Present Day: the Pirates and their Royal Target

It was a sunny afternoon. Cleon laid on the roof with his right leg bent, tossing an apple in the air and catching it. His midnight blue hair was tied in a bun on top of his head.

"What's taking so long? I want to hit the market before we leave." He whined, eyes on his apple.

Maia didn't look at him. She focused on the bustling street. The sun light reflected on the cream white pavement, forcing her to squint to see the people. The tips of her high ponytail touched the middle of her back. Her feet dangled off the edge.

"Hit it with the apple then," she replied. Cleon tsked at it. Maia's corner lip lifted up. She picked up a pistachio from her sack of nuts and flung it overhead.

It landed on Cleon's left eye. Luckily, he had grabbed his apple before it could fall on his chest.

"I'll go blind one day because of you." Cleon pressed a hand on the sore spot and sat up. He held up the apple at arm's length. It was the same size as Maia's head from where he sat. It was the same color as her hair too.

Cleon threw it in her direction—except the force he used was stronger than he intended. It was clearly going to hit her. Cleon's eyes widened. He stretched forward to stop the apple. At the same time, Maia had turned around. She saw him fall on his stomach with the apple back in his hand.

"Trying something, Cleon?" Maia mocked. Cleon looked up at the mischievous eyes on her face. He huffed and sat back up. He merely wanted it to land behind her and not at her.

When Cleon opened his mouth, their third companion spoke.

"They're coming." The low voice ruffled against a black mask. Coal-colored eyes watched a door open in a business street of the Teralyn Kingdom.

Maia and Cleon straightened, pulling up their hoods and masks. They eyed the lawyer's patio where their targets had joined them outside.

The buildings here were fashioned from timber. Each stood next to each other without any gap. The roofs were all ceramic red, and each building had either three or four floors. It was separated from the main market to easily accommodate offices and business transactions.

A deal had been struck in this particular building. An old man had stepped out, his two guards never more than two feet away from him. The Count skipped down the steps. His top hat wiggled as he bobbed his head. He had received a compromise on his taxes.

Two young men followed behind him. One had dark brown hair and a firm jaw. His back was always rigid. Judging by his clothes, he had a higher status compared to the Count despite his age.

The other person next to him had lighter brown hair. Its waves made it seem messy. His clothes were darker compared to his companion who wore a sky blue tailcoat and matching trousers made of silk underneath a white fur cape. This was the standard uniform for a military officer: waistcoat, breeches, stockings and boots. For this day, he had opted for a cape instead of his ample coat. It draped over one arm.

In that arm, he held a box. Inside of it rested a jewel the trio had been waiting for.

"Ugh, finally." Cleon grumbled, "Let's just take it and go."

"Don't be stupid."

Cleon pouted at their leader who was leaning against a chimney, arms and legs crossed. Dressed like the shadows, Raz exposed zero skin except to see. Unlike Cleon and Maia, their third companion never relaxed. All attention was on the mission.

"They will ride to Aurae Kingdom. We shall wait on the border." Raz directed, kicking off the wall, "Maia, tail them. Cleon, let's go."

"Yes, boss!" Maia answered enthusiastically with a salute.

Raz turned to climb down behind the building.

"Why don't I ever get to be look out?" Cleon whined, following their leader. He grabbed the water pipe and began his descent after Raz.

"Because you're reckless. If I let you out of my sight, you'd have the whole street burned down." Raz replied, landing on the ground silent as a cat. Cleon pouted. It was in these kind of moments that he'd think that his leader should officially have a name change. Unlike them, many people knew their leader by the name, Rash. Each time Cleon wanted to propose the idea, he bit his tongue or else he'd be tossed overboard.

When Cleon landed, he stepped on a puddle.

"Damn it. These are my favorite shoes."

"At least, they're finally clean."

"By rat pee?! No thank you."

Raz's head shook with a sigh. Cleon was busy wiping off the dirty water to notice he was left behind.

===

"Thank you so much, Your Highness," Count Morno exclaimed, "I really appreciate your efforts to listen to my troubles. I look forward to your rule."

He bowed, waist bent, in front of Crown Prince Tylen. Tylen half-smiled, patting the old man on his back, "There is no need for that, Count Morno. To serve my people is my privilege. I only wish to do a good job."

Tylen stepped aside to reach for his carriage. The footman had already opened the door. Hayden trailed behind him with the treasure box, Count Morno's payment for his overdue taxes.

"If you ever need—"

"He has left, my lord." A bodyguard interrupted the Count on his speech. The man straightened up hastily to watch the royal carriage roll away.

"Well, if that isn't the most insolent person I have ever met. Did you hear him, Darren? Spouting how I declared lower income than I earned? Hiding the loot in the abandoned shed? Why, the nerve! If taxes weren't so high, I wouldn't have needed to take measures." Count Morno complained, turning to his own carriage that was simpler that of the prince, "My story was good though, eh? A dowry for my daughter's marriage. Bloody thing wouldn't pick any suitor. In order to marry her off, I'd need to boost her value or all men would ignore her."

The Count continued to ramble on his way home. His bodyguards, except for Darren, rode outside of the carriage. Darren wanted nothing more to be there as well with a pair of earplugs.