Stella woke up the next morning and his eyes gained a sense of sharpness. He looked out of the window and noticed it should be around 8am.
Stella opened the door to the smell of baked bread. His stomach roared with dissatisfaction, he just shook his head.
Stella walked over to the main house. Where he saw Father Ku sitting on his chair, waiting for him.
"Stella, you better not mess anything up." He warned in a dark tone, while Stella shook in place.
"Yes master." He replied as he never stopped looking at the floor.
"Good, leave me." Father Ku said in a bad mood. He just wanted this filth out of his house.
Stella walked out and Father Ku called over his most relied upon servant, housekeeper We.
"Clean everything that filth stepped on, make sure to give his room a good make-over as well." Father Ku ordered darkly.
"Yes master." Housekeeper We said, as he instantly did as told.
...............
The distance to school from the Fude house was almost 3 hours. The school started at 9am and Father Ku never woke up before 8am to let Stella leave. Essentially, he was late to school whenever he was allowed to go.
Watching a young boy with a dirty face, old and ripped clothes walk across the path made many people turn their heads, whispers and gossips could be heard. While some people saw this enough times so that they wouldn't care.
But some people did care, one such person was someone who was currently looking at an empty building.
"I can assure Mister Guillard that the building is top-notch, the construction was perfectly done and the building has been standing for nearly 40 years!" A sales pitch was trying to give his best shot at selling some land.
"Is that normal?" The sales pitch heard a cold voice beside him, it was the first thing he said all morning! He turned around and his face darkened immediately.
"That... It is, don't you know that is the servant in the Fude household? I don't know why by he sometimes comes past a couple of times a year and then stops. Apparently, he goes to school like this every day but... It's a waste to let a servant go to school. Surely he is just destroying the Fude family status." The sales pitch voice turned antagonistic. It could be said that Stella didn't have a stellar reputation (I'm so sorry.)
But the man didn't seem to have listened to the sales pitch, instead he was looking at a young man who was abused by his master. Look at things with varied interests.
His cold face didn't change but he turned around to face the building. "I'll take it." He said, not even caring about what more the sale pitcher has to say.
Stella kept walking. He eventually walked into the large city area. He came across a homeless shelter... And walked in.
The people all looked at him walking in. They saw a youth with tattered clothing and a dirty face... Definitely one of them.
"Hello, are you here to stay or for a meal?" A young lady asked Stella with a smile.
"Oh? Watch out Miss Fia, this youngster is looking pretty good this time." One of the men shouts jokingly.
Miss Fia puffs from anger. "Huh, this young gentleman needs support and I'll give it." She shouted back at him, not caring that her nice lady image has dissipated.
Stella looked at the woman in front of him. She had a kind appearance and seemed to work quite hard, callous on her hand described that. She also had a slight smile on her face at all times... She seemed to enjoy helping people.
"Stay." Stella said in a raspy tone, with another emotion mixed in...
Miss Fia looked back and couldn't tell how the young man was feeling. "I understand, let me bring you to your area." She said as she led the way.
Stella followed, her appearance earned stares from the other homeless people looking at the new 'fresh meat' While a minority didn't care, most were just nosy people.
"Here you are. Let me tell you the rules first, no fighting, no smoking, no drinking, no drugs, nothing illegal is allowed. You will be fed twice a day at 9am and 4pm. All people get equal amounts but there will be a bonus for people who earn money and give it to the home bank. Lights out at 11pm and you must be awake by 12pm." Miss Fia said in a strict tone that didn't match her dainty image.
"Alright." Stella said as he looked at the 'area' he was given...
Well, it was smaller than the room in the Fude household but at least it had a blanket and somewhere to sit.
Miss Fia smiled. "Of course, it would be nice to know your name so we can mark you down." Miss Fia said, obviously this was a rule.
"Stella." He replied, with no surname.
Miss Fia looked like she was trying to make him say more... "Stella... We need a surname." She said with an awkward pause.
"Disowned." He replied, making Miss Fia suddenly feel pity for the man.
"I-I... Sorry, okay. Stella it is! You can go out until 10pm when the curfew starts. If possible I would like you to not make trouble." Miss Fia said as her mind went off track.
Stella nodded, he looked at his new 'home' and felt that it was an upgrade.
"Miss Fia, do you know the best way to earn money?" He asked, with a slight smile.
For some reason, Miss Fia was dazzled by Stella's eyes and smile. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked to be thinking.
"Ah, I can help you with that young chap." Stella heard a rough voice behind him. He turned around to see a large man with some muscles on him.
"Big M? You're back already?" Miss Fia asked.
The man was known as Big M. Only Miss Fia knew his true name and others just called him Big M. He looked extremely muscular and Stella looked like a twig beside him.
"Sorry to interrupt, I'm another volunteer her. Just call me Big M. Now your name was Stella right? Hmm, you definitely aren't suited for manual labor. Are you any good with your hands?" He sized up the male which was so small next to him you could fit 2 Stella's for 1 Big M...
"I'm alright." Stella replied with a slight smile, his eyes now exuded laziness.
Big M nodded. "Alright follow me then." He said as he went out of the shelter.
...............
"There are many ways to get some money around here. People would kill for someone willing to get their hands dirty. Gardening, painting, someone to clean their car, someone to walk their dogs. Anything, I suggest looking around some neighborhoods and seeing what people do every day. Obviously don't look like you want to steal their house when you're doing it but just make sure to advertise yourself as a bit of a handyman." Big M said, making Stella raise his eyebrow.