The sun filtered gently through the stone arches of Kathelyn Kingdom as Rael, Sela, and Nadia strolled along its cobbled streets. The market buzzed with life, the smells of roasted meats and sweet pastries drifting through the air, but none of them had coin to spare.
"Ugh, I can already taste that skewered meat," Rael groaned, eyeing a stand where a woman turned sizzling meat over open coals. "Too bad we're broke."
"We could split one," Nadia offered, her eyes bright.
Rael raised an eyebrow. "Split one? With what? Hope and prayers?"
They kept walking, stomachs growling, when an old man shuffled up beside them, hunched under a bundle of wrapped parcels.
"You three look like you've got energy to spare," he said. "Could use help with a delivery. Pay's a few silvers. Interested?"
The three glanced at each other.
"We're in," Rael said before either girl could respond.
---
The job was simple enough—carry a bundle to a shop on the other end of the square. Within half an hour, the old man counted out silver coins into Rael's hand.
"Came in clutch," Rael grinned as he handed Sela and Nadia their share. "I was ready to chew leather."
"I still might," Nadia said, excited as she skipped toward the food stalls.
Sela said nothing. She followed the two, arms folded, her expression neutral.
They sat under a wide wooden awning and finally ate. Sela munched silently on bread filled with warm, spiced meat. Nadia tried to start a conversation.
"Sela, have you ever had—"
"Shut up," Rael cut in, mouth half-full. "She doesn't talk when she eats."
Nadia blinked, glanced at Sela, who continued chewing as if they didn't exist.
After they ate, the trio wandered deeper into the city. They passed a large tavern, noise spilling from its windows, and beside it stood a wooden board covered in papers.
"Hey," Rael pointed. "Requests. Might be work."
They gathered around. Nadia reached up, pulling a sheet down. It was simple: return a stolen necklace. Reward: ten silvers.
They looked at each other.
"We'll take it," Rael said.
---
Inside the tavern, heads turned.
Children? In here?
The air reeked of ale, smoke, and old wood. Dozens of rough-looking patrons paused mid-drink or mid-dice toss, their eyes trailing the three as they walked in. Murmurs rippled across the room.
Rael ignored the stares and approached the counter. The woman behind it looked skeptical.
"You three want to take this request? You're too young."
"We can handle it," Sela said, voice low.
Rael nodded. "We're stronger than we look."
The woman sighed, then pulled out a small drawing of the necklace—an ornate silver chain with a violet gem in the center.
"Return this and the reward is yours."
They spent hours searching. Asking, walking, checking stalls and markets. As sunset neared, their feet ached.
"Let's give it up," Rael muttered. "Wasted all day."
They headed back toward the tavern, disappointed.
Then Nadia grabbed Rael's arm.
"Wait—look. That guy. His pocket."
They turned. A tall man with a long coat sat at a table alone, a silver chain just barely visible in his pocket.
Rael didn't hesitate. He walked over, hand reaching—
But the man stood suddenly.
"Fuck off, kid. Don't bother the grown-ups."
Rael's eyes narrowed. "That necklace doesn't belong to you."
The man scoffed. "Get lost."
He turned, stuffing the necklace deeper into his pocket.
Rael's voice rose. "Thief! That's stolen!"
The tavern quieted. Cups stopped clinking. Dice froze mid-roll.
The man stopped, then turned, furious.
With a stomp, he kicked up a chunk of earth. It rose into the air, compacted instantly, and he hurled it at Rael.
Gasps echoed through the tavern. A few chairs scraped back.
Nadia pushed Rael out of the way, the rock smashing into the wall behind them with a thunderous crack.
"Back up!" Rael shouted, sliding across the floor. Flames erupted from his hands, forming shaky gauntlets. "I got this!"
The man formed his own—solid earth gauntlets covering his forearms like armor.
They charged.
The crowd had fully turned now—patrons standing, craning their necks, forming a loose ring around the fight. Some cheered. Others looked nervous, wary of catching stray debris.
"Go, kid!" someone shouted.
Another laughed. "This is better than the pit fights!"
The man's punches were heavy, sharp. Rael tried to block but was thrown off balance.
"Too slow!" the man snarled, slamming his fist into Rael's side.
Rael coughed, heat flickering from his arms. He struck back, but his gauntlets cracked.
One punch landed squarely on his face, sending him tumbling into the counter, blood trailing from his nose.
"Rael!" Nadia ran to him, dropping to her knees. "You okay?!"
The man stepped toward them, eyes dark.
But Sela stood between them now.
"Move," the man ordered.
She stood in front of the man, then remembered how Rael shapes his flames into rough gauntlets, flickering and unstable but full of energy. The man, in contrast, had hardened earth around his arms—heavy, solid, brutal. But controlled.
As he swung, she raised her arm.
His strike stopped.
...stone gauntlets, but darker. Thinner. Molten lines glowed within them. Lava. Covering almost her entire arm.
The room fell into a hush again. Someone whispered, "Lava—?!"
The man stepped back, surprised. Then lunged.
He punched.
She ducked, brought her fist up, lava gauntlet crashing into his chin. He flew backward, slamming into a chair.
A loud "OOHHH!" swept through the tavern.
He roared, charging again. Sela ran forward, dodging under his strike. She spun, punching his side, heat singing his coat.
He tried to sweep her legs. She jumped, twisting in the air.
Her palm opened. The glow intensified.
Then—
SMACK.
Her hand struck his face like thunder, molten palm slapping across his cheek. He was flung back, skidding across tables, crashing into the wall.
Chairs toppled. Mugs spilled.
The tavern went dead silent.
He groaned. Unconscious.
Sela exhaled and walked over to him. She reached into his pocket, pulled out the necklace.
Murmurs began rising again. One man clapped slowly. Another whistled. A woman muttered, "Well damn."
The bartender raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The counter was a mess. Rael leaned against it, one hand pressed to his bloody nose, his breathing ragged.
Nadia was at his side in an instant, slipping an arm under his to help him stand.
"You idiot," she muttered. "You always rush in."
Rael managed a crooked grin, blood on his teeth. "Worked, didn't it?"
Sela walked up and placed the necklace on the counter.
"Our reward, please."