Flower Amongst Thorns [Boy x Boy]

Chapter 17

Artios was about to seat himself down on an empty table in the far corner as he usually did, when he spotted a familiar face.

No way.

It couldn't be...

"Celyn?" He asked in a low voice, approaching the individual from behind with a light tap on the shoulder.

The person was wearing a blue bracelet, which meant his pronouns were he/him at the moment.

Artios wouldn't normally introduce himself or make his presence known to his acquaintances. He preferred being alone after all and didn't care for company.

However this person was the biggest underground trader in the country, possibly the world!

It really was a really lucky coincidence to run into him here because his location was almost never known.

He was famous for his eccentricities, one of them being appearing in random places without warning.

This was the perfect opportunity to get his fortune after selling off the Regiis Fortitudo. He would get the best deals and a guarantee that his transaction would remain confidential.

A true professional, which was not something one could say for a lot of underground dealers. It was an actual miracle.

Now he was even closer to his dream than he could've ever imagined.

"Oh Artios. What a surprise to see you here!" Celyn exclaimed, only to be hushed by the thief.

"I am kind of trying to stay undercover." Artios explained. It was weird hearing his full name after constantly being called Art all the time.

"Oh, my deepest apologies. Please sit." The trader whispered with an amused laugh.

He motioned for the swordsman to take the chair in front of him with what used to be his right hand, and was now replaced by a metal hook.

A deal gone wrong most probably. Artios didn't even want to find out what might've happened to the person on the other end of it...

It looked like the trader had just gotten here after a short trip.

He was wearing a loose off-white shirt decorated with a brown leather vest criss-crossing close on his chest like a fancy corset, a pair of black coloured slacks and worn-out cowboy boots with spurs.

His dark shoulder length hair had been neatly tied in a loose pony tail and his cheeks had grown a short stubble.

In addition to that, there was a small travel sack hanging from the edge of his seat which essentially gave it all away.

"What brings you on this side of town? It's rare to see you call out first." The trader smirked, waving for the waiter to come take their order.

"I should be the one saying that. It's not everyday one runs into you on the way to get a drink." The swordsman responded sarcastically.

"Look at you all grown up, drinking and everything. Last time I saw you, you were merely seventeen if I'm not mistaken." Celyn laughed.

"Yeah."

"You were so adorable, only came up to my shoulders." He gestured, "You had stolen six gorgeous rings from the annual Gillies Exhibition. I was beyond surprised. You always have been really good."

"One Scotch neat for me, and for you?" Celyn ordered, before turning to Artios.

"I'll have the same."

"Good choice."

The swordsman was going to go for a beer as he usually did, but he decided to choose the same thing as the older trader to keep his favor and project that he had matured.

"Now enough with the small talk. I am sure you have something exquisite to show me. You wouldn't approach me otherwise." Celyn raised his brow, look playful but deadly serious at the same time, "Blow my mind."

"You know me well. I do have something for you, and I think it's going to make you very happy." Artios spoke before lowering his voice, "I've acquired it. The treasure I was looking to find when I last met you, it's in my possession."

"Wha-You did not." The trader had a confused look before realization struck him, "This. This is beyond anything I would've ever imagined, you better not be lying."

"I'm not. It's with me at this moment." Artios whispered with a serious expression.

"You! I always knew you had great potential from the moment I laid my eyes on you. Always exceeding my expectations. I love it." Celyn let out a surprised laugh, leaning back into his chair incredulously, "How did you come to find it?"

"A fool. Broke me out of prison and offered it to me in exchange for escorting him for six days." The swordsman felt a sharp ache in his chest as the words spilled out of his mouth without emotion.

"It's not a children's story! It's true! There's evidence! I could show you. I know it's true!"

"You're just like them! I thought you were different. I thought you were the only one who believed in me, but I guess you were just after the stupid rock. I should've known."

"This is what you wanted right?Take it. I don't care about this stupid ugly thing."

"I'll go the rest of the way on my own. So, you don't have to worry about anything happening on your account."

"Say Art, Don't you travel around a lot? It must be so fun going everywhere. It's my dream. One day, I'll travel around the world. It's gonna be amazing!"

"It was said that on my nineteenth birthday the mark will reach the tip of my toe and drain all my life energy, taking me along with it."

"What's with that expression? You don't look happy." Celyn observed.

"It's nothing. I am happy. You know me, I'm just not that expressive." Artios answered, instantly reaching for his drink as soon as it was placed on the table.

"Hmm..."

The swordsman gulped down the entire glass in one go like a shot, the painful burn in his throat helping him forget about everything else.

"Woah, woah slow down cowboy, that stuff's strong, and expensive." The trader commented.

"It's fine. I'm gonna be quite rich pretty soon I expect." Artios responded, "Obviously we cannot make the transaction here out in the open. Meet me at the nearby Inn in an hours time and bring the previously discussed amount in full."

"Done. See you there, and you better not chicken out." Celyn smirked.

"I won't." Artios responded coldly.