Amaro leaped, landing on the rooftops and hopping from building to building towards the source of the smoke.

A brilliant white light illuminated the evening sky around the burning bulding. What was happening?

Amaro only had a tenth of a second to react.

Clang!

Amaro twisted in the air and tumbled over the rooftop, landing on his feet and squaring up to his ambusher.

A dark cloaked figure landed on the rooftop across the street from him,“You really deflected that huh? Xirxus brats are something else.”

Amaro looked at his wrist. The golden bracelet he’d used to deflect a stone bullet crumbled and clattered to the ground, “Who are you?”

Amaro’s assailant was a xio clad in dark leather armor and a feathered cloak. His face concealed by a crow mask, and his horns wrapped in black cloth, “A few seconds ago I was a bodyguard. Now I’m just a messenger who won’t get paid enough to deal with you.”

Thunder clapped as Amaro leaped toward him. He intended to send his knee right through his mask, but the xio was too quick. He sidestepped, clicking his tongue, “Oi, you know what they say about not killing messengers right? Unless you don’t want the message?”

“Tell it to me once I bring you to jail for arson!”

Amaro rained down an aggressive series of kicks, punches, and tail swipes. Yet, for how confidently he’d spoken, he couldn’t land a single hit on him.

The Crow was slipping past every strike by less than an inch. For every move Amaro made, The Crow made one just a fraction of a second quicker.

“You’re fast huh? But I don’t feel like dealing with daddy Xirxus, so I probably shouldn’t kill you…” The Crow said to himself, still avoiding Amaro’s punches.

It was degrading seeing how effortlessly he was avoiding every attack. He didn’t even bite on any of the feints Amaro threw out to get an opening.

The Crow was toying with him. Showing him the vast difference in their power without throwing a single punch. Amaro wasn’t just easy to dodge, The Crow didn’t even need to expend more than the bare minimum effort to avoid him.

He raised a knife to Amaro, but he batted it away, letting it dig into the shingles nearby.

Amaro channeled his magic. If he was going to dodge so closely he’d let his lightning jump the gap instead.

But The Crow was even ahead of him there as well. His lightning veered off and struck the dagger Amaro had batted away.

That metal had to be enchanted to pull his lightning so easily. He’d read Amaro like a book front to back.

Amaro stopped, “Who the hell are you? Why did you attack me?”

“Oh you’re done now? To answer your second question, it's cuz you crossed into this territory. I figured I might be able to knock you out without any extra effort, but well…”

“What’s your message then?”

The Crow squatted down on his heels pointing his thumb at the pillar of smoke, “If you- a child of Xirxus- go any further than you already have, or interfere with what’s going on in those streets, then you’ll be making an enemy of a very powerful noble house. A noble house- mind you- that has gone to war for a lot less.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Which noble house are you talking about?”

The Crow made a gesture of locking his mouth up and throwing away the key.

“As if we’d fear any noble house anyway. Let them come for war, we’d just slaughter them. Kadmus is a god slayer, after all.”

“Far from the only god slayer. Or has he not told you? He’s certainly kept his distance from you and your siblings hasn’t he? Have you ever wondered why?”

Amaro grit his teeth, hoping The Crow wouldn’t see the anger in his eyes.

He did.

“Your daddy works so very hard to keep the peace. He knows more than anyone how people change when you’re above them. How people will raise you up in admiration, only to wanna tear you down for being there too long.”

“What are you on about?”

“I mean, you’re practically crushed by your father’s shadow and you can’t even hide it. I only wonder which one you will crumble under sooner. His shadow, or his enemies?”

“What does that have to do with what’s going on over there?”

“It has everything to do with it.” The Crow hummed in a musical tone, “You’re just a lion cub who’s barely started growing their mane. Would you like to know what’s happening over there?”

Amaro could hear the clash of blades, and the shattering of bone coming from the burning building.

“Who’s fighting over there? And why aren’t you helping them if you’re a bodyguard?”

“A certain Venator Knight found my client’s… dispensary. I’m not getting paid enough to deal with them either, so I’m just making sure no one else comes by.”

“Dispensary?”

“You lion cubs are lucky to have your prides, but let’s just say there’s a few wolf cubs over there my master likes to have a steady supply of.”

“Cut the crap, what are you talking about? ”

The Crow almost laughed, “Man, they really don’t let you out of your cage at all do they? The Venator Knight’s children. You know? So the lions kill the cubs and replace them with their own? It’s nothing your family hasn’t done.”

Amaro felt a jolt, “What are you talking about? That’s not-”

“True?” The Crow finished, “Even you don’t believe that, do you?”

Amaro said nothing.

The Crow paused for a moment, deciding what he said next wasn’t private, “It’s rather common for noble houses to traffic the children of Venator Knights to use against them. Either as a threat to guarantee their loyalty, or as a challenge to assimilate them into their decaying bloodlines.”

“So you’re a poacher then?”

“Sometimes.” The Crow shrugged, “My boss will pay me to track down and kidnap the children of any Venator Knight they want to force into their harem. Turn wolves to dogs, so to speak.” He nodded over to the burning building, “I’m just waiting to see if the more loyal people down there can subdue Ms.Wolf or not. Long and private story short, there really isn’t anything more frightening in this world than a mother protecting her child, so I'm keeping my distance.”

As if on queue, a headless body crashed into the roof between them.

The Crow laughed dryly, “Yeah she’s definitely a scary one. That guy was pretty strong too. Oh I can see the stacks of gold my client will be paying me to make sure they get a piece of that.” He stood up, “Anyways, it’s about time I get going before Ms.Wolf catches my scent next.”

“Wait! I’ll pay you for more information.”

“With what, kid?”

Amaro reached for his rings, only to find they weren’t there anymore. He looked up, seeing The Crow now wearing his jewelry, “Thanks for the bonus kid, but this doesn’t buy me out. Guess your daddy figured you’d try to sell it so he never gave you anything enchanted to wear huh? Well-” He dangled the brooch Amaro bought, “Except for this.”

“Give that back.”

“Oho? It's got sentimental value huh?”

“It’s a gift. Give it back.” He growled.

Amaro’s stance changed. His eyes hardened and zeroed in on The Crow like he was prey. His heartbeat slowed down instantly, every muscle in his body was now primed to strike. It had been years since Amaro wanted to take a fight so seriously. The next time he threw a strike at The Crow, he wouldn’t miss.

The Crow whistled in surprise, “That’s a real scary look you’ve got little cub. If it means that much to you then here you go. Oh, and- remember what I said, kid. Don’t interfere, or it’s war,” He chucked the brooch off the edge of the building.

Amaro dove after it, catching himself on a nearby balcony and swung back up to the roof as soon as he could.

But The Crow was gone.