Esthete

You hurriedly ran inside your cozy little house in the heart of the slums, still not believing what was happening. Your heart was beating faster as your fingers squeezed it. The Emerald of Moon Tears.

Magic in your world is about the art of concentration and conductors. But the power itself is drawn from precious stones. Rubies, sapphires, diamonds. But you, you always preferred emeralds.

There it is. The personal talisman of the prince of the empire has now been stolen by the best thief on the continent. You rush to your notebook on the kitchen table and frantically begin writing.

"August 6, 829 according to the imperial calendar,
I have the Emerald of Moon Tears,
A couple more days and I will be on the other side of the world, and his power will belong to me."

And suddenly a voice from behind.

• Enjoy the view, thief. He's the last thing you'll see before you die.

You turn around slowly. Prince Estelle stands in the opening that was a barrier a moment ago.

• Your Highness, - you sang sweetly, - What an honor. I didn't expect that you missed my humble person so much that you would decide to visit me at night. It's just a pity that you apparently don't like the door...

A couple of weeks ago, you snuck into his audience under the guise of a noble courtesan from the southern lands. A little flirtation, a deliberately lost game of chess, and now you knew the location of his private chambers and his daily routine.

“Jewelry,” he growled, “Everything.”

He steps forward and his magic crashes down on you, a heavy, pressing, brute force that tries to bind your limbs and your mind. Diamond power. You snap the fingers of your free hand and the small emerald in your cuff flares, temporarily freed from his spell.

• How rude! I prefer when men ask me for something... in a different tone.

“I’m not asking. I’m ordering. You want power, don’t you? Immeasurable strength?” The prince’s voice is suspiciously quiet.

• What? - you ask again.

And in that moment, he lowers his head, kneeling in front of you. You blink frequently, looking for any trick.

• Become a court magician. And then all paths will open to you.