Year 584, New World
"10 gold pieces!" exclaimed Oliver and Allen Greyer unanimously. "For a 300 to 1 odd? Surely not."
Sirius handed the coins to the shopkeeper and said
"Please register my bet under you name Mr. Earl. I don't want my mother finding out after all."
"Oh...um.. are you sure, Mr. Cromwell?" stuttered Oliver.
"Absolutely certain."
"Well then, I'll be sure to register your wager tomorrow at the betting stands. You will come to the event yes?"
"I'm not sure..."
"Come on, Its a once in a life time experience! Well, I suppose you could come watch it another year, but you'll still miss out! The Fons Prix is a special day."
Sirius was very tempted. He had read about Blackthorn's passion for steeds racing before and always loved festivals, although he had never been to one. But the thought of the festival this weekend having an atmosphere as lively or even greater than the one Fons city provided was too alluring for him.
"I'll..try and convince mother and father." he said
Timed passed extremely quickly for Sirius after Oliver began entailing the appeals of the Fons Prix, from the food, to the music. From the shops, to the races. The shopkeeper had a way with words like no other person he had ever spoken to, but admittedly, he did not speak to people often other than his family and servants. When he had finished, Sirius had thought someone had sped up his watch.
"By god, is that the time already!"
marvelled Allen Greyer after glancing at his pocket watch.
"We'd better get going."
With a hint of disappointment, the shopkeeper lead Sirius and Greyer back up towards the long narrow corridor into a shop completely void of people, besides a girl with wavy blonde hair reading a book. Sirius avoid looking into her eyes. He and the magus left the store, waving goodbye to the shopkeeper and his daughter. The pair walked back to where the carriage was parked as the sky turned a serene orange. Stepping into the carriage, Allen Greyer asked
"Just curious, but what made you wager on number 578?"
"Just a lucky feeling." replied Sirius.
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The carriage shook and quivered violently as the horses pulled it onto a rocky road leading away from Fons City with the orange sky fading to darkness. As the sun sunk below the horizon, it's bright rays of light shrank synchronously, but the atmosphere barely got any cooler. The chirping of cicads grew louder as Sirius saw the soft outline of the Cromwell estate get closer and closer through the windows of the carriage.
"I'm glad I got to know you Mr. Greyer," began Sirius
"Thank you for accompanying me to Fons City. I had a great time"
He put out his hand.
Allen Greyer reached for the boy's hand and caught a glimpse of his eyes. He hesitated.
"My pleasure." said the magus with a nervous smile.
"I...will be at the Fons Prix too. If I spot you, I will be sure to give a friendly greeting."
Sirius could not tell whether the gesture was genuine or superficial, but grew affection for the man nonetheless.
He smiled back.