Last Money

Pelvin crossed the gateway, it seems the repairs of the gates have hastened since their workers have doubled, it was obvious they were pressured from the repeated attacks. When he stepped outside the city, the natural air from the mountains sweeped over his face, the tranquil scenery of nature was to his liking. However, he left the city not to muse nature but to make some money, as a merchant every oppurtunity counts.

When he gazed upon the base of the stone wall, he noticed haggard guards hauling demon corpses to a cart, they whined and kicked the bodies as they did their job. "Curse these creatures." Said one guard.

With a one huff, they heaved them up. "Tell me about it, they weigh more than a person." One said who struggled as he spoke.

"Why do we have to take care of these mess." One snorted in disgust as vile demon blood were smeared on his armor.

Pelvin approached them, he gave them a slight bow as though to revere their work. "O great guards who fights against the threats of darkness, I have a sincere request amongst you gentlemen."

The guards rose their eyebrow, suspicious of his forced tone. "What do you want prick? You being sarcastic or something?" One said belligerently.

Pelvin chuckled. "Of course not, I'm just saying if I could help you with your work. I mean, as a citizen of this city I'm inclined to aid you in any way I can."

The guards then dropped their annoyed looks, they mustered a smile and went close to him, they patted his shoulder. "That's what I'm talking about."

Another chuckled. "As a great guard myself, I would relinquish this task to a law abiding citizen such as your self." He said sarcastically.

Pelvin played it with as he nodded to their every word.

The guard whistled to his comrades. "Hey wanna join me and get a drink."

His comrades seem up for it and they quickly left the scene, leaving Pelvin alone with a mess of demon corpses strewn on the field. He called a guard who was left behind. "Hey, could I borrow a knife?"

The guard gave a weak smile, he unsheathed his knife then hurled it at him. "Be sure to give it back."

"No problem."

Pelvin sighed as he sifted his eyes on the numerous piles of demon corpses splayed on the land. It might be better to hire some manpower, but without a capital he had to rely on his wits.

***

The sun was still up and bright, Celina squinted her eyes as she weaved through the travelers, she rose her arm up to cover her eyes from the blinding sunlight. Then she went to the alley to cool herself, she groped the coin pouched from her pocket, she lifted it up and it gave a jittering noise.

When she opened it, her eyes was shocked from disappointment, she then leaned unto the wall and slid down as though hopeless. "Blue was right I need to control my spending habits. I don't even have much to buy a horse."

When she turned her head to her side, she saw a floral shop, one flower stole her eye, it was white as snow and reflected the fragments of sunlight. She got alured by it, but then she shook her head in order to return to her senses. "Celina calm down, you need to control yourself."

With a quick glance inside the pouch, about four silver and thirty bronze coins were left, horses' price may vary from ten to fifteen silver coins. Her money might not make it, not to mention she preferred to purchase a horse with a good quality.

"Oh Miss mage." A voice came from her right. Celina didn't bother to look since her mood made her head heavy. "Oh Pelvin you're here." She said spiritlessly.

Pelvin nodded, his face was gleeful, he rubbed his arms shrewdly. "Don't worry, I can't pay you now but I will pay you double once I have the money."

Celina sighed in desperation. "I probably don't have enough money for my travels."

"That's why we'll make some." Pelvin said.

Celina sprang up, she came closer to him. "Really? How do we do it?" She said enthusiastically.

Pelvin smiled. "We'll--" His voice was cut off when a boy whizzed by across Celina. The pouched on her arm was snatched flawlessly, the boy raced through the alley and were about to enter the streets.

Celina lurched forward and pursued the boy. "That's my last money!" She gasped. Pelvin then tailed the two.

Celina reached the streets, she shook her head and her eyes were broad as her sight scoured across the throng of people. When her vision picked up a head of a boy darting away on the distance, she quickly sprinted towards it. Her path were curved as she squeezed through the swarm of citizens on the streets.

"Excuse me."

"Coming through." The people she came across frowned upon her.

Yet hopefully her eyes were still locked on the thief.

"Thief! Catch that kid!" The people around her only eyed her, they didn't have the leisure to catch the kid who was already on the distance.

Celina continued her chase, while Pelvin was behind her, struggling to maintain their distance. When Celina noticed the boy turned a corner, she then hastened her steps, hopefully she won't lose sight of the thief. When she reached the path where the thief turned, she gasped in dismay, she could feel her heart rapture as the thief was completely gone, as though he just vanished. It was a narrow path that led to a wall, in other words a dead end. Looking around there was no other path to go, though there were crates strewn around on the corners. However, they were sealed tight, thus it would be impossible that he would be hiding in one of those.

Pelvin finally caught up, he leaned on the wall, he panted as though his life was about to be taken.

Celina was about to burst her tears out, but she forced herself to keep it in. Regardless, she was obviously pissed, she tread around the alley looking for signs where he might go. She cocked her head up and noticed it was impossible to climb over the tall, flat walls.

"Pelvin, where do you think he went?" Celina said.

"Are you sure he came here?" Pelvin said.

"Positive."

Pelvin entered the alley, he flitted his eyes to and fro, then he noticed there was a scraped marks on the mossy and dusty ground, from one of the crates. He found it odd since only one crate seemed to have been moved, judging from the marks it left.

Pelvin stooped low and pulled the crate over, he noticed there was a small hole on the wall, Celina quickly went close to his side as they eyed the hole, it was large enough to crawl through. She gulped then crouched, she dropped on her knees and squeezed through with slight reluctance.

"Miss Mage are you sure about this?" Pelvin said.

Her body dove inside. "Yeah, that was my last money so I could not afford to lose it."

Pelvin sighed, he followed her behind. When he passed through, he emerged right besides Celina.

Celina found herself inside a dilapidated storage room, above, dusty cobs webs hanged from the ceiling, the doors and windows on the sides were shuttered tight. She continued to roam the place until she noticed a light showering from an opening. It was a doorway that had a broken door, when she peered over, she saw the boy who held her pouch with several other children who sat on a vacant lot, they mused the coins clinking on their palms.

"Nobody touches my coins!" Celina growled as she clenched her fists, when she was about charge, Pelvin grabbed her shoulder from behind.

Pelvin sighed. "Wait miss mage, allow me." He then went forward and exposed himself to the street children. "Hello there." He said with a forced mirth, hoping the children won't be frightened.

"Who are you!" One yelled cautiously. They braced themselves and were prepared to leave any second now.

"We won't return your money." Added another.

"Please don't report us to the guards."

Pelvin chuckled, holding a friendly face. "Now, now, settle down. I won't be taking the money nor report you."

Celina stomped her foot, she squealed as she trudged towards them. "But Pelvin?!" Pelvin held her as she persisted to move forward.

"Calm down Miss mage, I think you should sympathize for a bit towards them." Pelvin said.

Celina curled her lip as her eyes strayed. "I know what you mean but without some money, I won't survive."

Pelvin snorted as though skeptical. "You can't survive without a wine a night?"

Celina chuckled as she scratched her head. "Well yeah. I mean no, of course I need to buy some food."

Pelvin sighed. "Anyway, look closely." He went close to the children and faced them. "We'll give you that money and even more if you promise to help us."

The children narrowed their eyes as though skeptical. "What do you mean?"

Pelvin smiled. "Please follow me." He spun and walked away but the children refused to comply, they were staring at each other as they were coming up with a decision.

"But can we trust him?"

"If he wanted to capture us, he could have called the guards."

"Hmm."

"It might be a trap."

Pelvin butted in. "Look, I wouldn't bother to setup a trap just for you, and besides I keep my promises. Not to mention, this woman can take care of you if she wanted to." He pointed at Celina.

Celina tread forward, her face scowled and fury reigned on her eyes. "That's right, people who takes my money are what I hate the most."

The boy snorted in disbelief. "So you're telling me this little girl knows how to use a sword."

Celina stomped her foot. "Hey I'm older than you!" She hissed.

Pelvin pulled her away from their view. "Now, now, so what do you say?"

The boy stood up. "Okay then, but if only you're gonna give us ten silvers." He said coldly

Celina shuddered as she tried to keep her anger. Pelvin tried to restrain her. "Sure, I will keep my word." He said.

"Hey Pelvin, how could you just go with these brats?" She said.

Pelvin smiled satedly. "Just observe."

Celina had an annoyed look while she eyed the pouch. The longer she stared at it the more her arms itched. But she sighed and loosened up, right now, she was forced to rely on Pelvin.

They were led outside the city wall and now they were infront of the demon corpses, Pelvin ensured they had knives before they were brought here, however they were low quality and they were the properties of the street children.

The boy crossed his arms. "And so, what are we gonna do?"

Pelvin gave a weak smile. "Use your knives, we're gonna remove the demon claws."

The boy's eyes widened, he pointed at the pile of corpses. "You mean you're gonna let us debone it?"

Pelvin chuckled as he crouched on a demon body. "Not really, we're just gonna take the claws off."

Currently, the demons were stripped naked, their armors, weapons and other materials which could have some value were recovered by the city guards. Yet they completely overlooked their durable claws, which were valuable as well, but it would take a lot of effort to collect them.

The demon's limbs were armed with their rigid and rough claws, now all he needed to do was to teach everyone how to remove them.

The boy stomped his foot, his friends seemed hesitant as well. "Hey this is stupid!" The boy spat.

Pelvin's relaxed and reassuring expression ignited some optimism on the boy. "If you're gonna help us sell these as well, you're gonna get that ten silver you wanted."

The boy stared at the pouch, his sullen eyes dazed as though he was reflecting. When he reached upon his decision he spoke. "Fine, but I will have to keep this money." The boy fell back when he noticed Celina growling beside him.

Celina looked away and snorted. "Hmmph."

Pelvin laughed lightly. "Miss mage, can you help me here and don't worry about that, I'll give you half of my income."

Celina's energy shot up, her attention was rapt, she quickly lurched forward to his side."Then what should I do."

Pelvin rose a severed claw close to her eye, with blood dripping from it. "We need to collect this."

She cringed at first due to the demon's blood trickling down, not to mention the corpses' stench were oozing sharp and strong. But since it was for money she was left with no choice. "Okay, I'll do it."

Pelvin nodded. "Remember since these claws are hard to remove, you should mangle them from their joints, it's the weakest spot."

Celina approached a demon corpse, she smiled a bit, as she unsheathed her blade and directly sliced them down as though she was holding an axe, her precision was somewhat arbitrary and random. Pelvin sighed since he realized it might ruin the quality of the claws, but since she was quick, he let it go for a while. He called the children to join them as well."If you wanna earn that money maybe you can help us."

The children nodded to each other and then came to help them.