Chapter Text
Varian ushered Yong along the red stone path. They were so close. The young alchemist could see the fire totem up ahead sitting atop an altar. He'd be one step closer to finishing his mother's work. They approached cautiously.
"This is it, Yong," Varian whispered, worried the excess noise may set off a trap. "We made it."
He reached for the small object when a foreign gloved hand snatched it out of his reach. In surprise, he looked up to see a tall, lanky man around his age, gripping the totem in a brown, fingerless glove while grinning at him. The man had blonde hair pulled away in a ponytail and blazing green eyes behind large, round-rimmed glasses. Varian glared at the thief but could not help feeling impressed by his speed and tall, graceful profile.
"This is where I make my exit," the thief jeered, and he was gone in an instant, leaving through a gap in the wall behind the altar.
Yong and Varian stared at the empty hole in the wall, their mouths agape.
Varian's shocked expression turned to rage. "He won't get away that easily. Come on, Yong."
Sprinting, the two ran after him. Varian grabbed a round blue ball from his belt, his expression determined. After winding through a few passageways, they found themselves bewildered, in the center of the marketplace in the middle of town.
"How did we get here?" Yong asked, glancing behind them at the small hole in the wall that was now closing up.
"I don't know, but I think we lost him, whoever that was, along with the totem."
"What are we gonna do now, Varian?"
The defeated alchemist sighed. "We'll have to regroup, think of something else back at the Inn I suppose."
The two slowly made their way to the large Inn with the words, Spiced Herb decorated over the door in green letters, their heads hanging in defeat.
***
Varian lay in his bunk, his eyes and body tired, but his mind wide awake. The only sound in the room was that of Yong's snoring.
He blinked away sleep as his thoughts lay with the blonde thief. He sighed and turned over, looking out the small window across the room. The window was made of clay and adorned no curtain, so he was able to see parts of the town below. Lost in thought, something caught his eye for a moment, and he sat up in bed staring outside. He stood still as a statue for what seemed forever, then ultimately decided it was nothing and began to relax. But there it was again. A motion, a flash of color that was undeniable.
He quietly bolted out of bed and rushed to the window, lifting the sill as silently as possible. Yong mumbled slightly, then turned over on his bunk before snoring again. Varian breathed in deeply before poking his head out the window. He was met with those same mocking green eyes from before and a smug look.
"A bit late to be up, isn't it?" the blonde thief remarked slyly. Out of instinct, Varian reached for his tool belt, but it was on his bedside table by his bunk and not around his waist. "Oh, don't worry, I don't want any trouble. My name is Hugo. I'm an inventor, like you." He stretched out his hand. "I have a proposal for you."
***
"No way, Varian," Yong yelled gruffly. "We are not letting that stealer join our team. This is our team. Only us. And he stole from us! Yeah sure, he's offered us the totem again, but what's up with that? Why steal it in the first place? It makes no sense."
"I know Yong. Trust me I know it sounds crazy." Varian was pacing back and forth in front of his bunk while a smug Hugo grinned from the back of the room. There was a thin, transparent veil separating them from the thief, blocking out their voices. "He apologized for stealing the totem and he said he's been trying to set himself on the path for good."
Yong snorted. "He told you what he wanted you to hear. He probably wants more out of us. Maybe the location to the other totems."
"Maybe so, but I learned from Rapunzel to not give up on people. She would never give up on Hugo if she were here."
The small boy sighed. "That's true." There was a moment of silence where they looked over at the Hugo who was lounging on Yong's bed, his arms over his head and that same smug look still on his face. Yong groaned at the sight of him. "Fine. I'll go with whatever you say, Varian."
Varian gave the young boy a warm grin. "Thanks for believing in me. Now, let's go introduce ourselves." He pulled a small vile out of his tool belt and pour a few drops on the invisible barrier. It vanished, and they approached the blonde thief cautiously.
Varian extended his hand. "I accept your proposal." Hugo's face spread into a big grin as he stretched out his own hand after sitting up. Varian drew back his arm quickly. "That is, on one condition."
"Oh?" Hugo mused, seemingly unperturbed.
"You promise to not steal anymore."
He laughed. "Is that all—"
"And," Varian interjected, "you must reveal your true reason for wanting to join our team."
"Well, that's TWO conditions and since I can in no way guarantee the first request, I will abide by the second." Varian glared at him. "I want to join your team, because you're obviously a talented alchemist and believe it or not I am one too. We inventors need to stick together."
Yong's eyes widened. "You're an inventor?"
Hugo grinned. "That's right. Would you like to see one of my inventions? I made Olivia here."
The proclaimed inventor pulled a strange object from a pocket within his green vest and held it out for Yong to see. It was a small mechanical mouse with glowing green eyes. It made a robotic squeak and Yong's suspicious expression immediately melted.
"Awwwww! You made this? Oh, Hugo, can I hold her?" He held out his hands to accept the mouse.
Varian forgot Yong was still merely a kid and could be so easily won over by a toy such as this, but he smiled despite himself at the spectacle.
"Of course," Hugo cooed. "Yong, was it? Don't worry, she's quite gentle."
Olivia zipped over Yong's palm, and a high-pitched giggle escaped the boy's mouth. "She's so fast! What did you make her with?"
"Stollen parts I got from this rich family that lived in this big fancy house with all this—" His words cut off as he met Varian's hard expression. "Uh, well you know. I find parts here and there." He rubbed the back of his neck as the raven-haired alchemist narrowed his eyes at him. "I did say I couldn't keep the promise about not stealing. It's kind of my thing."
Varian sighed. "It'll have to do for now."