When the trio returned to Prontera, they found the Priestess sitting against a stone obelisk. It was dusk, and some of the merchants were starting to close up shop. The streets were a little less crowded. She looked like she was about to fall asleep, her shoes on her outstretched legs and her bare feet motionless. Ceilu, Reev, and Mythiel wearily stumbled over to the Priestess, Reev dropping the Quadrille at the Priestess' feet.
"Here you go." said Ceilu. "Now where are we going?" The Priestess stood up, her shoes dropping to the ground. While she was brushing herself off, a child dashed over to the shoes, picked them up, and started running off towards the east. The Priestess gasped, her hands clutching her chest. Ceilu was hot on the child's trail within a second or two; he wasn't going to let some little brat ruin his relationship with Marion. Reev and Mythiel watched as Ceilu chased after the small thief, shouting the entire way.
"GET BACK HERE!" screamed Ceilu. He was rapidly gaining on the thief. Suddenly the thief took a sharp right. Ceilu was going too fast to turn that quickly, so he ended up skidding to a halt. He noticed that the child was then making a left, so he decided to make an ambush. He went through the small alley between two buildings and waited in the shadows. Sure enough, the child was coming, so he stuck out his foot and tripped the thief. The thief fell to the ground, dropping the shoes. Ceilu grabbed the thief by the collar with two hands and held the child up against a building.
"What do you think you're doing? Stealing is not only illegal, but it's petty, too!" shouted Ceilu, forgetting that he was a thief, too. Ceilu noticed that the child was starting to cry. He also noticed that it was a little girl with long red hair. She was wearing torn-up, ratty clothing.
"You're...you're such a meanie!" sobbed the little girl. "My sister needs nice shoes to wear to the royal ball tomorrow night, and if she doesn't have these, there's no telling what she'll do to me!" Ceilu's angered expression faded to a sympathetic one. He dropped the little girl on the ground and sighed, adjusting his sunglasses.
"Well, all right..." mumbled Ceilu. "I guess you can have the shoes, then. But don't steal anymore! Understand?" The little girl nodded, still sobbing, and ran away. Moments later Reev and Mythiel arrived at the scene.
"Where are the shoes?" asked Reev, who looked worried. Mythiel was twirling her bell on her stick. "You know Marion's gonna kill you if you don't get 'em to her." Ceilu stared at the ground.
"Looks like we've got a change of plan." sighed Ceilu. "For one thing, we have to avoid that Priestess as much as possible because we lost her shoes. We also have to find another person who's willing to sell us some Crystal Pumps."
"Great...why don't we get some rest and then do it tomorrow? We've still got another day until Marion's birthday." suggested Reev. One of the shops caught Mythiel's eye.
"Look! A shoe shop!" exclaimed Mythiel, pointing down the street at a shop with shoes in a display case. "Maybe they'll have some Crystal Pumps in there." Reev and Ceilu looked at Mythiel.
"Mythiel, you just saved my life." said Ceilu. The trio then walked over to the shoe shop.
When the trio walked in, they looked around intently for Crystal Pumps. However, none could be found...except on the store manager's feet. The store manager was a tall woman dressed in a white shirt and a long red skirt. She had short brown hair. Her facial expression was half depression, half fear.
"What can I do for you?" asked the store manager. Ceilu was staring at the shoes on the manager's feet.
"Well...we were wondering if you'd be willing to sell us those shoes that you're wearing." said Ceilu. The manager sighed.
"Everyone's so darn crazy about getting those shoes nowadays. They a present to your mother?" asked the manager.
"They're for my girlfriend." said Ceilu. The manager smirked.
"You two going to the ball tomorrow night?" asked the manager.
"I'll have to ask her. Now anyway, what do we have to do for those shoes of yours?" asked Ceilu.
"Since you sound like such a nice guy and you look like you're fit for the job, I'll give you a little task. Well, it's not really little, but it's big enough for these shoes. My son goes out to play every night outside the nearby exit to the city. Last night he didn't come back, and I'm awfully worried about him. If you could bring him back safely, I'll give you these Crystal Pumps." explained the store manager. Ceilu nodded.
"Don't worry, ma'am, we'll bring back your son." said Ceilu. A warm smile spread across the manager's face. With that, Ceilu, Reev, and Mythiel walked out of the building and towards the city exit.