The meal was simple yet satisfying. Freshly baked bread, warm tea. Ryojin took small, shy bites, unsure of how much he should eat.
"Don't be shy, Rio." Trina's voice was lighthearted as she smiled at him. "You can ask for more, you know. We still have plenty."
Before he could respond, Mister Kenny chuckled, placing more slices onto Ryojin's plate. "Yeah, don't hold back, young man."
Ryojin hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Thank you," he said simply before continuing his meal.
Mister Kenny then turned his attention to Kina. "How's the business going?" he asked, his sharp eyes watching her closely. "Has it been profitable?"
Kina stiffened, her fingers tensing around the cup in her hands. "Yeah… yeah," she answered quickly, avoiding his gaze. "A customer took a whole box of tomatoes yesterday. They promised to pay today."
Mister Kenny sighed, nodding in approval. "That's great. I knew you could do it." He paused for a moment before adding, "We all appreciate what you do, Kina." His eyes flickered toward the children at the table. "You take care of these kids like they're your own."
Trina grinned, lifting her hand high. "Yeah! She's like a superhero!"
"No, more like a goddess," a boy in a wheelchair added, his admiration clear in his voice.
The girl sitting beside Kina raised her cup with a bright smile. "Cheers to Kina, our goddess!"
Laughter erupted around the table as everyone lifted their cups in unison. Even Ryojin and Mister Kenny joined in.
"Cheers to Kina!" they all echoed, their voices filled with genuine warmth.
As Ryojin lowered his cup, his sharp gaze caught Kina's expression. Her head was bowed slightly, but it wasn't out of shyness. There was something else—a shadow of guilt flickering across her features. She forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
The meal soon ended, and the children began collecting the plates. Mister Kenny stood, stretching slightly before looking at Ryojin. "Good luck in finding your friend," he said sincerely. Then, he turned to Kina. "And I wish you success with your business."
As he walked out, Trina wrapped her arms around Ryojin in a quick hug. "I hope you find your friend."
Ryojin hesitated for a brief second before nodding. "Me too."
Now, only he and Kina remained at the table.
"I'm heading out," Kina said, standing up and brushing off her dress. "Have a good day."
"Wait." Ryojin's voice was quieter this time. "Can I come with you?"
Kina blinked in surprise. "Come with me?"
He lowered his gaze. "I have nowhere else to go for the day… and I'd like to help. In any way I can."
A thoughtful silence stretched between them before Kina finally gave a small smile. "Well… I suppose I could use an extra pair of hands. Those tomato boxes aren't going to carry themselves."
"I'll do it," Ryojin said immediately, standing up. "Where are they?"
Kina chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You seem a little too eager for manual labor. Come on, they're outside."
The moment they stepped outside, the bright sunlight forced Ryojin to squint. Now that he could see the area properly, he took in his surroundings. The houses lining the street, orphanage grounds, were worn-down, built from wood that had clearly not seen better days. Children ran around, their laughter filling the air despite the hardships evident on their faces. Some were missing limbs, others bore scars from severe burns.
Kina followed his gaze, her voice turning somber. "Yeah… it was brutal," she murmured. "The war left a lot of us broken. But we keep moving forward… supporting each other."
Ryojin remained silent, his chest tightening as he watched the children play.
"Come on," Kina nudged his shoulder gently, breaking him from his thoughts. She gestured toward four wooden crates stacked nearby. "Those are the boxes."
Without hesitation, Ryojin strode over and lifted all four boxes at once with ease.
"Whoa!" One of the younger girls gasped, eyes wide in astonishment. "This guy is super strong!"
"I told you Kina brought home a strong guy!" A boy exclaimed, nudging his friend. "You didn't believe me!"
"I believe you now," the girl admitted, still staring at Ryojin in awe. "You're Rio, right?"
"Yes," Ryojin replied simply.
The girl giggled. "Well, I'm Deena."
"Nice to meet you, Deena." He nodded before turning back toward Kina.
Deena whispered something excitedly to her friends before they all ran off, glancing back at Ryojin with admiration.
"Let's get moving," Ryojin suggested.
"You're right." Kina ran a hand through her hair, smiling faintly. "As they say, time lost is never recovered."
Leaving the orphanage behind, they made their way into the heart of the kingdom. The streets were crowded, but it was a different kind of bustling—one that reeked of desperation. People moved about sluggishly, their faces hollow, their clothes ragged. Beggars sat along the pathways, hands outstretched, murmuring prayers for spare coins.
Kina sighed. "The kids seem to like you."
Ryojin glanced at her. "Do they? Isn't that just how children act?"
She shook her head. "No, I think they genuinely like you. And… even though I don't know much about you yet, I think you're a good person."
A good person.
Ryojin's steps slowed slightly. Was he? He wasn't sure anymore. He wasn't evil, but he couldn't say he was good either. So many had suffered because of the Abyssal Clans—and because of him. Yet they had all justified it as being for the greater good. But was it really?
The lines blurred, twisting into a gray abyss of morality. He could still remember the faces of those he had harmed, their cries echoing in his mind. Had their sacrifices been worth making, or were they just victims of his own uncertainty?
Kina noticed his silence. "Are you okay?" she asked softly. "You always seem lost in thought."
He blinked, forcing himself back to the present. "I'm fine," he muttered, though his voice felt hollow even to himself.
Kina studied him for a moment but didn't press further. Instead, they continued walking, their footsteps echoing in the quiet despair of the kingdom.