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(A/n: You will be confused if I start using Rietha as her name in this narrative later instead of Henriethasia so I'm telling you this earlier. hehe okay bye.)

...

Chapter 4 - Nightflame Hideout

Jarez smirked at Henriethasia as he heard the name, "Rietha ha?" he then came closer to her and raised her chin, "Sound a bit off for a name of a beautiful lady like you, but I like it."

'Ehhhhhhhhhhh?' eternal scream as Henriethasia blushed. 'Why is this guy so direct, didn't even give any warning?' Jarez then let go of her and started walking away, "Come on," he said, "Time is ticking."

Henriethasia shook her head to avoid the thoughts; she couldn't let her guard down yet; she needed to get that necklace. "Hey," Jarez called her again as she was not following him, still holding the pendant, "You're coming, or the necklace will be mine?" then smirked.

She sighed then followed him, "I'm coming, okay?" she saw how he slipt the necklace in his pocket. Then they started walking on the road before anyone could notice that the princess was with a stranger, she quickly caps her hood.

Jarez looked at her and just smirked. This street is not as lively as the other one they came from, but they're still people selling. A lot of here are stores and salons, not open shops and stands.

Henriethasia then looked up at Jarez, who was looking in front. Then she asked curiously, "Uhm, by the way, where are we going?" Jarez looked at her and smiled.

"You would see," He said, then Henriethasia felt a bit nervous, 'I got a feeling that something bad might happen, what's with the smile?'

Henriethasia was busy looking around while in front of her was Jarez, who is glimpsing at her sometimes and thought, 'Is her first time going out like this?' as he saw Rietha's sapphire eyes shimmer whenever she saw something interesting.

'This girl is something,' He smiled and just continued walking ahead.

...

While Henriethasia and Jarez were busy wandering off. Robert is a bit frustrated that he couldn't find the princess; he approaches a royal guard that was with them a while ago and asks, "Have you found the princess?"

The guard shook his head; this made Robert clench his sword of fear. 'Where is the princess? I hope she's not been kidnapped or something?' He sighed. Stop thinking negatively, he shook his head.

He can't give up just yet, or he will receive a hefty punishment as the King loves his daughter so much. First, though, he will take it as it is his blame for the princess is missing. His eyes were busy checking that jewelry earlier that he lost focus of the princess for a moment.

"Do what it takes to find her," he ordered the guard, who nodded and went off. 'I hope the princess is alright and not hurt.'

...

"Ouch!" A tall figure back was hit by the face of Rietha, and she noticed that this was Jarez, "Why did you suddenly stop?" She complained, rubbing her nose that was just hit by his back, but the boy didn't respond.

So she was curious about what got his attention, she looked in front and saw a building, "Ekk," Her eyes widened, 'What's this?' She looked at the construction again. The building had that spooky vibe; it was dull and quiet. The color of it is dark, and some of the windows are broken.

Rietha feels like someone is watching them through that dark window; it couldn't be a ghost as it is afternoon. She was that scared as she suddenly grasped the coat of Jarez, making him face her.

"W-why are we in front of this b-building?" Rietha asked him tremblingly; she never thought she would get frightened of something like this building.

"Oh, you're afraid now?" Jarez said, "But you're not scared of chasing after a snatcher in an alleyway?"

This makes Rietha's eyebrow furrowed, "Hey! I was terrified back there, too, you know!" Then, she protests and mumbles, "I can handle myself too without you helping me."

"Oh, what was that?" Jarez leans at her, making her pause for a moment and stare at his deep red eyes, "Maybe I should just leave you behind when I got time and let those two scumbag touches you, tsk."

She was about to say something when a gurgling croak was heard that made her scream and hide behind Jarez, clutching his cloak, pushing him out of balanced, "Oi!" He protests thankfully; he didn't fall and look above the building where some birds are.

He then looked at Rietha's scary face, "Are you even the same person earlier?" he asked out of curiosity, then let Reitha's hand let go of his cloak as he walked ahead to the entrance of the building.

"Hey, wait!" Rietha followed him behind. Jarez then cracked open the wooden door of the building as he arrived in front of it, making a scary noise; a shiver has sent down Rietha's spine and held once again the cloak of Jarez.

"Tsk," Jarez said in his breath.

They took a few steps inside the building; it was dark. Once they are finally inside, the door instantly shuts close, making Rietha scream again, "Would you stop screaming," Jarez complains in the dark; not even a single light is on.

Then suddenly, in a snap, a dim light in the corner lit, and soon the room was filled with lamps. Rietha peeped from behind Jarez's back in the room. She was surprised that there were a lot of books and papers.

The room is filled with a bookshelf on each corner, and the books seem old and dusty. They are cobwebs everywhere and papers on the floor, "Wait, is this a bookstore?" Rietha asked Jarez, who was seriously looking in front.

"Yes, darling," Suddenly, a croaky voice answered from the corner, making them look. There they saw an old man with a white beard and hair, his eyes are black, and he's wearing eyeglasses. He was sitting on the corner on a chair comfortably.

"Pardon?" Rietha asked again, tilting her head; Jarez looked at her and then back to the old man.

"Yes, you're right, this is a bookstore," The old man answered with a cheeky smile, "Perhaps are you here to buy a book, darling?"

"Ahh, eh?" Rietha was about to say something when Jarez spoke; she leaned.

"Long time no see, Steven," Jarez said, then smirked at the old man, making Rietha confused for this, 'Do they know each other?'

"Oh?" The old man stared at him, "Who are you? I believe I don't know you, boy; I think we just meet today."

Jarez laughed at his statement, "Stop playing games already, Steven. I know it's you."

The old man smirked at Jarez's glare and sighed, "You are no fun, you know that, Faris." then laughed.

'Eh, Faris?' Rietha thought, 'That name kinda sounds familiar,' and glanced at Jarez and back to the old man.

"I was trying to play to that little miss darling beside you," the old man smirked at Rietha, then swiftly his beard slowly faded from his chin, His white hair turned into slowly green, his eyes glowed into yellow.

The old man is no longer old but a young man around 18 years old sitting in front of them. Where did the old man earlier go? Why is this boy in front of them? Rietha's face is full of shock and confusion.

The green-haired boyz called as Steven smiled at Rietha's expression and took off his eyeglasses, "I like your expression, darling, it's cute," he said and stood up from sitting in the chair.

He approached Rietha and grabbed her chin, making her face in front of him. When Steven finally saw Rietha's face, he was astounded and amused, "What's this?" he carefully examined Rietha, "You have incredible mana inside you." he muttered.

Rietha looked at his green eyes in confusion, "What?" she asked Steven, carefully scanning her, and then a smile formed on his face, and he looked at Jarez beside her.

"Wow, Faris, you have keen eyes for girls," He then stood up straight and patted Jarez's shoulder, "This one looks beautiful."

Rietha looked at him with a wary look, 'Did he just avoid what he just said?' Then, Rietha thought, 'What's mana?'

"Shut up, Steven," Jarez spoke and dusted off Steven's hand on his shoulder, "And clean up your mess," he directed and started walking in the middle where an oval table was at and placed his sword there.

"What mess?" Steven said while whistling playfully, "I didn't do anything." while shrugging his shoulders

"Oh, you didn't?" Jarez said, giving a meaningful look and glanced at the surroundings in the building, "I see."

Steven faked a cough, "Well, I guess, I kinda overdo it," he said, then approached Jarez.

"Then start cleaning it up," Jarez answered and took a towel from the corner and wiped it to his sword, "I've been just away for a couple of days, and this is what I'll face. What exactly happened?"

While Jarez and Steven are busy talking about something. Rietha was just looking around inside the building. Well, she didn't reasonably expect the gloomy building outside is such a tender bookstore inside.

The building is two stories, but you can see from down here the second floor because the first floor doesn't have an entire ceiling; the second floor is like a terrace with railings around that visible to the first floor. (A/n: If you know what I mean here. Oh, move along.)

The first floor is full of bookshelves in the corner. Rietha walked beside the bookshelf, which had a lot of dust, and scanned the titles of the books there. Then suddenly, her nose started to tingle as dust flew right at her.

A cute sneeze was heard inside the building as Jarez and Steven stopped chatting and leaned at Rietha, who was standing beside the dusty shelf and covered her nose, "I'm sorry, excuse me." She excuses and grabs a little towel from her pocket.

Jarez smiled and looked at Steven, who started talking again, "And you want to show the hideout to her?" he asked, pointing at Rietha, "Are you nuts?"

"Well, she seems harmless," Jarez said, watching Rietha wiping her nose with a handkerchief elegantly, and he started cleaning his sword again, "She sneezes like a baby too."

"Eh?" Steven looked at Jarez with a can't-believe look and thought, 'Is this guy for real? Where's the strict-looking Faris boy, who barely knows how to smile now?' he both grasped Jarez's shoulder and asked, "Tell me, where did you go these past few days that change you ha?"

Jarez once again dusts off Steven's hands from his shoulders, "Believe me, Steven, I'm still that guy you know," he said and settled his sword back to the table.

"Yeah, right," Steven said, then crossed his arms, and suddenly he felt the floor starts shaking and dust falling from the ceiling, "What the-" He looked at where Rietha was standing and was shocked that Jarez was right beside her and no longer where his standing position earlier.

Jarez is now shielding Rietha from the falling dust. Steven's mouth gaped open in amusement, which he couldn't believe this was happening in front of him,' Seriously? Is this even real? Okay, I need the old Faris back now; this is making me cringe.'

The shaking stops now, and Jarez glared at Steven, making him flinch in his position, "Steven, what did you do to the hideout?" There was a warning tone in Jarez's voice.

"What? I told you I didn't do anything," Steven answered innocently while sweat ran down his back.

"Really?" Jarez quickly approached him and took his sword from the table, and placed the blade between Steven's neck, making him gulp and freeze, "You fix it or cut off your head?" Steven shakes his head in disagreement.

'Okay, I don't need the old Faris back. He's scary as usual.' Steven knew that Jarez couldn't do such a thing, but he couldn't help but get terrified sometimes; this kid is true to his words and scary to death.

Steven then thought, 'He didn't change at all as he said,' then sighed, "Fine, fine. I'll fix it." he gave up, "Please put down your sword now, gosh." Jarez dropped off his sword from Steven's neck and glanced at Rietha and was surprised by her reaction; she looked scared at him.

Rietha's mind was confusing, and she was scared simultaneously; she didn't think Jarez could do such a thing to make people frightened. She guesses she didn't know anything about him. But, of course, they only met a while ago.

And Rietha thought, right, she is s only here for the necklace, not make friends or some sort of things, so she can't let her guard down now, she is s only saved by Jarez once, and that does not make him a good person at all.

She looked at Jarez, who seemed uncomfortable by her reaction, so she tried to smile. 'Okay, just smile and not get frightened; if you do, you could get killed any minute,' she thought.

Jarez looked at Rietha's now smiling face, 'She seemed frightened awhile ago, or am I mistaken?' Then, he averted his eyes to Steven, now holding his neck where the sword was placed earlier, "What are you standing for? Fix it now," Jarez ordered.

"Right, right," Steven said while waving his hands, "You're too pushy." Steven then snaps his fingers, making the whole place shake again, but this time no falling dust instead, the surroundings change.

It becomes spotless now, and more things are added. Rietha was amazed and looked around her surroundings. 'Did he just use magic?' She knew that some of the people in Azalia, especially magicians can use magic, but this was her first time seeing one that could use magic except her.

The bookshelves in the corner are now clean, and the books are placed perfectly in line. The table in the middle is now dust-free, and the papers scattered on the floor earlier are now in the table arranged. There are also chairs surrounding it.

There is a fireplace in front of a couch, two soft chairs on the sides, and a big red carpet in the middle below a small table in the corner beside the stairs. There was a small kitchen counter on the side that was a two-step platform above the floor.

Rietha was sure there was a change on the second floor too. She wonders now if Steven is a magician? "Welcome to our hideaway, darling. The Nightflame Hideout." Steven welcomed her and was proud of his spell, pleased by Rietha's reaction.

Rietha then smiled. It looks like the scary-looking building outside is not a bookstore after all but a warm hideout that hides the true identity. Nightflame Hideout, ha?

To be continued...

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