Goodbyes

Raven and Violet took deep breaths in an attempt to relax. "Raven, you should leave right now. Mother has undoubtedly heard and will arrive any minute now." Violet stated.

Raven paused for a moment. "Do you think he'll remember you hitting him?" he inquired cautiously.

Violet gave a dry chuckle. "No way. He'd rather believe you transformed into a demon with magical powers than his beloved little sister striking him from behind." She frowned.

"All right, then I'd better get going." He wiped down his cane's blade with a handkerchief and reassembled it. He flings his large, heavy leather backpack across his shoulders. He had already heard screams from downstairs. He quickly opened the window and had one leg already out when his sister hugged him from behind. Her pleasant scent, which reminded him of exotic lemons, calmed his racing heart.

"I expect you to come to my rescue, my prince," she said softly, kissing him on the cheek.

She rested her head against his neck, refusing to let him go. Raven squirmed around a little, trying to get away.

The redness on his neck was visible to her. "Hehe, you're not the only one who has heard all of grandfather's pick-up lines. And let me tell you, if you're going to be gone for more than three years, you better bring home a nice girl from a good family."

She shoved him out the window before he could say anything. He grabbed a nearby vine with a practiced motion, allowing him to swing down to the back alley and break the fall with a smooth landing. He could hear his mother's hysterical screeching behind him before he even turned the next corner.

He put on a dirty and ripped brown robe after making sure he was out of sight. Instead of standing tall, he leaned heavily on his cane, emphasizing his bad leg. As he walked, he let out raspy coughs and cursed at people passing. The easternmost gate was his goal. No one knew where he wanted to go, but he knew they were far more skilled trackers than him, even among the dancing skeletons, his own gang. His hand moved to the side of his belt pouch, which housed a small wooden box.

No one has contacted him in weeks, but Nightfall had to have a reason, as she was the one who saved him in the first place.

A small girl nearby stumbled ahead of him, landing face first in a pool of rainwater, jolting him out of his thoughts.

"Are you okay, young one?" His voice sounded like two pieces of bark rubbing against each other.

He poked her gently with his cane while cautiously looking around. The girl quickly scrambled back to her feet, wide-eyed at the much taller man. She began to tremble when she noticed that his hood obscured all of his features.

"Please Grandpa, it was an accident. I'm really sorry I can polish your shoes if you want." Her sickly pale, frail hands started polishing his old leather boots with a rag that had obviously been washed in a puddle.

Raven just stood there silently observing his surroundings. His eyes softened as he looked down on the girl, who couldn't be more than eight years old.

"Do you live in the orphanage near the east gate, little one?"

"Yes, Grandpa, even though I have to bring in money on a regular basis, I at least have a roof over my head, and we often get the leftovers," she paused for a few seconds, her voice emotionless.

"You don't want to go back, do you?" Raven inquired quietly.

"Of course not, but what other choice do I have? My mother abandoned me before I was old enough to recognize her. I lived in Cinis with my father. I had food, a warm place to sleep, and even a friend."

Raven remained silent and attentive. It took a while for the girl to continue speaking.

"He worked in one of these new factories, you know, the ones burning ruby? Dad often complained about the random explosions and fires."

"I can picture the rest." Raven spoke up.

"I used up all of our last coins to get here."

"You are a very smart girl. Have you been told to leave?"

"No, but my best friend suddenly disappeared one day. I discovered a street urchin who told me that she had been kidnapped. I asked further and noticed that many people, without family, frequently go missing." Raven's eyes shone with a glint.

He bent forward and carefully grabbed the girl's hair, putting it up in a bun and securing it with a sharp hair needle. The girl looked up in surprise, but he only pressed a few copper coins into her hand, leaned forward, and whispered into her ear.

"Go five blocks this way, you know the old tavern?" he asked. She nodded her small head.

"Speak with the bartender and order a dark beer." With a cocked eyebrow on her face, she looked at him. "Grandpa, why are you helping me?" Her hand reached for the razor-sharp hairpin.

"Use that to defend yourself in emergencies, but if you stick to Lady Nightfall, nothing will happen to you." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"Haha, my eyes didn't deceive me, you're a smart one, and of course I want something from you." The girl appeared relieved, and she looked at him expectantly.

"I want you to find a gloomy-looking girl who frequently lingers at a bridge near the Dexter guild once a month. Pick a violet flower, similar to lavender, for her, give her a tight hug, and tell her the idiot is still alive." She appeared baffled, but her eyes showed determination.

"How long should I do this for?"

"Of course, until the idiot returns, which could take years. This is the payment I'm looking for."

Raven gave her one last solemn look before turning around. Crouching, hissing, and cursing again as he went.