Chapter 67, Heist

Chapter 67, Heist

Yeah, uh, yanno, this might not have been a fantastic idea now that I think about it, Sam said from where she walked beside Kreig, hands stuffed in her pockets. It wasnt extremely cold or anything out in the dark night, but she still felt the need to wear a jacket.

Kreig glanced down at her and got an apprehensive look in return. It was likely meant for the situation as a whole, not him specifically.

And, everything considered, the situation did deserve some smidgen of trepidation. Although the sky was as dark as they could bother letting it get, the streets were pretty much bustling, shops and bars and windows lit up so brightly you could barely see the stars at all. Even though Kreig and Sam were in an area of town not commonly associated with night-time activity, the two often found themselves passing one citizen or another hurrying by with their own mission. A lot of them carried a cloud of alcoholic stink, but Kreig didnt feel a need to point it out.

Their own mission was, after all, somewhat similar. Acquire the Messiahs Fruit and process it into the Blood of Oath. And to get it, they had to first find the tree that Kreig had awakened a few days before.

Since they knew the way there, they had no reason to say much. And still, Sam spoke every so often to voice either her displeasure or, less commonly, a question.

The fruits arent poisonous, are they?

No, Kreig answered quickly.

Sam scratched her chin. Make you high? Or awaken like the Messiahs Egg does?

No, Kreig said again. Hed been answering similar questions all night. By now, she should know almost as much about them as he does. This information was mostly just that the fruit was harmless in almost every situation. You could eat it. Doesnt taste very good. Its both sour and bitter all at once, so the only reason a kid would want to eat it is to challenge another to do the same. Even when processed it doesnt do much in terms of intoxication.

Sam didnt seem to like such an answer, but she didnt voice her feelings.

Before she could ask yet another reiteration question regarding how dangerous the fruit is(nt), they arrived. Almost.

Shed come along just in case something went wrong, but now she started to think that this itself might not have been the best idea.

Hey, whoa, Kreig, youre not thinking of doing anything weird, are you-?

He turned to her, the cogs in his head turning slowly before he finally gave her a wave, indicating for her to follow. They moved away from where theyd been standing with a view inside the gate and moved over to a singular wall of the school. Out of view for any guards or civilians. And there, he hunched down, hand pressed firmly against the ground. She really didnt like where this was going or what he was doing, but for once, for just one moment, she had to trust him.

Something seemed to shift. She couldnt hear it, she couldnt see it, but Kreig did something, his eyes closed in mild concentration.

And then, the small patch of dirt his hand had been pressed against started pressing back, rising into a small mound before bursting open, revealing a small white branch holding a rather large black leaf, in turn curling around a clutch of red fruit.

Kreig plucked the black leaf and the fruit off of the branch before sending it on its way with a final command.

Alright.

The black leaf cradling the fruit almost resembled a blanket around an infant, especially with how carefully Kreig was holding it in his arms, but any such resemblance disappeared once she got a proper look at the fruits themselves. They were all connected to each other by small black stalks, resembling a large clutch of dark red, almost transparent grapes. Each one was about the size of a golf ball. They looked tasty, but she knew by Kreigs description that they were anything but.

Messiahs Fruit, Sam breathed softly, not really sure how to understand it.

Kreig had no such preoccupations and knew that it was time to skedaddle. Sam followed his long strides, at times having to half-jog to keep up.

They soon got home, prize in hand.