Chapter Text
Typically, royalty wouldn’t be relegated to menial tasks such as guard duty, but Luminary had insisted that if he was in Heliodor specifically for Knight Training, he wasn’t going to be treated any differently than the other knights, prince or no. If King Carnelian weren’t so familiar with the stubbornness of Luminary’s father, he would have pressed the issue and made sure the boy stayed out of harm’s way. However, while the prince had the queen’s eyes, he surely inherited the king’s iron will, so they came to a begrudging agreement.
That was how Luminary ended up on the night patrol with the Captain of the Guard.
To many, Knight Captain Hendrik is as imposing as he is stern, but while Luminary certainly respects the man’s fighting prowess, he had seen Hendrik give Princess Jade a ride on his shoulders one too many times to truly be fearful of the knight. Still, they work well together, and Hendrik knows and appreciates how seriously Luminary takes his training, meaning the man’s company isn’t minded, but the prince still sees the King’s over-protectiveness as completely unwarranted.
They spend the majority of the patrol in silence, greeting citizens they pass, allowing the steady backdrop of Heliodorian night life to fill any remaining silence. It isn’t until the solo portion of their patrol, where Luminary surveys the noble sector alone when the peace finally shatters.
It shatters to the sound of a person smashing through a 2nd story window.
Luminary moves without thinking, rushing toward the source of the commotion with his hand on the hilt his sword, ready to draw it if necessary. Rounding into the alley between two homes, he spots the figure that came barreling through the window, hunched over on the ground with shards of broken glass surrounding him.
“Certainly not my finest moment,” the figure mutters to himself as he pushes himself off the ground, only slightly unsteady on his feet.
“Halt in the name of the King!” Luminary’s voice thunders down the alley and into the night, hoping the noise will be enough to call either Hendrik or the guards near the castle to his location. However, the man seems totally unfazed, busying himself with brushing any remaining shards off his outfit instead of paying Luminary any mind. He acts as though he’s the only one in the area, like Luminary is simply part of the scenery and not worth his attention.
Was this man serious? Luminary feels as though he’s completely off-balance, his mind frantically searching for a reason behind the man’s nonchalant behavior. Had he possibly not heard what he said? Luminary made sure he was loud enough when he announced his presence, so surely the man has to be aware there is a knight blocking his only escape path… but what if the man is deaf and couldn’t hear anything at all, or maybe this is his home, and he was thrown out the window – Luminary feels a nearly searing heat rush up his neck to inflame the sides of his face, and now is definitely not the time for this and his runaway imagination.
Shaking his head in an attempt to rid himself of his ridiculous train of thought, Luminary draws his sword and stands with a renewed determination in his eyes as he faces off against the thief. Lowering himself into a fighting stance, he keeps his voice steady as he addresses the man again. “Turn and face me slowly with your hands raised. There’s nowhere to escape from here.”
At first, the only response he receives is a low chuckle before the thief slowly turns his head to look at him. His eyes seem illuminated in the darkness, an electric blue standing out like twin lights, pinning Luminary in place. The thief’s stare feels more like an assessment, like a test he needs to pass before the thief can even be bothered to deal with him. A mixture of haughtiness and caution, the look causes the hair on the back of Luminary’s neck to rise and warning bells to scream ‘danger’ in his mind. “You’re new. Figured I would know all the knights by now.” He quickly shifts his gaze as a clamor of armor slowly grows louder in the distance, signifying that at least the palace knights heard his shout. The thief clicks his tongue in annoyance. “Seems like introductions will have to wait until next time.”
Within a moment, the man appears in Luminary’s space, knife drawn and slashing forward in an attempt to disarm him. Luminary responds automatically, body moving with the training ingrained in time from his time with Master Pang. He didn’t expect to use it so soon, but considering the thief’s natural speed, he’s grateful she pushed him until the movements became second nature. Without thinking, Luminary deflects the knife and answers the attack with a swing of his own, forcing the thief to put space back between them. Even though the man’s face is almost completely covered by a black cloth, Luminary could swear the man is smirking at him.
“Not green then.” Darting forward again, the thief pulls a second knife from his hip, striking with both in quick succession. Luminary barely keeps up with his speed, ultimately changing to a defensive stance just to avoid the blades. He doesn’t want to seriously injure the man, but he needs to keep him here, to keep him busy at least until more knights come. Using his shield as a wall, he blocks whatever he cannot dodge, making sure to not give up any ground in the process.
As soon as Luminary can start making out the words of the approaching knights, he sees the look in the thief’s eyes transform from amusement to a cold seriousness. “Playtime is over, I guess.” Seeing his knives aiming lower than before, Luminary goes to protect his shins with his shield, and a moment later, he grunts, focusing all of his strength to hold himself up with his legs as the thief jumps off the angled shield, using the additional height to grab onto a nearby balcony.
As Luminary rights himself, he stares wide eyed up at the thief, startled to see someone outside of Angri-La who can move with that level of agility. He watches the man scale the side of the building with a practiced grace, his jaw open with shock. After the man lifts himself up on the roof, he pulls the cloth away from his face and reveals a gleaming jewel from his pocket while flashing a toothy grin at Luminary. “We’ll have more fun next time, promise. Give my regards to Hendrik!” With a wave, he darts across the roof, disappearing from sight.
Rushing out of the alley, Luminary looks back at the mansion to see if he can determine which way the man had gone, but he vanished into the night. Behind him, the group of palace knights finally arrive, and Luminary can also hear Hendrik approaching with a small group of his own.
As Hendrik stalks up, the first group of knights salute, standing at attention and ready to move at his orders. “Sir, we’ve just arrived. Princ- Cadet Luminary was the first on the scene.” All of their attention shifts to Luminary, who gives one last glance to the alley beside house, but there is no trace of the thief with the exception of the window’s shattered glass.
Turning back to Hendrik, he sheathes his sword and gives his report. “A man crashed through the window of this mansion, though there were no sounds coming from inside the building beforehand, so I don’t believe anyone was home. I cornered him in the alley, and after a brief scuffle, he managed to escape by climbing the wall and running over the roof. Last I saw, he was heading toward Old Heliodor, but other than that, I couldn’t see where he went.”
“You three,” Hendrik says, pointing at the guards who followed him, “go into Old Heliodor and see if you can head off the thief or see where he went.” Hendrik turns his attention back to Luminary. “Did you manage to see what he looked like?”
Shaking his head, he tightens his hand into a fist. “Not well. He was dressed in black from head to toe, including a cape and gloves. Only his eyes were uncovered. They were blue. Other than that, he liked to talk. Said to give you his regards.”
Hendrik frowns, brows furrowing before he pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a huff of annoyance. “The Wolf… this is the fourth incident this month. You two, back to your posts. The rest of you join the other three. Comb through every back alleyway and tight path you can find to Old Heliodor. He’s getting bolder and striking closer to the castle with every heist.” Hendrik watches as his men follow their orders, fanning out to catch any possible trace of the thief. “We’ll have to tell His Majesty. This pattern is drawing him closer to the castle, as if he’s testing us before going for his true prize. Though I wish he would find others way to draw our attention rather than through copious amounts of property damage…”
Hendrik’s eyes quickly scan over Luminary, searching for any potential injuries. “You say you fought the man? Are you hurt?”
Luminary shakes his head again, though the memory of his initial blunder sends another rush of heat to his cheeks. “I’m fine, though I had to focus more on defending myself than anything else. I wasn’t sure if I could have taken him down without putting him in mortal danger.”
Hendrik gives Luminary a look of utter shock and bewilderment at his statement. “You came out unscathed and were holding yourself back? I’ve had an entire team go after him once and had almost all of them come back with injuries that kept them off duty for months.” He gives Luminary another appraising look, for the first time understanding the severity of his training with Master Pang combined with his natural ability. “We will have to formally discuss this with Jasper and His Majesty, but would you be opposed to gearing your training to finding The Wolf? You are The Luminary, and that is a destiny that clearly takes precedence; however, you have a sheer prowess that our regular knights have not mastered.”
Luminary finds himself nodding before he has a chance to fully think it over. “You know I don’t want any special treatment just because I’m The Luminary. I’m here to learn as much as I can from you and Sir Jasper and help in any way that you deem necessary. While I’m here, I’m just another knight under your command, so use my skills as you see fit.”
“Then we will discuss the details with His Majesty and Jasper tomorrow morning. Finish your patrol of this area and then head back to the castle to rest. I will follow up with the men I’ve dispatched to see if we found a hint of The Wolf’s trail, though knowing him, it is unlikely…”
“Understood, Sir!” Luminary salutes Hendrik one last time, watching as a smirk threatens to crack the serious look on the Captain’s face.
“As you were, Your Highness.” Hendrik turns and heads toward Old Heliodor, failing to miss the mild glare Luminary shoots him.
Luminary only stands for a few moments watching Hendrik walk away before his eyes are drawn back to the alley. The shards of glass strewn on the ground glitter in the moonlight, reminding him of the thief’s eyes.
By the third time he is knocked flat on his back, Luminary starts to get tired of the wind being kicked out of his lungs. He decides to stay down this time, staring up at the ceiling as he slowly reacquaints his body with air.
“You’re distracted.” He doesn’t have to see her face to know Jade is disappointed. She blocks his view of the ceiling and glares down at him anyway. “You haven’t been this bad at hand-to-hand since before you left to train at the temple. If you’re not feeling well, we could have just done this a different day.” Only Jade could manage to sound annoyed and concerned at the same time, and the familiarity he has with the tone brings a wry smile to his face.
Luminary forces himself to sit up and rubs the spot on his chest where her boot was beginning to create a permanent groove. “Sorry… I start my new training regimen with Sir Jasper tomorrow, and I’m not sure what to expect.” He blows a strand of hair away from his eyes, noting how messy his hair is getting with each fall. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything about what they have planned for me?”
“Nothing specific, though I did hear that my father took some persuading from Hendrik to even agree to this training. From what I’ve managed to learn, we’ve been having trouble with The Wolf for some time, but he’s been getting unusually bold recently. I’m sure I could knock him down a peg.” Jade cracks her knuckles at the idea, a sly smirk spreading across her face.
“I’m sure you could, though I’m not certain how ‘ladylike’ it would be for the Princess of Heliodor to go kicking cat burglars. It might damage your marriage prospects, after all.” The look of absolute disgust he earns from Jade is completely worth it in Luminary’s eyes. While he has a much harder time taking her on in a physical fight, he at least knows how to joust with her using only his words.
“Don’t remind me… I’m honestly amazed that I’ve managed to hold it off this long, and thank Yggdrasil our fathers haven’t tried to arrange a marriage between us.”
“A reasonable move politically, but…”
“Ew…”
His smile is tinged with amusement and fondness at her tone. “Exactly. I think for everyone it would be too much like siblings marrying.” He loves Jade, and she surely loves him, but everyone in both kingdoms knows that their bond is purely familial. They are both grateful and fortunate their neither of their parents ever pushed for anything more between them.
Jade smiles back warmly in return. “Try not to think about it. In any case, don’t worry about Jasper. Hendrik has been singing your praises for years, so Jasper knows he can push you to your limits without worry that you’ll break. Trust in his instruction and don’t go to his lessons as distracted as you were today. I was practically merciful compared to how he can be.”
“I’ve heard the stories… hence the distraction.” Which is only partially the truth if he wants to be honest with himself. He reaches up with his hand, sending Jade an expectant look.
She rolls her eyes before gripping his extended hand and pulling him up to his feet. Instead of letting him go, she holds him in place, staring at his face with a watchful and suspicious gaze. “I’m sure that was all there was to it, considering that you’ve known Jasper for years and know exactly how he is with his trainees. What’s really on your mind?”
He should have known better than to try hiding anything from Jade, but that also meant acknowledging his rapidly growing obsession with the thief. He at least knows he can play off his preoccupation as focus on his new target to deflect any probing questions for now. Aside from that, Jade always is more away of her kingdom than people realize, so he won’t be surprised if she has intel worth sharing. It’s a gambit, but one he’s willing to take. “… How much have you heard about The Wolf?”
“Not as much as Hendrik, certainly, but from what I’ve heard, he’s be plaguing the knights for at least a few years.” She finally releases his hand and folds her arms over her chest in thought. “He was only dubbed ‘The Wolf’ within the last year because of the wolf symbol he started to wear on his back. It was how they managed to tie his M.O. to earlier heists. Before that, the knights assumed his work was done by a variety of bandits. The Wolf works by himself and leaves an obvious exit point, which I heard you saw firsthand. Chances are, he waited until he knew someone was nearby before leaving the building. Personally, I think he just likes being chased. Not much else is known about him, other than that.”
Luminary’s response is immediate, unfiltered, and too revealing - a bad habit he has when it’s just him and Jade. “His eyes are very, very blue…”
A combination of a few beats of silence and Jade’s incredulous look clues Luminary in that he actually voiced that thought aloud. His jaw works to form words, but only a strangled sound manages to escape his throat. When he sees Jade’s expression transform into a knowing smirk, he prays that the World Tree’s roots will reach down and strangle him. Unfortunately, he knows he isn’t that lucky.
“Well, that’s a pretty specific detail that was never mentioned,” she says with a deceptively playful lilt to her voice. Her smirk only widens as she watches a fierce blush crawl up the sides of Luminary’s face. With a soft coo, she leans down so they’re eye-level with each other, allowing her to readily take in every moment of his embarrassment. “Please, tell me exactly how blue they are, little brother.”
Luminary hides his face in his hands, futilely hoping she doesn’t notice how his blush has taken over his whole face. “Please, let’s just forget I even know how to talk.”
She barks out a laugh and backs off, knowing when not to push his limits. “Only because you’ve already gotten a physical beating from me earlier, but by all means, any new observations you make about our blue-eyed Wolf problem, I am all ears.” Jade brushes a few loose strands of hair out of Luminary’s face when he finally lowers his hands. “C’mon. Today is one of your rare days off, so let Jasper and the Wolf be tomorrow’s problem.”
He doesn’t pout at Jade because that would be unbecoming of a royal in his station; however, it is a close thing. Still, he is thankful for the small mercy she’s showing him, especially when he knows her teasing can be so much worse. By the time he follows her out of the room, at least his blush begins to fade.
Training with Jasper starts with more reading than Luminary thought possible. Without a word of explanation, Jasper presents him with all the recorded documentation on The Wolf and his crimes to date. “I want these read, notated, and memorized by day’s end. We cannot make any meaningful progress until you understand your target. I do not require a summary when you are finished. This is not a school, and I am not your teacher. Prince or not, The Luminary or not, I expect the tasks I assign to be completed to my satisfaction. If you are to learn from me, it will be through work.”
Luminary replies simply with a nod before looking through the files’ contents.
Needless to say, the man had amassed an impressive portfolio – from simple pick-pocketing to surprisingly elaborate heists, it is like reading a detailed timeline of how the thief honed his craft. While he used to operate with accomplices toward the start of his career, a lot of his partners either reformed or simply work as informants now. Previous attempts to press them for information yielded few results for even they knew little about his past or who he really is. Theirs was a trade where few asked questions, and none expect answers.
The reports confirm Hendrik’s suspicions – starting around the time he was named, The Wolf gradually started striking closer to the castle, aiming for more difficult targets with highly prized rarities. As he reads through the documents, Jasper goes over his most recent conquest, mapping out the locations and methodology The Wolf used. Considering that the Red Orb of Heliodor was a well-known artifact among historians and thieves alike, Jasper concludes it is the most likely ultimate target for the thief. Everything else has been practice.
Before the first training session is over, Luminary has already managed to skim through all the files, though he plans to comb through multiple times for more details. “The Red Orb is a logical target considering its importance and value, but if that truly is his objective, why is he aiming for the castle? I thought the Orb was safeguarded in the Kingsbarrow to the southeast.”
For a moment, Luminary thinks that Jasper actually manages to look impressed. “Typically, that is the case, though I should not be surprised that one of the royal family of Dundrasil knows about the royal treasures of other kingdoms. Due to the recent influx of monsters in the area and knowing it is such a valuable prize, I suggested to His Majesty to bring the Orb to castle until we apprehend the thief.”
“Increasing the defense of the Orb while forcing The Wolf’s hand to enter a terrain of your choosing where you presumably have the advantage, not to mention he would have a harder time actually locating the treasure. I imagine you’ve also limited the number of people who both know that the Orb is here as well as where it’s located, enough so The Wolf will undoubtedly know it’s here without finding out where specifically it is in the castle.”
“You suspect he already has an insider source in the castle?”
“Either that or you purposefully leaked the information of the Orb’s transfer to direct his focus and draw him here. Most likely, it’s both.”
Jasper’s smirk at his reasoning is answer enough.
“Seems like all of Hendrik’s praise about you was not completely unfounded. Your fighting capabilities are not in question here, though we will focus on increasing your agility since that is the largest issue everyone has when they have encountered him. Your primary objective will be to learn his patterns, assess how he thinks, and if possible, find out who and where he is before he tries to steal the Orb. Failing that, you will assist me in setting the trap for him here.” Jasper pauses for a moment, giving Luminary time to take in his responsibilities as well as what is expected of him. He keeps a close eye on Luminary’s face, watching to see how his expression changes, silently assessing the man. “Well, Prince, do you think you are up to the task?”
Receiving this kind of personalized training is not what anyone had imagined when he was sent to Heliodor to learn how to be a proper knight. He was supposed to simply learn their code, their fighting style, and possibly some advanced military tactics from Hendrik and Jasper directly. This, however, is a completely different beast altogether, and while it isn’t as grand as fighting back a great evil that threatens to plunge the world into darkness like The Luminary of old, it is a challenge The King and his head knights deemed only he could handle. He’s sure even Erdwin had to start somewhere.
Steeling his gaze on Jasper, he gives the Vice Captain of the Guard a singular nod, knowing the man will be able to read the determination in his eyes.
The look he receives in return is knowing and borderline smug. It is the answer Jasper expected. “Good. The annual Summer Gala is due to start in a month’s time, and since that is when a large number of people will be admitted into the castle, it is the time we think The Wolf will strike. If we cannot find him before then, we must plan for his arrival and catch him in the act.
“In the meantime, you will have unlimited access to whatever files you need through the Knight’s Archive and the Royal Library, and my men have been instructed to aid you in any way possible, if you have questions. We will begin reviewing The Wolf’s methods at dawn.” Jasper’s tone dismisses him with a finality that is impossible to ignore, though if Luminary is being honest with himself, he’s more than a little eager to go through the documents with a closer eye, finding whatever hidden details and patterns he discern.
Organizing the files as quickly as possible, Luminary leaves Jasper’s office and heads to the castle’s library, hoping to find schematics of both the castle and Heliodor itself.
While not as expansive as the one back in Dundrasil, the Heliodor Royal Library is impressive in its own right. It isn’t strictly open to the public; however, anyone who has extended access to the castle is allowed to peruse its volumes, though not many take advantage of the opportunity. Luminary isn’t surprised to see only one other person in the library, though he isn’t expecting to find the man in the same section.
The man is looking at star charts… while dressed as a pirate.
There’s a lot to process here, and for a time, Luminary finds himself just staring, taking it all in. The man looks like he stepped straight out of a storybook, from the long coat with garish red and gold accents to the folded over boots that came up to his knees. He even had gold earrings and an eyepatch… an eyepatch! The only thing he’s missing is the pirate hat, though the bandanna that covers most of his hair is a close enough substitute. Luminary almost wishes there was a parrot on his shoulder to truly complete the look.
“If you want to look at this when I’m done, I’ll leave it out for you. So, you don’t have to stare.” The man turns his head to look at Luminary with a bored expression. “Unless if you need something else from me…?”
“Pirate.”
They stare at each other in silence while Luminary secretly wishes he could go back in time and come to the library in the middle of the night when no one would possibly be awake. The pirate’s only visible eye widens, blinking slowly as the silence continues to stretch out between them.
And then he starts to laugh. It begins as a soft chuckle that quickly blooms into something short of a full-bellied laugh as though the man remembers that he’s in a library. By the time he manages to finally calm himself down, he’s simply smirking at Luminary, his gaze assessing in a way that makes the prince want to fidget.
“I’ve been called that a few times,” he says, amusement coloring his words. “Comes with the coat.”
Luminary swallows down his embarrassment and shallowly nods. “I can see where others might get the idea. But you can take your time. With the chart, I mean. I don’t need it.” At least his voice didn’t crack and betray him. He holds the reports closer to his chest and shuffles past the pirate, feeling the man’s eye stay on him. “Sorry. For disturbing you.”
The pirate goes back to his star chart, still smiling to himself. “‘S fine.”
As the sun sets, light quickly recedes from the library, soon making it too dark to read comfortably. Without a second thought, Luminary snaps his fingers, making the candles in their section come alight with a warm glow. He doesn’t usually like using his magic in such a frivolous way, but he couldn’t risk leaving Jasper’s files unattended, especially not with a possible ‘treasure hunter’ so close. Even with his logically sound reasons, he can still hear Jade’s snarky ‘Showoff’ comment in the back of his mind.
Luminary eventually scans the shelves, grabbing any scrolls he can find that show the layout of the city and the castle, whether it was simply a picture or a more detailed map. Anything that can help him figure out why The Wolf chose his specific targets and exit points, especially since the man has been too smart to be caught yet. His athleticism is surely a benefit, but it doesn’t explain how the Heliodorian knights haven’t been able to figure out his pattern or even gather a hint of who he is. He doesn’t think he’ll find all the answers he’s looking for here, but it’s certainly a start.
He manages to find a large map of the city, including the layout of Old Heliodor. It’s certainly dated, but all the major roads and back alleys are included, as well as some connections he didn’t think existed. Luminary lays out the map on a nearby table and looks around for something small he can use as markers so he doesn’t ruin the parchment. Even small game pieces would do the trick, but he’d need to go back to his room for something like that, but he’s not sure that he’s found everything he’s looking for here yet-
Luminary tenses up the moment he feels a chin on his shoulder and a puff of warm air against the side of his face. “This map must be pretty old because this house here is actually a restaurant now. It’s very good if homey food is fit to cross your pallet. I know nobles tend to be pretty… picky about their cuisine.”
He takes a few moments to steady his breathing before responding, “I have a feeling I’m as picky over food as you are over personal space.” Luminary’s eyes shift over to the pirate who is still lingering over his shoulder. If his comment bothered the other man at all, he certainly didn’t show it. If anything, it seemed to amuse him if his easy smirk was anything to go by.
“You seemed like you were searching for something, so I figured I would at least point out something I knew was good.” Finally, the man pulls away, and Luminary feels like he can breathe easier again. Folding his arms over his chest, the man tilts his head to the side, giving Luminary an appraising look. “Anything I can possibly help with?”
“Not unless you happen to have a bundle of small rocks I can borrow.”
“That’s specific.”
With a lopsided grin and a half shrug, Luminary looks up at the pirate. “Don’t want to ruin the map.”
Reaching into his coat, the man pulls out a small bag and tosses it to Luminary. He catches it with one hand and a curious look on his face before peeking into the cloth bag. “Pearls? Who just carries around pearls?”
“Pirate, remember?”
The flush that appears on Luminary’s face is fierce and bright. He just prays the candlelight hides most of it from the pirate’s watchful eye. “Are you sure you don’t need these?”
“I was going to sell them, but there’s no rush.” The man scratches the back of his head, slightly shifting away. It’s the only moment where Luminary senses the man’s bravado isn’t fully present. “I’ll collect them from you later, and I will check that they’re all there. You seem trustworthy type, so I know you’ll be good for it.” The man glances out the window, noting how dark it’s gotten with a small frown on his face. He turns and starts heading toward the door with a casualness in his step that belies someone who is confident in their presence while knowing they’re somewhere they don’t belong.
“Can I at least know your name?” The pirate stops and looks back at Luminary over his shoulder, his stare causing him to slightly fumble with his words. “Otherwise I’ll just know you as ‘Pirate’ in my head…”
The grin the pirate flashes him is the first time Luminary actually sees both corners of his mouth curve up; however, he can’t shake the sensation that the smile is more predatory than anything else, like a shark flashing its teeth. “Erik.” With a wave, Erik turns away and continues to head out the door, not bothering to look back behind him. “See you around, Prince Luminary.”
Luminary clutches the bag of pearls in his hand, shock preventing him from saying anything in return. Not many people knew he was training in Heliodor, especially people outside of Dundrasil, and aside from his eyes, Luminary was always told that he looked plainer than most royalty, allowing him to blend in with the masses when he wasn’t in full regal attire. However, Erik managed to recognize him immediately, and still treated him like a person. Not a noble, not a prince, certainly not as the reincarnation of a mythical savior. Just. A person.
He was over-thinking this, and if he had questions, he could simply ask Erik when he came back to collect his treasure, which he probably ‘found’ because he was an actual pirat- okay, he really needs to let that thought go.
Taking a deep breath, he refocuses on the task at hand – mapping out the places where The Wolf has struck. He tries to put the mystery of Erik as much in the back of his mind as possible, especially the thought of how his predatory smile caused a knot to form in his stomach.
If Jade thought kicking the breath out of him was ‘taking it easy,’ Luminary doesn’t want to imagine what Jasper will do if he’s similarly distracted.
Old Heliodor is… not at all what Luminary expected. He isn’t surprised that there’s a class divide in Heliodor that is economic as well as physical. One does exist in Dundrasil and every other city he’s been to, after all. He just didn’t realize the divide in Heliodor was this drastic.
The entire section of the city was nothing more than a glorified alleyway with barely enough room for a few man-made shacks along the walls, let alone a full house. In fact, there is only building that could even be considered a house, though according to the locals, it’s the only bar/inn down here. The number of children huddling together without parents and the destitute looking adults cause a gut-wrenching feeling in Luminary. Nothing like this exists in Dundrasil where poverty and homelessness have such a physical presence.
His fists clench, and he suppresses any other external reactions. This isn’t his city, and he certainly has no political sway here, but Luminary promises himself to at least broach the subject with Jade. If she doesn’t know of the issue, she certainly knows someone who can change it. For now, he pulls the hood lower over his face and heads toward the inn. He’s here to collect information, and as much as he wants to help every person he can, drawing unnecessary attention to himself here is something he desperately wants to avoid.
His search for The Wolf starts here – many of his earlier crimes either happened in Old Heliodor or close outside its boundaries. Luminary isn’t even sure what kind of clues he’s hoping to find, but he’s hoping something will help him find a hint to who The Wolf is. Based on what he’s managed to find out, if there’s anyone who knows anything about what happens in Old Heliodor, it’s the inn’s proprietor.
Pushing open the door to the inn, he’s greeted by a portly woman with a smile, though her eyes belie her caution. Considering how quiet the rest of her establishment is, Luminary guesses that she doesn’t get many guests during the daylight hours. She adjusts her glasses, giving him a once over before she deems that he doesn’t look too unsavory.
“Name’s Ruby. Anythin’ I can ‘elp you with, lad?” Her tone is casual, familiar, and just slightly cautious.
“I’m looking for a friend, actually. I know he used to pass through here often, though I’m not sure if he’s still around. He’s a bit shorter than me with very intense, blue eyes. Left-handed fellow. Very cheeky. It’s not a lot to go on, but if you’ve seen him, you’d know.” As he speaks, Luminary watches Ruby’s face closely for any signs of recognition, and although she does a decent job of schooling her expression, he notices how her eyes involuntarily widen at the comment about The Wolf’s eyes. He pushes down the small sense of vindication that flashes in him. At least he’s not the only one who took special note of that detail.
She tries to sound dismissive, but he can hear the edge of trepidation in her words. “I think I might ‘ave seen your friend. ‘e used to, yea. ‘Aven’t seen ‘im around recently, so can’t tell you where ‘e is now. If I see ‘im, I can tell ‘im you’re lookin’ for ‘im, if you want.” How Ruby manages to look both pleasant and skeptical at the same time, he’ll never understand. Still, he shakes his head, knowing she’s called his bluff for now.
“It’s fine, he’s not the type to stay still for long, so there’s no point in leaving a message. Thank you for your time.” He turns to leave, but the clicking sound of her tongue stops him.
Shaking her head, Ruby sighs to herself. “Keep bein’ that polite and you’ll be taken advantage of by even the children down ‘ere. Look, somehow, you’re ‘is type-”
“His type?”
“- so I know ‘e’ll appreciate me givin’ you a ‘int.” Ruby has his full attention, and she knows it. “Askin’ around won’t get you anywhere. ‘E’s done too much for the community for them to snitch now, which your knight friends should’ve told you, though wouldn’t be surprised if they left ‘his more ‘charitable’ deeds out. ‘e’s not from Heliodor, and ‘e doesn’t like to stick in one place ‘round ‘ere for too long. If there is anyone who knows ‘im better, would be Derk. Man runs a shop up in the noble sector, though whether ‘e talks to you is up to ‘im. ‘s about all I’m willin’ to say.”
They eye each other warily, uncertain of the other’s motivations, yet Luminary knows it would be foolish to ignore this potential lead if it’s viable. Pulling the hood away from his face, he offers her a small hint of his identity in return. If she recognizes him, she doesn’t show it. “Why help me at all if you assume I’m with the knights?”
She offers half a shrug as a response. “I see what ‘e meant when ‘e mentioned you. Honest n’ determined look in your eyes. Like a ‘stormy sea,’ ‘e said.”
Luminary officially gives up on the blood staying out of his face when it comes to anything involving The Wolf. Her grin turns sharp.
Pulling the hood back over his head, he nods to Ruby in thanks before rushing out of the small inn. Luminary has mixed feelings about receiving the tip about Derk like this, but considering it’s the first real chance they have to find out more about who The Wolf is, he isn’t about to throw this opportunity away.
At the very least, he knows about the man and has looked through his shop a few times. The merchant seemed like a decent fellow with no criminal ties, and he got along with all of his customers. However, he apparently knows more than he lets on.
Taking a last look around Old Heliodor, he ascends the stairs and heads towards Derk’s shop in the royal sector to see if he can learn something definitive to report back to Jasper. Luminary figures this excursion will be worth it if he even goes back to the castle with a more detailed physical description, but at the moment, everything depends on whether or not The Wolf allowed Derk to talk.
His gut tells him that The Wolf did.
As soon as he’s back in Heliodor proper, Luminary sheds his hood and pulls off his cloak to reveal his more formal attire. It isn’t enough to mark him as a royal, but it’ll be enough for people to mistake him for a simple noble. It’s easier this way to walk among the citizens of Heliodor – looking just proper enough to not be marked as an outside by the nobles but not royal enough for them to fawn over him either. When he meets up with Derk, he doesn’t want to be immediately recognized as either the Prince of Dundrasil or a Knight of Heliodor, though at this point, he won’t be surprised if Derk has been anticipating his arrival.
Derk’s home-turned-shop is just as he remembered – filled with seemingly random items and objects that range from the most common of healing and household trinkets to impressively crafted jewelry and armor. Luminary finds himself looking among the available weapons while Derk interacts with different customers in his store, now wanting to interrupt his business. Though he’s happy to see that Derk is just as he remembered him. Definitely of common origin, becoming a noble through his merchant expertise, but his easy and almost chummy demeanor makes it very simple for him to get along with almost anyone, regardless of status. As far as Luminary can tell, if there is anyone in the royal sector who minds that Derk now lives there, no one shows it.
Luminary eventually hears Derk come over and approach him after another couple leaves the shop. Time to get to work. “The craftsmanship of this sword is incredible. Where does it come from?” Luminary turns his head to look at the merchant, taking in his friendly smile that’s tinged with a touch of earnestness.
“That one came from Hotto, yea? Master smiths they got there wit’ the volcano nearby. Everythin’ from there I sell are one-of-a-kind originals. Won’t find anythin’ else like ‘em in the city.” Derk’s pride in his work shines through in his words, and it feels impossible to keep one’s guard up around him. “Got matchin’ armor, if yer lookin’ for a whole set.”
“It’s tempting, but I’ll have to think it over. Do you imagine it will still be here in a few days?”
“It’s pretty new, but who’s ta say with the Gala comin’ up? All us merchants are preparin’ for it, so if yer keen on the set, ya might want to get it before then. Ya lookin’ for yerself or are ya a collector?”
Luminary turns to look at Derk properly for the first time, and he sees the flash of recognition on his face. At least he won’t have to pretend why he’s here. “Usually, it’d be for myself, but I’m a collector today. I’ve heard you possibly have some information for me.” Looking around the shop, he’s relieved to find it empty. Whether Derk cleared out the customers intentionally or he managed to stumble in here during a quiet moment, Luminary isn’t sure. Whatever the reason, it works in his favor.
Derk looks over his shoulder and calls out to the woman Luminary saw upon entering the shop, drifting in and out from behind the counter to assist other customers. “Love, can ya watch the front for a tick? Got a customer ‘ere we were waitin’ for.”
The red headed woman glances at Luminary before nodding with understanding. “The man he mentioned might show up? This One understands and will manage the store for you.”
“Thanks, Love. Right, this way then,” Derk says as he leads Luminary to a parlor upstairs.
This part of his house reminds him of every other noble’s house he’s seen, though Luminary does catch the many odds and ends that signify the couple’s more humble origins. Frankly, he thinks it gives the room more character and homier feel. Still, he waits until Derk seats himself and motions to a chair opposite of him before sitting.
“Did’ya want any tea? Haven’t had any proper guests in a while, but I should’a remembered this. I could get somethin’, if ya’ want-”
Luminary waves away the suggestion, not wanting to stress out his host. He was never one for formalities anyway. “You don’t have to worry about me, thank you. I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”
“Mah ol’ mucker mentioned ya might have questions about him. Mate did always enjoy the thrill of a job.” Derk’s smile is just as carefree as when Luminary was only a customer to him. It strikes Luminary as odd that this man is friends with such a notorious thief.
“Did you know him when he first started?”
“He came to Heliodor wit’ another thievin’ group, though he didn’t stay wit’ ‘em for long. Had a weird accent, they did, and dressed for summer even though it was winter at the time. Met him in Old Heliodor few years back, n’ I guess he felt bad for me. Never did understand why he wanted a partner like me, ‘cuz I was a horrible thief. Turned out I was real good at sellin’ our loot after.” The establishment they’re in is a clear indicator of that.
Leaning forward, Luminary continues. “So what made you stop being The Wolf’s partner?”
“Well, it was before he was called that, but mah mate came up to me, n’ he said, ‘Derk, yer a good lad but a terrible thief.’ Gave me some money from his share n’ told me to open up an honest shop. He managed to sneak me past the guard, n’ I ran a stall on the main street ‘til I could buy this place. Wanted a better life for the misses, ya see.”
The more Luminary finds out about The Wolf’s personality, the more conflicting the information seems. The version of the thief he met is different from the one in the reports he read, and different still from the man Derk speaks of with such fondness. It’s difficult to make the images of him align. He can focus on the details later. Now, he’s trying to figure out information he can use at this moment. “Does any of your stock come from his jobs?”
“Nah, that was one of the agreements we made. All mah trade comes from legitimate sources, n’ he doesn’t come ‘round as often as he used to. I was surprised he came to tell me ‘bout you comin’, really. Usually just sends letters.”
Luminary nods as he takes this information in. There are so many questions he wants to ask, but he knows he needs to tread lightly here. He’s already figured out more than he expected from his talks with Ruby and Derk so far, but it’s not even close enough to creating a full picture of who The Wolf really is, let alone where to find him. Still, he needs to push for whatever he can. He just isn’t how much information Derk is willing to give.
“Since you used to work with him, I guess you would know why he goes after specific targets.”
“It changed wit’ each job, really. Sometimes, we had some bloke come to us for a job, others were for special objects he wanted or against people he just didn’t like. He doesn’t keep me updated, but I don’t think he’s doin’ his current job for anyone. He’s got his reasons, but he hasn’t shared ‘em wit’ me.” Derk studies Luminary for a few moments, as though he’s looking for something specific that Luminary can’t name. It’s similar to the assessing gaze Ruby gave him. “Always had his secrets, he did, but he’s different these past months. Whatever his target is, he seems obsessed wit’ it. Don’t know why he’s wantin’ ya on his trail, though.”
“That’s part of what I’m trying to figure out.” By all means, it doesn’t make sense why The Wolf is teasing the possibility of being caught by him so relentlessly, yet at the same time, Luminary has the distinct feeling that all of this won’t change a thing. He feels like he’s in a play, acting out his part with a single-minded dedication without knowing how the play will end. “Could you possibly tell me what he looks like or even his name?”
Derk shakes his head with a rueful smile, the answer Luminary honestly expected. “That I can’t do. Even if he said it was alright, mah mate sticks out too much to give that away. Ya are tryin’ to catch him, after all. He isn’t the most law abidin’ gent, but he’s a good man. I reckon he’s got a good reason for all this.”
This is the most Luminary thinks he’s going to be able to get from Derk, but at least he has a better idea about his mark now than he did before he sought out Ruby and Derk. Standing up from the plush chair, he gives Derk a polite nod. “Thank you for speaking with me, and I appreciate your honesty.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want to lie to ya of all people. Ya The Luminary, ultimate force of good n’ all that, yea?” Derk points to the mark on the back of Luminary’s hand, the only blatant symbol of his divine destiny and royal heritage. “I figure that might have somethin’ do it wit’ it.”
Luminary wonders if Derk knew his role because he honestly recognized the mark when seldom do or because The Wolf told him. Either way, he has to report his findings to Jasper and see if there’s anything new they can pull from the information they’ve gathered. Looking down at his hand, he can faintly see the glow of Yggdrasil’s blessing.
“Just may be.”
Regardless of the hours and days Luminary spends pouring over the files and information he has access to, Luminary and Jasper don’t to find out more about The Wolf than what he managed to get from Ruby and Derk. Everything about his current target and fascination with Luminary is too atypical to compare to The Wolf’s normal pattern. It’s vexing in a way that keeps him going over his notes deep into the night, but at least he and Jasper were prepared for this very real possibility.
So they prepare for the Summer Gala.
Luminary can’t be part of the main security detail, not when he’s the visiting prince from a different kingdom. Still, he helps Jasper map out potential entry points to keep patrols on, in case if The Wolf tries something other than the front door, as well as the selection of knights to guard The Orb hidden within the King’s personal chambers. Only Jasper and Luminary will know The Orb’s exact location for added security, and the knights were informed of The Wolf’s suspected appearance. Without knowing what the man looks like, there’s little else they can do to prepare without canceling the Gala outright.
As the day of the Gala looms closer, Luminary feels the anticipation steadily growing within him, though he can’t say for sure if it’s because of the stress of the Gala or the idea of going against The Wolf again. Luminary can’t imagine that he would lay out so many clues and not present himself on purpose. Even though he advised for more guards around various entry points into the castle, if Luminary knows anything about The Wolf, he knows this – the thief is going to enter through the front door, and at least to the Prince of Dundrasil, he’ll make his presence known.
When he presented this likelihood to Jasper, the Knight Vice-Captain seemed completely unmoved, flippantly stating, “Then we use you as bait to lure him out,” as though it was part of his plan from the beginning. Knowing him, it probably was.
On the day of, Luminary spent the majority of the day preparing for that evening, though not in the way he would have preferred. He offered to assist Jasper with any last-minute planning, but the knight gave him an irritated side glance and told him to focus on his duties as Heir to Dundrasil. As the only current ambassador in Heliodor from the 2nd largest kingdom in the world, this is one of the few times where his princely duties overrides his training. Before now, his presence in Heliodor wasn’t even known to the public, so an official, royal welcome was something he could no longer avoid.
Any alone time he has, he spends with Jade, knowing she feels the same way about formal functions that he does. It’s a way they’ve used to avoid the overly fussy servants that insist they primp for hours before the event, and with the added anxiousness over The Wolf’s appearance, Jade helps him feel more focused than he would have by himself…
… for a price.
“Your pacing will tear a hole in the floor if you don’t take a break and sit down. I’m sure your date tonight will go just fine,” she says as she lounges back on her bed, watching him slowly unravel before her.
“It’s not a date,” he reminds her for the tenth time.
Rolling her eyes, she starts counting off on her fingers. “You’re dressed up for the occasion, there will be food and dancing, you’re subtly fidgeting with how you look, and you’re checking yourself out in a mirror every time you pass one. Please tell me how exactly, little brother, that you’re not experiencing pre-date jitters?” She can tell by the combination of a frustrated and flabbergasted look Luminary gives her that he doesn’t have a ready response. “I think you also haven’t specified whether your date is Erik or The Wolf… possibly both?”
“Neither, and I know we’re expecting The Wolf to show up, but why would you even assume that Erik would come to this sort of thing?”
“Because there will be a lot of people with deep pockets here tonight, and as you so eloquently mentioned before, he’s a pirate. Sure, pick-pocketing might be beneath him, but is it really? Plus, he still hasn’t come to collect those pearls of his that you pretend aren’t currently in your pocket.” It took all of his willpower to prevent his hand from flying to his pocket to confirm her suspicions, though he couldn’t stop his hand from twitching – a tell he knows she can see. “Right, the point is it’ll be fine. All you have to do is stand around, shake hands with a lot of people that you won’t remember by the end of the night, and stop an infamous thief who is probably going to come and try to steal one of our oldest and most prized royal treasures. You’ll do great.”
Luminary levels Jade with one of his blankest stares before shaking his head laughing quietly to himself. It’s only because he’s known Jade for so long that he doesn’t take her teasing too seriously. Based on her smile, he knows she at least meant the last part. “Just know that every meaningless dance I get roped into, I expect to see you on the dance floor as well.”
“I promise no such thing, but I will steal you away if the requests become too many.”
“That’ll do.”
They end up spending the rest of the afternoon hiding out in Jade’s room, Luminary only leaving for a brief interval to meet with Jasper and confirm their strategy before the doors officially open to the public. When they finally leave for the Summer Gala, they stay near each other’s side, joining Hendrik and King Carnelian in the banquet hall to greet guests.
And then the long night begins.