It had been one week since Lila Frost had been fired, she sat in her apartment staring at a message she had just received from her tablet. It was a reply to her most recent job application. Another rejection. The fifth one she had received.

The contents of the message mirrored the other messages from every other place she had applied. A small paragraph talking about how they were not interested with her at the time. No real explanation to why.

Not that she needed an explanation, it was abundantly clear why, Viola Coldwater told her as such. The Coldwaters had blacklisted her from working at any real place of any substantial value. Any major company would be stupid to accept her application.

She slumped onto the couch rubbing her face in exasperation. She had no idea what to do, she needed a job. Her job back at the Coldwater estate was a part time trial job. While it paid well by the hour, she had very few hours every week, plus they were located several hours away.

It didn’t help that she recently had to pay off all the debt from her deceased deadbeat parents, pay the upcoming rent and feed her sister Lottie and herself. She honestly had no idea what to do. She began to play around with her bracelet as she tried to figure something out, it helped calm her down.

Her sister, six-year-old Lottie joined her from the other room.

“Is something wrong?” She asked Lila in concern.

“No, nothing.” Lila tried to lie. Unfortunately, she was a terrible liar. Lottie frowned, easily seeing through it.

“Did they say no again.” She asked.

With a small sigh Lila said, “Yes, but don’t worry I’m trying to find others.”

Lottie slumped her shoulders and hung her head, “It’s my fault.” She said dejectedly.

“I shouldn’t have fought with that boy.” Lottie scolded herself.

“No, no. It had nothing to do with that. You did the right thing standing up to him. It was my own fault that I got fired.” Lila assured her.

“It’s not right!” Lottie shouted out, “You did nothing wrong! That Viola girl was mean!”

“Well, it can’t be helped. No point dwelling on them, they’re not worth it.” Lila said with a painful smile.

“There are more important things to worry about.” Lila said as she thought about what to do next. We probably need to leave the continent to get a decent job. She thought gloomily.

As she fiddled with her bracelet she continued to plan. She could probably take a loan from a bank, sell a few things to get some emergency money, buy two tickets and sail their way somewhere else. As long as where they go is apart of the Alvidor kingdom they can settle in no issue.

The only thing that was the issue was the money. How was she going to get the money to do so? Her thoughts were once again interrupted, this time however by a knock on the door to their apartment.

Curious Lila rose from her couch and peered through the peephole and saw a man standing in front of her door wearing a weird owl mask that covered half his face, he wore a large trench coat hiding whatever he had on him.

“Please open the door. I know you’re in there.” The stranger said.

Lila proceeded to lock the chain lock on her door, it gave a small metallic click as she does so. Quickly she began to back away from the door.

“Wait! Wait! I’m not here to hurt you!” The stranger yelled through the door.

Lila proceeded to guide Lottie to another room and shut the door behind her.

“Wait what-” Lottie complained as the door was closed in front of her.

“Hold on! I’m a registered merchant! I’m here to purchase an item you own.” The person said franticly. “Look through the peephole again! I have my license!”

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

Hesitantly Lila peered through the peephole once more, and she indeed did see a trading license with the official insignia.

“What do you want?” She called out suspiciously.

“Please open the door, I want to talk to you about a trade.” The stranger begged.

Lila pondered for a moment, she considered the fact that it was the middle of the day, so it would be pretty stupid if he tried something. She unlocked the door lock but left the chain lock on and creaked the door open and glared at the stranger with suspicion.

“So, what do you want to trade?” She asked.

Quickly looking around the stranger turned back to her and bent down to her eye level whispered to her, “You’re the lady that used to work at the Coldwater estate, yes?”

“I am.” She said slowly while slightly tense, ready to be defensive.

“I heard rumors that you have a bracelet, correct?” The stranger asked.

“What kind of bracelet?”

“One with small four-leaf clover, a small horse and some letters on it.” The stranger explained.

Lila snuck a glance at her wrist looking at the bracelet, it was one of the few things she had received from her parents. A very simply, cheap looking bracelet, though it was passed down from generation to generation, or so her parents claimed. She never trusted those lowlifes, especially when they left her and Lottie. But it matched the description of what he was describing.

How did he know about it? She does wear it everywhere and it seemed that he had received information on her from the Coldwater estate. I suppose that someone connected to the Coldwaters would be able to obtain this sort of information.

“I may have what you are looking for.” She said while making sure that the hand the bracelet was on was behind a wall and out of sight.

“How much is it?” She asked.

“I am willing to pay half a million credits for it.” He whispered.

“H-h-half a what?” She said in disbelief.

“It’s a one-time offer, I must leave soon. But I can transfer the money to you right now. You must make your decision now.” He said.

Lila stared at the mask stranger flabbergasted, half a million credits was enough for Lottie and her to live well for a few years. This was too good to be true, how in the world does she own such a valuable item.

“Why would I sell it to you? I could get a better deal.” She asked.

“You can’t!” He said urgently.

“Why not?”

“Uh… because this item isn’t well known in the northern continent, it is a rare piece of jewelry back in the southern continents. People here won’t know it’s value. My client specifically requested it.” The man quickly said.

“What client?” She prodded.

“Um, a secret one, look are you going to trade or not?” He quickly changed the subject.

“This feels like a scam.” She replied, not impressed.

She could see the masked mans lips go thin as he pondered for a moment. Before he dug out a wad of credit notes from his pocket.

Her eyes nearly bulged out of her eyes as she saw the credit notes.

“I have a hundred thousand on me in cash. I also have several gemstones worth another quarter of a million, including mana stone. Easy to sell, easy to trade. I will transfer the rest of the money into your bank account.” He said.

Lila was almost mesmerized by the money before her. Gods know she needs the money right now. But she still felt that something was amiss. This stranger was hiding more than just his face.

Apparently able to understand what Lila was thinking the stranger quickly said, “I’m going to give you this one chance. Make your decision now or I’m leaving.”

Lila paused, now she was in a conundrum, there is something suspicious about this man. But that is real money being offered by a licensed merchant, and she did need it. Still a small nagging part of her wanted her to say no, but then her thoughts came back to Lottie. After another moment of thought she nodded.

“Alright you have a deal.”

“Yes!” The stranger said giving a small fist pump, “Uh. I mean, thank you for this deal. Would you, uh mind opening the door so we can complete the transaction?”

Lila closed the door so that she can unlock the chain lock and allowed the stranger to enter the door. Upon entering the door, the stranger quickly placed a box down on her coffee table as well as a few more stacks of cash.

From his pocket he dug out a small display tablet, proceeded to write something down on it, before showing her the tablet, on it was a contract.

“Sign this to officiate the deal please.” He said.

Lila gave a careful read through of the contract, it all seemed above board. She signed the contract and the stranger put the tablet away. He took a quick read through and gave a happy nod.

“Thank you, please give me your bank ID and I’ll send the rest of the money through the Aether. Please put the bracelet into this box.” The stranger asked.

Lila gave a small nod and followed his instructions. She told herself that the bracelet meant nothing, but it still felt weird taking it off. She went everywhere with that piece of junk. As the stranger took the bracelet from her and she watched him leave, she called out to him.

“Hey, you mentioned that this was for your client?”

“Oh, yes.” The stranger turned back to her.

“Did your client tell you where to find the item?” She asked innocently.

“Yes, he did.” The masked man replied with a smile.

“But didn’t you say that he lived in the south? How would he know that I had it? Unless I somehow met him before?” She asked, suspicion rising as she narrowed her eyes.

The stranger froze in place as his body went rigid in panic.

“Uh- well, I-” He stuttered before deciding that the smartest course of action was to run out the door and down the hallway to the stairways.

Running to fast for Lila stared at the retreating figure, before looking back at the money on her table. She simply stood there in a state of confusion.

Door to Lottie’s room creaked open, “Lila, what happened?” She asked.

Lila turned towards Lottie, still dumbfounded simply said, “I have no idea.”