Aedan had only just set down the weapon but the what on his thoughts pressing down on him immediately. He knew what he wanted to do, but the path forward was difficult. Being essentially a fugitive made resources scarce, and his seclusion in this quiet village left him isolated. There was an itch to start planning but without materials or allies he could truly trust, everything felt like a distant dream.
Just as his frustration started to simmer, the door burst open, snapping him from his thoughts.
"Whoa! You're awake! How are you doing?"
The voice was lively, with a bold confidence he wasn't expecting. A tall woman stepped into the room, her build slender but toned with a hint of muscle in her arms. Her brown hair fell just to her shoulders, framing a face that was both strong and pretty.
She wore a fitted vest that did little to hide her ample chest — a detail that Aedan couldn't help but notice. He felt his throat go dry and he involuntarily swallowing as his gaze flicked back up to her face.
"And... who are you?" he managed to find his voice and ask.
The woman grinned, her eyes gleaming with an energy that reminded him of Lira but with a mature edge.
"I'm Mara, Lira's older sister. I'm the one who found you half-dead out there and hauled you here."
"Oh!" Aedan pushed himself to his feet, wincing slightly at the ache in his leg. "Thanks, Mara. I owe you one."
Mara waved a dismissive hand, her grin only widening.
"No worries. You looked like you needed saving. And judging by that look on your face," she said, tilting her head as she looked him up and down, then at the weapon on the table. "you're already itching to do something risky. I know that look."
Aedan blinked, caught off-guard by her bluntness.
"I... suppose I am. There's something I need to figure out."
Mara crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. "Figuring things out, huh? Well, in that case, you're in the right place. My family knows a thing or two about staying under the radar."
Her words sparked a glimmer of hope in him. But what does she mean by that?
"What do you mean by that?" Aedan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mara's grin only grew wider.
"We're thieves," she said with a casual shrug. "We steal from nobles, the rich, the corrupt. You know, the fun folks," Her tone was light, as if she hadn't just revealed a secret that could get her family hanged.
Theft against nobility was punishable by death in Velaron, and yet she looked as unbothered as if she'd admitted to stealing an apple from a market stall.
However, if the nobles who stole from the poor, well, it will become different matter at all.
"Did you just… tell me you're a criminal?" Aedan asked, still trying to process her words.
"Yep!" Mara replied cheerfully. She didn't look the least bit worried as she pointed a finger at him. "Just like you."
Aedan blinked. Her statement hit a little closer to home than he expected. He thought back to the fight with Darian – a noble – and his friends who also nobles from lesser houses.
Then the blood on his robes. He wasn't much different from Mara and her family after all.
"Oh," Aedan said, a small, knowing smile crossing his face. "I suppose you're right."
Mara must have pieced things together when she found him bloody and clad in the academy's robes. He doubted she missed much, judging by the keen glint in her eyes.
"So," Mara said, stepping further into the room with an almost mischievous spark. "What do you need?" She looked as though she'd been waiting for this moment, her excitement almost contagious.
Aedan hesitated before gesturing toward the weapon on the table. "I need to figure this thing out," he said.
Mara nodded, her gaze focused on the weapon as she approached it.
"This is interesting indeed. It doesn't look like anything from around here… but," she paused, glancing back at him with a smirk, "that's what makes it exciting, right?"
Aedan chuckled, feeling the tension in him ease just a little. "You have no idea."
Aedan then pondered. Could he really trust this woman?
Mara, Lira, and their family were criminals by their own admission, but that very fact also made them different and the most suited with him. Unlike everyone else he'd encountered, they seemed genuinely interested in helping him — and right now, he didn't have the luxury of being picky.
Whatever secrets and risks surrounded them, they were, for the time being, his best option. He took a steadying breath and resolved to work with them.
"Where are your parents? I need to talk to them… introduce myself properly," Aedan said, trying to sound casual.
Mara burst out laughing. "What? Are you going to marry one of us?" she teased.
Aedan's cheeks flared red, and he fumbled for words, but none came. He looked away, his silence speaking volumes.
"I'm just joking." Mara waved it off, but her smile faded as she continued, "You can't meet them, though."
"Why not?" Aedan asked, confused.
"They're dead," Mara said, her tone suddenly cold and matter-of-fact.
"What?" Aedan whispered, his surprise breaking through.
"Hanged. By the nobles." A sharp, bitter glint flashed in her eyes, and for a moment, her expression hardened. But in an instant, her cheerful grin returned. "So, you don't need to introduce yourself to them."
"Uhm… yeah. I… suppose." Aedan said awkwardly, feeling the tension settle back in the room. He shifted, wanting to move on before that dark look returned.
"So!" Mara leaned forward with newfound energy. "Back to business. What do you need?"
"I'll need some supplies. I need an empty book to take notes, a pen, and…" He hesitated, knowing this last request might be unusual. "A tool that can transfer runes onto objects, a Rune-caster."
Mara raised an eyebrow. "A rune-caster?"
"Yes. Can you get it?" Aedan asked.
"A rune-caster. Based on my knowledge it's a device we use to imprint runes onto items. Basic runes can be done by hand, but a rune-caster makes it permanent. Perfect for weaponry or… rare devices," she added, eyeing the gun with fascination. "We've got a few around here. I'll find one for you."
Aedan felt a spark of relief, though he don't know how she can get a few of it in here. Its actually quite expensive.
With Mara's help, he might just be able to unlock the weapon's secrets.
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