Chapter 4: Apprentice

Siderius needed to find something to eat. His stomach was growling intensely.

He was the infamous murderer of Mucktown, killing his own mother. Even with the guard outfit, people would recognize him and immediately report to the authorities.

He didn't even have money to buy food either.

The best solution was to steal. Siderius despised this act but one must do what needed to be done to survive.

He approached a house at the edge of Mucktown, near the Rottin Woods. If he was spotted, he would just run into the woods for safety.

The house was a small wooden cabin with an empty crop field in the front. A house of a farmer.

The door was locked from the inside but the primitive structure of this world couldn't keep him out. By simply sliding the knife inside the crevice of the door and nudging the bolt little by little, Siderius opened it.

It was dark inside. Siderius tiptoed through the house to avoid making noise.

The main entrance looked into the bedroom where a woman was lying. She seemed to be deep in sleep. There was no need to awaken her.

Siderius went to the kitchen and looked through everything. He found a few pieces of breath and apples. He took them all.

Suddenly, the wooden floor behind him creaked.

Siderius turned his back. He snapped a knife out of the woman's hand and shoved her to the wall.

His sword was drawn and its cold blade hovered at the woman's neck.

It was a young girl, twenty at best, maybe even younger. She had dark hair and a pair of large eyes that were sparkling in the night.

Siderius covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

"S… Snow?" The woman uttered. Siderius could still make out what she said even when her mouth was covered.

Siderius raised his eyebrows. "You know me?"

The woman nodded. Siderius found no trace of her in his memory. Whoever this woman was, he didn't know her.

"Are you going to scream if I let go of my hand?" Siderius asked.

The woman shook her head.

"Good. Then I will remove it. But remember, one squeak and I will end your life."

The woman nodded with fear. Siderius slowly pulled his hand away.

"Who are you? How do you know me?" Siderius said.

"My name is Ashe… Ashe Costeau. I saw you on the stage many times."

"I see. So you must know that I am a heartless bastard who killed his own mother."

"No!" Ashe shouted which caused Siderius to raise his blade.

The girl covered her mouth quickly, she knew she was being too loud.

Ashe lowered her voice. "I know you didn't do it, Snow. Not you. You have a good soul.

You wouldn't do anything that cruel."

Siderius smirked. It seemed like he found a fan.

"You are too confident with your assumption, Ashe Costeau." Siderius sheathed his blade. "This naive nature will kill you someday. Don't let it cloud your judgement again."

Ashe nodded. She seemed to disagree with Siderius. Her gaze told him that.

Siderius had to admit that she was right. Snow was a delicate soul. But that was pure coincidence.

"Costeau, huh? That is not a commoner's name. Who are you really?"

Ashe bit her lips. "I belonged to a Noble clan. But I was exiled."

"Hmm. It seems you have quite a tale." Siderius said.

Ashe observed Siderius carefully. Behind the young face of the circus boy was a lonely and cold soul. She couldn't imagine what had happened to him that turned him into this kind of person.

And his hair, as white as his name, delivered an ethereal sense to his being and a sadness that couldn't be explained by words.

Ashe shed a tear. She wasn't crying just because of his fate. She cried because he reminded her of herself.

She empathized with him. She, too, was abandoned by her people and left alone. But she was more lucky, she didn't bear a crime that she did not commit.

"Don't cry." Siderius said. His voice was mesmerizing and gave off an otherworldly vibe. It was as if he was some higher being that stepped down gracefully to talk to her. "Never show anyone your tears. Not even to your most intimated loved ones. The world can only know your strength."

Ashe wiped her face. "You're right, Snow! I will never cry again."

"Well. As we are being truthful to one another. I have to tell you the truth. I came here looking for food. But now that you catch me. I am willing to trade for it.

What do you want?"

Ashe blinked a few times, processing the situation.

"It's alright, actually. You can take it."

"No, girl. Everything has its price. And I would have to face a much more grave consequence if I didn't respect this rule.

So tell me, what do you want? I may not be able to repay you now. But consider it a debt. And I always settle my debt."

Ashe had a dream. She wanted to become stronger, to show those that abandoned and looked down on her that she didn't need their help. But to be powerful enough to do that was a hard task. And she doubted that this circus boy, who was in an even worse situation than her, could help.

She laughed and shook her head. Siderius read her like a book, he knew she had something on her mind.

"It seems you have your request." Siderius said. "Tell me."

"I want to be strong. So strong that even my family will be scared of me. I want to show them that I don't need them at all. Not their money, their influence nor their magic."

Siderius smirked. His white teeth shone in the darkness of night.

"That, I can help you. But that is too much of a price for this tiny amount of food. If you are to ask me for this, you must also pay me by other means."

Ashe covered her chest and stepped back, which made Siderius chuckled.

"You entertain me, child. But I do not wish for your flesh. I need you to be my apprentice, to do as I say and help me with my task.

This isn't going to go on forever, obviously. You will be my apprentice until you have enough power to face your family.

Do we have a deal?"

Siderius reached out his hand.

"So… Will I become similar to a slave?" Ashe said.

Siderius shook his head. "No slave. A student. And I will be your teacher. You will need to do what I tell you. But I will never ask you to risk your own life or do anything that you disagree with.

Of course. If this is too much, I will simply pay you in coin once I have the money.

Consider this 'offer' carefully. This is a one time offer.

You can keep rotting here as a nameless farmer for the rest of your life or taking a chance to become something so much more."

His words influenced her. It made her feel like if she declined this, she would never be able to achieve her dream.

Ashe couldn't believe that she actually thought that this circus boy was capable of fulfilling his promise. She knew that he was nothing more than a falsely convicted criminal and an actor no less.

But his demeanor, his confidence, showed something entirely different. He knew he could do what he said. And Ashe believed him.

She reached out her hand to shake his.

"Deal." Ashe said.