Chapter 6: “The Rogue’s Gambit”

The Redwyne estate's annual summer gala was a spectacle of enchanted lanterns, floating desserts, and nobles dripping in enough jewels to bankrupt a small kingdom. Aizen, now eight years old, stood near the buffet table, balancing a tray of champagne flutes twice his size.

"Master, your balancing skills are marginally less pitiful than last year," Vermis quipped, its telepathic voice as dry as the estate's wine cellar.

"High praise," Aizen muttered, dodging a tipsy baroness. "Remind me why we're doing this again?"

"Lady Stephanie insisted you 'supervise the festivities.' Translation: She wants you within eyeshot to prevent anyone from speaking to her."

Aizen glanced across the room, where Stephanie sat perched on a velvet chaise, scowling at a line of suitors her parents had paraded before her. Her rose-gold curls were pinned back with a jeweled hairpiece shaped like a dagger—a gift from Aizen after she'd threatened to stab a duke's son for complimenting her dress.

"She's like a tiny, sparkly gargoyle," Aizen mused.

"A gargoyle with a 97.3% chance of causing an international incident before dessert," Vermis replied.

Aizen's attention snapped to a flicker of movement near the estate's enchanted vault. A shadow darted across the wall—too quick to be a servant, too fluid to be a guest.

"Vermis, scan the perimeter," he ordered.

"Detecting anomalous mana signatures. Class: Illusion magic. Threat level: Moderate."

"Of course. Because what's a party without a little light burglary?"

Abandoning his tray, Aizen slipped into the hallway, following the trail of distorted magic. The vault door was slightly ajar, its wards shimmering faintly—as if someone had tricked them into thinking they'd already been disarmed.

Inside, a boy no older than ten rummaged through piles of gold, his hands glowing with a faint azure light. He wore a patched cloak and a grin that screamed trouble.

"Master, that's Rylan Marrow—the game's fourth capture target," Vermis said. "Charming rogue archetype. Specializes in illusion magic and 'borrowing' things that don't belong to him."

"Let me guess: tragic backstory involving dead parents and a heart of gold?"

"Accurate, albeit reductive."

Aizen cleared his throat. "You know, most guests use the front door."

Rylan spun, a gold goblet clutched to his chest. "Ah! Didn't see you there, mate. Just, uh… admiring the decor!"

"With your hands in the vault?"

"Art appreciation is a tactile experience."

Aizen crossed his arms. "You've got five seconds to explain why I shouldn't call the guards."

Rylan's grin widened. "Because I'll cut you in on the loot. Fifty-fifty?"

"Hard pass. I'm more of a 'not getting executed for treason' guy."

"Suit yourself." Rylan tossed the goblet aside and pulled a small crystal from his pocket. "But you might wanna duck."

He hurled the crystal to the floor, and the room erupted in a blinding flash of light. When Aizen's vision cleared, Rylan was gone—but a trail of glittering footprints led straight to the garden.

"Master, this is your chance to practice heroics," Vermis said. "Or, alternatively, to trip over your own feet and let him escape."

"I'll aim for a middle ground."

The Chase

Aizen followed the footprints to a hedge maze, where Rylan was attempting to scale a wall. His cloak snagged on a thorny rosebush, leaving him dangling like a caught fish.

"Need a hand?" Aizen asked.

"Nope! This is… uh… a new climbing technique."

"Looks effective."

Rylan groaned and dropped to the ground. "Alright, you win. What's your deal, anyway? Most rich kids would've screamed for the guards by now."

"I'm not a rich kid. I'm a servant."

"Even better! You're like me—a fellow underdog!" Rylan struck a dramatic pose. "Join me, and together we'll plunder the seven seas!"

"The nearest sea is 200 miles away."

"Details, details."

Aizen raised an eyebrow. "Why steal from the Redwynes?"

Rylan's playful demeanor faltered. "Let's just say they owe me. My family… worked for them once. Didn't end well."

Before Aizen could press further, a voice cut through the air.

"Aizen! Who is this?"

Stephanie stood at the maze entrance, her dagger hairpiece glowing ominously.

Rylan whistled. "Who's the little queen?"

"Lady Stephanie Redwyne. And if you value your kneecaps, you'll stop talking," Aizen muttered.

Stephanie marched forward, her eyes narrowed. "Why are you alone with him? Is he… bribing you?"

"What? No! He's a thief—"

"A thief?" Stephanie's wand materialized in her hand. "How dare you corrupt my Aizen!"

"Your Aizen?" Rylan smirked. "Didn't realize he came with a leash."

The temperature dropped. Stephanie's magic flared, ice spreading across the ground.

"Master, intervene now or this will escalate into a homicide," Vermis warned.

Aizen stepped between them. "Stephanie, he's not worth it. Besides, think of the paperwork if you freeze him solid."

Stephanie hesitated, then lowered her wand. "Fine. But he's banned from the estate. Forever."

Rylan bowed mockingly. "A shame. I was starting to like you, Sparkles."

Stephanie's eye twitched. "Sparkles?"

Aizen grabbed Rylan's arm and dragged him toward the gates. "Time to go."

The Aftermath

"You're lucky she didn't turn you into a popsicle," Aizen said as they reached the estate's outer wall.

Rylan shrugged. "Worth it. But hey—thanks for not ratting me out."

"Don't mention it. Literally. If anyone asks, we never met."

Rylan tossed him a small, glowing stone. "A token of gratitude. It's a shadowgem—lets you blend into darkness. Handy for sneaking out."

"I'm a servant. I don't 'sneak out.'"

"Sure you don't." Rylan winked. "See you around, Aizen."

He vanished into the night, leaving Aizen alone with a magical contraband and a headache.

"Master, his mana signature bears traces of ancient bloodline magic," Vermis said. "He's more than a common thief."

"Great. Another walking red flag."

When Aizen returned to the party, Stephanie was waiting, arms crossed.

"You're late," she said.

"Had to take out the trash."

Stephanie's gaze softened. "You're my servant. No one else's. Understand?"

"Crystal clear, my lady."

As the party resumed, Aizen pocketed the shadowgem, wondering how many more "capture targets" he'd have to survive before the real game began.