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.

if I had almost nothing 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

He smiled.

least. So I gave all my money to that guy and

moments,

happened? Did you

glanced at the

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 walking in the same direction

while, then continued, his voice

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

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

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

at

did

frail body, his dirty and ragged clothes, the bruises on his bloodied knuckles. And realized how utterly out of place he was in

and saving 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 only make things

that dark and rainy night, while Sunny was standing in the shadows, something in his

this, nothing would really

he slowly backed away, turned around, and walked into

showing the

rest was

memories, Sunny pretended

I have ever done. I turned around and

slowly shook her

finally finding its way into

his saving. So please tell me,

him, a deep frown appearing on

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