1 Chapter 1 : Misadventure

The gentle breeze of the wind delicately caressed my skin, lifting with it's flow was my wavy brown hair that fluttered freely. My tattered grey robe flapped wildly, while I sat atop a building's roof.

My gaze turned downward, towards the moving sea of people flocking the streets. My eyes busily darted, tracing over people's movements without flaw.

After what seemed like eternity, my eyes stopped at a person with a rotund build, donning a fine beige-colored suit.

'Found 'ya, my dear provider.'

Prompting myself up, I stretched my limbs, readying myself for another adventure – well, mischief, is all. I licked my palms, then used it to brush my unkempt hair up.

I slowly jogged on the ridge, before turning into a full on sprint. Heavy thuds thumped the roof as I run, the edge of the canopy loomed up ahead. With practiced movements, I bent my legs and put force into them before jumping over the precipice, landing gracefully at the other building's roof.

I scurried to the side of the establishment with nimble movements, then glide at the sloping roof. My hands clutched tightly at the roof's soffits, then I sling downwards. I free fall before my ragged boots touched the cold, hard surface of a balcony's metal railing, producing a dull ting sound.

I perched on the railing like a bird would, whilst the people dining in the balcony of what seemed to be a restaurant, was startled silly while they looked at me with bulging eyes – probably wondering where did such a handsome boy emerged from, less on the fact that I fell from the sky.

'Heh! Indulge yourselves well, plebeians. For you wouldn't be able to see a visage as stunning as mine for the rest of your lives.'

My right hand deftly gripped the metal railing, while my left hand swiftly struck out, snatching a dessert from the nearest table.

Without waiting for a response, I loosened my grip on the railing, falling once more while bits of crumbs from the cookie I bit drifted as I descended.

My body crouched down like a cat landing on the ground, before steadying myself up and leisurely walking away.

"Fucking @@$#-_&" slurs and profanities – probably better not disclose – rang aloud at the balcony.

Turning my head, I flashed a toothy grin at the man making the ruckus. His face is red in anger while madly pointing at me, his other hand holding the plate of desserts.

It seemed my smile infuriated him further for he threw the plate towards me, while slurring words like – dreg, peasant scum and other degrading remarks.

I whipped my hand, catching cookies that managed to reach me. "Thank you, Good Sir!" I exclaimed while giving him a curtsey.

Turning around, I caught glimpse of the man on my peripheral vision trying to jump down from the balcony too, his other feet already prompt up, while the lady he's with hold him off, preventing him from doing something foolish.

'Hehe. Man, he should do something about that temper.'

Though, I can't really blame him. I too would go ballistic if someone just grabbed my food out of nowhere. What kind of rude person would do that? Tch! Tch!

I traverse down the cobblestone road, weaving my way into the crowd with a light feet, inching closer towards the portly man dressed in a beige-colored suit. I slowed on my pace while carefully examining him.

Two rings on his right fingers. A gold necklace adorned with gems. One bracelet on his pudgy left wrist. A pocket watch. And lastly, the clanking pouch of coins tightly grasps by his left hand.

'This man's loaded.' – I thought, delighted at my catch.

Though, the other accessories he wore have no meaning to me, for they needed to be sold before I could make something out of it.

What I want is something readily available to spend to tend to my needs. Hence, the acquisition of that pouch is of utmost importance.

The problem however, is how I'll manage to take the pouch from his hand.

'Hmm, how troublesome.'

I strode closer to him, then matched his pace as I trailed behind him. I peeked at the pouch, forming a plan in my head all the while.

'I guess taking the whole pouch is out of the question.'

I formulated a new one and then reached for the pocket knife hidden underneath my pocket.

My head swiveled from left to right, looking for a distraction needed to enact my intention.

A grin flashed my face as a mischievous idea popped into mind. We continued to walk and soon enough, a burly man was just a few meters away before we overtook him on the road.

'I'm sorry, man.' – I mentally apologized to my target, since what I'm about to do would surely put him in a lot of trouble… and pain.

'As compensation, I'll be generous and won't rob you silly.'

I readied myself, for I am about to unleash a forbidden technique, sealed by mankind for thousand of years.

When we're just inches away from the burly man, I begun to perform hand signs and when the time is ripe! I unsealed the seal!

With outstretched fingers, I thrust forward, carrying with it, is a force so destructive no one would be willing to receive. My stab shot forward confidently, directly plunging at the burly man's cinnamon ring!

"Ahhhhhh~ Hnngh~" came the undreamt-of moan of the burly man, his eyes rolled up, while he bit his lower lips in elation. It took everything I have to stop myself from guffawing, choking on my own saliva in the process, almost giving myself away.

The portly man stopped in his tracks, startled. While he looked sideways with an incredulous expression.

The burly man quickly recovered his composure, salvaging any pride he had left. "Kuhum!" then glared towards the portly man. "D-did you do that, huh?" he said, trying to sound intimidating.

Taking that as my cue, I took out the pocket knife while I hid behind the portly man, away from their attention.

"N-no, I did not." The portly man stammered. "Then who did? You're the only one behind me!" the burly man pushed his face closer towards the portly man, whilst glowering down at the latter.

I whipped the knife forward into a horizontal slash, making a swift and clean slit at the bottom of the pouch, enough for a single coin to fit through. I snuck my fingers in, plucking coins one after the other slowly, simultaneously putting them into my threadbare satchel.

"No, it was definitely not me, gentleman. I'm telling the truth!"

"Are you gonna fuck with me – err – I mean, are you taking me for a pushover, huh? You think I wouldn't know it would be you with those thick –" the burly man trailed off, swallowing while intently looking at the portly man's fingers.

The portly man stepped back, his hair standing on end while gazing warily at the man before him.

'Come on, don't move!' – I matched the man's movements, making sure we wouldn't collide.

"Well, I-I'm sorry?"

"You think that's enough?" the burly man grabbed the portly man's collar, his face flush, while his breathing labored – if it's due to anger or something else entirely, I don't even want to think about it.

The commotion they're making, now attracted attention from the passing crowd.

I took a peek at my satchel, ten coins were already in it.

'I guess that's enough.'

One of the things I learned by living in the streets and pick-pocketing, is to never let greed took over you. Once you do, it would surely bit you in the arse.

Besides, with all the attention the two were drawing, the risk it entailed of me getting exposed is huge.

As I was about to leave, a coin suddenly fell out from the slit in the pouch.

My eyes widened, and sweat formed at my forehead as I watch the coin plummet in a slow motion.

My right feet kicked forward, and the coin – just a few inches away from touching the ground – met with my boots as I kicked it towards me, then quickly snatched it.

'Huu~. Save.' – I heaved a sigh of relief while I clasped the rogue of a coin. Then, to make sure such thing never happens again, I nimbly slid the coin back in the slit, positioning it flatly in a way that act as a stopper, preventing any more coins from falling.

'Done! Now, let's get out of this place.'

But just when I'm about to leave, I noticed something unusual as the bickering of the two had stopped.

'It can't be, right?' – trepidation filled my body as I slowly looked up.

Gulp –

Meeting my eyes were two pairs of eyes belonging to the adults before me. They looked down at my small figure – hand still outstretched towards the pouch.

The three of us just stared at one another, like cowboys would during their showdowns.

"…"

"…"

"…"

Breaking the stillness was me raising my hand – "Hello?" – and waved at them with my most innocent face. My eyes turned round, sparkling all the while.

'Damn, who wouldn't feel pity with this face of mine. Only cold-hearted people wouldn't be compelled!'

"You, fucki –"

And I ran.

"Hahaha. So long, suckers!" I sprinted off into the distance, bypassing people as I went.

I heard the portly man's voice, shouting "Stop that thief!", but unluckily for him, I'm not your regular thief.

For I am Isaiah! The scourge of the wealthy!