After minutes of waiting, the guard didn't show up. Sapphire breathed a sigh of relief. He checked on Kira, ensuring she was okay, then cautiously emerged from their hiding spot. He scanned the surrounding streets once more, searching for any nearby guards. Seeing none, he returned to Kira.
Peering into the darkness, he called out, "The coast is clear, you can come out now. Don't be scared." He stretched out his hand.
After a few moments of hesitation, Kira crept out of the hiding spot. As she reached for Sapphire's outstretched hand, her eyes finally met his face, taking in its features. He had beautiful silver eyes that sparkled, framed by his short, messy flaming red hair, giving off a gentle smile that failed to mask his jovial personality.
Kira took hold of Sapphire's hand, and he gently dragged her out of the alley, onto the bustling streets. The bright light shone on their faces as they merged with the crowd.
Kira's eyes widened as the streets overwhelmed her. Fear gripped her, causing her to shrink into herself. Noticing her withdrawal, Sapphire gave her hand a light squeeze.
"It's okay, I'm here," he smiled reassuringly, though hints of concern flickered in his eyes.
Kira could sense his effort to calm her. His words worked, and she stopped shrinking in fear, but her grip on his hand remained firm.
As they walked, her stomach grumbled loudly, drawing Sapphire's attention. "Hey, are you hungry?" he asked.
Kira nodded, her eyes fixed on a vendor conjuring fire to smoke some squid. Sapphire chuckled and led her to the vendor.
"Excuse me, sir, how much is your smoked squid?" Sapphire asked.
"It costs one Vitali, kid," the vendor replied.
Sapphire reached into his pockets and brought out a coin featuring vibrant swirling shapes formed from forest leaves with gold vines, evoking the dynamic flow of life energy. The coin's center had a subtle green undertone.
Receiving the coin, the vendor handed Sapphire a stick of smoked squid. Sapphire offered it to Kira, who devoured it eagerly.
Realizing she was the only one eating, Kira extended the remaining half of the smoked squid to Sapphire.
"Hmm? You don't want any more?" Sapphire asked.
Kira shook her head and pointed the squid at him again. Sapphire furrowed his brow in confusion.
"For me?" he asked.
Kira nodded quickly.
Surprised, Sapphire accepted the squid, flashing a warm smile at her. This caught Kira off guard, mesmerizing her.
"Come on, let's go catch up with my friends. They're great, and we have a hideout," Sapphire chatted away, explaining how his friends would accept her and how great the hideout was – now her new home.
After navigating complicated tunnels, they finally arrived at an abandoned house. The location seemed cut off from the rest of the town, surrounded by endless grass and a winding sand path leading to the entrance.
The house stood tall, its stone façade weathered to a soft, silvery gray, with ivy crawling up the walls as if reclaiming the structure for nature. An air of gentle decay enveloped it, hinting at a patient wait for the return of its former life.the roof, though still intact, showed signs of wear, with missing tiles and overgrown moss.
As they approached the house, the air seemed to shift. Gusts of wind blew from different directions, and the entrance door creaked open, as if welcoming them.
Sapphire walked toward the house, but suddenly, a silver-haired boy tackled him, sending him flying. Kira's hand slipped from his grasp. She stared at her empty hand, confused, before turning to see the boy hugging Sapphire, who rubbed his head, grinning.
"Sapphire, you're back!" the silver-haired boy exclaimed, like a hyperactive puppy reunited with its master.
Sapphire stopped rubbing his head and smiled. "Yeah, we're back. Miss me?" He patted the silver-haired boy's back.
"Sure thing! I thought you wouldn't come, that you got caught," the silver-haired boy replied.
"Nah, that won't happen," Sapphire said.
Just as he was about to ask about the others, the door flew open again. Two boys of equal height stood at the entrance, taking time to digest the situation.
"Hey, guys!" Sapphire called out.
The boys rushed toward him, and they all hugged.
Kira, forgotten in the reunion, stood afar, watching the exchange without uttering a word.
"Who is this?" one of the boys asked, his bulging eyes fixed on Kira.
Kira felt her breath catch in her throat, leaving her speechless and trembling with fear.
Sapphire walked over to her, noticing her distress. "Hey, you're scaring her," he said.
The boy stepped back, confused. "How did I do that?"
Sapphire positioned himself between Kira and the boy. "Give her some space; she's already shaking."
The silver-haired boy approached Kira, his face alight with a warm smile. "Hi there!"
As the silver-haired boy drew closer, Kira's anxiety spiked. She squeezed Sapphire's shirt, her grip tightening.
Sapphire's attention snapped back to her. "Hey, give her some space; she's already shaking," he said gently, stepping between Kira and the silver-haired boy.
The room fell silent, with all eyes on Kira. The questions began:
"What's her name?"
"Why did you bring her here?"
The inquiries piled up, leaving Sapphire uncertain about which to answer first.
"Let's hold off on the questions for now," Sapphire suggested, his voice calm and reassuring. "Why don't we enter, settle down, and get comfortable first? We can catch up and discuss everything later, hmm?"
He guided Kira toward the interior of the house, subtly shielding her from the curious gazes.