This is a stick up

(oh yeah let's do that)

(your thing)

(A day and half later)

"I can see the walls now , looks like quite the place." Citra thought aloud as she narrowed her eyes peering to the image of the city out on the horizon . Antrium the largest settlement in wilderland , a powerful trading hub situated on the Humber . Ruled over by prudent merchant lords and guarded by a strong garrison.

"It'll be nice to not have to worry about a bandit attack for once." Janik said with a nod and a smile "Hey I know you don't drink, but maybe I can treat you to a hot meal while we're there? the herbs and spices this place has in stock are unimaginable"

"I wouldn't mind." She replied with a nod.

The thief on the other hand did not seem anywhere near as merry , and was currently grumbling angrily in the back of the wagon "Let me go!"

"Oh I will" Manius assured him "at the local guard's barracks"

"You know you're one to judge arsehole!" He replied "You said yourself you were a bandit!" He retorted with venom.

"Not in this country" He replied cheerfully "Or any of its allies, hell people get meddles around here for raiding in rival nations if they are ordered to"

"Well you still get where I'm coming from , I have to steal if I'm gonna eat , no one's gonna hire anyone as spindly as me for any job that pays good!" He pouted.

"You looked into being a courier?" Manius asked as that seemed perfect for someone quick and spindly

"Got fired."

"Was it because you stole a package?"

"....no"

He raises a skeptical eyebrow

"I didn't steal it for myself!...I helped someone else , he needed it he'd die otherwise." He replied quietly and with that turned away from the bandit.

"I don't trust you kid..." the bandit said bluntly before cutting his ropes with his blade "If you try to rob me again; I'll kill you" he said tossing the kid a full coin purse out of his pack

"I'm stupid yes , but I'm not nearly touched enough to try that." He replied snidely , only for his eyes to widen in shock as he caught the bag "Why"

"Because I can afford it, now go away, get some food and some clothes that don't smell like a rotting lake serpent." The bandit said rude and dismissive despite the sudden act of kindness

"Hey my cloak's pretty nice!" He replied defensively but as they reached the city walls complied and hopped out of the back of the wagon.

The bandit thanked the others for the ride and headed for the tavern

Janik meanwhile was more interested in trying to find a nice restaurant with exotic food he was unfamiliar with

Citra had quite the same interest , as much as she abstained from intoxicants she was fond of a good meal "Where do you think we should go? You know humans better than I" She posited as they navigated the clogged streets.

"Well you don't want to go to the rich side of town their food is just ridiculous and strange" Janik says thoughtfully "In the lower end though you won't find much, I would say wherever the market is there will be the best food..."

"Alright then Sir.Expert , lead me there!" She replied as she hooked her arm in his.

That brought out a pretty substantially blush from Janik as he headed toward where he figures the market might be which he warned her "Could be a little crowded I hear it ussually is this time of year" the sorcerer did not suspect anything amiss at first as he lead them through town

However as they made their way inwards they did notice something strange , in the way the townsfolk walked , in the way they talked...like they weren't used to it. There was no burble of song or angry bartering , only terse quiet bargaining. There were no children running about in the muddy streets , in fact Citra was sure she had not spotted one single child.