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.

kinds of horrid crap. And after four or five years of this, by the time I

He smiled.

my money to that guy and told him to find my sister. And

a few moments, then asked in

happened? Did you meet your

glanced

even really remember what she looked like. There was this girl, around twelve years old, wearing a tidy school uniform. She was walking in the same direction as me. I only realized that it was

while, then continued, his

one family living in it, can you imagine? Well, I guess you can. Anyway… there was even a lawn. And a window… a big window that shined light

of it, his own embarrassing astonishment, and tried to smile. However,

just outside the edge of that light, I observed her family for a while. She had parents who loved her and treated her well. She had real food, and enough of it to never go hungry. She had pretty clothes and expensive textbooks. She even had cute younger siblings. They were all smiling, laughing, and having a great

at him

what did you

those happy people. How he looked down at his own frail body, his dirty and ragged clothes, the bruises on his bloodied knuckles.

was faced with the simple fact that she… she never really needed him. She probably didn't even remember that he existed. More than

and rainy night, while Sunny

himself in after this, nothing would really compare to

long time, he slowly backed away, turned

began showing the first symptoms

rest was

the unpleasant memories, Sunny pretended to be carefree

I have ever done.

slowly shook her

finally finding its way into

save didn't need his saving. So please tell me, Neph, why is it that you, with all your intelligence and clarity, can't seem to do the

stared at him, a deep

my intention to help these people? If so,