It was a busy day in the city of Yggdryas, many travelers and merchants lurk the town's market together with the locals as they searched for tools and food for their daily lives and explorations. The voices of the shoppers asking for discounts and desperate calls of traders for customers is what sounded the streets even before the sun had risen to bring light and warmth to the surroundings.

"What's on the menu today?", said Nicolas as he sat on the window of a clock tower that's towering over the view of the market's fresh fruits, meats, and other various products. He smiled, already imagining its taste in his mouth as the distinct savory scent from the cooking stands down below fills the air. He paused briefly in order to inhale and prepare himself for what he's about to pull off.

Down he goes, grabbing the corners of the tower, climbing down swiftly and cautiously, landing on both feet as if nothing happened. Raising his cloak's hood, he began walking straight to his prey.

"How much are those?", he asked one of the shop owners.

"This one?", the man placed the freshly cut meat he got from the back.

"No, the other one at the back", Nicolas cleared. "Can you bring it to the front so I could see it clearly?", he added, keeping an eye at the two slices of meat in front of him.

"Sure, this one, right?"

"Yes, the large one"

"Just a second"

As soon as the man turned to take the meat, Nicolas already has his pouch prepared. Without even a heartbeat and hint of hesitation. He grabbed the two pieces of fresh meat in front of him.

"You know what, I think I'll just take these ones at the front", he shouted before sprinting away, "Thanks", he laughed as he waved goodbye to the surprised vendor.

"One... two... three...", seconds later a loud long horn was sounded and five guards came to his pursuit. "Now we're talking", he smirked as he jumped over a fruit vendor's table and used it as a steppingstone before jumping back down and kicking two of the guards trying to corner him to the ground.

"That was close!", he exclaimed as excitement filled his body.

One of the other three guards almost grabbed him but it's not enough to stop this agile thief. Trying to evade everyone on his way, he surely had a hard time, but so are his pursuers. He even stubbed his foot on a table while taking a turn but he's too high on adrenaline that he did not even noticed the pain.

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A few more dashes and turns with the beats of his heart getting louder and faster, he already gathered a large distance from them. "I guess I could slow down and take a rest for a bit", he sighed, slowing down before making another turn on a long alley way then leaned against the wall. Checking his pouch for the two pieces of meat he successfully nabbed, he again started to fantasize its taste and smell. With his eyes closed, the pouch in his hand, he laid back and imagined his prize over the fire.

The obnoxious hymn of another horn forced him back to the surface of his deep daydream. "They spotted me already?", he stood up in distress. The voices of men growing louder as they draw near coming from the alleyways both his left and right brought beads of sweat to his forehead.

"I'm sandwiched", he nervously chuckled. Panic slowly crept from his feet and spread to his spine as he felt his fight or flight sense in action, but this time fleeing is impossible. In the middle of his brainstorming, a loud thud from above grabbed his attention.

"SRAMBLED EGGS", a high-pitched voice came squealing down as a girl fell in front of him. Her face was hidden with a cloak as she nest a similar kind of pouch.

"You slipped?", Nicolas sarcastically asked.

The girl just looked at him sharply as a response before frantically collecting herself and scanning the surroundings. "Out of all places, why here"

On the distance, the guards finally had reached the alley way they are in. Their footsteps grew even louder as the sound bounced off back and forth the walls as if a drum. "THERE SHE IS", a guard with a spear pointed at the girl as they began to sprint.

"Looks like they're after you. Maybe I should lay down here and pretend to be your victim", Nicolas declared with a devious smile. Again, the girl gazed at him sharply as if hoping that he would incinerate.

He was just about to dramatically fall to the ground when another guard yelled, "It's him, the burglar from earlier, they must be working together."

"Well, would you look at that, you're a thief", the girl could only laugh watching the boy who's now starting to really panic.

"Well, it turns out you are too", Nicolas raised his knuckles up, preparing for the worst. "What should we do?"

"What should WE do? I have no recollection of us being friends", she repeated. "I'm not someone who would depend on others, especially on a stranger", she took a knife from her thigh and also took her stance as the first wave of guards came charging in.

"We can work together or else there's no getting out of this mess. Your choice, but I think we can agree that we'll not be good cellmates", Nicolas tried persuading her as he kicked one of the men towards the others.

The girl also fought for her life as she dodged the punishing pointy end of a spear before ultimately taking it from the enemy. "Fine", she sighed, "Normally I would decline your help, but I still have plans for the future, and getting caught here is not one of them", she fiercely pushed the crowd back with the non-lethal part of the weapon.

"What should we do then?", Nicolas asked as they managed to survive the first wave.

"Boost me up"

"Boost you what?"