Chapter Text
“Miss Cipher! Come back!”
“Doot doot!” Little Ica echoed its owner's call, doing its absolute best to fly after the fleet-footed cat lady. Unfortunately, she was long gone, Hyacine’s diary securely in her hands.
“Mwehehe…” It slipped out unconsciously as she dashed across the roofs of Okhema. Hyacine was always spending time in this recently- doing something as long as there were no patients around. Her curiosity had finally gotten the better of her.
She skidded to a stop atop a rooftop, attempting to crack it open. Locked. “Aww, does little Cinny think that’ll stop me?” Sliding a lockpick out her tail, she attempted to get to work, until she heard the distinct “doot doot” heralding a tiny pegasus preparing to launch itself at whatever problem may arise. Cipher was off like the wind once more, ready to flee above the forges- until she ran into the iron-hard chest of Mydeimos the Undying, who was apparently relegated to roadblock duty when no wars were fought.
“Cifera.” His voice was gruff, and his hand immediately grabbed her tail and her arm. “What have you stolen this time?”
“Oh, little prince~” Cipher said, doing her best to wriggle out. “This doesn’t concern you- why don’t you stay a neutral party? Please?” The “doot doots” were echoing again.
“I know better than to do that. I’d prefer to stay on the city's good side.” he said, not letting go. “And something tells me you weren’t simply dashing around for the exercise.”
“Haha, very astute…” The “doot doot” finally rounded the corner, barreling toward her. Mydei, acting swiftly, finally let go to dodge the pegasi’s launch, and Cipher did her best to escape- but Hyacine stood in her way, grinding her to a halt. “Oh, little Hyacine… wonderful weather we’re having, isn’t it?”
“Can I have my diary back, Lady Cipher?” Hyacine’s tone was surprisingly delicate.
“Ugh, fine.” She handed it over. “I really thought I had you this time too…”
Hyacine looked over the diary, before slipping it into her pocket. “You know, Lady Cipher, you could always just ask me if you wanna look inside.”
“Huh?”
“There’s nothing super personal in here, silly. It’s mostly just doodles and anecdotes. I’d be fine lending it out to you when you’re bored.” the pink girl said, retrieving Little Ica, who looked very proud of itself, its wings flapping like a dog's tail wagging. Or Cipher’s own tail, which was unconsciously wagging. “Hehe, looks like you already agree. Just swing by any time you want to try.”
“And what’s the catch, hmm?”
“You have to spend time with me when you do, okay? I don’t want to just hang out with you when you’re injured.”
Cipher acted all lost in thought, trying to control her tail, which was failing. Mydei looked on with an expression the thief couldn’t read, but it was at least partially amusement. “Alright then, little Cinny. You’d better uphold your end of the promise.”
“Why would I not?” Hyacine said, already walking back. “Now, no more stealing from me, alright~?”
Cipher nodded, turning around to head back. Mydei let out a bit of a chuckle. “Wow. She’s got you wrapped around her little finger.”
“Oh, can it, little prince.”
Cipher awoke that night with a start. Her room was serene, the moonlight filtering through her window into a small pool of liquid silver on the floor. She couldn’t get back to sleep. Just one of those feelings. Maybe a Titan was trying to guide her out of here. Divine premonition. Her gut hadn’t failed her yet.
She slipped on her bodysuit over her pajama pants, and slid out her window. She never liked using her door at night, and her sanctuary was well hidden. She sped towards Okehma, almost on a whim. The divine authority within her seemed to spur her forward.
Okehma was silent and still, with only small groans and settles from the house's roofs as she sped across, quiet as could be. It was strangely calming, the feeling of the wind against her skin and clothes, the feeling of the ground against her feet. It was only when she slowed down that she noticed that she was approaching the Twilight Courtyard.
It was eerie. The chimeras were gone, and the usual hustle and bustle that accompanied the clinic was replaced with the chirping of nymphs and the rustle of leaves. Why had she come here?
Nobody was awake. She approached the prayer pool in the center out of instinct. It was also still and dark, with no mark to guide her the way. Suddenly, the dark water lit into a golden light- the unmistakable triple prong of Mnestia. It blinded Cipher for a second, causing her to hiss and hide behind her tail. The warm, almost molten, golden glow hovered in place for a while. She was scared to move. If she did, she felt like the moment would shatter. She didn’t even breathe. The symbol seemed to beckon something.
Then, suddenly, a crash. Whipping around, she saw the bumbling figure of the Spirithief wandering into view, barely illuminated by the moonlight as the Titan Mark lowered itself back into the prayer pool. “Bartholos… What are you doing sneaking up on a defenseless girl in the dead of night?”
“It’s a free city, girlie! And I don’t exactly think you’re a helpless maiden, are ya?”
“You know me too well~” Cipher felt the hair on her tail flatten, the fright behind her. “What are you doing up this late?”
“I don’t know. I felt like, hm, something wrong was happening, I guess?” Cipher’s hair shot back up. “What’s wrong, Boss Lady?”
“I felt the same way… woke up with this feeling that something wrong was happening.” The two thieves stood in silence for a bit. “Is something wrong with the Coreflame?”
“Hey… should we be talking about that out here?”
“It’s alright. Nobody is awake.” Cipher crouched down as Bartholos hopped closer, nervousness clearly on his face.
“For lack of better terms, Boss Lady, it felt like… someone had stolen the very coreflame itself! Or, at least a piece of it.”
“Huh?”
“Hmm. This is difficult to put into words… if only you could become me for a second.” Bartholos slapped the ground in frustration. “But you feel sluggish! Dull! Barely so, but yet! And additionally- my side hurts something fierce, like a knife has been carved into it! Someone has tampered with my authority!” They bounded around more and more.
“Whoa, whoa, calm down, little guy!” Cipher grabbed onto the purple creature, holding it tight. “Are ya sure? Who in the world- besides for me, of course- could steal a part of a Coreflame? And its authority is within me, right?”
“It is!” Barthalos struggled to jump with Cipher’s grip. “But I can sense it! Either someone broke into my hideout, or they have some other nefarious plans! It’s so slight- barely even gone!”
“It won’t stop my lies, right?” Cipher briefly panicked as she thought of the Dawn Device.
“No, no, as long as you have my authority, you’ll be fine. But! If enough is stolen… they could have enough power to act as a demigod of Trickery! Maybe even prevent you from completing the trial…”
“It’s within you still… ugh!” Cipher let go and stood up. “Is there anything we can do? I don’t need a mini-me running around.”
“I don’t know…”
“Could I help?”
Cipher whipped around, coins in her hand already, ready to throw. Hyacine was there, in a long pink and white polka-dot nightgown. Her hair was down straight, rather than in her twirls, and she had a candle in her hand. “Cinny? What are you-”
“I told you, Boss Lady! I-” Bartholos was shut up by Little Ica coming over to sniff, causing the poor Spirithief to freeze up. “BOSS LADY! GET IT AWAY FROM ME!” Cipher ignored its cries.
“Hyacine, what are you doing awake?” Cipher continued, cautiously approaching.
“I heard a crash, and Little Ica was going crazy, so I was worried. I overhead that…” She glanced at the Spirithief, who was currency running in circles. Little Ica seemed to think that this was a game. Bartholos did not. “...It has the trickery coreflame?
“I… Well, cat’s out of the bag now.” Cipher slid her coins back away into her sleeve. “Keep it a secret. We need as many trump cards as we can get.”
“Of course, Lady Cipher. I trust you.” She smiled. Cipher felt her face get hot. Probably just the candle, she thought. Hyacine continued. “But… if even part of the Coreflame is missing, then couldn’t that cause problems for the returning ceremony?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“So, let me help you. I can keep my ear to the floor when I help patients out. And I’m sure that someone will know something about a thief lurking around.”
“And that thief is gonna make away with the good as soon as they figure out we’re onto them…” Cipher said, plopping onto the ground criss-cross apple sauce. “I’ll bet they want the whole thing- but if they’re gonna get caught, they’ll go take a vacation for a few months and try again.”
“Come for my diary then, silly.” Hyacine said, sitting right in front of her. She placed the candle to her side, looking dead in Cipher’s eyes. “I’ll write down anything I find in there. It’ll just look like Lady Cipher misses her dear old friend Hyacine~”
“Well…” Cipher was interrupted by Hyacine holding a finger up to the cat’s lips. It took a lot of self control for her to not try to lick it.
“Nuh-uh. You’re gonna get my help on this, whether you like it or not!”
Cipher again acted like she was thinking. And again, she couldn’t find anything wrong with what Hyacine said. It would help. And… she did really like spending time with the pink girl. She was cute. Just cute, though. I do NOT have a crush on her. Cipher’s mind immediately followed up with And what if you do?, which she had no real answer to. I’ll worry about that later.
“Alright, little Hyacine. I’ll take you up on that.” Cipher grabbed her hand, pulling the both of them up. “But you should get to sleep. You need your rest~”
“And you don’t?”
“What? I’m a cat- we love the night! Better be careful you don’t run into me again, or I’ll be robbing you blind!”
“If you robbed me, I’d make sure to report to Lady Aglaea directly.” Hyacine said, whistling for Little Ica to stop trying to eat Bartholos and come back to her side. “So try not to, okay?” Cipher gulped.
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Good. See you tomorrow, Lady Cipher.” Hyacine walked off, candle in hand, Ica doot dooting all the way back to her room. Cipher watched her go for a while, a weird feeling building in her stomach. Bartholos crawled back.
“If I EVER have to see that spawn of Aqulia themselves….”
“Calm down, it just liked you!”
“IT TRIED TO EAT THE COREFLAME. HOW COULD A UNICORN BE A TITAN??”
“It only tried to eat you, little Spirithief.” Cipher booped it on the nose, then turned away laughing. “Maybe it’d be more helpful on our hunts than you~”
“Hmph. Alrighty then. I’ll make sure to do my part then, too. More than that little pegasi…”
“Looking forward to it.” Cipher stretched a bit. “Gonna go head back to sleep. Try not to get anything else stolen from you before we meet next, mkay?”
“Of course, Boss Lady. Everything for you, Boss Lady! I’ll die for you, Boss Lady!” Bartholos threw his arms up in salute, almost breaking another crate.
“Laying it on too thick again…” Cipher left with that, blazing past across the roofs and streets of Okhema under the moonlight, heading back to her sanctuary. She was still thinking about Hyacine, and her care. How she didn’t even judge her for keeping secrets. How good she smelled when she sat near her.
How much she felt her feelings growing, even when she was too terrified to ever find out if they could be happy together.