Chương 18: Girlfriend

Cory was still smiling slightly, same as she always did. She asked, "Cool. What about?" in the same tone of voice as asking about the plot of a book.

"This. All of this." Atzi spread her arms.

"I saw it already. The planning, stealing the blood, and then… you asked me to help you steal the book from V. We barely managed it." Cory froze for just a second, long enough for Atzi to notice it, before she laughed.

"Am I that obvious?" Atzi whined.

"No, no, I mean I saw this before. V was fooled, though they've got some more tricks than you guessed… some wicked looking magic dagger that cut through my scales, and a crossbow. Feels like dying when it hits you." Cory nodded along, humming for Atzi to continue.

"I can prove it, too! I knew you were hiding in the room and going to steal my money as a joke. Open the pouch up." Cory took it out, flipped it open, and pulled out a rock. She let it drop to the ground and dug around more. She pulled out the note, and another rock-"See? Actually have more money than last ti-" -before flinging the rock at Atzi's forehead.

"Bugeh!" Atzi staggered back. She rubbed the stinging spot.

"Ow…"

"Good prank. Anyway, seriously, how did you know about my plan with V and the book?" Cory let go of the entire pouch. Rocks scattered against the ground.

"It's not a prank!" Atzi curled her tail around her leg.

"I know more about the book too. It's the one that's in the posters, the stolen sage's spellbook the guards are so pissed off about."

"Wow Atzi, you really managed to put that one together?" Cory asked, her voice laden with sarcasm.

"Your plan was first we carry out the blood-theft bit, then you say that you're suspicious and need to see the book, I run in and take it, we have an exit prepared - a rope I'm gonna tie to the wall in the slum so we can climb up. Then…" Cory arched an eyebrow.

"... That's where it ends."

"Uh huh." Atzi clasped her claws together.

"I'm not making this up! I've been checking details for the last two days, everything's been the same! Look at this!" Atzi opened up the tail-bag with all her money in it.

"I knew who was gonna win a fight at the arena, so I bet everything I had on him." Cory looked down at Atzi's tail, and Atzi suddenly felt very embarrassed. Her maybe-girlfriend exhaled as her eyes searched for something in the sky. Then she looked back down at Atzi.

"I'm not going to rule out you had some kind of magical experience. I've encountered weirder stuff. But if you want me to believe this, you need to actually prove it to me." Atzi closed the tail-bag.

"Fine. I'll tell you how the blood theft goes and what plan we settled on-" She did just that, recounting the events.

"That's why we need a better exit this time, I don't wanna have to smash through a window again. Fence was just sitting around doing nothing anyway, maybe they can distract some guards to leave us a better opening."

"I mean it sounds like something I'd think of." Cory winked.

"But you know me, I'm always smart." Yeah. Atzi drooled a bit.

"That's why I'm telling you. I tried telling someone else and she thinks I'm crazy, or… drunk or sick, or something."

"Okay, say I believed you. I'm still skeptical, but say I gave you the benny of the doubt. So what? What does that mean?"

"It means we can" - Atzi struggled to think of a good application - "do it better? Or maybe it's meant to show that stealing the book's really dangerous and the heist's a better idea? I mean, you didn't know about those weird weapons V has."

"They hide all sorts of things. But even in your vision, we succeeded, right?" Cory waved her hand.

"We got the book."

"Yeah. I guess." Atzi scratched the scales on her arm.

"I got hurt pretty badly, though…"

"Success comes at a cost." Cory shrugged. But why do I have to get hurt? Atzi gave a small whine. Wait. Wait. Cory is from Artaxta. That means I have proof!

"You know about the stuff in the Artaxtian temple, right? Stuff that's not common knowledge?" Cory looked confused.

"What do you mean? I'm not a priestess."

"Well, it happened twice. Like, this isn't the second time, technically. It's the third. It's just, the second time, uh-""Use your words." Atzi straightened up. I can't beat around the bush.

"I saw the Artaxtian festival the second time and the Serpent winked at me so I winked back and she" - Atzi took a deep breath - "she took me to the temple." She looked down at the ground and quietly added.

"A-and ate me." Cory clicked her tongue.

"Those old rumors. Atzi, the Serpent doesn't eat people." Atzi jerked her head back up, nearly ready to cry.

"I-it wasn't just a rumor! They were talking about having a kid a-and- they gave me nice food and then we, uh, well, and then they ate me!" She drew a claw across her stomach.

"Cut me open!"

"Atzi, you know I don't like being called a cannibal. The whole 'Artaxtians eat people' thing is just a rumor!" Cory looked offended.

"I'm not saying you do! I'm saying the Serpent does!" Cory looked upset. I'm sorry! Atzi immediately backed up.

"Let's just forget the whole second vision. The first one's the important one, that's the one we did the theft in."

"So how exactly did your vision end?" Cory asked. Atzi fumbled with her claws.

"Oh, just, up on the wall. The plan, um… you said we'd run away from the city together…" Cory smirked.

"Well, are you still willing to help me?" She's so much more willing to hear me out than Hemm! I knew there had to be another reason why the vision was like that. There's no way Cory would hurt me. She nodded.

"Yeah. I made up my mind, I'll do it. I just wanna tweak the plan so I get hurt less. Get Fence to distract the guards." Cory nodded.

"Alright, we'll try it." Atzi waved her tail happily.

"When it goes the way I said, will you believe me then?"

"Atzi, it doesn't matter if I believe you or not. As long as things work out." Cory stepped closer.

"But is there anything else I need to know about the future? Anything… weird happen?" I can't- if I tell her, she might duck out of the plan. I'll ask her when we're on the wall.

"No, I was busy with the rope all day, and the plan took all night." Cory drew closer still- -and hugged Atzi. Atzi sighed in contentment. Wow, she smells really good. Like spiced berry wine. The hug lingered for a few seconds before Atzi worked up the courage to lift her claws and hug ba- -the hug ended.

"See you tomorrow." Cory stepped away. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"... Yeah." Atzi had a big stupid grin on her face. She stumbled back to the inn. === The next day, instead of heading downstairs and potentially confronting Paulina, Atzi slipped out the window of her second story room. It took a bit of balancing, but she managed to get out without taking a full drop. Then she went to buy some rope from the annoying merchant.

"Hello, dear cust-""I want fifty feet of rope." She handed over three bronze.

"Of co-""This one's fraying." Atzi pointed to the rope she bought last time.

"Thank you for pointing out this flaw, valued customer!" The purple haired merchant took the rope down.

"We shall improve our product." He tossed it behind his stall. Then he grabbed a different rope and handed it to her. Atzi checked the full length of the rope before she left, tugging parts of it to make sure it wouldn't break. It seemed just fine to her, so she strode away.

"Come again, valued customer!" - After tying the rope and eating a meal at the inn - and learning that Paulina had, in fact, been there looking for her - Atzi made her way to the meeting with Fence and Cory. The two were chatting with each other when she arrived - different from last time, where they had been silently waiting. Strange. Maybe she's just relaying the plan? Atzi approached. Fence looked over to her.

"Hey! It's future-sight girl!" Atzi blinked. Eh?! She looked over to Cory, who looked as relaxed as always.

"You told Fence?" Cory shrugged.

"Seemed relevant when I mentioned the blood plan." This is awkward. At least I don't have to play dumb now. She turned to Fence.

"Yeah, I saw a vision of the future. I asked a priest and they couldn't explain it. Since you already know, are you gonna help with the distraction so we don't have to jump through a window?" Fence counted on their claws for a bit.

"You got forty bronze on you?"

"Yeah." Atzi took out the money.

"Give it." Fence held out an open claw.

"What for?"

"Supplies. For the distraction." Atzi grumbled, but handed the money over.

"You're putting in some of your own money too, right?" Fence took it, gazing down on it with a greedy smile.

"Oh, the supplies will only cost twenty bronze. The other half is labor fees." Atzi rolled her eyes. As far as you're aware, we're still robbing the bank! Why do you care about bronze?!

"Well you better pull it off, or I want a refund."

"Fuck no. But I will pull it off. Fence's honor," said the least honorable person Atzi knew. - Atzi distracted the bank manager's guard like last time. She found it surprisingly simple to just repeat what worked. It was like she knew what she was doing.

"Dumbass!" she shouted as the guard missed her with a chunk of limestone. Again Cory got burned, and then they ran away together. Instead of an entire group of guards chasing them, they only had to deal with one, easily slipping into obscurity. Whatever Fence did, it's working! Go Fence! They went back to the alleyway, but Fence wasn't back yet.

"Well that went pretty smooth. I wonder what Fence did." Cory rubbed her burnt wrist, but looked happy.

"Dunno, but it sure worked." Fence didn't come back, so they eventually agreed it didn't matter anyway, and parted ways temporarily before planning to meet back up at V's later in the night. Atzi decided not to eat, just in case she went through a lot of pain again. I don't want to lose it! So instead she found a place to sit and imagine what her life would be like with Cory, after everything was done. She thought about where they might go.

Artaxta was right out, but maybe they could take a boat to the island of Nicomedia, the place the Demon ruled, which she heard was really warm. There they would definitely, definitely find another way to strike it rich and get a big mansion. With pretty maids. - Getting to V's was trivial. Atzi nodded to Cory, who smiled back, and they headed in together. Someone was sitting on V's couch, but it wasn't Aelia this time.

"Fence?" Atzi asked. That's different. I guess maybe 'cause of the change in plans? And we didn't get here at exactly the same time.

"Um. Good distraction." Fence chuckled.

"Thanks!" V arrived, walking in this time not from the bathroom, but the main hall. They looked towards Fence.

"What is it?" Fence jumped from the couch.

"Atzi can see the future. Apparently." Is everyone just going to tell everyone else?!

"Is there evidence of this?" V asked Fence. Fence shrugged.

"Nah. Maybe she's acting a bit weirder than usual-" Hey!

"-but not really."

"Then I fail to see the importance. Unless you saw something pertaining to our endeavor?" V turned towards Atzi. Atzi shook her head.

"Nope." She looked at Cory.

"But, um, there is something else…" Cory tilted her head up.

"The spellbook, V. Atzi thinks it's fake, and now I do, too."

"And this was your vision?" V asked Atzi, unimpressed. Atzi waved her claw.

"N-no! That was just normal stuff I put together, normally! Stuff from the guard house, it mentioned the book, but it's not the same one Cory said you had." V looked back at Cory.

"Very well." They waved off Fence.

"You may leave." Fence happily left. As for you…" They pointed at Atzi.

"M-me?" Atzi asked.

"You will stay here for me to question your 'vision' further, after having dealt with Coraline." Atzi nodded rapidly. V took Cory upstairs. Atzi waited. And then Cory shouted. Atzi rushed up again, once more dodging the guard's sword and making her way to V's office. She spun around, the guard rushing towards her, and dove to the side at the last second. Still an idiot! The blood covering the room writhed and twisted, trapping V's guards within.

Atzi turned sharply as soon as she entered, sprinting towards V so she could take the book. Cory had jumped onto the table once more. V dropped the book, Atzi dove for it, and- -Atzi dodged the magical dagger by throwing herself to the side as quickly as she could once she had the book. V's dagger plunged through the floor. Atzi spun around. She dodged the bootless guard's strike, too. It's so much easier when I know it's going to happen! Then she ran towards the alarm-blaring window that Cory had already opened.

Third time's the charm! She leapt through. Atzi nimbly rolled with the drop. It's so much easier when I'm not in pain. When Cory jumped, Atzi wrapped her tail around the spellbook and opened her arms. Cory landed. She's so soft…

"Let's go!" Cory leapt out of Atzi's arms and began sprinting away. Atzi followed her. As soon as she saw the glinting of a crossbow, she dropped to the ground. The bolt flew over her, embedding itself in the limestone building beside her. She could hear a distant curse as she got back up to continue running. Take that! There were no city guards responding to the alarm this time.

"Go Fence!" Atzi cheered. They would be pissed if they knew what their plan was used for. Just then, she spotted someone running out of a nearby alley towards them. A very small cloaked figure. Wait, is that… Fence's face came into view, as did a dagger in their claws.

"Fence?! You weren't here last time!" Atzi leapt out of the way of a clumsy dagger strike.

"You're acting so strange, figured I'd wait around in case you betrayed us. Not surprised Cory was part of that. I'm sure V will pay well." Fence charged forward again.

"Screw you, then!" I can't believe- no, I can absolutely believe Fence would do this. Atzi gritted her sharp teeth. They might be better than that Karl idiot, but they're still bad with a dagger. She waited until Fence got close, and then-"You're the one who's screwing up our payday!" Fence shouted, swinging the dagger. Atzi spun, slamming the tail-wrapped book into the tinier lizard, an awkward strike that left her tail stinging. Fence hit the limestone like a sack of mud, groaning in pain.

Atzi looked over to Cory, who was just standing there watching.

"Hurry up!" she shouted.

"Nothing personal!" Atzi shouted as she ran along with Cory. She could hear Fence give a wet cough.

"... Yeah, same." That lizard is way too greedy. Atzi and Cory didn't need to run through any crowds to leave the district, simply slipping over the spiked fence. - They made their way into the slums, nearing the rope hidden by bushes. Atzi looked up at Cory.

"We did it! Everything just… went right!" Cory hummed.

"I'm impressed, you actually knew a lot more than I expected." Atzi found herself giving something between a giggle and a grunt.

"Thanks." She shook herself out of her own imagination, turning towards the rope. One of the bushes hiding the rope rustled. Atzi stepped back cautiously. That's different… A short, curvy woman with pink hair emerged from the bush. Alana.

"Hello again!" Alana said, smiling and waving at Atzi. What… why was she in a bush? In the slums?

"Alana?"

"You know her?" Cory asked.

"Ah, um, we met at the party the other night," Atzi said. Alana said at the same time, "Yeah, we met at the party." Atzi felt a chill travel down her spine, all the way down her tail. She looked between Cory and Alana.

"You two… know each other?"

"Yeah. Atzi, meet my girlfriend," Cory said with a smile.