As morning broke and Lukas began to get ready for the day, I made plans for what we needed to do today. I had explained everything to Lukas last night and we grabbed his friend Thea as there was no school today. One day a week everyone was released from school to rest and relax. Normally Lukas and Thea would say around the orphanage so they would be safe, but today would be different.
"Thea, come with me today." Lukas asked the young girl.
Her eyes lit up as she liked to spend time with Lukas as he was the only who didn't bully her or look at her in a weird way. She was a weaker Essence user than most of the people around, but was still stronger than Lukas. She had pink hair which prompted others to laugh at her and had estranged her from most of her peers. Only a year younger than Lukas she had a figure that was just beginning to show and recently some of the guys who bullied her had been making strange remarks about her expanding figure.
"What are we gonna do?" she asked.
"I need to practice and train some things and I'll need your help." was all Lukas told her.
"What do I need to bring?" she wanted to know.
"Nothing much, Just bring your money pouch and a couple of items of jewelry." Lukas told her matter of factly.
Thea was someone who liked shiny things so she had used some of her money from doing chores to buy a few pieces of simple jewelry that were incredibly cheap. She quickly ran off to get dressed and grab her money pouch, while Luka also went to get his money. He had spent nearly no money as he so seldom left the orphanage, so today he planned to buy Thea some lunch for helping him out.
They walked to the park near the center of the city and there Lukas began to practice. He would bump into Thea and take her pouch, or a piece of jewelry without her even noticing. He was amazed at how easy it was. It felt like he had done this countless times before, and it almost a natural instinctive move just to dip his hand and using only two fingers he had her money. A quick grab on her wrist and had her bracelet, a handshake was all he needed to take her ring, and he even took her necklace when patting her shoulder. It was almost intoxicating with what he could do.
I smiled as I watched Lukas practice. He had a natural ability with his size and everything was going smooth, but as always life began to interfere. It had been about an hour when some teenagers began to wander into the park and take notice of Thea. They were watching her and not paying attention to Lukas, so they didn't see what he was doing. All they saw was someone bumping into her repeatedly and shaking her hand and patting her shoulder. Eventually one of them was goaded by his friends to approach the girl.
"Hey, why don't you leave her alone trash!" A young man yelled to Lukas. This young man was wearing expensive clothes and had several rings on his hand. He was so enamored of the young Thea that he never thought that they were together. He just assumed that he was some guy harassing her and she couldn't do anything back.
Thea was shocked to hear someone call out to Lukas in a threatening manner, but Lukas immediately was caught up in the moment. He was excited by what he had been doing and without even thinking he ran up to the young man and quickly bumped right into him. His hand snaked to the young man's waist and quickly pocketed his pouch.
"I'm so sorry." Lukas stammered. as he patted the young man's shoulder and collected a small locket.
"Imbecile!" The young man screamed as he didn't even budge due to Lukas's weak physique.
Using skills acquired through the Pickpocket ability Lukas dropped quickly to the ground and screamed. "Please young master don't beat me. I didn't mean to do it. Oh, please I'll be more careful. Just spare my life this one time."
The young man didn't know what to do. His family wouldn't like it if he created an enormous scene in the middle of town. He could get away with a lot, but he didn't have the authority to publicly punish someone. " I'll let you off this time scum." He said trying to save face.
Quickly grabbing his hand Lukas cried loudly, "Thank you young master, This humble one and his friend will leave right now."
Grabbing Thea's hand he quickly began to weave through the crowd and onlookers who had gathered there to see the scene unfold. Thea looked at Lukas with questions in her eyes. Wondering why he had done that. He had never acted like that before. As soon as they were out of the park Lukas took Thea to a nearby alley and began to laugh loudly.
"Why did you act like that Lukas?" Thea wanted to know.
As an answer Lukas reached into his pockets and began to bring out items. First was pouch that carried a hefty amount of weight. Thea's eyes widened as she saw the pouch. She knew this wasn't Lukas's pouch. As Lukas opened the pouch an amazing sight was before his eyes. Something he had never seen or even held before, Gold coins, the pouch had ten golden coins in it.
All Lukas had ever had was just Copper coins. It took 100 copper coins to make a silver coin and 100 silver to make a gold coin, there for with ten gold coins Lukas was extremely rich. He had the equivalent of 100,000 copper coins. This was enough to feed the entire orphanage for years.
That wasn't all that he had though. Quickly covering the pouch, he replaced it into his shirt and removed a small locket and a ring that he had also lifted from the young man. Both were exquisite and well made with intricate designs.
Alarm bells rang inside my consciousness as I saw the jewelry with the designs. "Quick get rid of the jewelry." I told Lukas.
Lukas didn't ask any questions as he hid the jewelry in the alley making sure he knew where they were. Taking the coins from the pouch he also placed the pouch in the hiding place and he grinned as he took Thea's hand and told her to pick a place to eat. any where she wanted.
They spent the rest of the day leisurely wandering the city and they ate from stalls that they passed. They tried many different foods and as evening fell, they wandered back to the orphanage where Lukas slipped all the remaining coins into the donation box.