The Little Thief and the Gryphon Knight

"Yikes!" The terrified little owl tumbled atop the tower spire, plummeting toward the ground below.

Mid-fall, she fluttered her wings to steady herself, her small head turning to find that the gryphon hadn't pursued but instead clutched the tower's pinnacle before landing gracefully upon it.

"That scared the feathers off me, it wasn't after me after all." The owl collected herself, eyeing the gryphon and its rider, a flicker of recognition dancing in her eyes.

Suddenly, the gryphon knight spoke up, "Treat the little ones kindly, Tethradis! Let's head down. The Grand Master must be informed by now."

At the rider's command, the gryphon spread its immaculate wings and ascended, joining the squadron of gryphons that had gathered, circling down toward the plaza in front of the Mage Tower.

Elyra followed cautiously, alighting on a nearby rooftop, she watched the gryphons land in a disciplined formation. The knight who had spoken dismounted and walked towards the magic users awaiting by the tower.

A white-robed, bearded Grand Master approached the knight, exchanged a formal salute, and then spoke with a voice both deep and commanding, "Welcome to the Mage Tower, Captain Andros."

Andros lifted his helmet's visor, revealing a smile, "Thank you, esteemed 'Seer' Constant, keeper of the Mage Tower. On behalf of the Holy Emperor Valerius II, I present our greetings."

"What brings the Knightly Order to the City of Light?" inquired Constant, his gaze sweeping over the disciplined knights standing behind Andros, his tone unfalteringly calm.

"Have you heard about the theft of the sacred Angel Statue, guarded by the merfolk?" Andros took a step closer, lowering his voice.

Constant's brows knitted together, "We have been made aware by the merfolk elders. We understand the Merfolk Sanctuary's Guardian has journeyed to the Duchy of Deiz to pursue the thief, but their whereabouts remain unclear."

"I encountered the beautiful Guardian by the border's fishing village. She was with the demon hunter Grayson, investigating the thief's trail, but we parted ways thereafter."

Andros' mind inadvertently drifted to that fleeting moment with Seraphine, her meaningful smile lingering before his eyes.

"Grayson?" The mention of the name gave Constant pause, his frown deepening, "The hunter wanted by the Sanctum for years? Why would he be involved?"

"Just because he can't help meddling in others' affairs!" Elyra, perched on the rooftop, muttered under her breath before spreading her wings and flying towards the prison tower.

She glided through a low window into the tower, resuming her little girl form dressed in a black feathered dress, and bounded up the stairs to a wooden door.

Pressing her ear against it, she could just make out the sound of snoring. "Listen to that odious noise, it must be some pockmarked, thick-lipped, ruddy-faced, stench-breathing lecherous uncle!" she murmured with disdain.

Despite her disparaging words, she silently opened the door and slipped inside like the soundless owl she was in flight, her human form just as stealthy.

A mage in a grey robe lay snoring in an armchair, a clay jar emanating the scent of alcohol caught her sharp senses.

"Figures, a gluttonous drunk!" she thought, closing the door behind her. The small room was tidy, with unpainted pine cabinets lining the walls.

Clad in tiny red dancing shoes, she tiptoed towards the sleeping mage. Despite the hardened heels clicking on the wooden floor, not a sound was made.

She peered over the slumbering figure, spotting the keys she needed.

"I'm a good girl, apart from stealing, pranking, snatching treats, and mocking others till they're red and white with rage, I never do anything bad!"

Muttering to herself, she reached for the keys, but the iron ring holding them was tightly attached to the mage's belt. After several tugs, they remained firmly in place.

On the third vigorous pull, the mage stirred, humming and sitting upright to look around. The room was empty, not even a ghost of a shadow present.

"Must've been dreaming," the mage mumbled, took another swig from the jar, pushed it aside, and collapsed back into slumber.

Elyra, now perched atop a cabinet, eyed him from the shadows. After a moment's contemplation, she leapt down and reverted to her little girl form, approaching him once more.

"Sleep tight, uncle, be a good boy," she whispered while opening her large, pretty eyes, casting a spellbinding gaze upon him.

She propped the mage up, loosened his belt, slipped off the key ring, then fastened the belt back and settled him once more onto the table.

Unaware under her enchanting gaze, he remained motionless during the entire ordeal.

"Gotcha!" she exclaimed, clutching the keys and heading to another door in the room, which led her into the prison.

The Mage Tower's cells were rarely used, so Elyra encountered no one as she hummed through the empty corridors, quickly arriving at Grayson's cell.

Transforming back into an owl, she flew into the cell and glared at the still-sleeping Grayson. Annoyed, she flung the keys at his face.

But just as the keys were about to hit, Grayson's hand shot up, snatching them from the air.

"Elyra, how many times must I tell you not to throw things! Hitting my face is one thing, but what if the keys broke? And even if they didn't, we must take care of public property!"

Grayson lectured as he rose from the bed, his face a mix of irritation and amusement. Unlocking the cell door, he stepped out and freed Morven, Seraphine, and Katheren from theirs.

"Now we're temporarily free, but they've taken all our belongings. I'm starting to miss my cigars. Come on, mates, we need to retrieve our gear!" he said, hooking the keys onto his belt and gesturing to the others.

"I suggest you don't just strut out there so boldly!" Elyra chirped from his shoulder, frowning.

Grayson glanced at the little creature, their eyes meeting, and he sensed something in her gaze. He paused, asking, "Out with it, little witch, what have you uncovered in this fortress of bearded elders?"

"I saw a whole flock of flying beasts!" Elyra recounted her harrowing escape from the griffin's talons to the group, causing Grayson's brows to knit together tighter.

Turning to Morven, Grayson said, "Gryphons are the empire's protectors, their banners and crests all carry the image of the gryphon. If these people have come on gryphons, there's only one thing they could be."

"The Wings of the Silver Dragon!" Morven asserted with confidence.

"So, the one who spoke was Captain Andros?" Seraphine's blue eyes brightened with hope as she addressed the pair, "This is good news. We've briefly met Captain Andros; perhaps he could help us clear up this misunderstanding with the mages."

"I'm not convinced that's a good idea!" To Seraphine's surprise, Grayson immediately objected, "In my view, there couldn't be a worse suggestion!"