X: Valet

(4) Okay, Valet, come with me (if earlier - 2)

"Thank you!"

A pleasant feeling was growing inside my chest.

"No nonsense this time, I promise"

"It's better for you if there's not"

Hunter's tone was always like he was giving you a final warning.

Before leaving, I decided to return the bottles to the warehouse – I was afraid to give the guys an extra reason to yell at me. Just so you understand, it was a huge room, littered with junk up to the ceiling. There was a lot of everything! As a result, I touched boxes standing on top of each other and knocked over a box with a semi-transparent crystal – a beautiful thing, like any other magical things. In such cases, it was better to call Magic, but I shouldn't have been there – so I handled it with my two, ignoring the fear of a possible explosion.

The docks were dark, nasty, and inhabited by many dubious individuals. Hunter kept glancing at me. I even managed to get upset – the realization of how much he didn't trust me was eating me up from the inside.

This place was right by the river – under a dilapidated bridge. It always smelled like fish. There were many people who have already been completely let down by this life. I knew because I used to come here often myself. However, only to sell the loot. Despite the obvious poverty of the area, the trinkets here were far from cheap. And very useful.

I adjusted my mask – let me remind you that we were not supposed to be seen, and after my mistake, Hunter generally put himself in great danger by taking me with him. All I was thinking about was how not to accidentally run into Barlow here.

"Stay where you are"

Hunter's stern voice immediately pulled me out of my thoughts. I nodded hastily, not even having time to understand what he asked me about. More precisely, what I was ordered to do. I would have nodded no matter what he said.

I frowned and cast a cursory glance in the direction Hunter was heading – he naturally decided not to even tell me what he was going to do. That nook was littered with rocks – I think Hunter intended to bargain there. Because the snitches were hiding in plain sight.

Even though I was told to stand still, I thought that if I wandered within sight of Hunter, nothing bad would happen. And I was not mistaken. I immediately caught sight of a small shop – a canopy over a dirty carpet – where there was something incredibly valuable. I was quite new to magic at the time, but still the lessons with Magic were bearing fruit. One of the rarest ingredients for potions and spells lay right in front of me in a small vial – it was a shiny powder. It could replace absolutely any necessary component, and this was only a small part of its properties. It was difficult to find such a thing, and if it was possible, the price was too high to purchase.

I know what you're thinking. I could just tell Hunter about it. Seth would have provided all the necessary funds for this – Magic would have really needed this powder. And I would close my screw up with this find. But, to be honest, I was afraid that I might screw up even more later – that's why I decided to keep this information until a very hot situation.

I wouldn't want to teach you how to steal, even though you know that's exactly what I've been doing. And what's to be ashamed of? The theft in this story is the most harmless part of it. Anyway, I didn't have to do anything out of the ordinary that time. The owner, an exhausted, skinny old man, was definitely under the influence of some substances. That's why no one was sitting in front of the mat – he passed out somewhere in the depths of the canopy. Just a couple of quick movements and I have the bottle.

"I think I told you not to move"

Hunter's voice behind me literally made me jump on the spot. It's good that I managed to hide the bottle in my inner pocket.