Chereads / The Promise That Never Ends / Chapter 3 - CHAPTER 3: THE POLAR ENDS

Chapter 3 - CHAPTER 3: THE POLAR ENDS

"Y-y-you?" Vitra stuttered, astonished beyond expectations. The person who had opened the lid of the dustbin she was hiding in was not the one she had expected at all. A mix of

fear and confusion swirled in her eyes as she struggled to

process the unexpected turn of events.

"Who are you?" Vitra murmured in a low, trembling voice, hesitating to approach the boy, confused about whether

he was a savior or another path to despair.

Suddenly, the boy buried his hands under her arms and picked her up like a child. "W-what are you doing?" she shouted, panicking, her face turning bright red as she kicked her legs wildly in an attempt to break free. Vitra tried everything in her power to make him drop her, but her weak body quickly gave up. She looked down, weeping, thinking in total defeat, "Ah, it seems this is the end for me. Sorry."

Just then, a gentle, deep voice fell on her ear, "Just as I expected, you're as light as a feather." Seeing Vitra's condition, the boy spoke in a worried tone, "Hey kid, are you okay? Your face is all red. Is it a sickness? Don't worry, I'm not with them; I'm here to help you." His voice was calm and soothing, but Vitra's fear and mistrust still lingered, making her wary of this stranger's intentions.

Vitra rubbed her tear-filled eyes, slowly regaining her composure, and spoke in a low tone, "Th-then, can

you put me down?" she demanded hesitantly, still facing the ground as she hung limply in the boy's grasp. "O-Oh, my apologies, kid," the boy said, panicked at the thought of being misunderstood by the little girl in front of him. "I completely forgot you were still hanging; my bad." He smiled self-deprecatingly, his eyes filled with a genuine concern for Vitra's well-being.

After gently setting Vitra down,the boy finally noticed her horrifying condition. Her clothes were ragged and torn, her body wounded in several places, and one of her leg seemed to be fractured. As if that was not enough, the filthy environment she had been hiding in only added to the risk of infection, which could lead to some gruesome outcomes. The boy's gaze then slowly fell upon the men lying unconscious just a few meters away. He didn't had a single shred of doubt clouding his mind that they were involved in Vitra's condition. His face tensed up in disgust, and a spark of anger ignited deep within his soul. The boy's eyes

narrowed, his jaw clenched.

"So, what should we do to them? The choice is yours," the boy asked the little girl, his gentle smile a facade that

concealed his inner rage. As soon as he posed the question, she stopped cleaning her clothes that had became all mucky and greasy due to her hiding in the dustbin and finally looked up to gaze at the boy, her eyes slowly moving from the ground to up and at last locked onto his face with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.

As Vitra's gaze fell upon the boy, her eyes dilated with unbridled wonder, as if the very fabric of reality had been altered by his presence. Before her stood a vision of

magnificence, a boy of just above average stature yet radiating an aura of quiet strength, like a gentle breeze that concealed the turmoil of a stormy sea. His well-sculpted physique was evident even beneath the folds of his

oversized black robe, like a masterpiece hidden beneath a veil of simplicity, waiting to be unveiled by discerning eyes.

His face was a work of art, mesmerizing all who laid eyes on him, as if the very essence of beauty had been distilled into his features. Every curve, every line, every contour seemed to have been crafted by the divine hand of a master artisan,

imbuing him with an otherworldly allure that transcended the mundane. His raven tresses, bound by a single strand of crimson rope, flowed down his back like a waterfall of night, beautiful enough to be mistaken for a celestial being

descended from the heavens to walk among mortals from the back.

Yet, it was his eyes that held the greatest allure – golden orbs that shone like beacons in the darkness, drawing all who gazed upon them into their depths, where time itself seemed to stand still. They sparkled with an inner light, a radiance that seemed almost divine, as if the very essence of the stars had been distilled into their golden hue.

Vitra's eyes would sparkle with euphoria as she recounted her first encounter with the enigmatic boy. "When I first

met him, he was so mesmerizing that I simply forgot to breathe," she would say, her voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment. "I still blush whenever I think of that moment – I was staring at him so intently, it's a wonder I didn't bore a hole into his face!" A soft, nostalgic laugh would

escape her lips as she reminisced about that fateful meeting.

Illustration of NAYEK

Illustration of VITRA

"If I had to distill his essence into a single sentence," Vitra would continue, her eyes sparkling with a far-off gaze, "I would say that he is... A MIDNIGHT CANVAS, ILLUMINATED BY THE WHISPER OF THE DIVINE GOLDEN STAR." The words would spill from her lips like a whispered secret, as if she had stumbled upon a hidden

truth that only she could see.

"Hey, are you there?" the boy joked, waving his palm in front of Vitra's expressionless face. She flinched, blushing as she snapped out of her daze. The boy smirked slyly. "So, how should we take care of them? Just tell me honestly."

Vitra hesitated, closing her eyes as if deep in thought. However, her response was already crystal clear in her mind. She opened her eyes, resolve etched on her face. "I believe everyone deserves a second chance, a chance to start anew. But I know they've already had multiple chances. If we let them go, they'll return to their previous owner like the loyal dogs they are."

Vitra's gaze fell upon the unconscious men, disgust evident in her eyes, "So…". The boy nodded, understanding her unspoken words. He closed his eyes, a hint of pride on his

face.

In a swift motion, the boy knelt before Vitra, offering her a piggyback ride. "I knew you'd say that. Now, hop on; let's head to the nearest bathhouse." Vitra hesitated, her face flushing as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

As they began to walk, Vitra glanced back, concern etched on her face. "Oh, but we haven't done anything about them." The boy's tone turned stern. "Don't look back." Vitra flinched, taken aback by his harsh tone.

The boy snapped his fingers, the sound unusual and strange. "Let's get you cleaned up and find some new clothes. If you have somewhere to go, you can leave afterward. Until then, you're under my care, got it?" Vitra opposed, "I'm not a kid."

The boy chuckled. "Okay, okay. Then… oh, I almost forgot to ask: what's your name?" Vitra replied seriously, "Vitra. And yours?" The boy's eyes twitched, revealing his shock. His face turned serious, but he quickly regained his composure. He replied with a friendly smile, "Nayek".

[AROUND 1 HOUR LATER]

As the last remnants of sunlight faded from the city of Nakra, the sky transformed into a warm orange canvas, a breathtaking sunset surrendering to the approaching black night. Within a small clothing store, Nayek sat in the waiting room, his eyes fixed on the floor as if lost in contemplation. His gaze seemed distant, as though he were engaged in

a private conversation.

"After speaking with her along the way, I uncovered several intriguing facts about her," he murmured to himself. "Her name is Vitra. According to her orphanage, her parents abandoned her at their gates when she was just eight months old. And,surprisingly, she's 21 years old – though her appearance suggests a younger age, likely in her late teens. But what troubles me most is her name, 'Vitra.' To the general public, it may seem ordinary, but for individuals like myself, it holds a far greater significance."

Amidst his deep contemplation, a soft voice pierced his unwavering focus. "Nayek! Let's go, I'm done here." He looked up to find Vitra standing mere inches away, her presence catching him off guard. "Woah!" Nayek exclaimed, startled. "I didn't realize you were standing there. How long have you been here?"

Vitra beamed with pride. "Hehe, that's my specialty." Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What were you thinking about, anyway? You seemed lost in thought."

Nayek smiled, brushing off the inquiry. "Nothing, just random thoughts." He stood up, and together they began to leave. As they walked, Nayek's inner monologue revealed his surprise. "In my entire life, no one has ever managed to sneak up on me. Never. Was I too engrossed in thought, or did I let my guard down...?"

His gaze fell upon Vitra, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Or perhaps..."

As they strolled along the main street, Vitra trailed behind Nayek, her earlier timidity returning. She tugged on his clothes, her voice filled with excitement. "Where should we go now?" Nayek pondered, gazing up at the starry night sky. Just as he began to respond, "Um, I was thinking we should—"

A loud, barbaric voice boomed through the air, shattering the tranquility. "NAYEK! What are you doing here?!"

 

—— TO BE CONTINUED