Under the fluctuating purple hues of the bar's lights, the crystal hanging from Aderia's neck shimmered with an intoxicating glow.
Even if Aderia were to examine it under the most precise chromatograph, he might not be able to name the exact color it radiated.
As he stared into the crystal, Aderia felt himself being pulled back into the past.
Seventeen Years Ago.
Aderia had just crossed the threshold between life and death, arriving in the land of Iskandar.
He vividly remembered it as a rainy season, the air in the hospital thick with the damp scent unique to that time of year. What should have been a day of liberation, following nine long months of waiting, turned into a struggle for life as complications arose during childbirth.
In his hazy memory, he could still feel the warmth of a hand, trembling and cold from blood loss, gently brushing against his cheek. That same hand had given him the necklace he now wore, the only tangible memory of his mother in this world.
Before Aderia could grasp the new reality he was in, his father had abandoned him, leaving him on the steps of an orphanage the very day his vital signs were deemed stable.
As the years passed, Aderia began to dream sporadically of fragments from his previous life, until a few months ago, during his coming-of-age ceremony, all his past memories returned to him in full.
He harbored no resentment toward his parents. The orphanage staff had been kind, and through a mix of ability and luck, he had managed to survive and grow up. Now, he even had the opportunity to attend school—a privilege that many in Iskandar could only dream of.
The bar was nearing closing time, and the young man leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.
Ding-ling.
The bell above the bar door chimed softly as a customer entered. Dressed in a black coat and wearing a hat, the figure approached, the faint scent of tobacco preceding him.
Removing his hat, the customer hooked an arm around Aderia's shoulder and sat beside him.
His orange-red hair, adorned with three whisker-like markings on his face, and his light yellow, slit-pupiled eyes marked him as a male member of the Leopardfolk.
"Hey, Aderia, how's your day been?" he asked, his tone casual.
"Mr. Atrie! Did you just get off work?" Aderia replied, snapping out of his reverie.
Luna, having just emerged from the back, placed a small plate of fruit on the counter. "A rare visitor indeed, Atrie. What brings you here?"
"Hey, Luna! I'm on night duty with the Watchmen, so I was doing some undercover work nearby. Just got off and thought I'd drop in for a drink. How about you, Aderia? I heard you started school recently?"
"What can I say? It's tough fitting in with all the nobles around," Aderia sighed as Chris placed a freshly made martini in front of Atrie.
"Don't worry about them. If anything comes up, you can always come to me. Even in times like these, nobles won't get too out of hand,"
Atrie reassured, shaking his head slightly. The citrusy aroma of lemon from the martini seemed to lighten his mood as he pulled out a copy of the Watchman's Evening Report.
From where Aderia sat, he had a clear view of the back page, where Iskandar's daily wanted posters were prominently displayed.
"Suspect: Nickname: Simon(Extremely Dangerous), real name unknown (Class B).
Charges: Murder, possession of illegal weapons, collusion with demons.
A fugitive from the Kingdom of Desi.
Reward: Information leading to an arrest will be rewarded with an item of equal value to 100,000 Kriya Gold."
"Suspect: Phantom Thief, real name unknown (Class C).
Charges: Theft, breaking and entering, assault, multiple counts of burglary involving government and noble officials.
Reward: Information leading to an arrest will be rewarded with an item of equal value to 100,000 Kriya Gold."
"Suspect: Alice Cord, (Class C).
Charges: Burglary, murder.
Reward: Information leading to an arrest will be rewarded with an item of equal value to 50,000 Kriya Gold."
"Suspect: Richard Veil (Class C).
Reward: Information leading to an arrest will be rewarded with an item of equal value to 50,000 Kriya Gold."
And so on…
Living in this city is like being in a real-life game of 'Hide and Seek'—except the hiding spots are inside your own house, and you're just hoping the seekers don't find you... or your TV.
Aderia couldn't help but frown. The state of Iskandar's law enforcement was truly disheartening, and the rewards offered seemed pitifully low.
Risking one's life to report a dangerous criminal for the equivalent of a few days' worth of meals was hardly enticing. No wonder the city's crime rate kept rising.
"Hmm! This martini is fantastic. You've outdone yourself, Chris," Atrie praised, taking another sip.
With a light nod, Kris acknowledged the compliment, his neatly slicked-back golden undercut reflecting a glimmer of purple-gold under the dim bar lights.
Atrie, now thoroughly relaxed, leisurely perused the newspaper, skewering a few pieces of fruit with a toothpick and savoring them. For a middle-aged man, the simple pleasure of chatting with friends over a late-night drink was a small but cherished luxury.
'Has the Phantom Thief stolen nearly a billion by now?' Luna murmured as she peered over Atrie's shoulder at the headline on the front page.
'Who knows how that thief manages to escape every time—can you believe not a single clue has been found? What's even stranger is that every place the thief has hit has been found to be involved in major embezzlement or corruption.
The money's been dispersed among the poor, and we can do little about it. Seriously, who sends a notice before they steal?'
Atrie's tone was incredulous as he continued to read.
Aderia, despite his earlier skepticism about the meager bounty, couldn't help but be intrigued as he memorized the faces on the wanted posters.
It wouldn't hurt to try earning a few meals' worth of money, and he casually joined in the conversation about the Phantom Thief.
'Maybe this thief is really acting on our behalf. A few days ago, our orphanage received an anonymous donation.'
'You don't understand,' Atrie sighed. 'This is the beginning of societal unrest. If we can't stop this, Krya is going to fall apart.'
Luna opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, seemingly recalling something before swallowing her words. Instead, she shifted the topic smoothly, 'By the way, Aderia, didn't you mention you were planning to apply for the Watchmen? How's the preparation going?'
'I just registered a few days ago. Atrie's been helping me with the review,'
Aderia replied with a grin.
'I still don't get why you want to join the Watchmen. Given our country's situation, civil war is just a matter of time,' Luna said with a concerned look.
'Well, someone's got to do it, right?' Aderia chuckled, his carefree smile lighting up his face. Luna fell silent, watching his bright expression with a sigh, opting to say nothing more.
'Aderia, why don't you wrap things up and head home? You've got school tomorrow. I'll just tidy up the inventory,'
Luna suggested as she glanced around the now-empty bar.
'Got it, Luna. Thanks for the hard work!' Aderia replied, slipping on his brown down coat and humming a tune as he headed for the door.
His steps were much lighter than when he had arrived.
By now, it was well past two in the morning, and the violet-red moonlight bathed the earth in its gentle glow.
The occasional streetlight joined forces with the moon, casting a breathtakingly beautiful scene across the quiet city.
Aderia pulled his coat tighter around him, carefully avoiding the homeless sprawled along the pavement.
The crisp clack of his heavy boots echoed against the stone walkway as he made his way towards his apartment, which was about a fifteen-minute walk from the academy.
However, a sudden pang of hunger twisted in Aderia's stomach, reminding him that it had been nearly nine hours since his last meal.
Why not take a slight detour and grab a midnight snack? he pondered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
At this hour, it almost felt like the perfect time for something unexpected to happen—an adventure, perhaps. With Aderia's curious nature, how could he resist checking it out?
He recalled a fried chicken stand nestled within a convenience store on a street near his place, a spot famous for its late-night snacks.
The thought of their fried meatballs and chicken wings made his mouth water.
Aderia turned towards the alley where a half-constructed building had been left abandoned for two or three years.
The place was still frequented by homeless people, and Aderia, confident in his sense of direction, knew the convenience store was in that direction.
The store was only a few minutes from his apartment. If all went well, he could even pick up some bread for breakfast.
Aderia set off towards his midnight feast.
**********
The soft warmth of the heater under the large iron cart kept the fried skewers from getting cold. The subtle scent of meat, mixed with a hint of spices, was simply irresistible.
2:00 AM. Aderia had secured the fried skewers he had longed for.
'Thank you for your patronage. Have a wonderful night!'
the store clerk called out as Aderia exited.
'You too,' Aderia replied, the clerk's voice fading into the distance as he stepped out of the store.
One hand clutched a few slices of bread, while the other popped the last piece of fried chicken into his mouth.
He stuffed both hands into his coat pockets as he strolled down the deserted street, a gentle breeze making him appreciate the beauty of the night.
The path home was a wide, empty lane, with a small, open space at one end that served as a crossroads buffer.
To the left, the abandoned building still stood, showing no signs of completion.
The quiet was unusual.
On a typical night, the sound of the homeless rustling about would fill the air, but tonight, Aderia hadn't seen a single soul.
Yet, there had been people around when he first arrived at the bar. Did I really take that long to eat? he wondered. Could a new homeless shelter have opened nearby?
No matter—he had school tomorrow, so he'd better hurry home.
Out of the corner of his eye, Aderia caught a flash of red, seemingly coming from the abandoned building on his left.
He buried his hands deeper in his pockets and tightened his coat around him. The early morning in Iskandar was far from comfortable.
Rubbing his chin, Aderia let a slight smile curl at the corner of his mouth.