The market bustled with activity, people going about their daily business as usual. Alyssa weaved through the crowds, her eyes scanning for the perfect target.
She needed to steal two silver coins in one go, and finding someone who fit her criteria was proving harder than expected. She required a careless man, perhaps drunk or distracted, with a pouch or wallet full of coins.
She hadn't changed her appearance. She usually did when she wanted to steal so that if she was caught no one would recognize her but right now she didn't have the time for that. Changing her eye color took her nearly an hour sometimes and an hour was enough for… she shook the thought out of her head.
Every passing second heightened her anxiety about her mother's condition, and tears still lingered in her eyes. 'Mommy, please be fine,' she thought, her heart racing with urgency.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted nearby. "You stole it, you little lying bastard! Where is it?!" a man bellowed, his hand clenched around a boy's collar. The boy, likely between thirteen and fourteen years old, struggled to break free, but the man's grip was unyielding. A crowd began to form, drawn in by the altercation.
"What did he steal?" someone asked.
"I think it's a pouch or something," another person replied.
"Must be a lot of money if it's causing him to act that way."
"Damn thieves. Where are the imperial guards?"
The crowd's murmurs and accusations filled the air, but Alyssa's focus remained fixed on her mission. She continued to search for the perfect target, her desperation growing with every passing moment.
"What's going on here?" a voice boomed, and the crowd turned to face the speaker. Alyssa's heart skipped a beat as she saw a man in armor, accompanied by several others dressed similarly, walk into the scene. They wore shiny silver armor, like knights, with a green cape bearing the crest of the imperial guards - a black dragon with white flowers. Alyssa's heart skipped a beat, she never stole when the imperial guards were around.
The lead guard approached the man who had been accusing the boy. "What's going on?" he repeated. The man explained, "This boy stole my pouch. I don't know where he hid it. Arrest him, you little bastard! Give me back my pouch!"
The guard turned to the boy asking, "Did you take it?". The boy looked down, ashamed, and didn't answer. However, he produced the pouch from his sleeve, and the crowd began to murmur in disapproval. The man snatched his pouch back and counted the contents - three silver coins and a few bronze ones. Alyssa's eyes widened; that was her target.
The guard arrested the boy, asking if he had any parents, and the boy nodded. The guard patted his back and led him away, murmuring something about how he would make the boy's parents bail him out. Alyssa watched the guards leave, then turned her attention to the man who had been stolen from. She saw him tie the small pouch to his waist and pat it with a satisfied grin before walking away.
After a while, Alyssa followed the man, knowing she was taking a huge risk. But she had to do this for her mother. She was determined to avoid the imperial guards and help her mother, no matter what.
Alyssa trailed the man to the other end of the market, biding her time. He eventually stopped in front of a cabbage stall, engaging the vendor in a discussion about the price of a particular cabbage.
Alyssa saw her opportunity and moved closer, feigning nonchalance. As she passed the man, she pretended to stumble, grasping his pants to steady herself.
The man glared down at her, his expression annoyed. "You little brat, can't you walk properly...?" His voice trailed off, and his eyes widened slightly as he took in Alyssa's appearance. The girl was disarmingly cute, and for a moment, the man's anger faltered.
Alyssa stood up, hands behind her back, and apologized, "I'm sorry, uncle. I'll watch my steps from now on. I promise!"
The man scowled, "You should," and returned his attention to the cabbage seller. Alyssa hummed a reply and walked away slowly, secretly squeezing the pouch she had just stolen in her small hand behind her back.
Just as she thought she had gotten away with it, she felt a pat on her shoulder. Alyssa turned around to face an imperial guard, her heart skipping a beat. "Little miss, is that pouch yours?" he asked, his creepy grin making her skin crawl.
Her expression turned sour as she realized she had been caught. She hadn't even checked to see if anyone was looking. Alyssa's gaze darted to the man she had stolen from, who was now reaching for his pouch, only to find it gone. She gulped and looked back at the imperial guard, who was about to grab her shoulder when... *Crash!*
The cabbage stall suddenly crashed to the ground, sending cabbages rolling in all directions. The people in the market gasped in surprise, and the imperial guard turned to see what had happened, momentarily distracted from Alyssa. She seized the opportunity, turning and sprinting away as fast as her legs could carry her. Her heart raced faster than ever before.
Alyssa had used her magic to topple the stall, hoping no one was hurt. She heard the guard's yell, "Hey! Stop there!" followed by the sound of his footsteps as he gave chase. Alyssa didn't dare look back or stop; she kept running, her little legs pumping furiously.
She clutched the pouch tightly, weaving through the crowd, pushing aside women and men who blocked her path. The guard's voice grew closer, yelling, "Out of the way!" Alyssa spotted a barrel ahead and, as she ran past it, used her mind to knock it over, hoping to slow the guard down.
The barrel crashed to the ground, blocking the narrow passageway. It broke open, and a woman's anguished cry echoed through the market: "My eggs!" Alyssa felt a pang of guilt but shrugged it off. Who puts eggs in barrels, anyway? She glanced back and saw the guard trying to navigate around the woman, who was frantically gathering her scattered eggs.
Alyssa took advantage of the distraction and made a sharp turn, disappearing from the guard's sight.
After a while of running non stop, She slowed her pace, trying not to draw attention to herself as she walked hastily through the market. But her relief was short-lived, as she spotted two guards at the exit of the market, scanning the crowd. She quickly turned away, trying to blend in.
However, it seemed the first guard had given a good description of her, because soon she heard a guard yell, "Hey, little girl?" Alyssa took off in a sprint, weaving deeper into the market as the guards gave chase.
"Stop!" one of them shouted.
"Only an idiot would stop!" Alyssa retorted, ducking under a table and crawling away. She knew the guards wouldn't fit underneath.
Alyssa found herself inside a stall and quickly crawled under another table to the other side, passing a startled woman who was tending to her wares. She had to get away from the market; her mother's illness couldn't wait.
Alyssa heard the guards groan as they navigated around the massive stall. She made a beeline for the fabric section, where clothes hung from lines, blowing gently in the wind. She ran through the maze of fabrics, hoping to lose the guards in the labyrinthine rows. But they emerged from the fabric maze, still hot on her heels.
Alyssa took a sharp turn out of their sight and quickly hid under a nearby table, holding her breath as the stall owner remained oblivious to her presence. The tablecloth concealed her as she squeezed herself into the tight space. Her heart pounded furiously.
Footsteps approached, and Alyssa heard the guards confer. "Where did she go?" one asked.
"I don't know. She couldn't have gone far... she must be hiding," the second guard replied then spoke to someone else. "Hey, did you see a little girl with brunette hair run through here?"
"I think I saw her. I don't recall where she went, though. She was running, so I guess she ran off."
The guards concluded, "She couldn't have gone far then." Their footsteps receded as they walked away.
Alyssa waited, holding her breath, until she was sure they had left. Finally, she exhaled, relief washing over her. "Thank—" But before she could finish, a voice boomed,"Got you!"
Alyssa shrieked as a hand grasped her leg, dragging her out from under the table. She found herself face to face with one of the guards. She kicked his hand away, yelling, "Let go of me!" She managed to break free and stood up, ready to make a run for it, but collided with the silver armor of the second guard who seized her by the shoulders, his deep laughter echoing through the market.
The guard spun Alyssa around to face the first man, gloating, "Got her!" Alyssa struggled in his grip, trying to wriggle free. She would have bitten his hand if it weren't for his gloves. "Let go of me! Leave me alone!" she yelled, but he was too strong.
The first guard sneered, leaning in close to her face. "You little thing, you're really fast, aren't you?" Alyssa's anger boiled over, and she was on the verge of spitting on his face.
"There she is!" a male voice exclaimed, and Alyssa turned to see the man she had stolen from earlier approaching her, flanked by two additional guards. His face was twisted in anger. The first guard stepped back, and the man slapped her hard across the cheek. Alyssa felt a stinging pain as tears welled up in her eyes. She had expected punishment, but nothing could have prepared her for the intensity of that slap.
The man retrieved his pouch from her pocket and glared at her. "Stolen from twice in one day. I have such bad luck today." He shook his head, addressing the crowd, "Look at her. Such a little girl, already stealing."
The guard holding her said, "You should be ashamed of yourself." But Alyssa wasn't ashamed.
Alyssa saw the people gathered around, shaking their heads and murmuring in disapproval. But she felt no shame; she had done this for her mother, and that's all that mattered.
The lead guard appeared, asking, "Did you catch the thief?"
The guard holding her replied, "Yes, this is her."
The lead guard nodded. "We'll lock her up on bail, then."
Alyssa's tears flowed as she pleaded, "No, you can't lock me up! No!"
The lead guard glared at her. "Why can't I lock a criminal up?"
Alyssa sobbed, "I only stole it to save my mommy. She's sick, and the physician said he would only come help if I get him two coins." The man she had stolen from sneered, "What kind of lie is that?"
Alyssa yelled, "I'm not lying! Let me go! My mommy is dying. I don't want her to die. She's all I have. Please don't take me away from my mommy!"
The lead guard looked down at Alyssa, and for a moment, she thought she saw a glimmer of compassion. But before he could respond, the man she had stolen from intervened.
"No way! Are you contemplating letting her go? Thieves are locked up. It has always been that way," he roared.
The lead guard turned to him, "She is just a child, sir. I beg you to pardon her."
The man sneered, "So she can steal from someone else? Who knows how many people she's stolen from? She's just a small child now, but give her a few more years, and she'll turn into a robber."
The crowd murmured in agreement with the man, and Alyssa felt a surge of anger towards him. She pleaded, "I only stole from you to help my mommy, not to buy a snack or toy. My mommy is sick, and greedy, wicked people like you could never spare a change to help my mommy. If that physician agreed to come with less, I wouldn't have stolen. So please let me go!"
The man slapped her again, so hard that her head spun. "Shut up!" he barked harshly.
The lead guard intervened, "Sir, stop hitting the child!" His voice was firm, and his expression showed clear displeasure with the man's behavior.
"Little liar! I hope your mother really dies!" the man yelled, his face red with rage.
Alyssa's eyes flashed with anger. "My mommy won't die!" she exclaimed.
The man sneered, "You dare to speak back, little rat?!" and raised his hand to slap her again. But the lead guard caught his wrist and pushed him away.
"Enough! She's just a child. What if she isn't lying? I'll let her go," the lead guard said firmly.
The man protested, "But what if she steals again? I'm sure she's stolen before."
The lead guard turned to Alyssa, "You haven't stolen before, right?"
Alyssa hesitated, knowing that telling the truth would mean certain arrest. She closed her eyes briefly and shook her head, "No, I have never stolen before."
"Liar!" a little voice exclaimed, causing everyone to turn around. Alyssa's face fell immediately as she saw the boy she had encountered at the bean cake shop standing there, his eyes fixed accusingly on her.
The lead guard asked, "What did you say?"
The boy repeated, "She's lying. She's a thief. She stole from my papa's shop yesterday. She took a lot of bean cakes and stuffed them in her pockets."
The man sneered at the lead guard, "Do you see what I'm talking about?" he asked, triumphant.
The lead guard turned to the boy, his expression skeptical. "Are you sure she's the one who stole from your papa?" he asked.
The boy nodded confidently. "Yeah, I'm sure. She's wearing the exact same dress as yesterday." He eyed Alyssa's hair, likely wondering about the change in color, and her eyes, probably piecing together the disguise.
The lead guard turned back to Alyssa, who began to protest, "I didn't! He's lying or mistook me for someone else. I've never stolen once in my entire life, except today, and it's for my mommy. Please believe me—"
But before she could continue, the guard holding her dipped his hands into her pockets and pulled them out, revealing bean cake crumbs on his gloves. The crowd gasped in shock at the incriminating evidence.
Alyssa's eyes widened as she looked at the crumbs, then back at the lead guard, who shook his head. "Arrest her," he said, turning away.
"No! Wait! My mommy is really sick. I'm not lying this time. Please, you can't arrest me. No one would help her," Alyssa pleaded, but her words fell on deaf ears.
Before she knew it, her hands were tied behind her back, and she was being ushered into a cold, empty metal carriage. She continued to cry and beg, but her cries were ignored.
The female guard who pushed her in slammed the door shut with a loud clang, and Alyssa was left alone in the darkness. She begged through the metal bars, her voice hoarse from crying. "Please listen to me! My mommy is really dying. Please!"
But her pleas were met with silence. The carriage lurched forward, and Alyssa crumpled to the ground, overcome with despair and desperation.
*******
*A week later*
The gate of a small prison cell creaked open, and an imperial guard stepped inside. He scanned the faces of the little girls within, his gaze pausing on the youngest. "Hey, you there," he said, his foot nudging Alyssa slightly.
Alyssa didn't move, and the guard's expression darkened. "No one has come to bail you out, so we're letting you go," he growled, grabbing her arm and forcing her to stand. Alyssa pushed him away with surprising strength, and the guard's face twisted in anger.
"You little demon!" he snarled, landing a punch on her cheek. The iron-plated gloves of the imperial guard made the blow even more brutal, and Alyssa crumpled to the ground, tears streaming down her face.
Eventually, she was hauled to her feet and now she was walking in the streets of Basilisk, barefoot, hungry, and exhausted. But none of that mattered to her. What did matter was the warning the imperial guards had given her: if they caught her stealing again, she would be taken to another town as a slave to the king.
Alyssa walked slowly, her heart reassuring her that everything was alright. Yes, everything was definitely alright. She would go back home, and her mother would scold her for stealing and lying, but also envelop her in a warm hug, relieved that she was safe. Her mother would tell her how worried she had been for the past week, and Alyssa would listen, feeling a mix of guilt and gratitude.
As she walked, Alyssa wiped away her tears and gave herself a little mental pat on the back. "Everything is okay," she whispered, trying to convince herself that the ordeal was truly over.
*******
Alyssa could see her house now, its familiar shape a comforting sight. It was almost noon, and her mother would likely be cooking lunch. Probably a warm, savory porridge infused with wild herbs, filling the air with a delicious aroma. But as she drew closer, Alyssa noticed something odd - there was no scent of porridge wafting from the house. Maybe her mother had forgotten to cook?
"Mummy?" Alyssa called out, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
She reached the spot where Rosalie had been fainted when she left, but her mother was nowhere to be seen. Alyssa's mind rationalized it quickly - 'Of course she isn't here,' she thought. 'She wouldn't stay in the same spot for a week, would she?' Alyssa chuckled mentally, trying to reassure herself that everything was fine.
Alyssa moved to the back of the house, expecting to see her mother tending to a fire or stirring a pot. But there was nothing - no cooking, no signs of life. Maybe she hadn't cooked lunch after all? Alyssa walked around the house, calling out again, "Mommy?" But there was only silence.
She checked the bushes, thinking maybe Rosalie was gathering herbs for dinner, but there was no one there. The trees stood empty, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. Alyssa's heart began to beat faster as she approached the front door, which was slightly ajar. She pushed it open slowly, her eyes scanning the house.
Alyssa fell to her knees, her gaze fixed on the table and chair at the far end of the room. "No," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. She stumbled towards the gruesome sight, the stench hitting her like a wave, making her stomach churn. She covered her mouth, trying to hold back the vomit.
There, slumped in the chair, was her mother. Rosalie's head rested on the table, her writing hand still clutching a piece of charcoal. Her eyes were wide open, lifeless, and her body was decomposing. Alyssa saw the worms and bugs crawling on her mother's skin and felt a scream building in her throat.
"No, no, no. That's not Mommy. That's not her," Alyssa denied, shaking her head, but deep down, she knew the truth. She knew her mother, and this corpse was undeniably her.
Alyssa moved closer, embracing the body without hesitation, and collapsed to the floor, holding her mother tight. She cried uncontrollably, her heart shattered into a million pieces. The sound of rats scurrying away from her mother's body only made her cry harder.
Alyssa cried and cried, hugging her mother tightly. If only she hadn't stolen. If only she had found another physician or begged that man harder.
She tormented herself with what-ifs. Even if no one had come with her, she could have still helped her mother, brewed a soothing herbal tea, and made her feel better. But now, it was too late. Why did my mother have to die like this?Why are rats and bugs feeding on her body? Why did she have to suffer such a cruel fate?
Alyssa cried and cried for a long time, holding her mother in her small arms. "I'm sorry, Mommy. Mommy, I'm really sorry. Please come back. Don't leave me. I don't have anyone else..." Her tears soaked her mother's lifeless body as she hugged her tightly.
Eventually, Alyssa's sobs subsided, and she simply held the corpse, unable to let go. Finally, she released her grip and approached the table where her mother's head had rested. A blood-stained piece of paper caught her attention. Though she couldn't read, she knew it was a letter from her mother to her.
The thought of her mother struggling to write this letter, possibly dragging herself from outside to inside, just to leave a message for Alyssa, was too much to bear. Alyssa broke down again, falling to the floor, hugging her knees, and gazing at her mother's lifeless body. The letter, a poignant reminder of her mother's love, seemed to pierce her heart with fresh grief.
*******
*A day later*
At noon the next day, Alyssa dropped the shovel she had been using to dig her mother's grave. The task was harder than expected, but her magic had helped her complete it in half a day. Though the grave wasn't exactly six feet deep, it was deep enough. She had used her magic to help drag her mother's body out of the house and into the grave.
Now, Alyssa knelt before the covered grave, her eyes closed as if in prayer. After a moment, she opened her eyes and gazed down at the grave. "Thank you for raising me, Mommy," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "You always said you didn't treat me like a princess should be treated, but I don't care about that. My world was complete with you. Thank you for raising me. I wish I could have done more for you."
Alyssa took a deep breath before continuing, "I won't lie, Mommy. I don't think I can ever stop stealing and lying. I know you wanted me to change, but I'm just being honest with myself. I have to do what I can to survive. I'm sorry I can't cook or clean like you."
Once again, she said, "Thank you for raising me. These seven years with you were enough to show me that you're an angel. Please go to heaven, Mommy, and I promise that one day you'll look down on me and smile, saying, 'Now that's my princess.'" Alyssa chuckled, "This time, I really promise."
She placed her hand on the ground, closed her eyes, and remained there for a moment. Then, she stood up and walked away, not looking back at her home or her only family. As she disappeared into the distance, a small white flower with a golden flower bloomed on her mother's grave.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent, a teenage boy stirred, his eyes fluttering open as he awakened from a deep slumber. But something was different. His eyes, once a normal shade, now shone with a striking golden hue, as if the very essence of the sun had been kindled within them. The boy's gaze was unfocused at first, but as he blinked, his eyes cleared, and he sat up, looking around in confusion. The golden eyes scanned his surroundings, taking in the familiar sights and sounds.
He suddenly smirked laying back down on the bed and looking at the ceiling.
"Finally woken up milord?" A voice of a man said.
"I feel like going back to sleep again" The boy said closing his golden eyes.
"I'll leave for now." The man said.
"Please do" The boy waved his hand dismissively. Soon enough the man was gone. The boy went back to sleep as if he hadn't been asleep for two years straight already.
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This chap was long and really hard to revise. It's more than 4000 words. Y'all better encourage me. If you like this book add it to your library. Join the journey! Get ready for a captivating tale of magic, adventure, and self-discovery.