“You just bring trouble,” he said flatly. “You try to steal it, and then you bring your brother around to steal it and threaten me. Just leave me alone.”
She looked a little hurt, her words faltering as she crossed her arms defensively. "I know," she said quietly. "I know I don't bring much good around, but I just want you to know that I'm truly sorry." She seemed upset, but tried to hide it. "I won't be stopping by anymore and I won't be selling in the market. So goodbye, I suppose."
She didn't say anything, staring at the door with a frown before turning around and heading back into the woods.
He appeared very uncomfortable, coming over to her with nervously fiddling hands. He sighed, looking both ways over his shoulder. “I’m sorry for being so cold to you; I’m just… I’m very upset. I feel very upset with you. But that does not excuse impolite behavior.”
"I understand where you're coming from," she said slowly, looking up at him. "I owe quite a bit to you, but I get that you might not trust me."
He frowned at this, glancing up at the forest before looking back down at her. He was quite tall, at least half a foot above her. He crossed arms, exhaling slowly. “I would feel poorly if I knew that my last interaction with you had been impolite. So.“ He drops his hand and offered her one for the shake. “Goodbye, Miss Scarlet.”
A few days had passed. There were no signs of the thieves. Wanted posters increased, Xavier and Scarlet remained elusive. The repair shop temporarily closed. Harper had been summoned for the task of repairing the heart, and Cyril continued his duty to patrol the streets. Guards were searching. Everyone remained suspicious. Burke had been specifically questioned due to the call he had given the guards about his house. The city was on edge.
Jared and Athena had both retreated out of town due to the intensity of the surveillance, although they both occasionally snuck into the city. Ellie was kept under heavy surveillance, but she didn't tell anyone about her suspicions that the individual was Xavier; she wished to talk to him first. Burke hadn't turned Scarlet in, although his behavior during the interview had gathered suspicion.
On this night, Xavier sat under a cherrywood tree, watching the sky with a frown. In his belt there were two things; a golden heart, and the shard of a heart, both of which he kept safe.
It didn't take long for her to find him. She entered the clearing, her hood over her head as she moved towards him.
He had gotten a keen ability for being aware, and he stood up immediately, drawing a dagger. "Who are you?"
