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He had missed this.

Noct felt the rush of the wind as he leaped over a rooftop, jumping easily across a wide gap and landing on his feet. His red scarf trailed behind him, leaving behind a scarlet blur to anyone who saw him zip past. A grin crept across his face. He stretched his arms and secured closed his eyes, taking in this feeling.

How long has it been?

He broke into a run, nimbly balancing himself on the slanted surface. He seemed to have missed this old routine as a thief more than he imagined. He recalled this sense of freedom back in Uldard, and a rush of adrenaline and euphoria gripped him. Despite being on foreign territory, his body seemed to remember how to move by carry him as fast as it could to wherever he wanted to be taken to.

After minutes of streaking across the skies, Noct finally stopped at the edge of the place he had in mind: the market. One of the many valuable things that his experience as a thief had taught him was that information was easily collected in places where a lot of people gathered and gossiped.

And where else but the marketplace to do so?

Meters below, the place was as bustling as he expected it to be. Even in the early hours, men and women were already engaged in their own work. The chatter around him rang loud, making it hard for him to single out a conversation worth eavesdropping in. He would have to do the work by foot. Noct looked around to search for a way down from the thin ledge he was crouching at. He darted onto a railing to his side, quickly scaling the walls of a narrow alleyway and reaching the bottom in seconds. He straightened his back, tapping his shoes on the ground. Almost unconsciously, his hand hovered over the fatal arrow wound he'd gotten from the fight with the witch hunters. It didn't seem to hurt anymore. In fact, all that remained when Noct last checked it was a small scar where arrow had pierced flesh.

He always had a sturdy body. That was one of the many things he was grateful he was blessed with. Along with his other talents, of course.

Earlier he had snuck out of the palace by climbing over a tree next to the high walls. After that, all it took was for him to quickly make his way down, carefully planting his feet on any ledge or jutting rubble that he could find. He and the Chell had decided that it was safest to mark his absence unannounced. The last thing they needed was a rumor that said one of the princess's guests were gone on the day after she was attacked. Furthermore, Noct was less easier to spot from a crowd compared to The Snow Witch. He was also better at talking to people, too.

As Noct left the alley and mingled into the crowd, he suddenly remembered the conversation he had with Chell the other night, a talk that seemed to have happened ages ago. The Snow Witch had said something about leaving this place quickly because she couldn't stay for long. He hadn't brought it up earlier because he had forgotten about it, and because he knew that even if he did, it wouldn't have changed her mind at all.

What a troublesome employer.

He looked around, acting like a young man out for a leisurely stroll. He relaxed his shoulders and masked an innocent expression, following the tide of people. All the while, he listened keenly to his surroundings, picking up on whatever he might be able to use to look for Jul's whereabouts. He passed by various stalls, scanning the items for sale. By force of habit, he couldn't help eyeing the people he passed. He mused at how how easy it would have been to snatch their coins clinking in their pockets. But of course, those days as a thief was behind him now... at least, for the moment.

He stopped to buy two loaves at a bread stall with the coins from Chell that he had brought with him. While he received his change, he caught wind of a snippet of a hushed conversation between two men standing in the shade nearby. Their faces were grim.

"-- attack on the princess last night," one said.

"Her highness is recovering," the other responded. "Apparently, she was lucky her witch friend didn't hit a vital spot."

"Where is she now?"

"The witch? In hiding. Duke Basil has ordered the kingdom to look for her."

Noct moved closer to them, pretending to be interested in a set of silk robes. His attention, however, lay elsewhere.

"... So, how many cases does this make?"

Something about the tone of his voice bothered the thief. It seemed hushed, serious. The two men lowered their voices even more, wary for any eavesdropping people that might be listening nearby... though of course, there indeed was. But they seemed too absorbed in their chatter to realize this fact.

"I've lost count of the attacks, but the death toll has risen to twelve."

"Merely in these past two days?"

The other nodded darkly in response. "... They're all done by Witchfolk."

Noct froze, understanding what he had just heard.

"A week ago, Harold was found dead. Strangled to death by magic, as they said. A witness found the witch fleeing from the scene. They caught her at the price of a few good men. The rotten thing was pleading for mercy. Said she didn't know what she was doing."

"That's terrible. Mind you, people have been getting more and more wary these days. Ever since that incident in the neighboring kingdom, Uldard, the common folk have been getting more on guard. Though it looks like the palace is turning a blind eye to it. Well, at least now, they won't."

"Indeed. Ah, that reminds me, I still need to return to the pub quickly..."

Noct turned and left both of them once he realized they had finished their conversation. His face was calm as he analyzed the thoughts running over his head at what he had just gleaned.

Attacks. Two days ago, Witchfolk had started attacking people. Twelve had died.

Coincidentally, Noct remembered it was also the exact same day he and the Snow Witch had arrived at the kingdom as well. The timing seemed too ill-fated to overlook.

He glanced around, realizing that he hadn't noticed a lot of Witchfolk around, unlike last time. As he passed, the fountain square was devoid of the laughing children playing with floating bubbles of water. There was no lady to summon little sparks that entertained any passersby. He had unconsciously ignored this absence because Uldard, having its reputation against the Witchfolk, never had this kind of scene. The moment a witch would announce themselves in public over there, it was common knowledge that the action would be synonymous to death.

The Crow Thief bit into the piece of bread he had just bought, continuing in his listening. By the time he had reached the edge of the marketplace, he found out a few interesting things that were happening while he and Chell had been staying under the hospitality of the palace.

One, two days ago, a few cases of attacks had been reported throughout the kingdom, mostly in the backwater areas such as the slums. This was apparently why it did not get the attention of the higher ranks yet. There also seemed to be no connection nor common intention between all of them, except for the fact that it had all been done at the hands of a Witch. The victims bodies were left in gruesome states, as reported by witnesses.

Two, the witches who had been caught and questioned seemed not to be in their right state of mind during the incident. They all had claimed to be innocent, and that they couldn't remember what happened.

Three, there was no useful information he got about the Falcon Witch. She had completely disappeared on the night of the attack. For someone as loud and boisterous as the witch named Jul Orben, Noct was impressed at her ability to stay hidden from sight.

These things bore on his mind as the sun steadily rose above the sky. Noct could feel that something was definitely wrong with the kingdom, something that he had not taken note in the past days because of the presence of Yoko and Jul. Now that he was alone and unnoticed, it was easier for him to observe his surroundings and see the small things that were harder to make out. He saw the guarded eyes of those he passed by, the hushed whispers of those who colluded in darkened corners, the spiteful rumors about the incoming fight for the throne. It was as if the kingdom itself was holding its low, collective breath, awaiting anxiously for something terrible to happen.

Noct, however, already had a certain person in mind for being the one behind all of this. Of course, it would be none other than Basil, brother of the king and uncle to Yoko, who was responsible for these events. From the opinions of the people he heard from, Duke Basil seemed more than keen to acquire the right of the throne--almost even driven with a mad desire. Noct was certain that he had been behind the attack on Yoko last night. But without enough evidence, nothing could be done. Furthermore, he seemed to have been colluding with a witch, and a powerful one at that. Noct shuddered at the thought of someone being able to control someone enough to the point of wanting them to kill a person they loved.

Still, there are missing points. Why had he allowed Jul to escape? What is his connection with the attacks?

"Having trouble looking for someone?"

Noct froze in the middle of the street, turning around. The quiet, taunting voice had rang clearly amidst the noise around him. He was certain he hadn't imagined what he'd just heard.

Without a second to waste, the Crow Thief immediately caught sight of a young man's retreating back, hair as dark as pitch. He didn't look back, nor did he act suspicious at all. But somehow, Noct knew he had been the one who had spoken mere seconds ago.

Something told him that this person was dangerous. Every sensible nerve in his body was telling him to turn around and leave. The Crow Thief remained still for a few seconds, contemplating about what to do. Despite the nagging feeling that only misfortune would await, Noct had the feeling that he needed to follow him.

... What am I getting myself into?

Keeping a safe distance from the young man, Noct blended within the crowd and followed his figure, watching his every move. He seemed to be unaware of the thief, at the very least. His actions were relaxed and incautious. After observing him for a few more paces, Noct almost thought that he had singled out the wrong person.

They were already outside the vicinity of the marketplace. The crowd around him was getting thinner, and it was getting harder and harder for him to trail after the black-haired man without being seen. Just when he was about to give up, the other person suddenly made a sharp turn and slipped through an alleyway. Right before he disappeared, however, Noct was certain he had looked over at him with a smirk.

The Crow Thief hesitated for only a moment, breathing in quietly and strengthening his resolve. The last time he had charged into certain recklessness, the dead had been there to goad him. But now, it was freely of his own choice.

If it were the little miss in his position right now, he knew she wouldn't even think twice about it. Noct was the same, except he'd have chosen the opposite path. The fact that he was deliberating about it now showed just how much the little miss had managed to influence him over the past days and it left a rotten taste in his mouth. He frowned at himself.

Agh! To hell with it!

Noct made a dissatisfied click of his tongue and followed after him.

----> thank you for reading!

(unedited)