“Oh boy… Looks like it happened again…”

Theron’s curiosity was piqued. “What happened?”

With a furrowed brow, Jerma explained. "It's been happening quite often lately. Someone's been stealing the coins people throw in the fountain, hoping for their wishes to come true. And it's not just the fountain; some shops in the town center have reported stolen goods too. Rumor has it, people have spotted a girl with gray hair at the scene of the crimes."

“Heh, looks like Joulm has a resident thief on their hands. But a little girl with gray hair? You sure it's not some tiny grandma?”

As Jerma and Theron shared their thoughts on the rumors, a sudden call interrupted their conversation. A boisterous and slightly intoxicated patron stumbled towards Jerma from Helios Tavern. His belches echoed in the town square.

"J-Jerma! H-How's it g-going, my boy! You s-should be at the tavern, it's a blast in there! HICK!"

“Ah, Mr. Onin, looks like you've had a good night so far. Please, try to make it safely back home!”

“O-Oh, don't worry bout me kid! I'm as smooth as a c-cucumber!! Yee-haw!!”

Bidding farewell to one of his regulars, Jerma, with a courteous nod to Theron, led the way to the other side of the fountain, arriving at Helios Tavern.

The jovial sounds of laughter and clinking mugs spilled into the late evening air as they stepped inside. The atmosphere was as vibrant, or even more so, as Eve’s Flask.

The warm glow of lanterns illuminated the hardwood walls, which were lined with different animal trophies and awards. Almost every table was filled with boisterous men and women having a swell time. Not to mention the aroma of freshly cooked meals mingling with the rich sweet scent of Helios Ale.

It was simply a haven of camaraderie, a respite from the daily toils. Theron immediately felt at home.

“Huh? That's odd. Where's Mr. Kin?” Jerma commented on the vacant space behind the bar. “He should be here by now… Hey, Theron, can you wait for me at the table nearest the bar?”

“Of cour–” Theron's reply was cut short as the rune tablet in his pouch began to glow with a white ethereal light. The same ethereal light he saw back in the man-killer’s den.

As the radiant glow started to intensify, mystifying Theron and Jerma, a sudden scream echoed through the tavern. The jovial atmosphere shifted to one of apprehension, patrons turning their heads in alarm.

The scream came from just behind the tavern. With exchanging concerned glances, Theron and Jerma booked it through the back door behind the bar.

Now in the tight alleyway behind the tavern and approaching the source of the commotion, they found Mr. Kin, Jerma's boss, holding onto a struggling figure.

Mr. Kin constantly rolled and tussled with the figure, dirtying his lime green bartender outfit. He made sure to use his plump body to hold them down.

As they got closer, the pair got a better look. It was a girl with gray hair: the suspected thief.

The girl vehemently protested, yelling at Mr. Kin to let her go, her voice filled with a mix of defiance and desperation.

“Let me go you crusty old pervert!!”

“Not until you give me back the baked goods and everything else you've stolen!!”

Before Theron or Jerma could break up the commotion, Theron's rune tablet began to glow brighter than before. Simultaneously, something in the girl's blue bag started to glow brown, resonating in unison with Theron's own rune.

As the radiant glow enveloped the alleyway, a sudden surge of arcania disrupted Mr. Kin's hold on the girl.

Seizing the opportunity, she slipped from his grasp and darted away, vanishing into the shadows.

“Wait!” Theron quickly pursued her in hopes of figuring out what his rune was resonating with. “There's no way she has one too…!”

Stolen story; please report.

The chase lasted minutes throughout the twisting turns of Joulm's alleyways. Unfortunately for Theron, the girl had the home advantage, and was seemingly able to lose him.

Now outta breath, she spoke to herself. “Whew… I ditched them… That was too close this time…” Reminiscing about her close encounter, she closed her fist in irritation. “To think that crusty old fossil was lying in wait! How dare he lay his hands on a girl like me, I'll get him next time!”

Stopping at a dead-end, the girl stared ahead at the towering stone wall before reaching out her hand. As her hand made contact, the wall caved in like it was a thin layer of paper.

In reality, it was a blanket made to be the same color as the surrounding walls. Brushing it aside, she made her way into her makeshift bunker inside the walls.

Within the hollowed out walls, flattened cardboard boxes carpeted the floor as foundation. Discarded blankets, worn-out clothes, and tattered pieces of fabric form the walls, providing a semblance of separation from the outside world. In one corner, there was a small collection of personal items and trinkets she had stolen. In another corner sat a lone lantern, providing a sufficient amount of light to illuminate the tiny room. This was a humble space, a sanctuary, a place to find solace amid the challenges of homelessness.

“Hey Bubbles… I bought you some more food and water to make you feel better.” The girl walked to the center of the room, where a small fish bowl stood.

At first, it just seemed like a fish bowl with normal water. But as the girl tapped on the glass, the water started to move, like it had a mind of its own. It was a slime that had taken refuge inside.

As the girl dropped pieces of bread into the fish bowl, the slime would envelope the pieces whole. The girl liked to watch as the food dissolved into nothingness through its translucent body.

After she was done feeding the slime, a small bubble floated to the surface and popped, mimicking a burp.

The girl smiled at the slime's reaction. “Aww, did you like it? I tried to get your favorite, banana bread, but I couldn't find any. Here's some water!”

“Bubbles? I like that name.”

Theron stood right behind the girl, unbeknownst to either her or the slime. A brief and awkward pause filled the tiny bunker as the girl blinked numerous times to see if Theron was real.

“AHHHHH!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?”

“Gah! Shhhhh! I'm not here to hurt you or turn you in, I promise! Please, don't make too much noise. I'm only here to confirm something.”

“C-Confirm something? What do you want from me?”

Theron simply responded by pulling out his rune tablet. As soon as it was out in the open, it glimmered with the same white light. Something in the girl's bag did the same.

“You have one of these, right?”

The girl stared at Theron's tablet with disbelief. “No way… You have one also?”

“Looks like we have something in common! May I please see yours?”

The girl hesitated, her red eyes scanned Theron from top to bottom in search for ulterior motives. Yet, she couldn't find anything malicious in his body language nor tone of voice. “W… Why should I?” She said, still skeptical.

Opening his mouth to speak about his quest, Theron would be interrupted by the calling of his name through the alleyway. It was Jerma, who had chased after the two of them.

Theron swiftly exited the bunker and made sure the blanket cover disguised it from prying eyes. Just in time for Jerma to round the corner.

“Mr. Theron? Why are you staring at a dead-end? Did you lose the girl?”

“Oh! J-Jerma! I uh… Yes I did, unfortunately. She was a fast one. She must have continued through the alleyways…” Theron struggled to keep a straight face as he lied.

“Oh, bummer… Don't tell Mr. Kin this, but the girl seemed pretty young. If she's stealing just to survive, I would happily give her food and water once my shifts end. We always have baked goods left over.”

“Is that so?” Theron smiled and peeked over his shoulder at the false wall. “I think she would love that.”

Just then, a deafening explosion went off somewhere in Joulm. It shook everything, causing rats to scurry beneath Theron's and Jerma's feet.

“W-What was that!?” Jerma turned to the origin of the sound. Black smoke started to peek above the high walls of the alleyway. “Oh no! The town square!!”

“What!?”

“This is bad! Theron, we have to hurry back!” Jerma took off to help in any way he could.

“Got it! Just give me a second!!” Theron on the other hand peeked back into the girl's bunker. “What’s your name, little miss?”

“A-Aya. Aya Mystborne…” The girl shakily replied.

“Mystborne? Just like my last name, Blackborne! Looks like we have another thing in common Ms. Aya!” Theron said in an attempt to calm her down, stretching out his hand. “Promise me you'll stay in here until I come back, okay?”

Aya however stayed put. Theron noticed the fact she looked abnormally scared. “What’s wrong Ms. Aya?”

Aya raised her wobbly left arm. “B… B-Behind you…”

Confused, Theron turned around. Staring into the darkness, the only thing he could see were two pairs of crimson eyes…

-

Next: (Chapter 8) A New Undying Threat: The Immortal Children of Thanatos