It didn’t take long for the three miscreants to wander through the lower markets, down to the so called worms root’s, a cheerful moniker not unlike the golden apple above. It was here that Lalaluie suggested they grab something to eat. The stall was small, no real store interior just a window, with a lots of items for sale. Most were small plates of food, and sandwich-like items. But it seemed they also sold bulk smoked meats and other items. All in all, it didn’t seem too different from a deli on earth.

  There was no inside, merely some table like spaces made of stone and wood nearby. Likely put there by the city or a merchant’s guild.

  The two girls were growing impatient with Reese’s instance on doing this one odd thing.

  “… I don’t understand.” Feuer looked at the numbers she just wrote in Reese’s journal. It was so very different from what she had just said.

  “Ha, I told you she’s an idiot Reese, just order for her.” Lalaluie laughed.

  “I’m smart enough with a sword to hit you!” Feuer barked back.

  “Oh dear! Dumb bullies always shift to violence when they’re called out. Oh. And poor little me, just a street rat. How would I ever defend myself from such a powerful noble.” The mouse girl even managed to fake some tears with her acting, before rubbing them away with a smile. Despite her over the top performance, she was strangely convincing.

  Still Reese had a reason for this and, “Lalaluie, you’re not helping right now.” He scolded.

  She just continued to smile. “So, are we going to eat or not?”

  “Look, one of the reasons we came out was to try and teach Feuer some techniques for dealing with number and money. We can’t buy anything she gets the right number, which she did.” Reese pointed at the number on the paper, ‘15’ the number of copper coins for what she wanted. But she didn’t seem satisfied with the difference in what was in her head and what was on the paper.

  “I just don’t understand… why isn’t this what I see in my head?” Feuer shook her head and pushed the book back toward Reese.

  Making her way to the small counter which held a small number of scones and small rolls accessible from the front. Feuer ordered the sandwich and other item she had so much trouble with. Reese came in behind her and ordered something similar only to turn to their companion. “Lalaluie do you want something? I’m willing to buy you something small, my treat.”

  “Why aren’t you a rich gentleman. Now what should I get.” Her eyes looked over the more expensive items at the top of the menu, which were priced at more than a silver.

  For a moment Reese feared for his wallet.

  “Lala, he’s not rich like I am.” Feuer protested on his behalf.

  “You were rich? From the weight of your purse, I would never have guessed.”

  The mouse girl pointed to the top of the menu with a smirk, only for her hand to drop near the bottom at one of the cheaper ones. Only 6 coppers, not unreasonable.

  As the shop keeper turned to make their orders, Reese couldn’t help but notice how the mouse girl’s tail moved subtly. It was almost mesmerizing how it twisted and turned much like a snake charmed by a beat only it could hear. The appendage danced and swayed its way into the display case and slid out a couple scones right into her pocket. Truly, a fascinating sight!

  He debated telling the merchant or just paying for them outright. Only for the mouse girl just shrugged as Feuer and her wandered off to find a table.

  As he brought the food to them, the mouse girl smiled as she bit down on the small pastry in her hand. Making sure to stare at him the whole while. “This really is a good pastry, and such a good deal too!”

  As Reese was about to say something, Feuer stopped him. “She’s always doing things like that don’t pay attention to it.”

  “That’s all well and good, but what happens when she gets caught and you’re next to her?” Reese shook his head as he handed the sandwich to the smaller girl. Taking the first bite of his own, he was impressed, it actually was pretty good. Reminded him of something like roast beef with some kind of mustard like gravy.

  Again, shaking his head, Reese tried to bring his mind back to more current matters but seemed to struggle with his own thoughts. It was that damn feeling and voice in the back of his mind. No, he wasn’t going to indulge it, focus on something else, he told himself. “… Your name is a bit of a mouth full. Do you have a nick name?”

  “I just call her Lala most times.” Feuer spoke plainly between bites.

  He looked at the mouse girl who didn’t seem to really care. In truth, she’d probably be ok with anything you called her. So then, “How about Lucey?” For some reason, she kind of looked like a Lucey.

  The mousy thief stopped eating for a moment and looked ahead with almost a blank expression. “I…” She trailed off, the name seeming to resonate with something inside of her. It was one of the first times he had seen anything but a carefree expression on her face.

  Reese held up a hand as if to wave the suggestion off, “Sorry, I didn’t mean-“

  “Eh, who cares it’s just a name. Call me whatever you want.” She forced a smile again, but something behind it seemed to betray its effort.

  Reese was left to wonder if he said the wrong thing, but Feuer didn’t seem bothered and even Lalaluie was back to bantering with her friend. Clearly the mouse must have poked the right spot because Feuer hit the table with a strong slap and an almost snarl. Lalaluie laughed clearly getting the reaction she had hoped for.

  Feeling a bit out of place with their conversation, Reese almost by instinct went back to his book. Jotting down notes and musing over the data he collected.

  “So, what about the boy here?” The mouse girl spoke in his direction, causing him to lose what little train of thought he had.

  “What about him?” Feuer looked confused.

  As Reese returned the mouse’s gaze he saw something there. Behind the subtle smile of a young girl, was something far deeper, and darker. It was hard to put into words the feeling he felt then and there, suffice it to say, it was cold and also old.

  “I don’t understand, what do you want to know about me?” Reese asked as he closed his book.

  “Hmmm, you just seem, odd. It’s hard to place. I’m not sure if I should be afraid of you or not.” Lalaluie continued to smile, but something in her eyes had changed, a subtle squint.

  “Afraid, of him?” Feuer nearly shouted in boast that had a subtly of amusement to it. A fact attested to by her smile. “Reese is… just a bookworm. He’s not a threat.”

  “I do know how to use a sword you know, and… I do plan to be a mage one day… somehow.” His head went back to his book, suddenly more than a bit annoyed at the conversation. That girl knew how to push buttons, he’d have to give her that. He tapped at the book for a moment, why was she trying to goad him?

  Again, he closed the book and looked up from it, “I noticed, you like to push people. Just wondering why?”

  “It’s fun.” The mouse looked at the remaining scones and put them back in her pocket. “Plus, you can learn a lot from someone when they’re stressed. I’m a thief, information can be worth more than coins to me. If it can keep out of jail and lead me to more coins later.”

  “Like an investment?” He probed.

  “I guess.” She took a few more bites of her sandwich. “So long as I steal something by the end of the day, it’s worth it.”

  Reese raised an eyebrow, “You need to steal something everyday?”

  “Yeah, not much though. Just a handful of coppers keeps Adem’s goons off me. But if I don’t have even a copper to pay my taxes, woe is poor little me…” She began to whimper, behind her smile, before laughing a bit at the end.

  He couldn’t tell if she was being serious or not. Still, it did seem, worrisome. “You were with us all day, are you going to be ok?”

  “Awww, are you worried about little me?” Lalaluie laughed, “Eh, I’ve got a few copper in my pocket from a few things earlier. Plus, there’s something happening later, bunch of aristocrats and nobles heading to the theater near the coliseum district. I’ll be able to pocket a few silvers from that.”

  The mouse’s ears twitched a few times, before she stood up from the table. “Well this has been fun but I think it’s time for me to go. Places to be, things to steal you know how it is.”

  Both Reese and Feuer looked at the mouse girl with quizzical expressions. At least, until they felt the guard’s hand on their back.

  “Feuer, Reese, I think it’s time to go. Now.” Shevena was gentle with her words and grip, but it was clearly not a request.

  Lalaluie nodded at the female guard’s glare before scampering off in the other direction.

  The walk back to the castle was not a particularly enjoyable one. Reese worried about the trouble he would now be in. He did after all join Feuer on her escapades. Particularly after giving her father and grandmother assurances nothing like this would happen.

  Yet, as he returned, nothing happened. Not really anyway. Beeson didn’t seem all that concerned as he and Feuer stood in front of him. Fuhen had her usual brash demeanor about her, as if this was a waste of her time.

  “This, granddaughter, is why we can’t trust you.” Fuhen scolded Feue. With a shake of her head, she continued, “How often have you done this too us. Running away from your guard, into the city. Feuer, you are a Vallhorn weather you like it or not. There are those that would seek to kidnap you, or worse, just to get to us.”

  Feuer lowered her head in response. Unlike the rest of her family, she felt her grandmother’s words most of all.

  Fuhen turned her attention to Reese next. Instead of the scowl she gave Feuer, she was more pittiful towards him, “Reese, I thank you for watching over her in the city. But please, should this happen again, do not just accompany her. Neither of you are prepared should something happen.”

  “Yes. Of course. My apologies Fuhen I merely thought that…” Perhaps he shouldn’t say any more, but he didn’t feel like Feuer really deserved this. She was just doing what all trapped animals try to do, escape.

  “Thought what exactly?” Fuhen’s voice was firm, and polite, but like most of her questions, it was a commandment to answer.

  “As I have said, my primary goal and function here, in my eyes at least, is to be a teacher and tutor for Feuer. I saw an opportunity to better her numerical and reading skills. So I seized on it.”

  The old elven woman gave a half smile that boarded on distain. It was clear she didn’t really believe him, or care. “I see. And what did my granddaughter learn that she wouldn’t have otherwise?”

  “Well I-“

  Feuer didn’t let Reese finish. This was her life and her choice. She would take ownership of her own failures, and successes. That’s what an honorable warrior would do, she thought. “I can add numbers better! With Reese…” Feuer balled her hands into fists. ”With his help he showed me how to use a journal, rather than my head. After all, you all say my head is useless, so I should just stop using it.”

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  The young eleven girl smiled something bitter, and for a moment she looked like she might even cry. But shedid not.

  “And tell me, either of you, do you think that was worth the risk?” Fuhen asked both of them, but her focused gaze on Feuer showed who she expected to answer.

  With a drop of her head, Feuer attempted to answer “No-“

  Only to be interrupted by Reese. “Yes. Yes I do.” The court all turned their heads towards the young boy. Despite her words, it was clear Fuhen didn’t want to hear what he had to say. Still, he continued. “Of all the things I can say I believe, it’s that knowledge is power. True power. You’re of course correct, it was a risk. But all investments have risk, and the payoff for Feuer and I believe the Vallhorn house are worth it. Truly, I am sorry we went against your wishes, but the value of this outing cannot be understated. As her tutor and teacher, I will do what I have to too ensure she’s given every opportunity to learn, and I will do what I can to protect her.”

  There was silence in the court room. Reese could feel his heart suddenly start beating uncontrollably. He worried that perhaps that was not the best answer.

  “And what power do you have to protect her or even yourself for that matter?” Fuhen didn’t have anything resembling a smile on her face anymore. She didn’t appear angry, exactly, but it was clear she didn’t enjoy his diatribe.

  Before either could speak, Fuhen held up a hand to silence them. “Reese Bronwyn, truthfully, I do appreciate your tutorage of my granddaughter, I do think she’s made more progress under you than any other. Not that it’s saying much. However, the truth is you are magically inept and I’ve personally seen your sword sparing. It leaves much to be desired. I will not question your teaching skills, but you are not capable of protecting Feuer or anyone.”

  Fuhen Lowering her gaze a moment, perhaps she realized that was a bit too far. “Reese you are excused, no punishment will be given to you. Feuer, we will forgo the dungeon this time, but you are not to leave your room for the next few days, and your sword training will be canceled for the coming week.”

  The two left the court room, both Feuer and Reese heading back to their respective rooms. Feuer was followed by two attendants, likely to ensure that she ended up there.

  With the hectic day behind him, Reese sat in his room. He spent more than a few minutes just listening to the almost steady rhythm of his clock. Both of the voice in the back of his head was quiet once more.

  “Whatever…” He whispered and took out his journal. He spent nearly an hour studying what Feuer wrote through out the day. There was a clear pattern emerging, and he think he had something that might work for her. He just, needed to get her to try it.

  Eventually dinner came, and went. Reese was grateful they brought it up to him tonight, while he wasn’t under ‘house arrest’ like Feuer, he suspected Fuhen didn’t want to see him tonight.

  With dinner out of the way it was finally time to work on his various experiments and inventions. In front of him, was his greatest current challenge. Assembling a mana powered screen. 512 by 512 gold threads, barely larger than a human hair were laid over the two pieces of glass. Glass that had been covered with flame stone powder. The glass plates were items he already had, he was thankful it didn’t put a larger dent in his already limited funds.

  There were engineering was challenging, particularly with the simple tools he had but the whole process work on a small scale. In theory, it would on a large scale too. Carefully, he placed the second plane of glass over the first. The two plates had alternate light and dark fire stone dustings, he tested each row, each pixel. Satisfied it worked, he then reached for a different tool. One he made only yesterday. A flame stone shard attached to metal tube with a larger stone at the bottom, the magic equivalent of a soldier iron and mini torch in one. With it, he sealed the two planes together, insuring nothing would damage the complex matrix he had made.

  A smile crossed his lips. Finally, it was complete. About six hours' worth of work from start to finish, and he'd be able to shorten that next time. Not too bad, he thought to himself.

  The gold traces would carry light and dark fire mana, the second gold trace would connect with the first and create a connection, allowing mana to flow at that point. Thus, energizing the firestone there. A second sweep would pull and drop the residual mana using an inverted or dark fire signal. Not that different from how a flat panel display might work, when you got down to it.

  "So what is that exactly? Looks familiar…" An unexpected and tiny voice behind him asked.

  Reese couldn't help but jump at the sound of the unexpected visitor. He wasn't expecting anyone in his room at this hour, and he absolutely wasn't expecting to see the mouse thief from earlier behind him.

  "Lucey?! What in the hell are you doing in my room?" Looking at the door it remained secure, and there was little chance of someone opening it without making noise from the hinges. "How did you get in my room?"

  The mouse shrugged her shoulders and wandered to his bed, sitting on it. "Aww, you’re already calling me by your nick name. Eh, Your room is on the north side and bit hidden. It's not that harder to climb up here." She gestured to the window.

  His gaze turned to the window, and his eyes opened wide, "You climbed four stories?"

  "No, I climbed one story from the third floor. I got in the castle through the staff entrance; they don't watch it, at least not closely."

  For a moment it looked like she was going to lay down on his bed but she stopped herself. "As for why I'm here, I used to come up here and rest sometimes. They never used this room, before now anyway. Rarely clean it either."

  "You… sleep here?" Reese didn’t know if she was messing with him or if she was serious.

  "Eh, occasionally, when I can't get back to the alleys." Instead of the bed she began climbing up the wall’s stonework to the wooden rafters. "I know I left some here somewhere…" She mumbled something to herself.

  "Ah, found it!”

  Crunch.

  The sounds of something crispy and chewy could be heard as she sat in what amounted to the room's ceiling.

  "I leave dried food in some of the places I sleep." For a moment she looked at the dried food with a small frown, before sighing and going back to it.

  Crunch.

  The whole situation seemed surreal. As Reese watched the mouse sitting in his room’s rafters, he couldn't be sure he hadn't just fallen asleep.

  "You ok, mage?" She mocked from the rafters.

  "I'm just processing, this is a very strange situation. Are you planning on staying here for a while?"

  The mouse finished off whatever questionable food stuffs she was eating and shrugged again. " processing…“ She whispered. For a moment she looked off as if trying to remember that word.

  With another shrug she smiled, ”Don’t think I heard that word before. But, I was planning on it. A couple of guards are looking for me. We could share your bed." Her smile twisted up and she did something with her eyebrows.

  The innuendo of that statement made him more than a little uncomfortable, and the whole thing caused a chill to run down his face.

  "Ha ha! I love the look on your face.” She continued to laugh at his embarrassment, which just made it worse for him.

  Finally after having gotten it out of her systems, she continued, “Nah, I doubt I'd be able to even sleep in the same room as you. I'm just going to hang out for the next hour or so now, that should be enough time. Besides, I've got someone waiting for me. I'd rather get back if I can."

  Now he grew curious, who could be waiting for a little troll like her, "You mean your parents or something?"

  "Nope, they're both dead. I've got a little sister I'm watching. She'd be fine for one night I guess, no one would mess with her. I was hoping to share some of these scones from earlier. But eh, she’s asleep by now… Guess they’ll be a good morning breakfast."

  "I see, I'm sorry." He didn't know what else to say. She was too young to be without family, this world wasn't nearly as kind as earth.

  "For what? My parents? They died when I was like 4 or 5. I barely remember them." She waved the comment off and proceeded to finish off the questionable preserves.

  "So, you've been on the street since you were 4?" Reese didn’t know if that made it better or worse.

  "Nope! I was sold to some slavers first. Got rescued by my big sister, Rash pretty quick." Her statement left Reese in no bit of shock. Thankfully, for him she changed the topic. "You know, I could probably sleep up here, if I had a hammock or something." Looking around the rafters, she measured things in her mind as she spoke.

  "No." He was firm on that. Not only did he not trust her, he barely knew the girl. Even if she was just joking, he wanted to put a pin in this discussion before she did become serious.

  The mouse twisted her head and continued to smile. "Like I said, I doubt I could fall asleep in the same room as you anyway. You might get grabby in the night." She continued to mock him, grabbing her shoulders with both arms feigning an event that would never happen. After a moment, she broke out in a laugh.

  Reese’s face twisted into mild disgust, as he spat out "What the hell is wrong with you?"

  The girl just lifted her hand again in half shrug, the smug look on her face implying she got whatever she wanted from him. Instead of acknowledging the comment any further, she pointed to the glass plates on the table he had been working on. "So, what is that thing anyway."

  "It's, a screen. It's a device that lights up if mana is applied to it in the right way." He thought about trying to explain more in depth but doubt she’d understand. Or care.

  "Oh, like a crappy light stone." Still more prodding from her.

  "No, not like a light stone. I’m almost done, maybe if I finish it I can show you… so long as you don't steal it."

  She waved away the plausible event, "I only steal coins and things I can fence. I can't fence junk, even if it has gold leaf on it."

  "You literally just came here to sleep?" Despite her earlier statement, her chatty nature really made it seem like she was wide awake.

  "Well, no.” She scratched at her face, lightly. “I kind of wanted to find you actually. Wasn't expecting you to be in my room though."

  "This isn't your room, it's mine. And why are you looking for me?"

  She jumped down from the rafters and slinked her way over to him. Just a little bit too close for comfort. Reese began to wonder if there wasn't some kind of method behind all her antics. Like maybe she was probing for something, how far she could push, what someone might do when she crossed a line.

  "You're interesting. You saw through my disguise spell. I wasn't lying, no one's ever done that before. I mean, I've been caught and grabbed when using it. Even dropped it a few times after losing concentration on it. But no one ever really saw through it, just the magic I was using…" Her green almost emerald like eyes looked him over. If he didn’t know any better he’d have guessed she stole them from somewhere earlier.

  Her probing gaze continued, as if searching for something that might explain his sight. "Are you really a mage? I didn’t notice it earlier but I can't even feel your mana."

  "Yes. Now you're in my personal space. Leave." Holding up a hand to push her away, she quickly backed off.

  "In an hour, though, how long is that really?" Implying she wasn’t liable to leave on any set time table.

  Reese pointed to the haphazard clock on his wall. “It's when this large hand is just past that next mark. Which is an hour more than you’re welcome here."

  "Oh, something else you made?” She wandered over to the device and stared at it for a moment, her mind seeming locked to the rhythmic thrum of the wooden escapement. “Hmmm, still not worth stealing. What is it?"

  "A clock, it measures time. The large tickets on the wall are for hours, the small one multiple of 5 minutes. It's about 11:05 PM now."

  "So… a water clock without water?" She puzzled.

  Reese didn’t really know how to respond to that assessment. In truth, he had never really seen a water clock before, though understood the basic concept of one. "…Sure." Was all he could muster.

  "What about the rest of this junk?" The mouse began poking her nose into all of Reese's experiments and gadgets.

  Part of him was happy to see someone interesting in his projects, almost no one else was. But, he suspected her intentions weren't exactly academic. Also, he was more than a little worried she might break something.

  Yet, he couldn’t resist the temptation, "I'll explain them if promise not to steal anything from here."

  "You're a trusting one, but ok." Lalaluie’s tone made it sound like she didn’t really care.

  "I'm serious. You agree not to touch my stuff… I won't tell the guards when you're here and I don’t just mean tonight." It was the only real card he could offer. He knew it was better to have some kind of commitment from her. There was obviously no way to keep her out of the castle if she was willing to scale the castle walls to get here.

  The mouse took a moment to consider the offer, "Ok, one more condition, you let me sleep here when I want."

  Reese wasn’t sure if she was serious, but "So long as I'm not in here, fine."

  Lalaluie spit on her hand and held it out for Reese to shake on it. With a slightly disgusted look, he did the same.

  "Is this some kind of thief ritual or promise." He asked after shaking her small hand. Despite being human shaped, it felt more like a mouse’s pawl.

  "No, I just wanted to see if you'd do it." Lalaluie’s smile grew as she went back to his shelf.

  Reese considered his sticky hand for a moment. Bleach hadn't been invented in the world yet, but he was confident he could make some with a bit of salt water and battery cell. Maybe he could finally find a way to burn his hand over a fire stone. For now, his pants would have to do.

  "So what does this one do?" She picked up the first item on the shelf, a sort of half glove with golden traces and small mana stones around it.

  “That’s a prototype or rather an item in development it’s a bit delicate right now…” He held his hand out, emphasizing she should hand it back to him. For a second it looked like she was going to throw it before smirking and handing it to him.

  With a sigh, Reese continued, “I worked on it back in Wollseeth. It injects sound mana into my body and lets me move like I’m using sword techniques. It needs a lot of work though, burned the hell out of my hand, and destroyed the stone I was using. And it’s functions are limited.”

  “Prototype?” The mouse girl mouthed the words almost silently, “Huh. You use a lot of funny words. Is that where you’re from Wollseeth? Never heard of it.” Lalaluie looked back at the glove, “Why not just use spells, why something like that?”

  “It’s complicated…” He tried to wave off the answer.

  Sensing a sore spot Lalaluie smirked, “So it’s like your wand or mage’s staff, only crappier.”

  Moving back to the shelf, she picked up something else, “What about this, lot of little mana stones and gems it looks… like junk” She smiled at him. It seemed like the mouse girl really wanted to get a rise out of him for, and almost seemed disappointed when she didn’t.

  "It's a calculator." He spoke in a flat tone, yet couldn’t help but smile a bit. The exact word he used meant something like a ‘human tabulator’ or actuary.

  This seemed to confuse the young mouse, "A what?"

  "It's a mana-based device that adds numbers. Let me show you…" For the next minute or so he showed off the different ways the device could add and process numbers. Seeing the mana-crystal display light up caused his uninvited guest’s eyes to sparkle in wonder.

  Reese knew well the joys of mathematics and technology. Such a device must have seemed like real magic even to magic users. For a moment, he felt a real connection with Lalaluie. Something he hadn’t felt since he met Emillie.

  “Oh, Neat! Think you could sell it?” Her eyes continued to sparkle, seemingly with the embers and ashes of his own feelings and dreams.

  “No.” He stayed abruptly and yanked the device away from her thieving hands. Watching her futz around on his shelf made him realize that it was going to be a long night.