The warmth of the daylight met Shinku as he stepped out of the streets of Arak'tia. It was another day, Slark and Apex temporarily left the city for an important deal but promised Shinku that they would return after their business was settled.
"Help! Somebody stop that thief!" As Shinku turned a corner, the yell of a man stood out of every voice that filled the streets. A stranger, who held a paper bag and dressed in rag-like clothes, ran past him, which caused him to step back. The runner's face was concealed by a hood but somehow, Shinku could feel some sort of connection with the culprit. A huge man ran after the stranger, obviously out of shape to keep up, yet determined enough to keep on running.
None of the bystanders seemed to care enough to respond to the victim's plea. Fear was evident among most of the Arak'tians around, surprisingly for a mere lone thief. Some just clustered in gossip while the others went back inside each of their homes. Shinku had the urge to step into the shadows and catch the thief himself however, his instinct dictated him to simply observe further.
Fortunately enough, an Arak'tian police leaped out of nowhere and pinned the culprit to the ground. The stranger tried to struggle for a while but the officer was just too strong for the former to break free. The paper bag that the thief was holding fell to the ground, with some bread coming out of it.
"You are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you!" Another officer came out of a corner and lectured, with his gun pointed at the detained. It wasn't that long when the officer who first caught the thief was able to bind the stranger with handcuffs.
"Pardon me please! I'm really hungry and got nothing at all to buy for food! My home was destroyed and I wasn't able to save anything except my own life." The captured stranger begged, with a voice that appeared to be from that of a female person. As the guard removed the hood at their suspect, they discovered the face of a fair skinned lady around early 20s of age.
"Pay for that bread or I'll have you rotten in prison!" The large man who was running after the thief finally caught up, heaved, then yelled at her in anger. For some reason, the man decided to stay a few feet away from the apprehended thief.
"Were you the one that called for help?" One of the officers approached the newcomer, then pulled up what appeared to be a recording device.
"That bastard snatched those bread from my store!" The man retorted, his temper flaring up like an explosive. "That good for nothing thief! I want her imprisoned for the rest of her life!"
"So we have a case of petty theft. Anyway, just calm down sir. We'll make sure she'll…"
"How much does...she owe you?" Shinku suddenly interjected, his hands pulling up a pouch where his coins were contained.
"Errr 25 coins for those breads." The accuser responded, his voice switching to a rather calmer tone. His eyes then shifted to the coins that the interfering young man pulled out.
"Here. Take these." Shinku placed a couple of coins on the large man's open palm, revealing an amount even greater than what man demanded. "And I apologize on...her behalf."
"Jeez, you people are pathetic!" Seemingly satisfied, the large man left the area, securing the coins to his pocket. He walked away, mumbling some words, hardly audible for Shinku and the rest to understand.
"And officers, I would like to apologize for what my sister did. I assure you that she'd not be involved in any trouble from here on." Shinku bowed in apology, vouching for the lady that was being held by the officers.
"Well, I guess everything's been settled anyway. Although if she does that again, we'd have no choice but to turn her in!" The officer responded then turned to his companion. "Alright free her up. Our job here is done for now."
"That's understood. My utmost thanks for you, kind sirs." Another bow of respect to the officer he was originally conversing with, then to the other one who clicked the handcuff open for their captive. The lady quickly picked the paper bag along with the bread that lay on the concrete.
"Ah don't mention it. Just make sure that she doesn't get into trouble again next time." The officer warned, placing the recording device back to a small bag, strapped on his belt. The other officer stood back on his feet, wiping dirt off his uniform.
"We'll keep that in mind." Shinku acknowledged, bowing yet again, with the officers bowing in response before turning around to leave the two.
"Thank you very much! I really have no choice, I haven't eaten anything since yesterday and I've got nothing else with me." The lady finally spoke, her head bowed and her body still seated on the ground.
"I understand. Well then, come with me." Shinku invited, extending his hand to offer help to the lady.
"What? Why should I go anywhere with you?" The lady retorted, her hand clasped at the pack of bread, which she pressed tightly on her chest. She suddenly faced the young man, surprised at his untimely offer. "I do appreciate your help, but I don't think I can simply go with a stranger."
"Of course. Well, you said you haven't eaten since yesterday. I just thought that bread wouldn't suffice. I know a good place for breakfast but first, we'd have to do something about those clothes of yours." Shinku retracted his hand, understanding the lady's anxiety. "Oh and my name is Trey. Perhaps that would help." As paradoxical as it may seem, Shinku himself had to give the lady a pseudonym in an attempt to gain her trust.
"Well, I'll be on my way though you may follow me if you want…" Hoping that the lady would follow, Shinku turned around and went ahead. For a moment, the lady was trapped in ambivalence whether to listen to the stranger's offer or to simply turn around and run. Though still hesitant, the lady nevertheless stood up and decided to come after the young man. After all, he did save her from ending up in prison. She held tight to the paper bag that packed the stolen breads, uncertain of where her savior would lead her to.
---
"So, what is it that you really want?" After walking a couple of steps, the lady suddenly spoke, her voice a bit soft yet stern enough to emphasize a point. She then stopped walking, glancing around her to make sure there were still at least plenty of people surrounding them.
"I already told you. I only wanted to help." Shinku stopped as well, not to mimic the lady as he wasn't aware of the latter's action but to turn around and face his companion. "Though I understand where you are coming from. I wouldn't hurt you, I swear. It may be hard for you to believe but I know you are already hurting. When you said your home was destroyed, I thought perhaps..."
Well?" The lady responded, suddenly intrigued by the young man's phrase.
"I don't think that actually matters as of yet. Right now, I just want to assure you that I am here to help. And I do mean it. Don't worry I would not take you anywhere dangerous and here, I'll give you distance so you can run away whenever you feel like you are unsafe." Shinku decided to step back farther away from the lady. "So then come on, I actually would like to hear more from you." With that, the young man turned around, then went forward.
---
"Uhmm...My name's Elise." The lady spoke timidly, breaking the long silence from the last conversation they had. Elise, as she had her name introduced, walked behind Shinku, uneasy to start any sort of interaction nevertheless, she did start one hoping to break the wall of tension between them.
"What do you think of this store?" Instead of responding to the lady's introduction however, Shinku stopped by a clothes boutique somewhere at the shopping district of Arak'tia
"Whatever you like really. I..."
"Come on then." The young man invited yet nonchalantly walked into the store, leaving his companion behind. The lady wanted to come after Shinku however, the scornful gaze of the staff inside the shop prevented her from taking even a single step forward. Adding to her disappointment were murmurings of the bystanders around, which were obviously directed at her.
"Uhmmm you don't like it here then?" Shinku walked back, realizing that his companion was no longer behind.
"Well Trey, if you're worried that much about what I am wearing, I can actually get changed. I only picked this up somewhere so I can…" Elise stopped, realizing how the words she was about to say could garner more mockery towards her. "Anyway, Just wait here, I remember this place somehow, I'll be right back." With her head bowed, the lady stomped forward then disappeared at a corner.
Shinku decided to stay, tapping his shadow art to track the lady's movement. He could feel the dismay in the lady's aura, and noticing how the others stared at her, he understood why. The young man himself began to feel disappointment at how people could be so discriminative wherever he went. Somehow though, he felt as if he was part of the lady's heartache, being insensitive enough to emphasize her appearance.
It wasn't that long when the lady did come back, now wearing a white long sleeve shirt, worn under what looked like a russet colored leather corset, laced with white vignette linings. "Well I guess, I can go with this." The lady remarked, her head bowed to the ground.
"Yes, that would be fine. Come on." Shinku responded, then walked past the lady knowing that she would be more comfortable if he kept his distance.
Without saying another word, the lady decided to follow suit, while more concerned of simply escaping the mockery of the people around her.
It took them a couple of turns before arriving at what appeared to be a fancy diner. Shinku entered, with Elise quickly tailing behind. The lady hesitated for a moment before finally stepping inside after his savior. They quickly settled down at a seat near the window before Shinku left the lady again for their order.
---
Shinku simply stared as the lady in front of him munched over her meal. Her timidity and finesse seemed to have left her somewhere, while at the dining table. Realizing her companion's awkward gaze however, she began to feel embarrassed causing her to be conscious with her table etiquette. "Uhmmm aren't you going to eat as well?" The lady inquired, as she placed her spoon on the plate.
"Oh don't mind me. I'm just glad that you are enjoying your meal." Shinku responded, giving off a wry smile that seemed to have put the lady in a more awkward state.
"So why did you decide to save me?" The lady continued, picking up a table napkin to wipe some food residue off her lips.
The man paused for a moment before responding to the lady's inquiry. "Well, you needed saving and the moment I heard your home was destroyed, I…" The young man paused again, seemingly unable to continue his speech. Mustering some courage however, he was able to continue. "Well, I don't know if I should be telling you this but did you know that I witnessed my family's death? Or to be more exact, I saw how they were murdered right before my eyes."
Elise's eyes suddenly grew wide, horrified at her companion's revelation. "I...I'm sorry to hear that Trey. I don't know you…"
"That's ok. I just thought that maybe by telling that, I can reassure you that I do understand how you feel." Shinku smiled, finally a genuine one, somehow breaking the lady's doubt.
"That was awful and what happened?" The lady inquired, her curiosity tapped at Shinku's story.
"I would like to tell you that but maybe I'd have you go first."
"Well, I really don't know how to start. I...my parents I don't know where they are right now. We got separated from all the chaos. It was that night, everything about that night was horrible. We were all having a good time, laughing and sharing about how each of our days went before coming to bed. It was all good until the sound of the alarms startled all of us. People screamed and outside, we could see everyone running. Explosions can be heard everywhere and the sound of bullets firing. We quickly headed out at the command of an officer who managed the evacuation. I have no idea of what's going on until they appeared, grey skinned beasts, no demons they definitely are demons. They swarmed towards us devouring all they could touch. We could only run in terror and I …" The lady's hands started to shake in terror, her teeth clattering as she narrated her experience back at her homeland.
As the lady spoke, the vision of the time before the attack of his clan flashed before Shinku's mind. His heart ached, reliving the memories of how their joyful feast was turned into the horrendous murder of his people. It was also as the lady narrated, they were having the best times of their lives or so they thought. That was until the same tragedy befell the town that Shinku once called home. Marauders invaded their village, murdering everyone of them. It was just out of luck that Shinku was able to escape.
"...and there I was, squashed between strangers inside a ship not knowing where the destination was. I tried calling out for my parents but none of them answered. I could only hear the cries of the others who were as fearful as I am." Elise went on, as droplets of tears started to escape the edge of her eyes. "I don't know where my family ended up. I don't even know if they're still alive." Her long held emotion finally burst into a lament, tears flooding towards the table beneath.
Shinku could only stay quiet, as he listened to his companion's mourning. He wanted to extend his hand in comfort but knowing the lady's doubt about him, he simply continued his empathic stare at Elise.
"So what do you plan on doing from here on?" Shinku finally decided to speak up, hoping that he could somehow ease the lady's heartache.
"I don't know, well I would really like to know where my parents are. And I hope they're still alive."
"I can help you look for your parents if you want."
"Oh no you don't have to do that. I don't even know where to start." The lady gradually stopped sobbing, pulling a handkerchief out of her pocket to wipe her tears off. "Besides, you have done enough, no actually more than enough of what you should. And thank you!" Elise faced her companion, with a smile painted across her face.
"Well, you do live a dangerous life right now. I mean I understand that you'd have to go on living but…" Shinku suddenly stopped, realizing how hypocritical his words were. "I...just can't imagine how you would be after this."
"Thank you for the thought. I really do appreciate it. Well maybe you can help me find a job." The trace of sorrow has now left the lady's face, replacing it with the sudden glow of delight.
"Uhmm well, I could accompany you to look for one." Shinku was suddenly taken aback, realizing that he earned his wage through dangerous means.
"That'll do. And thank you for the meal. I guess I'll see you around." With that, the lady left the young man at the table. Shinku decided to call the waiter for his bill, but stayed for a while after having it paid. His thought was still locked at Elise along with the memories of his own town. He knew how to lose a home and bound at his sworn oath to his family, he felt as if helping people that shared the same fate was part of his quest for vengeance.