-Rollan-

Rollan started sneaking around the garden with Meilin following close behind. He had to admit, Meilin didn't seem like some brat. Actually, he felt comfortable around her and she seemed to be quite fun to be with. He shook her head. He remembered Devin's words before they got off the ship.

"Don't get too attached now, Roll. You do know what happens to traitors around here."

He shook his head and focused on the task at hand. Of course he wasn't going to soften to a girl, especially a rich, spoiled general's daughter. Rollan felt a twinge of guilt with his thoughts but again, he shook them away.

They turned a corner and immediately stopped. Rollan grinned and he pointed to Meilin at a couple who were engrossed on a conversation. Meilin's eyes sparked with interest and grinned back. They both sneaked closer, carefully not to make any noise as they approached the oblivious couple. They were both sitting beside a fountain. Rollan's grin widened as he recognized who they were.

"Looks like our first victim is Mr. Catman," he snickered, "I guess he has a new girlfriend."

"I'd like to see if you could prove your pranking skills better than his flirting," Meilin said.

He only smirked, "Just watch and learn from the master."

He then sneaked closer until he was close enough yo eavesdrop, hidden from view behind the bushes.

"So you're Renna you say?" Devin was speaking.

"And you're the famous Devin Trunswick who summoned a legendary black cat," the girl called Renna replied.

He grinned, "Indeed I am."

"How exactly did you summon the cat?" Renna asked, inching closer.

"Well, it is true that I didn't summon Elda in my Nectar Ceremony," Devin started, "but as I went into the forest, a wild black cat came up to me but instead of hurting, it bowed down. You can say that the cat was shy, that's why she didn't appear in my Nectar Ceremony."

Rollan almost snorted out loud. He could detect the lies under those words. It sounds convincing but he wasn't fooled. He could tell that part of what he was saying is true but he didn't know the hidden story behind it. Growing up in the streets, he had been so used to seeing people that he started noticing people's expression. Ever since summoning Essix, his intuition became stronger.

"That is very unusual," Renna commented while Rollan inched closer, looking around to find something.

"It is indeed," Devin replied, taking a step closer.

"Such a young brave boy you must be," Renna told him.

That's when Rollan grinned as he found his weapon, carefully picking it up.

Devin boasted, "I'm not scared of anything."

Rollan peeked up, aimed, then threw the black thing right at Devin before ducking once more. He saw Meilin watching from a distance and he mouthed to her, "3...2...1."

That's when Devin screamed that Rollan fell on the floor, trying to hold his laughter, "Spider! There's a spider!"

The best part was that he was trying to shake the spider off even though it had already scurried away. No wait, the best part was when he inched towards the fountain and suddenly tripped, diving headfirst into the water and soaking Renna's dress. She gasped, standing up and looking at her dress, horrified. Devin was no better and Rollan didn't stick around for he had already bolted away with Meilin behind him.

Once they were a good distance away, Rollan and Meilin were heaving with laughter. Rollan glanced at Meilin, smiling at how she made her laugh, liking the way she laughed.

"Okay," Meilin spoke up, "I have to admit it. That was incredible."

"What can I say?" He shrugged smugly, "I am the master at these things."

She then straightened up, "Let's get back to the secret garden. Mr. Catman might find us."

She then started leading the way back to the garden and they walked with comfortable silence. He liked the feeling of being close to Meilin and he wanted to be closer. Not just physically but he wanted to know her, know the real girl behind the general's daughter reputation.

What am I thinking? I need her talisman.

Rollan then felt very guilty. Maybe if the Conquerors haven't found him, if Zerif didn't take his mother away, then maybe things would've been different.

Who am I kidding? I'm a wanted thief of a continent and she's the daughter of a very famous general. What are the odds of a rich girl to like a street thief like me?

-Meilin-

They finally made their way back to the secret garden, sitting down by the tree once more.

"Okay, i'll give you a hint," the boy, which she still didn't know his name, told her, "The next two letters are the same."

Meilin then racked her brain for ideas. That's when she remembered of the famous Amayan thief known as Roll. She learned from the news and her tutors that Roll was a smart thief who got away with everything he did so far. She heard of him stealing a few Nectar supply once, losing a lot of Greencloaks and soldiers in the process. When the Prime Minister of Amaya came to a city called Concorba, he had acted as one of the servants and stole the Prime Minister's expensive ring and necklace. Secretly, she was impressed and wanted to meet the thief herself.

Meilin shrugged the thought away. This boy couldn't be Roll because of many different reasons. Why would Roll go all the way to Zhong and what for? How would he have known that the famous General Teng's daughter is her birthday today?

She thought harder but Roll's name was the only name that came up.

"Giving up?" The boy smirked.

She decided to give it a shot, "How about L?"

Just then, she heard a loud Boom and she immediately stood up and looked around. The boy stood up as well and led the way out the garden. They both stopped dead and Meilin's eyes widened. Right in front of them was the mansion and it was catching on fire!

- - -

I'll leave it at this cliffhanger. Want to read the rest? You guys have to wait till I finally publish it which would most likely be next week. But if I finish my "Ten Keepers" series within this week, then just maybe i'll publish then. I'll post an announcement to let you guys know when it's out!