---
The next morning, Wukong found himself in deep trouble.
Not because of the guards. Not because of the nobles.
Because Lily looked pissed.
"You did what?!" she hissed, hands on her hips.
Wukong yawned. "Nothing much. Just borrowed some money from a noble."
Tian burst out laughing. "You robbed a noble?!"
"Borrowed," Wukong corrected. "He didn't need it."
Lily pinched the bridge of her nose. "You absolute idiot."
Wukong smirked. "I prefer 'genius.'"
Lily shot him a glare so sharp it could've cut steel. "Do you have any idea what happens if a commoner robs a noble?"
Wukong grinned. "Oh, I know."
Tian leaned forward. "So… how much did you 'borrow'?"
Wukong tossed a heavy pouch onto the table. It hit with a loud clink.
Lily's eyes widened. "That's—"
"Fifty gold coins," Wukong said, stretching lazily. "Enough to feed the whole slums for a month."
Tian's jaw dropped. "That's more than my entire family made in a year before we lost everything!"
Lily exhaled slowly. "You just put a target on your back."
Wukong shrugged. "Eh. Not my first time."
Lily sat down, rubbing her temples. "Alright. We need a plan. Fast. Because when a noble gets robbed, the whole city burns looking for the thief."
Tian grinned. "Worth it, though."
Wukong just smirked.
---
The Noble Who Lost Everything
Somewhere in a lavish mansion in the noble district, Lord Regan Vale was losing his mind.
"Find him!" he roared, kicking over a table. "Find the wretch who stole from me!"
A group of armored guards stood at attention, faces blank.
Regan's fists clenched. "He was a commoner. No noble, no magic. And yet he moved like a shadow. I barely saw him before my pouch was gone!"
The captain of the guards hesitated. "My lord, if he was able to steal from a noble, perhaps he is… not ordinary."
Regan's eyes darkened. "Then he shouldn't exist."
He turned to a robed figure in the corner. "Summon the Mage Hunters."
---
A Not-So-Friendly Visit
Later that night, as Wukong lounged on the roof of their hideout, Lily climbed up beside him.
"You're really not worried, are you?" she muttered.
Wukong glanced at her. "Should I be?"
Lily sighed. "The Mage Hunters are coming."
Wukong raised an eyebrow. "Mage what now?"
"They're killers," Lily said grimly. "Nobles use them to hunt down rogue mages—anyone who has magic but shouldn't. And guess what? You shouldn't."
Wukong smirked. "Sounds like fun."
Lily grabbed his collar. "This isn't a joke! If they catch you, they'll—"
She froze.
Because for a split second, she saw something in Wukong's eyes.
Not fear. Not arrogance.
Just pure, unshakable confidence.
She let go, sighing. "You're impossible."
Wukong grinned. "And you're starting to like me."
Lily scoffed. "Shut up, Monkey Boy."
Down below, Tian called up. "Uh… guys?"
They turned.
A group of masked figures had just entered the slums, their cloaks billowing in the wind.
And their eyes glowed with magic.
"The Mage Hunters are here," Lily whispered.
Wukong just cracked his knuckles.
Finally. Some real fun.
---
To Be continued...