Chapter Text
Ch.1- Felix Culpa
The stage lights dimmed as the man fell to his knees. His body curling up against the floor as he begged the Gods above to give him some sign that he wasn't wasting his life away. That he had a purpose beyond being a mere farmhand in this cursed world.
The lights fading further as he continued to cry out for the Gods. His tone becoming enraged and then demanding for them to just smite him if this was all he was meant to be and do. His life meaningless if he didn't know his own destiny.
And then, as the man declared that he would off himself by his own hands, a green light illuminated the stage. The female gently being lowered by strings towards the stage her fellow partner had so graciously given his speech moments prior.
"What is it that you ask of my kind, mortal?" She asked the man, her body comprised of green and a pair of goat-like horns on her head. "Have we not given you enough thus far? Food, water, love, peace, and now even technology… what else do you wish for us to do?"
"Oh please, great Prico! The God of the land and its growth! Hear my plea this one time!" The man crawled towards the woman, kissing her bare feet with tears streaming down his face.
"Then speak to me… and I shall see if your grievance has any merit." She clicked her tongue, eyes narrowing towards the man.
"Allow us to know of your existence further! Allow mankind to know what it's like to share a single common trait with your kin!" He begs, hand flying over his chest as he rises to his feet.
You snort at this, finding it rather hilarious how a God would even be willing to make a mere man related to a God. The mere thought was absurd! If man was supposed to be among the Gods… then they would.
And so with a rolling of your eyes, you tug further into the bag, trying to find what you were looking for as this play continued. The kingdom of Highar often held many cultural festivals, and today's attraction seemed to be an origin story on the God's ultimate blessing on the world.
While each kingdom in this world had its own version of this myth, you had to admit that Highar's tale was quite… dramatic. Amusing, but dramatic. So you could luckily pay attention to your own thoughts and goals while the play continued on for everyone else who had been suckered in with this story.
"Kin?" The woman chuckled. "You mortals vastly outnumber us Gods… there is no possibility for us to give any sort of immortality to any of you!"
"Then… bestow upon of your blessings! The mark that one of you Gods knows of us! Allow us to know that at least a God sees the benefit in us… even if we don't see it ourselves!"
"A marking saying that you belong to our own alliance…" The woman smirked, letting off a chuckle. "I do fancy the idea of such… maybe you had a decent idea… one that I'm sure my kin and I would love to implement onto this world."
"Oh great God Prico… I thank you for your kindness and time." The man once more crawled onto his hands and knees.
"Raise to your feet, worthy mortal." The play God raised her hand. "As I find you worthy to wield a part of my power, as long as your actions act upon my morals and ideals."
"Of course, my God!" The man bowed, a green mark being engraved into his right shoulder. The image looking similar to an ‘n' and ‘p' connected to one another.
You rolled your eyes, able to see past the cheap illusion magic that the man's true marking was creating for him to allow the audience to further believe that this was the first time a God had created a member of the Godkin.
You continued to shuffle about, ducking behind a rather plump man in front of you who appeared to be engrossed with the story and the wine he was ingesting as the seconds ticked by. Your attire standing out among the long dresses, and fancy suits. Your own gloved and covered attire making you look more like a mercenary than a noble watching a play this evening.
You placed the various chains into your bag once more, turning and locking up your bag. You had better places to go, and besides… this was the worst play you had seen in your years of travel thus far. So, you'd leave while you had the chance to not disturb anyone at least.
"Then… by the power of my being… I grant you as my first Ki-"
The actors suddenly halted their lines when a shriek erupted from the audience. A round form rising and touching his neck upon realizing that he was missing something from his attire that had been there a moment earlier… but no more. And with a quick gaze… he was able to find the party responsible for such a crime against him.
"Stop! Thief!"
The performance on stage was suddenly stopped upon the sounds of such a call, the actors dropping what little ability they had to play their characters and instead turning to look at the man in rich purples and shimmering jewels pointing towards the culprit.
Turning his attention to the guards, the man who was no doubt a noble pointed at a young female who had been making her way towards the exit. Her attire that of a lower class citizen, though her bag was displaying a thick and metallic golden necklace spilling from it. An item that would not be on such a lowly citizen if she had not stolen it in the first place.
Sooner than anyone knew, the sounds of guards running into the performance tent made everyone halt and pay attention to the live action drama that was occurring at that moment. The young thief girl who had used the distraction of a folk tale to steal from its rich patrons and now the half dozen guards surrounding her with spears and shields raised.
"Well… it was a lovely play!" You called out to the actors as the guards surrounded you further, a smirk playing on your lips as you tucked the golden necklace further into your small bag.
Eyes wandered to the marks adorning the men's bodies, each one beginning to illuminate on preparation for a further attack. Your own hand slowly and noticing reaching downwards towards a weapon of your own, ready to counterattack if this little encounter turned more bitter.
With a quick nod to the noble you had taken from so plentifully, you ducked down as the first two guards lunged their spears towards you, the points of their weapons meeting in the center and creating a loud and unpleasant scraping sound.
You crawled underneath the benches, trying to use the long fabrics of the women above you to create some sort of cloaking mechanism for you to make your grand escape. However, you paused when you saw that the guards had now moved to the three exits and then two more to the back exit for the actors.
You mentally slapped yourself for being so careless today. Of course, the capital city of Highar would have top-level security and guards around every corner! But then again… they also were the richest kingdom in all the land… and you couldn't help how mouth watering the thoughts of expensive new things were to you.
"She's over here!" A lady shouted as she looked down and saw you.
You immediately hopped up and the remaining four guards who had not been guarding the exits came towards you. You dodged one of the spears that came forward, the metal encased in ice. Another behind you surrounded in flames making you feel the heat surrounding it in time to dodge once more.
You landed on a bench next to a group of screaming noblewomen who took off running from you. You grimaced as yet another guard shot his spear forward, this one illuminated with sparks of electricity flying off of it.
You lowered yourself, watching as the ends of your messy and now frizzy (hair color) locks tasted the magic coming off the man and his weapon. The buzzing leaving your ears a moment after you realized you were safe and not stabbed yet.
However, a shrill shriek coming from behind you made you turn and see what was happening now. Your eyes widening as you saw that the woman who had been behind you was now impaled with the spear. Her center protruding the spear that had at one point been sparking. A deep crimson color soiling her expensive peach pink color and her face going pale.
You gulped, knowing this might be the best time to actually make you escape. And while the four guards were distracted by the woman crying out about how much it hurt and to get the thing out of her, you slid under one flap of the tent.
"You two! After her!" The nobleman yelled as the guards had allowed his jewels to be taken by such a filthy being.
"Yes, sir!" The duo of guards called and soon were chasing you down the lively street in the capital city.
You sighed, seeing that you were not home free yet as a strike of ice blocked an alleyway path you had been attempting to run down. Instead, you opted for the nearby market, knowing that with one possible injury already, the royal guards would be doing better to make sure they didn't harm another person.
With the streets lined with various products and people, it was easy for you to find things to throw or tip over to make it harder for the men to catch you. A chicken set loose from its coop, a display of new swords, a potion or two from a witch, or your personal favorite… loosening the stop in a cart and having it head directly towards the duo who were chasing you. The options were endless and you helped yourself as the chase continued.
Unlucky for you, it appeared the guards of Highar were much more prone to being stubborn and dedicated to their noble's orders then other places were. And while the King and his family would no doubt be happy about this dedication… as a criminal… you had hoped for at least one who didn't push himself as hard as these two were.
You quickly pushed a fruit cart into the crowded street, hoping that no poor woman or child would be struck from not paying attention. But from how close these two men were getting to you… you had to make you slick escape soon and quick. And with the sounds of crashing and one guard ordering the other to get off of him, you made your way down the nearest alleyway.
The pavement beneath you was an interesting design, as the city builders had made it so air would flow out through the east and west edges of the cement as to cool down the city in the summer. The street, as a result, made it easy to run on so your shoes didn't stick to any hot pavement. The flow of air making it so you could easily bounce on towards your freedom.
However you were forced to freeze in your tracks, a wall appearing before you. A very bold dead end blocking your path. The wall seeming to be one side of the castle, a side that had no windows or even breaks in its structure so you could climb up and escape onto the lower buildings rooftops. It had appeared that you had unknowingly trapped yourself in.
"She's gone this way! Hurry it up!" One of the guard's voices echoed to you, your eyes searching for somewhere… anywhere to go or hide!
"Hey, down here!" A voice called out to you and you frantically looked down to where the voice had echoed.
Your eyes scanned the street, but no one was in sight. Maybe you had finally snapped and were beginning to imagine things. The stress of finally getting caught and having to pay for your crimes setting in when you hadn't even realized it.
Then, as you had been staring at the ground, you noticed a pale hand reach out from one of the air filters. The fingers tapping your foot and then pointing to the piece of ground next to you. The hand then gesturing for you to move back a step.
You did so and within a moment, the pavement sprang up and led down into a cool and shaded pathway. The darkness unknown to you, but then again, the sounds of the guards enclosing in on you wasn't exactly your first choice. Plus as a being of darkness yourself, you weren't exactly afraid of what might be lurking beneath the streets.
With another wild smile, you dove down the steps, the pavement above you slamming closed as you did so. The dim lighting from above you flashing quickly as the pair of guards had arrived at where you had just been but saw no sight of you.
"Where could she have gone?!" One cried. "The commander will have our head for this!"
"Not if we tell him we lost her after chasing her out to the borderlands…" The second one smugly spoke, a chuckle finishing off his sentence. "Now come on… let's head back and report our mission."
The sounds of clanking armor and the men boasting about who's paying for those drinks after work quickly died out. And once gone, you looked for the strange underdweller who had saved you from a fate worse than thievery and a trip to the dungeons.
"It appears they've left…" The male responded, glancing at you. "...but… it won't be safe for you to go back up this way. Not through the main square at least."
You observed the male who had come to your rescue from the literal shadows. His face mostly blocked by the dim lighting that barely poured in from the streets, and his attire only being a dark blue cloak that covered his entire body. What laid underneath it… you didn't know nor cared to know.
"Well… you seem to know these underparts better than me, stranger…" You responded, eyeing the male once more and still unable to see his face. "So… got an exit for me?"
"No." He shook his head and turned. His frame beginning to walk away and his hand rising in an order for you to follow him. "But I believe I have a way to help you get out faster than on foot…"
You shrugged and decided to follow. The guy had after all… not killed you yet or turned you in for some reward you knew that plump noble would more than likely be placing upon your head. A reward that would be able to feed the poorest of the poor families for a least 4 months straight. You couldn't blame them… you were no better and would more than likely do the same if you hadn't been the one stealing.
Shaking the thought from your mind as more air twirling and moved speedily past your locks, you continued your little game of follow the leader with the male in front of you. His pace quick and light, unlike your rushed and careless one. A stark contrast on how he had yet to be caught navigating these tunnels and how you had been caught and followed so easily.
"Why were the Imperial Guards after you?" He suddenly spoke up, his voice slightly sounding like a demand.
"And why would you want to know?" You chuckled your attitude as easy and cool in this moment as the air. "You looking for a quick buck?"
"Not really…" He admitted. "More so want to know if I'm helping a murderer or an innocent escape."
"How does neither sound?" You shrugged. "Thief."
"The selfish or the selfless kind?" He followed you up.
"Guess you'll have to wait and figure that out when we part ways, oh mysterious tunnel man. Speaking of… how did you know about this place?" Your eyebrows lit up fast as an idea hit you. "These things go under the castle and inside of it huh?! Were you trying to sneak inside?"
You chuckled to yourself, realizing you might be speaking to a criminal worse than yourself. An assassin, murderer, freedom fighter, or foreign spy! How exciting for you! And what an opportunity as well… as these types usually had weapons the market and collectors would pay top dollar for.
"Nothing of that sort…" He crushed your dreams. "I'm more someone who knows the castle well enough… to know about these secret passageways to and from it."
"So… you a servant to the king then?" You rolled your eyes, fighting back a groan at the thought of the current sitting king.
"Yes… a servant is exactly what I would call myself." His voice dipped down and then he paused.
Above you was a loose floorboard, the noise coming from above no longer sounding human. In fact… if your ears weren't lying to you… then you had a bit of an idea where you were. The male pressed his hands above, touching the loose planks and moving them until the light poured into the little walkway to the point where you could make out the face of the person who had escorted you here.
With locks of both white and scarlet and his eyes of cerulean and silver, you could tell very much so that he wasn't the most symmetrical person around. In fact… he looked like he was the living product of two souls that had been combined. And if you didn't know that such magic had been banned centuries ago, you would have allowed that to be your guess.
But you were wise, it was how you had never been caught and continued to escape. And despite this male's appearance, you could at least tell that despite his contrasting appearance… he was a single being.
The scar adorning one of his eyes was actually the second thing that caught your eyes about him. Though… judging by the looks of it and how he hesitantly took off his hood, you had a feeling that you shouldn't be asking about it… no matter how curious you were.
"Follow me up and watch your step." He told you and then pushed himself up.
His arms helped lift his body until he could swing a leg over and then pulled himself onto the wood floor. You smiled as he reached a hand down to you, his cool right hand meeting your glove covered right one. His strength easily moving you up and onto the ground as well.
You watched as he placed the boards back to cover up his little secret passageway. Straw and hay covering the board afterward as a steed approached him, the same shade of the hair on his right side. The animal huffing out as it pushed its head into the young man's back.
"Hush, Fealty." He stood up once he deemed the hidden entrance good, hands wandering to pet the snout of the horse who seemed to be comfortable around the male. "I'm back… and I'm fine."
The horse begged for a few more pets before leaving the strange male alone. And once the horse had done, he turned back to you. You had begun wandering around, looking at various stallions that littered stables you had snuck into. The walls lined with royal crests and symbols, allowing you to guess where you were.
"The royal family's stables, right?" You smirked, petting a brown filly as it huffed and curled into your touch. "What a perfect way to escape undetected."
"The stables are near the woods that lay near the borders with Tineen. So… if you walk along the forest border and avoid the land that crosses over into Tineen's territory… you should do fine."
"You seem to know a lot about Highar… don't you?" You turned to gaze at the male who was still cloaked in mysteries and a literal cloak. "Any reason why?"
Your lips pulled into a knowing smirk, but the male couldn't think you had figured him out just then. After all… it wasn't like his father had ever let him outside of his room since the incident years ago. He was practically faceless at this point, and a mere thief passing through should be clueless, no matter how smart she was.
"I'm the stable hand, so I know a lot about this place as you could guess."
His answer was short, blunt, and to the point. You could respect it, but you still didn't believe it. He seemed too… well mannered to be just some low and common stable hand. And with what you had gained, you did know your hunch was correct.
"Alright… whatever you wish for me to think you are is fine by me…" You shrugged, hopping over the stable gate to the brown steed you had grown fond of. "But… in the future, I'd keep your royal marking in a safer place than your pocket… Crown Prince Todoroki Shouto."
A smile cracked upon your lips as you held up the royal marking like it was a mere gold coin you'd trade in for a beer at the local pub. The look on the Prince's eyes widened at how he could have been so careless and around a wanted thief at that.
But then again… he wasn't exactly the type of person to listen to what he father demanded of him… and so allowing a thief to get this close to him did make sense to a degree. Now, however, the only question plaguing his mind was what she would do with this information or him.
"Relax, your highness." You smiled, a chuckle escaping your lips. "You saved me from a trip to the dungeons, so your secret little rendezvous to the land of non-noblemen is safe with me. Just… be careful… because you never know when you might get pickpocketed."
You smirked to him once more as you tossed the jewel-encrusted item towards him. And with a simple and gentle kick to the horse, you hopped on and were riding out of the stable and towards the forest lining.
You didn't look back to leave a lasting impression on the prince, nor did you really feel the need to see his face. He had helped you out of the situation and you had promised not to share his secret little runaway behavior with the authorities or even hold it against him.
You may be a thief… but you were not a manipulator. You had as much freedom to do as you pleased as he did… and if he decided to remain here and rot away as a prince, so be it. You had more places to explore, visit, take from, and enjoy what they had to offer. And with that, you took off into the setting sun.
Todoroki's eyes widened as he glanced down at the pendant you had tossed to him, the familiar crest and silver metal that was riddled with rubies making him realize that this was quite the possible mess up on his part. His crest allowing people to know who he was. The one he always kept in his pocket to get himself out of in a jam… and one he hadn't even noticed that you had taken.
His gaze sterned as he watched your figure disappear towards the wooded area that led towards the border of his kingdom and the one that bordered it. His mind wandering back towards the girl who had seemed so lost and helpless in the alleyway… and how she was actually the exact opposite than his original idea.
But despite this, despite her being a thief and a possible criminal to the kingdom he was soon to inherit… he could only hope she wouldn't cross the borderland over to the land of Tineen.
The fiery beasts that roamed freely and the barbarian society was no place for anyone… not even a smart-aleck girl who happened to know a thing or two about outwitting and outsmarting those around her. Because that kingdom next over… was no place for anyone to wander into… even if they were looking for trouble.
Because they would find more than they could ever want or ask for in that horrible place.