Chapter 2: An Eternal Gratitude

Lara could not believe her eyes. She was holding hands, or well, one hand, with the famous Dandelion Thief of Dakia, Perne. A famed rogue who is said to have an extremely kind heart and who steals to give to the poor rather than himself. She let her imagination run wild at those exact moments while she was filled with both fear and excitement. He was going to help her escape the hellish life she has been enduring all these years and which she thought she would endure until the rest of her days. Freedom seemed ever so close. It wasn't a dream, this was her reality.

Perne walked with her to the backroom of the bar, where a bunch of old and disgusting men were gambling at a table. Among those tasteless pigs was Lara's owner, barely distinguishable from the rest of those horrid enslavers. It seemed like he was the host of this gambling session, since the moment he saw Perne come in with Lara in hand he ordered for them to go take a break. And so, the rest of them left leaving only one handsome man, one pretty girl and an old middle aged man who now seemed more like an ogre.

"Heheh… Excuse me, young man. Has this little girl caused you any trouble? If that were the case, don't worry, fer I will make sure that she learns her lesson!" were the words spat out by the man. This caused Lara to instinctively get behind Perne and lightly hug him from behind.

She remembered all those times she came back without any gold, or her latest client went to speak with him over how 'un-satisfied' they were with Lara's 'boring and stupid' dance moves. How all those times her owner would tie her to a table and grab a whip as her emotionless companions laughed at her while their boss unleashed all his built-in anger and dissatisfaction from life into every one of his lashes.

Perne stepped forward as the girl stood behind him, like a puppy who is too afraid to get a meter away from its owner. But on this instance, the man who wanted to snatch her from her owner was surprisingly the good guy.

"Listen, mister. I think that Lara's dance is really beautiful. One of the best I have ever seen in all my years of wandering. So now, I present you with an offer of a lifetime!" Perne said as he got many bags out of his pockets. All of them giving that jingle sound that is only make by the most precious of metals and jewels.

The man only glanced at the treasure Perne put on the table as a few of Lara's lobotomized companions looked at the two pretty faces in the room. They looked at Perne with an expression of insatiable greed, and glared at Lara with utter hatred and obvious jealousy.

The old man could only laugh.

"Oh, man… Tis' is quite the loot you've got on this table. But… I sadly cannot allow you to take that kid away from me. She seems like she has a nice future under my wing."

"Oh, yeah? Didn't you mean to say 'ownership'? You unforgivable scum?" Perne said with a voice that, according to Lara, didn't match his looks in the slightest.

He sounded angry, yet filled with passion and bravery. Just like she has heard from all the tales people of all towns spoke of when referring to the legendary Dandelion Thief.

"Oh? Have we got an angry client here? Heheh..." the old man said while standing up, knife in hand.

"I'm afraid I can't help you with anything… That little wretch is all mine!" he said with a devilish smirk, charging towards an unmoving Perne. Lara hugged him tightly from behind, afraid of Perne's actions or rather, his lack thereof. Perne seemed like a statue while the old man ran towards them while swinging a small Axe.

"Perne!? MOVE! He's going to kill you!" Lara said in desperation, but she didn't really move either. She felt she could trust Perne, and thus decided to stay still with him.

"You foolish kids will learn who the bo- ARGH!" was everything the dastard could say before he suddenly stopped moving. For a second, Lara was dazzled and didn't realize what just happened. But just then, the man slowly grabbed his own throat, which was sliced through as blood came out of his neck, coughing even more blood out of his filthy mouth. The man started to lose balance as he ultimately fell on his back, and his movement suddenly stopped and his Axe fell from his still, lifeless hands.

"Wha… What... just happened?" Lara could barely speak from the image that met her sight. The source of all her misery, the person she thought was the evil dragon Loptous in human flesh, was now on the floor, coughing as he gave his last breath before giving one last glance at Lara. Their eyes locked, as Lara's face became a waterfall of tears while the man's body became a corpse.

"I… I…" Lara could not formulate words anymore as the senses of shock and relief overwhelmed her small head. Perne could only pet the little girl's head, as a smirk formed in his face while he looked at a new presence in the room, which Lara just noticed. Perne gave a step forward and scratched his head with a little laugh.

"Woah! Nice job, Troude! Though I think you overdid it… This little cutie has probably never seen a dead body, so I think we should get outta here." said Perne as Lara just looked at the judge that applied justice to both her and her brainwashed companions.

He was a rather tall, kind of muscular man. He wore white pants and a blue shirt, all mostly covered by his raw leather armor. His white long hair matched with his face, which starred cold dead eyes and an expression that could easily tell alone of how much blood this man has seen spilled over his life.

Just as she finished analyzing this person and trying to get over her Owner's death, Perne looked back at the door and could hear a few footsteps fading from the other side.

"Well, damn… We need to run. This place is about to turn real ugly unless we do." is what Perne said as he opened the backdoor which led to the freezing storm outside.

Troude then looked at Lara in the eyes and spoke his first words ever since he entered the room.

"You, girl. Jump into my back, and don't let go." Lara didn't even think about his words as if his intimidating glare alone forced her to obey him. She hopped onto Troude's back as Perne charged towards the waterfall outside. Lara and Troude could already hear dozens of footsteps rushing to the room which they were in. "What in the blazes is going on there!?" among other curses were heard on the other side of the door, which Perne smartly locked. Troude then put his dagger into his pocket and decided to bring out a most precious treasure. Lara could only look at the sword he held in awe, as Troude equipped the mighty King's Sword and rushed out into the rainy night as fast as he possibly could.

Troude eventually catched up to Perne and they kept running for quite some time. Lara started to feel sick as the cold water showered her whole being, but after a while, she couldn't tell how long, she just embraced this feeling as it transitioned to an odd soothness. The young girl quickly fell asleep among the sounds of stepping mud, pushing bushes and the feel of an endless flow of water.

Lara woke up rather uneasy and confused. For a moment she thought the events of the night before were naught but a dream. It was then that she yawned, a sign of a good night's rest, and stood up before analyzing her surroundings. Her owner and the other dancers were nowhere to be seen.

She was in a very decorated room, floor and walls made of stone. The furniture didn't seem rotten or unpainted, and the curtains were a bright magenta. There was a flower pot on top of the drawer and a carpet besides the bed. She then moved her attention to the bed. She had never slept in a proper bed before, she had to cover in rags most nights or with a coat of leather that her owner left for her the days she brought good pay.

While her conditions before falling asleep were rough to say the least, there was no doubt that Lara had the most blissful, comfy and relaxing sleep in her life. Everything that happened last night perfectly came back to her, as she now wondered where Perne and Troude might be. Even with the curtains closed, she could tell it was quite early. She gave another yawn before she looked at the mirror in the room and realized that she was naked.

She walked towards the dresser to look for her clothes, remembering the storm which made her fall asleep in the first place. She looked for her old red rags but what found instead was a brand-new red and yellow dress. She took it and admired every detail of it before putting it on.

"Thus must have been from Perne… Wait. Right! I gotta find Perne!". Lara rushed out of her room and went down a staircase when she noticed a small reception along with a breakfast lounge. The poor girl was about t pinch her arm as she seriously believed she was dreaming, never being witness to a place that looked so elegant when compared to the slums where she was raised. She tried to quickly snap out of it as the clients eating at the place all looked at her, all looking at her kindly almost at once. Lara could only answer with a smile as she ran outside and noticed the striking differences of this environment she found herself in.

No old cracked buildings, no starving people in the streets begging for money, no roads made out of dirt, no questionable locals nor questionable businesses. To Lara, everything around her was made out of happiness, the buildings all carefully crafted and the people all walking in clean, colorful clothes.

It was then that Lara could hear her name being called out, as she looked towards the Blacksmith across the street and saw both Perne and Troude standing there, Perne sporting a smile and waving his arm while Troude merely looked at her with an expression that neared one of boredom. Lara immediately ran off towards them, with a smile full of joy as she realized that this was now her reality. As she catched up to where they were, Lara looked around one last time at her surroundings.

"W-Where… Am I?", she said as Perne took a step forward and looked around as well.

"We're at the very center of Mease. We fled from the outskirts of this big city to the very heart of it. It's impressive really, how divided it all seems. The filthy rich and the lucky get to stay in here, while everyone else is left to their own back at the slums far away from here. It's not like it matters, either way. The stupid Grannvalian Empire and their influence are really starting to make this place miserable. Imperial troops all over the place, the lot of them picking fights with civilians as the rest have to watch them because we're under their control. That's why I hate crowded cities, you really can't escape the Empire unless you hide far away from these places."

Lara looked at Perne and upon hearing those words, she started to feel somewhat scared. So many things were going through her head now that she just spoke up to him.

"Perne. You… You cannot possibly believe how grateful I am for everything you've done for me… My freedom, these beautiful clothes… Everything I wished for back then has come true. But now what? What am I supposed to do from here? The friends of that old dastard will certainly put me up as a fugitive and put a price on my head..." she said as a few tears started forming in her eyes.

"I have no parents, no place to call home…" she felt like she wanted to say more but felt like she might have made her point fairly well. She looked up to Perne who was now clearly trying to think of something. Just as he was about to talk, Lara interrupted him.

"Perne… Can I go home with you? To your Mansion in the Dakia forest?"

Perne's expression went from trying to explain something simple to a frown, a step back and eyes which gave off a mild sense of panic.

"Uhm… You what? Haha! Sorry, Lara… I don't think that's a good idea." he said as sweat started to appear on his face.

Lara tilted her head in confusion. "Why is that?". Perne seemed to be in a hurry to say something as he quickly looked at Troude, who merely sighed.

"Well, for starters, do you have any idea of how dangerous it would be? I'm a famous outlaw! We run into plenty of Mercenary groups trying to take us on and I'm still afraid that the Empire might knock on our door one of these days. That wouldn't be good for ya! You'd be framed as an accomplice of my acts, and be thrown into a stinky dungeon if that happened!". Perne avoided looking at Lara as much as he could, but Lara kept moving and trying to take a good look at his face, not knowing why he was suddenly like this, she never thought the Dandelion Thief could ever be as panicked as he was right in front of her.

"No worries! I owe you my life, and if it means I can be there to do anything… To show you how grateful I am… I'm willing to take the risk!" Lara said with a bright smile on her face, Perne still ashamed of laying eyes on her.

"Haha! Listen Lara, I freed you from that hellhole with no intentions like tha. I don't want you to pay me in return! You're just a pretty little lass who deserves better than to be tangled in my problems! Oh! Did I also mention that my Mansion is a total mess? Filled to the brim with dust, trash and bugs! Yeah, bugs everywhere you go! With the smell of leftovers and booze filling the air! You can't possibly want that!". Perne smiled to himself, he thought he had her beat.

"Well… My Ow-..." she got mere chills of thinking about that man. "... When our traveling group set down, they always had me do the chores. I think I know just enough about cleaning to make sure the Mansion is crisp clean in no time!"

Perne was speechless. And in fact, her determination to go with him started to annoy him a bit. He started thinking to himself of what he could say now.

Damnit! I really don't need a kid in my Mansion. She's no use for me and even if her dance is pretty, I can't have a child Dancing for me! That will ruin my reputation in no time! Ahhh...What can I do now…

Perne looked with a guilty look at Troude, who shockingly smiled and even chuckled a bit. It was then that Troude took a step forward and spoke, for what Lara recorded as the second time he ever spoke.

"Listen kid… I will tell you from my own experience that the Mansion is not a good place for you. Take of that what you will. But… I do have an idea of what you could do from now."

Both Perne and Lara looked up to Troude in wonder as to what he meant. Perne looked at him as if he wanted to break down and kneel to thank him, and Lara just looked in wonder as to what he could possibly say.

"Not that far from Mease is Manster to the north. It won't take more than two days if we walk steadily with no distractions. Manster might be an imperial city, but many Bards and street Dancers find their way to make a living there. Besides, it's far enough from here that you won't have to worry about bounty hunters. As for the people… I know for a fact they can be very kind, especially for a case like yours. You'll have to make a living for yourself, and that's no easy feat, but in that city you might find it a little less daunting."

The three of them stood there as other people walked by, not even batting an eye due to the business of the city in the high end of the morning. Lara's face got brightened yet again due to the information Troude provided, and Perne sighed in relief, almost ready to collapse on the floor as Troude got him out of this pinch.

"Well! It's decided! Lara can head to Manster and we'll return to our own errands, right Troude?"

"You want this girl to travel all by herself?" Troude replied, leaving Perne a bit frustrated of not thinking about this before. It was then that Troude put his hand on Perne's shoulder.

"I'll make sure Lara arrives to Manster safely. You don't have to pay me any extras for that."

It was now Lara's turn to be shocked. "R-Really!? You'd do that for me!?"

"Sure…" Is everything Troude managed to say before reverting to his usual, quiet self. Meanwhile, Lara's eyes filled with excitement as Perne could almost start dancing right then and there because of the huge problem Troude got off his back.

"Well, I think you and the little lass should get your things ready!" said Perne, sort of recovering his serious tone. "Lara, I have some things to do elsewhere, but I seriously want you to-"

Perne was about to finish his sentence before being hugged by the young girl. Perne could only sigh and smile at Lara's obviously huge gratitude.

"Thank you, Perne… I promise you that I'll never forget what you did for me… Even if you aren't the perfect goodie everyone makes you out to be." Perne opened his eyes wide, ended the hug and went to look at Lara's face, which was now filled with a childish smirk which made Perne go back to his shameful self. Lara laughed.

"So… The thing about your Mansion being a dirty dungeon filled with Dancers wasn't a rumor, huh?" Lara said, as for the first time since Perne knew her, she showed a bit of confidence towards him.

"Y-Yeah… Sort of… But please-"

"Oh? Don't worry, I'm not telling anyone." she giggled. "After all, I still owe you my freedom, right?" she said as Perne got back his prideful smile. Again.

"Alright… I trust you, kid. And remember, always follow your heart and be true to yourself. You might only be starting now, but I see a very good future in your eyes, be it at Dancing or something else."

"Thanks, Perne." is what Lara said before letting go of him, following Troude back at the blacksmith as he received a repaired King's Sword and a brand new Silver Sword. Troude handed the King's Sword to Perne, and they both shaked hands before Perne made a hand sign towards Lara, as the Dandelion Thief turned back and disappeared into the city.

"So… Are you ready for us to part?" Troude said to the curious Lara as she got her last glimpse of this city full of beauty and light. They both made their way towards the border and officially started their way towards Manster, the last step in Lara's voyage towards her freedom. But even the excitement of the young Dancer and the skill of the cold Myrmidon would not stop them from coming across any dangers...

To Be Continued...

Author's Notes: Thanks if you've read my work this far! This time I tried to keep dialogue consistent and did my best to focus on the scenery without doing so too much. Sorry if I took this long for this second chapter, real life can be busy at times. I seriously hope you enjoy it and feedback is always appreciated, peace!