The same bright smile she remembers from thirty years ago. Even if the amber-eyes young man from that time is now an old man that gives the feeling of a kind grandpa.
She can't forget, and she doesn't allow herself to forget. The chaos he caused, the rivers of blood he provoked, the gentle laugh he did when he joked about using the corpses as coal for the industries back then to prevent a plague.
The fate of her best friend, the young girl she considered her sister, a girl that never had a conflict or even meet with him, yet he used her as the trigger to start the war.
People now wonder why she loses so much time dealing with children, and why she never gets mad at them when they throw her without a hint of gratitude, but, who can blame her? When she was just sixteen years she was protecting children with all her might.
When others at her age were full of ambition to prove themselves, get power, and make a name in that chaotic situation, she was full of despair trying to protect her peers.
With her eyes, she saw the hatred chain. Weak, with a voice that wasn't strong enough to persuade others, she couldn't convince the older ones to not fall into the destruction of their efforts and her peers ignored her to the point of even harming her.
She could only set her sight on the youngest ones, 'At least the children' she said to herself. Comfort them for the loss of their relatives, and be the guardian they could rely upon when no one else cared about their lives. When no one cared if they had a place to sleep or crumbs to eat.
But soon, she understood the real danger those children had to confront didn't come from the 'war' the district was going through, but from the seeds of hatred in their hearts. The most innocent beings, slowly shaping their fate of self-destruction, nothing gave her more desperation than to protect children from themselves.
The enemy was unknown at that time, it was simply jumping from the pan to the fire who cared about others' lives. The Snake in front of her started from the small groups fanning flames of conflict, using the relatives of the bigger groups as targets to incite more war.
Children were the best target, no matter how black-hearted were the high-ranked members of the Rat District back then, they cared about their own blood, often hiding their identities, using this Jacob Harding managed to use other groups as borrowed knives.
Helena had a soft heart since she was young, her father doted on her since she was the only daughter he had, and her brothers were the ones that worked with him. Thanks to his arrangements, she managed to be in the hiding once everything started.
No matter how talented and prepared Harding was, he couldn't know everything in the district, he also knew it, and that is why it took so much time to reveal his identity.
But she has a secret, something only she and Harding know about it. During the chaotic time, she discovered that he was the one that caused everything. It was his intention, for her to know, using her while threatening her with some of the children she took care of.
Many people die at her fault. She still remembers how he laughed and joked saying that for her every life above the eighteen years was worthless. The worst kind of despair he gave her was hope, he promised not to kill anyone above that age, and even sometimes for entertainment, he gave her hope of escaping the city, yet every time he capture her at the last moment while calling with affection.
''Lena''
****
''Lena? What is it? I remember well that you always liked the iced tea.'' Jacob Harding asked with concern on his face when he saw her spacing out.
After receiving the two guests, Jacob Harding took them inside, sitting with them in an annex of the store that he usually uses to relax.
He asked his subordinate to 'clean up' the store and bring some refreshments to start their chat.
Currently, they were drinking cold drinks, as he dislikes the hot ones, making jokes about the amusing rumors of his seemingly 'Cold Blood'. He looked at the silent Lena, after his greetings at the door she only looked down without raising her gaze.
His eyes were like crystal as if telling everyone his true thoughts. The concern on his face was clear to anyone that saw him, no trace of mockery could be seen.
A man of high intelligence that threw upside down an entire city, how could he not know about the feelings of the woman he treated as his only toy many years ago.
He is weak, not suitable for physical activities, having health problems since very young, he knew that and accepted it. He was a normal human so of course, he had his grievances but he converted them into ambitions.
Working hard, not revealing flaws to fulfill his goals, gambles, drinks, women, wealth... Nothing was in his eyes until he sat finally above everyone. Except for the girl... Woman, in front of him, he found her and planned to use her, after all her beauty was there, the children she took care of were also useful, some of them were good samples to drag some nobles into the mess he created.
He is a decisive man coupled with preparations, the kind of man that can calmly be looking for a chance to cross the river, but if he fails and is bitten by another snake, then without hesitation he would cut his harm indifferently.
After observing for days at Helena, he became interested in her, it wasn't the first time he saw a 'Kind hearted' person, but what make his eyes shine was how addicted that little girl was to jumping into desperation, fighting a lost battle like himself, never giving up.
So for the first time in those times, he decided to give himself a gift, an entertainment during his struggles, so he gave her what she looked for, hope and despair, wanting to see how she ended.
She didn't disappoint him, so many years had passed and she is still alive without giving up, his dismissal may be the last and best hope she could ask, some times he has the impulse of breaking her again, but he is currently too handicapped to do it.
Therefore he is waiting. As a person that had experienced so many in his life, he understands that chances only stop when he is dead. This is why he is so concerned about her, he doesn't want her to lose her light with the past, it would be too boring for the old him.
Helena understood him, being one of the people that knows him the most, which is why it's good that his time with her taught her that being close while waiting for his death is her best course of action. Without receiving an answer from her, his eyes went to the second guest he received.
A young southerner boy, with blue eyes and dark-blue hair, Jacob was surprised, not only by the fact that his dear Lena brought a young kid to him, knowing how she uses nails and tooth's to keep them away from him, but by the bearing the boy had.
It wasn't about wealth or status, but about what he calls 'Character Fortitude', in his opinion, what is necessary to endure the pains of travel of one's goal.
It doesn't need someone to be domineering, someone with this fortitude can be a pushover little mouse, the important thing is when the chance comes, that mouse can jump and become a rat with fangs.
Why he can see this 'skill' in the kid in front of him? Experience and instincts. The boy looked curious, wary, inexperienced, and expectant.
Judging by Helena's character and this boy's small actions since he entered the store he knew something, and without hesitation or traces of the old scheming 'him', Jacob Harding asked,
''Young friend, what are you looking for, by coming to me?''
''...'' The boy stopped his clumsy yet striving eye movements, which he used to evaluate himself and the surroundings, and looked at him in the eyes.
Jacob understood that this little kid wanted to convey conviction before he started speaking.
''I want to use your contacts to train me in every useful skill that can allow my survival. Even if the acquiring process takes my life.'' He said without pause as if the words were engraved on his mouth before coming here.
Helena raised her head when she heard it, her sickly pale skin, bitten lips, tense feet, and trembling fingers didn't escape from Harding, that since the boy started, hasn't moved his eyes from the blue ones of the kid.
Without ripple in his eyes, his smile become a bit more bright, and a feeling of long loss started to warm in his insides.
''Payment?'' Harding asked with a joyful voice.
Helena took the boy's hand and tried to call his attention.
The blue-haired boy ruthlessly ignored her and said with the same firm tone from before,
''The same life with the skills you give me.''
The smile on Harding's face became soft and gentle, like the one a child has when his dear mother gives him the gift he wanted for his birthday.
His instincts screamed that the chance finally came. He couldn't help but think.
'I wonder which of the three of us will break first.'