Theo carefully made his way down the street, maintaining a generous distance from Lilac and Hale so they couldn’t easily spot him, but close enough for him to monitor them at all times. There were only a few instances of ducking behind store walls or restaurant signs when either person suddenly turned around. But aside from a few curious stares from customers and suspicious glares from shop owners, Theo soon successfully followed them to an abandoned warehouse near the edge of the commercial district. 

“An abandoned warehouse as a hideout for a gang?” Theo shook his head in disappointment as he observed the dilapidated building located on a deserted street. Rust stains spotted the metal exterior like a poor paint job. “How cliché.”

Lilac and Hale had already entered through the front doors, creaking shut behind them as if solidifying them to their decision to confront the gang head on. Choosing to wait and see before taking any action, Theo found a cloudy window on the side of the building that provided just enough visibility for him to observe the situation inside. 

The interior was decorated as banally as the exterior with some exposed lightbulbs hanging overhead and cracked concrete floors with questionable, potentially biohazardous stains. In the center of the room, a group of adolescents huddled around a dirty blue couch, which had probably lived longer than its current owners based on the wear and tear. Slight protrusions of glinting silver in the flickering lamplight from their clothes revealed potential weapon locations. A single person knelt before the group on the couch with five bags in front of him. Theo recognized one of the bags as his own and quickly concluded this was part of the gang initiation Lilac had mentioned before, and the kneeling adolescent was the thief. 

On the second floor of the warehouse, there were more people leaning against the corroded railings, ready for any potential confrontation. 

Theo counted fifteen gang members in total and tsked. He hoped that Lilac and Hale had some actual combat abilities. They didn’t appear to be Lunarian soldiers, but he assumed they must have some skills to blatantly pursue criminals. 

Shock plastered across the thief’s face as he watched Lilac and Hale walk towards him and the other gang members like it was some leisurely stroll. Theo had to give Lilac and Hale credit for their courage and calm composure. The two sides exchanged a few words and Lilac gestured towards the bags on the floor, potentially hoping to strike some sort of deal. Unfortunately, the compromise evidently failed as the gang members soon drew their weapons and a fight began with gunshots ringing out.

Thankfully, Lilac and Hale were indeed skilled fighters. Despite being outnumbered and unarmed, they steadily held their ground, if not better. Lilac sidestepped a knife swipe at her right shoulder, grabbed the assailant by his collar, and threw him onto two other advancing members. Before another gang member could fire his gun, Hale kicked the weapon out of his hands and swiftly disassembled the gun with practiced ease.

Knowing that Lilac and Hale could handle the situation themselves, Theo decided to quickly retrieve his bag and leave. The center of the fight had shifted away from the couch to the metal staircase instead as the gang members from the second floor came down to join in the conflict. Theo could see his bag unattended on the floor and knew it was the perfect opportunity. The screech of the warehouse doors opening went unnoticed by the brawl participants, and Theo went directly to his bag without drawing any attention. Picking it off the ground, he patted down the canvas rucksack, sullied slightly by the dirt and questionable stains on the floor. After confirming that everything from before still remained in the bag, Theo let out a sigh of relief. With his belongings returned in his hands, Theo felt his hunger from before return stronger as the adrenaline from the situation wore off, leaving him in a more weakened state than he expected. Swearing to himself to buy some food soon, Theo made his way back towards the warehouse doors. Unfortunately, there was someone blocking his path.

A gang member stood before the warehouse entrance with a menacing expression on his face as he spotted Theo. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, Theo braced himself for an attack. Instead, the gang member suddenly broke out into a maniacal smile and extended his hands before him as he suddenly floated up into the air. A silver chain slipped out from underneath his shirt collar, dangling around his neck. 

Theo’s eyes widened in surprise as he realized what it was.

“This guy has an Imperium?!” Hale exclaimed incredulously. He and Lilac had noticed the strange behavior of the gang member. Even some of the other gang members had stopped in their attacks to look at their comrade in shock. 

“An Imperator in this back alley gang? That definitely complicates matters.” Lilac frowned as she reevaluated the situation. Her eyes then caught sight of Theo in the direct path of the Imperium-wielding gang member. “Hold on, when did he get here?”

Brandishing a switchblade, the flying Imperator charged towards Theo at a swift speed. Theo ducked down and rolled out of the way of the attack. His hood was blown aside as he avoided the gang member’s attack. Noticing something wrong with the Imperator’s appearance, Theo paused and stared. The gang member had levitated to a height out of reach from anyone, but Theo could see the veins on the side of his head bulge out unnaturally as beads of sweat rolled down his abnormally red face. Breathing heavily, the gang member pulled out a silver gun from his back pocket and began shooting below. Whether it was normal or due to his strange condition, his aim was terrible as many of the clumsy shots missed or injured his comrades instead. Chaos quickly ensued as the gang members tried to dodge the stray bullets while simultaneously attempting to attack Lilac and Hale.

Theo glanced at the warehouse doors with a clear path now available as his hand subconsciously fished out his steel pendant from under his shirt, tracing circles on its smooth surface. He could easily leave with no repercussions. After all, he had already achieved his original purpose of retrieving his bag. But Lilac and Hale were still fighting, and with a dangerous and unskilled Imperator involved, it wasn’t going to be an easy win for them, not without help. 

“It’s the right thing to do,” Theo said aloud, seemingly to no one in particular. Certain of his decision, Theo released his hold on his pendant and pointed a finger towards the levitating gang member. His eyes fixed firmly on his target as he then pointed his hand down.  

The gang members crashed down from his aerial position like a ton of bricks. The impact cracked the concrete below him as well as his ribs. Flailing weakly, the gang member failed to stand up, much less float, as an invisible and immense pressure forced him down.

Everyone had stopped fighting when they first heard the crash, and they now turned to look at the cause of it. 

“The beggar has an Imperium too!?” Hale exclaimed, looking at the steel pendant hanging around Theo’s neck.

Lilac, however, was more focused on the visible mark on Theo’s face. She stared fixedly at him in intrigue. 

Theo slowly curled his right hand into a fist, as if grabbing onto something, and with a jerk of his arm, the silver chain flew towards Theo, nearly beheading a man in its path. Theo reached out and grabbed the Imperium with his left hand, admiring the chain with an appraising look.

Realizing their new precarious situation, the gang members quickly attempted to flee. 

“Halt, you’re all under arrest!” Lilac yelled, but naturally, no one obeyed.

Before she and Hale could pursue them, Theo waved his hand. All of the fleeing gang members were sent hurtling back into the warehouse’s brick wall. A strange smirk appeared on Theo’s face as cracks appeared behind them and the gang members began to scream from the pain.

“Stop it,” Lilac commanded, moving to stand directly in front of Theo. 

Theo lowered his hand and the gang members collapsed onto the ground in an unconscious pile. Going around Lilac, he pulled his hood back over his head and made his way towards the warehouse doors. 

“Wait,” Lilac said, standing in front of Theo again to block his way. “Hand over that Imperium you took and follow us obediently. We’ll need to bring you in for questioning as well.” She looked at Theo’s face shadowed by his hood and could faintly make out the top of the dragon head. “I can’t have an unknown Maliator roaming around now, can I?”

“What if I say no?” Theo said.

Lilac shrugged. “Then I’m afraid I’ll have to do this.”

Before Theo could respond, the air around them popped and crackled as purple sparks flew. Theo felt as if he had been struck by a lightning bolt. As he fell onto the ground and his consciousness began to fade, the last thing Theo saw was the amethyst brooch on Lilac’s dress. Looking at the intricate silver trimming around the large gemstone, Theo realized that Lilac, too, was an Imperator.