Car Thieves

Bryson and Lila headed their way back to the Snowfield manor, making their way to the main lounge they found it to be occupied. A few other nobles seemed to still be conversing with one another, ready to leave soon. A few servants were also dotted about waiting hand and foot in case someone needed anything.

In the middle of the lounge, Bryson spotted Earl Ranalignum taking a long drink from his glass of bourbon. Marquess Snowfield sat next to him trying and evidently failing to council his friend.

Emptying his glass, he looked no better and beckoned the servant next to him to refill his glass nearly to the brim. Marquess Snowfield motioned for the servant to leave the bottle there. It did not seem that the Earl was taking the theft very well, but Snowfield stood there to support them.

*How far the apple has fallen.* Bryson thought as he doubted that Frans would ever care about someone else's problems if they didn't relate to his.

"It will be fine Hal." Marquess Snowfield said trying to calm down his friend.

"No it won't be Alve! That was a custom-made vintage Specter 52nd with a new paint job. It is quite literally one of a kind and now a bunch of vagabonds have it! Those idiots probably destroyed it already!" Earl Ranalignum wailed.

Marquess Snowfield looked awkwardly to the side in response and saw Bryson approaching them, "Ah, young Lord Coldwater what are you still doing here?"

"I want to discuss the incident from earlier with Earl Ranalignum." Bryson said before glancing over to a quickly getting drunk Earl, "About the car."

"What do you want?" Earl Ranalignum asked sounding wounded.

"Uh." Bryson paused for a moment, taken slightly aback over just how defeated this adult looked before him, "If you would want, I can aid you in your search."

"That is very kind of you. But I'm sure that Earl Ranalignum has it handled." Marquess Snowfield said.

"I understand that Earl Ranalignum has the capabilities. I am simply offering some additional resources to aid in the retrieval of your missing vehicle." Bryson said politely.

"How confident are that you can find the vehicle?" Earl Ranalignum asked narrowing his eyes at Bryson. Perhaps due to the booze, but he was taking Bryson seriously.

"My confidence depends on the information you give me." Bryson said meeting his gaze.

"What information do you need?" He asked in between sips.

"What type of engine?"

"A gasoline and mana-based hybrid."

"Was the car enchanted?"

"Of course. Mana-powered headlights, reinforced paint, heated seat, everything." Earl Ranalignum said practically boasting, "Aside from security apparently." He said dejectedly as he gulped down his drink.

"Hmm. Any idea who stole the car?"

"Two maggots that somehow got past security."

"Any idea how?"

"No idea, got access to the parking lot and somehow broke into the car. Didn't even activate the alarm. Wasted my money on it all." He muttered gloomily.

As Bryson listened another servant approached them, "Sir, the police are here awaiting your statement."

"Well, I apologize for ending this conversation early Lord Bryson, but I have to try to get my car back." Earl Ranalignum said getting up, staggering a bit as the booze seemed to have hit him and he walked out to meet the awaiting officer.

"Are you going to ask Duke Coldwater to help?" Marquess Snowfield asked.

"Something like that." Bryson said as he left the manor himself. As he walked out the door, he ran into Frans Snowfield.

"What are you still doing here?" Frans sneered.

"Doing business." Bryson said coolly back.

"What business would you have?" Frans scoffed.

"None of yours." Bryson said as he strode out of the door with Lila Frost in tow.

***

"I still can't believe you actually got a license." Bryson said sitting in the back of the car while Lila drove.

"That's pretty rude." She mentioned as she stopped at a red light and signalled a left turn.

"I'm not insulting your intelligence; I know you're smart enough to remember the basic laws of the road." Bryson said.

"Gee thanks. What a compliment." She said looking up at the rearview middle to look at Bryson.

"I'm just saying that you don't need to get your own car. The buses and trains work fine and you get driven wherever you want while working." Bryson said.

"Well, I like the freedom and ability to." Lila shrugged as the light turned green and she made the turn.

"I suppose that's understandable." Bryson said looking out the car window.

"Besides, I now have the money to purchase a car, why wouldn't I? Makes things convenient."

"You could always just use one family cars, like this one. It's more expensive than what you got." Bryson said remembering Lila driving to work for the first time. The car was in good condition but was clearly an older model and bought second-hand.

 "Yeah, but it wouldn't be mine. I like the idea of having ownership of my personal things." Lila said as they drove on a new street.

"Park the car here." Bryson ordered.

Lila proceeded to park the car at the side of the road and upon shutting the car engine Bryson exited out and onto the sidewalk.

"So what are we doing here?" Lila asked also exiting out the car.

"Testing out a theory." Bryson said looking around the area.

"Would you like to explain that theory to me Mr. Detective?"

"Hmm." Bryson gave an unimpressed grunt, "Marquess Snowfield had some of his guards chase after the thieves but to no avail. It's like they disappeared."

"What they went invisible or something?"

"Maybe. But at the speed they were driving there should be at least some clue as to where they went." Bryson pointed out.

"It did look like they were going to crash the thing when driving." Lila recalled.

"Considering I haven't heard any police sirens chasing a vehicle, I don't think the car travelled far. They drove like a maniac likely trying to throw us off." Bryson said as he began walking down the street, staring at the buildings.

"So they hid it somewhere around here?" Lila asked as she locked the car and followed him.

"Maybe they went a bit further, but yes somewhere near." Bryson said as he continued to glance around trying to find any hint as to where the car may be.

"Shouldn't you be telling the cops this? Despite having magic and being the son of the most powerful man on the continent, it's still dangerous."

"The cops will figure it out pretty quickly, it won't be hard to realize the inconsistencies. The only thing I have an advantage over them is that I was there when it happened." Bryson said as he headed into an alleyway.

"What about you're safety?"

"What are you, my mom?" Bryson asked glancing back at her.

"You are my responsibility. They did manage to jack a car in the middle of the day in the middle of a party full of rich nobles." She pointed out.

"No need to concern yourself, these aren't the super thieves. Likely no more physically capable than you." Bryson assured her.

"What makes you say that?"

"Didn't sense any notable flux of mana in either of the thieves."

"You saw them?"

"They did drive by where I was standing." Bryson mentioned as he walked out of the alleyway after finding nothing and headed towards another.

"So how do two normal people succeed in stealing a car like that?"

"I think that they got help from one of the valets."

"Really?" She said surprised, "Someone would risk their job like that?"

"Well apparently it's a very nice car. Which should've activated an alarm unless a key was used."

"Couldn't they have used some special tool?"

"They could, but something like that would cost a small fortune and be very hard to hide. A bit much for just carjacking. What's the point of stealing something expensive to sell if you have to spend a bunch of money to do so?" Bryson said.

"Huh." Lila thought for a moment before asking, "What if this is some sort of special underground criminal group doing this just for the kick of it?"

Bryson stopped in his tracks and looked at Lila and blinked a couple of times before saying, "As unlikely as that would be… with my luck, you might be right." Bryson paused and thought for a moment, "I'm just going hope that you're wrong."

Lila could only chuckle to herself with that, "It's pretty smart that you managed to figure out all of this."

"Unlike you Frost, I am currently forced to attend stupid meetings, take worthless classes, and do dumb chores. I am desperate to figure out a way to get out of this and am using everything I have to solve this." Bryson said as he entered a new alley.

Turning to look around the first thing he spotted was a body on the floor. Bryson blinked in surprise and looked down at the body. Their back was turned to him, and they laid up against the wall with a tattered plastic bag over them. Dirty matted of what was once white hair was partially stuck to their back.

However, what took Bryson's attention was the magic she was emitting out. It wasn't that of magic akin to a spellcaster like Bryson, it was more similar to that of the royal guards or Florence or Lottie. Raw, more volatile, and harder to manipulate magic. The type that gave superhuman abilities to those who know how to use it.

Though unlike those Bryson have perceived before it appeared that this magic within her seemed static, inert. It was power that was still locked within her. Though how much power there was Bryson had no idea, in its current state it was an unmeasurable amount.

"What in the world?" He said aloud.

"What is it?" Lila asked looking over to what Bryson was staring at and saw the figure on the floor, "Oh poor thing." She said eyes softening.

"They're like your sister."

"What?" Lila asked confused.

"Lots of power. Capable of being very strong."

"Why would someone like that be in the alleyway? Are they even alive?" Lila asked.

"I don't know." Bryson said answering both questions before approaching the prone figure.

As he got closer, he could see the subtle indication that they were breathing. When he was a few steps away he leaned over and asked, "You alive?"

"Mmm?" The body groaned a reply and the body turned itself over to Bryson. A young girl's face covered in grime looked up at him with pale blue eyes laced in a mixture of confusion and fear.

"Well, at least you're not dead." Bryson said putting his hands into his pockets.

"O-oh! S-sorry, I'll leave." She said weakly and began to try to rise up as quickly as possible.

"I didn't ask you to leave." Bryson said.

"I'm sorry I didn't know." She mumbled, half to herself.

"Know what?" Bryson asked as he watched her get up on shaky legs.

"I didn't mean to loiter." She said as she began to walk away using the wall to support her up.

"Stop." Bryson ordered. The girl froze immediately and Bryson gave a beleaguered sigh, "What are you doing?"

"L-leaving." She said her voice shook.

"I didn't even ask you to. I don't think anyone will." Bryson said, "What are you even doing here."

"I was just sleeping." She said weakly.

"Why are you by yourself? Shouldn't you be at least in some orphanage?"

"I was kicked out." She said quietly.

"Kicked out, how do you get kicked out of an orphanage?" Bryson scoffed.

"I was guilty." She whispered, barely audible.

"What?"

"Sorry, to bother you." She said backing away.

"Stop." Bryson ordered again.

Again she stopped, it looked as if she was shaking. Bryson guessed that it was likely due to fear of him. That did not sit well with him.

"Did- ugh, did you see a fancy car driving quickly around here?" Bryson asked awkwardly.

"No…" The girl said quietly, practically cowering from him.

*Ah, she doesn't know anything about this.* Bryson thought. *If I want to catch them, I need to hurry up my search.* Bryson thought as looked back towards the street, then to Lila who was looking at the girl wanting to help her.

*Right, she is about the same age as Lottie maybe a bit older. She probably reminds Lila of her.* Bryson thought looking back at the girl who stood there looking as though she would rather be anywhere but near Bryson right now. *I have to go and continue my search. But she really doesn't look great.* Bryson began to weigh the options in his head.

*I can't just leave her. But I'm running out of time… maybe just help her a bit.* Bryson decided, "Hey." He said and the girl immediately stiffened up.

"Y-yes?" She said nervously.

"Do you want something to eat?"

"W-what?" She asked unsure if she misheard her.

"Do you want some food?" Bryson said. *This is going to be a frustrating conversation isn't it?* Bryson thought.

The girl looked at him nervously, not fully trusting what she was hearing. Which Bryson could understand, but still was no less annoying for him.

"Pick some restaurant, or whatever place that sells food. I'll have Frost drive you there." Bryson said, trying to keep his voice neutral.

The girl still looked uncertain, but Bryson could see that the idea of a meal was enticing to her. Bryson decided to push her a little, "Make up your choice quickly before I leave." He said.

"A-alright." She said in response almost immediately. It seemed that her hunger won out in the end.

"Well then come on." Bryson said beckoning her to follow.

"Good job." Lila said giving Bryson a friendly tap on the shoulder and a small smile.

"Shut up Frost."