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.

amount of credits I had earned through doing all kinds of horrid crap. And

He smiled.

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 you know what? He did. One day, about a month after we made the deal, he gave me a piece of paper with an address written on it. So I went

hesitated for a few moments, then asked in a quiet

happened? Did

face, glanced at the sky, and

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,

a while, then continued, his

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 outside. Watching them through that window

own embarrassing

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

looked at him

did

there, watching those happy people. How he looked down at his own frail body, his dirty

that she… she never really needed him. She probably didn't even remember that

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

in after this, nothing would really compare to the darkness he felt in that single

remaining motionless for a long time, he slowly backed

after that, he began showing the first symptoms of being infected

rest

memories, Sunny pretended to be

have ever done. I turned around and went away.

slowly shook

grinned, the anger finally finding its way into

save didn't need his saving. So please tell me, Neph, why is it that you,

deep frown appearing on her

I lied about my intention to help these