As the sun was setting, the seemingly lifeless body of a teenage could be seen laying on the ground in an alleyway.
He had just finished his last task for the day and was about to go to the market to get something to eat. But his body frail underfed body had grown tired from being over worked and lifting more that he could handle began shake profusely before he eventually collapsed from fatigue and hunger.
Victor had known the food stall was going to close soon and he didn't want to go hungry go the third time this week. While he had thought about delivering the two boxes of herb after getting something to eat, in the end chose not to. He was told that the herb boxes needed to be delivered soon as possible or he would spend the next month as a living bullseye for the Slade clan's archers.
In Greystone city, orphans and slaves were little more than disposable tools to be used and thrown away when they have outlived there usefulness. This is something he discovered soon after his mother died and he was taken in by them. But although he hated the way they treated him, he had no way power which also meant he had no voice.
For what seemed like hours he lay there, slowly mustering what little strength he had. By the time he was able to stand the the the sun had finished setting which also meant that the sandwich shop had already closed. Upon realizing this, he began to sluggishly walk back to the old rundown apartment he now called home which was located on the south side of Greystone city.
Greystone was divided into four districts. First there is the southern commoners district where the young protagonists live, a place overrun by gangs. Second there was the northern noble district. Third there was Eastern district run by the merchants association that had a hand in everything related to trade. Lastly there was the Western military district where the city guards were trained and lived with there families.
When he arrived at the house, there was man standing outside. The mysterious man who stood at 5'8 was wearing a raven black hooded cloak that fluttered the wind, revealing his muscular build. As Victor approached him, he pulls back his hood to reveal a strong jawed middle aged man. Between his small deep blue eyes was pointed red nose that together with his expressionless face reminded Victor of how the nobles and merchants would often gaze at him and the other workers with contempt.
Stopping in front of the man he asked in low tired voice, "Who are you and what do you want?"
" My name is Hans and I mean you no harm. I am here to thank you for aiding my father a month ago or he may have died in this God forsaken place", he says while cracking a warm and sincere smile than had Victor reminiscing about his mother before snapping back to reality.
After thinking over what the stranger word, he suddenly remembers that he had taken a bloodied old man to a physician a month earlier. One morning, he was on his way to the Moonlight herb garden to work, he started to pickup on the smell of blood in the air. When he went to investigate he came across an old man laying in a pool of his own blood in an alleyway. Upon closer inspection he discovers that the old man had been stabbed multiple. After using the old mans clothes temporary bandages, he carried his to the nearest physician. After hours of waiting, he chose only to leave when the old man was in a stable condition. He never expected to see the man again let alone meeting and being thanked by his son.
"Oh you're his son? I hope he is alive and well because I lose half of my pay after saving him", he said tiredly as he walk towards the door.
Hans was shocked at how frail and sickly looking the young man was. He was so underfed that his collar bone were visible. His should length black hair which had a patch of grey from being stressed was in despite need of washing. But what worried him the most was the near hopelessness and self loathing in the youths grey eyes. Something he was all too familiar with.
"I can't imagine what you've been through to have ended up in such a sorry state. But I owe you my father's life so the least I could do is try to help you however possible", he replied as memories of his own troubled youth began to fill his head.
Hans was raised to be a man of honour who always repays his debts, so knowing what the child before him had done for his father he felt obligated to help this clearly struggling youth. During his investigation into the young mans circumstances, he had discovered just how many promising youths had fallen into the pits of despair after being deceived the local powers. In his eyes, while the hatred in the boys eyes was troubling, leaving the future of the kingdom in the hands of such morally bankrupt nobles and merchant was no different from feeding a sick man poison. It would only serve hasten his death.
Victor was opening he mouth to speak when he suddenly collapsed onto the floor. Hans reacted so quickly that any normal person who saw his would think he had teleported. Upon checking the Victors pulse, he was relieved that the boy had only fainted due to fatigue and a mild fever. Looking at the boy as he lay on the ground peacefully, a sense of responsibility began to fill his heart.
"I originally wanted to give you some money as thanks for saving my father but after seeing you I realize need more that financial support. You need more that money", he said warmly as he picked up the young man before entering the old house.
Upon entering the small abode, Hans was surprised by how clean it was.