{Whilst strolling across town I saw something at the corner of my eye, a boy who looked as if he hadn't even reached the age of 7, he wore a ragged and oversized tunic, he sat alone in an alley and it seemed like he was protecting something...usually I'd just pass by, but this time it felt like I was drawn to him, I left the crowd and approached him.
As I walked closer to him a rotting stench pierced my nose, I noticed a tail behind the boy's back and as I looked closer it became apparent that he was hiding an animal.
I approached the boy close enough for him to hear me speak yet far enough for the stench to be bearable, he glared at me, I stood there for a while before I finally said something.}
"Kid, what's your name?"
{He stayed silent of course, it was a weird question considering we didn't know each other, and after waiting for his answer for what felt like an eternity I left, I went to buy some food for him at a local bakery, he seemed hungry and I had money to spare so-}
-----
'The strange man finally left hm? He'll definitely come back and try to sell me off to a slave market...fucking nobles.'
The boy thought as his vision blurred and his stomach growled, bugs gathered around the animal he hid as they slowly ate it's carcass.
'I haven't eaten for days cause of this guy...and now he just dies out of nowhere? I'll reunite with him soon though...'
{I came back to the boy after buying a bag full of bread and gave it to him, and upon taking a closer look at him, he was in a much worse condition than I thought, I could visibly see his ribs and cheekbones.
"Do you want to come with me? I promise I'll take care of you."
I asked him and again, he glared at me but this time his eyes were not as fierce as before, and once again he didn't answer my question, he simply continued to eat as if it was his last day.}
"Okay, you can answer me after you finish eating."
{I stood there and leaned against the wall, and as I glanced towards the crowd of people coming and going I realized just how rotten people truly were, most of them didn't even spare a glance to the boy, some simply laughed as they saw him and others glared at him.
As I looked back at the boy he already almost finished the bag of bread I gave him, back then his appetite reminded me of a wild animal...but, I couldn't bear to see such a young kid suffer in the streets.}
"Mister, If I come with you will I finally be able to leave this hellish place?"
{I was startled yet relieved, the boy finally said something.}
"I can't guarantee that, there will be some times when being with me will be worse than this place, but I'll try my best and raise you as if you were my own son."
{I wondered what made the boy changed his mind so quickly, was it the food I gave him? Was it because he saw me as his last hope? Or is it because he wanted to use me to get out of the streets? it didn't matter to me back then, I simply took him due to pity—}
The man stood up from his chair as he approached a window behind to gaze at the garden from his office.
'It's been a few days since I took that kid in, yet he still acts coldly towards me...'
And as the man was lost in his thoughts a knock was heard from the door.
"S-sir, may I come in?"
A nervous voice was heard from beyond the door.
Whilst still facing the window he answered—
"Yes, come in."
A seemingly timid man entered as he held a binder by his chest, his eyes were pointed towards the floor.
He glanced at the man's desk— noticing the open book he became curious as to what it was.
But suddenly the man hurriedly closed it.
"That's a work in progress, anyways what were you here for?"
Whilst his eyes were still locked into the floor he answered.
"It's...about the kid you took in, Sir Blause...he had a fight with one of your apprentices."
Blause sighed as he walked towards the door.
"Lead the way."
As the man was leading Blause to where they were, a sudden thud was heard close by, and as they rushed towards the sound they saw the boy on the ground whilst the apprentice stood in front of him.
Thankfully they arrived there in time, possible preventing a major incident to occur.
Blause gripped his apprentice's shoulder tightly as he asked.
"What do you think you're doing?"
His voice rasped, and the apprenticefelt a cold gaze behind him.
Startled, his apprentice nervously answered.
"Sir, I coincidentally saw him playing with one of your treasured flowers and I may have overreacted..."
The boy stood up from where he was and fixed his clothes as he approached blause
"I was just admiring it, but this fucker suddenly pushed me causing the pot to fall and break and then blamed it on me."
He said as he averted his eyes at the apprentice with a slight arrogant smirk.
Blause sighed— he approached the boy and introduced him to his apprentice.
"His name is Andrei Astraea, a new member of my family and an apprentice knight of mine."
Hearing these words the apprentice was visible shocked— his eyes widened.
He had worked so hard to the point where he spilled blood, sweat, and tears and yet was only able to become an apprentice knight.
That sentence was simply outrageous, at first he thought his master was joking but the look on his face said the opposite— he was in utter disbelief.
"Okay."
He said before turning around and going back to his quarters.
'Thankfully he wasn't late... otherwise I would've gotten injured cause of that brainless kid.'
Andrei thought as he glanced at his master.
To Be Continued