Chapter 15:

Days blended together, becoming indistinguishable, as I lay on the cold, wooden floor - a mere shadow of my former self. Around a week had slipped by since Lida’s twisted punishment, and I found solace in the stillness and quiet of my confinement. I hadn’t tried to escape since then. Why would I? What would it bring? Only more pain and suffering...and not just mine, but Ren’s.

Lida had come to visit me once since then. She brought a long wooden stick and poked me with it a few times while laughing, before kneeling beside me. She ran a comforting hand on my cheek, her touch disgusting as ever. “You can stop your acting already, Luca.” she said coldly.

I ignored her words and remained silent.

“You don’t truly think that I’ll believe that you’ve lost all hope, right?” she asked.

I kept silent, and she continued. “Well, I hate seeing you like this, but let me remind you that I can always just command you to attempt another escape. Would you like that?”

She was fishing for a reaction from me, but I remained quiet and secluded.

“You see, I’ve been doing this for hundreds of years now.” She explained. “So, I’ve developed a keen eye for people. I’m sure you’ll return to your old self soon enough. It’s just the way you are. You’ll lay on this floor and act all broken and hopeless, but at some point, the fire within you will light up once more, and you’ll try again. This time you’ll probably even go all-out, putting everything at stake. No half-assing. Just pure determination and conviction. When that happens, I’m going to enjoy putting out that fire so much…Please hurry up and get better. I’m getting kind of bored.”

After that, she left, and I haven’t seen her since.

Belferon came for a visit too. He circled me with a disgusted look in his eyes. “To think I once believed we were similar. You’re pathetic.”

I ignored him as well, while he continued voicing his displeasure with me. “If some mental torment from Lida was enough to break you, then you really don’t deserve to live. I went through the same tortures from her when I was a prisoner here, yet look at me now. I endured and survived. I became a better version of myself. You, on the other hand…I don’t even feel sorry for you anymore.”

He, too, left me to my own devices and hasn’t returned since.

Walden’s intrusions were more mundane. He would just eye the untouched food from the previous meal he brought and chuckle. “Damn, seems like she finally broke you, huh?” he would mutter - the same mutter he repeated every time he brought me a meal since that day. Then, he would replace the uneaten tray with a new one and remind me that even something as basic as eating could be controlled by the wicked witch that was Lida. “Eat, or I’ll get Lida here, and she’ll force you to eat.”

I lay on the floor, alone, watching the flame of the oil lamp above me dance. The silence around me sent my mind wandering through my past. The years unfolded before me, bringing forth the fateful decision that had led me into this sorry state and impending death. Three years ago, I stood at an important crossroads in my life. The Blood Moon Foxes, with Elandor at their helm, had fooled me into believing that perhaps I didn’t need to struggle alone anymore - that joining a crew might benefit me. But I was wrong, as it was obvious to me now, and I couldn’t escape the weight of my own bad decisions.

What I once deemed a chance for something better now proved to be the beginning of my own undoing.

I was fine on the streets! I could’ve kept surviving like I always did! Why did I think that joining Elandor was a good idea? Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Curses escaped my lips as I swore against that version of myself that, in desperation, forsook his mother’s parting wishes. She had begged for my forgiveness, apologizing for leaving me alone in a world too harsh for a child. She had implored me to bear a brave face and endure, a promise I had shattered by accepting the false security that Elandor promised me.

Belferon’s words kept pestering me as well. Perhaps he was right, and my existence was worthless. Maybe just wanting to live, without any special reasons for doing so, was not enough to survive in this world. Perhaps I should give my life away for others to thrive.

I could recall the day I met Elandor so vividly, that it suddenly seemed like the walls of my confinement transformed into a canvas. The flickering flames of the fire from the oil lamp painted the memories of my past before me, drawing me back to that day...

***

Willox’s main square was full of people, as always, more so than usual on that afternoon.

A street urchin, I always survived on the precipice of poverty, weaving through the crowd, trying to fill my own pockets. Each bump into someone was followed by a feigned apology, masking my fingers at work – plucking gold and silver from the pockets of unsuspecting passersby.

After a couple of successful lifts, I turned to a secluded alley, eagerly anticipating the moment I could count my spoils. But the Illusion of success crumbled quickly as opening the small bags, I realized I had only managed to get one golden crown, two silver pennies, and plenty, plenty of copper. The meager sum was disheartening, especially considering the inflation that had struck the kingdom that summer – these gains would barely buy me two slices of bread, a small piece of meat, and maybe half a mug of clean drinking water. Perhaps even only semi-clean.

I couldn’t accept this; my stomach ached, as I hadn’t eaten normal food in days. I surveyed the bustling crowd, seeking out wealthier targets. It was dangerous - the richer the target, the harsher the punishment if you got caught. Sometimes, the guards would just execute you on the spot. Still, I was willing to take that risk.

My gaze fixated on some lord, but as I continued looking, I noticed the disguised bodyguards trailing behind him. I considered taking the risk, thinking I might be able to outrun them, but before I could decide, my focus shifted to the seemingly second richest individual in the vicinity. His attire was so extravagant, and his expression so carefree, that I couldn’t help but target him instead. I didn’t know him back then, but it was Elandor. He would later reveal to me that the elaborate ensemble he wore was a stolen garb – a disguise he used to infiltrate Morthryga’s third largest bank, located in Willox.

I shadowed him through the street silently, closing in on him from behind. I used the crowd to my advantage, concealing my movements as I expertly lifted a small bag of coins from the pocket of his jacket while stumbling into him, apologizing for the collision.

Elandor, seemingly unfazed by the orchestrated encounter, turned to me with a warm smile. “No harm done, kid.” he uttered in a voice that betrayed neither anger nor suspicion.

In that moment, I marvelled at the perceived simplicity of this ‘rich guy.’ How foolish he was, oblivious to the fact that his pockets had just been emptied.

As I slipped back into the secluded alley from before to assess my luck, a mix of anxiety and thrill coursed through my veins. I quickly untied the bag and glanced inside. My heart raced with joy at the sight of all that gold. I dared not count the coins openly, fearing it might draw unwanted attention, but a quick estimation suggested at least twenty golden crowns and some silver pennies.

My celebrations, however, were abruptly cut short by the sudden appearance of Elandor. “Enjoying your haul?” he quipped, his tone light, with a grin that betrayed amusement.

Hearing his voice was enough to jolt me into action. I didn’t waste a second contemplating his reaction; instead, my survival instincts kicked in, and I quickly spun on my heel and darted away.

Over my shoulder, I could hear his bewildered voice, laced with a touch of surprise. “W-What? You’re just going to run away?” he stammered, clearly caught off guard by my quick escape.

Without slowing down, I threw back a hasty, “Yeah!”

My heart raced as I sprinted through the alley, but the distant echoes of rushing footsteps grew louder. I thought my quick getaway had granted me enough distance - I considered myself a pretty fast runner all things considered - but to my dismay, the sound of rhythmic thuds was closing in with alarming speed. Instinctively, I turned my head while maintaining my pace, and the sight that greeted me was Elandor, running far faster than any normal human should be able to. It dawned on me that he must have been wielding a hematite, enhancing his agility.

In a split-second decision, I calculated the timing of his approach. As he neared with an outstretched hand, I abruptly halted and crouched, allowing myself to slide on the cobblestone street, while Elandor, moving at a hematite-enhanced pace, soared past me, unable to arrest his momentum. I caught a glimpse of his surprised face as his hand flew above me, catching nothing but air.

Then, without wasting a moment, I pivoted and darted into a different alley on my left. I continued to its end; it was leading to one of the busy streets that were connected to the main square. Right before exiting the alley, I took a moment to catch my breath, my chest heaving with exertion. Glancing back, I saw Elandor entering from where I had just come, a puzzled expression etched on his face. I shot him a quick, triumphant smile before stepping forward, aiming to melt into the sea of bodies in the crowded street.

Blending with the crowd was always one of my strong suits, an art I’d mastered through countless narrow escapes from guards and angry Red Viper enforcers. The cacophony of merchants haggling, travelers and citizens passing, and the general hum of activity provided the perfect cover. I navigated through the waves of people, confident that I had slipped away from him. And as the busy streets swallowed me, and the thrill of the chase began to fade, I even allowed myself a silent chuckle, satisfied with my escape.

As my heartbeat began to stabilize, I reached into my pocket and felt the reassuring weight of the stolen bag of coins, just to make sure I hadn’t dropped it by accident.

But as I turned my head, an unnerving feeling washed over me, the feeling that someone was watching me. And there he was. Elandor. Again. He was weaving through the crowd effortlessly, a mischievous glint in his eyes as they locked onto mine. Elandor, undeterred and relentless, was closing the distance between us, gently pushing people out of his way while apologizing to them. Ten bodies away he was, yet it felt like he was right at my heels. I quickened my pace, attempting to lose myself in the swarm of people, but his presence was looming.

How had he managed to track me down so fast? The realization that I was dealing with someone far beyond my league sank in, and the streets where I had once felt in control suddenly felt more confining than ever. The bustling crowd, once a weapon of mine, had now become an obstacle as Elandor closed in on me with every step. Panic began to creep in, and in desperation, I resorted to an unorthodox solution. With my heart racing, I screamed, my voice echoing through the street. “Help me! This guy is trying to molest me!”

The crowd immediately shifted their attention from their mundane tasks to me. I put on my most terrified expression and pointed an accusatory finger at Elandor, who had finally reached me, just two steps away with an extended hand toward me. Realizing that everyone’s eyes were now on him, his expression was caught between disbelief and frustration - a mix of “It’s a terrible misunderstanding” and “This frickin' kid!”

The people of Willox, who usually casted hating and disgusted looks at the struggles of beggars and homeless, even if they were kids, surprisingly shared an even greater contempt toward potential child predators. Angry shouts and threats rained down on Elandor, and I seized the opportunity, slipping through the crowd, leaving the chaos I created behind. The distant echoes of Elandor’s attempts to explain himself faded as I sprinted away through alleys and narrow streets.

The weight of the day’s haul jingled in my pockets with each step while the worn-out soles of my shoes scraped against the cobblestone as I made my way back to my hideout, tucked away in Frussot, a poor district on the southern edge of the capital. My hideout was nestled in a forgotten corner of an abandoned alley, a makeshift shelter crafted from wooden planks salvaged over the years.

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As I approached my personal haven, thoughts of tomorrow occupied my mind. The coins I’d stolen today would secure me a good meal, perhaps a pair of trousers that didn’t threaten to fall apart at the seams, and maybe even some new boots. Today, the bustling center of the city would be too dangerous for me - a smart thief knows to avoid returning to the scene of the crime too soon.

Just as I was about to lift the wooden plank that concealed the entrance to my hideout, a voice cut through the alley, "Ehm." It was Elandor’s voice. My hand froze mid-motion, and a shiver ran down my spine. How had he found me? I turned cautiously, my eyes meeting the sly grin on his face.

“Quite the funny move you pulled back there.” he remarked, an embarrassed smile on his face. He continued with a scolding voice that broke into a laugh midway. “Do you know how hard it was to convince them I was innocent?”

I was about to dart off again, but he continued, stopping me in my tracks. “I already know where you live, so I think it’ll be pointless for you to run away again.”

“Maybe I have a different hideout?” I retorted, trying to shake him off.

He chuckled. “Maybe. But I bet I’ll find you again.”

Resigned, I sighed. “How did you find me?” I asked, suppressing my frustration.

Elandor smirked, triumph etched across his face. “The bag of coins you stole from me belongs to one Mrs. Stenz.” He explained. “She always uses this horrendous raspberry cologne. Using a fluorite, it wasn’t too hard to follow the trail of the smell. There were two trails: one belonged to Mrs. Stenz herself and the second one to her bag of coins – leading straight to you.”

Did he just say Mrs. Stenz? As in Sheila Stenz, the famous fashion designer and one of the wealthiest individuals in the kingdom? I brought the coin bag to my nose, and the strong smell of raspberries mixed with spirits pushed me away. It indeed had to belong to Sheila Stenz. In all the commotion and running away, I hadn’t even noticed the smell.

A small wave of relief washed over me as I realized he was a thief himself. While the threat of punishment remained, at least it wouldn’t come from the authorities.

My mind raced, seeking an angle to negotiate some semblance of a truce. I took a step back, arms crossed defensively, and eyed Elandor warily. “Considering you’re a thief as well, I think you understand where I’m coming from,” I started, choosing my words carefully. “Let’s make a deal – We’ll share the coins in the bag. Fifty-fifty. No hard feelings.”

I could see a glint of amusement in his eyes as he leaned against the alley wall. “You’ve got guts. I‘ll give you that. First, you steal from me, then you falsely accuse me of being a child molester in front of hundreds of people, and now you’re trying to steal from me again.” he remarked, a wry smile playing on his lips. “I have a better suggestion: I can beat you up and take all of the coins back.”

Even though my back was against the wall, I couldn’t just give up on the gold. I needed it. I could do without the trousers and the new boots, but I needed the food. I hadn’t eaten real food for days…

“You probably can,” I admitted, trying to turn the tables, assuming for some reason that he was the prideful type. “But there’s a little problem – you’d have to live with this humiliation for the rest of your life.”

Elandor’s expression shifted from amusement to surprise. “Humiliation? What are you on about?” he asked, genuinely intrigued.

“Think about it,” I said. “You were just pickpocketed by a fifteen-year-old who lives in this slum. In broad daylight. That kid then made you chase him through half the city and use two, not one, but two minerals to catch him...I don’t know, sounds kind of embarrassing, doesn’t it?”

Elandor chuckled at my words, seemingly finding amusement in the whole situation.

I pressed on, undeterred. “And don’t even get me started on that incident in the main square. Your reputation is already tarnished for following kids around. Are you sure you want to make it even worse on yourself?”

Elandor bursted into laughter at my blunt assessment. “Wow, kid, you’re just something! What’s your name?”

“Luca.” I replied.

“I have a better proposition for you, Luca.” He said.

I shot a skeptical look his way, expecting another threat or a trick. “Does this proposition involves beating me up as well?” I cautiously asked, but he dismissed it with a casual wave of his hand.

“No.” He said. “Join my crew.”

His eyes held a mischievous glint, waiting for my response, and I was unsure of what joining his crew might entail. After a brief contemplation, I shook my head firmly, dismissing the idea. “No, thank you.” I said, my tone calm. “I have a different proposition. Let’s split the coins in the bag forty-sixty. It only makes sense since you did all the hard work stealing it from Sheila Stenz.”

Elandor laughed at my bargaining attempt. “No deal,” he responded, a smirk on his face. “I want you in my crew instead of the sixty percent you’re offering me.”

I furrowed my brow, puzzled by his proposition. “But that doesn’t make sense.” I retorted. “You’d end up with nothing while I get all of the coins.”

Elandor nonchalantly waved off my concern. “Nothing? Your wit and skills alone are worth more than all the coins in that bag combined. Instead of them, I’d rather have you in my crew.”

Yeah...I doubt I’m worth more than twenty golden crowns...less than one, more likely...

I resisted the idea of joining any crew. I’d grown accustomed to a solitary existence, trusting only myself. However, a cunning thought crossed my mind. Perhaps I could agree to join temporarily, get the coins, and then just quit.

“Let’s say I was interested.” I said hesitantly, crossing my arms. “Just interested, and only if I get all of the coins…Who are you, anyway?”

He grinned, seemingly eager to tell me more about himself. “Well, my friend, I’m Elandor, and we call ourselves ‘The Blood Moon Foxes’. Not to brag, but we’re kind of the best around in what we do.”

I raised an eyebrow at his bold claim. “The best, huh? Funny, I’ve never heard of ‘The Blood Moon Foxes’ and I hear a lot about all kinds of thieving crews in these parts.”

His enthusiasm didn’t waver. “Ah, that’s because we’re just getting started. It takes time to build a reputation, you know? But mark my words, we’ll be the talk of the capital soon. You’ll be making a wise investment by joining us now.”

I suppressed a smirk, finding his optimism a bit foolish. Still, I nodded in agreement, concealing my true intentions. “Sure, sure. Building a reputation takes time.” I said, as my mind was already calculating how many days I’d have to spend with this lousy crew before quitting, so I’d still be able to keep all the coin.

Elandor eagerly awaited my response, and I took a moment, pretending to ponder his proposition. Finally, I looked up, a feigned thoughtfulness on my face. “I get to keep all of the coin, right?” I had to double-check. No way he was that stupid.

“Of course!” He didn’t hesitate. “Think of it as a down payment for your exceptional skills. I’m willing to invest in talent, and you’ve got it.”

I chuckled inwardly at the irony of his extravagant praise. The words ‘wit’ and ‘talent’ didn’t usually find their way to an orphan kid like me who scraped by on the streets. Nevertheless, I accepted his terms, knowing that this is just a means to an end - a way to secure the bag of coins for myself. “Ok. I’m in.”

Elandor, with a triumphant smile, extended a welcoming hand. “Welcome to the team! You won’t regret this decision.” He gestured for me to gather my belongings. “Now, grab your stuff, and let’s head to our base.” He then quickly explained that, except for a member named Joven, they all lived together in a shared house. According to him, I’ll be sharing a room with two other boys, but he assured me that everyone had a personal bed.

My stomach knotted at the thought of opening up to strangers and living in close quarters with them. I didn’t even know him well enough. What if it was all just a trick, and they’d murder me in my sleep and steal my organs? I interrupted him mid-sentence, my tone slightly anxious. “Hold on. Just because I agreed to join your crew doesn’t mean I’m ready to live with you guys. I need my own space.”

Elandor’s surprise was evident, but he quickly softened his expression. “That’s perfectly fine, Luca,” he reassured me. “We can start by working together. Once you get to know everyone and feel more comfortable, you can decide if you want to move in. The Blood Moon Foxes will always have their door open to its members.”

Wait, is that all? No pressure to join? And instead, he showed compassion for my anxiety and trust issues? Who was this guy…? His kindness was alarming. By that point, I had already spent four years living on the streets of Willox. Not once had anyone extended a helping hand to me during this time. I’d only survived this long because I adapted to the harsh character of the citizens and kept getting by.

Disguising his attempts to recruit me as ‘investing in talent’? What a bunch of rubbish. He surely had some hidden motives, I thought. I’d better stay on guard, I kept telling myself.

And as it turned out, Elandor did have hidden motives, revealed in his dying words to me under that tree where I buried him. But his motives were pure. He wanted to save us - a bunch of unlucky kids whose lives he wanted to navigate in a better direction. He wanted it so badly that he took on a risky job, willing to betray his own kingdom, all in the hopes of improving our lives. That was his reason to live. We were his reason to live.

***

The memory dispersed, leaving a dull ache in my chest. It was as if I hadn’t realized until now how pleasant that memory was, and now that I did, it was too late to truly savor it.

But as the memories of the past faded away, Elandor’s image seemed to remain on the wall. His voice, hauntingly familiar yet just a fragment of my memory, and perhaps imagination, echoed in the silence. “What are you doing?”

I blinked, momentarily disoriented by the sound of his voice. Was I imagining it? Had the weeks in Vedem under Lida’s constant mental torture finally taken their toll on my mind? I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

“Well?” the Elandor on the wall asked.

Bewildered that I could actually hear his voice, I still replied. “I can’t do this, Elandor.”

“Of course you can.” He reassured me.

“No.” I insisted, my voice firm. “I can’t.”

“Do you remember what I always told you?” he asked.

“That I’m smart and witty and all that bullshit?” I snapped, anger building within me. “Yeah, I remember, and you can see for yourself where that led me.”

“You can still – “

“Oh, shut up!” I shouted. “You’re not even real! I’m imagining things.”

The imaginary Elandor chuckled. “Of course I’m not real. I died, remember? The Stormbringer’s lightning and all that...”

I sighed, a shiver of pain coursing through my heart as the image of Elandor’s charred and burned body, the aftermath of Leon Valter’s deadly lightning magic, flooded my mind. “Of course, I remember.” I whispered, my voice tinged with sorrow. “How could I ever forget…”

“I’m just that part of you that hasn’t given up yet.” He said. “You can contemplate later why this part of you took my form, but right now, you need to stand up and plan your escape from here.”

“I can’t.” I repeated, my voice trembling. “I can’t beat her. She’s everywhere. Not just my body - even my thoughts belong to her.”

“So, will you just give up?” Elandor’s voice asked.

I remained silent. A part of me wanted to say yes, to just get it over with and let them sacrifice me. I wish I could’ve said I had a nice life, but no - it was a disaster right from day one. But the other part of me, the part that had been planning escape after escape since the moment I was imprisoned here, the part that had just taken Elandor’s form, pestered me. “What about Ren?” he pressed. “Will you just let them kill her?”

I shook my head, trying to shake off his voice. What does he want? What can I even do? I almost hurt Ren myself because I just can’t beat Lida.

“You’ve got to keep fighting.” He persisted. “For Ren, but most importantly, for yourself. Yes, you’ve taken quite the beating from her. She’s proven to be way more dangerous than you first assessed, which was already extremely dangerous. But you can’t just quit. You never quit! Remember what you’re fighting for!”

“What am I fighting for?” I muttered, Belferon’s harsh words echoing in my mind. “Just dumb survival. Like an animal.”

“And why is that bad?” Elandor’s voice countered. “Isn’t the basic survival instinct of an animal its strongest defense mechanism? What’s wrong in wanting to live just for the sake of it? The old man may sound all poetic and philosophical, but his truth isn’t the absolute truth. He speaks from a place of extreme privilege – a privilege that a surviving homeless orphan like you never had! You are who you are, Luca, and there’s no shame in not having a grand reason to live beyond your primal instinct to survive. But if you keep fighting, if you keep going, you’ll eventually find other reasons - your own reasons to live. For now, you already have one, and she’s in that infirmary, waiting for you to rescue her.”

I finally opened my eyes and gazed at the image of the imaginary Elandor on the wall. “I’m scared.” I admitted. “She made me...She made me torture that man, and then she almost made me hurt Ren.”

“You are not at fault for any of it. Lida is responsible for that wickedness.” He reassured me. “Your responsibility lies elsewhere. Your responsibility is to put an end to it once and for all.”

“I don’t know what to do.” I said, my voice laced with frustration. “The cotton wool didn’t work.”

“But you do know.” Elandor’s voice insisted. “You already know the answer. You just need to recall everything.”

I stared at the wall with questioning eyes until a sudden realization hit me. Images from all that happened in the past month quickly resurfaced in my mind as my eidetic memory sifted through them rapidly, until two images remained.

The first was of Will, his left hand adorned with his mineral ring as he lay crushed under the weight of the metallic doors in the treasury - a painful memory. The second was just as haunting: Will’s crushed form, seconds before I used the tourmaline to get us out of the treasury. His bare left hand, devoid of the topaz ring, popped under the weight of the large metallic door.

Will’s left hand!

His topaz ring wasn’t on his finger when I teleported away, even though it was there when I first found him dead. The only person who was near him in that short time frame was…Ren! Perhaps in her grief over his death, she took the ring.

But she didn’t seem to have it on her when I dressed her in the dry clothes Belferon gave us. Maybe she hid it in her clothes’ pockets? I was so embarrassed by the whole situation that I didn’t pay much attention to her wet clothes. Will’s topaz ring could have been there, and now it’s in…Belferon’s backpack, together with our original clothes. It was a gamble, but my gut feeling told me I was right.

Topaz - the stone of thieves. The stone that creates an area of absolute silence. An area of silence to counter even the most despicable of commands. That’s how I’ll defeat her.

“You’re a genius, Elandor!” I exclaimed joyfully.

“It’s all you.” I heard myself reply. “I told you, I’m dead.”

I shook my head, reminding myself that this entire exchange was just a product of my imagination – likely the result of the lack of food, ventilation, and sleep over the past few days. Elandor wasn’t really here, and yet, in a sense, he was...

Now, how do I find Belferon and his magical backpack? It felt like I only saw him when he wanted it.

As hopelessness threatened to wash over me again, I slapped myself across the face. No. No backing down now. I need to find Will’s topaz. It’s the only way. Lida can read my thoughts and learn of my plans, but that doesn’t matter. I just need to be quicker. The moment I find it will be the moment I render her ring useless. A quick mental command is all it will take to shut her up for good.

I quickly rose from the floor and stretched, my muscles aching from days of inactivity.

Without a second thought, I approached the door and pressed the handle. As expected, it was left unlocked.