Hunger. It was the only thing he knew would never abandon him. Kagu stumbled through the slums, partaking in a desperate search for food. This feeling was nothing foreign to him, when people saw his disheveled appearance they would do naught but sneer at him. Being a meager six years old, scavenging for food was no easy task. Kagu had lived in an orphanage since he was but a newborn, being found laying out front in a cradle. The matron of the humble orphanage had taken him in, and done the best she could. He couldn't remember much of his early life, as nothing particularly interesting had happened.
As he began to learn to speak, he learned that the woman who took him in was named Lily. She was extremely generous, doing the best she could to give a humble yet comforting upbringing to her children. Kagu had grown to appreciate her, while she wasn't his mother he appreciated everything she did. Unfortunately, the upbringing that he was expecting would unfortunately be short lived. The Count over their humble orphanage had his eye on Lily as a potential concubine, and when the time came he ultimately took her away, launching the only place Kagu every considered home into disarray. No one stepped in to take her place, and the children began preying on each other for survival. Forced to leave, Kagu began living his life on the streets, doing whatever it took took to live another day.
"Hey boy, what are you doing?", shouted a stranger.
While daydreaming, Kagu had begun to stand still. Startled, he started to quicly turn around and run in the opposite direction, however he ran into an invisible wall. He noticed that the man had his hand raised, and must have created a barrier to keep him from running away.
"You look hungry kid, want some food?" the man said as he walked toward Kagu and began to kneel. "If you want I can take you back to my house and we can try and get you something to eat."
Terrified, Kagu started backing away. "I-I, I don't think that's a good idea, sir. I have to go back to my family right about now," he lied. The man had a dangerous aura, he was covered in the brilliant sparks of light that Kagu could see since birth. It didn't take long for him to realize that the more sparks that people attracted, the more powerful their presence felt.
"Ah son, you don't have to lie. You look like you haven't eaten in weeks, I promise I'll take care of you. Trust me, I would never hurt you," the man said with an amiable smile.
Distrust was evident in Kagu's expression, but he let his hunger get the better of him. It had been so long since he'd eaten that he felt he was about to pass out from starvation. Kagu took the man's outsretched hand, and walked with him through the streets. They stopped at one of the food stalls and the man purchased food for Kagu, handing it to him after paying.
"So what's your name, bud?", he said, "I'm Triton, a noble in these lands."
"My name is Kagu," he replied.
"Ah, a very strong name, I'm sure your parents put a lot of thought into that. Come, let's go back to my estate and we'll get you cleaned up, God knows you need it," Triton remarked.
Embarassed yet grateful for the good will he had been shown thus far, the young boy decided to follow Triton's disappearing figure through the streets.
After several minutes of walking, Kagu noticed the top of a large mansion becoming closer the further they traveled. Paying close attention to their surroundings, it became apparent that this was a very wealthy part of town. The sneers and looks of diapproval when people saw his dreadful clothing did not pass unnoticed, and Kagu began slumping his shoulders and leaning forward to appear less noticeable.
"We're here!" Triton shouted in front of a large black gate, spinning around and spreading his arms wide, "Welcome to my humble abode."
Kagu looked up in awe, he had never seen such a beautiful place in his life. There were fountains, lush greenery leading up to the estate. There were caretakers all over the place, but what really stood out was the he was very obviously not the only child that Triton had brought in. There multiple kids, seemingly in the same position as him, being shown the estate by butlers and maids alike.
"Come on in, we'll get you cleaned right up. You stink worse than anything I've ever smelt in my life!" Triton said as he emitted a light chuckle.
Not knowing what to say, he began walking toward the front of the mansion, where a man in a suit appeared to be waiting for him.
"You must be the new here. Come, let's get you cleaned up and a change of clothes. I'll show you around a bit after we get you sorted out."
Walking into the grandiose house, Kagu didn't realize that his life would never be the same. He knew the world cruel, but it would soon bare it's fangs in a manner that would change his life, and the outcome of the world in a manner that no one could have anticipated.