The boys immediately drop to the floor. Peeking their heads around the nearest display, it appears as if the shortest of Kalebs lackeys, Asher, had followed them inside and is currently looking around. 

'Guess we can't stay lucky forever' Arden thinks to himself. 

"Ah, hello young man, can't say I've seen you here before."

Mr Harwell greets Asher enthusiastically. Today has been an especially slow day, despite the crowds of people walking the streets, so Mr Harwell is excited to see a new face. He walks over and grasps his hand firmly.

"The names Harwell, Jake Harwell. But you can call me Mr Harwell for short. I'm the owner of this here establishment, and boy have I got a deal for you. Now given your age, you seem like a student, are you not? Oh, what am I saying, of course you are! Why else would you be here hahaha! "

Asher lets out a small fake laugh and retracts his hand from Mr Harwells grasp, wondering what he has just gotten himself into. 

"Y-yea, I'm a 3rd year now."

"Oh a third year ey? Fantastic! I remember my time in school. Let's see now, my third year I was working on what I like to call the Flak-rabbit! A prototype toy that nearly set the entire forest on fire. Ah what a good year."

Mr Harwell gestures to Asher while walking toward the back of the store.

"Now, my inventions have improved a lot since then. And given that you're a third year, I can guarantee you and your buddies will get a kick out of what I have to offer."

Arden and Charlie begin to crawl along the floor, trying to avoid their line of sight while Mr Harwell talks his ear off. Arden knows this tactic well. Once Mr Harwell has a customer in his sights, there's almost no stopping him. It's how Arden and Charlie got roped into buying two dozen bottled fairy rockets.

'Ring a Ding-Ding! Oh Ring a Ding-Ding.'

"Oh no…"

From the reflections of several nearby glass containers, the boys can just barely see Kaleb and Rowan walk into the store. 

"I'll be with ya in just a minute boys, feel free to take a look around!"

Mr Harwell waves to the boys at the front of the store as he continues to convince Asher to buy several sets of explosive building blocks and a pack of bark flavored chewing gum.

Arden whispers to Charlie "What do we do?"

"I don't know, but we can't stay here."

Backing up, the boys quickly move from cover to cover, trying to avoid getting caught. Kaleb moves between several displays and shelves, eyeing the sweets behind the front counter and reading each individual label. Rowan at first makes his way to the giant head in the center of the store, mesmerized by the toys floating in the little clouds above. That is until he sees some new posters from the popular 'Jinx girls' band.

"No way, hey Kaleb! Look, the new posters finally came in."

Arden dives behind a shelf of pickled sugar newts as Kaleb spins around to see Rowan carrying a handful of various posters. 

While those two are fangirling, Arden and Charlie sit in a small corner, surrounded on both sides. 

"We can't keep avoiding them, we need a plan."

Charlie nods, thinking of what to do when he stops and points at a nearby open crate.

"I think I have an idea."

"...And then I said it's better to swim in the sink then to sink in the - "

'Ding-Ding-Ding.'

"Hey Mister, I'm ready to pay now."

Seems as if Rowan, with his hands full of posters and candies, is excited to get these back home. 

"Oh, on my way young man. I'll be right back."

That's their cue to move. Darting from cover to cover, Arden grabs a handful of Dingle floppers, a bug shaped container that once activated sprays a nasty stink and makes a lot of noise. Checking again for a good opening, he has to time this just right otherwise - 

"There you are. Hey guys I got one!"

Before they knew it, Charlie had accidentally bumped into Asher as he was making his way toward the exit. Asher bear hugs Charlie, limiting his movements as he tries to wiggle his way loose, but to no avail. 

'Crash!'

"Hey, what are you doing!?"

Charlie kicks over some merchandise, setting off a chain reaction of various toys. Arden uses this distraction to deploy the stink bugs before the others get closer. He chucks them all at Ashers face.

'Pssssssssssssss POP!'

They all go off one after the other, quickly filling the store with a terrible thick green smokey odor.

Charlie drops to the floor, with Asher trying to catch his breath. The boys rush past the others, dodging a couple of teary eyed swings, bursting out of the front door.

'Cough cough cough'

With tears in their eyes, the boys run into a nearby alleyway. 

"Oh great, a dead end!"

'Cough cough'

"We just can't catch a break, can we?"

A jet of blue sparks flies right above their heads, hitting the wall in front of them. 

"Nowhere to hide now!"

The trio of troublemakers have blocked off their only exit, wands at the ready. Rowan and Asher fling sparks and fire around them as the boys are finally backed up against the far wall. Charlie aims his wand at them, shaking as they get closer. They have nowhere left to go. 

"You know, if you just paid the toll everything would be juuust fine right now. But nooo, you just had to embarrass me like that. So now, we're going to have a loot of fun. Just you and me."

"Surprised you can even walk right now."

"Yea well i'm full of surprises."

"Me too."

A small weak glow envelops Arden for a few seconds as he sprints forward, his arms extended. Everything around him seems to slow down, then immediately speed up as the glow subsides. Kaleb quickly lifts his wand and a blue light obscures their vision, sending Arden flying against the left-hand wall. 

A spell with the shape of a giant fist crashes into Arden, knocking the breath out of him long enough for Kaleb to pin him down with his foot. He kicks Arden twice while Charlie wildly swings his wand making incoherent noises trying to make something come out. 

Before Rowan and Asher can have their fun, a young man in an apron drops down from above. With startling speed, he quickly dispatches Kaleb with a strong kick to the face. A trail of green light slowly catches up with him as he turns toward the others. The stranger was dressed in casual clothing: a tucked in shirt and trousers, brown shoes, and a bucket hat mostly covering his wildly shaggy black hair. There was a bit of stubble on his face and one eye was covered. With a bright smile on his face he warns the others.

"Unless you want to end up like him, you should probably leave."

He points to Kaleb, who's currently knocked unconscious, blood trickling from his head. Asher and Rowan look at each other for a moment contemplating their next move. Unfortunately for Rowan, his friend had decided for them. 

'WHAM!'

It's late in the afternoon by the time Charlie arrived home. Waving goodbye to his parents, Arden walks with his brother toward the local park. It had been several days since they'd last spoken to each other, having spent most of the weekend with Charlie, so it was a welcome surprise when Arthur showed up before things got much worse.

Despite that, Arden feels bad for himself. Yet again, his brother had to come rescue him. Whether it be from bullies, boars, or bottled cobras he just can't shake the feeling of being a burden. It seems like he will always be trying to catch up, and yet always be two steps behind him. Heck, it took him up until a few weeks ago to be able to use a small amount of magic. Though it's still going to take a while before he can do any of the basic spells effectively.

Arden sits on a park bench, keeping his head low so no one could see his face. His messy black hair is able to partially obscure his vision so that most passers by wouldn't be able to notice the black eye he is now currently sporting. 

"Hey bro, I got you something."

Arthur stands in front of him holding two bright blue and green ice creams, a big smile on his face. Though a kind gesture, Arden is simply not in the mood.