CHAPTER 2: A Saintess’ Guide to Petty Theft

The thing about starting a new life as a disgraced saintess-in-training was that it didn't come with a severance package. No stipend, no savings, not even a loaf of stale bread to nibble on while plotting her next move. Lidia's stomach growled, a loud, obnoxious reminder that she wasn't going to get far in this world without cash.

But where could she get cash? Honest work? Ha. As if anyone in the temple would hire her after the whole "possessed blasphemer" debacle. Borrowing? Nobody in the temple would lend her a copper coin, let alone trust her with their bread money.

That left stealing.

Her gaze swept over the temple hallway, narrowing in on the glimmering decorations lining the walls. Golden sconces shaped like crescent moons, delicate silver chains holding up crystalline lanterns, even a gemstone-encrusted plaque depicting the moon goddess in all her radiant, hypocritical glory.

Her fingers twitched.

No way those weren't worth at least a few coins if she pawned them off. Lidia had never been a master thief, but she wasn't completely clueless either. Growing up in an Asian household had taught her a thing or two about sneaky survival tactics. Sure, she had used those skills for stealing snacks as a kid, but the principle was the same, right?

"Desperate times," she muttered to herself, crouching low as a group of priests wandered past. She waited, holding her breath until the sound of their sandals faded, then darted to the other side of the hall and pressed herself into the shadows.

The first target wasn't too high up, but it required some effort. Lidia stretched onto her tiptoes, fingers grazing the cool gold.

"Gotcha," she whispered, detaching the sconce with a satisfying click. It was heavier than it looked, but nothing she couldn't handle. Hugging it close, she crouched again, her heart pounding.

So far, so good.

She scanned the hallway. Empty. Perfect. She stashed the sconce behind a nearby pillar and eyed her next target: a shimmering silver chain holding up one of the lanterns. If she could grab that chain and the lantern, she would be set for at least a week.

Climbing wasn't exactly her strong suit, but Lidia wasn't about to let that stop her. She found a foothold on the wall and began pulling herself up, reaching for the chain. Just as her fingers brushed against it—

"What are you doing up there?"

The voice, sharp and commanding, sent a bolt of panic through her. Lidia flinched so hard she lost her grip, her foot slipping off the ledge she had been balancing on.

Gravity was an unforgiving bitch.

Thud.

She hit the ground like a sack of rice, the wind knocked out of her lungs. Pain shot up her back, but there was no time to groan. Lidia scrambled to her feet, clutching the golden sconce like her life depended on it.

"Hey! Stop!"

Nope. Not happening.

She bolted down the hall, her bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor. Behind her, the sound of footsteps echoed as a group of priests gave chase, their voices a chaotic mix of shouts and exclamations about blasphemy and sacrilege.

"Get back here, you thief!" one of them yelled, his voice cracking like he was new to this whole "catching criminals" thing.

"How about no?" Lidia shot back, dodging around a corner. Her satchel slapped against her side as she ran, the stolen sconce adding extra weight she really didn't need.

She skidded into another hallway, nearly colliding with a trainee carrying a stack of books. "Out of the way!" she yelled, vaulting over the poor kid's pile of parchment like she was in an action movie.

"Was that…?" The trainee's confused voice faded behind her as she sprinted toward the temple's back entrance.

The exit was so close she could almost taste freedom, but her luck, as always, had other plans.

Two priests stepped into the hallway ahead, blocking her path. Both were built like brick walls, and their matching expressions of righteous fury were enough to make her stomach flip.

"Shit," Lidia muttered under her breath, skidding to a stop.

"Give it up," one of the priests said, stepping forward. "You're cornered."

"Oh, come on," Lidia groaned, glancing over her shoulder to see her original pursuers closing in. "You're telling me a temple dedicated to forgiveness and mercy doesn't have room for a little borrowing?"

The priests didn't look amused.

"Alright," she said, holding up her hands. "You caught me. Let's talk this out like civilized people, yeah?"

She slowly set the golden sconce on the ground, keeping her movements deliberate. The priests watched her like hawks.

"See? No sudden moves. We're all friends here—"

Before they could react, Lidia snatched the sconce back up and hurled it at their heads. It wasn't exactly the most elegant weapon, but the suddenness of it bought her a precious second of distraction.

She took off again, sprinting down a side corridor she hadn't explored before.

The hallway twisted and turned, eventually spitting her out into a courtyard. A high stone wall loomed at the far end, and beyond that, freedom.

Lidia's legs burned as she ran, the sound of pursuit growing fainter behind her. She reached the wall, her fingers scrabbling for purchase on the rough stone.

"Come on," she muttered, pulling herself up inch by agonizing inch. "Just a little—"

Her foot slipped, and for a heart-stopping moment, she thought she was going to fall again. But sheer stubbornness kept her hanging on, and she managed to haul herself to the top.

Looking back, she saw the priests spilling into the courtyard, their faces red with exertion. One of them pointed at her, shouting something about divine punishment.

"Yeah, yeah," Lidia called down, waving dismissively. "Tell your goddess to get in line. I've got enough people pissed at me already."

With that, she swung herself over the wall and dropped down.

Panting, Lidia leaned against the base of the wall, her heart hammering in her chest. Her back ached from the earlier fall, her palms were scraped raw, and she was pretty sure she had lost a shoe somewhere along the way.

But she was free.

"Well," she said aloud, catching her breath. "That could've gone worse."

Reaching into her satchel, she pulled out her prize: the golden crescent sconce. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

"Guess I'm a thief now," she muttered, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Not exactly the life I pictured, but hey—gotta start somewhere."