There were so many spices here! The teen was more than amazed as he looked through a larger store in the upper district, the first time he had ever ventured into such a place instead of going into the lower markets to barter, and he wanted to try out everything. There were so many options for making curry or just for baking bread here with all the herbs from across the continent gathered in on spot. He was so glad that he had saved up enough to venture out here. Taking the chance to sneak out from home before the sun fully rose, Nabil had gone shopping for more ingredients for his late night cooking lessons today. He was truly enjoying himself by just browsing from shelf to shelf, the store swarming with others as more time passed and the streets started to wake up with business, when disaster struck. It was when Nabil was looking for bottles of spices for stew that a pair of earthlings rushed past, the giggling teens knocking Nabil forward into the display of spices. “No!” He immediately called out, trying his best to reach across to stop the display from tumbling forward but despite his best efforts a few of the bottles did fall out. As hopeful as he was, that attempt didn't stop the bottles from shattering across the ground as they landed with the scent of multiple spices making Nabil’s nose itch. Of course the merchant wouldn’t believe him that others had knocked him into the shelf and would want him to take responsibility right? So that was when Nabil panicked, not wanting to lose the few coins that he had brought out for this outing. Even worse if the guards got involved because that could lead back to his family and cause even more trouble. I have to leave! There was pure panic in his gaze as he looked around, checked to see if anyone had caught on and then after digging out a couple of coins the boy left them on the counter along with some fragments of the bottles and took those that he could for his cooking. It wasn’t much, but it was what he could afford and Nabil didn’t want to risk the shopkeeper’s wrath once he found out about the mess. The feeling left a nasty taste in his mouth, but honestly Nabil had no choice as he bolted out of the shop and kept running down the street until he finally felt like he was far away enough to slow down. Thankfully the store had been busy and no one had noticed the crash somehow in the noise and even if they had seen the mess Nabil had moved away so quickly that no one could have realized the pink-haired servant boy was at fault. Not that such a thing resolved him of his guilt, but still it somewhat eased the fear that guards would be looking for him.

“I’m awful.” He moaned, turning the corner so that he could find a nice shadowed spot in an alleyway, the boy tucking his legs against his chest as he took a moment to try to calm down. Who needed to worry about pickpockets when he looked as rough as one and didn’t have money anyways? Ever since his family had a new heir there was little attention given to him or his twin with their step-mother constantly pushing them further and further into the shadows. His father gave them allowances, when he remembered and was actually around, but half of that got stolen in the past from staff and from their step-mother who found expenses for them. New clothing? New books? They would have to pay out of pocket because things were tight for the family with all the expenses on the new son’s education. The very thought made Nabil sneer, but it didn’t settle the disappointment he felt when he looked at the small bag of spices in his hands. He had technically paid for them, but he worried the mess he left behind cost much more than the few coins he left behind. I’m so sorry. One day when he was out of this hell and in a much better position he would return and buy all of their stock and give a bonus even. That much Nabil swore as he took another moment to regain his composure, the boy only then going out to walk the backstreets until he could emerge back in the noble district where his family home waited.

[762]