Chapter 12: The Thief With A Few Faces

My vision was filled with people and places of more variety then one could think possible. So many different races it'd be impossible to name them all. Old to young, each about on their own business, it's insane.

"Stay close, I don't want to lose you in the crowd"

That would be exceptionally hard with her horns poking above most heads from afar and the bandage kind of acts like a white flag. I need to ask if I can do something about that, I'm worried about it.

Any time her emotions run wild, blood seeps through. It was an active deterrent in using her emotions and strength and fuel for her relic. She said it didn't hurt, that it wasn't the case, she was lying because she doesn't want others to worry or help her.

Flying solo can only get you so far.

"Just sent a beam of light up if we're separated, you know that spell right?"

"No"

"..."

It's a basic spell... I thought she was learning them? I could understand a tier above, but not basic!

"Well... Be on the lookout then, I can cast it. I doubt I'll lose sight of you at least"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I grabbed my non-existent Oni horns and moved my hands up and down in a joking manner.

Let's just hope this isn't some sort of explicit joke some races would thing is sexual.

"Oi! What was that for?"

A petite human woman bumped into my front, she wore a brown cloak with its hood lowered showing off her immensely beautiful face and clean black bob cut.

"Sorry sorry, please excuse me!"

Her tears filled her fair skin as a worried facial expression broke out, it was top notch. It could of fooled anyone who didn't deal with a hometown full of its own thieving problems, plenty of which where my fellow orphans just trying to survive.

I didn't need my blessing to tell me exactly what nonsense she was trying to pull, but it did confirm her deception in everything she did.

"Sorry about him! Touji you have to watch where you walk!"

The thief took that as an opportunity to walk away naturally and I quickly pulled Ota aside while checking my valuables. Relic? Check, Letters? Check, Money pouches? Nope.

I pushed Ota against a wall and quickly whispered into her ear making sure not cause a commotion.

"That girl was a thief, she-"

*Sha-tung!*

"*sigh* I'm going after her, you don't need to wear a helmet you know?"

Halfway through she was already prepared to chase the thief, what determination. I don't know why my blessing was saying she's so nervous, but I should get ready too.

Isn't dealing with thieves something she would consider easy?

Ah whatever.

I grabbed my relic and twisted the handle in opposite directions, something Rider confirmed for me, but it would not budge. I know I can split it in two, but it looks like I'm not ready yet.

For now I poured mana into it, making a wand.

I needed precision and efficiency, as opposed to a staffs bulky yet wide area of effect. \

Sure I can case without it, the problem is that it takes far too much mana as opposed to recreating Enda's exceptionally fine wand. With it I could cast Calegriss all day and run out of mana just before dinner.

Creating it with my relic did take a bit of mana, luckily, it wasn't a relic and it was small. So despite it's exceptional quality, it was far easier to make than Arisu's weapon.

Using 'Pulse' here would do me no good, far to many people, but I can tweak it just for getting the loadout of the nearby buildings.

First I casted 'Windless' over my body, then quickly jumped on top of a nearby food stall.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing!"

No time for apologies, I'll come back and buy some food later.

The girl was shorter than others, but in a sea of intent, a stronger emotion rises above the rest making others fade like the noise of a crowd.

"Bingo"

I saw her turn into a store, then indicated at Ota where I was headed. Jumping down and weaving through the busy street, after a few bumps I stood in front of the clothing outlet.

Just my luck, it's a women's fashion store. Taking note of their stock, I looked over the customers wand at the ready.

Most just happened to be going about their business and no deception of the malicious kind could be felt from the changing rooms.

"Can I help you sir? We don't get many male patrons here, are you looking for a gift perhaps?"

Disgusting.

"Give them back demon"

I know Deamons, and I know what one corrupted can do once consumed by sin. A Demon can shift their bodies, change their faces, but some parts they could never hide.

This woman in from of me wore a neat suit and trendy skirt with a bade showing the shops logo on it, a roll of fabric and a needle. Her skin had been changed to a more slightly tanned version with moles, while her hair was a slightly different bob cut that poked out to the side.

They say the eyes are the window to the soul, a pure refection of one's nature.

It was no wonder she barely opened and kept her head down when she bumped into me.

"Please lower your wand or I will be forced to call the guards"

What a pain I don't know any spells that can reveal deceptions... but I've been practicing one that can cause them.

"I hope you don't mind getting a bit wet"

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a vial, making sure she could see it then popped it's cork top. The store cleck began to visibly sweat.

"Relax! It's just water"

Slowly leaning back I then thrust my left arm forward launching the vials contents towards the clerk who instinctively jumped back and gritted her teeth opening her eyes full in the process.

I cancelled the illusion that hid created the vial and revealed the truth about that small flung water.

It was no meddling amount of liquid barely enough to fill a vial, but a water ball as big as a person's torso, hitting the clerk dead on sending her against a wall that I quickly froze while it maintained its form, creating a cold prison.

My actions frightened the onlookers who quickly ran out of the store.

*clap clap clap*

"Well done, well done. I would of preferred to test you myself... I guess it can't be helped"

A mysterious lady walked in followed by Ota who still wore her helm she created with her relic. This older lady was a Daemon, blue skin, bright yellow eyes and everything.

I hope I didn't just send her child into the wall.

"Still, I have to take away a few points. I believe you have a better way to deal with... confrontations"

If Ota is acting so timid this lady is either a complete stranger, or the opposite like Enda.

Overwhelmingly strong.

"Sinclair?"

That name peaked an eyebrow up, I was spot on the mark.

You don't walk into a fight so confidently if you knew you'd have a tough time, yet she did it while swaying her hips full of class and sex appeal. She wore a dark purple high waisted short tights with black pantyhose attached with six garter belt straps underneath her tights.

Her black high heels and tight white dress shirt left no curves to the imagination, with a deep purple bow tie to boot.

With her looks and body I could see why Ota would feel like she lacked charm.

She could probably seduce people better than a sirens song.

"Taking it in?"

Half her white hair is undercut with a fade while the other half was braided perfectly into it horizontally. She also ware black eyeliner in a luxe fashion with matching lipstick, and while it was almost completely hidden, really dark circles and inflamed eye veins.

I only know two ways of that happening, and the girl pinned to the wall only helps support one theory.

Oh... I'm really starting to feel bloodlust from Ota.

First I reattached my relic back into its temporary holding knot on my pants as it reverted to its plain grip, then dispelled the ice.

Whoever this girl is, her feeling of fear is not from me and she can't run once caught, even her legs where shaking now parted to each side as she lay on the floor.

I knelt down and grabbed my two coin pouches attached to the back of her belt then quietly whispered to the girl as her appearance slowly faded back to one of a corrupted demon.

"Looks like she cried all night for someone, I wonder who?"

Her Red skin and short black horns began to show, she looked younger than I expected, thirteen or fourteen.

I backed off and walked over to Ota.

"Well?"

Facing outside while standing in between either woman I felt that now was not the time, nor the place for what we came to see Sinclair for.

"We passed a small restaurant with crossed feathers as a logo, can you meet us there after ten tonight?"

I was careful not to make a mess of the store and only a few bits of clothing got wet or displaced so I didn't feel bad for skipping a report. That and I think Sinclair needs some time with this girl.

Daemon's are a fickle race and if not kept on the right track, can lose themselves. Right now I doubt Ota or I could help the young girl, and if they are family, all the more reason to give them some room.

I grabbed Ota's arm and headed out the door.

As it closed behind, me I heard a faint 'thank you' and I headed back to grab lunch from the food stall whose roof I used to scout from.