The two men sneered at Carter, their laughter echoing ominously through the narrow alleyway. "What's this?" one of them mocked, nudging his companion. "Some hero come to save the day?"
The other man chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Ivy perched on Carter's shoulder. "Well, well," he said, his grin widening into something sinister. "Would you look at that? A Verdant Fox. Do you have any idea how much that thing's worth?"
Carter's expression hardened, and Ivy let out a low growl, her fur bristling with hostility. "You're not touching her," Carter said firmly, stepping forward. "Let the girl go, and no one has to get hurt."
The first man laughed again, shaking his head. "You really think you can tell us what to do, kid? Here's what's going to happen: we're going to take the girl and the fox, and you're going to walk away before you get yourself hurt."
The little girl whimpered, tears streaming down her face as she hugged herself tightly. "Please, help me," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Carter clenched his fists, his mind racing. "I'm not walking away," he said, his tone resolute. "You don't scare me."
The men exchanged amused glances before slowly advancing toward Carter. "Suit yourself," the second man said, cracking his knuckles. "But don't say we didn't warn you."
Carter took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "Alright, you asked for it," he muttered, raising his hand. "Skill: Fungal Spores."
A glowing magic circle appeared beneath Carter's feet, and a burst of shimmering spores erupted into the air, carried by an invisible breeze toward the two men. They recoiled slightly, coughing as the spores surrounded them.
"What the hell is this?" one of them growled, waving his hands in an attempt to clear the air. "It stinks!"
The other man stumbled, his movements growing sluggish. "I... I feel weird," he slurred, his eyes widening in alarm as the spores began to take effect. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his body trembling.
The first man struggled to stay upright, but his strength quickly waned. "What did you do to us?" he demanded, his voice cracking as he fell to his knees. "You bastard!"
Carter didn't answer, his focus on maintaining the spell. Ivy stood protectively in front of him, growling at the incapacitated men. "I warned you," Carter said coldly. "This is what happens when you prey on the innocent."
The two men writhed on the ground, groaning as the spores rendered them unable to fight back. The little girl watched in awe, her fear slowly giving way to relief as she realized the danger was subsiding.
Carter stepped forward, his expression softening as he knelt down in front of the girl. "Hey," he said gently, offering her a reassuring smile. "It's okay now. You're safe."
The girl hesitated for a moment before nodding, tears still glistening in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Carter stood, glancing back at the two men who were now completely immobilized. "Let's get you out of here," he said, extending a hand to the girl. "Ivy and I will make sure you're safe."
The little girl took his hand, and the three of them began to leave the alley, the eerie glow of the spores fading behind them. Carter's heart raced, but he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. For now, he had made a difference.
Carter and Ivy walked out of the alleyway, the little girl's small hand firmly clasped in Carter's. They moved quickly, putting as much distance as they could between themselves and the unsettling scene they had just left behind. After a few minutes, Carter slowed their pace and stopped in a quiet area near a small fountain, the sound of trickling water providing a calming backdrop.
Carter knelt down to the girl's level, his expression gentle. "Alright," he said softly, "how are you feeling? Are you hurt?"
The girl wiped at her eyes and shook her head. "I... I'm okay," she whispered, her voice still shaky.
Carter offered her a warm smile. "Good. That's a relief. My name's Carter, and this little one here," he said, gesturing to the fox perched on his shoulder, "is Ivy."
Ivy chirped and wagged her tail, her bright eyes studying the girl curiously. The girl managed a small smile. "I'm Lily," she said quietly. "Thank you for helping me."
"It's nice to meet you, Lily," Carter replied. "Do you want to tell me what happened? How did you end up in that situation?"
Lily hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I was... I was just trying to find something to eat," she admitted. "I don't have any family, so I've been on my own for a while. Those men found me in the market and... and said they were going to sell me."
Carter's heart clenched as he listened to her story. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that," he said sincerely. "You're really brave for holding on until help came."
Lily glanced up at him, her eyes wide. "I didn't know what to do," she said. "But then you showed up, and... and Ivy too. She's so cute."
At that, Ivy chirped happily and leapt onto Lily's shoulder, nuzzling her cheek. Lily giggled, a sound that brought a smile to Carter's face. "Looks like Ivy likes you," he said. "That means you're pretty special."
Lily's laughter faded slightly, and she looked at him with a hint of sadness. "I don't have anyone," she said softly. "No family, no friends. It's just me."
Carter's smile didn't falter. "Well, you're not alone now," he said firmly. "And as long as Ivy and I are around, you won't have to be."
Lily's eyes filled with gratitude, and she hugged Ivy, who purred contentedly. Carter stood, his expression thoughtful. "Alright, let's see if we can figure out how to help you. Skill: Appraisal."
A glowing magic circle appeared in front of Carter, and a screen materialized, displaying Lily's status.
Name: Lily
Age: 9
Species: Human
Health Points (HP): 60
Magic Points (MP): 20
Strength: 5
Agility: 8
Intelligence: 10
Charisma: 12
Luck: 7
Normal Skills:
Quick Learner: Learns new concepts and skills faster than average.
Agility Boost: Naturally adept at moving quickly and evading danger.
Crafting (Basic): Basic knowledge of crafting simple tools and items.
Magic Skills:
Minor Light Magic: Can produce a small, comforting light that eases fear and calms emotions.
Unique Traits:
Empathic Connection: Can sense the emotions of nearby people and animals.
Carter studied the screen, his eyes lighting up with surprise. "You're full of potential, Lily," he said, smiling down at her. "You've got some pretty amazing abilities."
Lily tilted her head, confused. "Abilities? What do you mean?"
Carter chuckled, closing the screen. "Don't worry about it for now. Let's focus on getting you somewhere safe. Ivy and I will take care of you."
Lily smiled tentatively, a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she clung to Ivy. Together, the three of them prepared to figure out their next steps in the bustling city ahead.
Carter, Ivy, and Lily made their way through the bustling city streets, the hum of lively chatter and the aroma of street food surrounding them. Carter glanced down at Lily, who was clutching Ivy gently in her arms. "So, Lily," he began, his tone friendly, "tell me more about yourself. What kind of things do you like?"
Lily looked up at him, her eyes wide with curiosity. "I don't know," she said softly. "I've always just tried to get by... but I like animals, and I guess I like making things when I can."
Carter nodded, smiling. "Well, Ivy seems to like you a lot, so you must be good with animals. That's a great start."
As they walked, the scent of sizzling food wafted through the air, and Carter's stomach rumbled audibly. Ivy chirped, looking toward a nearby vendor. "Alright, alright," Carter said with a laugh. "Let's get something to eat."
The trio approached a food stall where a vendor was grilling skewers of meat and vegetables. The vendor greeted them warmly. "What can I get for you today?"
Carter ordered a few skewers for each of them and handed Lily one as they found a nearby bench to sit on. The three of them sat down, Ivy perched comfortably on Carter's lap, while Lily eagerly took a bite of her skewer.
"This is amazing!" Lily exclaimed, her face lighting up as she savored the flavors. "I've never had food this good before."
Carter grinned, taking a dramatic bite of his own skewer. "Right? It's like the perfect blend of smoky and savory. Definitely hits the spot."
Ivy chirped happily, nibbling on a small piece Carter had set aside for her. They continued eating, sharing laughter and comments about the delicious food. After finishing their meal, Carter leaned back on the bench, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Well, that was worth every coin."
Lily nodded, her smile warm. "Thank you, Carter. That was really nice."
"Anytime," Carter replied. "Now, we've got a potion shop to get to."
As they resumed walking, Lily glanced up at him. "What's at the potion shop?"
Carter's expression shifted to a dreamy smile. "The potion shop is run by someone amazing. Her name's Aria. She's smart, kind, and probably the best alchemist I've ever met."
Lily giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You like her, don't you?"
Carter's face turned a faint shade of red. "W-what? No! I mean, yes, but not like that! She's just... inspiring, that's all."
Lily smirked teasingly. "Sure, Carter. Whatever you say."
Before he could respond, the familiar sign of The Alchemist's Nook came into view. "Here we are," Carter said, relieved to change the subject. He pushed open the door, the small bell above chiming softly.
"Hello, Aria!" Carter called, stepping inside with Lily close behind.
Lily gasped as she took in the shop's interior. Shelves lined the walls, filled with bottles of glowing liquids, pouches of herbs, and strange trinkets. "Wow," she whispered. "This place is amazing."
From behind one of the shelves, a familiar voice called out. "Well, look who it is—Carter and Ivy."
Carter and Lily turned to see Aria emerge from the back of the shop, her long black hair shining under the soft lighting. She wore her usual warm smile as she approached. "And who's this?" she asked, her gaze shifting to Lily, who was hiding slightly behind Carter.
Carter stepped aside gently, placing a hand on Lily's shoulder. "This is Lily. We met her earlier, and, well, let's just say she's had a rough time."
Aria crouched slightly to meet Lily's eye level, her smile kind. "It's nice to meet you, Lily. I'm Aria, and this is my shop. You're welcome here anytime."
Lily hesitated before returning the smile. "Thank you," she said softly, her grip on Ivy loosening as she started to feel more at ease.
Aria straightened up and glanced at Carter. "So, what brings you here today? Showing off those potions you've been working on?"
Carter grinned sheepishly. "You know me too well. I figured I'd see what you think."
Aria chuckled. "Alright then, let's see what you've got."