Chapter 2: Running on Empty
Voulgrim stood outside the classroom, the four buckets of water pulling heavily on his arms, though he didn't seem to mind. His expression remained as stoic as ever. To anyone passing by, it looked like this was routine for him, another burden he had grown used to. As the hours dragged on, the sun crept higher, its rays glaring through the windows.
When the lunch bell rang, the teacher finally came out, a slight frown on her face. "Voulgrim, next time, don't be late. I won't go easy on you again. If you're late tomorrow, I'll make you carry more than this. Understood?"
Voulgrim sighed softly, setting his jaw. "Yes, ma'am. I won't be late again."
The teacher's gaze softened, just a little. "Good. Now, head to the clinic. You look like you got beaten by a pack of puppies." She smirked slightly, though her eyes held a hint of concern.
Voulgrim set the buckets down with a tired thud, his arms aching from holding them for so long. But before he could take a step toward the clinic, a group of delinquents appeared, blocking his path. They wore sneers like badges, the leader stepping forward with a mocking grin.
"Well, well, look who we have here," one of them jeered. "Looks like a beggar who wandered into the wrong room."
The others burst out laughing, some nudging each other as if they'd just heard the funniest joke. But Voulgrim didn't flinch. He didn't respond. He simply walked past them, ignoring the insults.
"Hey!" the leader growled, grabbing Voulgrim's shoulder. "Where do you think you're going?"
For a moment, Voulgrim paused, his head turning slightly. The delinquent froze as he looked into Voulgrim's eyes-cold, emotionless, like a void that sucked the confidence right out of him. The grip on Voulgrim's shoulder loosened as the delinquent took a step back.
Without a word, Voulgrim continued on his way, his steady footsteps echoing down the hall.
---
Inside the clinic, the familiar scent of antiseptic filled the air. The nurse, Clara, glanced up from her desk as he walked in, a tired smile tugging at her lips.
"Late again?" she asked, standing up and giving him a quick once-over. Her gaze settled on the bite marks dotting his uniform. "Hmm... looks like you ran into some trouble. Dog bites?"
Voulgrim nodded quietly, taking a seat on one of the beds in the corner. He didn't need to explain; Clara had seen him like this enough times to know the story before he told it.
She walked over to a cabinet, pulling out some ointment and bandages. "You know the drill," she said, gesturing for him to give her his hand. "Let's get these cleaned up."
Voulgrim extended his arm, and Clara worked with quick, practiced movements, dabbing antiseptic on the wounds before wrapping them carefully. "You always come in here with problems," she said softly. "And it's always the same reason, isn't it? You helped someone again."
He sighed, staring at the bandages. "Yeah... something like that."
Clara smiled, a kind, almost motherly warmth in her expression. "I knew it. You're always helping others, even when it costs you."
Voulgrim didn't reply. He just stared ahead, his mind elsewhere. The nurse finished her work and leaned back in her chair. "Try not to put yourself in danger, alright? It's good to help people, but don't forget about yourself."
Voulgrim nodded once, stood up, and headed for the door.
As he stepped out into the hallway, his thoughts were interrupted by the sight of his torn uniform. Great, he thought, glancing at the bite marks. I need to buy a new one.
---
The corridor was bustling with students heading to lunch. As Voulgrim walked, the murmurs and snickers followed him, students pointing at the rips in his uniform, whispering behind his back. But he didn't care. He had long since grown numb to their opinions.
As he made his way down the hallway, something caught his eye-a girl struggling under the weight of a huge stack of books. She wobbled with each step, barely able to keep the pile from toppling over.
Voulgrim paused, watching her for a moment before walking over. "Hey," he said quietly. "Do you need help?"
The girl looked up, startled for a moment, then gave him a grateful smile. "Really? Oh, thank you! These books are so heavy."
Without saying much, Voulgrim took half the stack from her arms, relieving her of the burden. Together, they walked toward the library, the girl chatting as they went.
"Thank you again," she said as they set the books down on one of the library tables. "I thought I was going to drop them all!"
Voulgrim gave a small nod. "No problem."
The girl wiped the sweat from her brow and smiled brightly at him. "Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Aine."
"Voulgrim Shinzero," he replied. "Just call me Voulgrim."
Aine blinked, a look of surprise crossing her face. "Voulgrim... that's a really unique name."
He scratched the back of his head, feeling a little awkward. "Yeah, I guess."
As he turned to leave, Aine called after him. "Hey, thanks again, Voulgrim!"
He glanced back, nodded, and continued walking, blending into the background as he always did.