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.

of horrid crap. And after

He smiled.

and told him to find my sister. And

few moments, then

Did you meet

rubbed his face, glanced at

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 this girl, around twelve years old, wearing a tidy school uniform. She was

for a while, then

was already dark. I think it was raining. The house was situated in a really nice district. They actually had the whole house to themselves. Just one family living in it, can you imagine?

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

a while. She had parents who loved her and treated her well. She had real food, and enough

looked at him

what 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

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

night, while Sunny was standing

find himself in after this, nothing would really compare to the darkness he felt

a long time, he slowly backed away, turned around, and

showing the first symptoms of

rest

the unpleasant memories, Sunny pretended to

the only selfless thing that I have ever done. I turned around and went

shook

grinned, the anger finally finding its way into his

saving. So please tell me, Neph,

a deep frown appearing on

intention to help