I learn from mistakes, both my own and that of others. As the cape became taught against my back, the loose threading securing it to my tunic came loose, the fabric ripping free into his hands. I slipped free and launched myself over their newly fixed cart.

"Ha!" I taunted the stranger as he stepped over his partner's limp frame. "You're gonna have to do better than that!"

"You can only run for so long."

"Oh, I don't have to run anymore," I said, perching myself on his cart.

I picked an apple out of one of the sacks and took a crisp obnoxious bite. Then I gestured behind him as his confidence turned to fear.

His dog hung suspended in the air, vines wrapped around each limb as its attempts to snap and struggle free were rendered pointless. Staring our direction was a suit of armor, wooden and verdant, with a twisted gnarled smirk carved into the helm. Nev threw their arm to the side, and with it emerged a thorn from their forearm, longer than a dagger.

"You know... if you gave up, no one else would have to get hurt," I said before taking another irritating crunch out of his stolen fruit.

The man dropped his sword to his side in response.

We restrained the strangers and their animal companions before helping ourselves to the bounties their cart possessed. I found a couple of animal hides I could work with while Nev grabbed some seeds they seemed particularly interested in. We left the rest. We weren't thieves or merchants, so that wouldn't do us any good. We bound the hands and feet of the two men, the monkey, and their dog with some of their own cheaper leather. It wouldn't hold them forever, but it would keep them from immediately coming after us.

"Alrighty then, did you two learn your lesson?" I asked, with some of their goods slung over my shoulder.

The two nodded in response, eyes locked on the floor.

"Good. Well, we'll be off then. Thanks for the donations, and sorry for the possible concussion."

We walked off confidently as Nev dissembled their wooden armor, slinging the pieces into the woods, caught and absorbed by branches and tree trunks.

"Oh yeah, one more thing!" I said, turning back to the men.

I patted the horse fastened to the front of the cart, and approached the repaired wheel. As I reclaimed the materials, the cart came crashing to the ground leaving the wheel in far worse shape than before.

"Oops, sorry about that. But we can't have you catching up to us. Right?" I laughed before walking off. "Good luck!"

"That guy's a dick." The animal lover stated as I was well within earshot.

Bongo screeched in agreement.

----------------------------------------

"There's no way!"

"Bullshit!"

"Do it! Do it!"

A barrage of strangers yelled in my direction, and it didn't bother me for the first time since I'd arrived in this world.

"If I may," I gestured palm out to a large bearded man at the bar.

The stranger rolled his eyes, finished his beer, and stood, showing the clear difference between our heights. He stuck out his chest as well.

"I promise, I'm not trying to cop a feel." I jeered, much to the amusement of the circle of drunks surrounding us.

I reached for the top of his head, disheveling the balding spot on top of his head.

"I'll be gentle," I said, growing the stranger's annoyance.

I whipped his coat and slipped a hand down his back, only slightly touching his belt. Then hunched over, pretended to inspect his shoes, and gave a solid half-a-second shine.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"And where do you keep your coin purse, sir?"

He smiled and lifted open his jacket, pulling out a small sack assumedly filled with currency.

"Oh well, there's no way I'm taking that. Very secure."

The crowd began booing around me, afraid I'd been scared out of my wager.

"Here's your belt back, though."

The crowd erupted in laughter and applause as I feigned a half bow. Turning toward the stranger as his face grew red, either from embarrassment or anger. Before I could find out either, I reached into my bag of materials and quickly assembled a bycocket and placed it atop his shiny dome.

"Thank you for your assistance, sir." I turned back to the crowd gathered around us. "And you! I believe it was 25 Neer each for not being able to steal from the toughest man in the bar?"

They collectively groaned as they ponied up their bets, handing them to my more than smug self. I sauntered to Nev, who had been silently watching from the corner of this seedy tavern.

"What happened to keeping a low profile?" They asked.

"Relax, no one knows my name. All I did was do a little street magic. So that's not a crime... Is it?" I asked, suddenly unsure.

"No, but if any of your 'friends' realized the bounty on your head."

"Then we should probably stop talking about it."

They nodded, pausing for a second.

"You didn't technically steal from that man."

"What?"

"You gave the belt back, so technically, you just borrowed it without consent, then returned it."

"Did I?" I asked, pulling the man's belt from my bag. "Gave him a replica. It's probably better than the one he had to be honest."

"Woah, that's pretty cold."

"Oh, you didn't know your traveling partner was bad to the bone?"

They laughed as I grabbed their glass, giving them a look as if to say, 'you want another?' They nodded, signifying a 'hell yeah,' and I wandered up to the bar.

"Another two, please."

I caught a dirty look from the bartender. Which was fair as I had been winning bets against his patrons all night, who assumedly would've spent that lost money on booze instead.

"Say, would you like to make a bet?" I asked my next unsuspecting victim.

"Nae, I saw what you did to the others." The hooded figure replied.

"Your loss." There was an awkward pause as I waited for the reluctant barman's service.

"You know it's not real magic, right? Just sleight of hand, a little movement here, distraction there."

"Sure thing." The figure replied, placing a couple Neer on the table and heading for the door.

I watched his exit entranced. He was an average build with shoddy robes and a cowl covering most of his face. It seemed a little off, almost like a man who wanted to go unnoticed. As he turned back from the doorway to look at me, I saw double for a moment. Another set of eyes appeared on his brow, but as I caught a second glance, they seemed to vanish.

"Maybe I've had enough."

"Here you go," the barman replied, sliding freshly filled glasses.

"Maybe not enough."

I resigned myself from tricking any other patrons out of their precious Neer. Nev seemed pleased by my decision and decided to be more talkative. They spoke of the desert climate surrounding Dulcrois and the flora and fauna that inhabit it. I imagined a set of their armor constructed entirely of cacti. I joked that technically that would make Nev a needle knight, but they didn't seem to get it. That was okay with me. I laughed enough for both of us.