Puck had always prided himself on being patient. It was a trait that kept him alive in the streets of Velgrada, where impatience could get a man—or even a boy of his age—killed. Yet, right now, he was restless like never before. The encounter he had with Edvin left him with a gnawing curiosity and urgency that made it hard to think straight or remain focused. He couldn't shake the thought that this might be his chance to step out of the shadows of ruined buildings, from going hungry for multiple days, and push him into something more. Into a better life. He knew he was risking a lot... but without risks, there were no rewards.
The moment Edvin and his guard let him go, he knew he had a choice to make. He could, once again, disappear, pretend he had never heard of Shade again, and avoid the risk of getting tangled up in something that probably was over his head. But no, that was an option he only entertained once before throwing it out. He didn't know why, but something about how Edvin spoke, something in his voice that made Puck think this could be what he had been dreaming about for years.
If that was the case, then Puck wanted in. Or, as many of the adults said in the dingy pubs, where he usually hung out, pickpocketing them, it was time to go all in.
But, finding this Shade—or rather, finding a way to reach him—was not as simple as Puck had hoped. He hadn't been contacted since that exciting night, and he had no idea how to initiate contact himself either. It was a chance he was chosen... but he hoped that luck would once again shine on him. He didn't know where the man and woman, the two who had given him the job, operated from, nor did he have any idea what connections he might have had in the city.
But he knew he wasn't completely helpless, especially not after remembering where he was first contacted and where the drop-off point was located, both of which were in the same part of the city. He had a point where he could start searching.
He also knew that the best way to get someone's attention is to make them notice you. Or make them notice you are looking for them. So, for the next two days, Puck made himself visible in all the right places. He lingered near the drop-off point where he had hidden the pouch; then, he moved through the same streets where he had first met this Shade, hoping that someone from his organization was watching. If not for him, then for possibly others sniffing around their operations. Most of all, he made sure to be seen asking questions—careful, subtle questions, as best as he could think about—describing a certain cloaked figure to other urchins and vagrants.
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"Persistent little boy, isn't he?" Lira murmured, her eyes following Puck as he once again made a round past a street corner where we were staying. We were sitting on the bottom floor of our inn, having our breakfast, her mouth slowly moving, nibbling on a piece of sweet bread.
"It seems he is looking for us." I gently nodded, sitting opposite her, finishing my morning coffee and small biscuit and dunking them into my black drink. "Either he wants another job… or something's happened."
"Could be trouble," Lira muttered, tilting her head. Her voice was light, but her tone was clearly nervous. We just got ourselves enough gold to stay in this for a few months if we were careful with how we spent it. We couldn't start flaunting it either... that would be too obvious. "Or he just got greedy." She continued while the young kid's back finally disappeared in another street, "Kids like him, they get a taste of gold, and suddenly they think they're kings."
"Maybe..." I muttered, agreeing with her points, "Greed is an easy sin to sink into..."
"True..." she shot me a glare, her eyes flashing back to her parents while I was thinking about the Crows... I wonder if they did manage to get the Artifact. And if they did, how many of them survived? "What do you want to do?" she asked softly, bringing me out of my contemplation.
"Let's find out what he wants," I said after a momentary pause. "Can you go and talk to him? Same as before. Keep the mystery. He may open up more easily to a girl than to me..."
"I can try..." She smiled, her eyes flashing once, clearly excited that I was trusting her with this, and I could tell she felt much, much better than before. It wasn't hard to notice that the way I was relying on her made her feel wanted and valuable. I understood the feeling; that is why I was doing it. "But don't be mad if it turns out he is not looking for us and we misunderstood him."
"Heh, I won't." I mused, watching her, "We read him right at the first time, too. I don't think we are making a mistake now either."
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Puck had just about given up hope when he saw her.
The way she moved, stood, and sounded—he recognized it at once, even though he couldn't clearly see her face. The same hooded woman as before suddenly appeared out of nowhere, stepping in front of him from a little alleyway, one that sneaked between two elongated houses, only giving enough space for one person to pass through it at once. She was careful… He could tell. That is probably why she appeared from that direction, making Puck think that she did so intentionally. Because she could escape more easily if he turned out to be sent here to trap her...
In reality, it was a coincidence, and Lira didn't even plan for it; it was just easier to cut right in the way of the anxious-looking Puck...
"You've been looking for us," she said, her voice even, her tone giving nothing away, not even the fact she was secretly really enjoying playing the role of a mysterious woman.
"Y-yes..." Puck swallowed and nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "Yeah. Got somethin' important. Not trouble. Promise! It... it is just a message..."
"From whom?" she asked, her head tilting slightly as she studied him.
"The merchants," he said, keeping his voice low. "Veren & Sons. The ones who I was running from?"
"They..." Lira tried to ask, suddenly thinking it was a trap, but Puck quickly began waving his hands, thinking they might take it in the wrong way and... what if they kill him?! He didn't think of that yet.
"No, no, no! Not a trap! No! They didn't catch me, they asked me! They want to meet. To thank Shade. Promise! They seemed genuine, and they even paid me!"
"..." Lira didn't react immediately, simply watching him from beneath her hood. Mostly because she was also thinking and feeling her heart beating rapidly in her chest. Forcing herself to calm down, not letting it show in her voice, she gave a slight nod. "I'll let him know."
"Um..." Puck watched as she turned and began walking away, disappearing back into the darkness just like that. "Wait! Please! I want to join!" He rushed after her, but... with how long he stood there, somewhat stunned, by the time he acted, Lira was gon. "Damn it, Puck..." He cursed, balling up his fist. "Damn it!"
But, there was no time to be angry... no. There was still a chance. With that, he decided that for the next few days, until he saw them again, he would camp out at the merchant's place. Yes. If they go there, he will have another chance to ask them to join him.
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"So?" I asked when Lira returned, her footsteps gently making the floorboard creak as she returned to our room, where I was writing a list of what to do if I wanted to establish my own little force in this city.
"He wasn't lying," Lira said, pulling her hood back and walking up to me with a tired moan. "At least, I don't think so."
"Then there was a message, I assume?"
"Yeah... Veren & Sons want to meet you. To thank you, apparently."
"Hmm..." I wasn't expecting it, so I remained quiet for a long moment, my gaze fixed on the orange sky, thanks to the setting sun's light. Finally, after putting my thoughts in order, I nodded. "I'll do it."
"What if it's a trap?" Lira raised an eyebrow, her arms crossing over her chest. "I don't like it. It could be dangerous... What if they want their money back?"
"It's not about that; I don't think so," I mused, my voice soft and thoughtful. "It's about opportunity." I tapped on the parchment I was writing, "We need to start establishing ourselves and then start growing. If we want to build something real, we need people and, more than that, contacts. They could be the first source for that. This is as good a place to start as any."
"I... I am not good with this, but... If you say so, I will believe you," Lira said, feeling a bit shy all of a sudden. She acted as if she were my wife, ready to support me, which, in turn, made me blink my eyes and look away. Her gaze and the way she looked at me made me feel shy all of a sudden. "I'm just worried about you. The last plan was... not safe!"
"It was a shit plan." I shrugged, "Grown from desperation and because there was no way to plan more or better... It had to be done fast and without proper preparations. This time around, I won't make the same mistake. We won't make the same mistake."
"Um... I will help..." She nodded, settling closer to me and holding my hands. "How do you want to do it?"
"Well," I smiled, a flicker of pleasure suddenly washing over me. "First, we send them a letter. And I think we'll let our little street rat deliver it."
"Oh, yes, him. I heard him say he wanted to join us!"
"Really? Good! Hired." I laughed, "I will make sure he knows it, too."
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Puck wasn't sure what he had been expecting when he felt the hand on his shoulder again, but when he turned and saw a familiar, cloaked figure standing before him, his heart leaped. He was just about to head to the Veren & Sons compound when someone, once again, got ahold of him. He also knew that he had to focus. It would also not be a good image if he could be caught so easily.
"Oh!" he said, grinning despite himself.
"Come with me," the figure—me, of course, said, keeping my tone commandering. "What's your name?"
"Puck, Mister!" He said as he followed. We didn't go far before I stopped and turned to him while we stood under the shade of a tree next to a closed-down shop, my hood and scarf covering most of my face.
"You did well with the job," I began, my voice coming out muffled yet still firm enough. "Better than expected. I have an offer for you."
"Y...yes?" Puck swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "An offer?"
"Join us. Permanently."
"Yes!" He answered immediately, no thinking, nothing.
"Good." I chuckled, continuing, "You know how to move. You're smart. And you know the city better than most. That's useful."
"I will not disappoint you, Mister! What should I have to do next?" he asked eagerly.
"Easyl," I said while I reached into my cloak and pulled out a sealed letter. "Deliver this to Veren & Sons. The letter contains a date, a place, and instructions. Markus is to come alone if he wants to meet Shade. Make sure they understand that."
"Of course." Puck took the letter carefully, his heartbeat almost audible through his chest. "And after that?"
"Don't rush," I said with my eyes flashing. "We'll see."
"Y-yes, Mister!" Puck nodded, asking no more questions while he looked down at the letter, carefully putting it away.
"Now go." I gave a single nod." Don't keep them waiting. When you finish, go to the previous drop-off point. Someone will be waiting for you there."
"I'm on it!" he saluted. With that, he turned on his heel and vanished into the busy street; the letter clutched tightly in his hand.
For now... I won't reveal to him who we are. Not yet. Let's keep that hidden, just as the Crows hid the fact from me who was the leader. It wasn't a bad idea and... I was going to steal some of it for myself.