Late in the afternoon, after finishing his duties for the day, Damien was handed his lunch: the same moldy bread that Lucas used to receive. The sight of it infuriated him. From Lucas's memories, he knew just how wealthy the Waltons were, yet they still chose to give him a piece of moldy bread instead of a fresh slice.
One piece of bread wouldn't be enough to sustain him for the day. Spotting the bread in Damien's hand, Fortune hurried over, whimpering. Reluctant to eat the bread, Damien tossed it to the dog and walked away without a second thought.
He was heading into town; there was no way he would allow himself to eat something so filthy. That was the reason for Lucas's poor health—the reason his skin had moles and his face was covered in acne. It was why his body was so malnourished. Damien needed to get his body in good shape, and his main objective for the day was to secure food.
The town Lucas lived in was called Leinster. Nestled in a lush valley, its architecture featured stone and timber, with cobblestone paths winding through the village. The sight of the town was familiar to Damien, not from Lucas's memories but from his own experiences.
Having lived for over four thousand years, he was acquainted with many time periods. Based on the technology around him, he could tell that this world's era was similar to the Early Modern Period, around 1600-1850. Because of this experience, he would have little difficulty fitting in with their way of life.
The market was bustling with life as local vendors shouted their wares from behind wooden stalls. What struck him as strange were the fruits he didn't recognize. There was a purple fruit with unusual markings and another that resembled a banana but was completely white with yellow stripes. They also had various types of fish; the most commonly sold merchandise here was seafood, thanks to the large river outside of town that provided ample fishing opportunities.
The locals possessed a special type of magic that helped them catch fish without relying on tools. This magic was not limited to fishing; most jobs in this world required some form of magic, rendering those without it nearly worthless.
The only way to acquire food was through manual labor or stealing. Manual labor was off the table since he was tired from working all day, which left him with only one option—pickpocketing. It was a skill his brother had taught him when he was younger. The bustling environment of the market made it the perfect place for such activities.
Most people carried money pouches made of cloth or leather, typically attached to their belts. The best targets were those in a crowd, particularly those who were distracted. Shoppers focused on their purchases would be less aware of someone lifting their pouch.
Damien was well-versed in various pickpocketing techniques, and he and his brother had given names to some of them, such as the Bump and Lift, the Distraction Technique, and his personal favorite, the Quick Draw. The Quick Draw involved a swift and smooth motion to snatch money pouches directly from a person's belt.
First, he needed to pick the right target. Ideally, he wanted to target individuals who appeared well-off, identifiable by their clothing and demeanor. Those who were not struggling for money exuded a certain air that set them apart from the rest.
After scanning the crowd, he spotted his first target: a middle-aged woman haggling for fish. He casually approached her as if he were interested in buying something from the vendor. Merging into the crowd seamlessly, he returned less than a minute later with a small brown pouch made of cloth.
The pouch contained one silver piece and three copper coins. In this world, the exchange rate was roughly:
•10 copper pieces = 1 silver piece
•100 silver pieces = 1 gold piece
For reference, most fish cost between three to five copper pieces, meaning he had secured a couple of days' worth of food at least. He stealthily navigated the market, pickpocketing locals as they shopped. In total, he managed to steal three pieces of silver and fifteen copper coins.
Since he didn't have a way to cook and prepare fish, he used the money to buy fruits and fresh bread instead. He wrapped everything in a brown cloth and decided to head back to the Walton estate.
On his way back, a shadowy figure stood on the cobblestone path leading directly to the estate. It was a man whose face seemed strangely familiar. The setting sun elongated his shadow along the cobblestone road, creating an eerie sight.
"You resort to stealing now?" the man asked coldly.
"I didn't steal these. Ask the vendors if you don't believe me."
"I saw you. The way you lifted from them without anyone noticing was truly impressive. At first, I thought you were no better than the filthy rats roaming the streets. Well, at least you've got some talent."
"I don't know what you're talking about, mister. If I offended you in any way, I apologize, but my master would have me return with these goods before it gets dark."
"You're quite cunning too. What happened? Yesterday, you were throwing a fit at the church about not possessing any mana. Your behavior then was so deplorable that I honestly considered slitting your throat."
At the church? That's when Damien started to remember. This man was the mage from the church yesterday—the one who performed the mana ritual. The man who slapped Lucas.
"Anyway, carry on, and don't steal anything more, or I'll have no choice but to report you. I've seen kids get hanged for less." His voice lingered in the air as he walked away.
Damien watched the man intently until he was out of sight. In his world, they had a name for guys like him—douchebag. 'A man after his own heart', he thought with a hint of amusement.