With a heavy thud, Alan landed in front of the men, shielding the girl from their grasp.
Anger flared in the first shopkeeper's voice as he yelled, "Hey!!! Who the hell are you?!!!"
"Move!!!" Alan's voice boomed with authority as he glared at the men with ferocity.
The shopkeeper scoffed, "Or what?!!! You brat!! You want a beating TOO?!!!!" the shopkeeper retorted, lunging at Alan with fury. Without hesitation, Alan sidestepped the attack, redirecting the momentum with a swift counter strike .
In a flurry of motion, Alan swiftly incapacitated the men, delivering precise blows to their vital points. Within moments, they lay writhing on the ground, gritting their teeth in agony.
"I warned you," Alan stated firmly, his gaze shifting to the girl, only to find her taking advantage of the chaos to escape.
Frustration flickered across Alan's face as he watched her flee. With a determined resolve, he dashed after her, moving with lightning speed to intercept her in the middle of the road. Scooping her up in one swift motion, he carried her into the adjacent alley, hurling the girl against the wall.
Alan watched as she fell to the ground, her eyes wide with confusion. As she rose to her knees, Alan approached her, studying the girl carefully, noting her petite stature that contradicted her teenage features. She wore ragged overalls, clearly too small for her, and her legs bore numerous bruises and scratches.
With tearful eyes, the girl pleaded,
"Pweese misterr, lemme go, I won't do it again." Her voice, childlike in its innocence, failed to sway Alan, who fixed her with a stern gaze filled with anger.
"Cut it out! Why?!!!" Alan's voice was firm, demanding answers.
Unfazed by his tone, the girl attempted one last time to appeal to him with her innocent eyes, but Alan's resolve remained unyielding.
"I asked WHY?!!! Why did you do that to us?!!" Alan's voice rose in frustration.
Suddenly, the girl's expression shifted to one of frustration as she averted her gaze from Alan. Realizing her facade had failed, she spoke in a more mature tone.
"I thought it was just funny... either way, a girl's gotta eat, man!! The owner of that restaurant pays me to lure people with lies about his food and send customers his way."
"And then he extorts money from them, whether they like the food or not," Alan finished her words, his glare unwavering settled on the girl's smug expression.
"Well, well, you catch on quick. I guess you're not just a spoiled brat, are you?" she said with a smirk, eyeing Alan's attire. Hearing her remark, Alan glanced down at himself, realizing why she had targeted them in the first place. If he had been in his usual attire, she might not have even approached them.
The girl rose to her feet, picking up her knapsack as she prepared to leave.
"So if that's all, I'm in a hurry. I need to feed the kids."
"Kids?!" Alan turned abruptly, grabbing her shoulder. "You have kids?!" he asked, puzzled. The girl's face flushed with embarrassment as she gritted her teeth in frustration.
"My brother and sister's kids, YOU PERVERT!!!" she snapped, yanking Alan's hand off her shoulder and continuing to walk away. Alan quickly stepped in front of her, extending his hand.
"What?" the girl asked, confused.
"The money you scammed from my friend," Alan said tightly.
"THERE THEY ARE!!! It's that thief and her bodyguard!!! Catch them!!!"
Before she could respond, a horde of men, some from before, gathered behind Alan, blocking the entrance of the alley. The girl peeked from the side of Alan and remarked, "Well, so do these people."
Alan turned to assess the crowd. There were at least thirty men, a formidable obstacle. He knew he could take them all on, but doing so would put the girl in danger.
"Are you going to do that woosh wish thing again, or—"
"Grab!" Alan commanded abruptly, cutting her off, and swiftly seized her hand, propelling them both towards the oncoming men. The men charged back at them, but at the last second, Alan leaped into the air, using the nearby wall as a platform to propel himself over the group. With agility and precision, he landed swiftly outside the alley, the disoriented girl still in his grasp.
Upon landing, Alan locked eyes with the crowd, their initial awe quickly turning back to rage as they charged at him. With remarkable agility, Alan dashed away as the group of men pursued him relentlessly.
Dodging and weaving through the crowd, Alan slipped away, leaping over rooftops and gracefully twirling beneath caravans as he fled from the angry mob. The girl, still dizzy from the chaos, remained still in Alan's arms as the world spun around her.
After putting some distance between themselves and the mob, Alan noticed Armis emerging from an alley, running as though his life depended on it. Alan sped up, catching up to Armis, and called out to him loudly, "Hey, Armis! What's wrong?!"
Armis, his expression shifting from desperation to relief upon seeing Alan, ran closer to him. Between broken breaths, he replied, "Nothing... J... just... we beat the waiter and cook, but then his other staff came, we knocked them out too, but then more came, so we made a run for it. Phuaaahhh,"
Armis blurted out his explanation in one breath before taking another to keep up with Alan.
Alan, grasping the situation as best he could, urgently questioned Armis, "Where are the others?!"
Glancing behind him and not spotting their friends, Armis shrugged in response to Alan's inquiry. Suddenly, as they ran past an alley, they heard Aurelia's scream echoing from behind them, closely followed by Lyco being chased by yet another mob. The two groups merged together, and the entire ensemble fled through the marketplace, pursued by the angry crowd.
Aurelia, catching sight of the girl in Alan's arms, exclaimed amidst their chaotic flight, "Oh! You caught her! Hand her over, you little wench!" She made a grab for the girl, but Alan swiftly pulled her out of Aurelia's reach, while Armis attempted to restrain Aurelia.
Looking urgently at Armis, Alan yelled over the commotion, "Armis, any ideas?!"
Responding to Alan's urgency, Armis scanned the road ahead and caught sight of his secret entrance to the jungle leading to his home. He signaled to Alan, gesturing towards the entrance, before scooping Aurelia into his arms. Meanwhile, Lyco leaped onto Armis's shoulder, ready for the escape.
Without hesitation, Alan and Armis split in different directions, effectively dividing the pursuing mob. Maneuvering swiftly through alleys, they quickly gained distance from their pursuers. As they reached the entrance to the jungle, both Alan and Armis leaped into the dense foliage, tearing through branches and bushes as they made their way to Armis's hut.
Finally arriving at the safety of the hut, they dashed inside, slamming the door shut behind them. They waited anxiously as the sounds of the angry mob outside slowly faded away into the distance.
In the darkened room, Aurelia's voice trembled as she called out to Armis, "Ar...Armis."
"Shh...," Armis hushed her, motioning for her to whisper. "What is it?"
Aurelia leaned in close, her voice barely audible. "Can you let go of my breast now?"
Startled, Armis released her, causing Aurelia to thud onto the ground with a loud cry of pain. "Owww, at least warn before you let go," she protested, rubbing her sore spot.
Lyco and Alan quickly hushed her with urgent gestures. Suddenly, they heard footsteps outside the door, their hearts pounding as the person approached the gate and slammed it open. A silhouette appeared in the doorway, demanding, "Who is there?!"
Recognizing the voice, Armis sighed in relief as the woman stepped into the room, revealing herself to be Armis's aunt, Layla.
Armis quickly embraced her, and she recognized him too, asking,
"Armis? Aurelia? What are you doing here?"
"We—" Armis began, but Layla interrupted with delight. "Oh, you came to visit your dear old aunt! I'm so happy you came!"
Without waiting for a response, Layla hugged Armis tighter and exclaimed,
"You came at such a good time! I'm making your favorite meat and potatoes! Would you like to stay for dinner? You can invite your friends too if they want!"
As Layla gazed at Alan and the rest, anticipation filled the air. However, before anyone could respond, their stomachs rumbled loudly, breaking the silence and prompting sheepish grins from all.
"Come on, everyone," Layla invited warmly, leading the way with Armis while the others followed to her hut. Along the path, Layla turned to Armis and inquired, "By the way, why were you all hiding there?"
Armis gently nudged Layla forward with a smile and replied, "Long story, Aunt Layla."
After dinner, Armis and Alan sat at the table while Aurelia and Layla cleared the dishes. Armis glanced at the girl, now tied up in a corner by Alan, and asked, "So what are we gonna do about her?"
Alan sighed, unsure. "I can't leave her in the market; she'll be in danger. But taking her to the academy isn't an option either."
As Alan pondered, he noticed the girl attempting to steal a pearl dish by Layla's feet. Growling, he shot her a stern look, and she quickly replaced the dish, pretending as nothing happened. Alan turned to Armis, seeking a solution, when suddenly Lyco, who was standing by the window, staring at the moon, interjected.
"Well, you could make her your slave," Lyco suggested. Alan's expression turned puzzled as he glanced at Lyco. Lyco continued, "Or you could marry her."
At Lyco's words, the girl's expression shifted rapidly from embarrassment to terror. She looked back and forth between Alan and Lyco, unsure of what to make of the conversation.
Lyco approached the girl, scrutinizing her closely. "Well, judging by her facial features, despite her height, she seems to be of the right age for both options. Perhaps she has a condition causing her petite stature. But regardless, the Academy rules allow you to bring a companion to stay in the dormitory, as long as there's a personal bond."
Alan shot Lyco a disgusted look. "Are you out of your mind?"
Aurelia, with an angry glare and a terrifying grin, approached the girl. "Or we could just toss her back to those people and be done with her."
The girl met Aurelia's gaze with determination, gritting her teeth.
"Whatever you do with the little kitten, just don't harm her." Layla intervened, approaching the girl with a piece of meat in her hand, feeding it to her and patting her head as if she were a pet.
As Layla walked away, the girl snapped and yelled at Alan, "Could you please untie me!!! I need to feed the kids, I told you!!"
Realizing the urgency after her mention of her siblings, Alan turned to Armis with a stern gaze and urgent voice. "Oh yeah, turns out she has some siblings waiting for her at her home."
"Huh?" Aurelia and Lyco gasped in surprise.
Armis, understanding the situation, got up, and Alan followed him. They untied the girl, and Alan turned to Armis, saying,
"You guys stay here. I'll take her to her siblings so she can feed them. It'd be best if only me and her go, that way we can avoid any trouble."
"Yes, you're right," Armis nodded in agreement as he took some leftovers from Layla and handed them to the girl. "Please be careful."
With Armis's words, Alan gestured for the girl to climb on his back, and he ran out of the forest, casting an assuring look back at his friends before disappearing into the night.
Emerging from the jungle, Alan quickly landed on the nearby ground, cradling the girl in his arms. "See and tell me which side your house is on?" he asked urgently.
The girl scanned the scenery before pointing to the west. Alan swiftly jumped into the air, locking his eyes on the alley she indicated. With lightning speed, he lunged forward, navigating with a few dashes and two leaps until they reached a rooftop overlooking the alley.
Still reeling from the sudden movements, the girl clumsily climbed down from Alan's back and sat down, regaining her senses.
"Quick, where is your house?" Alan asked urgently.
Without a reply, the girl pointed toward the alley below, where a wooden box held three kittens, meowing and struggling to get out from under the cloth that covered it.
Alan leaped down with the girl and gently placed her on the ground. She swiftly removed the cloth from the box and placed the leftover food in front of the kittens, who eagerly began munching on it.
With a disappointed and frustrated look, Alan gazed at the girl and said,
"These are the siblings you were talking about? And here I was tensed thinking you had real human siblings waiting for you."
"Kittens are Relecta's real siblings!" The girl shot a serious glance at Alan as she retorted.
Alan's expression softened as he saw Relecta's expression, his eyes reflecting a mix of empathy and understanding. She continued as she patted the kittens, her voice tinged with sadness and resilience.
"After my parents died during a raid at Relic Castle, my grandmother threw me out onto the streets. I wandered homeless, hungry, and sad. I found solace in these dark alleys. Alone and desperate, I used to cry myself to sleep. Then, one day, a cat brought me food. And the next day, another cat did the same. Before I knew it, the cats started taking care of me when my own kind spat and beat on me."
Relecta paused, gently patting the kitten nestled against her leg. Her gaze drifted toward the bustling market, her expression distant.
"They tried to sell me, taking advantage of my vulnerability. But these cats saved me. They taught me how to fight, how to fend for myself. Even though I never found my place or gained my mark, they never abandoned me. Then one day..."
She moved toward a corner of the alley where flies buzzed around another wooden box. Alan followed Relecta's gaze and noticed the box, its foul stench revealing the presence of a dead animal.
"One day, while trying to defend me, they were killed by a shopkeeper. He brutally mangled their bodies and spat on them before leaving them dead on the ground. Since that day, I've cared for their children as my own siblings. These kittens are Relecta's real siblings, understood, mister?"
Relecta turned to find Alan wearing a sympathetic smile, rather than the anticipated anger. Approaching her with humility in his eyes, Alan reached out to pat her head.
Initially hesitant, Relecta eventually allowed his gesture, finding solace in his gentle touch. Alan continued to pat her head in silence, lost in contemplation as he gazed into Relecta's innocent eyes, he couldn't help but ponder the cruelty of the world around them. Animals were willing to accept strangers as their own, yet humans often showed such cruelty toward their own kind.
Without a word, Alan stood up and picked up the box containing the kittens. He settled back down near Relicta and gestured for her to climb onto his back. Understanding the gesture, Relicta smiled and quickly climbed onto his back.
With a powerful leap, Alan propelled them toward the roof, where the moonlight illuminated their path as they made their way back to Armis's hut.
SAME NIGHT, ACADAMY
"You did what?!! But Alan, where are we going to keep her?!!" Aurelia snapped at Alan, her voice laced with surprise and concern, as they stood in Alan and Armis's room, processing Alan's decision to take in Relecta.
"So you finally decided to make her your concubine," Lyco teased, passing a playful look at Alan.
"NO!!" Alan turned and lowered himself to Lyco's level, shooting a glare at him. "So a slave maybe?.." Lyco continued teasing.
"Huh? No!!" Alan, feeling conflicted, turned to Relecta, who was now asleep in the same box with her kittens. He then turned to Armis, who had a concerned look, and continued, "I'm not sure what I'm going to do with her, but for now, I can't leave her out there." Alan remarked with a serious tone.
Armis approached Alan and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I respect your decision, Alan. We are a team, and we're going to help you figure this out."
Understanding Armis's words, Aurelia shifted her gaze to Relecta. She then walked up to Alan, her frustration evident in her voice. "Fine…I guess she can live in my room until we figure out what to do with her."
Aurelia turned to Alan, her teeth gritted, and gave him an upset look. Suddenly, Alan bowed in front of her and expressed gratitude, contradicting Aurelia's emotions. "Thank you, Aurelia. I really appreciate it."
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Aurelia mumbled a response. "Yeah…fine, whatever."
Suddenly, she remembered something and joined her hands while bowing at Alan. "Sorry, Alan. You just have to wait until the Founding Festival is over. I just remembered that my roommate has been having her friends over in our room for their preparation. Since I will be doing the same in your room, I allowed her. Please forgive me."
Alan and Armis frowned disappointingly at Aurelia's apology, contemplating their options before Alan spoke up.
"I guess we can manage to hide her for a day," Alan suggested, his tone uncertain.
"Oh yeah, that reminds me of something. What dance are we doing for the festival?" Lyco interjected with a note of concern. Everyone turned to him in shock and realization that they still hadn't figured out their dance routine for the festival.
Now filled with worry, they all sat on Armis's bed, pondering their next move. After a moment of silence and no solutions forthcoming, Relecta spoke up from Alan's bed.
"You can do the legendary Cat Dance," Relecta suggested, now awake. She made some movements in the air with her arms, twirling and creating waves. Then, she suddenly jumped off the bed, and the kittens followed her onto the ground where Alan was sitting. Relecta performed a flip, spun twice, and continued the movements. She dragged her feet forward, lowered her back, and created a big wave from her fingers on her right hand, which traveled to her shoulders and then to the fingers of her left hand. She spun again, turned her back, and then spun back around with ferocity in her eyes, growling at Alan and the others. Suddenly, a kitten jumped into her hands, and after she juggled them in the air, she launched them before leaping herself. She spun in mid-air and landed beautifully with her arms spread apart, with the kittens landing on her hands and head.
The whole spectacle was undeniably strange yet oddly entertaining, eliciting small smiles from everyone, their eyebrows raised in bemusement and their eyes tinged with amusement at the eccentricity of Relecta's dance.
"Cool! That was so cool and cute!" Lyco exclaimed, scooping up one of the cats in his arms. "We're doing this!" he declared confidently.
However, Lyco's decision was met with a collective exchange of perplexed looks among the group. While they found Relecta's dance intriguing, they were unsure if they wanted to replicate it themselves.
Frustrated by their hesitation, Lyco shot a glare at Armis and Aurelia, who wore expressions of sheer cringe. "Any of you got a better idea?!" he demanded.
Silence hung in the air as everyone averted their gaze, unable to offer an alternative suggestion.
Seeing their unanimous agreement through their silence, Lyco grinned triumphantly. "Good, so that's settled. We are doing this. What's the name of it… Alan's concubine."
"Hey! Her name is Relecta!" Alan scolded Lyco for his disrespectful remark.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Will you teach us this dance?" Lyco asked, patting Relecta on the shoulder. Relecta, after looking down blankly, snapped away Lyco's arm and yelled, "I am not a kid!! You dwarf!!"
She then jumped back on Alan's bed and sat at the edge, crossing her arms and feet. With a mischievous gaze and her adult tone laced with pride, she continued, "Well of course I will!! But I require payment, 10 gold coins!"
Alan's expression changed, his gaze turning to anger. With lightning speed, he approached Relicta, locking eyes with her.
She slowly retreated her gaze, shivering, as Alan threatened her, "Keep that up and I won't waste any time tossing you back out there…"
Relicta responded to Alan's threat with a smirk, almost teasing, but Alan cut her off as he raised his head back and looked at the kittens. Picking them up and shooting a glare, he said, "And without YOUR KITTENS!"
At Alan's ultimatum, Relecta's expression changed, becoming humble as she snuggled against Alan's leg, purring like a kitten herself.
"So from now on, no stealing, no rudeness, and you are going to teach us that dance. Because…" Alan looked down at Relecta, waiting for her to finish the sentence.
She looked puzzled for a moment, then suddenly backed away, laying on the floor and covering her mouth with her hand. Blush flowed on her cheeks, with a shy gaze and a low voice, she said, acting like a shy bride, "Because I am your slave, my master."
"Because you owe us!!! And because we are friends!!!" Alan growled at Relecta with intensity. She looked at Alan with shimmering hope in her eyes, then suddenly returned to normal, stood up, and said with her eyes averted from Alan, "Sure, whatever."
Alan rose back up and looked at Armis and Aurelia, who were gazing at him with a chuckle. Seeing their behavior, he asked, "What?!"
"Nothing," Aurelia replied, taking the cat from his hands, followed by Armis, who draped his arm on puzzled Alan's shoulders and said, "Nothing buddy, let's do our best in the festival and leave the rest to fate."
"Yeah, sure," Alan replied with a blank gaze, which eventually turned into a smile as he saw his friends asking Relicta to teach them the dance. They laughed as the crescent moon glossed over the dormitory, diving down on the horizon, making way for the first ray of dawn.