(Austins POV)

"Why... Just why!" Once again, the group of kids was questioning each other's sanity. If some of them even had any to begin with.

To the onlooker, they would just see a group of small children. Who must've gotten lost from their family, and where right now dressing up as their favorite guild leaders for some odd reason enough.

He didn't realize this at all, totally not. Not because a stranger was in front of their face.

"Why.. You guys are so adorable!" the female baker squeezed Ritchie's cheeks, and he puffed up. Trying to make himself look bigger.

"I am not cute, I am powerful and shall beat you in a duel!", Ritchie pointed at the women in a declaring manner. Announcing to the whole town market as he hopped up on the fountain in the middle and screamed " YEA!".

Oh god, Austin wanted to bury himself into the ground and never come up. This was making him sick. It was too embarrassing to watch.

Brandon snickered at his brother's performance in front of everybody. Some people clapped, probably because they considered the kids adorable. 

If only they knew... He looked at some other kids playing around near a blacksmith shop, and he wondered again. Where was his brother?

The women interfered his soon-to-be-daydreaming. And picked him up by his arms playfully. Squealing, " And you, you can even make a thief look so innocent!". 

He halted himself before flailing and kicking, but at least she realized he looked uncomfortable and set him down. 

Austin glared over at Bri, eyes holding a considerably 'short' meaning behind it.

It's your fault we're now stuck in this situation, you could've just said, " Noooo. The boat would get my high-class shoes all wet." But Blah- NO! You chose to be all, "Let's visit the market in Atlantide's square for fun!". For some odd and TOTALLY reasonable reason.

Now we're stuck being bombarded by this random STRANGER who could be secretly trying to kidnap us!

Somehow, Bri understood his glare's message. And she shot back a simple, "You deserve this punishment." gaze.

But about the last part of his glare. As if on cue, the baker asked, "Would you like some pastries? There on sample today!".

Ritchie's eyes became stars when hearing this, and nodded eagerly. Bri was distracted from his and her glaring shenanigans. Yelling out,

"Yes please!".

The woman nodded, an odd smile coming to her face. At least, he was the only one considering it odd from what he could tell from everyone else reactions.

They followed the adult to her bakery room, it was farther from the main market. Drifting off into different branches of the city.

A sinking pit started to develop inside his stomach as they got farther away from the crowds. Making him want to vomit the butterflies out of his gut.

Randomly, he felt a soft hand touch his own (relatively soft) palm. Looking a bit down--he was short, at least compared to the adult and Brandon! But he was the oldest out of the bunch. so HAH!-- to see Micheal stare at the lady and hold his hand, tightening his small grip around his pinky for small bits of comfort.

Micheal then motioned for him to kneel so he could whisper in his ear, "I don't trust the lady...".

He sighed with relief, at least someone agreed-- wait, and that person was the youngest!?--.

Yea, he shouldn't even be questioning this logic anymore. Micheal was already full of unpleasant, and honestly cool surprises.

While he was distracted with Micheal. Bri, Brandon, and Ritchie walked into the Baker's house without his consent.

This is when he felt true panic rush through him. Feeling as though he needed to get them out before something bad happened... That woman was too sketchy for her own good.

Micheal already understood the situation, and tugged at his sleeve. Pointing to a booth where you could turn in requests for guilds.

"You sure we have enough time?" he hesitated, not knowing the right choice of action in his mind. Conflicted on either running inside and getting hurt himself, or listen to Micheals idea.

Micheal started heaving him over, "only reasonable option we have.".

The person seemed to be asleep, so Micheal heaved himself on the desk and wrote down on a piece of paper. And just hoped down on the other side of the counter. Putting it in a random section, which looked like an S-class folder.

Right at that moment, someone turned the corner coming to the stand. Luckily Micheal got away and walked over to him when they came and grabbed the requests. Supossidely taking them to the guilds?

Hopefully it got there on time, because from what he learned about himself in his life of 10-11 years of age. He really had a knack for gut feelings.

And this was the worse one he ever had in his whole entire life so far.

He rethought that for some odd reason, feeling as though that wasn't true... He pushed that aside, and they both waited in worried silence for help.

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Honestly, I see Micheal forcing Austin to take the safe route when he was a kid.

(Gosh I enjoy writing kid Micheal.).

But hope you enjoyed, a quick and fun cliffhanger chapter. I want to write more, but i'll have to later in the morning. Well today, cause its 12:00. Heh.

I need sleep ;-;

Anways, hope you enjoyed!

(P.s I'm sad child, I published it right after I finished the chapter. But it glitched and didn't publish.)