(Author's Note: This Side Story chapter, along with all other Side Stories (with at least one exception) take place in the past. This one takes place about three years before chapter 1 and it's from Shana's point of view the night she met Brutus. Enjoy!)
I walk through the streets of Lazarus, making sure to hide in the shadows as I do. "Damn, where is it?!" I curse as I search the area for my coin.
It's not just a normal coin, it's a magically lucky coin blessed by Ventus, the god of wind, luck, and speed. It makes any movement I make completely silent unless I want to be heard. I received the coin about a year ago, for my birthday ceremony. It's one of my most prized possessions. And I lost it!
"Ugh...I can't believe this happened. Maybe someone pickpocketed me?" I shake my head and chuckle. "Ha, there's no chance of that! I'm Shana Shaddori, The Azure Thief!"
I stealthily climb the side of a building, taking care to stay away from windows. Using the cracks in the side of the old building as hand-holds and foot-holds, I successfully climb onto the roof.
"Hmm..." I quietly and carefully drop onto my stomach and crawl across the roof to the other side, to avoid being seen. I notice that the next roof is very close and I get an idea.
I stand up and I take a few steps back. As quietly as possible, I run and jump. As I jump, I whisper a few words and I cast a small wind spell to give me a boost across. I easily land silently and I crouch.
I resume crawling and I mentally give a quick prayer of thanks to Lord Ventus. I get to the other side and I notice that I'm near the wall to the shady area of Lazarus.
I notice the guards look annoyed, so I crawl to the edge of the roof I'm on to try and eavesdrop. "Damned Solarian soldiers! They think they can order us about just because we're only town guards..."
I gasp. "Solarian soldiers are here...?! I need to find my coin and leave immediately..." I whisper more magical words to call a silent gust of wind to propel me to the top of the wall.
I grab the top and I climb up. I go to the closest end of the wall and I silently drop down into the shadows underneath. "There are a nice amount of shadows in this part of town so I should be able to get around much easier."
I sneak through the mostly abandoned area of Lazarus, quietly sprinting from shadow to shadow with the help of my wind magic, when I notice a decent amount of Solarian soldiers coming out of a bar. I quickly hide in a nearby corner and listen.
One soldier with fancier armor who is most likely their captain grumbles. "The grog in this part of the world tastes like dragon piss, doesn't it, boys?!"
The other twenty-four soldiers with him shout their agreement. "Let's stop wasting time here and head back home to Solaris already!" The soldiers cheer and follow their captain.
I giggle at their stupidity. "How would you know what dragon piss tastes like unless you've tried it yourselves, you dumbasses...?"
The captain snaps back around. "Who in the gods's names said that?!" I frantically think to myself. Shit! He must be an elf! As I think of what to do, I get an extremely risky idea.
The soldiers look like they're somewhat drunk, so I may be able to get some information out of the captain. Time to use my charm...
I step out of the shadows and I flash a flirty smile at the captain. "Hey there, soldier. What's a guy like you doing in a run-down place like this?"
The captain takes off his helmet and grins at me. I notice that he is definitely an elf. Not bad looking, but I'd rather die than date a Solarian soldier. "The name's Captain Marus, my lady. I'm the leader of this unit of soldiers."
I force back an insult and I smirk. "I can see that. What would you say to telling me about your achievements over a bite to eat?"
Captain Marus walks towards me. "I'd like nothing more than to have dinner with a pretty lady like you. Tell me, what's your-" He pauses as he gets a closer look at me and he glares furiously.
"You're Shana Shaddori!" I giggle. "That's my name, don't wear it out!" Captain Marus grins evilly.
"Emperor Yuri is offering huge rewards to the person who brings you in! I might even be a general, after that traitor dragoon slips up and she gets what's coming to her!"
I glare. "Don't you dare talk about my friend like that, you Solarian bastard! I'll kick your ass!"
Not caring about how many allies he has and knowing it's too late to run anyway, I unsheath my daggers and they glow as I whisper a wind spell to propel myself high up into the air onto a roof.
I quickly sheath the daggers and grab my crossbow, Avelyn. I immediately shoot bolts into the eye slits of two soldiers that are trying to climb up and they fall, dead before they hit the ground.
I shoot and kill three more soldiers, but they're climbing faster than I can kill them. "Damn! What the hell am I going to do this time?!"
Suddenly, a young man with long red hair who looks to be a little older than me and a large red wolf charge towards the soldiers from the other side and attack them.
Captain Marus turns around and looks at them in shock. "By the gods... It's The Blazing Scourge! What are we going to do?!"
As the man slashes apart three soldiers and the wolf surprisingly incinerates two more with fireballs, I drop down and summon a small cushion of wind under me so I float down safely.
I jokingly salute the man. "Thanks for the help, good sir!" He rolls his eyes and I put away my crossbow to draw my daggers.
I stab one soldier in the neck and I slash another's throat. Yuri really needs to give his soldiers stronger armor, at least for their necks! You could probably cut through it with a kitchen knife!
I look over at the man and I notice four more dead soldiers. One soldier's about to sneak up on him, so I immediately sheath one dagger to grab my crossbow and shoot him in the eye slit. The wolf pounces on another and rips his throat out.
The man moves towards me and grins. "Thanks for that!" "No problem!" I shoot another soldier in the throat and I stab yet another in the head with my dagger.
I walk up next to the man and his wolf, and we look over to see Captain Marus and his last four soldiers slowly moving towards us.
Captain Marus shakily points his sword at us. "I-if you surrender now, you'll get a slightly less painful death!" I laugh and turn to the red-haired man.
"I don't feel like surrendering. What about you?" He shakes his head. "No, I'm not in the mood. Let's finish them." I nod. "Absolutely. But don't kill the captain. He's mine, got it?"
"Got it. I'll take care of the others, then." He leaps at the other soldiers while Captain Marus slowly walks over to me. I put away my crossbow and draw my other dagger.
"It's time to die, you Solarian scum!" I charge at Marus and I slash but he quickly blocks. He swings at me and I swiftly roll to the side.
Seizing my chance, I immediately stab him in the ankle with a dagger and he stumbles. I quickly stand up and slash his sword hand to make him drop his sword.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice that the red-haired man and the wolf are done with their soldiers and are watching me fight.
I kick his sword away and sheath a dagger to draw my crossbow. "I'm sure you won't be telling your fellow soldiers about THIS one." I shoot Captain Marus directly in the head and he falls over, dead.
The man walks over, slowly clapping. "You did pretty good. You must be pretty dangerous to be wanted by Yuri himself. Who are you?"
I narrow my eyes at him. "Why are you assuming that?" "Solarian soldiers wouldn't put that much effort into capturing a common thief."
I smirk and mockingly bow. "I'm not just any thief! Shana Shaddori, The Azure Thief, at your service!" The man gives me an unimpressed look. "As you can probably guess, I'm Brutus Crescent, The Blazing Scourge. I think this is yours."
Brutus tosses me a coin. I take a closer look and I notice the image of a tornado on both sides, the symbol of Lord Ventus. "I've been trying to find this! Thanks for all the help, Mister Croissant!"
Brutus gives me a look that's half annoyed, half confused. "What in the realms did you just call me?" I giggle. "Mister Croissant! I like to give people nicknames whether they want them or not, so get used to it!"
Brutus rolls his eyes. "Fine." He starts to walk away, but I run up to him and grab his shoulder. "Wait! I want to repay you for helping me today."
Brutus turns to look at me. "With what?" I smirk and move a little closer. "How about a date?" Brutus steps away. "No thanks. I'd rather have something more useful. You're a spy as well as a thief, right?"
"Yeah. Why?" "I'd like you to spy on the Solarian army and tell me their movements." I frown and I think. "Hmm...I don't know. It's a dangerous job."
"I'll pay you." Brutus pulls a hidden pouch of coins out of nowhere and throws it to me. I open it and see a nice little pile in the bag. "And don't worry, there's more where that came from."
I grin as I close the pouch and attach it to my belt. "Alright, now we're talking!" I hold out my hand and Brutus smiles as he shakes it. "Pleasure doing business with you, Shana."
I nod. "Same here. Meet me in this district in about four days and I'll have some information for you, okay?" "Got it." Brutus and the wolf walk away.
I smile as I toss my coin in the air and catch it repeatedly while I walk in the other direction. "I can tell this'll be a rewarding new relationship!"
I put my coin away and I cast a speed spell on myself. I sprint through the streets of Lazarus, keeping to the shadows while aiming for the nearest exit.
I burst into the forest outside Lazarus and I stretch. "Alright, time to get to work and earn even more of these coins!" After I stretch, I cast another speed spell and with my new burst of energy, I immediately start speeding through the trees, excited to start my next adventure.