Chapter 119: The Pickpocket's Tale
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CHAPTER 117
Era glared at him daggers when he burst out laughing but the Vidor right now did not bother about that. He was willing to accept all of her glares as they served as payment for him.
Here he was worried about her and stuff but she could not spare him the same or little amount of care, instead, she is bothered about a thief.
"Laugh all you want," Era spat out angrily and looked back at the boy. "I am your best option, kid. I may not be a nurse or a doctor but trust me, when I say I can help. Now you better fix up that attitude of yours before I throw my kindness away and hand you over to the authorities."
Just seeing the change in her expression and the firmness in her tone, the boy knew he had actually crossed the line and knew best to behave before her threat becomes real.
If there was anything, he knew Vidor would not hesitate to help Era if she were to change her mind about him.
"Yes, ma." He lowered his gaze, too ashamed of himself and feeling bad about the whole thing.
"Hmm, Let me see your hand." He did not fight back but gave her his palm willingly.
0_0
Of course, this had once again surprised Vidor who did not think the child could ever get any more obedient than he already was.
'Interesting. He is such a chameleon. Tsk, perhaps I should learn from her. No. She is annoying me now.'
Taking his hand, Era gently felt his palm. Her guess was right.
Mainly looking at him, she knew he was just a spoilt brat who always got what he wanted but somehow got involved in a theft. His attitude gave him away and now touching his palms, she figured it out quickly.
"You…"
He looked at her like a child caught doing something wrong.
"I am sorry. I have given him your pouch. You do not have to report me now. Please."
'Oh really!' Vidor could not believe this. Each and every attitude of the boy was changing his mind about things and opening him up. 'One can pretend this way, huh. I won't allow Era buy it or fall for it.'
"Boy, enough of you antics. If we let you go now, you would get back on the street and continue pickpocketing."
"No sir. I won't. I swear. I just…" His voice broke. He did not want to talk about it but most definitely, he did not want to be seen as weak and worst get to prison.
"Really? Well, guess what, I do not believe you."
'Tsk, look at him not believing someone whereas he was the one who readily killed my people without knowing the full extent of the information he was given.' Era thought, eyeing Vidor without restraint.
"Sir, you really have to believe me. I would not do it again. I do not want to be thrown into prison. I promise please."
"Shh, you really should stop talking and moving around so much. You would only hurt further."
That was it. Vidor was done with what she was doing. He was already mad at her.
He turned around, not wanting to see or know what was happening again. He was hurt so much.
"From the look of things and the softness of your palm. Your parents are well to do. You literally do not do any work. If that is so, why then is a spoilt brat pickpocketing?"
"Isn't it obvious? He is a kleptomaniac."
"It is not true!" The boy snapped out in anger.
"I am not. I would never be."
'Then tell me why you are out here stealing when you have parents who can take care of you?" Vidor asked, turning to gaze into the angry, yet teary eyes of the boy.
That was definitely not a look he was expecting.
"Because…" The boy pursed his lips together, forcing himself not to speak or break into tears.
"Because what?" Vidor pushed further. He knew the boy was hiding something and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"You can't say? Tsk, I said it. You are nothing but a thief."
"I AM NOT!"
0_0
Both Era and Vidor had their eyes opened in shock by the outburst of the kid.
Immediately Era knew something terrible had happened. She was no fool to know but perhaps Vidor who wasn't trusting was.
The next second, he burst into tears crying his eyes out and ignoring the pain he got from his broken nose.
"I-I… I a-am... NOT. I am no thief. I am sorry for stealing your pouch," he apologized to Era. "But honestly I am not. I have only tried once and I got away with it."
"But why would you?" Era asked softly, moving in to hold his hand. "Why? You can talk to us, you know."
He looked down at where their hands met and then back at her face. "I lost them. I lost them both and that was when everything came to ruins in my life."
"You lost them? Who?" Vidor's cold voice resounded, reminding them of his presence.
Although the boy did not want to speak, when he looked at Era, she urged him with her eyes and smiled at him. "It is okay. You are safe. I won't let any harm come to you, especially from him."
He nodded his head in understanding, which only aggravated Vidor from watching them.
If he hadn't known better, he would have thought Era liked the boy and something was going on but here he was, jealous of a kid.
'Come on Vidor, get your shit together.'
"My, my parents."
"I'm sorry."
"No need. They are already gone."
"But, how, how did you lose them both at the same time," Era inquired.
"Not at the same time," he began as his eyes suddenly went bleak, obviously replaying the painful memories of the past.
"Father died, three months ago and my mother, a month after."
"That is bad. What happened, really?"
"My father had been injured before the battle, he was a lieutenant and a worthy soldier who served the king with all his might but where did that leave him? Dead!"
Era shifted her gaze and saw that Vidor although not wanting to be interested, suddenly became interested with a glint of anger when he heard himself being mentioned.
"What… what happened?"
"He got injured and had not yet recovered. Unfortunately, three months ago the king asked that all his soldiers be summoned and marched to Meribia to fight. Being injured, he could have easily taken leave since he wasn't fit but he wanted to fight for Etheria's glory against all of our pleas."
At that moment, it was now Vidor's turn to look at Era.
Although she seemed interested, he could tell her mind was far gone. He could see the rage in her eyes. Unfortunately, the storyteller could not as his own mind was preoccupied with thoughts.
The tale had simply reopened close wounds for her and judging from the way she clenched her fist, he knew she was angry.
"Father ignored our warnings and begged and went. He was so loyal to the king and that caused him. In the end, what were we expecting? He died in battle."
Vidor shut his eyes from the thought. What were they expecting? Why didn't they check properly those going to battle? How was he, the soldier hoping to cope? He was signing his death certificate.
"That was not the overall painful thing. Those who fell in battle weren't honoured, rather our KING." The emphasis he placed on the word King, left Vidor's mind wandering back to the boy.
"Our King, threw a party to celebrate, ignoring the pains and wound left from the war."
At the same time, Era's gaze shifted a bit to Vidor before looking lost again. He really did a stupid thing.
"He celebrated while people suffered and one of those people was my mother. Father's death broke her in words that could not be explained. She lost it, lost herself. She refused to eat, she could not move on. And in the end, a month later, she too died."
Vidor's hand balled into a fist at the story. His people had suffered too.
"But even at that, what did the king do to look after those who were left without their husbands? I was left to bury them and live on my own. It would have been okay, I could have managed but after a month our relatives came to chase me out."
Hearing his tale, Era snapped from her own grief and looked at the boy who had lost it all.
"I had no help. I ran to the soldiers, begging for help to fight back so I can retain my family's property but I was shooed away. With no power to fight, I was tossed out of my home and left on the street. Luckily I had little saving, I used that up until I was left with nothing."
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*************
CHAPTER 117
Era glared at him daggers when he burst out laughing but the Vidor right now did not bother about that. He was willing to accept all of her glares as they served as payment for him.
Here he was worried about her and stuff but she could not spare him the same or little amount of care, instead, she is bothered about a thief.
"Laugh all you want," Era spat out angrily and looked back at the boy. "I am your best option, kid. I may not be a nurse or a doctor but trust me, when I say I can help. Now you better fix up that attitude of yours before I throw my kindness away and hand you over to the authorities."
Just seeing the change in her expression and the firmness in her tone, the boy knew he had actually crossed the line and knew best to behave before her threat becomes real.
If there was anything, he knew Vidor would not hesitate to help Era if she were to change her mind about him.
"Yes, ma." He lowered his gaze, too ashamed of himself and feeling bad about the whole thing.
"Hmm, Let me see your hand." He did not fight back but gave her his palm willingly.
0_0
Of course, this had once again surprised Vidor who did not think the child could ever get any more obedient than he already was.
'Interesting. He is such a chameleon. Tsk, perhaps I should learn from her. No. She is annoying me now.'
Taking his hand, Era gently felt his palm. Her guess was right.
Mainly looking at him, she knew he was just a spoilt brat who always got what he wanted but somehow got involved in a theft. His attitude gave him away and now touching his palms, she figured it out quickly.
"You…"
He looked at her like a child caught doing something wrong.
"I am sorry. I have given him your pouch. You do not have to report me now. Please."
'Oh really!' Vidor could not believe this. Each and every attitude of the boy was changing his mind about things and opening him up. 'One can pretend this way, huh. I won't allow Era buy it or fall for it.'
"Boy, enough of you antics. If we let you go now, you would get back on the street and continue pickpocketing."
"No sir. I won't. I swear. I just…" His voice broke. He did not want to talk about it but most definitely, he did not want to be seen as weak and worst get to prison.
"Really? Well, guess what, I do not believe you."
'Tsk, look at him not believing someone whereas he was the one who readily killed my people without knowing the full extent of the information he was given.' Era thought, eyeing Vidor without restraint.
"Sir, you really have to believe me. I would not do it again. I do not want to be thrown into prison. I promise please."
"Shh, you really should stop talking and moving around so much. You would only hurt further."
That was it. Vidor was done with what she was doing. He was already mad at her.
He turned around, not wanting to see or know what was happening again. He was hurt so much.
"From the look of things and the softness of your palm. Your parents are well to do. You literally do not do any work. If that is so, why then is a spoilt brat pickpocketing?"
"Isn't it obvious? He is a kleptomaniac."
"It is not true!" The boy snapped out in anger.
"I am not. I would never be."
'Then tell me why you are out here stealing when you have parents who can take care of you?" Vidor asked, turning to gaze into the angry, yet teary eyes of the boy.
That was definitely not a look he was expecting.
"Because…" The boy pursed his lips together, forcing himself not to speak or break into tears.
"Because what?" Vidor pushed further. He knew the boy was hiding something and he was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"You can't say? Tsk, I said it. You are nothing but a thief."
"I AM NOT!"
0_0
Both Era and Vidor had their eyes opened in shock by the outburst of the kid.
Immediately Era knew something terrible had happened. She was no fool to know but perhaps Vidor who wasn't trusting was.
The next second, he burst into tears crying his eyes out and ignoring the pain he got from his broken nose.
"I-I… I a-am... NOT. I am no thief. I am sorry for stealing your pouch," he apologized to Era. "But honestly I am not. I have only tried once and I got away with it."
"But why would you?" Era asked softly, moving in to hold his hand. "Why? You can talk to us, you know."
He looked down at where their hands met and then back at her face. "I lost them. I lost them both and that was when everything came to ruins in my life."
"You lost them? Who?" Vidor's cold voice resounded, reminding them of his presence.
Although the boy did not want to speak, when he looked at Era, she urged him with her eyes and smiled at him. "It is okay. You are safe. I won't let any harm come to you, especially from him."
He nodded his head in understanding, which only aggravated Vidor from watching them.
If he hadn't known better, he would have thought Era liked the boy and something was going on but here he was, jealous of a kid.
'Come on Vidor, get your shit together.'
"My, my parents."
"I'm sorry."
"No need. They are already gone."
"But, how, how did you lose them both at the same time," Era inquired.
"Not at the same time," he began as his eyes suddenly went bleak, obviously replaying the painful memories of the past.
"Father died, three months ago and my mother, a month after."
"That is bad. What happened, really?"
"My father had been injured before the battle, he was a lieutenant and a worthy soldier who served the king with all his might but where did that leave him? Dead!"
Era shifted her gaze and saw that Vidor although not wanting to be interested, suddenly became interested with a glint of anger when he heard himself being mentioned.
"What… what happened?"
"He got injured and had not yet recovered. Unfortunately, three months ago the king asked that all his soldiers be summoned and marched to Meribia to fight. Being injured, he could have easily taken leave since he wasn't fit but he wanted to fight for Etheria's glory against all of our pleas."
At that moment, it was now Vidor's turn to look at Era.
Although she seemed interested, he could tell her mind was far gone. He could see the rage in her eyes. Unfortunately, the storyteller could not as his own mind was preoccupied with thoughts.
The tale had simply reopened close wounds for her and judging from the way she clenched her fist, he knew she was angry.
"Father ignored our warnings and begged and went. He was so loyal to the king and that caused him. In the end, what were we expecting? He died in battle."
Vidor shut his eyes from the thought. What were they expecting? Why didn't they check properly those going to battle? How was he, the soldier hoping to cope? He was signing his death certificate.
"That was not the overall painful thing. Those who fell in battle weren't honoured, rather our KING." The emphasis he placed on the word King, left Vidor's mind wandering back to the boy.
"Our King, threw a party to celebrate, ignoring the pains and wound left from the war."
At the same time, Era's gaze shifted a bit to Vidor before looking lost again. He really did a stupid thing.
"He celebrated while people suffered and one of those people was my mother. Father's death broke her in words that could not be explained. She lost it, lost herself. She refused to eat, she could not move on. And in the end, a month later, she too died."
Vidor's hand balled into a fist at the story. His people had suffered too.
"But even at that, what did the king do to look after those who were left without their husbands? I was left to bury them and live on my own. It would have been okay, I could have managed but after a month our relatives came to chase me out."
Hearing his tale, Era snapped from her own grief and looked at the boy who had lost it all.
"I had no help. I ran to the soldiers, begging for help to fight back so I can retain my family's property but I was shooed away. With no power to fight, I was tossed out of my home and left on the street. Luckily I had little saving, I used that up until I was left with nothing."
*************CHAPTER 117Era glared at him daggers when he burst out laughing but the Vidor right now did not bother about that. He was willing to accept all of her glares as they served as payment for him.Here he was worried about her and stuff but she could not spare him the same or little amount of care, instead, she is bothered about a thief."Laugh all you want," Era spat out angrily and looked back at the boy. "I am your best option, kid. I may not be a nurse or a doctor but trust me, when I say I can help. Now you better fix up that attitude of yours before I throw my kindness away and hand you over to the authorities."Just seeing the change in her expression and the firmness in her tone, the boy knew he had actually crossed the line and knew best to behave before her threat becomes real.If there was anything, he knew Vidor would not hesitate to help Era if she were to change her mind about him."Yes, ma." He lowered his gaze, too ashamed of himself and feeling bad about the whole thing."Hmm, Let me see your hand." He did not fight back but gave her his palm willingly.0_0Of course, this had once again surprised Vidor who did not think the child could ever get any more obedient than he already was.'Interesting. He is such a chameleon. Tsk, perhaps I should learn from her. No. She is annoying me now.'Taking his hand, Era gently felt his palm. Her guess was right.Mainly looking at him, she knew he was just a spoilt brat who always got what he wanted but somehow got involved in a theft. His attitude gave him away and now touching his palms, she figured it out quickly."You"He looked at her like a child caught doing something wrong."I am sorry. I have given him your pouch. You do not have to report me now. Please."'Oh really!' Vidor could not believe this. Each and every attitude of the boy was changing his mind about things and opening him up. 'One can pretend this way, huh. I won't allow Era buy it or fall for it.'"Boy, enough of you antics. If we let you go now, you would get back on the street and continue pickpocketing.""No sir. I won't. I swear. I just" His voice broke. He did not want to talk about it but most definitely, he did not want to be seen as weak and worst get to prison."Really? Well, guess what, I do not believe you."'Tsk, look at him not believing someone whereas he was the one who readily killed my people without knowing the full extent of the information he was given.' Era thought, eyeing Vidor without restraint."Sir, you really have to believe me. I would not do it again. I do not want to be thrown into prison. I promise please.""Shh, you really should stop talking and moving around so much. You would only hurt further."That was it. Vidor was done with what she was doing. He was already mad at her.He turned around, not wanting to see or know what was happening again. He was hurt so much."From the look of things and the softness of your palm. Your parents are well to do. You literally do not do any work. If that is so, why then is a spoilt brat pickpocketing?""Isn't it obvious? He is a kleptomaniac.""It is not true!" The boy snapped out in anger."I am not. I would never be."'Then tell me why you are out here stealing when you have parents who can take care of you?" Vidor asked, turning to gaze into the angry, yet teary eyes of the boy.That was definitely not a look he was expecting."Because" The boy pursed his lips together, forcing himself not to speak or break into tears."Because what?" Vidor pushed further. He knew the boy was hiding something and he was determined to get to the bottom of it."You can't say? Tsk, I said it. You are nothing but a thief.""I AM NOT!"0_0Both Era and Vidor had their eyes opened in shock by the outburst of the kid. Immediately Era knew something terrible had happened. She was no fool to know but perhaps Vidor who wasn't trusting was.The next second, he burst into tears crying his eyes out and ignoring the pain he got from his broken nose."I-I I a-am... NOT. I am no thief. I am sorry for stealing your pouch," he apologized to Era. "But honestly I am not. I have only tried once and I got away with it.""But why would you?" Era asked softly, moving in to hold his hand. "Why? You can talk to us, you know."He looked down at where their hands met and then back at her face. "I lost them. I lost them both and that was when everything came to ruins in my life.""You lost them? Who?" Vidor's cold voice resounded, reminding them of his presence.Although the boy did not want to speak, when he looked at Era, she urged him with her eyes and smiled at him. "It is okay. You are safe. I won't let any harm come to you, especially from him."He nodded his head in understanding, which only aggravated Vidor from watching them.If he hadn't known better, he would have thought Era liked the boy and something was going on but here he was, jealous of a kid.'Come on Vidor, get your shit together.'"My, my parents.""I'm sorry.""No need. They are already gone.""But, how, how did you lose them both at the same time," Era inquired."Not at the same time," he began as his eyes suddenly went bleak, obviously replaying the painful memories of the past."Father died, three months ago and my mother, a month after.""That is bad. What happened, really?""My father had been injured before the battle, he was a lieutenant and a worthy soldier who served the king with all his might but where did that leave him? Dead!"Era shifted her gaze and saw that Vidor although not wanting to be interested, suddenly became interested with a glint of anger when he heard himself being mentioned."What what happened?""He got injured and had not yet recovered. Unfortunately, three months ago the king asked that all his soldiers be summoned and marched to Meribia to fight. Being injured, he could have easily taken leave since he wasn't fit but he wanted to fight for Etheria's glory against all of our pleas."At that moment, it was now Vidor's turn to look at Era.Although she seemed interested, he could tell her mind was far gone. He could see the rage in her eyes. Unfortunately, the storyteller could not as his own mind was preoccupied with thoughts.The tale had simply reopened close wounds for her and judging from the way she clenched her fist, he knew she was angry."Father ignored our warnings and begged and went. He was so loyal to the king and that caused him. In the end, what were we expecting? He died in battle."Vidor shut his eyes from the thought. What were they expecting? Why didn't they check properly those going to battle? How was he, the soldier hoping to cope? He was signing his death certificate."That was not the overall painful thing. Those who fell in battle weren't honoured, rather our KING." The emphasis he placed on the word King, left Vidor's mind wandering back to the boy."Our King, threw a party to celebrate, ignoring the pains and wound left from the war."At the same time, Era's gaze shifted a bit to Vidor before looking lost again. He really did a stupid thing."He celebrated while people suffered and one of those people was my mother. Father's death broke her in words that could not be explained. She lost it, lost herself. She refused to eat, she could not move on. And in the end, a month later, she too died."Vidor's hand balled into a fist at the story. His people had suffered too."But even at that, what did the king do to look after those who were left without their husbands? I was left to bury them and live on my own. It would have been okay, I could have managed but after a month our relatives came to chase me out."Hearing his tale, Era snapped from her own grief and looked at the boy who had lost it all."I had no help. I ran to the soldiers, begging for help to fight back so I can retain my family's property but I was shooed away. With no power to fight, I was tossed out of my home and left on the street. Luckily I had little saving, I used that up until I was left with nothing."
