When I arrived at the village, night had already fallen.
I knew the maids wouldn't bother looking for me in the tower, and the guards would just check the garden and leave it at that.
The festival—celebrated every year after the wheat harvest, the biggest one of the year—had started in the morning and was now coming to an end.
Lanterns were hanging everywhere, lighting up the streets and glowing above the stalls. At the center of the square, villagers danced joyfully to the music.
I stood at a distance, just watching, not wanting to get in the way, when a little boy tugged at my pants.
"What is it?" I asked, kneeling down to his level.
He looked up at me with a smile in his eyes and said, "Won't you join us?"
"…Why?"
It's true that I wanted to have fun and clear my head, but I rarely interacted with people, so I felt awkward.
"You looked like you wanted to… But if you don't, that's okay."
I glanced at him again. He looked genuinely hopeful. I just couldn't say no.
Sigh
"Alright," I said, a small smile already forming on my lips.
He giggled and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the square. We started dancing together while Gaïa ran off to play with some kids and their ball.
For a moment, I felt happy.
And I couldn't help but wonder why I had to be kept away from everyone for so long.
~
A while later, I went to look at the food stalls.
Bump
A man ran straight into me, quickly mumbled an apology, and walked off.
Gaïa barked and immediately took off after him.
At first, I was confused… but then something clicked—something I'd read in a book.
I quickly checked my pockets.
'Gone'
The few coins I had found on the tower floor—gone.
I ran in the direction Gaïa had gone, hoping to get my money back.
I turned into an alley, and there she was—wagging her tail, standing near the man who had bumped into me.
He was lying on the ground with someone's foot pressed against his chest.
A boy stood over him, slightly older than me. It was hard to see his face in the dark.
The man had four other wallets in his hand—guess I wasn't his only victim.
The boy looked at me and asked, pointing at the thief, "Are you with him?"
I didn't answer. He was intimidating, and for a second I considered just leaving without the money.
But Gaïa wasn't barking at him. She seemed calm.
So I stayed. Watching.
The boy took a step toward me. I immediately stepped back—afraid he might notice the magic on my face.
He stopped. Looked at me closely.
Then smirked.
Shiver
Scary.