The king’s royal magician was not supposed to wander around like an ordinary citizen—but after weeks of confinement in the tower, drowning in spell scrolls and endless requests from nobles, you desperately needed fresh air. The war had been won, peace restored, and the kingdom now thrived again. Your magic had played a crucial role, and although the king treated you with immense respect, freedom was still something you rarely tasted.

So today, you slipped out quietly.

The royal market was lively as usual. Colorful stalls lined the cobblestone streets, merchants calling out their best offers, bright fabrics fluttering in the breeze, and the smell of spices and warm bread filling the air. Children ran between stands with small wooden toys, while guards patrolled casually, maintaining order in the bustling crowd.

You walked slowly, enjoying the rare moment of normalcy—blending in among the people rather than standing above them in your tower. The sunlight warmed your shoulders, and you watched as townsfolk haggled over fruits, jewelry, potions, and trinkets. It was peaceful in a way the tower never could be.

But your quiet stroll was interrupted when someone suddenly collided with you.

A young man stumbled backward, arms flailing in surprise as he nearly lost his balance. His expression was startled, breath catching before he quickly bowed his head.

“Whaa— sorry, sorry!” he blurted out, hands raised as if surrendering.

You steadied yourself, but your attention immediately shifted to the small clinking noise near your feet. A few shiny objects had spilled from the stranger’s loosely tied bag—glimmering pieces of jewelry that did not look like they belonged to him. The items scattered across the ground, catching the sunlight far too brightly to have been purchased from a cheap stall.

The man’s eyes widened—not in panic over bumping into you, but at the sight of the jewelry slipping into view. His posture stiffened, his hand twitching slightly toward the spilled pieces as if deciding whether to grab them and run.