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

He smiled.

nobodies to gather information for him. His services weren't cheap, but I trusted him. Or in him, at least. So I gave all my money to that guy and told him to find my sister. And

moments, then asked in

Did you meet your

glanced at the

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 her after

while, then continued, his voice strangely

had the whole house to themselves. Just one family living in it, can you imagine? Well, I guess you can. Anyway… there

own embarrassing astonishment, and tried to

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

looked at him

did

how he just stood there, watching those happy people. How he looked down at his own frail body, his dirty and ragged clothes, the bruises on his

her, he was faced with the simple fact that she… she never really needed him. She 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 have anything pleasant or beneficial to offer. He could

night, while Sunny was standing in the shadows, something in his heart was extinguished forever. Something inside him

find himself in after this,

a long time, he slowly backed away,

showing the first symptoms of being infected by the Nightmare

rest

off the unpleasant memories, Sunny pretended to be carefree

ever done. I turned around and

shook

grinned, the anger finally finding

the person he wanted to save didn't need his saving. So please tell me, Neph, why is it

deep frown

you implying that I lied about my intention to help