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Linda sighed as she released the bag into her lap, stopped driving, and leaned back to stare up at the sky. Cleo lowered her head while biting her lip. So that was that then. The lizardman stood up and turned to leave. Unease gnawed at Linda’s chest. “You know,” Linda said slowly as she played with the bag in her lap. “You’re not the first person to give me an ultimatum.”
Cleo stopped moving and turned around. One of the pouches of poison powder Palan had given her was in her hand. “And?” she asked. “If you don’t throw it away, then I’m not staying.”
“It was my family,” Linda said, not meeting Cleo’s eyes. “They saw the early signs of greed when I was growing up. My parents gave me a choice—give up my greedy thoughts or leave the family. I was seven at the time.” She clenched the bag in her lap. “Of course I said I’d abandon my greed. What seven-year-old child would want to be given up by their family?”
“Then why are you here?” Cleo asked and furrowed her brow.
Linda pulled a crystal out of the bag and rolled it around her fingers, the golden glow casting shadows on her seat. “I said I’d stop, but it was always there. How can you go against your nature?” she asked and raised her head, storing the crystal in her pajamas. “I was seventeen when I lost control. One of my relatives died of old age. They buried him with a priceless heirloom. Something inside of me broke when I saw his casket go under. I snuck out that night.” Linda reached into her shirt and pulled out her necklace. It was a golden phoenix with rubies spreading out from its body like crystalline flames. “This is the heirloom. After my deed, I went to my grandfather and requested funds to leave the capital to become a merchant.”
“So you’re not going to throw away the bag?” Cleo asked and pointed at the angel’s lap.
“Hey. I’m telling a story here,” Linda said and frowned. “Aren’t you supposed to ask me something like ‘do you regret it’ or ‘what happened after that’?”
“Not interested if I’m going to be leaving anyway,” Cleo said and shook her head.
Linda sighed. “Well,” she said and hugged the bag to her chest. “I do regret it. I regret hiding my greed and not leaving earlier when I could’ve. This life is so much more fulfilling than the one in the capital. I gave up my family for money.” She inhaled and met Cleo’s gaze. “I’m going to give you up as well. You’re just a hitchhiker I picked up. I’ll accept this as payment for my services for bringing you to the capital.”
The pouch in Cleo’s hand nearly burst. “If it means anything,” the trembling lizardman said. “I thought of you as my friend. I don’t give grapefruits to strangers when they ask for oranges.” Her body deflated as she sighed. “I hope you don’t try to stop me from leaving then.”
Linda’s forehead wrinkled as Cleo turned around and climbed off the carriage. “You think you can survive in the first sector by yourself?” she asked with a dry mouth. Those weren’t the words she wanted to say, but they spewed out of her like a flood. “You’re a lizardman with a missing owner. That’s even worse than a slave. No one will want you. In everyone’s eyes, you’re nothing. The friend you’re looking for is a criminal on death row.” Cleo continued to walk away without looking back. Linda clenched her hands and yelled, “Good riddance, you stupid blanket hog!” She slammed her hand on the orb in the carriage’s dashboard, causing it to drive away in reverse.
Cleo’s lips trembled as she continued down the road to Hailing Academy, her tail dragging against the ground behind her. She sighed and stored the pouch of poison away before turning her head. The road was empty. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting. Cleo stamped her foot as her tail stuck straight up into the air. “Stupid Linda! Stupid, greedy, pig-headed Linda!”
She sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. “It’s okay, Cleo,” she said to herself as she forced herself to walk. “You’re magnificent. You don’t need her. Raea’s waiting for you to find her. Palan needs your sass in his boring life. You’re the main character of this story—remember that. Every main character is bound to encounter setbacks.” She slapped herself on her cheeks, copying Raea, and straightened her back while holding her tail up high. “It’s not the first time you’ll be living on the streets by yourself, and this time, you have enough food to last for several years. No more crawling through windows to steal food from the farm animals. This should be easy.” A tear rolled down her cheek, but she wiped it away while sniffling. A carriage rumbled, causing her to turn around. Her eyes widened as it continued to rush towards her without pause. She leapt to the side with a curse and rolled on the ground.
Her brow furrowed. If she hadn’t dodged…. She shook her head and dusted off her clothes. Linda was right—she was a lizardman without an owner. Now wasn’t the time to mope. Cleo narrowed her eyes as she jogged towards Hailing Academy. At least the collar she wore prevented people from capturing her on sight, but slaves weren’t allowed outside at night without an angel to accompany them. She had to make the most use of the sunlight while she could. It was a shame Elrith and Sally weren’t here to accompany her—she could’ve used a mount.
When the gate to Hailing Academy came into view, Cleo’s steps slowed down as she gasped for breath. She used her hands to review the items inside her space as she thought of a way to bypass the gate. Should she sneak in? Try to negotiate? What would Palan do—other than force his way in? Her hand clasped around an object. Maybe she could use this. She took in a deep breath and knocked on the gate.