Meanwhile, at the Semira Inn. Mr. Semira was outraged and anxious. He sat on a chair inside the kitchen with one of his legs crossed over the other. In front of him were his 2 daughters.

"How could this have happened?" He lamented. "First, the table I earnestly begged you girls to keep clean for me was messed up by that ingrate, Hopas. Second, he puked on the Elder. Third, as if everything up until that point wasn't bad enough, he lost his wallet!" Mr. Semira's voice rose with each breath he took.

"We're sorry father", they prostrated and apologized in unison.

"He might've been humble enough to not show it but I'm sure he's upset. Do you know what he's capable of doing to our family if he wished it?"

"He's an Elder, they're kind and caring, there's no way he'll do anything to us", Ravea said, "Besides they haven't done such to anyone before."

Mr. Semira held her hand, "Just because they haven't done it before doesn't mean they won't. We can't afford to be the scapegoat. We've finally saved up enough to buy a land big enough to accommodate not just a house that we can call our home, but a farm as well. Don't you girls want to own your own rooms?"

"We do, father", they replied in unison.

"Aren't you tired of sleeping in this inn?

"We are, father."

"Then help me help yourselves." He dismissed the girls when he was done talking to them. They both went back to assisting their mother in serving the customers.

After a while, Ravea excused herself and went outside for a short breather. A little rain had drizzled that evening, making the ground really muddy. Ravea leaped and tiptoed, trying to avoid the really muddy areas. She eventually settled in the shadows of an alleyway, took a deep breath and heaved a sigh.

"HP?" She said. And after a really short while.

"RV", a voice replied. "Finally."

"I was busy."

"Well you're lucky you got less busy, I was just about leaving". A figure stepped out of the shadows, allowing light to cast upon a part of its face, Hopas.

"So how much is it", Ravea asked.

"Quite a haul, 20 silver coins", Hopas replied. "And the pouch could sell for about 5 silver coins."

"Splendid, we're sharing it 80:20", Ravea said, then stretched her hand to take the pouch.

Hopas quickly placed it behind his back. "That's crap. I did all the work."

"How much would you have gone home with today if I didn't tell you about the Elder?" She asked, without waiting for a reply she continued, "Besides you still haven't sorted my sister out. She's already threatening to tell on us."

"R-Regardless, that's gravely unfair", Hopas complained.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Alright, 70:30 and you don't have to sort my sister out, I'll do my utmost best to talk to her. Deal?"

"And I get to feel your bosoms", Hopas swiftly added with a smirk on his face.

"Ugh", she sighed, "Deal."

Just then, "Hey! That's my father's purse!" A voice echoed from within the dark alleyway.

"Who's there?!" Hopas shot back before pulling out his knife.

"Jerome Dernewt, and that purse in your possession belongs to my father, Elder Harvey Dernewt!" He answered. "I humbly ask that you return the pouch as well as the contents within it and I promise, my father will see to it that you're gracefully rewarded."

MINUTES EARLIER...

Jerome reached the main village a couple minutes after leaving home. It was brighter than he expected. The rain had met him without an umbrella and his clothes were wet, so he instinctively began following the nearest alleyway he could find. Rats ran to and fro in different directions, really healthy rats. He shrieked in terror when he saw one as big as a chicken. "Do people breed rats now?" He said in disbelief with his hand on his chest.

He'd been to Mr. Semira's inn a long while back, after a friend of his, Peter, told him of a really beautiful girl that served there. He didn't get to see her though, because of a certain brown haired doofus. But he did manage to get her name, the brownie mentioned it a couple of times, "Rima."

"She has really black hair. Her lips are so full, they make her smile look really pretty and her eyes are like the stars." Peter had described.

He remembered the smell of beer and melon soup filled the air around the place so even if he couldn't recognize the building, he could sniff it out. Hopefully, this time he'd get to see Rima.

On reaching the inn, he saw two shady figures standing in the darkness a couple feet away from him, although he couldn't hear what they were saying. He kept walking. The thought of them being robbers crossed his mind but he still didn't stop, besides, if they were looking closely enough, he was sure they'd have seen him already, so running would be meaningless.

He wore a stern look on his face and was just about reaching them when the light from the inn shone on something he immediately recognized. Without waiting for further confirmation, he ran forward and confronted the figures, "Hey! That's my father's purse!"

"Who's there?!" One of the figures shot back at him before pulling something out of his back, probably a knife.

"Jerome Dernewt, and that purse in your possession belongs to my father, Elder Harvey Dernewt!" He answered. "I humbly ask that you return the purse as well as the contents within it and I promise, my father will see to it that you're gracefully rewarded."

The figure sheathed the knife then hurriedly walked over to him, "You spoilt brat", it said, then punched him in the gut.

"Please, I'd prefer we settle this without violence", Jerome begged, holding tightly unto his stomach.

"What other way is there? When spoilt rich brats like you think you can oppress us just because you're wealthier", The figure replied, held Jerome's cheek with both hands then headbutted him unto the ground.

"Alright, you can take whatever was inside, just give me back the purse, please", Jerome groaned in pain. He managed to get back on one knee, but he immediately felt a sharp pain in his jaw and once again, he was back on the muddy ground.

"You think I didn't see it? Today when I tried to touch your father, the almighty Elder, you think I didn't see how he looked down on me!" The figure ranted.

"Hopas I think that's enough", The figure behind him said. It sounded feminine.

"Hey! Don't call my name!" Hopas replied angrily.

"I'm sorry but that's enough. He's the son of an Elder. What do you think will happen to us if everyone finds out what we did?" She pleaded.

"Whatever happens, Ravea, we're in it together", Hopas replied, then stomped on Jerome's arm, breaking it. He bit his lip trying not to scream. But the pain was unbearable and he fainted.

"Hey!" She sighed restlessly, "So what do we do now?"

"We cut his tongue so he won't talk", Hopas pulled out his knife, "Then we take his eyes so he won't recognize us."

"That's too wicked!" Ravea opposed, "He didn't do anything to us."

"Then what do you suppose we do?" Hopas sheathed his knife.

Ravea stood motionless for a while. Nothing was popping into her head. It was too late now for them to apologize and settle things amicably. She turned and looked at the main street, people were beginning to head home. A man was holding unto a lady's waist as they walked, before sliding his hands down to grope her. But she quickly removed his hand.

Just then, "I know what to do", Ravea had an idea.