Safety, but on one Condition

In this world, there are those oblivious to the supernatural that happens in the dark.

They're the people who wake up early in the morning only to be met with a sunless, dark sky. They're the ones that go by with normal daily routines and yearn for the sun. Most have lost hope in the sun's return. Those who still yearn and believe in it are the women who wait more than a day for their clothes to dry.

Only if they knew the sun could dry their clothes in mere hours.

Ashwyn was one of these people. As usual, she was already dressed in her dark stealth clothing.

In and out. That's how it is. But for some reason she felt like not going to the Royal Family's domain. Just the name Xandros spells trouble. Only the gods that lurk in darkness know what they'll do with her if she's caught. Like for real, caught!

This is the first time the word "caught" will make her heart skip a bit. That's one winning point for the Xandros.

****

Ashwyn left the shack and moved with impossible grace. Whenever she's going to her daily location, she doesn't take the market route. Though, Ren had said most people know she was the thief. Yeah... Technically everyone knows her as a thief given her nonchalant attitude towards making her identity a secret.

In fact, there are other thieves who enter the Aurethian sector. If she ever gets caught, according to her, she will be forced to confess "the boss's name" or she will be killed. The thing is, that's an almost impossible and possible scenario.

Catching her is possible if she gets caught stealing randomly in an Aurethian's house.

It is impossible because apart from being poor, and spending the same currency, what Rustglen citizens had in common was undying hatred towards the Aurethians. This sparks a feeling to always protect any Rustglen citizen from the Aurethian's claws; to them, every Rustglen is worth saving.

But not every citizen can be saved. If you're still within the reach of Rustglen rights you can still be saved.

In the sense that, if someone like Ashwyn narrowly escapes the Aurethians, and an official walks up to a Rustglen, or they maybe raid the whole Rustglen, Ashwyn will be hidden by the Rustglens, and every Rustglen will deny ever even knowing you as a citizen of their slums. That is to keep you safe and can also be used to save themselves.

Once you're caught by the Aurethians themselves, even the gods of Rustglen can't claim you.

Ashwyn pulled her hood lower and crept along the shattered brick wall behind the bakery. The scent of stale dough and blood lingered in the air—odd, but nothing in Rustglen was ever just bread or just blood.

The ones that bought other food stuff rather than bread were the "rich" of Rustglen. And Ashwyn is part of that league.

She had always passed this bakery countless times. It was built at the rear of a huge wall with a small hole fit enough for a human to pass through it. The hole leads to the elegant Aurethia.

Ashwyn entered and was once again pleased with the sight. Despite the darkness, Aurethia was a vision of ornate ironwork and polished cobblestones, its streets lined with tall, narrow townhouses of dark brick and gleaming white trim. Gas lamps with frosted glass globes cast a soft, ethereal glow, highlighting delicate wrought-iron balconies adorned with trailing ivy. The air, though lacking sunlight, felt clean and crisp, carrying faint scents of freshly brewed coffee and expensive perfumes. It was a city of structured elegance, where every lamppost and every potted fern seemed meticulously placed, a stark contrast to the chaos of Rustglen.

She felt as if she was in paradise, her real home. She always felt like this anytime she came.

But there was no time to enjoy the moment. She's a wanted thief in this sector. Follow the same procedure today but with much speed and little time.

In and out.

Ashwyn swiftly climbed on top of the buildings and started running on the roofs, but her running was so perfect, you could barely hear her footsteps on the roof. Those living under the roof would think it was just a rat or lizard.

Finally, she got to the Xandros Mansion. The mansion was an imposing structure of dark, polished granite, its sharp angles and towering chimneys silhouetted against the perpetual twilight. Two guards stood sentinel at the main gate, each holding a sleek, metallic device that emitted a focused beam of light—they called it a torch in Aurethia. The beams cut through the gloom, momentarily illuminating the ornate iron gates.

Mastering stealth, she ran like a speedster past the oblivious guards who just felt a gust of wind.

She arrived inside the compound. It was much more beautiful. The cinder light was almost everywhere, you'd totally forget about the sunless sky. Manicured flowerbeds burst with deep crimson roses and shadowy, bell-shaped blooms, their petals shimmering under the artificial light. Intricately carved stone fountains bubbled gently, their water reflecting the soft glow. The air was heavy with the rich scent of night-blooming jasmine.

Just when she seemed to get lost in and admire the world, she heard footsteps and chattering.

'Curses!' she hissed as her eyes searched around for a hiding spot.

Alas, she saw a small window really close to the ground. It was as if there was an underground room beneath the mansion. But why would they make an underground building so obvious?

There's no time to think. She immediately ran to the wall and forced herself in, after passing through the window expecting to land in a large dark room with the Xandros family, blood stains all over their bodies holding daggers and slaughtering mechs.

'What sort of thinking is that? Come on, Ash,' she cursed herself for such a stupid imagination and tried to land on the floor.

Everywhere was dark so she couldn't know whether she was in a large room or in a small confined space. The window was also still just one finger above her head. Immediately she took a step, she fell into a hole? No, she wasn't falling, she was sliding.

It was some sort of tunnel, a stony slide. She dared not to make a sound, just went with the flow.

'Ahh, light,' she muttered, noticing a ray of light ahead. When she got closer to the light, she was met by a male figure trying to enter the tunnel.

"What the—" the figure muttered, noticing Ashwyn sliding towards him. He tried to come out of the tunnel, but it was too late.

She collided with him as they both fell out of the tunnel into a large, opulently furnished room. The walls were adorned with rich, dark velvet tapestries depicting pastoral scenes, and a large, four-poster bed draped in silk hangings dominated one side. A mahogany desk laden with leather-bound books and a gleaming brass lamp stood in a corner, and a velvet chaise lounge was positioned by a tall, leaded-glass window that looked out onto a small, enclosed garden. The air smelled faintly of aged paper and a subtle, masculine cologne.

The unknown male figure landed on his back while Ashwyn landed on his chest. Without hesitation, he pushed Ashwyn away and tried to run towards the door.

Ashwyn rolled on the ground and held his leg, making him trip and fall face first.

He kicked her hand and stood up with a terrified look on his face.

"Who are you?"

Ashwyn stood up, ready to stab him if he doesn't believe the lie she's about to tell him. He was in fact a teenager, looking the same age as Ashwyn. He had neatly combed dark hair that fell slightly over his forehead, and his eyes were a startling shade of blue. He wore a well-fitted velvet jacket over a crisp, white collared shirt, with a silk waistcoat peeking out underneath. His dark trousers were perfectly creased, and his polished leather shoes looked expensive.

'Is he a Xandros?'

"Ahh.. I'm a new maid here.. I mistakenly fell into the window," she said with a forced smile on her face.

'Maids are always to smile at their masters.. Bowing means disrespect.. Ren taught me this and he's the wisest man ever,' she thought, stupefied.

The boy looked at her with a confused look then answered her back.

"You fell through a window that was almost underground.. How.. You slipped on wet grass?" he said with a chuckle and sat on the bed.

"Uff... I was scared for a minute there... Thought it was one of my family members or guards."

'Strange.. Why would he be scared of his family members.. I'm sure he's a Xandros.. He is right?'

"Uhhh.. So I'll get going, master.." she said and tried to hurry out of the room.

The boy held her waist. She felt her heart skip a beat. Her inner body was becoming cold but she was feeling strange and hot on the outside.

"A maid, huh? All black, boots, and a dagger dangling beside your waist," he said and brought out the dagger.

She was speechless. If she tried 'Plan B' with him, what would happen? She doesn't know if he's a good fighter.

"You're trying to rob this place, right?" He didn't wait for a reply as he circled her and stood in front of her.

"Why do you guys always come here to steal? Didn't you learn from the rest that came here and never returned? It's either you get killed mercilessly by a guard or you're locked up and tortured every single day."

Ashwyn swallowed her spit. Her mind racing. She can't run now. Climbing the tunnel was a wrong idea, it will take her hours to get to the window. Running out of the room was the worst idea. She could just be caught immediately. And staying in this room with a Xandros? He could kill her on sight.

Fear... this is the first time she had felt actual fear.

'Someone come to my rescue.. May Ren's warning not come to pass.'

"But you're lucky to have landed in my room.. I won't do anything against you as long as you fulfill my condition."

'Huh.. did I hear him right? He won't report me to his family? Does he have a mental issue?'

"Pardon?" she asked with a confused look.

"Yes.. I will save you on one condition."

'Should I just agree... What could be the condition... I'm not ready for marriage.. But with an Aurethian.... A Xandros.. but I don't like marriage.. But still, an Aurethian... I'll become Ashwyn Xandros..'

She was so lost in her delusional thoughts she didn't notice she was already smiling at the boy.

The boy looked at her, confused then snapped his fingers. Ashwyn was brought back to reality by the fingers, and she quickly came back to her normal self.

'Almost lost my cool..'

"Ok, what's the condition?"

The boy replied, the words were something Ashwyn would have never in multiple lifetimes thought would come out of the boy's mouth... words she immediately deemed stupid. The words were:

"Help me escape from this place."