No, I shouldn't be enjoying this.
Someone built that stall. Someone spent hours setting up those little machines, twisting wires with careful hands. And now they were scattered across the street like junk.
But still—my feet kept moving, and my mouth betrayed me with a grin I tried to hide.
At some point or another, Jamie had let go of my hand and was forging ahead. A pile of loose cogs rolled across the street like marbles.
"Wait Jamie stop!" I cried, but it was too late.
Whoosh!
Jamie took flight, with the alley as his runway and a wooden crate as a stepping stool, he leapt on to a stall to my right. He ran along the tops of the stalls, his shoes clattering against the wooden roofs.
"Woohoooo!" Jamie whooped as he jumped back down in front of me.
"You're crazy man!" I laughed freely, forgetting about everyone else around me.
"That's why he's the boss!" Bill cried from behind.
"You haven't seen anything yet Reno!" Jamie cheesed. "Show him how it's done Finn!"
Finn drifted toward a stall, barely breaking pace. His hand flicked out—just once—and a net of woven spice bags slid off the table edge, scattering like leaves in the wind.
Bright yellow Amberleaf dust burst out first, like powdered sunlight. Then came the Emberpepper pods—fine crimson shards scattered like rubies. Like festival smoke, the air flashed red and gold.
Then, with another flick of his hand, various fruits splattered everywhere—Mereons, Moonnuts, Solar-plums—you name it. The whole alley splatooned into colour.
I almost stopped running. A part of me wanted to crouch down and study the way Emberpepper cracked when it touched cobblestone, or how Amberleaf dust clung to the sun's rays. Or how the Moonnuts split into perfect little hexagons when they hit the ground. But my legs didn't stop. Neither did Finn.
He just kept running, his two scarves fluttering behind him—one red, one gold, just like the spices from earlier. Were they chosen intentionally to match his scarves?
Wait? When had he gotten another scarf?
"So cool!" Phill smiled like a fanboy.
"Mmgh I knoow rightt!" Bill echoed from the back. His mouth was covered in juices and he held three half-eaten Solar-plums in one hand and a white Mereon fruit in the other. "Hgmh? Whhat?" He said after noticing my stare.
"Nothing." I sighed. Never change Bill.
"Bosh, it's all you now!" He said, swallowing down on his food finally.
"Roger that!" Jamie blitzed forward, eyes gleaming with reckless abandon.
CRAAASHHH!
A wooden stall heaved beneath his shoulder, sending trays of ancient coins tumbling to the ground. Silver Kiones from the neighbouring empire spun like spinning tops, Dwarven copper Mians clattered like thunder, and Elven golden Florins gleaned, catching stray shafts of sunlight.
A chaotic symphony jingled as Jamie sprinted past. "I'm rich! I'm rich haha!" Jamie laughed ecstatically.
Of all the stalls we'd passed, that one seemed the most expensive and culturally rich. It was my first time seeing real currencies from the Far East and High North.
"Reno, it's your time to shine!" Jamie called out.
I could feel the pulse in my veins, the rush of the chase carrying me forward. But then—a flicker of doubt. I hesitated. Will we really not get in trouble for this?
Jamie's words echoed in my mind: that I always needed a push.
Was this something I wanted, or just something I was being pushed to do?
I hesitated. My heart pounded harder and harder as I found myself caught between the rational choice to abstain and the urge to throw everything to the wind.
Then, with a childish grin, I leaned forwards—
CRAAACK! SLORP! SPLASH!
The stall exploded beneath me.
Wet Hydrun leaves sloshed out like spilled paint, thick Sunvines whipped through the air with a satisfying hiss, and bioluminescent Luna droplets scattered, sparkling like jewels as they hit the floor.
Mossy tendrils tangled around crates, a slimy green blanket unrolling fast and wild.
For a moment, it was satisfying. For a moment, it was perfect. Then I saw her.
The young woman who owned the stall—she stood there frozen, eyes wide, mouth slightly parted like she'd forgotten how to breathe. Her hands hovered in the air, still curved from the motion of arranging her plants. Like she could still feel the shapes of them, even though they were gone.
Something in my chest twisted seeing the look on her face. But I kept on running, breath ragged, heart wild.
The sight of it all burned into my eyes—scarves whirled like kites in a storm, painting the sky with festival colours. Red and gold smoke spun alongside them, like the air itself had joined the celebration.
The smell—fruit smashed, plants popping underfoot like water balloons, spices roasting in the sun—forced its way into my nose, as if determined to permanently scorch itself into my memory.
The sound of chimes clanging, coins scattering, crates splintering—it rang louder than the embers of guilt settling in chest.
The taste of dry air filled my mouth—sharp but strangely sweet. My lungs ached, but I couldn't stop.
Wind pressed at my back. Crates tipped beneath my feet. Everything slipped, spun, blurred—
And still, I kept going.
I feel alive.
And for that reason I couldn't stop. Not right now. Sorry, stall lady.
Laughter bounced off the alley walls, the rhythm of running feet synchronising with our breaths. We turned a corner, leaving the chaotic trail we'd left behind us.
"T-that was amazing Reno!" Phill exclaimed excitedly.
"Pretty good for your first try." Bill said approvingly.
"Not bad newbie." A voice spoke from right beside me.
Huh? When did Finn get next to me?
"I knew you had it in you Reno—you might act grown-up with your hundreds of questions but you're a kid at heart!" Jamie smiled cheerfully, "Just like us!"
My heart felt warm hearing their words of encouragement, even though I still felt bad over what I'd done. I was slowly coming to realise the enormity of the fortune I'd been granted, one that couldn't be purchased even with the combined wealth of both worlds. A priceless opportunity to start again—from the beginning.
"Don't worry Reno, we'll have even more fun in the future." Jamie smiled. "Welcome to the Little Dreamers!"
"W-welcome!"
"Welcome!"
"Hm."
"Thanks everyone." I smiled. It felt good to be accepted, even if it was just by some clueless kids.
"Now let's go for round two guys!" Jamie shouted.
Huh? Round two?
"There's two rounds?" I choked.
"Of course. You want to stop this early Reno? You haven't even seen Finn backflip yet?"
Huh, he can backflip? Why am I even surprised—what can't Finn do at this point?
"Guys? Round two?" Jamie said in a quieter voice.
"Boss. There's a problem." Bill spoke, his voice naturally going deeper.
"What is it?" Jamie asked clueless.
"It's them." His words hung in the air.
"Our mortal enemies?" I said.
Finn nodded as he looked into the alley way we'd now left. I peered into it too, letting only the corner of my face pop out, in case I was noticed. By them.
My stomach dropped. In our wake we'd left heaps and mountains of collateral damage. Fruits smashed and oozing, fabrics torn and fluttering like wounded birds.
Plants, once carefully tended and vibrant, now lay crushed and scattered, their delicate leaves torn and bruised. I could feel the combined weight of every broken stem and spilled petal. The life that had been flourishing here had been wounded by our reckless spirit.
I saw merchants and stall owners scrambling to gather what they could—hurried hands picking up destroyed pottery, bruised fruit, and tangled scarves. Their faces wore disbelief, frustration, and disappointment.
My eyes naturally drifted to a young lady in particular who was slowly picking up wilted leaves and broken plant pots. The exhaustion in her gaze was plain to see.
For a moment, the excitement drained away, replaced by a heavy pang. This was their livelihood, years of hard work and care were trampled in minutes.
Was this really the price of feeling alive? Guilt flared up through my chest. Worst of all was the shame I was feeling. The shame that came from the fact that I was actually excited to do something like that again.
Maybe it was the residue of my previous childhood surfacing—born from being forced to mature early and not to impose on my young Uncle and Aunt. Mayhem and 'acting out' like this were entirely new to me, a kind of rush I'd never experienced before. It was fun, sure, but that didn't make it worth the trouble we caused for others.
Amongst the crowd of people was a group of kids about a similar age to us. They had on a uniform which looked like a typical apprentice knight's training attire.
They were helping to clean up the damage we caused, picking up any damaged goods and even offering to sweep the floors of the stalls.
"They seem like nice people." I commented. I felt better knowing there were kids who were willing to help, even when it wasn't their messes to fix.
"That's them." Finn said.
"Huh?" I coughed.
"Our mortal enemies - the Pre-Scouts." Finn followed up.
Pre-Scouts. I remember hearing that but just where had I—oh yeah, Silvia! Silvia had told me about the Pre-Scouts, what did she say again?
She'd said it's a training school that most kids my age or older go to if I remember correctly. Though I don't remember what she said it's a training school for. Perhaps it serves to provide a general physical and social education.
So if I'm getting this right, our enemy is… the schooling system?
"B-boss this is bad. B-big Sister Rosette is there!" Bill squealed, his composure fading rapidly.
Rosette? I looked around the group of Pre-Scouts looking for who Rosette could be. The Pre-Scouts were currently lined up as if they were waiting for something. Or someone. A lone member was talking to the store owners as they all waited patiently. Then once she'd rejoined them they all began walking again.
That's gotta be her, this 'Big Sister Rosette'. The Pre-Scouts leader - or I guess in this case something like a class president or representative.
Jamie's face turned to panic. "Not good." He murmured.
"What should we do?" Phill whispered, his legs shaking beneath him.
Why are they all so scared?
"It's fine I'm sure they haven't noticed us." I said casually, trying to calm down everyone's nerves.
"They've noticed us."
"..."
"I'm kidding." Finn said while flicking both of his scarves.
"Finn! You can't say stuff like that! Everyone will believe it cause you're Finn!" Bill crashed out.
"Hm?" Finn paused, his expression turned serious but it wasn't because of whatever Bill said. I peered back over the corner and saw that the Pre-Scouts were headed straight for us, as if they had x-Ray vision.
"They really have noticed us. Leader?" Finn said as he looked at Jamie.
"You all remember our codes right?" Jamie said solemnly. Everyone except me nodded.
"Rosette is a code red: run on sight!" The panic in Jamie's voice was growing with every word.
"S-so what should we do Boss?" Phill said quietly.
"Isn't it obvious?" Jamie said, his voice breaking into a shout. "Everyone run!"