Cherry Tree

-Chapter 4-

~Elex~

The moon hung low in the sky as I slipped through the shadowy alleyways of Thaloria, my footsteps echoing softly against the cobblestone streets. It had been a few days since my daring escapade at the market square with Julia, and yet the thrill of our successful heist still lingered in the air.

But beneath the surface, a sense of unease gnawed at my conscience. I had always prided myself on my quick wit and nimble fingers, but lately, I found myself questioning the morality of my actions.

As I ducked behind a row of barrels, my mind drifted back to the events that had led me down this path. Growing up on the streets of Thaloria had been tough, and survival had often meant resorting to less-than-legal means. But as I had grown older, I had begun to dream of a different life, one filled with purpose and meaning.

Yet, with each passing day, that dream seemed to slip further and further from my grasp. The allure of easy money and the thrill of the chase had become too powerful to resist, and I found myself drawn back into the world of thievery time and time again.

As I crouched in the darkness, my fingers tracing the outline of a hidden pocket in my cloak, I couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation wash over me. Maybe this was who I was meant to be—a thief, a rogue, a shadow in the night.

But even as I accepted my fate, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that there was still hope for redemption, that I could change my path if only I had the courage to try.

With a heavy sigh, I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand. There would be plenty of time for introspection later. For now, I had a job to do, and I would do it to the best of my abilities, consequences be damned.

And so, with a silent prayer to whatever gods might be listening, I melted back into the darkness, my footsteps echoing softly against the cobblestone streets as I disappeared into the night.