" Put. Him. Down," a feminine voice called from the alley's entrance. "Sleep powder isn't my only specialty."
Cassius turned his head towards the voice only to see a young girl who looked no older than twelve, another potion already balanced between her fingers.
"This doesn't concern you, little girl," Leon said, his voice carrying a clear warning.
'Yes, get out of here before you ruin everything,' Cassius thought, forcing a smile.
"Oh?" She tossed her potion in the air, each catch making the remaining thug flinch. "Then, I should just walk away and pretend I didn't see you harassing a child?"
The girl slowly closed the gap between them leaving only a few feet between her and Leon.
"Listen carefully," Leon took a step forward, his scarred eye glinting in the dim light. "Walk away now and I'll forget I ever saw you. Stay, and things might get... unpleasant."
The girl caught her potion and tilted her head. "Unpleasant? Like what I assume you're planning to do to this boy?"
"Last warning." Leon's voice hardened as his men moved to surround them.
"Funny," the girl smiled, pulling out another potion. "I was about to say the same thing."
The next potion didn't land back in her hand. Instead, it burst into flames at Leon's feet, making him momentarily loosen his grip. Then, the girl yanked Cassius away. "Run!"
She dragged Cassius past dimly lit stalls and through narrow alleyways, their footsteps echoing off the merchant district walls. They didn't stop until they were past the city gates, where stone finally turned to soil beneath their feet.
The girl slowed to a stop. Moonlight filtered through branches above them, casting strange shadows across the ground.
'This place…' Cassius glanced around, an uneasy familiarity creeping in.
The forest's darkness enveloped them, but despite their long run, neither of them was out of breath.
"Are you alright?" The girl asked, a worried look on her face. "Those thugs seemed like they wanted to hurt you."
"I'm alright." He replied, pretending to be grateful. "Thank you for saving me."
Leon wouldn't have hurt him anyway. The man had always had a soft spot for children. That was how Cassius had gotten into the guild in his first life.
"It was nothing." The girl raised her head proudly, "After all, who could just leave a child alone in an alley?"
'Says the child.' Cassius thought, smiling.
"Anyways, what's your name?" The girl asked, reaching her hand out. "My name is..." she hesitated for a moment. "Lisa. And I don't have a last name because I'm a commoner."
"Casian." He lied smoothly, before kissing the back of her hand. "I don't have a last name either."
[Really? Casian?]
'What's wrong with Casian?' Cassius thought, it wasn't like he gave her his real name. Besides, he always liked the name Casian.
"Why are you kissing my hand?" The girl yanked her hand away.
"Is that not why you held out your hand?" Cassius tilted his head, before reaching for his coin pouch. "Ah, perhaps you wanted payment for saving me."
"No!" The girl smacked his hand away from the pouch. "I just wanted to give you a high five."
"A... high five?" He asked, confused by the unfamiliar term.
[Interesting. What is this high five? Does that mean there is a low five? What's the significance of the number five? Ask her, Cassius.]
'So even Kar doesn't know what that is?' he thought, reading the message.
"Like this." The girl clapped her hands once. "Now you try." She held out her hand again.
"You want me to clap my hand against yours?" Cassius asked, bewildered.
"Yes!"
'What a strange girl,' he thought, before giving Lisa a high-five.
A deep growl echoed through the trees, followed by the sound of three sets of jaws snapping.
'Ah,' Cassius turned around slowly. 'Now I remember why this forest felt so familiar.'
This was the same forest he died in his first life.
Cassius glanced up at the massive three-headed hound towering before them, then turned his head to Lisa. "You wouldn't happen to have another sleep potion in that bag, would you?" he whispered.
"Haha, nope." Lisa replied bluntly.
"Then... Run."
The sound of trees crashing behind them echoed through the forest as the massive hound gave chase. Its thundering footsteps shook the ground with each stride.
"Split up!" Cassius shouted, already veering left.
"No!" Lisa grabbed his sleeve, yanking him right. "Trust me!"
Cassius was not about to just trust a stranger but the snap of jaws where he would have run left him without objections.
They sprinted through the darkness, ducking under low branches and leaping over fallen logs. The Cerberus's hot breath drawing closer with each passing second.
"Any other potions in that bag?" Cassius asked between breaths.
Lisa pulled out a red vial. "Just this explosive one."
"That's perfect actually-"
A massive paw crashed down between them, separating their path. One head lunged for Lisa while another snapped at Cassius, the third keeping watch.
"Use the explosive potion!" Cassius yelled.
"No!" Lisa replied, "Cerberus is an endangered species!"
"That thing won't die because of one measly potion. Just throw it!"
"Fine!"
Lisa threw the potion at the Cerberus's feet, the explosion sending dirt and leaves flying everywhere. The beast stumbled back, momentarily stunned.
"See? Didn't even scratch it," Cassius said as they regrouped. "Now ru-"
The smoke cleared, and Cassius's words died in his throat. The cerberus was unexpectedly injured.
The Cerberus lay whimpering on its side, one of its heads hanging limp. Dark blood pooled beneath its massive form.
"No, no, no..." Lisa rushed forward despite the danger. "I didn't mean to- It wasn't supposed to be this strong!"
"We need to go," Cassius said, grabbing her arm. "Before it-"
"We can't just leave it like this!" Lisa yanked free, already digging through her bag. "There has to be something…"
"Suit yourself. I'm not responsible for you anyways." He turned away, but something caught his eye as Lisa dug through her bag.
'Strange,' he thought, glancing back one last time. 'Those aren't normal alchemist guild markings on her potions.'
[You're just going to leave her?]
"She made her choice," Cassius said, ignoring the distant sound of Lisa trying to help the beast. "Besides, isn't this what you wanted? To find out more about her potions?"
[Indeed. I wonder how she got her hands on potions like that.]
"Well, she's definitely not your average commoner. She's either a noble or the daughter of a wealthy merchant if she can afford those potions. "
[I agree. I bet her name isn't even Lisa. She seemed hesitant to give her name before.]
"That too. Not to mention, she reminded me of someone…"
[Who?]
"Nevermind."
'They can't be the same person,' he thought, shaking his head. 'Their personalities and looks are too different. Besides, Lyra Winter would never help a commoner.'