After a few moments of navigating the crowded streets, we slipped into a quiet alley. As I looked around, I spotted a scene that made my blood boil: five men were beating up a kid who looked no older than us. My instincts kicked in, and I quickly said to Astor, "We're going to take them down and take their money, okay?"
Astor's eyes flashed with determination. "You don't need to do anything; I got this!"
I watched as he charged at them, casting Flame Whip and hitting three of them in the legs. They tumbled to the ground in pain, not even realizing we were there. Before the remaining two could react, Astor launched a fireball at one of their faces and punched the other with all his strength. I smirked as the first one crumpled unconscious and the second fell back, stunned.
I joined the fray, swiftly taking out the remaining three with precise neck chops. The entire skirmish lasted barely a few minutes. I rifled through their pockets and signalled to Astor: "We found two Silver Lira and 17 Copper Orin. Let's give one Silver Lira to the kid and tell him to run."
Astor nodded, and we approached the terrified boy. I handed him the coin, saying, "Go! Just run!"
He took off down the alley like a bolt of lightning, disappearing into the shadows. We were left with one Silver Lira and 17 Copper Orin, and I felt a rush of exhilaration at our little victory.
When we returned to the market, we decided it was time to eat. Astor's eyes sparkled as he looked at the various food stalls. We ended up at a bar, and to my dismay, Astor insisted on trying some alcohol. "Come on, Nyx! Just a taste!"
I sighed, knowing I couldn't dissuade him when he was like this. As we entered, heads turned, and I felt a little self-conscious. We slid onto the barstools, and the bartender approached us. "What can I get you, sirs?"
Astor piped up, "The best beer you have!"
I shot him a warning look, but the bartender raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. He poured us two glasses and placed them in front of us. "Esteemed sirs, this is Stormbrew."
I took a sip. The rich, dark ale had a smoky flavour, and while it was enjoyable, it felt a bit too bitter for my childish taste. I glanced at Astor, who was eagerly drinking his. "Don't drink too much," I cautioned him in a low voice. "Just one glass is enough. We can't afford to get drunk."
He nodded, but I could see the excitement in his eyes. After finishing our drinks, we settled up with the bartender and left the bar.
Wandering the streets, I was surprised to spot a stall selling something called Frostcream. It wasn't exactly ice cream in the traditional sense, just cold cream sandwiched between two crunchy biscuits, but I couldn't resist. After all, it had been ages since I had anything like it.
I savoured every bite. There was nothing like Frostcream! In the mansion, desserts were scarce and always carefully monitored, but this felt like a secret delight. I indulged in five of them, while Astor, ever the glutton, devoured twelve. I couldn't help but laugh at his antics.
As the night wore on, we realized it was well past midnight. Our fun had to come to an end. I glanced at Astor, whose cheeks were slightly flushed from the Frostcream and drinks. "Alright, monkey, time to head back. We don't want to get caught."
With the thrill of our nighttime escapade lingering in the air, we made our way back, weaving through the streets and back towards the mansion.
As we made our way back to the mansion, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything had gone too smoothly. Maybe it was just my overthinking again, but I stayed alert, scanning the area for guards as we climbed back to the balcony. I used the sturdy pillar beside it for support, making my way up carefully.
Astor was faster, scaling the balcony first. I couldn't see what he was doing, so I kept my focus on the ground, trying to gauge if the coast was clear. Suddenly, I bumped into him. "Why are you standing still, you monk—"
I cut myself off as I finally looked up and saw our grandfather sitting in the corner of the balcony, relaxed and watching us with an amused smile. He looked comfortable, like he had been expecting us all along.
"How was the adventure?" he asked, his voice calm and teasing.
My heart raced for a moment as I realized he had known we were sneaking out the whole time. I shot a quick glance at Astor, who seemed a mix of embarrassed and thrilled. Our grandfather had waited for us, no doubt wanting to catch us in the act and enjoy our youthful rebellion.
I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure. "It was… enlightening," I replied, trying to sound casual, though my pulse was still racing.
Grandfather chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "You boys are clever, but remember, sneaking out comes with its risks. What have you learned tonight?"
Astor chimed in, grinning widely, "We learned that Frostcream is the best! And we fought off some bullies!"
I shot him a look, half amused and half annoyed. "Astor, not everything needs to be shared."
Our grandfather raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Bullies, you say? Tell me more."
Realizing that our adventure might be the source of a good story, I started to recount our escapade, omitting the more reckless details but emphasizing how we had helped the boy. Grandfather listened intently, nodding along as I spoke, clearly enjoying our tale.
As I finished, he leaned back in his chair, the moonlight casting gentle shadows across his face. "You've both done well tonight. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility. The world is full of wonders and dangers, and it's up to you to navigate them wisely."
As we settled into a more comfortable atmosphere, our grandfather spoke again, his voice warm. "Now, let's keep this little adventure between us for now. I wouldn't want your mother to worry."
Astor and I exchanged mischievous glances, our secret safely tucked away for another day.