A Jury's Obligations (MCD Boys X Reader)

Chapter 4: Bandit

I wasn't expecting anyone to have followed me. It's not like I did anything wrong, right? I just ran out of the gates. No big deal. I pick up my pace when I hear the footsteps getting closer.

There's no way they figured it out. No way-

My thoughts are interrupted when my magick warns me of an upcoming ambush. I scoff quietly and turn to run through the forest, hoping to lose whoever was following me. I soon realize who might be following me,

"...Bandits." I state to myself with another scoff, quickly turning around to look at the person following me. The idiot who bothered to follow me skidded to a halt at my sudden turn.

"You... Is this yours...?" They pant, holding up my necklace. I hold in a gasp and I glare at them.

"Give it back." I growl quietly, holding my hand out for it. The bandit shakes their head

"No way! This thing is solid gold! Unless you got something more valuable than it, then I don't think so."

I glower at the bandit "Why would you bother to follow me if you weren't going to hand it back?" I ask, annoyed. I mean, seriously, what was the point?

The bandit thinks for a second, staring at me "I... I don't know... I... I guess I just..." They hesitate for a moment before sighing. "Things aren't going well for me or my family, so I guess I was forced to steal... I don't like this life style..."

I sigh and reach into my pocket, grabbing some diamonds and emeralds, handing them to the bandit. "That should be enough to get you started in a job to work for your family." I say as I gently grab my necklace from them.

The bandit's eyes widen and they glance from the gems to me and back to the gems "You... You're serious...? Th-Thank you...!" They laugh happily and run off towards Pikiro village, causing a smile to appear on my face. I don't know what it is, but just seeing them so happy was worth my time.

I sigh and glance down at my necklace, holding it tightly before putting it back around my neck.

They won't ask about this, would they? No... I doubt that. I really doubt it. But they'll get suspicious about an O'Khasis necklace...

"Ava!" I hear... Laurance?

Why is he all the way out here? Did Garroth tell him?

"Laurance...?" I call out, wanting to know why Laurance was looking for me. I didn't do anything wrong through the past few hours, so I don't see what's wrong... At least I don't think I did anything to get them suspicious or upset. I wait for a moment in silence, expecting Laurance to run up to me and drag me back to Phoenix Drop, but nothing happened.

I wait for five minutes, which turn into ten, which eventually grows into thirty. I groan and walk further away from Phoenix Drop. What a waste of time. I guess a walk to clear my head wouldn't hurt.

As I walk, I pay attention to every sound, every colours and brief moments of movement from the animals. It's truly a sight to behold. I sigh to myself as I sit down on a hill, the grass brushing against my palms as I lower myself down to the ground.

This... almost reminds me of the time in O'Khasis when my mother would bring me out to the highest hill just outside of the walls to stargaze. It was always my favourite thing to do...

I stare at the sky, watching the clouds as my mind drifts through memories. I tell myself to stop, that I have a task to complete, but I can't help it. The wind is gently as it swiftly moves past me, dragging my hair along with it. There's nothing wrong with taking a break, I still have six more days until I have to return to the high priest.

I sit there for about an hour before I finally decide to get up, and I turn to head back before spotting Laurance, panting heavily among the path.

"Laurance? What the heck are you doing here?" I ask as I walk over to him

Laurance looks at me with a dumb grin on his face, huffing and puffing away. "I... Can ask you... The same thing..." He retorts smugly, which causes me to roll my eyes.

"I just wanted to scope out the area." I lie, mainly only coming out for my necklace.

"Why? I'm pretty sure we've already taken care of that."

I sigh "Whatever. Maybe I just wanted to take a walk."

"But Garroth told me that you just ran off in a hurry-"

"So? I go for jogs some times. Then I slow down to walk." I interrupt

Laurance nods and accepts that as an answer. Thankfully. We both head back to the gates of Phoenix Drop before spotting Garroth talking with what looks like to be the Lord. I bite my lip as I glance at her, wearing purple all over her clothes.

Huh. Purple. Not really the most convenient colour for camouflage, but whatever floats her boat.

Laurance glances at me nervously "Do you still want to avoid Lord Aphmau...?" He asks "You'll be missing out if you do..."

I nod, still not wanting to talk to that conniving snake that they call a Lord. I'm only hear to watch Katelyn for a week, then I return to my post in O'Khasis and report my findings. Seems simple enough. Laurance takes my hand and swiftly rushes to the water where the gate ends. I stare at our hands and rush after him, unsure of how to feel.

Is he hitting on me? Or is this some plot to lead me to a prison cell? I have to go along with it though... I can't have them suspicious.

We reach the water and he tells me to walk in.

"Are you kidding me!? These are the only clothes I have!" I hiss, my necklace reflecting light. Laurance notices this and he grabs the pendant hanging from its golden chain.

"I'm sorry, What's this?" He asks, completely disregarding what I said.

"It's my necklace." I state, shaking my hand out of Laurance's grasp. "Isn't it obvious?"

"No... I mean, yes... But why is it an O'Khasis necklace?"

"My mother got it for me. We lived there before we had to flee from the Lord..." I lie, starting to sweat nervously. I'm honestly not sure about its origins. All I know is that Zane handed it to me before I left, saying it was a gift from my mother.

Laurance looks at me with a raised eyebrow "Alright then..." I sigh quietly as he let's go of the pendant, letting it drop against my chest once more.

Lets just hope no one else asks me about this... I may have to take it off if it causes suspicion...