๐ข๐๐บ๐๐๐พ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐พ
Booms of loud chatter rang through the merchant's street of the wild Republic of Padokea. Merchants chanting persuasively, women dancing with shoes of woven beauty itself, and children playing in follies of joy.
A boy, a plain look he wore; chestnut hair, onyx eyes, and tanned skin. His ebony cloak crashing into people's ankles while slyly maneuvered through the crowds after hordes of people. The confident steps matched the smug expression, revealing yellow stained teeth. His chains on the faux-gold belt chimed with every step he committed, only mocking the enraged men that followed each and every track. He carried a fawn, petite bag- one of which held bets he had freshly obtained, although to win, he made an impossible bet.
"Guess how old I am. Get at least five years within range, and I will give you all of my," he faked a pitiful sigh. "p-precious earnings. Please be easy on me, I have a wife and kids."
To anyone, he looked like a fool. As he had a beer in his dry hand- indicating he was above twenty. Then he mentioned how he had both a wife and more than one child. To top it all of, he made no effort to hide the sagged wrinkles under his dull eyes.
"Tch! What do you take me for? An idiot?" A burly man accused cockily, getting some of his own alcohol on the redwood table.
"Of course not, sir! I'd never! My family is merely swimming in death. I got nothing to lose gambling," He hastily responded. He made his eyes bulge to enhance a look of desperation, which the men at the disgusting bar believed. "I swear, on my word."
"Well, aren't you desperate? Fine, but I would like to up the stakes." The burly man flaunted his own crooked and yellowed teeth in a malicious sneer. "When I win, you have to give me all of your money and clothes. If your so desperate, that would be fine with you. No?"
The skinnier one of two clasped his calloused hand together, barely showing a small tattoo on his upper arm. "Of course, sir! I am so gracious for your generosity. I'd just like to ask, what if I win?"
"Don't be so cocky. If you win," the large man signaled to his friends. They all reluctantly laid a few gold pieces on the table. One of whom laid their belt. "I'll give you all of this. I don't lose."
"Of course, thank you!" the other rambled. "Let's start! You get three chances."
His lips made no effort to hid the virulent deride that etched on his face. "Thirty, forty, and fifty!"
The tavern silent, as presumably poor man leisurely slid the earnings of the man's friends into his empty pouch he stowed away. "Wrong." he giggled, never taking his eyes off the money. Reaching his gloved hand into one of the torn pockets of his pants, showing an id. "I'm seven years old."
Everyone's eyes widened tremendously. Not giving time for the gambler to answer, he bounced out of the seat. With an apace scurry, he shoved out the tavern and into restless streets of the Republic of Padokea.
That's how this game of cat and mouse started. Except in this situation, the mouse was effortlessly winning. The mouse kept moving straight ahead, only turning once at the very end of the street, into a dark alleyway. All of the pursuers and cats were off of his trail. At least that's what he thought.
"THERE HE IS!" A stentorian voice cried. "Over here! In the alleyway!" Sounds of rage echoed throughout the dingy abandoned street.
Ten men charged full speed towards the seven-year-old, as he merely stomped his foot down. He drew a circle around him with the worn-out shoes he had, making the marked ground gleam in brilliant indigo. In a swift motion, he put his arms in an X position, showcasing a glowing tattoo. Still in the middle of the ocean colored perimeter, feathers of dark blue began to rise from the rim of the indigo circle out of nowhere. He seemed to stall and become very stiff, before transforming into a raven-like bird. He flew into the sky, leaving behind all the money he had just acquired.
