Taurise smirks, lightly dangling the pouch of gold pieces from his fingers. “So, are you the thief I’m looking for?”
Suddenly the bowl of stew on the table looks far less appetizing. Taurise trapped her. Time slowed down for Amira, and the air around her grew thick and heavy. The rest of the diner might as well have ceased to exist. She purses her lips, her mouth going dry, despite just having drank a cool glass of water the moment before. Her heart raced. But Amira wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, or a threat. “No!” Amira shakes her head, glaring daggers as she accepts Taurise’s ‘challenge’. “You have no proof I stole anything!”
Taurise tips his head from side to side. “You fit all the criteria for the pickpocket. For one, all the victims were robbed without anyone ever approaching them. There are witnesses that can confirm that.” He explains, laying out the evidence. Amira watches his hands as he unties the pouch, pulling out a gold coin. She almost opened her mouth to protest, but chose against it, gritting her teeth, her eye’s fixated on the gold coin in his hand. “And people have seen metallic objects like coins floating. When they tried to touch them, they experienced a light shock.” He continues, fiddling around with a golden coin, emulating the motion of a coin floating.
Amira crosses her arms, tapping her foot against the floor impatiently. “All I can do is use electricity!” She leans forward, sweat beginning to form in her hands. This guy might be smarter than I thought… She worries, racking her brain for ways to wave away any theories the man might have. “This is a bullshit accusation!”
Taurise smirks, meeting her wide hazel eyes. “Magnetism is an aspect of electricity, isn’t it?” He asks rhetorically, stroking his beard with his thumb and index finger. “Your power allows you to turn spectral energy into electricity which can then be used in a manner of ways,” He pauses for a moment, allowing Amira a moment to rebut. However, the once spunky girl remains quiet, her eyes narrow and trained on Taurise.
A few moments pass, and Amira shifts back up in her seat. “I told you everything I know about my power earlier.” The almond skinned girl brushes her medium length hair out of her face. “It’s just something I can do naturally.”
“I guess I can’t prove your lying,” Taurise shrugs. “We can just table that conversation for now,” He decides. “Going back to the matter at hand…”
“Tch” Amira bites her lip. His narrowed green eyes are burning into her soul, cornering her. “What does magnetism have to do with anything?” She spits. “All you are doing is spouting shit!” She balls up her fists on the table.
Taurise simply lets Amira speak, his expression stern. “If you used electro-magnetism, you could easily steal gold coins without ever getting close.” Taurise explains, his composure remaining solid as a rock despite Amira’s yelling. “And would explain how you got your hands on the thug’s haul.” He tosses the bag of coins up and down like it weighs nothing.
“But how do you even know the bag is stolen in the first place?” Amira shoots back. “They were chasing me! Trying to mug me!”
“While it’s true that group were responsible for multiple robberies in the street market”. Taurise admits. “They used brute force rather than powers, as they don’t have any like you or I,” He explains. “But they also don’t normally chase people out of alleyways into the street. Their methods were generally hit and runs,” He waves her rebuttal away. “They don’t like to chase their pray, so the thug’s actions don’t make much sense unless you stole this bag from them,” He concludes.
Amira silently sits back in her seat, staring out the window into the street. She her eyes flicker across the street, from one person to the next. People of all ages walking along past the diner. All of them, completely normal. “So, what are you going to do with me?” She asks, a scowl on her face. “Are you planning to turn me in if I don’t join the Order of Indara?” She turns her angry gaze back towards Taurise. “Are you blackmailing me, so I do what you say?” She snaps, every muscle in her body tensed.
Taurise doesn’t respond for a moment, allowing Amira a moment to cool off. “I don’t have any plans like that,” He shakes his head, waving away the notion. “However, I want you to give the gold back to the people the thugs stole it from.” He places the gold coin he removed back into the bag, ties the straight around the pouch, placing it to his side. “Come on,” He stands up from the table, stretching his arms. “The market is going to close soon if we don’t hurry,” He adds, pointing in the general direction of the street market.
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The once harsh sun has now begun to fall towards the horizon, signaling the end of the day. Multiple vendors are clearing their stalls, packing up anything that was unlucky enough to not have been sold during the busy hours of the day.
Standing just around the entrance are Taurise and Amira, the former holding the pouch of gold coins. “I’m surprised you actually agreed to this,” He grins at Amira. She doesn’t answer, instead quickly scanning the surrounding area. “I guess we should start asking around!” Taurise announces, taking a quick look around, using his hand to shield his eyes from the sun, which was still bright despite starting to set. After surveying the area, he decides to walk up to a fruit vendor.
“Ah hello!” The vendor greets, leaning up against the limestone building behind the stand. The vendor is a man of average height with a similar almond skin tone to Amira and short brown hair. “How can I help you?” He asks with a smile.
Taurise begins explaining that he’s looking into the thieves, asking for some evidence. The shopkeeper nods, following along as he starts packing away some of his stand up. Taurise leans casually on the stand, keeping the tone relatively light. “Would you happen to have heard anything?” He asks politely.
The fruit seller crosses his arms, taking a moment to ponder. “Well, I heard some commotion going just past the corner just over two hours ago,” He points down the street. “Apparently some thugs robbed a woman selling clothes during the rush hour today! I’ve been busy all day though so I couldn’t check!” He explains, gesturing towards the stand. “I got my hands on a shipment of oranges and people were swarming the stand!” He laughs, scratching the back of his head.
Amira perked up, walking up to the stand. “Wait there were oranges in the city today?” She cuts into the conversation, her eyes glowing. “Do you have any left?” She asks, her eyes hopeful as she leans into the stand.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
The fruit seller rubs the back of his neck nervously. “Sorry kid,” Amira’s spirit deflates, her head falling onto the stand. “My entire stock was bought within the hour I got them,” He explains. “Though I don’t blame anyone for being excited. Ever since the gods started this war it’s been hard to come by anything nice” He looks to the side, his eyes narrowing bitterly.
Amira silently steps back, rather disappointed. “Well, thanks anyways I suppose,” She pouts, her eyes wandering to the side.
Taurise nods, flicking a copper the way of the merchant. “Best of luck.” He starts walking towards the direction of the incident.
Amira lags behind for a moment, before jogging to Taurise’s side. “I wish I’d known they were selling oranges earlier…” She complains, staring up at the orange sky. The sun is falling below the city’s low skyline, casting shadows over the streets.
“Don’t be so down about it,” Taurise shrugs, turning the corner. “We have more important things to do,” He reminds her, wagging a finger.
Amira glares at Taurise, balling up her fists. “Stop acting like your so wise!” She grumbles. “You aren’t even that much older than me!” She asserts, stepping in front of him.
“I suppose I am only 23,” He admits. “But you can’t be any older then 14, maybe 15 max,” Taurise guesses, touching his fingers to his chin, making his guess off the girls short, thin frame.
Amira crosses her arms. “I’m 16.” She declares, meeting Taurise’s eyes with a straight, deadpanned look.
“Well, I stand corrected!” Taurise laughs, walking past her. But for a 16-year-old to be that thin… No doubt she’s living on the streets, He notes, looking back. He had not paid it much attention before, but Amira wasn’t just small; She was tiny. Barely standing above 5 feet, and a lack of much muscle or fat anywhere on her body. I should probably leave her with some provisions if she does decide not to come with me… He thinks, before getting back to the matter at hand. “We should be where the incident took place!” Taurise announces, scanning the area. “Now who here looks like they were robbed…?” He asks to himself. He looks around, and spots a woman looking around anxiously from behind her stall, biting her lip. After a moment, Taurise calls out towards the woman, waving in her direction as he approaches. She has slightly darker skin then Amira, and her long hair is tied back in a ponytail. Getting closer, he notices she has an assortment of cheap clothing in the back of her stall.
She looks over, noticing Taurise and Amira approaching. “Oh hello!” She forces a cordial smile, the muscles on her face and arms tensing up as the two get closer. “Are you looking for something?” Her eyes dart around nervously.
Taurise glances over her stall, looking at what she has in stock. “Is something wrong?” He asks, feigning ignorance. “You seem tense.”
The woman forces a smile. “No, no it’s all good!”
“I heard this stand was hit by some thugs earlier,” Taurise says, causing the woman’s smile to fade.
“Yes, I was…” The clothes seller admits. “The guards haven’t found the men who did it either…”
Taurise smiles. “Well, is this what was stolen?” He holds up the pouch from earlier. “I noticed it has some initials on it too!” bringing attention to the IM sewn onto the pouch.
The woman’s eyes light up. She leans forward, over the counter of the stall. “Yes, it is!” She exclaims. “My name is Iie Manaji!” Iie exclaims joyously, reaching out towards the pouch. Taurise hands it off, and she pulls it back, hugging the pouch full of currency. “Thank you so much sir!” She puts the pouch behind the stand and cups the warrior’s rough hand with her own, shaking violently.
Taurise pulls away from the overjoyed woman. “H-hold up!” He raises his hands. “I wasn’t the one who got it back from the thieves!”
Iie tilts her head to the side. “Then who-“
Taurise steps aside, revealing a surprised Amira. “You should be thanking her,” He says, gesturing with his hands towards the orphan. Amira shoots daggers at Taurise with her glare. Technically she did get it back with the intention of stealing it for herself, but I think stretching the truth is fine in this case. Taurise return’s Amira’s glare with a knowing smirk. “She took on the thieves and got your stolen gold back!”
Amira stammers, her face red. “Wait, uh, I-“
“Don’t be so humble!” Taurise stifles a giggle, biting his lip as he watches Amira cycle through a multitude of emotions.
Iie runs out of the stand, holding something round and brightly colored in her hands. “Thank you so much! Thank you thank you!” She thanks profusely to the overwhelmed Amira, whose body has frozen up at this point.
“It- It’s no problems- I mean problem!” Amira stutters, taking a step back from the grateful shopkeeper. “Really-“ Her face is flushed, and she’s unsure of how to handle the onslaught of praise she’s receiving.
“Please take this as thanks!” Iie shoves the bright, round object into Amira’s hands. “It’s not much, but it should be a nice treat!” She backs up, noticing how uncomfortable the younger girl looked.
Amira looks down at the object, realizing what the woman gave her. “This…” She looks up at Iie, and back down to the object she’d been given.
Iie simply smiles as the thin young girl, watching Amira’s face morph into a look of awe and wonder. “Please! Take it as thanks! I wouldn’t have been able to pay for my stall if you didn’t bring this back!” she wipes a tear away. “So, this is a tiny price to pay for my livelihood!” The clasps her hands together, smiling warmly at Amira.
Finally, the tension in Amira’s body fades. She looks down at the delicacy in her hands with a soft, childlike grin. “I suppose you’re right.”
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“Mmmmm so good!” Amira squeals, holding the peeled orange in her hand, a single hinge missing. “It’s been so long since I’ve had one!”
“Talking like this, you almost sound like a normal girl!” Taurise teases, a soft smile on his face. The duo is walking back out of the market the way they came.
“Shut it old man,” Amira snaps back, her face deadpan. “Let me enjoy this.” She turns back to her orange, a smile retaking her face. She peels off the second hinge off the orange and pops it into her mouth.
Taurise chuckles. “I know a friend in the city with some extra rooms if you need a place to stay.”
“Really?!” Amira exclaims, her mouth still full of orange. She realizes, and swallows, but taking a moment to savor the sweet, exotic, and tangy taste. “If it’s not too much trouble, could I stay?” She imagines the luxuries awaiting her at this friend’s house. Suddenly, Taurise freezesAmira continues walking for a moment, her daydreaming rendering her oblivious to Taurise’s sudden change in attitude. However, she notices the lack of footsteps next to her, and turns.
Taurise’s face is frozen. His eyes are narrowed, and his muscles are tense. “Get down.” He orders, his harsh, militant tone a far cry from the jovial teasing he had been delivering just a moment ago.
Amira looks back at him, confused and slightly startled by the sudden whiplash in his tone.
A thin, short black object flies out of the air from behind the corner, zipping towards Amira. “I said, GET DOWN!” He repeats, dashing past Amira. “Overdriver, form 2!” He yells, taking a moment to get a bead on the shadowing object flying right at the girl. He thrusts his right arm forward his open palm aiming at the shadow, and a bullet like sphere of force fires from Taurise’s palm, flying forward and colliding with the shadow, colliding with a sound reminiscent of a gun being shot.
“Amira. I need you to follow my instructions.” Taurise orders, not looking back. His eyes are narrowed, focused. Watching every which way for another attack.
Amira looks towards Taurse, a mixture of confusion and fear manifesting on her eyes. Her body is frozen, the moments becoming hours. “What’s going on…” She stammers, her voice shaking.
Taurise narrows his eyes. His breath quickens, a bead of sweat flowing down his forehead. “We’re being targeted by a liaison of the gods. A cursed.”