Mikel nervously sat behind a knight who was clearly only there to protect him against the wrath of the prince.
"So, all this ensued because of a love struck… FOOL, you understand how I can't just let that offense slide!"
Mikel placed his hands onto the knight's armored shoulders as he hid behind him, fully committing to his act.
"Your majesty, this one shows clear remorse and regret."
"The money was not only used but also stolen. And in large amounts."
The prince's voice was loud and ruthless, but the knight didn't budge, he was sent by a certain someone after all.
"I know, sorry doesn't cut it…" Mikel meekly responds. "I just didn't wanna die.."
The prince's brows furrow as he lets out a deep sigh.
"I understand that you kept this away from your father, yes?" The knight cautiously asked as the prince turned his back.
"I'm attempting to lessen the punishment."
Silence took over the room, until Mikel finally chimed in.
"Maybe I could make up for it.."
"And what do you intend?" The prince eyes the thief suspiciously.
"Uh.. I.. Anything is fine really.."
Acting like this feels gross… I'm gonna book it after I'm out of this room. I'm not far from the village.
"You will get jail time. That is certain."
you really think so…
"I understand." Mikel sighs in defeat.
The knight sighs too as he carefully gets up, helping Mikel follow.
"I shall escort him outside until we move back towards the detention room."
"You keep your eyes on him." "I shall."
Mikel nods as he practically clings onto the knight, his frail act managing to convince almost everyone around him.
As they left the door, he spoke up with a lean, "I'm really grateful that you came with me."
"Do not be, I was sent by the one who consoled you, Coy."
Coy... What a name.
"I am grateful to him… if I could meet him again…" He tugged his hair behind his ear, leaving his words unfinished.
"He's doing paper work. I'll bring him to you when he's ready." a curt response.
Arriving at the yard, Mikel was already scanning for the fastest route to get away.
Being led everywhere certainly was annoying, especially since he's used to be the one in charge.
Sitting down on a bench, he was left alone once more.
These people have too much faith in me…
Mikel waited a few minutes. His bag is not returning and his money is gone, but jail time!? Unheard of! Can't believe I got caught…
Mikel finally deemed his surroundings empty enough, but just in case, he put on the saddest looking face he could muster up.
A swift vault, an easy jump and a quick landing and he sprinted off. It's been two days since he got taken away, since it took the prince's arrival a day.
He ran all the way back to the village. Since it was the nearest checkpoint, he could snatch a few supplies and go on.
As he was sprinting along the streets, there were no more guards, his feet kept splashing against the wet ground.
It must've rained last night..
His running came to a halt when he saw a familiar red mane from afar.
He was still kneeling. The guard was not only kneeling but he hadn't budged an inch. His hair was soaking wet turning from a bun into a soaked loose mess.
Mikel's hand instinctively moved to clutch his heart when a scene flashed through his head.
Ugh!
His world began spinning as he tripped on the ground, struggling to maintain his balance, his vision blurred with the painful ringing of his head.
—
"Are you still here!" A young man was yelling at an even younger one who was soaked in the rain.
"Just give me a chance!" the other cried, his hair stuck to his face and his soaked clothes heavy enough to drag him down.
"Seriously, are you stupid!? What the fuck is wrong with you!" the older man grabs the other by the shoulder, dragging him inside his home.
"Stay here!! I'm gonna bring you a towel!" "So you'll give me a chance?!" The drenched dog was practically glowing. "ONLY BECAUSE YOU MIGHT DIE IF I DON'T, THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!!"
"You won't regret this!"
—
A joyful laughter echoed through his head as the wave of blur finally passed by.
What was that… ah…
His head hurts for a different reason now.
Ugh why did I pull my hair right now…
Turning to check, he saw the general still kneeling, his head lowered, not even his daggers left their spot.
WHATEVER!
With a jump in his step, he approached the man, throwing himself into his arms in silence.
"You, why did you escape!" Before he could even begin to scold the smaller one, Mikel merely slapped his face.
"I CAME FOR YOU! BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED!" he began to undo the red headd bun while drenching out his hair. "I can't believe you… I cannot!"
The man's eyes never left the slimmer man's frame as his touch traveled all over his head, until it finally halted on his face.
"I can't do this." Mikel sobbed as his hands caressed the cheeks of his 'Beloved'.
"What are you-" Mikel hushes the man's lips with his fingers.
"I can't go to jail.. I'm sure you understand.. I cannot bear being locked away with you always being there." Mikel was talking nonsense.
"I cannot let you just leave!" His red eyes burned with not just demand but confusion.
So far the beggar has been touching him and he didn't avert a single time.
"You won't… but…" The thief's voice trails off.
Mikel's lips met Shi Fei's, his hand barely holding onto his face before he pulled back, a saliva string connecting them both before Mikel stepped away.
"I cannot.. I CANNOT!" He cries out one last time, the wet road splashing with each step as Mikel grips onto the pouch of coins he freshly snatched up and the dagger he barely managed to slip by.
Frozen, his body was frozen. The cold of the rain, the itching on his knees and the weight of his broad blade suddenly ceased to exist as his hand shakingly brushed the lips the thief just kissed.
His eyes wandered in hopes to see the man return from the corner, but there was no one left.
That moment felt like a euphoria-induced dream.
To be desired.
—
Ten gold! Five silvers! No copper! So poor!
Seriously!
He wiped his lips multiple times but the warmth wouldn't move on.
I'm sorry! I'm sorry! No hard feelings! Just survival!
He was wandering aimlessly now. He hadn't paid attention to which path he took but at least he wasn't unprepared anymore.
He spun the dagger, inspecting it closely. It had plants-like markings, filled out with gold patterns around. The blade was shaped like a leaf making them more unique.
I could give this to him… Uh? Who again?
"Alright! No bag? No problem! That's what we have pockets for…" Mikel snickered.
He put the pouch inside his shirt while strolling along the forest. The gentle winds were shaking the tree, dragging around the fresh scent of flower petals.
He saw many pretty flowers, almost tempted to pluck them.
Self restraint… one of them may kill me!!
He was walking along the path until an animal jumped out on his path.
AH!!! THIS THING IS HUGE!!
It was a large looking moose. Mikel began stressing out while that creature was eyeing him up and down.
Instinctively, his hands raise up to show his surrender as the curious creature approaches.
URGH THAT SMELL!!
The smell of fresh petals was overshadowed by the stench of the Moose, or rather what's on it. Upon closer inspection that Moose was absolutely covered in mud and it was fresh too, so it reeked of dirt.
Mikel was gonna take a step back, but the moose practically freaked out and attempted to stop his retreat. The animal began swaying its head towards a direction, multiple times.
"Do you want me to follow?" He hesitantly asked but did he really expect a moose to answer?
The moose began to nod its head eagerly.
OH SHIT IT TOTALLY DID!
Mikel shrugged to himself, carefully approaching the beast. It swiftly got the hint and started leading the way deeper into the forest.
The trees grew thicker and Mikel started seeing less and less of a walkable path. The grass got longer, reaching to his ankles, slowing his progression. Of course, the moose seemed to have less of a struggle than he did.
"Oh my god…" Mikel started complaining to himself as he took bigger and bigger steps.
When pushing through one last bush, he finally saw a large mud pond where two moose were stuck and struggling, they were surrounded by a few more.
This looks like a sacrifice…
Mikel was about to consider turning around but the Moose that got him there in the first place began nudging him gently towards its stuck friends.
"Alright… leave this to me." Mikel declared confidently, but really, he had no plan.
He began scanning his surroundings. None of the moose were hostile, they were clearly more concerned about their friends. Since there was no threat, Mikel began stepping as close to the mud as he could, before stepping back when he felt himself sink.
The one who led him there has been following close by ensuring he won't fall in as well.
After a quick scan, he decided on a plan.
The moose aren't moving themselves, so they definitely tried.
There's vines up there, so maybe a lasso will do…
He took out his freshly snatched dagger and tried to climb up the nearest tree.
"ARGH" with a thud, his ass hit the dirt and he sighed.
"This one's gonna take a few tries."
After a few more painful tries, tasting the ground two or three times, he finally takes a step back.
These trees, they are so much larger than what he's used to? So much of it is pure slippery tree bark, with no branches. But he can't back down now!
He needs to think of a different approach. How would he have done it…
"Hey moose! Do you understand me? If you do, stand in front of this tree so I can climb on your back!" He yelled out in a demanding tune.
The moose was silent, but it slowly began to station itself next to the tree Mikel attempted to climb many times.
"Alright! I'll try not to hurt you!" Mikel carefully climbed the beast. It occasionally moved but stayed steady enough to stand on.
Much easier! With a pounce Mikel jumped the first branch he could reach.
He made a much easier ascend and began to chop down as many vines as he could, to ensure he wouldn't need to climb back up again.
He threw them down before jumping off the tree. His heart stopped when the moose pounced to catch his body, causing him and the animal to both get a mini heart attack.
His landing was smooth and this time, he carefully descended the back of the animal.
"Thank you…" he mumbled while tying some vines together.
Finishing his work, he did some robustness tests before swinging his first lasso.
Miss. How did I miss such a massive moose?
All eyes were on him and he gave it a few more shots.
Finally a lasso managed to catch itself on a moose's horns, but he couldn't just yank and pull, so he carefully began to tug to see a reaction. The Moose stared into the depths of Mikel's soul before attempting to move.
Mikel began pulling harder while watching the Mooses reaction. Eventually it started groaning but without any movement, Mikel then ceased his pulling.
"Hm…" he hummed before shooting another shot, this time reaching for its neck.
When it finally landed correctly, he began to gently pull once more, attempting not to choke the animal in the process.
It budged a bit, but it seemed to be very uncomfortable. Letting go of the vine lasso, he sighed.
"Okay, I have one last idea…"
—
Mikel began pushing a large log with the help of a few mooses who were basically following his instructions.
I'm not gonna question how these creatures are understanding me… I kissed a random red haired dude the second time I met him, robbed him blind and used his daggers with a bunch of Moose. What could be crazier than that? Now that I think about it... was his hair color even natural? Did he dye it…
Mikel's ponders were cut short by his feets finally getting back to the mud.
"Alright! My final plan! Because I don't have the other two with me… " His thought wandered for a second before he gathered his concentration again.
Mikel hummed as he pushed the large log into the mud, making it sink. But just as he expected, the edges of the pond were shallow. If he gets close enough by walking on the wood, he will be able to pull out the moose while trying hard enough.
My back's gonna kill me..
He adjusted the log and even tied up vines all over it to ensure the steadiest bridge and the safest route.
The moose were watching him attentively. Some attempted to climb on the log as well, but Mikel quickly shooed them off in fears they'd all go down in tragedy.
Taking the rest of his vines, he began to dig through the mud a bit to free the moose as much as he could.
Pulling, digging, dragging and carrying. All things that drained Mikel's energy. To be honest, he already considered giving up, but every small progress made the moose stir, making the man feel undeniably motivated to keep going.
And eventually, with so many painstaking hours, he managed to get both mooses out, safely and uninjured.
That was the priority, uninjured.
He dropped his body into the overgrown grass, falling onto his back while breathing heavily, relieved. His fresh clothes were now back to a muddy mess, not just that. He had now an audience of mooses staring and sniffing him to test if he was alive.
This would've taken much less effort if he just brute forced it but…
His eyes narrow for a second, as if lost in thought.
"I'm done.."
He was now covered in the very stench that made him gag at the beginning.