Lux casually tossed the blue silver coin they had earned into the air, caught it, and then held it tightly.

  They could even spin the coin on their fingertip, making it dance back and forth between their fingers, as if the blue silver piece was performing a little jig.

  "Lux, good morning!" It was a yellow-haired youth with messy, bird's-nest-like hair, looking no older than fifteen. They were grimy, with smudges of dirt on their face, as if they had just crawled out of the earth.

  "Morning, Reed," Lux replied, pocketing the coin.

  "I really envy you, having so many ways to make money. Unlike me, I can't even pickpocket properly, so I'm stuck begging or doing other dirty work," Reed said gloomily, a hint of resentment and apathy towards life in their voice.

  "These days, fewer and fewer people in the city keep money in their pockets, so besides pickpocketing, I have to do other things too... By the way, why are you wearing the Holy Light Church's triangle?" Lux noticed the triangular necklace around Reed's neck.

  "This, this thing? A missionary from outside the city gave it to me, Lux. In my opinion, although our city belongs to the faith of the God of Wealth, well, the God of Wealth and Fortune only seems to care for adventurers and merchants. Look at me, I'm neither brave nor clever. But the God of Light is equal, is just. Even someone as useless as me will receive blessings. And isn't it allowed to believe in other faiths here? So, so nothing bad will happen..." Reed looked slightly nervous and apprehensive, speaking in a somewhat stuttering but continuous stream.

  "Wait, I remember those priests only entered the city two days ago, right? You joined their church so quickly?"

  "It was the divine guidance for this lamb of God. And you know, my father has accumulated so many gambling debts again. I, I need help and guidance. Those priests even took pity on me and lent me some money, and they performed Blessed Light Healing on my sick mother. I can feel she's a bit better," Reed said, lowering their head.

  "I, I, I really can't do anything. Right now, I can only wait for my mother to die before leaving that guy. I really want to kill him, but but... I just want to save up some money and become a leather shoe apprentice, then I can earn money making boots. I even want my own shop..." Reed's voice grew softer and softer, eventually becoming a mumble.

  "Reed, open your hand," Lux said, taking out two silver coins and dropping them into Reed's palm.

  "Pay me back after you're alive and working as a bootmaker," Lux said with a wave, ready to leave.

  "This, I can't accept this," Reed said flusteredly. "I know you don't talk to people who borrow money and don't repay it, Lux, but I really don't know when I'll be able to pay you back, so please, take it back."

  "Then consider it a gift. Pay me back with leather boots in the future. I'll make a huge profit then." A good pair of leather boots would cost over a dozen blue silver coins, even poorly made ones were worth four or five. So it sounded like a good deal, that is, if Reed could become a bootmaker.

  "Okay, alright, thank you. I'll pray for you. You're a good person," Reed accepted. Perhaps in their heart, they still believed they would have a chance to become a bootmaker.

  "I'm not," Lux started to say, then added, "but I'll accept your blessing." Lux almost said, Forget your blessing, you unlucky bastard. Just run away with your mother and leave your father, but held back the words after a moment's thought.

  Afterward, Lux walked through the alley and began to wander onto the street, searching for a target. The locals indeed rarely kept money in their pockets, making it difficult to steal from them. So, Lux's targets were the out-of-towners.

  Spotting a few people wearing linen-colored cloaks gathered in front of a freight wagon and talking, Lux noted that there were both men and women among them, and they gave off a clean impression, not poor.

  Lux now hid in a corner like a lynx, glancing around with a seemingly absent gaze. They weren't in a hurry, waiting for the right opportunity.

  The moment felt right as Lux saw a carriage about to pass by. They immediately darted out from the side, like an arrow shot from a bow, flying past the horse's head across the street and colliding with the cloaked figures.

  "Sorry, so sorry!" Lux exclaimed in alarm, realizing they hadn't bumped into a person but a pillar. The individual didn't budge, only glancing at Lux after the collision.

  This was a tall person with pale blue skin that shimmered with a faint blue light. Their red pupils were like bloodstained daggers. They were very tall and sturdy, and up close, Lux could smell a faint fishy scent on them.

  "You bastard, are you trying to die? Even if you die, I won't pay a single penny!" the hurried coachman shouted at Lux, who quickly offered a few more apologies and ran off.

  "Huff, huff." Lux ducked into a small alley, darting into the depths like an arrow that could turn corners. After confirming no one was chasing them, they opened the cloth bag they had just snatched.

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  "Yeah!" Lux cried out excitedly. Inside were several dazzling purple coins, over a dozen blue silver coins, and even two shining gold coins, as well as a bead with strange symbols drawn on it.

  They had felt the weight of the bag when they snatched it, quite heavy. Although Lux had also slipped a bag of stones into the large individual's pocket, they would probably realize something was wrong soon. Lux felt confident, like a gambler holding a royal flush. "Sorry," she said, sounding genuinely remorseful or perhaps it was just a formality.

  But suddenly, Lux caught a scent, the scent of one of those hooded figures. "Hi there, cute little sister... or should I say handsome little sister?" The voice came from behind, filled with the charm of a mature woman and a power that seemed to penetrate the listener's heart. Lux immediately spun around, then she leaped backward, creating distance.

  It was eerie, not just that the woman had discerned Lux's gender, but more importantly, it seemed as if this woman had appeared behind her in an instant. At this point, Lux clearly saw the woman's face. She had flowing purplish-red hair, like a ripe peach with colors and juice about to burst forth. Her fair skin was cold and seemed to be enveloped in a hazy glow, like the morning light. Her orange eyes had an extraordinary "freshness," like newly picked oranges. But for Lux, this beauty radiated an intense sense of danger.

  "Hmm?" The woman made a questioning sound, then her confusion shifted to a hint of amusement. "Interesting." "Here, take this back, goodbye," Lux said quickly, tossing the bag behind the woman, then turning and running with astonishing speed.

  But just as she rounded a corner, the woman was standing right in front of her. "Now, now, I don't recall Menjev being fond of collecting stones," the woman said playfully, flicking the bag downwards, and a pile of stones tumbled out.

  "Well... I surrender. My sincerest apologies," Lux said, holding one hand up open and offering the stolen goods with the other.

  "My, my, don't be nervous," the lady said, gently raising her orchid-like fingers, like a rose slowly blooming. "You can keep the money, but we need the transit orb back," the woman said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned about the shining gold and dazzling purple coins. "But you have to agree to one condition."

  "Madam, please tell me," Lux replied. "First, let me ask, do you want to learn magic?" If Lux wasn't mistaken, the woman's eyes seemed to emit a faint light when she mentioned magic. "I can teach you some practical magic, as well as some that can help you defend yourself, and of course, a very special kind of magic."

  "Hmm... do you think I can? And is that your condition? To become your apprentice?" Lux asked doubtfully.

  "No, that's just asking for your willingness. We can talk about that slowly later." The woman smiled, then suddenly became serious, her previously amiable voice turning grave. "My request is that you immediately find a way to leave this place, leave this city before nightfall, the further away the better."

  The woman looked directly at Lux, her eyes telling Lux she wasn't joking.

  "As for the magic, you can go to the Theater Capital in the north. There's a place called Jenny's Tea Shop there. I quite enjoy having tea at that shop; you can try their passionflower honey tea, I highly recommend it. If I go there, I'll be there for afternoon tea... that way, we might have a chance to meet again. We can talk more then." The woman held up her index finger and wagged it, then gave a final reminder, "My name is Narara. See you later, if we meet alive, and leave quickly."

  Lux watched as the woman took the bead and tossed the money bag back. Then she turned and walked out of the dark alley as if nothing had happened.

  However, the gold coins in hand were real. Lux squeezed the money bag tightly a couple of times, confirming the heavy weight and contemplating the reality of the bizarre conversation. A strange woman, magic, and it feels like something's about to happen. I wonder if it's true... Lux put the money away. She felt like the woman had seen through everything. Lux didn't know why this woman had such high expectations for her. Is it because of the power of the curse?

  Lux decided to first verify the authenticity of the money. All she needed was to boil some hot water and get a hammer when she got home. Dazzling gold coins would glow in hot water, and if you hammered a shimmering purple coin hard, it would flash purple – these were difficult to fake.

  As for becoming a magic apprentice, Lux didn't care. Compared to that mysterious power, she had something much more important. So much so that Lux didn't give much thought to whether or not she should go to that so-called Theater Capital. That was her younger sister, Mitty.

  "Narara, you took long enough," the blue-skinned giant said, arms crossed, leaning against the side of the wagon. "How was that little thief?"

  "She's a pretty good girl. Although her face was covered in dirt and looked quite ugly, I could tell from her bone structure that if she cleaned up and dressed nicely, she'd be absolutely beautiful. Her skills were also excellent; a real promising talent," Narara said, tapping a finger against her cheek with a smile.

  "Hmm, that's good. So, can I have my money bag back?" "Sure, here you go. Oh right, I gave all the money in your bag to that child. I'll pay you back later. You're so kind, Menjev, you'll agree, right?"

  "Huh?" The blue-skinned giant took the money bag, its weight almost just the empty pouch, and paused. Then, hearing Narara's words, he blurted out, "Wait, why would you give so much money to that kid? And don't think I don't know you owe a lot of people money, you bankrupt woman."

  "Alright, my dear Menjev, I'll put you at the very top of my repayment list, please forgive me?" Narara clasped her hands together, winking at Drayen. "Besides, that child is a natural-born talent user. Think of it as a long-term investment for our organization. This is for the advancement of our cause, after all."

  "What? A talent user?" Menjev looked surprised. "No wonder that kid was so fast just now... Wait a minute." Drayen glanced at Narara. "Talent users are naturally excellent magic adapters. You wouldn't be trying to peddle your broken..."

  "Menjev, if you dare call the 'Arrogant Gambit' broken magic, I'll scrape your scales clean off," Narara's eyes turned fierce, her gaze making Menjev feel like even nonexistent hairs on his body were standing on end. "Your attitude towards your creditors is truly appalling."

  "My, my, this is already very good and gentle. Otherwise, I would have said I'd skin you and make a rug out of you," Narara said, lowering her clasped hands and tilting her head towards Menjev with a restored smile.

  "Are you ready? We need to prepare to enter the inner city," said another man wearing a linen-colored cloak. This man looked short but had bulging muscles, a full beard, and a vicious scar that ran from his forehead down to his chin, making it seem like his face was pieced together.

  "It's about to begin, huh? Then everyone be careful," Narara said.

  "Of course, I'll come out alive. If I die, wouldn't that just be convenient for you?" Menjev tightened his cloak and followed the group deeper into the city.