity and obsession that caused me to get good at it”

  The dark haired youth then regained his previous composure, although he had a thin smile going up the sides of his mouth.

  “But don’t sweat the small stuff Seth. You probably have a bright future ahead of you being Leo’s underling. Just keep doing what you have always done and keep hanging out with the worthless dregs like us three.”.

  This seemed to bring some irritation back to the red haired’s features.

  The green eyed boy turned towards the door, thinking that more than enough time had passed for it to be ok for the two of them to leave.

  However, as his hand touched the wall of the exit, he stopped and voiced some final thoughts that he didn’t want to utter out into the open.

  “To tell the truth, Leo has a chance to have a bright future ahead of him. You as well to be honest. God gave you a strong and healthy body. At least use it to make something out of yourself”.

  And as soon as he said them, he walked out.

  The sun was still going strong, now being a bit past the time where it was the highest and the temperature was the hottest, but it wasn’t much of an issue. There were obvious benefits to wearing long, loose, white garments.

  It was about time that they should be thinking of heading back to the temple for their daily prayers. It would still take a bit to reach it, since they would have to head to the opposite side of the town compared to where they were now.

  Seth started trailing after him.

  The fact of the matter was that there was more than one reason why they left in groups of two besides avoiding getting weird looks from the guards. Their group was made up of two disparate duos. The two pairs had come together by both coincidence and convenience, so no group totally trusted the other to deliver goods to Lady Ioanna and collect their payment and safely store it. Better to have someone from both parties to verify that no foul play is done.

  Personally, he had to admit that he was much more comfortable to dealing with Leo. The kid wasn’t confrontational and was quiet for the most part. When he did start asking questions, those weren’t particularly uncomfortable or irritating.

  Seth on the other hand? Oh, the kid was such a stubborn mule that sometimes he swore he wanted to…

  Suddenly, he felt something tugging at his cape from the left-handed side and turned his head to find Seth at his side.

  “Look man, I messed up, I shouldn’t…”

  The dark haired youth cuts Seth off.

  “I don’t care about your regrets or concerns or whatever. If you want something to make it up to me or for our lives to get better, just say a prayer today and put in a good word for me while you are at it. That will be enough of an apology.”

  “But…”, Seth started to say before he was cut off with a small slap to the back of his head.

  He begun to protest, but the older boy merely leaned in his direction and looked him in the eyes, while wearing a gentle smile and a gentler expression.

  “Stop apologizing kid and just ease up”, his expression seemed to say.

  Seriously, having to apologize and be nice after they were the ones to act unreasonable is just another reason why he was not keen on handling kids.

  *Sigh*, I wish I could get that easy treatment myself.

  After the sun had moved further downwards, they had finally made their way to the temple. A few of the other kids and teenagers had already arrived as well.

  They both headed to a nearby wall to wait for Georgios and Leo to arrive and for some time, they stood there waiting, not making any sound.

  He was thankful for the relative quiet for once.

  Finally, the temple’s bell started to ring. Once it struck seven, we would all have to get in for our prayers, without exception.

  Everyone had already arrived on time, since they knew that there would be consequences for failing to be here by the time of the last bell.

  Fortunately, by the time that the bell was struck the fourth time, Georgios and Leo came into view, from behind a nearby building and ran towards the temple entrance, with beads of sweat on their faces.

  The green eyed boy shrugged and also started to walk faster towards the front entrance. Georgios would tell him if anything of note had happened.

  Immediately in front of the entrance was a large room where all of the children under the temple’s care had gathered. The ceiling was quite tall all things considered, given that this was a local temple in a small town. Probably four times the height of an adult man and the rectangular room was large enough to easily fit fifty people and allow for us all to be rather spread out and each group in their own corners.

  Georgios comes up next to me and immediately slumps downwards and places both his palms on his knees, panting.

  “I don’t suppose you would believe me if I just told you that we lost track of time making conversation, would you?”, he said.

  “No, I definitely would. Would there even be a reason for you to lie to me?”

  He eyed Leo, walking towards Seth towards another part of the room.

  The youth guesses that if it was necessary to ever get to some hidden truth about the situation, he could always ask one of those two.

  A set of doors to our right were opened and a priestess came out of them.

  The roll call begun. One by one, the priestess called out our names in order to make sure that we were all here.

  “Georgios Nephus!"

  “Seth Kokkinos!"

  “Leo Galanis!"

  The charcoal haired boy sighed, slightly depressed for having to reply to his name being called.

  “Kenos Tehom!”