There he was, minding his day as usual, strolling through the slums, dressed as a girl to disguise himself. It was all part of his latest plan—a little wealth redistribution courtesy of some rich, gullible man or woman; he didn't judge who fell for him in this disguise. Everything had been going smoothly, the role fitting him like a second skin, until fate decided to slap him across the face.
*Why is he here?!* Xain's thoughts spiraled into panic as his eyes locked onto someone he never wanted to see again: one of the Ironguard officers who had chased him just a few weeks ago. The memory of that narrow escape clawed its way to the surface, and Xain's mind raced. *I have to hide,* he told himself, his feet instinctively slowing, but it was already too late. The Guard had noticed him.
*Darn it!* Xain cursed internally, forcing himself to keep walking. He straightened his back and tried to appear nonchalant. *Stay calm,* he urged himself. *He only saw you once, and now you don't even look like yourself. He won't recognize you. He can't.*
But the knot in his chest tightened with every step. He could feel it—the weight of the Guard's gaze following him. *Is he staring at me?* Xain risked a quick glance, the corner of his eye stealing a flicker of the Guard's confused gaze.
*He is!* Panic surged through him, but he didn't break stride. Instead, he forced his head down and kept walking, his hands gripping the folds of his disguise to stop them from trembling. *Don't stop me, don't stop me, please just let me pass.* The silent mantra ran through his mind like a prayer, his heart pounding as he neared the point of no return.
Step by step, the Guard didn't stop him. Xain kept walking until he was safely past. Only then did he dare breathe, the relief washing over him like a wave. *Oh, thank goddess.* Ducking into a shadowed alley, he pressed his back against the wall, his chest heaving.
"What is a Guard doing here?" he muttered aloud, peeking cautiously back around the corner. His hyperfocus on the Guard had kept him blind to the rest of the scene until now. That was when he noticed the brown-haired man walking ahead of the officer—a man who looked battered and beaten, shuffling forward in what appeared to be a limp.
"Wait a second…" Xain's sharp eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the man more closely. Something about the way he moved tugged at his instincts. His limp seemed exaggerated, almost theatrical.
"Is he faking it?" Xain whispered to himself, his head tilting in curiosity.
Pulling back into the safety of the alley, Xain closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, letting the details settle in his mind. He had a knack for reading people, a survival skill honed from years of navigating the criminal world. Something about that man felt off.
"That guy…" Xain muttered, his voice low, "he's definitely leading that Guard into a trap."
It wasn't just a hunch. Xain knew his own kind—scammers, thieves, gang members, anyone who lived by wits and guile. There was an unspoken language among them, a way they carried themselves that normal people couldn't fake. At just twelve years old, Xain was confident in his ability to recognize one of his own. The brown-haired man wasn't an innocent victim; he was a predator baiting his prey.
Xain pressed his back against the cold, crumbling wall of the alley, his breathing steadying as he tried to reason with himself. "It has nothing to do with me," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and firm. "Just let it go. Pretend you didn't see anything."
And he was right—he wasn't involved in this mess. If that Guard was dumb enough to follow a suspicious brown-haired man into the depths of the slums, then so be it. It wasn't Xain's problem. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he opened his eyes and shook his head.
"Sometimes I really hate myself," he murmured, resignation lacing his tone.
Against his better judgment, he crept out of the alley, carefully trailing the pair. He kept his distance—close enough to watch, far enough to avoid notice. Every step was calculated, his movements blending into the natural chaos of the slums.
For five tense minutes, Xain followed, his sharp eyes never leaving the two figures ahead of him. They came to a stop in front of a decrepit, two-story building. The walls were barely holding together, sagging under years of neglect. Xain's stomach dropped as recognition set in.
*Is that…?* His mind raced. He'd seen a lot of people entering that place earlier today, a stream of rough-looking men gathering inside for one reason or another.
*Don't tell me… it was to trap this Guard.*
As the two moved toward the building's entrance, Xain's instincts screamed at him. He bolted, retreating as fast as his legs could carry him. The air seemed heavier as he ran, his mind working furiously.
*I have to find someone. Another Guard. Fast.*
Navigating the twisting alleys of the slums was second nature to him. Every turn, every shortcut, was mapped out in his mind. He pushed himself harder, his small frame darting through narrow passages with the precision of someone who knew this place like the back of his hand.
*Judging by the direction they came from… They must have entered from Steamhaven. There were two of them when they chased me a few weeks ago.* His thoughts coalesced into a plan. *If I head to that district, I should find his partner.*
The transition from the slums to Steamhaven was like stepping into a different world. The chaotic, crumbling streets gave way to smoother roads and cleaner surroundings. Xain scanned the area frantically as he sprinted, his chest heaving.
"Where is he?" Xain muttered under his breath, frustration creeping into his voice as he sprinted past confused bystanders. Three minutes felt like an eternity as his search continued—until finally, he spotted the familiar figure.
A chestnut-haired man sat on the edge of the road, his posture slumped and dejected. It was him.
*Found him!*
Xain's heart leapt with both relief and urgency as he sprinted toward the man. His expression shifted effortlessly, the panic in his eyes giving way to an innocent, wide-eyed desperation.
"Sir!" he called out, his voice trembling as he came to a stop in front of the Guard. "Please, you have to come with me! I just saw a Guard get attacked in the slums!"