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.

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

He smiled.

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

hesitated for a few moments, then asked

happened? Did you meet your

rubbed his face, glanced at the

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 silent for a while, then

can you imagine? Well, I guess you can. Anyway… there was even a lawn. And a window… a big window that shined light outside. Watching them through that window was

it, his own embarrassing

real food, and enough of it to never go hungry. She had pretty clothes

looked at him and

did you

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

she… she never really needed him. She probably didn't even remember that he existed. More than that, returning into her

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

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

motionless for a long time, he slowly backed away, turned around, and walked into

the

rest was

memories, Sunny pretended to be

done. I turned around and went away. Do you know

shook

the anger finally finding its

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

at him, a deep frown appearing on her

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