-----------------------------------------
In a small room in the slum district Wallaf, of Severia a major city of the Aurelian empire.
-----------------------------------------
Ronald rubbed his neck, as he looked at the black haired boy who was staring out of the ground in shackles behind the bars.
-To think a boy who's only 12 years old scared me to such an extent, even though I'm just a vice-captain of one of the three battalions of the Peace corp. I'm still an aura knight, yet he held me off and slashed my chain mail around the neck with just a dagger.-
Ronald turned to the prison guard, "you can leave us for a moment I'm going to have a conversation with him."
The guard nodded, "yes sir"
Ronald pulled up a stool sitting across from the boy, he sat silently until the guard left and he heard the door close.
Ronald cleared his throat, "you know boy, I heard that there was someone was uniting the cities orphans and homeless kids. But I didn't think that person was so skilled, especially for someone so young."
Ronald paused to look the boys reaction but the boy stayed silent, Ronald sighed. -Silent huh?-
Ronald continued, "well because of your interference, we only nabbed 'Dark flower' members. So your 'Backstreet' was able to escape from us, after running into the slum districts."
A small smile cracked through on the boys face but quickly disappeared, as the boy resumed his stone faced look.
-So his friends matter?-
Ronald changed a lighter tone, "well it's nice that you look after your friends, but depending upon how you respond. You can either be freed or executed, and I'm sure you have your reasons for your crimes. Because from what we gather your group is pretty innocent compared to the 'Dark flower', shall I read off some of your crimes." Ronald looked at the boy
The boy was silent, Ronald resumed, "well starting off with charges against your group, 'the backstreet'. 6 counts of assault, 8 counts of armed robbery, 387 counts of pickpocketing, 12 counts of breaking and entering, 12 counts of burglary." Ronald took a moment to catch his breath, "32 counts of theft, 97 counts of vandalism and 4 counts of fraud and identity theft and 2 counts of murder, whew!"
Ronald leaned back in the wooden chair looking at the boy.
"Your crew has quite a long rap sheet for a group of kids…. but in comparison 'the dark flower' are not only much worse but adults." Ronald stood up walking until he was leaning against the bars of the cell
"So why were some kids street gang in a gang war with drug traffickers like them? Was it for territory or money?"
The shackles chains rattled a bit as the child moved, the boy kept his eyes downcast. He spoke his voice was raspy and whispery as if he hadn't drank water for days.
"Human trafficking"
Ronald moved closer -he spoke! he hasn't said anything since being arrested a few days ago-
"What do you mean human trafficking by?"
The boy chuckled, it sounded dry and humorless.
"It's what I said, we fought them because of human trafficking "
"Can you elaborate?"
"Hehe ~can you elaborate?~"
The boy said his voice laced with anger and sarcasm.
"What do want me to say, they were human traffickers, we're undocumented,orphaned and homeless or runaways. We have no family or anyone to miss us when we're gone. They saw profits and started taking kids off the street, some of them were our members, what more did you want to here?"
"Why didn't you report it to the city guard or the aristocracy or the count!"
"Are you stupid, one of the first things I learned in this world is that the higher authorities are humans and humans have desires. The guards want money and the nobles want kids, they cover each other"
"Hmmm.." Ronald had no rebuttal, human trafficking was among 'dark flowers' major businesses. But he was curious about something, he relaxes a bit and sat back down on his stool.
"Fair enough, but then explain the two counts of murder"
The boy hesitated before answering, "It was out of anger. They were lieutenants in 'Dark flower' they oversaw a dismantling site."
"Dismantling?"
"I'm sure you know that 'Dark flower' is quite active in the organ trade"
Ronald gasped, taken aback, -a child saw such a scene!?-
"It's probably what your thinking, we originally came to rescue them. But ….ergh"
The child broke down crying, he sobbed and through the sobs he cried out
"We saw them upside down on meat hooks split cleanly in half, empty just skin and bone! No blood! No heart or brain or eyes! They weren't even put back together! They just hung there! But it was mostly the older kids who were harvested for organs, the younger ones tended to sell better among the nobility and rich!"
Ronald sat quietly as the boy sobbed, and after a while the child calmed down.
The boy spoke in a near whisper after calming himself.
"Yeah I killed them, and collectively all of 'backstreet' went to war with them a few weeks ago"
"I see your problem"
"No you don't, nobody even sees people like, much less our problems"
Ronald opened his mouth to reply but decided against it and closed his mouth. He got up to leave, he knocked on the cell block door.
As he walked out he turned to the door guard. "Hey give that kid some food and water before the end of your shift understand?"
"Yes sir"
Ronald turned and continued on his way, -quite the sad story, I wish I could kill those sick fucks! But it's impossible with the current imperial system even if they're caught red handed. But more importantly that kid, he has amazing talent, I sensed no aura in his body. So that means he was fighting me with just his physical abilities back then. Yet he had put me in actual danger, he has unbelievable potential! I have to get him freed!-
He pulled out his communication amulet that was provided to any military officer above the sergeant rank.
"Call third battalions captain, Calvin"
The amulet was unresponsive for a moment before letting off a dim light.
A voice came over, "Vice-captain Ronald, what is it? Was there something wrong at the prison?"
"Yes the-"
"I understand viscount I will handle it! Those prisoner scum dare annoy the vice-captain of the third battalion of the Peace corps!"
Ronald sighed interrupting Calvin, "hey don't use my title! I'm serving the estate for a few years to gain experience and achievements for succession! Secretly from my siblings."
"Ah yes I understand ~vice captain ~"
"Argh! Just listen to me! There is a potential diamond in the rough at our city's prison"
Calvin's joking stopped
"A diamond you say? How good are they?"
"Good enough to parry me and slash my chain mail with no training or aura"
"What! But your a 4 star aura user sir!"
Ronald chuckled nervously, "I know that's what makes it even scarier"
---------------------------------------------
Author notes
Thanks for reading!
If you notice anything wrong in the grammar or any inconsistencies please comment and tell me!