[Night. Xeonodan.
Nea Alba]
A revolution, assassins, and even an explosion that almost killed you. How could one go through all this and not like the person who stuck with them throughout? Don't get me wrong. I am not interested in that narcissistic shit-wagon romantically at all! It's about friendship and trust!
Yet, there are limits on how much you can trust the person who stuck with you throughout. I mean, just because you escaped death's grip once doesn't make you want to try the whole thing again, right? So why was this dickhead planning on raiding the Lightning Palace today?!
"Because it's the best time to do it!" Ivan exclaimed in our huge suite room.
"I digress! Why would the Lightning Palace be the easiest to raid merely 2 days after an earth-shattering criminal act?!"
"Tell me, Nea, what's easier to break? A bulky but unorganized stone wall made in a week or a thin but solid wall made over a month?"
"You are magic-less. You can't break either! This is the Lightning Palace, for god's sake! Do you think its security will be sloppy?"
"Too many revolutions have stemmed from that place to call its security good! Also, remind me who the master thief is in this room?"
"I never stopped you from going. Just go alone," I coolly said.
"And I am saying you come along," he coolly replied. Man, does he get on my nerves.
"Why do you need me, anyway?"
"Scapegoat—"
I slapped him.
**
I came along regardless.
We walked through the streets of the city under the dim illuminance of the starry sky. The wide and ragged streets led us to canals and ended at the river mouth. We went towards a makeshift dock and unhinged a canoe.
"Whose is that?" I asked.
"Huh? How would I know?" he said.
Ivan jumped on the canoe and extended his hand towards me. I took it and got on the shaky boat. We settled down, and he started rowing. We sat in silence as the canoe ebbed and flowed on the troubled waters of the deep night.
"I guess I took the wrong turn a while back—"
I slapped him.
.
.
.
We sat in silence as the canoe ebbed and flowed on the troubled waters of the deep night, taking us away from civilization, towards the grand Lightning Palace.
We got closer to the back of the palace, and Ivan rowed against the flow of the water. Checking his watch again and again. There were a few guards stationed behind the palace that would surely notice as we get closer. Soon Ivan smirked and rowed normally again. I was anxious, but being in the presence of a master thief reassured me.
Eventually, a loud crack resounded in the air, while scenic fireworks dominated the night sky from the center of the three sectors. Everyone's attention moved towards the fireworks, and Ivan took that chance to maneuver the canoe towards the palace. Away from the distracted guards.
"See, had to be today." He smirked. It really didn't suit his swollen cheeks.
"Alright, master thief, what next?" I got off the canoe and rushed below a tree, following Ivan.
He placed a finger on his lips and tiptoed towards a window. I stuck to his back, and we made our way towards the walls of the Palace. I used some magic to scan the inside.
"Ivan, there's—"
"3 guys in there, I know."
"Heh? How?"
"I sensed their killing intent—"
I was about to slap him before he waved his hands, reached into his coat, and pulled out a box of sorts.
"Magic tool! Don't attack!"
"I see... Wait! Is that an ET?!"
"Oh, you have good eyes. Yes, it's part of the ET series."
The ET series of magic tools. Revolutionary items that stirred up the underworld with their presence. No one knows who created these extremely powerful magic tools which surpass common sense, the only clue of their creator being the initials engraved onto each of them.
"Damn, I never thought I'll see something like this here," I said.
"Huhuhu, this is merely the surface of my resourcefulness. Now then, be useful for a bit."
"What do you want?"
"Here, take this thread and pour some magical energy into it."
"That's all?"
"Yup, I'll handle the tuning."
I took the thread made of some special alloy from him and sent my magic through it. The alloy changed texture according to the amount of energy I sent in. Ivan messed with its length and girth a bit, tying it in knots and looping it around before he slid it into the gap between the windowsill and the window.
He moved it around and a small click resounded in the air. He gestured at me to prepare a spell and slowly opened the window. Inside were two cleaners doing their job. I chanted a simple wind spell and knocked them out.
"Man, magic locks are always a hassle to open. Good thing I carry an energy battery around."
"The fuck did you call me?"
"No violence! No violence~"
We bantered and moved inside the room. Ivan walked towards one of the knocked-out bodies.
"What now? We got in. How will we move? How do we escape?" I asked while closing the window.
"Move? Escape? Whatever do you mean, Andrei?" He stripped the man and switched his clothes. "We work here."
"... Ivan?"
"Hahaha, I'm Tomas. Who is Ivan? We will clean the palace properly and leave when our shift ends." He picked up the guy he just stripped and tied a cloth around his hands, legs, and mouth. Before shoving him in the cleaning cart they had bought with them. "My, look at this giant bug. We'll have to burn it with the trash!"