Shadow Slave

Changing Star frowned. There was a hint of surprise visible in her cold, grey eyes.

"My… goal? Isn't it obvious?"

She gestured to the slum that surrounded them and the magnificent castle towering above it.

"I'm trying to help these people. What else?"

Sunny sighed.

Then, turning his face away, he asked:

"Hey, have I ever told you about my sister?"

Nephis blinked.

"No. Why bring this up all of the sudden?"

He smiled wistfully.

"I just was reminded of her recently, so I thought I'd share. You see… our parents died when we were little. She got adopted, but I ended up on the streets. Life wasn't really sweet for me. In fact, it was nothing but unsavory and bitter. So, young as I was, I simply imagined that it was the same for her. That's why I got obsessed with the idea of finding her. I had this fantasy in my head, you know, of saving and protecting her. Becoming a family again."

Sunny grimaced.

"But how could a penniless undesirable like me find anyone? You know how the city databases are. Even if they're functional, unsealing anything requires you to be a citizen, and one of a considerable rank, too. However, I was ready to do anything to accomplish my goal. So, I saved up money. A street kid can't earn much, but even then, I saved up as much as I could."

A dark expression appeared on his face.

to eat, I would keep putting away the pathetic amount of credits I had earned through doing all kinds of horrid crap. And after four or five years of this, by the time I was nearly seventeen, I finally had enough

He smiled.

gave all my money to that guy and told him to find my sister. And you know what? He did. One day, about a month after we made the deal, he gave me a piece of paper with an address written on it. So

hesitated for a few moments, then asked in a

happened? Did you meet your

glanced at the

her near the tram terminal. Only at that time, I didn't recognize her. You see, despite my lofty ideas of being her savior, I couldn't even really remember what she looked like. There was

a while, then continued, his

nice district. They actually had the whole house to themselves. Just one family living in it, can you

embarrassing astonishment, and tried to smile. However, he

She had real food, and enough of it

looked at

did

down at his own frail body, his dirty and ragged clothes, the bruises on his bloodied knuckles.

probably didn't even remember that he existed. More than that, returning into her life would not bring anything good to her. He didn't

there on that dark and rainy night, while Sunny was standing in

matter what kind of situation he would find himself in after this, nothing would really compare

a long time, he slowly backed away,

began showing the

the rest

off the unpleasant memories, Sunny

thing that I have ever done. I turned

shook her

finally finding its

me was able to realize that the person he wanted to save didn't need his saving. So please tell

deep

implying that I lied about my intention to help these people? If so,