He sighed in defeat, accepting the fact that he was lost.

Gripping the worn-out strap of his tan rucksack slung over this shoulder, his steel grey eyes scanned the crowds of people bustling along the station platform. He observed his surroundings through the train’s windows, searching for a clue as to where he was supposed to go next. Subconsciously, he tugged the top of his grey cloak’s hood further down to hide his face as much as possible. The mark on his face burned, whether physically or mentally, it didn’t erase the meaning behind it: a downward facing dragon, tattooed in black from above his left brow to below his cheekbone. 

The mark of a Maliator. 

Though he knew the meaning had been lost to the kingdoms over the ages, as well as the practice itself, he had no plans to draw any unnecessary attention to himself. Dressed in dirty clothes befitting of a beggar combined with a rough stubble, and his tangled hair from days without a shower, the Maliator cut a sorry figure—standing out yet simultaneously blending in amongst the crowd of passengers waiting to disembark from the train. Many avoided direct eye contact solely due to his general appearance out of fear that he would pester them for some coins or invoke a curse if they refused. 

“Ticket and identification please,” the train conductor said, holding a tired hand out as the Maliator reached the front of the line. 

He handed over two pieces of paper. A one way ticket and the proof of his identity. At the top of the unfolded paper, there was a name printed.

“Theo Machia,” the conductor read apathetically aloud, barely glancing at the Maliator. His boredom was obvious when he didn’t even ask Theo to lower his hood.  

Completing his task, the train conductor returned the two items to Theo and allowed him to step off the train. Theo had originally attempted to follow the directions of a kind stranger on the train’s platform to his next destination, but he instead found himself in the center of a busy interaction at one of the largest and most industrialized cities in the kingdom: Apatite City.

Theo had heard rumors of this city. A major entertainment and industrial metropolis, Apatite City was second only in importance and size to Rhodir, the capital city of the kingdom of Lunaria. For those without a title, this was the place where someone could make a better life for himself. Lunaria had emerged as one of the wealthiest and most powerful countries following the end of the Dagann Wars four years ago, and its cities provided endless opportunities for anyone who dared to try. But Theo was not looking for a title or a better life—he needed to find someone in Rhodir.

It was high noon and the next train from Apatite City to Rhodir wasn’t scheduled until the evening. With his last meal of stale bread and equally stale root soup three nights ago, Theo decided to find something to tide over his empty stomach before the train arrived. The street was lined with restaurants, bakeries, and food stalls, enticing passersby with a harmony of mouth-watering spices. Cinnamon, red chili pepper, cardamom, ginger, and black tea all melted into one overwhelming, invisible dish. 

Theo absentmindedly rubbed the pendant that he wore around his neck on a dark leather string as he looked over the prices of the different meal options. Dismayed by the exorbitant price for a single meat pie at four cuprus, his fingers slowly traced the outline of the black steel rectangle that was roughly the size of his thumb. Subtracting the price of the train ticket he needed, Theo only had two cuprus. And though he considered it for the fleetest of moments, no matter how little he had left to his name, Theo would never sell his pendant for a few coins. He could only ignore his empty stomach’s complaints and decided to look for another part of the city with cheaper prices. Though the steel pendant seemed invaluable at first glance, Theo still tucked it under his shirt, hidden away from prying eyes. There were few who would bother to steal from such a destitute figure, but even desperate people would steal from the poor.

A woman’s shrill voice sounded from close behind him. “THIEF!”

As Theo turned towards the sound of the commotion, a body slammed roughly into him, catching him off guard in his weakened-from-hunger state and knocking him down. His arms scraped against the hard cobblestone floor from the fall, tearing a hole in one of his sleeves. He cursed under his breath as he got back up onto his feet before cursing aloud when he realized that his rucksack was missing. Although there wasn’t much amongst his meager possessions, the money that he needed to board the train was in there. Scanning the street, he immediately spotted a hastily retreating form, slowed down by the two stolen bags in possession. 

To Theo’s benefit, his shabby appearance easily parted the crowds of people on the street, worried of being tainted by him, as he ran after the thief. Unfortunately, the thief seemingly disappeared when he turned a corner and Theo followed him into a dead end alley. Failing to find any hints for where the thief may have disappeared into, he slammed his fist into the red brick wall in anger.

“Stop, thief!” a voice called from behind him.

Thinking that his luck was finally turning as someone else had spotted the thief again, Theo headed towards the voice before he was slammed to the ground for the second time that day.

 “Son of Indunna,” he groaned in pain as his chin scraped against the rough ground from the impact. Trying to stand, he felt a pressure on his back, preventing him from getting up.

“Do not resist,” the voice belonging to the person on his back commanded as they put metal handcuffs around his wrists. “You are hereby under arrest for robbery.” 

Feeling the pressure ease as his random assailant stood up, Theo immediately kicked out his right leg and swept their feet out from under them. He had caught them by surprise, knocking them onto the ground instead. With their situations suddenly reversed, Theo slammed a foot down onto his bold attacker’s chest, holding them in place, as he got a good look at who was impertinent enough to accuse him of a crime he didn’t commit.  

Far from what he was expecting, Theo came face-to-face with a young man who looked like he was more suited for modeling for the latest fashion trends than arresting innocent people in broad daylight. His dirty blonde hair looked freshly permed, an obvious sign to the amount of attention he paid to his own appearance, and a single, small silver earring hanging from his right ear granted him a delinquent charm popular with many aristocratic young ladies in the kingdom. He also appeared far too young. Theo was certain that the young man couldn’t be a day over twenty at most. Narrowing his eyes, Theo suspected the motives behind this older adolescent with the face of a high society philanderer. 

“What are you trying to do here, kid?” Theo said as he broke out of the handcuffs in one fluid motion before tossing them away. Though his attacker didn’t seem to recognize the tattoo on his face, Theo returned his cloak’s hood to the top of his head again, obscuring his shameful mark once again.

The young man looked up at him in astonishment from Theo’s actions, as if he wasn't accustomed to detainees escaping from arrest. “I–what–how?” He sputtered gibberish in disbelief at the situation before finding his brain. “You stole Duchess Remya’s purse!” He immediately attempted to get up but was easily kicked down again.

Theo sighed in annoyance, realizing the misunderstanding that had occurred. “No, I didn’t. My bag was stolen as well, presumably by the same thief, who I was in pursuit of.”

The blonde young man scanned Theo’s disheveled appearance as his expression revealed his obvious skepticism. “But you’re so…” He struggled to find the right words without offending Theo, who still had a foot on his chest, which was starting to hurt from the pressure of the heavy leather boot. “I mean, your appearance is so…uninviting for thieves. Also, you kind of stink.”

Before Theo could cave in his chest for his rude remark, a voice called from near the entrance of the alley, “Hale!” 

They both turned towards the voice, where a woman bent down to retrieve the broken handcuffs he had thrown aside, looking at it in interest. The back of her wine colored dress rustled against the ground as she moved. She had a ribbon adorned black felt hat on top of her pale purple dyed hair, cosmetically altered violet eyes, and a large amethyst brooch pinned above the left of her black bodice. All signs served as evidence of her unspoken great wealth, accessorizing her fortunes. Theo looked between the affluent woman and the good-looking “Hale”, who he was still stepping on, as he evaluated their dubious relationship with a frown.

“Lilac!” Hale called excitedly when he saw her. “Look! I caught the thief!” He then reached out and grabbed Theo’s ankle, as if trying it to prove to her.

Lilac looked at them skeptically. “From where I’m standing, it sure looks the other way around.”

“Once again, I’m not the thief. I was pursuing the actual thief, who also stole my bag,” Theo said and kicked Hale's hands off his foot. “You can obviously see for yourself that I don’t have any purses on me.” 

He then stepped back, allowing Hale to stand up again before Lilac could do anything. Theo had no intention of hurting or holding someone against their will, especially in front of their sponsor. Not after the last time.

“Well how do I know for sure that you didn’t just pass it off to an accomplice?”  Hale scoffed. “Besides, why would anyone want to steal from you? I saw you racing down the streets like you were running from something after stealing a countess’s purse. Not to mention how poor and dirty you obviously look.”

Theo raised an eyebrow at his blatantly rude remark. Hale moved to stand a bit closer to Lilac. 

“He’s telling the truth, Hale,” Lilac spoke up before a fight started. “Levi found our thief’s identity. He’s affiliated with the gang, the Black Hat. Apparently, stealing bags from five people within a month is their initiation trial in order to join the gang. They’ve been able to fly under the radar from Apatite City’s officers previously, but it seems this is where their luck ends.” She chuckled to herself at their misfortune. “They just had to steal from a very important woman.”

Hale nodded thoughtfully. “If our thief’s month was almost up, I can see how he would even steal from someone who looks like…” He glanced at the beggared Maliator.

“Sorry, he’s still in training,” Lilac said apologetically before Hale could offend Theo even more, even if what he said was true. She held out a gloved hand expectantly. “My name’s Lilac. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“…Theo,” Theo said after a pause. He then automatically took her hand and lightly kissed the back of it. There were scorch marks on the tips of her fingers along with a faint smell of ashes. 

“Oh, so the stranger knows his etiquette,” Lilac noted, amusement lacing her words. Her violet eyes seemed to sparkle as she looked at Theo appraisingly.

“I’m not interested in anything of the nature of yours and Hale’s relationship,” Theo immediately clarified. 

“I’m not sure what sort of ‘relationship’ you’re referring to, but please perish any unsavory thoughts. I’m simply his boss,” Lilac said, sensing a great misunderstanding.

“His boss,” Theo repeated, obviously unconvinced.

“Yes, and unfortunately, as his boss, I have to make sure that this buffoon here actually does his job correctly,” Lilac said. “Not to worry about your bag, though. We’ll be sure it is returned to you after we’ve found him.”

“Thank you,” Theo said.

Lilac hesitated, seeming almost disappointed somehow by Theo’s response, but she quickly put on a professional smile. “You are welcome.”

After Lilac and Hale left the alley, Theo counted to eighty in his head before following after them. He never had any intention of letting someone else retrieve his bag for him. Based on their interaction, Theo knew there was more to Lilac and Hale than what meets the eye. Most importantly, though, they had someone helping them locate the thief that stole his bag. Someone in the know.

Theo needed to follow them.