After talking to Flynn a little while longer, Aria was finally able to get rid of the knight and enter the house safely. It turns out he was also a resident of the lower quarters though he wished to change the empire, a reason for why he became a knight. Interestingly enough, that bit of information was able to calm her down and soften up her alerted mind around him.
"Aria, who was that and why was he here?" Leon asked, running up to the teen.
Aria looked down at the boy and decided to give a half honest answer.
"That was one of the imperial knights from the empire. His name is Flynn. Apparently, shops were closed for the day for inspections and he decided to bring me back home out of trouble," the girl lied.
"Does that mean you couldn't bring home anything today?" Leia asked disappointingly.
Aria knelt down onto the floor and patted her head softly with a caring warm smile on her face.
"Not today, guys.. Maybe tomorrow, later when it's all back to normal and safe, or when I can find the time to. I'll head out again later to make sure the shops are open, alright?"
"Okay!" the two chimed.
"Aria? Have you returned already?" Mrs. Florence asked.
"Ah, yes, I wasn't able to retrieve anything today. The stores were closed due to unknown reasons," she replied. "I'll head back out later to check if the stores are open again and get the white thread you need."
The girl then went straight to her room and shut the door behind herself before collapsing onto the soft bed. Her face was buried into the clean covered mattress and she remained still for about a minute before reaching to the back of her head and untying her hair swiftly. Her sigh was barely audible as she dropped her hand back down exhaustively.
'I got caught...' Aria suddenly mumbled. 'I knew it was going to happen someday, but why was it today?'
The teen then lifted her head up a little before she pushed herself back up to take off her belt, sleeveless coat, and pure white neckerchief. Touching around her waist where her pouch used to reside, she immediately remembered that Flynn was in possession of it at the moment.
'Just what's up with that knight, guy, dude; I don't even know what to call him anymore!' she yelled quietly. 'He messed up my train of thoughts way too much.. Need to find a way to get rid of him or avoid him, damn it!'
The girl frowned to herself, an expression she rarely ever makes when nowhere near anyone she despised so much. The teen then eyed the weapons she kept hidden away from the twins at a corner.
'No.. I shouldn't... Stealing is already bad enough as it is and my hands are already soiled from the act of thieving. Killing would just make it worse.. But even if I tried, I feel like I can't do it. Not him at the least..' Aria told herself, softening her gaze into defeat. 'Just... What is this feeling? Probably disgust again..'
At least 5 days had already passed ever since she got caught in the noble court. The kids weren't bothered that she still hasn't gotten them their gifts yet. Knights still came to visit and tried to drag her off like usual. She's also been trying to avoid getting out of the house to stay away from Flynn as long as possible. Aria woke up from her nap she took recently during the day, completely unaware of when she fell unconscious. The girl blinked wearily for a few times until her eyes popped wide open in realization.
"I should finally go and get the thread Mrs. Florence asked for and finish fulfilling my promise.." she said, quickly sitting up to grab the clothes she took off earlier and some galds, keeping it in her now tied up neckerchief. "I dragged this on for way too long."
Aria then silently left her room, but then decided to walk back in and grab her sword before she headed out the house once again, going to the center of town.
"I need my bag back, soon..." she said, throwing the tied up neckerchief filled with galds. "And it's best to keep a weapon on me this time.
Upon turning at a corner, Aria spotted the same man she ran into earlier and his dog during her escape. Feeling rather frightened, the girl froze and took a couple steps back to hide herself.
'Why am I hiding again?' asked the teen. 'Oh wait, because he has a dog with him..' she replied sarcastically.
Aria wasn't able to take a good look at him a few days ago due to her giant hood and the fact that she was in a rush. Now that she was able to completely burn his appearance into her mind, she thought that he was pretty good looking even with his long black hair. But then again, she must proceed with precaution. He is a stranger after all.
'Curse my luck these days... I have only two choices to take where I either walk pass them or just wait until they leave.'
She ended up taking the first choice; that's to walk past the two without making a hassle or distraction. Repede seemed to notice her presence immediately and looked at her curiously as Yuri continued to ignore her and look for something. The dog suddenly began to bark his head off, sniffing a couple of times and earning Yuri's full attention.
'Dear lord, no...!' she complained to herself.
Yuri remained silent as he looked at the dog and studied the girl before him. Being as shy as ever, Aria began to fidget and looked around for something of interest. The young man, about Flynn's age, never said anything and continued to eye her appearance sharply, taking in everything he could.
"So you're the one who bumped into me, huh. You sure look different without that musty cloak of yours," he stated.
Aria jolted a little and backed away. Becoming cautious around the teen, she gripped at her weapon hanging around her waist tightly, her face looking in discomfort.
"Whoa, easy there. You're acting just like those imperial knights," he said once again, a semi-surprised look on his face.
"So you're not working with them?" she asked cautiously, backing away a little further.
Repede barked again and ran up to her, curiosity filling up his mind. Aria was alerted to how close he was to her and backed up even further, bumping into a wall in the process.
"Calm down, lady," Yuri said as he raised an interested brow. "It's not like I'm going to kill you. ... Or is it..?"
The statement just made her all the more uncomfortable and suspicious around him.
"Just who are you?" she asked in a harsh tone.
"Yuri Lowell at your service," he joked. "No point in trying to sound harsh cause that's not working."
Aria remained in the position a little while longer, she still didn't find the older teen to be trustworthy enough.
"Oh come on, I was messing around so loosen up. Now tell me your name and we'll be even," Yuri stated.
Aria finally began to calm down, her racing heart slowing back to its original pace. Repede was staring at her, slowly creeping up to her in a false vicious manner. The girl wanted to move away, but she couldn't. She was already backed up against a wall.
"Oh yeah, this guy here, his name is Repede. He's like this to everyone so it's normal."
Aria looked frightened by the two and so the dog stopped moving then sat back down on the floor. Yuri was still waiting on her for her introduction, pressuring one of his legs by leaning onto it more than the other.
"... Aria Winslet.. Now answer me this... Are you working with the empire..?" she said cautiously.
"Them? No way would I fit in with them," he said in an uninterested tone. "What's gotten you so worked up?"
"It's nothing.." she said lowly, standing up straighter. "I didn't happen to cause the two of you any trouble 'that' morning, did I?"
"Trouble? Not that I remember of..." he said in a thoughtful behavior. "What was it that you were in such a hurry for? Oh wait, you're the mysterious cloaked figure everyone talked about, right?"
"Don't say it out loud or I'll get in trouble!" Aria exclaimed.
"Whatever you say.."
He then turned around and headed the area she was going to head over for herself, his trusting partner following him at his heels. Aria sighed and began to walk after him, rubbing her head tiredly as they kept a good distant away.
'First Flynn Scifo, now this Yuri Lowell guy. Just what is with these two?' she muttered before crashing into Yuri again.
"I heard my name. Did you need something?" he asked with a smirk.
"No, I did not.." Aria sighed.
"Alright then, I'll be the one to ask the questions and stuff... You know Flynn?"
"..."
Aria looked up curiously and blinked.
"He's the imperial knight that caught me during my escape," she said. "Do you know him?"
"I said I was going to ask the questions," he chuckled. "Yes, I know him. He's a friend of mine."
"A friend?"
"We grew up together in the lower quarters, always sharing our items with each other and stirring up trouble."
"Flynn? Trouble? I can't see him do that..." she thought aloud.
"Same goes for you. I've seen you around a few times before, but never did I ever think you to be that person," Yuri pointed out.
"You've seen me before? I've never met you or seen you pass by before.."
Yuri rose a brow as he rested his hands on his hips, tilting his head a tiny bit to the side and causing his hair to sway along with him.
"On second thought... Are you that once most wanted fugitive the knights tried interrogating before?" she asked, looking at him blankly.
'How nice to put it like that,' he replied boringly.
Repede gave a quick swish with his tail and groaned a little, waiting for the two teens to start walking again. The dog stood back up from the ground and began to circle around Aria's feet impatiently.
"My mistake, did that bother you?" she asked curiously as Repede nudged her forward.
"Not at all, but it does bring up some memories.." Yuri replied with a mischievous smirk.
"You must have been very... rebellious then..." Aria said as she walked, trying to describe the young man before her.
"You can say that. Say, what's your first impression on Flynn?"
"Eh? What's this all of a sudden?" she asked.
"Just curious, so answer."
'So rude...' the girl thought. "He seems reliable and very hardworking. Quite clingy after a while though..."
"Clingy, huh? Don't let his appearance get to you, he's quite as rebellious as me," Yuri snickered.
"He didn't click in my head to be as troublesome as you..." Aria said in a thoughtful way.
Repede then suddenly howled and took off after something or rather someone he was familiar with.
"H-hey, Repede!" Yuri called.
The figure Repede ran after turned around and looked at the mutt, bending down to quickly scratch him.
"Speak of the devil... Flynn!" Yuri called while Aria blanked out and groaned.
"Hm? Yuri?" Flynn called back, looking over at the two. "Aria..! Oh, right."
Yuri and Aria approached the knight side by side and gave him a quick small greeting before getting on with a topic.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at the empire on duty?" Yuri asked his friend.
"Well, yeah, but I don't know why they let me take it easy today.." the blond replied.
"You're working too hard," was Yuri's answer.
"So what are you doing with Aria? You know her or something?" Flynn asked, sounding a little cautious.
"Hm? This one here?" Yuri said, smirking as he pointed at her. "Just met her the morning before you caught her."
Aria blinked and looked at the two men, her appearance seemingly innocent and quite unaware of what was going on.
"Don't be so rude to someone you just met then," Flynn said, lowering his eyes.
"And what if I refuse? And if she's comfortable with it?" Yuri asked.
"Ask her first then."
Yuri just huffed and turned to look at her, raising a quick brow to show his irritation towards his best friend. It didn't seem like the two of them get along well; after all, their personalities were clashing. Nonetheless, they both respected and trusted each other quite a lot.
"D-don't worry about me...!" Aria exclaimed, waving her arms out in front of her.
"See?" Yuri said, turning back to Flynn triumphantly.
'Is he always like that?' the young woman mouthed cautiously to Flynn. 'He's... odd..'
The knight caught he message and stifled his laughter, failing terribly at holding it in. Yuri rose a brow and looked back at Aria who was trying hard not to laugh at and with Flynn.
"Just what's so funny?" he asked.